Amelia is changing!

Amelia is getting so big. She is not much smaller than my first niece Miah was at 9 months. That isjust funny to think about now. Miah started walking so early, it is crazy to think that she was this small and toddling around. How the time flies.... Our sweet girl is doing so many things now. She plays with her toys on her "gym". She is rolling over like a pro to her belly, but gets frusterated after a while since she hasn't begun rolling back over. She laughs about silly things, and is really engaging into "talking", and is observing the world around her. Every one says she looks like her Daddy, which is soooo true. I used to never think babies look much like either parent, but it is clear to me who she belongs to!

AMELIA AND DOODLES

I love her little face.

Jairus has the best smile

Her crackin' up.

Today I am thankful for my Mom

My mom surprised us with an inpromptu visit. She came with  a quilt she had made for Amelia. It is so cute. I am thankful she will have a special blanket to carry with her forever. I enjoyed visiting with her, and Jairus enjoyed their "nature walk."

Thankful for

17th- Thank you God for used clothing stores! As many of you know, I am back on the trek of losing weight. I crazy, ridiculously overindulged while I was pregnant, and now I am paying for it. I hate not having anything to wear as I go down in size. What I hate more, is spending money on clothes I won't be able to wear in a month or two. This is why God gave us the Goodwill. I found a way cute pair of DKNY jeans, a sweater, and a cute shirt for $20! With the few things I have already, it will totally hold me over for a bit. I still have a way to go on my less of me journey, but a girl needs to feel pretty at any size.

16th- Today I thank God for Jairus' pre-school. It is amazing what they can pour into a group of kids in 2 hours. He comes home and tells me about his little day, and I just love it. It is so crazy to hear him repeat things other people teach him. He has his own little life now! It is great too, because it gives me a little one on one time with Amelia.


15th- I am thankful my husband has a career that suits him. As a kid, I remember my step-dad being mad all the time; and I am convinced it was because he hated his job. Since they spend so much time there, if they don't like it, chances are they will come home pissed off at the world. We are blessed. God has taken care of us every step of the way. Thank you Lord for your provision and blessing.

Today, I am thankful for family

We attended my nephew's dedication at church today. As I have matured and gotten a little wiser, I have come to the conclusion that my family is the best. I have great in-laws, and I don't think I recognize that enough. We have walked through times of contention, disagreement, and flat out stupidity. I have said and done things, that if I could, I would go back in time and punch myself in the face for.
       At the end of the day, I have been adopted by a Mom and Dad who love me as if I were their own. They took me in when I needed a home as a kid. They attended my graduation, thought of me on my birthday for the past ELEVEN years. My in-laws are reliable; I know if I call Dad to help me put up chicken wire, or fix a busted pipe, he is there. I have a Mom who will arrange her days off to help me, or take the kids on the fly if I need a break. I am grateful for the relationship they have with my kids. It warms my heart to see Jairus so excited to be with them. Amelia is still pretty new, but I think she'll feel the same way.  I have two brothers who suffer in the summer heat to help with our roof. One of which has replaced windows in and has fixed my car NUMEROUS times. The other has spent hours weed whacking my enormous back yard before I got a lawn mower. We walked together on our graduation day. He spent an entire day in the hospital with me when I was very sick, even after I told him he could go, he stayed with me. I have been given two sisters.  One of which is on my short list of best good friends. She is sincere, and generous. Sometimes, she is the only one in the family who gets me. I have learned much about forgiveness by watching her, and walking together figuring this whole family thing out. My other sister is much quieter, and I am just excited about getting to know her more. Another thing I am not lacking in is nieces and a nephew. As a little girl, I LOVED LOVED LOVED my Auntie Anne. And looking back on our special relationship, I so want to be that kind of Auntie, except without the Billy Idol haircut and rubber bracelets (love you Anne!)
    Being in a family is sticky, but oh is it worth it??? WITHOUT A DOUBT!
There is so much more detail I could give about why I am in love with my family. I would be here until Christmas if I tried.

Thankful

For Friday, I was thankful for Jairus. He brings such joy to our life. It was great to snuggle up with junk food and watch a movie together. We have a special relationship, and I treasure being his mom.

Today, I am thankful for my husband. He made breakfast, lunch and dinner, helped me clean up the kitchen, and even let me take a nap. We are entering a new season in our marriage, and I am thankful for that too. Not because the place we were was bad, far from it. More because we are moving into an even greater season of understanding each other, anticipating each other's needs, and letting silly things go. What a good man I have to walk this life with.

