Flight School

It is of no surprise that Nolan is fond of airplanes.  Eliza seems to enjoy them too, but not to the extent as her brother.

I shot this video one evening when the kids will usually love to climb all over daddy and play rough. Sometimes, they want to play a little rougher than Matt would care for, hehe.

It's Snow-fun

The Geddes clan decided to venture out in the 16 degree weather since we saw the sun shining.....it wouldn't feel as bad....right?

Ha! It was COLD, and we didn't last too long with all 4 of us out. Nolan lasted one run with daddy, and then simply had enough.

Eliza was our little adventurer, and did a few runs down the hill before she had her fill. 

We've had quite the fill of being inside, and sometimes you just have to go for it. Even when you can't remember the last day that it got above freezing, and all your canned food is frozen along with the fruit and beverages sitting in your complimentary "walk-in" freezer...aka the garage!

I do look forward to just near freezing or just above freezing temperatures so we can enjoy the snow a little more before the rain melts it away.

It's A...

Yep, that is the latest and greatest news in the Geddes house. We are excited to announce that Nolan will have a little brother to boss around of his very own. This news didn't exactly sit well with Eliza when we brought her along to see the baby. In fact, she was in such a sour mood about not getting to stay with the sitter and her kids.

Not how I expected THAT experience going...

It finally took us telling her that when she is older, she will get her own room eventually.

"A pink room?"

Yes, and your brothers won't be allowed in there to mess with your things. I think she'll fair better being the only girl in daddy's eyes, and we get a little more insurance of having the family name continue on past Matt.

I look forward to being able to hand down some of my favorite boy clothes of Nolan's to this one...as long as the seasons are appropriate. But I guess that is just an excuse for the grandparents to pick out cute stuff ;)

I came up with the Lego announcement after not finding much else that I liked on Pintrest as I've never had a cute photo worthy exposed bump.No....I look more like I'm trying to smuggle two oblong water melons and casaba melons under my shirt.

So, except for this one.....but the few that I showed it to first, asked why I sent them a picture of shoes : P

Sweetest Dreams

After Eliza took an exceptionally long time to actually fall asleep the other night, I couldn't pass up this shot. She had come out twice, with insisting that her lady bug light was broken and needed new batteries. It was not broken and just a matter of pressing the right button, hehe.

There is something innocent and sweet when you catch them asleep in a bed. I only used the light coming in from the hallway and of course the bug light. By resting my lens on the guard rail, I was able to capture a long exposure and be still. The ambient light also helped with being to see if I was in focus or not without needing the strobe which could have awoken her.

Oh to see into her dreams :)

Color me Fun!

We've had to get a bit creative in these cold months in order to not go crazy inside 4 walls. Normally, I'd set the easel outside for their paints, while not worrying about drippy paint. But I decided a messy and out of the ordinary activity was in order for after lunch and before quiet time.

Admiring their work 

 

My little Impressionist

Nolan has been marked officially as a member of the Geddes Tribe 

The best part was, we did bath time and clean up right after. They even helped scrub the walls, since the paint was non toxic tempera. Much more vibrant colors than the food dye and cornstarch recipe.  

The Realities of True Friendship

They say that the average lifespan of any friendship you have will last seven years.

In some of my friendships, this has held to be pretty true. Seasons of life change, and we don't all move into the same chapter or book for that matter, at the same time. I have friends I've known and stay in contact from early childhood, those I went to college with and the ones I've cultivated since moving here to Rome.

The best and valued kinds, in my humble opinion, are the ones where you are not afraid to speak the truth when it is truly warranted.

Truth can hurt, and forgiving does not always come easy either.

I've had a friendship with someone who I care deeply about. When most others around her were shouting cheers and congratulations, I had to speak from the heart. This wasn't exactly what they wanted to hear, but I did want her to be happy and share in the festivities alongside and support then, as we had gone through a lot.

In being involved in this life changing event, it required an investment of mine. The kinds where there are no refunds given if you change dates etc... I had felt hurt by this and some choices being made that I felt was going against our faith in Christ.

