Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Happy 18 Months Troy!

Eighteen months! Wow, a year and a half! Time flies so fast! I’m so thankful for you!

Your laughter is truly infectious, especially when your dad is tickling you. I can never get the same kind of laugh out of you that your dad does. I guess I’m just not funny enough! ; )

You love to “go! go! go!” Whenever someone is holding you, you’ll say “go! go! go!” meaning you want down to GO!

Your hair has come in so nice and neat . . . in face, people have asked me if you’ve gotten a hair cut because it is so even. So different from Ella’s (still!) crazy hair.120308IMG_1271.jpg

Your expressions are pretty priceless at times. You certainly know how to put on a pouty face. And, if I couldn’t tell otherwise, I’d know immediately that you and Ella were related when I saw the pouty faces appear. It is so funny to me how much your pouty faces look alike!120223IMG_0954.jpg

You figured out how to climb in and out of chairs this month, and you LOVED playing in Ella’s rocking chair. 120228IMG_1080.jpg

I’ve mentioned it before, but you like to climb, and I walked in to the scene below one day this past month. Your climbing scares me, but I know it is a part of growing up. I’m just not used to it because Ella never was (and really still isn’t) much of a climber at all. (OK, so after reading Ella’s 18 month post, apparently she did climb, and I just don’t remember!) You figured out how to dance standing up (not holding onto anything) this month as well . . . your movements are too funny!120323IMG_1315.jpg

You love, love, love being outside! You’ll pick up your shoes and bring them to us to put on you so you can go play outside. When we play outside, and it is time to come inside, you often throw a fit because you want to play outside so much.  You love throwing leaves and exploring everywhere.120323IMG_1413.jpg

Signs you do: more, finished, milk, hungry, thank you, please, thirsty, sleepy, bath

Words you say: Truthfully, you know more words than I can count or keep track of these days, but here are the ones I can remember for now, granted, your dad and I (and maybe Ella) might be the only ones who understand you. bye, ball, Bible, bottle, bite, book, blue, mama, dada, Ella, “eeses” (Reeses, our dog), “ah-ee” (Ali, our other dog), Lucy (grandparent’s dog), “anks” (thanks), “ank oo” (thank you), “ish” (fish), “inished” (finished), duck, “ootball” (football), hut (as in football), basketball, RhuRhu (grandma), Gigi (grandma), Pop-pa (grandpa), hey, hi, down, up, uh-uh, “eese” (please), play, ready, “gup” (cup), cracker, chicken, cat, slide, Bailey (a friend), Katy (a friend), Ashy (a friend), trash, clap, shoes,  cookie, cow, stinky, go, Mickey (like Mickey Mouse). I also think you say something that sounds like “what’s that?” and “I want” (as in “I want a bite”)

Animal noises you make: chicken, duck, cow, dog

Body parts you can identify: nose, eyes, mouth, ears (I think!)

Favorite foods: banana and beans, generally rice, goldfish, and crackers, and then I don’t know what else. You eat a ton of different stuff, but half the time something you gobbled up the day before, you won’t touch the next day. It can make it very tough figuring out what to feed you!

Favorite activities: walking (and almost running!) and exploring everything, especially following Ella or chasing a dog; reading books; watching Blue’s Clues; taking baths; playing with balls (you love to throw any kind of ball); playing outside; playing with toys, especially talking on the phone or putting things over your head or playing with the kitchen stuff; trying get any electronics or drinks you can spot.

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Troy @ 17 Months

Ella @ 18 Months

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Drafting Dinner: Weekly Menu Planning

Last week’s menu was a bust (meaning I didn’t cook at home nearly enough), but I’m already off to a better start this week. Here’s what I have planned:

  • Roasted red bell peppers stuffed with ground beef, cream cheese, and shredded cheese
  • Grilled chicken and sausage with black eyed peas and grilled squash
  • Roast with scalloped potatoes
  • Hamburgers
  • Steak with mashed potatoes and a veggie

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Thankful Thursday {Jamaica Edition}

A full (likely long!) post about my mission trip to Jamaica is coming, but for now, a few things I’m thankful for related to the Jamaica trip.

