Missing Our Sadie

This week has been tough without our Sadie Girl. I've come to loathe that cycle of temporarily forgetting, only to remember all over again that she's gone.

Justin and I got Sadie for our first Valentine's Day as a married couple--she was our first "baby." She would have turned 7 this Christmas Eve. Justin and I were talking about our memories of her, and while there are many special ones, we remember most fondly how good she was with Trevor and Aila. When Trevor was a newborn and was in a bassinet, Sadie used to put her chin on the edge of the bassinet and rock Trevor when he cried.

Goodbye, Sweet Sadie

We are heartbroken to say that our sweet Sadie Dog passed away today.

Not really up for saying more than that right now, but at some point we'll post with pictures and videos to honor the seven years we had with our Sadie Girl.

Santa Baby, Rudolph, and More

Here are some pictures of the kids during this Christmas season. Enjoy!

Visiting Santa at the Bank

With our Santa test-run under our belts (see next post) we headed to the bank to see another Santa at the bank. What a difference a day (and a real Santa beard) makes. Trevor wasn't nervous, and went right up and sat on Santa's lap. He told Santa, "I want a green garbage truck and a trash can with lots of garbage in it, please." Bet Santa hasn't heard that one before! And since I know Trevor won't be browsing this blog, I can tell you that Pop & Essie got him the Tonka Titans Recycling Truck that comes with a recycling bin and trash can. So it looks like the Little Man will get his trash can for Christmas. God bless us, everyone!!!

Visiting Santa at Starbucks

On Friday night I took the kids to see Santa at Starbucks. Trevor was trembling, clinging to me, and having zero interest in getting anywhere near the jolly old guy. So Aila went first. We put her on Santa's lap, and at first she was completely at ease (typical Aila)...


...and then she turned around and looked at him.

Over the next 30 seconds, her bottom lip began to turn down at the corners more and more. Then there were tears.


Trevor was up next. He wanted to keep his distance, so he stayed way back and tried to yell his Christmas present requests to Santa. This picture cracks me up since Trevor is soooo far away from Santa!

Eventually he inched closer and closer until he was finally willing to stand next to Santa. But at no point was he willing to sit on his lap. Could it have been the obviously faux beard?

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

I recently introduced Trevor to the movie "ELF"--his favorite part is when everyone sings "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" and there's finally enough Christmas spirit for Santa's sleigh to fly. He was so excited to hear this song in the movie, since I've been singing it to him for a few weeks now. He likes to sing along.

My camera battery died in the middle of this second video, but Trevor was saying something about how he had enough Christmas spirit to go to the donut shop. I bet! :)

Back to the Polls...Weren't We Just Here?

Today was the runoff election for the GA senate race between Saxby Chambliss and Jim Martin, so back to the polls we went.

I was telling Trevor about the two candidates this morning--then later as we were leaving the polls, Trevor asked, "Mommy, did you vote for Sexy Chandles?" :)

We saw Trevor's little buddy Liam at the polls for the presidential election, so I asked him, "Do you remember who we saw last time we went to vote?" He thought about it a moment and said, "John McCain?"

Brother and Sister

Trevor -- December 2008

This year it's been really fun getting ready for Christmas. Trevor's totally into it. Thanks to the lyrics of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," he's been one good little boy! He's really excited about going out to California for Christmas this year. We'll be there in 16 days!! * Before we went out to take pictures, Trevor asked if I would put some "Jello" in his hair to make it look nice. :)

Aila -- December 2008

Little Aila Grace. We're getting ready to celebrate Aila's first Christmas--was she really not here yet last Christmas??? In some ways it feels like we've had her forever, but in some ways it seems like the 10 months with her have really flown by. She took a couple of steps today. :)

Aila vs. The Medicine

Aila is not a fan of her orange-flavored antibiotics. As a result, it's been pretty not fun trying to give it to her. 'Nuff said.

The Five

Here's a little survey that was passed my way entitled "The Five":

Ten years ago I:

1. had no idea that my Kitchen-Aid Mixer was 3,000 miles away, but that we were on our way to each other.
2. was 22 years old.
3. was plugging away at my bachelor's degree, attending California State University Stanislaus,
and working at Turlock Christian Preschool.
4. had extraordinarily short hair.
5. went on a family cruise to Hawaii to celebrate my grandparents' 50th anniversary (see their 60th anniversary pics here).

Five things on my “To Do” List today:

1. Praaaaay.
2. Make a list of things to take on our trip to California.
3. Take a moment to breathe.
4. Get better. All the way better.
5. Hug the three other people under this roof extra tight.
* 6. Vote in Tuesday's runoff election for the GA senate seat (I had to put a #6 in there--this one's a big one).