I hated that I felt this way, and struggled to forgive them for a good chunk of time. But after awhile, I was tired of this rift between us and missed the friendship we once had. Things eventually worked themselves out and my feelings of betrayal and hurt had finally been lifted by the only one who was strong enough to lift the heavy burden.

You know you have an even more awesome friend when things don't pan out the way they had thought, and everything is coming apart, just as your friend was concerned about.....and they don't slap you with an "I told you so" in the face. Instead, they become a shoulder to cry on, an ear to vent on, and walk alongside instead of all over you.

A friendship or relationship does not come without conflict. It is this very conflict that makes us grow together...not apart...and a bond even stronger than before.

I am so very glad this friendship of mine was not tossed aside when the waters of the funship cruise became troubled.

Winter Blues Art Time

Its cold, wet and we are seriously into the winter season. As I type this, we received 6+ inches of snow in a matter of 2 hours. Being a stay at home parent can be a struggle when you live in a small place and can't venture outside very easily in the winter time. Its extremely tempting to just throw on movies all day....

But I know this will backfire on me later on. So we pulled out the dot markers for a new distraction with little mess to deal with.

Big Children at Heart

Both Matt and I were gifted with something each that we both would have never spent money on ourselves. Certainly not practical, but if you know either of us in real life, we do have a kid inside that does like to be entertained.

After many years of always looking at them, I decided Matt needed a toy for Christmas so he could do a little stress busting when the kids were in bed. For an aviation nut....an RC helicopter was just what filled his bucket of joy that night....and continues to.

My mother, bless her heart, really did surprise me with a building toy. No, it wasn't Lego, but a tall Knex roller coaster. After putting the kids to bed early one evening, I spent around 3 hours building it. Here it is in action, using an extra coaster car for added fun.

2014 Prayer Solutions Recap and 2015 Prayers

2014 ----Lord;

In this new year, I would like answers to some very long awaited questions for the future of our family.

Would it be better to purchase a house for our needs than trying to find something to rent which better fits our needs and saves us money?

This one has still gone on unanswered.

Please guide the growth of our family. If we are to have a 3rd child, please let it be known with a peace. Or if we are complete in the growing of our family, let it be also known with a peace and contentment that it is okay to let go of the baby gear instead of holding on to fear that we'd need it later on. Right now, I am open to either path, but enjoying the stage that Nolan is at and the bond our children are making as siblings.

Well, God did help answer this one and gave the sense that someone was still missing from our family. We'll use the gear one more time and then probably try and pass on some of the blessings which were handed down to us :)

Please let Eliza continue to qualify for free physical and speech therapy after her 3rd birthday.

Eliza continued to qualify for therapies and has speech/physical twice a week.

Help Matt and I better our marriage and communication. Also for us to work more as a team in taking care of the house needs. I feel that our only child pasts hinder our ability to be less selfish with our time and energy.

As with most, this will always be an in progress request. With time and hopefully maturity thrown in there, things like this will get easier in time.

You know of the unmentioned requests that I can't really write here, so I leave you this and look forward to look back at this post.

I think this one really stemmed from my desire to step down from working outside the house. It took some big leaps of faith and God placing the right people to help guide us to this revelation. It is a decision I do not regret one bit. I feel much more content in our life circumstances than before, despite having less income and going down to only one car.

Amen

Here we are in a new year, and time to see just how God may work in the new year.

Dear Heavenly Father....

Family
Help put in place the people and resources as we prepare to welcome a new family member. Please let this birth experience be a positive one with better healing and recovery after surgery. May our baby be healthy and strong. Also for Nolan, to transition well into his new big brother role.

Space
As much as I have tried to be content in our starter space here in New York, it is becoming evidently clear that something has got to give. I desire to have a place for people and things, instead of cluttering up on each other. The winter months are long and having a finished basement for family time and play would be a wonderful blessing. To have the space means, being able to keep things clean for longer periods of time and use the new place to host gatherings of fellowship.

New Beginnings?
We've spent about 5 years in one place....the longest for myself at least since moving away from home. We keep wondering when you will open the doors to a new state perhaps that will be better for our family's future outcome. I know it would be a mixed blessing, as I have made some wonderful friendships over the years, as have my kids with theirs. Help us discern what your will is for our family.

