Staying Busy!

If there is one thing you can pretty much ALWAYS say about our family, it's that we are always busy!  Between the 2 kids, Derik's hectic work schedule, and 98% of our family living out of state... we are rarely BORED!  In the last couple of weeks, we have had a few more big achievements!









I am not ready to say that Abbie is completely potty trained just yet.  She is still sleeping in diapers (mainly because momma doesn't want to deal with stripping her bed on a daily basis) and occasionally, she REBELS, and refuses to wear her panties.  We are about to EX that though!  Since we know that she is FULLY capable, she will need to rise to the challenge pronto!  She will also be losing her paci in 5 days!  We are doing a countdown with her in hopes that when the day comes... she will be excited and want to give them up!  I am also doing a LOT of research and will soon be transitioning her into her "BIG GIRL ROOM"!!  It is taking me forever to decide what we actually want to do with her room!  I get a little OVER excited about decorating!

Brady has made HUGE growth in the last few weeks!  He is now eating 2 meals a day in his high chair, rolling over belly to back, and he got too big for his infant carrier!  Seeing him in his Big Boy car seat brought tears to this momma's eyes!

Brady Rolling Over

We are very excited for July!  We will be taking Brady on his first vacation, as we head to the beach!  I know Abbie is going to have such a blast, and I am looking forward to playing with her!

 - Jessica

I Wanna Leave a Legacy...

Have you ever heard that song???  "Legacy" by Nicole Nordeman, it is such a great song!  I used to listen to it all of the time, and the words are all but drilled into my brain!  With everything that I do, say, or show the world that I endorse... I wonder, how will it affect my "legacy".  How will people remember me??  I want people to say things about me like...

"Jessica was real, honest, and kind.  She was creative, and generous.  She put others before herself.  She loved her family and friends with everything in her heart.  She always made me laugh, even if it was at her own expense!  She was crazy, but so much fun."

Do you ever wonder what people will say about you when you are gone??  What kind of impression are you leaving?  What is your legacy?  People are going to make judgements and say things that you don't agree with or hurt your feelings.  People are going to be inappropriate.  People are going to bash you for what you believe in, and people are going to make fun of ANYTHING that is different.  However, isn't that what we should be focused on.  Standing up for our beliefs and standing out from the crowd???  Everyone will have to answer for their choices one day, and it isn't up to me to hold them accountable for what they did!  It's up to me to hold myself accountable for my own actions.  That way, when I have to answer for my choices... I won't have to cross my fingers that he lets me upstairs!

I don't want people to say that they thought I was a hypocrite.  I want my witness to show through and my love for God be evident in everything I do. I do NOT want to be so focused on worldly things or what people choose to do or the things they say.  Here are the lyrics to this song... I just love them!

I don't mind if you've got something nice to say about me
And I enjoy an accolade like the rest
You could take my picture and hang it in a gallery
Of all who's who and so-n-so's that used to be the best
At such 'n' such ... it wouldn't matter much 

I won't lie, it feels alright to see your name in lights
We all need an 'Atta boy' or 'Atta girl'
But in the end I'd like to hang my hat on more besides
The temporary trappings of this world 

I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love? Did I point to You enough
To make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace who
blessed your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy 

I don't have to look too far or too long awhile
To make a lengthy list of all that I enjoy
It's an accumulating trinket in a treasure pile
Where moth and rust, thieves and such will soon enough destroy

I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love? Did I point to You enough
To make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace who
blessed your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy 

Not well traveled, not well read, not well-to-do or well bred
Just want to hear instead, "Well Done" good and faithful one... 

 I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love? Did I point to You enough
To make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace who
blessed your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy 

I dont mind if you got something nice to say about me...

Proverbs 31:30 - Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, 

but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. 

 - Jessica

Our Staycation...

While we would both openly admit that we could DEFINITELY use a vacation, we decided that we were going to opt for a "staycation" in June.  Derik actually got a "weekend" off this week!  He was off Wed and Thurs, and with 2 days in a row off, it felt like a weekend to us!  I thought it would be fun to surprise him and book a night at Virginia Beach.  We could drive down Wed morning, stay the night, and head back Thurs afternoon!  Abbie would love the beach, and it would be so great to get away with our family!  Then the bliss faded and I am picturing Brady screaming on the beach from the heat, Abbie being afraid of the water, and neither of them sleeping because, even though we sprang for a room with a separate bedroom, they never sleep in the same room together!  I decided this "vacation" sounded like work & being that it was going to be pricey to get a room like that last minute, and we didn't want to come home more tired than we were when we left... we decided to "Staycate"!