Five snacks I enjoy:

1. Oreos. Which is why I stay away. Can't each just one....box. ;)
2. Chocolate-covered almonds. I think Dr. Street thought I was crazy when I told her I was having cravings so severe that I would knock over an old lady just to get a handful of chocolate-covered almonds. AFTER I had already had Aila.
3. Peaches and Strawberries.
4. Shortbread.
5. Caramel.

Mmm....I forgot--what was I doing?

Five things I would do if I were a millionaire:

1. I'd be all about giving to build God's Kingdom.
2. I'd live debt-FREE!!!
3. I'd buy Justin a car with air conditioning.
4. I'd live within my means with lots of margin (yes, even as a millionaire).
5. I'd go on lots of dates with my husband.
6. I'd take my kids to the zoo, to the park, to the children's museum and not worry about what the gas or price of admission would cost.

Five places I have lived:
1. Turlock, CA
2. Mount Hermon, CA
3. Arlington, MA
4. Wayland, MA
5. Acworth, GA

Five jobs I have had:
1. Accounts Payable Clerk (bet ya didn't know that about me, did ya???)--for 5 years!
2. Preschool Aide
3. Nanny
4. Substitute Teacher
5. First Grade Teacher

Five things I know for sure:
1. Jesus loves me.
2. I did, nor do I, nor will I do anything to be worthy of His love, but it's mine anyway.
3. My family is my number one ministry.
4. It's God, then Justin, then Trevor and Aila.
5. I have it really, really, really, really, really good. :)

I Am So Thankyou

No, that's not a typo. Instead of saying "thankful," Trevor says "thankyou." So tonight when I put Trevor to bed, he was just so tender and sweet. And after a conversation with him that was so special I know I'll never forget it, he held my face in his hands and said, "I am so thankyou for you."

We spent this Thanksgiving with the Graham fam...Bruce & Linda, Pete, Julie, and Nate, James, John & Jen, Matthew and Sarah. Always a fun and special time! I'll have to upload photos later...gotta get some sleep tonight.

Today was Aila's first Thanksgiving. A year ago I was on bed rest due to Aila's IUGR (Intrauterine Growth Restriction) diagnosis, and Dr. Street told me to eat, eat, eat! Now THAT was a great Thanksgiving...but this one was so much better. It was the four of us. Our family. So thankful and so blessed. And to think that none of us even knew that God had Nate in store for Pete and Julie this time last year--he is such a gift from God.


Lord, thank You for loving us, saving us, and giving us hope now and forever. Thank you for our marriage, thank you for our children, our families, our friends, our health, our church, our jobs, our warm home, clothes on our backs and food on our table. Thank you for freedom. Thank you that You desire more for us than we even desire for ourselves. Thank You for knowing us more intimately than we know ourselves. Thank you that we're here on purpose. Thank you that we are a planting of the Lord for the display of your splendor (Isaiah 61).

Antibiotics All Around!

The kids have both been really under the weather, including coughs, fever, congestion, and eyes glued shut. I mean really glued shut! We had to use a warm wet washcloth on Aila's eyes several times before they could open up at all. So we paid a visit to Dr. McGee, and sure enough in addition to all the other stuff, after checking both Trevor and Aila she announced, "Four ears, four ear infections!" So we're underway with some Amoxicillin (which smells chalky and orange--whatever happened to the bright pink yummy bubble gum flavored stuff from my childhood?) and hope to be up and running before Thanksgiving.

We also did Aila's weight check when we saw Dr. McGee. I was hoping for at least 14 pounds, but no go. She's 13 pounds 6 ounces. She was 13 pounds 3 ounces at her 9 month check up, and an even 13 pounds three whole months before that. So while I was hoping she'd gained a bit more, Dr. McGee pointed out that in 25 days she'd gained what she'd previously gained in 3 months. So we'll take it! And maybe we'll slip Aila some turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy on Thanksgiving. :)

Up those stairs!

Aila loves stairs. Loves them. She makes a beeline for them, crawling along and saying, "Uh! Uh! Uh!" and then keeps saying it as she crawls up the stairs. Since she was a little baby I'd always say "Up!" as we walked up each step. She often goes up a stair or two, then turns around for a kiss from me. Sweet girl. :)

His Love Languages

There's a book out called "The Five Love Languages" which discusses how we give and receive love...