Health
This last half of the year was rather eventful when it came to our health. Besides the birth of our 3rd child, please keep us healthy and well, with no hospital stays. We are grateful for your providence when these surprises have popped up and for the insurance Matt has with his job.

Amen

Obligatory Christmas Post

Well, another Christmas has come and passed...and the last one as a family of four to be exact!

We headed down to the grandparents house on Christmas Eve, enjoyed some chilli, watched A Muppet Christmas Carol and sent the kids to bed while the 'elves' could get an early start.

Play jewelry was a real hit with this little girl!

An apron to use when grandma bakes with Eliza

The aftermath

Grandparents did the usual thing most do at this time of year and spoil the kids as they pleased. Matt and I spent a modest amount on the kids. It's easier to do it at this age as most are in the $30 range. Then of course some modest inexpensive stocking stuffers.

Our gifts to Nolan: Ride on Dusty, diecast planes, RC Mickey Car

Our gifts to Eliza: Pony wall stickers, Jake Duplo set, Do-a-dot stampers, 2 Innotab games

A shared gift was the Magna Tiles, which I was able to get 50% off with a personal connection. I know several of these gifts will be played with by both kids, and hopefully, be passed down to the next one. 

It was fun to see Nolan get much more into the fun with this being his second Christmas day. Only problem was...he'd get stuck on one gift, playing with it and ignoring anything else we put in front of him. Not much of what he got didn't have wheels on it. It's fun seeing this stage, as he develops his own interests :)

Now...we can only hope these toys will keep them well interested so mommy can have a moment to herself once and awhile

Eliza-isms (100th Post)

As time passes me by, I feel like I need to document some of these phases of each child. So here are the most recent things Eliza has been stuck on....that may or may not drive me up the wall.

"All myself"
This independance wheeling preschooler insists on doing many things without assistance.

"What's he/her name"
It doesn't matter if it is someone on a commercial, a stranger on the street or a picture of someone. She insists on knowing what their name is. I'll give a quick "I don't know" most of the time, but will have to make up some fake name to quiet the incessant asking.

"Mix-a"
She will chant this over and over when with her food. It absolutely has to be mixed up in order to be fit for consumption.

"We take turns in mommy's tummy?"
Now that she knows there is a baby growing inside me, she will frequently ask for the baby to come out already so she can go back inside. When I tell her the baby is still to small to come out, the curtain is lifted and the drama starts. I'll tell her that its small, dark and no netflix. This still does not convincer her otherwise. Sorry kid, it is a one way door for each!

Santa's Vacation Home

We made our second annual visit to the local Bass Pro Shop...you know, where Santa likes to stock up on wilderness and outdoor supplies during his free time ;)

Manned with the special grandparent garments and a quick change in the bathroom (only to discover Eliza was not wearing any underpants), I fought with Eliza to wear a *gasp* blue dress. Seems like everything has got to be pink these days....

This was pretty much Nolan's initial response to Santa when we started, but quickly simmered down as we went along. Eliza, once being told that you tell Santa what you want for Christmas, was perfectly fine on sitting on the jolly mans lap. What a difference compared to last year where the only shot we could get was her face down, engrossed in Angry Birds on daddy's cell phone while tolerating the visit with Santa. But I love how authentic this Santa looks. Even nicer than the one in the Mall, and his surrounding area for pictures, which are free!

Of course, a visit to Bass Pro isn't complete without a long visit to the aquarium. Nolan was entranced at all the fish, while Eliza used the fake rock front as a climbing wall.

I used some of the other areas of the store as impromptu backdrops for pictures, but finding it is getting increasingly hard to get both kids to look at the camera...especially in new surroundings. Or my feisty three year old thinks its the best time to lift up her dress or pout her lower lip, as if this was such a punishment. But they enjoyed the other entertainment set ups where you could play with some of the toys for purchase.

The best surprise of this trip was finding Nolan was keeping his newsboy hat on the entire time. I got that thing for a steal at Children's Place on clearance for two dollars! And boy, did he work that whole ensemble. I couldn't get enough of him as his biased mother, and could have eaten him up.

So I wonder...what will next year look with three littles! 