  • I’m thankful for my parents, who watched Ella and Troy during the trip. We are so blessed to have family who is always willing to watch our children.
  • I’m thankful for the members of the mission team. I’m thankful they chose to spend a tiring week in Jamaica in Christian fellowship and the spreading of the gospel.
  • I’m thankful for a renewed focus on spiritual things. I’m thankful for spiritual conversations and mindsets.
  • I’m thankful for the studies that caused us to dig deeper in our faith.
  • I’m thankful for the power of the gospel (Romans 1:16).
  • I’m thankful for the eight souls who put on Christ (Galatians 3:27) and washed away their sins (Acts 22:16).
  • I’m thankful for the study and preparation that was put in before the team ever left Texas.
  • I’m thankful for the Jamaicans who allowed us onto their front porches, their homes, or even their shops to hear God’s Word.
  • I’m thankful for the Jamaican brethren. I’m thankful for the Christian fellowship we enjoyed together. I’m thankful for the Jamaican brethren who walked the streets of Jamaica with us, teaching souls the Bible.
  • I’m thankful for the opportunity to sing praises to God, and to hear God’s Word preached throughout the week. I appreciate the opportunity to hear God’s Word preached more than ever now that I have children who do not always allow me to hear the lessons.
  • I’m thankful for Christ’s sacrifice that allows all the opportunity to spend eternity in heaven, if you choose to obey His commands.

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Monday, March 19, 2012

Drafting Dinner: Weekly Menu Planning

After being away for a week for a Mission Trip to Jamaica, it is time to get back into the swing of things here at home. I cannot wait to share with you some reflections about our trip to Jamaica, but for now, the week’s menu.

  • Breakfast for dinner: pancakes, bacon, and eggs
  • Panko-crusted chicken parmesan
  • Ham, black-eyed peas, and cornbread
  • Chicken enchilada casserole
  • Grilled steak with grilled veggies
  • Hamburgers

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Thankful Thursday

I’m thankful time to play and watch my children grow.

I’m thankful for the rain that brought the weeds that Ella loved playing with this morning.

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I’m thankful for my Troy who toddles around throwing leaves.

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I’m thankful for family that is always willing to watch our kiddos when we need.

I’m thankful for the opportunity to spread the gospel.

I’m thankful for my husband and the hard work he does all the time spreading God’s Word.

Monday, March 5, 2012

Drafting Dinner: Weekly Menu Planning

Last week’s menu was pretty much a bust between eating out and swapping things out for different items or eating leftovers, so that’s why a couple of the same items appear this week.

  • Chicken and dumplings. I’m going to try this recipe because I have some Bisquick.
  • Roast
  • Taco salad
  • Hot and spicy pork chops {I love grilled pork chops, and this is a different twist on them} with grilled veggies

Friday, March 2, 2012

Words of Inspiration

I officially completed the Couch to 5K workout program today! I’m excited for my progress, but I’m sad to say that I’m not actually running a 5K distance . . . my pace is still too slow. BUT, considering where I came from, and how out of shape I was in the beginning, I’m thankful that I can actually jog for 30 minutes straight! Now I’m going to start working on my speed a little bit so that I can actually run a 5K in 30 minutes.

With that said, I saw a quote on Pinterest recently that really got my attention.

regret

No matter how awful I’ve felt after a workout, I’ve never regretted completing it.

 

What do I regret?

 

All those times I should (and could) have worked out that I chose to be lazy instead.

All those times that I should have gotten up early to workout, but chose to sleep in instead.

All those times that I ate food without considering the effect it was having on my body.

All those times I told myself that it really didn’t matter.

All those times I told myself that I couldn’t do it or that it was too hard.

The years that I have spent neglecting my health (eating and exercise).

 

BUT, I think I may have changed. I think I’m on a road to less regrets when it comes to my health. Sure, I know I’ll have ups and downs when it comes to taking care of my body. But, hopefully, I’m finally on the path where the ups greatly outnumber the downs.

My on-going journey to a healthy life