Today I am thankful for

Rest. A day off from work for Tim, school for Jairus. We skipped TEAMCAMP tonight, just to rest. I am thankful for this day off to pay tribute to our veterans. Thank you brave men and women who fight for our freedom. I know what it is like to sacrifice family and marriage in the midst of serving in the military. Thank you military families for supporting your troops while they are away, that love makes it a little easier to lay their lives down. I am thankful for freedom. I can say whatever I want, and not worry about being killed for it. Thank you military for giving us all those basic freedoms, which are precious, and sometimes not appreciated.

Thankful for today

So I seen this idea on my best good friend, Tina's blog. Every day in November to list something to be thankful for. So I will do one for yesterday and today.

Yesterday I was thankful for my husband. It was our 11 year anniversary of being together. He is a loving husband and father. He leads this family, submitted to the Lord, and walks humbly. Tim is my stability when all around me is chaotic. I love you Succulent!

Today, I am thankful God has a calling on my life. I know I was created with purpose, and He had a destiny in mind for me when He spoke me into existence. God has placed me in a circle of friends who sing my song, encourage me in the midst of their hardship. I have friends who see things in me I don't, and speak life into me. Thank you Leah for being that friend to me. You started off my Lifegroup Leader, became my Apostle and now you are not just my friend, but my sister.

Okay, it's been TOOOOOOOOOOO long, so much to update

Let's cut to the chase, so much has happened over the last year, I am just going to hit on the bigs, and add some photos from the previous year...

November brought our 10 year anniversary, of being a couple. We celebrated the occasion by a trip up to Leavenworth, just Tim and I. We didn't know it, but we came back with a qwasi-planned surprise. A few weeks later, we found out I was pregnant! December brought mood swings and Christmas. January was pretty uneventful, as was February, except for the fact we found out our little bun in the oven was a girl!!! In March, Tim was sent for more training, and Jairus and I had some time just being me and him. I soaked it in. April marked Tim's first full year working for FPS, and we celebrated our 8th year of marriage.
        As May rolled around, I was anxious to get this little princess out!! June come in with mild temperatures, which was so fine with me. I am a warm blooded girl anyway (wearing tank tops with no coat in January) and with being prego, it was nice for me. Then July came, with anticipation of Amelia's birth. She was due on the 29th. Unfortunally that day came and went, as well as the 30th, 31st, all the way to the 4th. I was scheduled for induction on the 6th, and I was not diggin' the idea of that. But on the 5th, contractions came hard and fast. Amelia Regan Barnard was born August 5th at 9:50pm. 21 inches long, 9lbs, 6oz!

So I have been terrible about having my camera, and taking pictures. But I am determined to get back on the wagon. Here are some pics from the past few months....

 Jairus and his one legged Buzz

Working on Amelia's bed

Welcome Baby!

 Silly Big Brother!

Jairus' birthday.
Ohhh, it was a HOT one. We celebrated with family and friends at the park.

 Miah and Amelia

The oldest kids!

Lunch.

 Amelia and Daddy

 So hot the cake melted

 Lightning McQueen, or a generic cousin.

Amelia in the heat

This time around, we didn't do a baby shower, but had a
 "Welcome Amelia" party

Laura and Amelia

The Cake

Grammy and baby

Kim and Elijah

Daddy and Amelia

Sweet bath time.

Jairus has little friends now. Keauna and Mac.

JAIRUS FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!!

Playing around

tummy time

Harvest Fest

Our little pumpkin was NOT having it

WOODY!

These two crack me up!!!

Those are all the pictures for now. We have so much going on in our lives now. With Tim's work, and getting involved in ministry via teaming up with two other families to plant a church! Our life is blessed and lovely. Jairus is learning so much at school, and becoming quite the little guy. He has Awana's on Wednesdays, and his ability to remember Bible verses amazes Tim and I. Amelia is now three months old. She is rolling over on occasion, but not diggin' the tummy time too much. She sleeps great though. I am trying to get back into a faithful routine of eating right and working out. Some weeks are great, and there are some stretches when I let my sweet tooth get the best of me. God is working out so many great things in our lives. I am just excited to begin to walk in a pastoral role, and work towards the calling we have on our lives as a family. In this next season, I am going to be more intentional about updating this thing, thanks for keeping up with us!