Wet Saint Bernards & Cat Doors

Someone once said that giving birth is like a wet St. Bernard trying to squeeze through a cat door. And I am sure most men who have witnessed  a vaginal birth might agree when they try and wrap their heads around the idea of passing something that large through their own loins.

After looking through all my available options and advice from my OB/GYN...we are going to go ahead and make this one a scheduled c-section.

No more induction...

Pitocin...

Back labor...

With many of the perks which come with scheduling your baby's birthday and making childcare arrangements.....outside of the longer recovery and pain connected with a c-section...it hit me a few days ago.

I'll never push a rectangular pumpkin out my hoo-ha again.

...and I got a little sad and had a hard time believing I even did it with Eliza. It seemed like forever to get to 4 cm, and I wanted my daughter in my arms NOW and the blasted back labor to knock off. Matt assured me, that yes indeed, I had in fact pushed her out on my own.

I could put my foot down and travel a good distance to a doctor who delivers at a hospital with VBAC options, and pray I could go into labor on my own...

But let's face it....

I am more closed up than a nun when it comes up to the delivering side of things. And I guess, a real challenge when it comes to epidurals being administered. The last thing I want to do is be in labor before hand and then an emergency surgery where I would be knocked out because my pain level can't be controlled (big gasp)...and be knocked out again for the birth.

....this time around though, I am going to insist on gentle cesarean birth, which gives the mother the chance to see her baby born and immediately bond while being put back together again. That would truly be wonderful this time around :)

2nd & 3rd Pregnancy Guilt

When you're pregnant with your first baby, you are blissfully unaware of the gift of free time to use during your more exhausting phases of pregnancy. You may be working, or staying home...but when you are home, you decide as to just how you want to spend it.

Napping....

Long peruses down the baby aisles as you dream about your nursery coming together....

Catching up with friends on the phone....

Crafting....

Experimental cooking....

Then, you decide to have another baby and reality sets in.

You now find yourself trying to balance the unpleasant side effects of pregnancy with chasing around a toddler in your time at home. The toddler desperately wants your attention all.the.time....and all you can think of is how much longer until you can realistically convince them it is nap/bed time.

Thoughts of your children's future success in school crosses your mind as you put on yet another popular Jake and the Neverland Pirates marathon off Netflix. You have no grandparents or other relatives who live near by to help out and you are not trying to thrive, but survive!

Graham cracker crumbs speckle your family room rug....

The laundry pile is coming close enough in size to challenging the right to vote...

The layer upon layers from the last week of meals on and around the dining table is becoming worthy of the worlds largest petri dish.

....and don't even get me started on the kitchen.

Living in small quarters with a growing family makes trying to do maintenance cleaning a real joke.

Some days we go from pajamas to pajamas, since there is no point in growing more dirty laundry when there are no plans to step foot outside the house.

I have to tell myself each day, "This is only temporary."

But guilt is a tricky thing, when you think about how your baby of the family will become the stigmatized middle child. How you should be making more of your time with just the two kids with crafts and creative play. I would be lying if I said I didn't have any pregnancy regrete. I was so certain that Nolan was to be my last baby as I layed in the hospital bed, recovering from a very hard birth experience.

The expression, "Be careful what you wish for", holds some real truth to it. Yet, God knows what's best and doesn't have second guesses, unlike our imperfect selves.

Toddler & Preschool Toy Review - Amazon

1.Vtech InnoTab 3S $60- $80

If you've been on the fence about getting your child some sort of tablet because you don't want them hooked on it, this is a nice alternative. It can connect to your wifi, control downloadable content, takes picture/video and does ebooks. Its not a huge investment, and does more than a Gameboy. Not to mention, no surprise purchases from any of the games. With the touch screen and direction pad, it also has motion sensing for particular games. 

2. Playmobil Take and Go Dollhouse $50

With many options for dollhouses that can handle Barbie size dolls or smaller, this is a great buy when space is concerned. This house comes with lots of details and accessories to complete the house. No need to buy $30 a room furniture sets to get playing. With a little adult help putting together some initial furniture, this is ready for play on the go.

