Christmas with the in-laws

We got together with Mike's side of the family today and did our belated Christmas with them. It was fun and the kids got some cool presents. They even tolerated the long ride there and back. Now they are all tucked in their beds with Vicks vapor rub on their feet. Poor babies sounded congested when we were getting them out of the car tonight. Well I can hear Allen fussing now and I'm ready to get in my pjs and watch a movie. Good night!

(Pic bellow is Allen getting ready to go) 

Christmas and Colds

The kids had an amazing Christmas! They got lots of clothes and toys. They were so happy. We had tons of smiles. They haven't even done Christmas with nanna and papa and great nanna and papa yet. 

Yesterday they both came down with colds so there has been a bit of fussing. Hopefully they will be feeling better by tomorrow when we get together with daddy's side of the family to do Christmas with them. 

Trim time!

So I gave Allen a little trim last night and now his hair isn't brushing on his neck and bugging him anymore. 

Amelia got a snowman ornament from the dance studio for Christmas. 

This morning they are watching cartoons and eating yogurt. Allen usually gets about half way and gives up on the spoon. No kicking yet from the baby this morning but that's pretty normal. I woke up tired this morning so hopefully I'll buck up in a bit and get the energy to get some cleaning done. 

'Who needs a spoon?!'

Hmm..

So I don't blog daily because I am not sure the day to day workings of my family would be exciting enough. I would like to start at least a couple times a week even if some of my posts are a little dull. 

So yesterday was our ob check up. I am 23wks along today. We had our gestational diabetes check and got the call today that we passed with flying colors! Yay! Also baby is doing great and heart rate was in the 160s. 

Saturday was Amelia's first dance recital. She did so well and looked beautiful! Her group danced to 'I want a hippopatomous for Christmas'. I won't lie prior to her parent day at dance I had never heard the song. 

Saturday we also went to the Vfw Christmas party. We seen Santa and mrs.  Claus. We enjoyed a fun sleigh ride and had delicious hot dogs and fries. Allen and Amelia each got a toy and bag of candy from Santa. 

We have been busy the last couple weeks running from one headstart thing to another. The kids have been loving all the fun activities. There was a party at the elementary that included: a visit from Santa, crafts, open gym, cookie decorating and pizza. It was one of the most fun parties I had ever been to! The kids had a blast running around the gym and exploring all the activities at the school. 

Christmas is in about a week here and we are all getting excited. We still have to wrap presents. Amelia is cutting those links off her Christmas chain and counting down the days. 

Expecting and Growing pains

We are expecting baby 3 next April. I will be 12wks tomorrow. 

My two toddlers are growing so fast.. at least it seems so lately... Allen is 14mons now and he can climb up and down the stairs, he scales furniture like a monkey and eats like he has the stomach of an elephant. Amelia is a ball of fire, she is lil miss attitude,  she is in dance and is in a homebased preschool program.  I wish I could just freeze them at the ages they are at. It's bittersweet any time a baby starts becoming independent and having two that are needing you less every day is tough. I know it's a good thing because this baby will need a lot of my time and energy when he/she comes but still I want them to stay little just a little bit longer. It's hard to believe before I know it I'll be a mother of 3. Our little family is growing.

Odd Morning in the Montgomery House

Had a creepy morning...I woke up needing to use the bathroom like always. I had fallen asleep on the couch and the tv and dvr had shut themselves off during the night leaving me in the dark. I heard Allen start to babble upstairs and I heard what I thought was Amelia talking to him. Thinking Amelia had woke him up; as she often does, I headed up to check on them. To my surprise I walked in to find Allen alone in the room. Amelia was still out cold in her bed. I brought Allen to daddy for a diaper change. I went down with his bottle as I entered the kitchen this toy (which has creepily gone off randomly since we got it) started going nuts in the dining room. I stood in the kitchen at the sink struggling to wash the bottle which somehow seemed to be completely coated with sugar crystals despite the fact no sugary drink had been in it. I could hear rustling in the basement when I turned the water off. My first response was "it's just the cat"...that was until I nearly tripped over her while turning to walk into the livingroom..I got Allen and laid him in his crib with a sippy cup I had finally resorted to because I could not get the mysterious 'sugar crystals' out of the bottle. I went to the bathroom to brush my teeth but when I opened the cabinet my toothbrush was not in it's place.  I was stunned..having had habitually and nearly robotically have place my toothbrush in the same cup in the same place in the cabinet since moving in this was odd.. I looked all over the counter and checked the floor.. then I opened the the top drawer under the bathroom counter and there it lay almost taunting me.. I started going over the events of the morning before and recalled as always putting it in the same place. At this point I decided that it could definitely have been Amelia that moved my toothbrush... as for the rest I'm a sleep deprived mom who has been going to sleep late and getting up early for a few nights because of one kid or the other.. I suppose I will never really know the reason for the odd occurrences this morning...