Wednesday -

Derik took Abbie outside so they could "play golf"!  When it got to hot, they changed into their bathing suits and played in the sprinkler!  Abbie had a blast, and I think Derik enjoyed getting some time with just Abbie and himself.  I made dinner... YUM!  I made spaghetti, but not just any spaghetti!  I used half of a jar of spicy vodka sauce & half a jar of spaghetti sauce (Classico Four Cheese).  I mixed Andouille sausage in with the ground beef, and it was some kind of good!!!  After putting the kids to bed (in their own rooms, in the beds they love!!!)  we sat down and watched Fireproof, such a good movie!

Thursday -

We wanted to do something fun with Abbie, and since our first idea was vetoed by the VERY HOT weather outside, (we wanted to go to the zoo) we went with Plan B!  The Children's Museum of Richmond opened a new location on our side of town this month!  So, we went to explore it!
Finding it was a bit of a trick, but once we did... we were glad we made the trip!  Abbie had such a great time!  We went to Chick-Fil-A after so that  we could treat Abbie with "Chicky and Frensh Fries"!!!  She LOVES their "Linenaid" too! 
After nap we built a BIG fort!  Big enough for daddy to get in it with Abbie, and well... go to sleep!

So, while we may not have had our toes in the sand, we had a GREAT "weekend" and we are glad that we opted to save the money and stay home!  We are going to the beach at the end of July with Derik's family, so it was really a win win!

Here are a few pictures from our adventures...

 Firetruck and Bus at the CMoR Chesterfield!

Grocery store, Diner, Stage, and the "yard"...

Bait & Tackle Shop, Vet, and more of "the yard"...

Driving the bus with daddy...

Waiting tables for some lazy adults!!!  Dont they know this is for the kids?!?!?!

Daddy and Abbie waiting to ride the train!

It may be a bit small for daddy...

They found a way to be "comfortable" though!!!

Abbie's FAVORITE part of the museum!

Brady didnt think to much of it!

Abbie showing daddy her fort!

Derik asleep in the fort... not a lot of room left to play!

The fort...

And one sweet little girl, who randomly decided to drop to her knees and pray!  I guess she was thankful for our staycation too!!!

 - Jessica

Attacked by the NO NAP ABBIE MONSTER!

We put Abbie down for a nap at 1, she never napped, but we left her up there.  She would open the door and talk, and then shut her door back.  We really thought she had gone to bed finally... and then she came to the door and yelled "Daddy, look what I did..."
Any parent knows, that is never a good sign!  We found a nice surprise in her room!  She had colored on the walls, furniture, and various toys, as well as herself and most of her clothes with a Sharpie.  THE MOMENT YOU GO... WHY DIDNT I COME CHECK ON HER WHEN IT GOT QUIET???

 - Jessica

So many blessing's in 1 year!

One month after our relocation to Richmond, we learned that we were soon going to be a family of 4! On June 14th, 2011, I took the test AT TARGET!  I had a big feeling that I was pregnant, and there was no way I could wait until I got home!  With Abbie sitting in her cart, totally amused by a book, we occupied the handicap stall!  When the test showed positive, I started crying and laughing all at the same time!  Abbie looked at me very puzzled, and I told her that she was going to be a big sister!  She had no clue what I said, but with my excitement, she yelled out YAY!
We went next door to Kohls and bought the last BIG SISTER shirt that they had in stock, and headed to Fleming's!  It only took Derik a minute to catch on, and the SHOCK on his face was totally priceless!!!

It was official!  Our shock quickly became joy!  And we began letting our family in on the secret!  After our parents and my sisters knew, I posted a video on Facebook to share with our friends!  The response was overwhelming and we felt so blessed to have such amazing friends and family!

We began almost immediately thinking of names, and working on converting my then "Scrapbook Room" into a nursery!  It didnt take me long...

Of course I ended up changing my mind, and ditching this crib, and finished his nursery in a complete SPORTS theme!!  I was so excited about it, and getting it finished meant that I was ready to meet my little man!

He arrived with a BANG!  Almost 5 weeks early he surprised just about everyone with his middle of the night appearance!  I had been to the hospital 4 times for false labor, and thought this trip would end the same!  A drive home, with no baby... boy was I wrong!

After 10 hours of labor, 

 

Derik suited up...

and we headed into the OR!

And about 15 mins later... he was here!

January 21, 2012 @ 3:06am

He was 6lb 10oz and 19 inches long!

Now... here are are almost 5 months later!  Brady is beginning to teeth, trying solid foods, and talking up a storm!  He is precious, and we couldn't be happier!