3. Magna-Tiles $40 - $125

Go beyond wooden building blocks and see where your child's creativity will take them. These tiles have encased magnets around the sides and easily stick together. Strong enough to stay together during active play and still able to fall apart when a toy dump truck runs into it. This toy is a little more of an investment, but will last for years as your tot grows.

4. Bazoongi 48" Trampoline $79.99

Enjoy this trampoline year round without worrying about serious injury that comes with its big brother version. It sits low to the ground and has a removable balance bar for early jumpers. Assembly isn't too complicated and comes with its own special tool to help attach the springs. Easily move it inside for those long winter months when the kids need extra activity It comes with a 125 lbs. weight limit, but strong enough to last for a long time.

5. Schwinn Trike $89.99 

If you like things that last and bring back some of the charm of your first bike, this is for the kids. The seat does have variable adjustment settings and is built solid. Color choices include hot pink and fire engine red. This bike will make it through all the kids or grandkids in your family.

6.Do-A-Dot $14.99 

If open containers of paint around your tots make your nervous, enjoy a little more peace of mind when it comes to art time.

You're a Mean One Mrs. Grinch

Call me what you want, but I'm perfectly okay with it.

This is the time of the year when many families stress out, fight over trivial things and feel like their to do list is never ending. I guess I don't get why we have to over complicate things when of course, the real reason for the season never included all the things which we stress over. Less is more in my eyes, and I don't set the kids up with expectations for each year. If it happens...it happens.

Here is what our family will not be doing this year:

The Elf- Haven't started and not sure if we'll get into it later on as I've heard a lot of kids getting creeped out by it.

Family Christmas Card- I applaud those of you who can successfully accomplish this. I do enjoy getting them from friends and family to grace the side of our fridge, but it has never been something I think of doing in time.**Update**
After taking a families card photo...it got the best of me and decided to just use pictures from this current year. Ah...peer pressure. 

A Tree- Yes, I probably get the most flack for this one. But I'm not loosing any sleep over it. Our place is small, and getting smaller by the day as baby Geddes 3.0 is cooking away. I struggle to keep this place cleaned up and organized in its current non holiday state as it is. There isn't room for one and we won't be home for Christmas anyways. If this wasn't the case, I would probably do everything in my powers to make something work. But for right now, I'll just focus on picking up all the small toys off the ground and not add ornaments to the mix.

A little girl I was watching one day asked me why we didn't have a tree up. I told her we were Jewish....just kidding of course. We do have however, the Little People Nativity scene set......And I am already having to play search and rescue for wisemen, animal control on the barnyard and CPS on baby Jesus.

Toddler & Preschooler Gift Series: Ikea Edition

If you've never stepped inside an Ikea before, now is the time this season.

Items are those in which we have of our own, or talked to those who to own them.

1. Knight's Castle Tent $20

This thing is great! It feels durable with its thicker nylon material and thick tension poles (x4). It takes about 1-2 minutes to assemble it. There are even two mesh windows on the roof so parents can peek in on the kids play.

2. Artist Easel $14.99

This is such a steal at this price when you compare it to the Melissa and Doug or Imaginarium brand ones. It is a great start for any budding artist or parents who want more of a minimalist design when incorporating it into the rest of home decor.

3. Soft Play Fruit and Veggie $7.99 each

These are a nice alternative to their plastic food counterparts. No worries when stepped on when navigating the play area.And you can always throw them in the wash when needed. I especially like the velcro tear away lettuce leaves.

4. Tumbling Matt $29.99

If you have a very active child who is using your couch for doing tumbles and who knows what else....this is a great bargain for a gymnastics mat. Its more durable and thicker to the foam puzzle squares and folds up for storage. Use it as a bonus to sleep on for little sleepover guests.

5. Wooden Train sets $7.99 - $9.99

If you've balked at the outrageous prices of the Thomas wooden train sets or the specialty toy shop lines...this is a great value for wooden tracks. So far, they integrate well with other wooden sets/train cars and are easy for little hands to put together.

6.Cars and Garage $9.99 - $12.99

These cars get a lot of play in our house. Each one can be mixed and matched with other car parts to make your own customized design. The simple design of the garage is perfect for those households where space can be a premium. The garage can be taken part for later storage, but you may want to super glue the pieces together if you have little ones who like to play tough.