Are we there yet?

So very many reasons for that question to be my motto today. Let me give you a quick recap of my past week.....

Last Thursday morning... I had to call a locksmith to break into my mail box. I lost the one and ONLY key to it, and had to get my mail. $120.00 later, I had three copies of my new key and a slightly damaged mailbox. I was determined to have a great day despite my expensive mistake. Jairus and I went to get him fitted for new glasses and finished up our errands at Costco. Driving home, Jairus dozed off into much needed nap time. As I am about a mile from the house, I hear a noise, and suddenly my hood was buried in steam. I pulled over to see anti-freeze spurting out of my car like a pregnant woman who smelled roast beef. With Jairus sleeping, I call our roadside assistance, and..... well my phone dies!

     Dreading the sound of a cranky toddler, I pull him out of the car and go across the street to the school so I can call. By this time, Jairus is frustrated, and I am almost in tears. We had about an hour until the tow would be there, so I decided to walk home and come back in the truck. Unfortunately, Jairus doesn't want a piggyback ride. Nope. He insists on me carrying him in front of me. For a mile, I carry him, baby style, in cheap shoes. We get my car home, and now I ask, are we there yet? Is my Succulent Lamb Cop coming home soon? I am ready for my man! I miss my man doing the manly things around here! Thank goodness Tina loaned me her husband to fix my car (thank you Clint), otherwise I would have gotten ripped off my some stupid mechanic who knows I know nothing about my car.

The last several days, Jairus and I have been fighting sickness. Both of us have had trouble sleeping. Which makes double trouble for me, because if he isn't sleeping, neither am I. Luckily today, we finally got out to see the world and go to church. However...

Jairus peed his pants in Sunday school, and didn't tell any one. I go to get him, and sit him on my lap to put his shoes on. Oh lucky me, the special "waterproof" training pants I bought work as good as a paper towel. That cancelled my plans to have lunch with my friends. We get home, and he pees on the floor, and again in his pants. 

The problem isn't wheather he is ready or not. Because as soon as bedtime comes, he is up every 12 seconds to go potty. The problem is the fact that he does not care if he marinates in his body garbage. How do you get a kid to care? And this is yet another reason why I ask, are we there yet? 

How much longer until the light bulb goes off, and he drops the poo in the toilet? I have been working with him for a year on and off, and yet he has an uncanny ability to crap and pee all over himself!

And, are we there yet? Are we ever going to get there? This ride has been way too long, and I am DONE!

Chuggin' along

Crazy to think Tim will be home in a little less than 2 months. He will be leaving for 6 weeks or so at the beginning of the year, but he will make it home for Thanksgiving! We all all doing pretty well. Tim is of course, excelling at everything he is doing and learning. I am of course, staying up until Jimmy Fallon, and not waking up to an alarm clock. But the garbage has made it to the street without fail since he has been gone. So 3 stars for me.

My mom has been spending most weekends with us for the last several weeks. It has been nice to have someone to chat with at night ( I have been missing that). She is a furniture whiz, so she has refinished my front porch benches; and she is helping me refinish an oak cabinet I have has since I was about 8.

Jairus is growing to be an interesting mix of Tim and I. He LOVES books, and we usually read 30 minutes to an hour a day. Like Tim, he enjoys figuring things out. Jairus is loud at home, and sometimes other places. He is turning into quite the joker!

I got a couple good shots, then he figured out what I was doing... So he posed.

I love sneaking up on him when he does not know I am looking. He was reading out loud to himself, and singing.

He heard the flash of the camera, so he posed again!

The Jairus Eben Variety Show

The first three are variations of his favorite knock knock jokes. The last one is Jairus explaining what to do if you get frustrated.

Happy Birthday Jairus

I didn't feel up to organizing a big party with Tim gone. So instead, we kept it low key and small. For Jairus' birthday, I made some snacky finger foods and had Jeremy, Sam, the girls, and Tim's parents at the park to celebrate.









Carol made him the perfect cake. A Clue, a clue!













The kids enjoying cake!












Opening presents. I was late ordering his, a Buzz Lightyear to go with his Woody. Dan and Carol got him a transformer, clother (much needed), and some tools, among other things. He had a good day!




Then on Sunday, with my FRamily, we got a cake and he got the big birthday song. It was wonderful!