1. Acts of Service

2. Physical Touch

3. Personal Time

4. Words of Affirmation

5. Gifts

It seems to me that for Trevor, his primary love language is GIFTS. He is truly in appreciative AWE when someone has gotten something for him. Yesterday he was on the phone with Pop and Essie and he told them, "Thank you for my Thanksgiving card. It made me so happy!" And it did. He had us read it to him several times and toted that card around all day. I think his secondary love language is PERSONAL TIME. I think it runs a distant second, because he's really content to play independently. But at the end of that time, he relishes the time with us. Hanging out by the fireplace, snuggling each morning...he loves it. And once he's filled up with lovies, he's off to play with his pick-up truck again.

Oh, how we love that little boy.

Mischief with a Sippy Cup

Aila got a hold of Trevor's chocolate milk cup yesterday, and she was laughing hysterically (for the record, it was milked-down chocolate milk and she hardly drank any--as you can see, most of it ended up on the front of her)!

Ms. Georgia's Sweater (on both kids)

Georgia, the mother of my best friend Kelly, knitted this beautiful sweater and hat for Trevor before he was born. And now I've passed it on to Aila Grace. Here's Aila strutting her stuff...and then the last one is a picture of Trevor when he was a baby. :) Can you tell these two are related?

It STILL FITS?!?

This week I was in Aila's closet and saw the dress she wore the day she was born in the hospital. She even had her hospital picture taken in this. I decided to try it on her, and even though she's nine months old, it still fits her!!!

Here's a picture of her at about a month old in the same outfit...

Standing Up

Aila has been standing a lot lately, and as you can see she gets so excited (the second clip especially makes me smile) :) I honestly think she's able to stand because her center of gravity is so low. The girl's tiny!

Trevor's getting married!! And for all the right reasons, too!

Last night before bed we were showing Trevor our wedding album. At first he saw the picture of the big cake...then he came upon the picture of the gift table. I could see the wheels turning, but he looked at the rest of the pictures quietly. When we were done he said, "Can I get married?" I said sure, but to give it at least 20 years. "Why do you want to get married?" I asked him. "I want a big cake and all those presents, too."

Little man, I believe what you're looking for is a birthday party. And you had one of those 3 weeks ago.

When we asked who he wanted to marry, he said "Camden's mom." On the guest list: Elliott, Lexi, Jadyn, Simon, Kayleigh, Camden, Greyson, and Aila. Keep your eye out for your save-the-date cards in the mail. But I should warn you, if I have anything to do with it, it won't be before 2028.

Nice Duds, Little Man

The other day Trevor was totally excited that he put on all his clothes from head to toe--shirt, pants, undies, socks and (albeit laceless) shoes. He told anyone who would listen the whole day. I checked him, fully expecting inside-out, on-backwards stuff, but it was all done right! Incidentally, if he had gotten something on wrong, I would've left it. He was just too proud of himself!

You can't say we don't have fun around here!

While getting ready for bedtime the other night I handed Trevor a pull-up and asked him to put it on. He did...but not how you'd think!

Then Justin got in on the fun!

The King and Queen of the Village

My grandparents are officially the coolest. They were voted King and Queen of Samaritan Village, the senior community in which they live. There was a parade this weekend, and they got to drive in a convertible leading the other residents on their motorized scooters...

Yep--Grandpa is 82 and Grandma is 81--took them awhile, but they're officially royalty!

Then again, we already knew that...When Dad called me to tell me they were voted King and Queen, all I could think was, "Sounds about right!" :)

ELECTION DAY 2008: The first of many for Trevor (the flip-flopper voter) and Aila (his sister in need of a tissue)

This morning before heading off to the polls, I asked Trevor a few times who should be our next president. He gave me a different answer each time! Enjoy these two videos of my little political flip-flopper and my sniffly little girl!

One of these men will be the leader of our country starting on January 20th, and may continue to be all the way to 2016. Think we need to pray? I absolutely feel the conviction to pray for EITHER of these men, no matter the outcome, no matter how I feel on the matter. Romans 13:1: "...There is no authority except that which God has established. " Whoever assumes the presidency has a daunting task ahead. May he be covered in prayer as he goes forth. Beyond the economy, the war, the stock market, I pray for a president who will preserve truth. These men make so many promises out on the campaign trail. And to me, so much of what they say is secondary. Whether McCain or Obama wins tonight, may he not lead us one step further away from God has established to be TRUE in His Word.

Imagination Movers

Trevor loves the new show "Imagination Movers." He pretends he's Mover Dave and pulls things out of his hat, or pretends he's having a "bad hair day" like Mover Scott, and he loves to sing the theme song. Fun! :)

Happy Halloween!

For Halloween Trevor was an elephant (He was not happy about this--he wanted to be a monster truck, but his cheapo mama found this elephant costume at a consignment sale). Aila went as a ladybug.

It was pretty funny--Trevor seemed to marvel that people were just handing out candy. After each house (as you'll see on the video below) he came back saying, "That one gave me candy, too!"