Hebrews 9:27 - And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment

Growing up and growing out

It is crazy to think a little over 3 years ago I was handed my baby girl and nearly a year ago, my baby boy. Now I have to start planning my little boy's first birthday. It eels as though I am constantly having to go through their closets to sort out the sizes of clothes that they have outgrown. It seems only yesterday my little girl was small enough to tuck in one arm and now she is so big she lays across half of my body when we snuggle. Allen too is getting big and no longer a little arm snuggler. His idea of snuggling is rubbing his slobbering mouth all over my shirt and face. They are quickly growing up and even though I am home with them all the time it seems like it's all passing too quickly. It almost feels as though they are just zooming through their childhood and I'm holding on to the bumper trying to slow them down. I can't even imagine what it will be like when one day they are heading out on their own. I have been thinking about it often with all the up coming grad parties. I am going to try to savor every minute I have with them until that day comes. I love my little darlings and I hope some day they will grow up and be able to feel the love I feel for them towards children of their own.

Proverbs 1:8-9 “Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.” 

Settling in...and the Boston Marathon...

So we have started to settle in the new house. Unpacking has begun as well as the every day tasks like cleaning and laundry. Amelia has been having a bit of trouble sleeping. Hopefully in a few weeks she will have no problem going to bed in her new room. I'm thinking maybe she needs a fan or white noise machine to help drowned out the sounds of the new house. We don't think much about it as adults because we know when the heater clanks during the night that it is the heat kicking on or any other noises that seem normal to us. They could seem scary to a little kid in a big new room. 

Both the kids are loving all the space they have to play now. The chaos and disorganization that goes along with moving is enough to make one's head spin. I think I spend more time looking for the things I need to do something than actually doing what ever it is. Crazy as all this moving stuff seems.... it's totally worth it to have my babies happy. 

Tomorrow the kids have headstart. I can't wait to show Connie around our new home. I think she will really enjoy it. 

Saturday is Amelia's birthday party. I can't believe she is 3 years old. I am so proud of what a wonderful little girl she has become. 

So on to a less enjoyable topic.... Today something horrible happened in Boston. It was the 2013 Boston marathon. The streets were lined with people waiting for the runners at the finish line. A bomb went off and then 15 seconds later another. At this time it has been reported that 3 were killed but over 100 people sustained serious injuries; even loss of limbs. This kind of tragedy always saddens us and makes us re-evaluate where we are in life and all the things we have that we should be grateful for. My heart and prayers go out to all touched by this horrible event. I pray that the people who did this are caught and punished. Today proves that God is watching. Two bombs went off in crowds and more people could have died. He was there in the crowd. I pray that the lives lost were on their way to heaven and now can live a peaceful life without pain and sorrow like we have here. 

Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in

 tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Moving Day is Approaching

We got fully approved on Good Friday. We are moving on the 10th. I can't believe how quickly things went through. We are all very excited. Started packing today but don't have nearly as many boxes as we actually need. I really can't wait to be in our new house. I am looking forward to having a backyard for the kids. 

Amelia's birthday is also in a few days. It's hard to believe she is nearly 3!

Joshua 24:15

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁵ But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household,we will serve the Lord.”

New house maybe...

Last Friday (1/18/13) we went to look at houses. It was our first outing with our realtor and we fell in love with a house. At first we planned on seeing some others before making a  decision but the longer we sat and thought about it and the more we talked about it we wanted that house. We could not get it out of our heads. It was like the haunting images of all our dreams rolled into one gorgeous old home.

Entry Way Floor

Coat Closet

When you enter the house and walk into the living room it smells crisp and clean with the faint perfume of wood. The sun bounces off the wood lighting up the house like a stained glass window. The living room is large but welcoming. It has hard wood floors and two built in cabinets. The window facing out to the street has a window seat that looks out on the deck.

Living Room Cabinet

Living Rom Floors

The kitchen is perfectly sized with more than enough cupboards and counters. The kitchen also has the old tin ceilings. Off the kitchen is a beautiful little morning room that also has the tin ceilings. It has a corner cabinet and windows the look out onto the fenced in back yard. The dining room is big enough to host a thanksgiving dinner in with room to spare.

Morning room

Kitchen Floor

Kitchen Ceiling

Morning Room Cabinets

The upper level is preceded by a grand staircase. Upon reaching the top of the stairs you will find a hall space complete with a linen cabinet. The two smaller rooms are not so small and have the same hardwood floors you find in the living room. Their spacious closets could easily hold a child's clothing and toys. One of the smaller rooms also has it's own deck.

Bottom of Stairs

Middle of Stairs

Upper Floor Hallway

Bedroom 1

Bedroom 2

Small Bedroom Closet

The master is something out of a fairytale. It is complete with a dressing room and full length mirrors for closet doors. It could easily hold a large bed while leaving room for a sitting area. It has large windows that keep it well lit. The carpet is soft and new.

Master Bedroom

Dressing Area

Master Closet

The upper floor bath is average sized but pretty. It has great counter space. The mirror is well lit and can hold plenty of health and beauty products.

Bathroom Floor

Bathroom Mirror (unlit)

Bathroom Mirror

Praying like crazy!

Proverbs 24:3-4

By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. 

1 Thessalonians 5:17   

 Pray without ceasing.

Joshua 24:15
 
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.