Terrible Twos Here We Come!

I never really understood why they call them the Terrible Twos when it always occurs before they turn two and three is way worse, so far four is appearing fairly whiny! Any who, we've entered our terrible two phase, lack of obedience but still oh so cute. It's so tough to not laugh when they realistically are being funny even though it is dangerous and a huge no no. Well last week I commented about her speaking abilities and as always they prove you to be a liar! She had a major vocabulary explosion this weekend which includes the word yeS. and that is her pronunciation on the S part. Our kids are huge mommy babies, I love it, however it does get on my hubby's nerves just a bit. Last night he laid down with Sweet Pea and to his surprise she stayed in the bed, so he quickly falls asleep-his first mistake, falling asleep before the baby! Well I hear commotion coming from the bedroom and when I arrive my sweet precious daughter has climbed onto the dresser and is coloring on the mirror! She exclaims, "It's Pretty" After some scolding and walking her to time out, she explains to me "its funny". Her entire 1 minute in time out she reiterates "its funny". Will she be our problem child-she definitely has a bigger fascination with colors and has colored on the walls, the floor, now the mirror. She's more defiant than even Li at this point. But never the less at least she has a sence of humor! It's Funny!

Sounds from the Collin's house

This beautiful little girl is becoming extremely vocal! Her new phrase: Help Me! Everything is help me, at least she's using it in context, now if we could only understand the difference in yes and no. It would be really nice if No didn't also mean yes! But look at how much she's grown, I'm rather impressed with her hair! It's finally long enough for a bow, if we could just get her to leave them in! I think in another week or two we may also be able to sport a pony tail!

Snow 2010

Sweet Pea attempting a snow angel

Li making his snow angel

Our Snowman thanks to Mr. Potato Head!










Liey throwing a snowball at mommy










Sweet Pea throwing her snowball at mommy










Sweet Pea escaping to the back yard-it was beautiful.

Sweet Moment

I went ahead and gave Li and Sweet Pea their Valentine's gift last night. They were so excited! Anna held her balloon and had this goofy laugh. But Li did the sweetest thing. He told me mommy I got you a present also. (My mom was sitting on the couch shrugging her shoulders.) He went and got his Valentine basket that he made at school and gave it to me! I was so impressed and so in love. It was one of his sweetest moment.

As if she were my own

There are events in life that will stick with you forever. Marriages, births, deaths, funny moments. Four years ago today our best friends welcomed their first daughter into the world. This birth will stay with me forever, not only because of the beautiful child that we have with us today but also because we were expecting our first child. So this delivery was my eye opener or actually Chris' on what we could expect. Forgive me for those that don't know this story it may be graphic. We ate dinner and then decided we would go over to the hospital you see Jess has been in labor like 2 days so surely this child would arrive soon! We get the phone call a we were getting out of our truck at the hospital, she's here! We ran straight into the proud papa in the hallway, he took this moment to describe his daughter's birth to my poor husband. So apparently it kind of looks like when you shoot a deer in the heart. Sorry Jess I know you hate that story! At this point Chris is seeing stars, his mouth has hit the floor, eyes wide open looking slighy nauseated he turns around and tells me he doesn't think he can do thiss! Thanks proud papa I now have to spend my next 3 months convincing my husband he's strong enough to be at his son's delivery. All joking aside this little girl has changed the lives of those she's met. She's beautiful, intelligent and humorous. Happy Birthday and we live you Josie.