 - Jessica

Abbie's "Fork"

Yesterday was ANOTHER rainy day in Midlothian!  Although I have to admit, rainy or sunny... we aren't getting out much these days!  With Brady's nap schedule up in the air, and Abbie's potty training in full force, we don't leave the house often!  Be that as it may, rainy days still have an effect on us!  The house is darker, everyone is tired, and we usually hang out all day in our pajamas!
Since it was another rainy day, I decided that we would do something we don't do very often, BUILD A FORT!  The last time I built one for Abbie, she was into it for about 2 minutes and then realized that when she was in there... she was in there alone!  This time she LOVED it! 
I slid her bed away from the wall, and built the fort behind it.  I put her "Princy Tent" at the entrance, and her couch inside with her basket of books!  Brady and I even hung out inside with her... it was so much fun!
Here are a few pictures from our adventure, or as Abbie called it "Mommy built my Fork"!!!  She said that a few hundred times!!

 "Mommy dis is AWESOME!"

 

Brady was a part of the fun too!

 

Holy crap... Mom put me in a fort!

 

 I just love this little girl!

 "Mommy, want to read wit me?"

 - Jessica

So many changes...

Things in our household have been changing every day!  It is hard to accept that fact that our kids grow up so quickly, but in reality... time doesn't stand still!  Some days I wish it would, and others, I am desperately looking towards bedtime.  It always seems like once you get into a good routine and settle into a schedule, everything gets goofed up!  We have had a few hiccups in the last few weeks, and I thought I would blog them... mainly so when I am old and gray, I can read them again!

Abbie has been potty training.  We began about 4 weeks ago, and it was a very bumpy start!  We bought everything that you could possibly need to potty train... if they sell it... we own it!  The list is as follows...

2 small pottys (one upstairs & one downstairs)

1 potty seat to put on a big potty

12 pairs of big girl panties

8 pair of Toddler Training Panties

3 Toddler Training Covers (vinyl covers... awful, dont buy!)

A potty watch

the "Potty Time" app on my phone

stickers

M&Ms

I made a potty chart

and we bought faucet extenders, so she could wash her hands by herself!

We also borrowed dvds and books about going potty from friends and family.  None of which really provided any incentive that she cared about the first week.  We gave it up and said we would try again later.  We started again, and things seemed to be going well.  We took a day trip out of town and she completely reverted!  Even though I packed her little singing potty, it was a total waste!  The Pull-Ups defeated everything.  

We stopped again, and started back up when she asked to do it.  We are finally having success, and she is actually doing really well!  She likes wearing her panties, and really likes it when we give her privacy in the bathroom!

Brady has had a huge schedule hiccup... and this one is beginning to get to me!  We are Babywise junkies, and had him sleeping through the night pretty early on.  That all changed about 2 weeks ago.  We took Brady to the doctor for his 4 month check up and the doctor told us that he should be going 4 hours in between feedings at this point.  He said for us to change his schedule and give him 6oz every 4 hours instead of every 3.  Our first mistake was listening to him!  Our second mistake was deciding that instead of 6oz every 4 hours (as Brady was not doing well with it) we would do 5oz every 3 hours!  This meant Brady was getting 25oz of formula in a day or 24oz of formula on the pediatricians schedule.  He needs 30oz, so this process did nothing except revert him back to waking up at 3am for a bottle.  Since mommy and daddy are completely exhausted and neither of us can remember the last time we got a solid night's sleep... we are nixing this plan!  Today I have been avid about scheduling Brady's feedings and naps!  I AM PRAYING FOR SLEEP TONIGHT!

Abbie has learned to say her full name (Abigail Farrar) and she is beginning to show early signs of reading!  She loves to "read" books to me!  Potty training aside, this is SUCH a fun age, and she makes me crack up laughing every day!  Brady is just as cute as can be!  He is so chubby, and I love it!  He laughs and smiles at me all the time, and it just makes me melt!  He is babbling a lot, and has really got the hang of holding his head up!  For those who didnt know, this has been another hiccup.  Brady was diagnosed with Torticollis, which means Twisted Neck.  In the womb, Brady laid with his head turned to one side, which caused the ligament on the right side of his neck to be stiff.  It has made it hard for him to turn his head to the left, which has in turn caused a flat spot on his head.  We have been working hard to fix it all, and it seems to be on the upswing!

On top of all of the crazy, I decided I would start up a little business!  It has been pretty quick to take off, and I am making a little money!  However, it does take time and focus.  I have enjoyed working on the orders though!  

I guess that about sums all of the crazy up from the last few weeks!  Abbie is about to get a BIG GIRL BED and our next project will be getting rid of her paci!  WHAT AM I THINKING?!?!?!

 - Jessica