I should clarify

Okay, when I said I want to hibernate I meant this:
in the winter, it's cold, dry, cracking-skin dry coldness. I really don't like that part. And a lot of the first days of winter I spend wishing I could just stay in bed. Honestly, it's the best place to be when it's cold, yeah?
Warm, cuddly, and with a humidifier going on the nightstand you won't dry out. So I think it would be awesome to fatten up on pumpkin pie all fall just to hibernate in bed through the snow storms. : )

Anyway, since we can't do that....

Today Levi and I went out with both the kiddos-- something we haven't done a whole lot. I think Zoey just absolutely hates her care seat. She cries about 90% of the time she's in it. Like when I took her for a walk in the stroller with the car seat and she had just had a nap and nursed, yet she screamed a good 3/4ths of the 25 minute stroll. ? I know she'll grow out of it eventually, and I'm counting on it because I love walks....sigh. Especially in the spring. : )

Anyway, we went out with Isaiah and Zoey to look at some houses in Charlotte since we're moving out of our current home come January 1.
It was pouring down rain most of the time and Zoey cried a heck of a lot, but it was a good time. We got to see inside one house and got a few numbers for some others we're interested in. It would be great to actually experience Charlotte's culture a little bit more, and by moving closer we hope to be able to do that.

I need to go to bed but...had to share an Isaiah/Zoey story. First of all, Isaiah loooooves Zoey and is so great at kissing her, loving her, offering her his food, toys, stickers, etc.
And, of course, he's two, so he's very curious. Earlier today I was doing something on the computer about 5 feet away from Zoey who was lounging in her bouncy seat when I noticed Isaiah doing something with her face. Out of the corner of my eye I saw her grimace and quickly jumped up to get closer.
Low and behold, Isaiah had just stuck a PENNY in her mouth. THANKFULLY it was just on the tip of her tongue and I grabbed it as fast as momma's grab things that are dangerous (very fast-- like a ninja).
I tried to explain to him how that wasn't good, but I couldn't get mad at him, since he didn't know any better, obviously.
It definitely scared me to realize that he could so innocently put her in real danger!! Mercy, please Lord!


I made this hat for "squishy face" last week, thanks to a tip from Lora! : )


Another picture, just because she is so lovable.

winter

I wish i could hibernate.

aldi grocery store

I like to shop at Aldi for this reason and several others: they don't give you bags, you either have to buy theirs or bring your own OR reuse the packaging boxes that their food comes in (available at checkout), you have to use a quarter to get a cart (incentive to bring it back and reclaim your quarter), and it's small-- no wasted space on advertising or cosmetics. Just food.
And so the food is economically priced. It's nice to see HOW they save money. As opposed to Wal-Mart, where prices are slashed, but I wonder at what cost to their employees, providers and quality of products?

thinking about amy

I was thinking about questions that I can't answer.
I was thinking about friends who go through stuff that I can't figure out...
so naturally I was thinking about my sister, Amy, too.
I have so many, many unanswered questions. So many nagging "what ifs?" that can swirl up into a whirlwind in my mind in mere seconds.

And all I know is what IS.

Honestly, what could have been isn't worth dwelling on.

I may be starting to understand that. To understand that what happened HAPPENED. That it is over.

That answers don't bring peace.

All I know is that what is, IS.
Amy is gone. Everything is different now. It just is. I can't change it, I can't pretend it didn't happen. Sometimes I get really angry thinking about how much has changed. But I hope that that will pass eventually.

I hope I really can understand how to accept what is irreversible and find peace there.

Abortion Clinic Wall

I cannot even believe this.
Well, I can. But I'm still shocked:


New wall at abortion clinic. on 12seconds.tv

The low wooden fence was built about a year ago, but within the last few weeks this new privacy fence has gone up.

What you see here are some friends of ours praying with life tape over their mouths. This is a weekly event here in Charlotte where a simple, silent life prayer is prayed ("Jesus, I plead Your blood over my sins and the sins of my nation. God, end abortion and send revival to America!") outside of this abortion facility.
Sometimes there is also a woman or two who stand without life tape to try and talk to the couples walking in.
Apparently, their presence is making a difference!
Unfortunately for the abortion providers, the presence of the prayers will still be there whether they can technically see those who pray them or not.


Wow.
That's all I can say for now....

Pictures!

Finally got the pictures from my camera uploaded, so I'm going to be posting a few every day. : )


Isaiah turned 2 on October 17, 2008.



I put him in a very "manly" outfit for his birthday party that weekend.
He got these trains from my parents. Trains are one of his new big loves at this age.... turns out there are all kinds of things created just to fascinate children age 2+.
Like Thomas the Tank Engine and Bob the Builder, to name a few. : )



When some of my family came for Isaiah's birthday they got to see Zoyenka for the first time!!


This is getting to be our classic sibling shot.



Oh, sweet family.


Goodnight,
heather

Naps and glory

Today nap time started out very rough. Isaiah claimed he needed to
poop on the potty multiple times, disrupting our naptime routine and
delaying the inevitable "sleepy time" which was his plan, I think.
He also had a melt down when I left the room, loud enough to keep Zoe
from falling asleep for awhile in the next room over.
Finally he went to sleep and about 30 minutes later Zo popped her eyes
open. I had been resting for maybe 25 minutes at this point and felt a
little refreshed but frustrated that it couldn't have lasted longer.
I sort of gave up at that point and took Zoe downstairs.
Ok I am actually going somewhere with this...
A short while later Zoe went back to sleep and was out for 3 hours
while Zay slept almost as long and woke up cheerful for the first time
in quite awhile!
I was able to make bread, eat a salad and talk with Cathy M. for the
first time since Zoe's birth day! Glory!
:)
Anyway, the rest of my day has been cute-- Levi brought home Five Guys
and Isaiah ran around naked. We're about to enjoy another episode of
The Office. glory, glory.
Two of our beloved roomies who have been out of town for the last 2
months are probably coming back this weekend, making us all very happy.
All this to say I have recovered from the stressful naptime poopy kick-
off.
How was your day?

Zoyenka and mommy

I cannot even believe I have a gorgeous baby girl.
She is like a dream... and now she looks right at me a 'coos' with her beautiful, peaceful little voice.
Levi, Zay and I are so completely taken with her.
Levi already says that she's gonna be able to get anything she asks for from him. : ) ha! She does have a very convincing cry. You can tell she's letting you know what she thinks.

My dear friend Lora is in the hospital right now delivering her "mystery" baby (they didn't find out the sex). I'm so excited we'll have kiddos just 2 months apart. AND I'm so excited for her that she's done being prego -- since she's gone exactly 2 weeks past her due date just like I did! I know the relief. : )

It's late, I should go to bed.
Thanks for reading. : ) Goodnight.