T-Day

I was a bad photographer this Thanksgiving...

The camera never even came out of its bag the entire time we spent with the grandparents.

We had been set to leave town shortly after 3pm on Thanksgiving Eve to Matt's parents house. Then we got a phone call at about noon that a tree had fallen on dad's car as he was pulling into the driveway. He was okay for two reasons: 1) He is a man of short stature 2) The car he drives, is built like a tank. But needless to say, with this accident blocking the entire road in/out of the complex and the mounting snow piling up...this made for very nervous parents for their kids.

So we played the waiting game...

Checks of road conditions every so many minutes, screenshots of the roads and snow accumulation were our new hobby. Eliza was chomping at the bit to go and see Grandma, and I had planned the food shopping to not have to deal with a dinner on Wednesday evening. Our parents encouraged us to leave early morning and they'd plan dinner around when we got there.

We are both not morning people..

By 9pm, we gathered that most of the accidents had been cleared up and the snow was going to knock off as we continued our travels.

It wasn't our best travel time, but we made it, safe and sound near close to 2am with only one stop to grab some drinks. It also allowed me to do a breathing treatment since I had been battling breathing for close to 4 weeks.

Thanksgiving morning, I would then later visit the local ER for the first time as my last visit to ours back home about a week prior hadn't been effective enough. Three nebulizer treatments later and script for antibiotics, we were sent home and enjoyed a quiet meal with just our immediate family.

The rest of our time was spent relaxing, shopping at a few stores we don't have near us (IKEA), family time at Billy Bee's and doing some elf work. We brought the Christmas presents from us and my mother along with us so I could have a place to wrap and store the gifts since we'll be returning for Christmas. Not to mention, having the time to assemble a few toys before hand. Knowing we might have to return home on Christmas day at night...the last thing I want to spend my time on is reading directions. Plus, it means less wrapping for me, wahoo!

I'll leave this post with a conversation we had with Eliza in the car.

E: But I miss grandma

Don't worry, we will come back to visit them at Christmas and even Santa will come

E: No, I don't want Santa to come!

But don't you want some new toys?

E: But I already have toys dad.

Then I guess you don't want any new games for your Innotab?

E: Wait, I want games!

Little by little, she is grasping the whole Santa game....but still has this love/hate relationship with the jolly man in red :)

Snip Snip Here....Snip Snip There

Eliza has never sat in a salon chair since birth. Last year near Nolan's birthday, I made one small trim to a section in the back to even out things, as we waited for the sides to catch up with the back.

Little did we know just how hazardous little brother would be to her hair, when he'd grab chunks of it at the roots! And always in the same area. Please, please...have mercy on your sisters hair!

Over all, Eliza was a pretty good girl for her first hair cutting experience, besides the extra prompts to stay still and keep her head up. We decided to take several inches off the back and give her bangs, with the hope of her left side growing in and overall fuller head of hair. It is so incredibly fine.

May this next baby be kinder to her fine locks....

Merry Maids

Do you have a weekly cleaning schedule you follow?

Since staying home full time, I had yet to put down any sort of schedule which pertained to house chores. I would see the areas that would be screaming, and I may or may not have attended to them depending on my mood or energy level. Of course there are the urgent ones like unexplained vomit, sippy cup disasters and the, "oh no you just didn't dump every toy bin out!"

We all know about the never ending story of laundry folding. Putting it away is a whole nother book!

Among other daily habits I've struggled to get into in my life...I've found that I need a steady base level of cleaning that gets done, even if nothing else is getting done outside of it. I NEED to know that I am being intentional in some form of house management.

Things like:

Bathroom(s)
Floors
Dishes/kitchen counters
Putting recycling and trash in its respective receptacles
Freeing up laundry baskets with clean clothes

I haven't been perfect in sticking to what is down for the day, but I know it will take time. Especially when your hubby has extra time off and throws your day time routine out the window. I've only put things down for M-F for this reason, so I can give myself the highest chance of success with this plan.

What is your dreaded/hated house chore that you wished would just disappear?