Holidays

Did we have Christmas? How about Thanksgiving? I can't believe it's already January 19, 2010; my how time flies! I am proud to say that I cooked Thanksgiving lunch, went way overboard and sent lots of food home with Uncle Wade! We were supposed to spend Thanksgiving with Chris' side of the family, his parents and aunts in Decatur, but Chris was on call all week and I'm not quite crazy enough to drive 3 hours in a car alone with 2 small children. Maybe in a few years! Chris did work Thanksgiving day but was home around lunch and we had a nice quiet, overzealous Thanksgiving with just the 7 of us, plus 1 friend. I also attempted to take pictures of the kids for our Christmas card. We went to Bass Pro to see Santa, who was very busy and Liey was very angry that we left, see photo above! The day after Thanksgiving Chris and I went shopping. We had an absolute blast with each other, we were so on the same page that day, spent lots of money and I truley believed that we were done Christmas shopping when we came home. But according to my pocket book I was far from done, you will see pics of what Santa left, it's so hard not to spoil them. So once again Christmas was filled with fun and joy and busyness. Liey sang in the tree lighting ceremony with his preschool. He was hilarious, he sang and cried, afterwards he told me he was so scared. But he did really well and I am so proud. The week of Christmas arrives and we spend one night with our dear friends exchanging gifts with each other. Well Mr. Li not missing a beat tells me that the gift Uncle Joe & Aunt Jessica has just given him is not what he wanted for Christmas! He graciously repeats this statement numerous times. Now I must explain that the entire time he's telling us this isn't what he wanted for Christmas he is playing with the gift, to the point where he is so distracted he doesn't even realize when the girls go take a bath. Needless to say I was slightly embarrassed, Oh Well at least he's only 3. Christmas Eve arrives and we head to church for communion services, Elias explains that Santa isn't going to come and see him because he didn't clean his room. So the elder members of our church look horrified and explain to him that he shouldn't have anything to worry about. This brings me to my dilema. I grew up with Santa, my husband grew up with Santa, but I'm finding it very difficult to allow Santa to infiltrate our Christmas. I mean how confusing is it. We celebrate this holiday because Jesus was born (and it's Poppy's birthday-that's a whole nother blog!) but then this big guy in a red suit drops off presents? HMMM-I'm even confused. Hopefully we filled our month with enough Christian activities that the true meaning of Christmas stuck.

I love you Liey and Sweet Pea

I don't have skeletons in my closet as some would say. I never hide anything about my life and I tend to even tell some of my more personal moments as it could always relate to someone else's life. Reading other peoples indescretions, actually let's say moments of truth has gotten me through some of the more tougher aspects of my life. I've shared before about my previous miscarriages but right now I'm going to share what I went through emotionally. Yes I can be emotional just ask my husband, he's seen it. A very private side of me just because it's a side I don't tend to share with many, that's just me. I have experienced two miscarriages. One was tougher than the other for the simple fact that it occurred at 12 weeks and I had a D & C performed. I left the hospital that day, thankful that I had a son waiting for me at home but at the same time I questioned God. Why would he do this to anyone? Why would he allow his own to go through this pain? Why when I can provide an awesome home for one of his miracles? Unfortunately I will probably never get an answer to any of these questions, at least not on this earth. You see my four children, yes I consider myself to have four, my husband and I prayed for, cried for, and have experienced heartbreak for. You never get an answer that you want and even if that answer does come it never takes the pain away from the experience. Now since I have experienced such heartbreak, how does this play into my life? I hold a baby and it is a miracle, a blessing, a true gift from God, even if it isn't my own. I can say that my miscarriages have molded me to be the parent that I am. Am I a better parent than you? No. But I am a parent who doesn't get stressed over the small stuff! So what if my kids decided to shed their clothes and go swimming in the wheel barrel in the middle of winter. Just dry em off and bring em back in. I do not yell at my children, I have lost my cool a time or two yes, but I always gather it instantly and apologize to them. Don't get me wrong we discipline but not everything needs to be disciplined. My children are sweet, energetic, loving, and for the most part mind their manners. And my only goal in life, other than to teach the word of God, is to enjoy them. Because every time I look at their picture or see their smiling face, I remember the days of crying, heartbreak and sadness that my husband and I went through together in order to bring these two babies into this world. Each experience was different but each experience has made us the parents we are. I will never understand why people have to loose a child regardless of if he/she was just conceived or whether they are 40. All I know is it has been worth the heartache, the crying, oh and can I say the money to be able to raise and know God's most precious blessing.