[sipping a as decaf as you can get cafe mocha]

Since I’m [so graciously] cozying up to the idea that lots of trucks and ruckus will be arriving in late February or early March, I decided that some pink has to go in the way of decluttering Kyla’s stash of baby clothes. I would really love to sell a few boxes of them on eBay, but not really sure how to go about it. The other half of me would love to donate them to charity because honestly, it’s easier than boxing, shipping and hoping someone buys them. So, I think I’ll go the easy route and put them in the trunk and take them to the Goodwill. The boxes are doing no one any good sitting in my basement collecting dust. Kris thinks I just want to buy new if we have another baby girl; I just want to free up the space for his things downstairs.

I already decluttered Kyla’s toybox in anticipation of Christmas afternoon at grandma’s. Kris put a small TV and area rug in the middle room for the children to have a playroom. It’s an amazingly cozy and fun area. I need to find some good art or designs to put on the wall. I would frame Kyla’s art, but I need to wait a few more months for that.

Next in order would be the middle bedroom for Asher. It needs a fresh coat of paint and the fireplace finished. It should take a good weekend or two to spruce up his space. I’m not in a hurry as the babies sleep in the bassinet in our room until the sleep through the night. We’ll get his a dresser for his clothes and some shelves for the necessities, which after having Kyla for 20 months, are not very many items.

Well, since masculine ruckus outside has woken Kyla from her nap, it’s time to get her from upstairs and bring her down. Oh since I did add fierce boys to the title, I should add why. This little man is quite the kicker, puncher and active baby– much more than my little bug. We’ve made it to 29 weeks without any hitches. We get another sneak peek at him next Monday afternoon. I’m way excited!

It’s been way too long since my last post. I took a break from blogging, reading most blogs and the internet except for research and baby stuff. Life has been more than wonderful for my family and me. Hubby got a promotion at work– working 7-4 Mon-Fri– much more of a normal schedule. Kyla is growing into a sweet little girl who loves her daddy and momma and grandparents so much. Baby boy [Asher Thomas-- for all you lucky people who read my blog!] is approximately 27 weeks gestation and a very active, handsome little man. My pregnancy has been smooth, stress free, and absolutely a blessing. My belly is growing [and moving] like crazy. I almost forgot how big it really gets! My extended family has also had many great moments and answers to prayer that are beyond words. I just can’t verbalize my thankfulness of this season of my life. What an appropriate time for this to happen as we have just finished celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday, though I try to keep the attitude in my heart year around. Think of the many things in life which are good and not so good to be thankful for.

Kyla returns to the eye doctor tomorrow for a glaucoma exam. We’re praying for God’s wonderful grace to work in our lives once again. I don’t doubt His sovereigny and excellent will for our lives and situations.

It’s that time again. Yep, that’s right– another post. It’s been a busy summer and I don’t really have the time to blog good blogs every day. So, it’s time for an update post. Life has been good, Kyla’s almost 16 months old, Komet is still a wacky beagle, and we went to church camp last week. Tomorrow’s my NT scan at 2:00. I’m so excited to see Moxley again. It seems like forever ago that we last saw the baby. We don’t use the scan as a ‘I’m not perfect, so…” test; we use it as another opportunity to see God’s blessing once again! It’s finally summer! It’s been stinkin’ [if you don't wear deodorant, you will stink] hot out. 90 degrees doesn’t mix well with pregnancy or anything for that matter. Morning sickness/allday yuckiness still comes and goes, but oh well. I’m used to it now. Only another 28 weeks until d-day [delivery day]!  Until another update, Godspeed!

Since Kris has been harassing me to write a new post, I decided that today while Kyla is napping I shall write. Our family has been well. Kyla had her glaucoma check up on Monday [4-13] and her pressures are perfect! The acuity has dramatically improved in her right eye and the doctor does not see a need for eyeglasses at this time. We got the car back on Tuesday, and I am thrilled to have my trusty Civic back in my hands. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday [although Kris' days off] were filled with work, work and more work around here, my parents’ house, and Kris’ grandparents’ house. The guys determined the only way to get rid of the ’squeal’ in my car is new brakes, which will be installed ASAP. Kris hung a ceiling fan in Pa-pa’s kitchen and did a superb job. And…he and my dad put up a ceiling fan in Kyla’s room, which is awesome. Her room is ‘officially’ finished. He’s going to put up one in our room and hopefully replace the light fixtures in the kitchen, as well.

Today Kyla and I made the most of a gorgeous, sunny day to walk to the store, pick up a few items, and stop and smell the flowers, literally! She loves looking at the pretty pinks, reds, purples, and oranges that have been popping up lately. That’s about it for a family update. I’ll have to drum up some ideas for some devotionals. If you have any ideas, feel free to leave a comment!

Komet has adjusted so well to our house. She is completely housebroken, can sleep downstairs sans crate, and has not a touch of separation anxiety when we leave. God has been very good to our family with Komet and other little things that have been happening. I’ll go into more detail with that in a later post.

Kyla and I went grocery shopping today and the grand total was 40 dollars– that is all of the weekly/biweekly staples and 5 lb. of ground beef. Fresh Express and Dole ready-made salad mix is 2/$5.00 and F.E. has a coupon for $1.00 off 2 bags. Great deal! There weren’t any manager special salads though! Shucks.

Ah… I am totally frustrated with this huge ball of yarn mess that I have. I was crocheting a blanket doubly strand and it was too think. I don’t know the right way to unravel an afghan with double threads except to yank it out. So, yanking done, it’s a mess. I’ll figure it out. There’s no way I’m wasting 8 dollars worth of yarn! It’ll be finished by July! Now I’m on to another project to work on for November.

We had a wonderful Valentine’s Day at home. I made a delicious steak and red potato supper along with apple sauce and carrots for Kyla. Here is a sneak peek of the beautiful bouquet that Kris gave Kyla and me. I hope that you were blessed as much as we were.

This weekend [our weekends run Wednesday-Friday] was full of fun and adventure. Wednesday was peaceful during the day and then church that evening. Then Thursday was our usual visit momma and dad day. As soon as we pulled up mom called my cell and said you better not come up; snow storm is coming. I shrugged it off as hubby said that we weren’t supposed to get more than an inch or two. Flash forward an hour [ok, 10 minutes] it starts to sleet/freeze rain. We ran to Walmart and Kroger and picked up some yummy food and deals. We went home to mom’s and stayed in for the night! The roads were something fierce and there was no way I was driving home– no way! We got to snuggle on the couch and watch The Office and some cheesy movies. By the way, Christmas Child [on Lifetime] was a great movie. I recommend it to everyone looking for a great Christmas movie! We got to sleep on the tufon [futon-- Dad called it a tufon one day and it stuck]. Kyla slept between us; in case you wonder what we think of the family bed, besides vacation [we told Kyla she was on vacation. ], it’d be very hard to get a good night’s sleep with a little piranha with claws. Though it was very convenient for a early morning feeding when mommy was way tired! Since hubby is still working on his final project for his ministry class, I’ve been watching Numb3rs. Since I’m a math nerd at heart and in head, I find it to be a great show. It’ll never rate up there with House or The Office, however. I hope you all have a blessed weekend whenever that may be!

For a great deal– Kroger is selling a 20 pack of Cottonelle Double rolls for $9.99 plus there is a coupon for 75 cents down the next aisle. And… I got a coupon for a free tub of flushable wipes during that transaction!

Remember that most of the time when I have a blog topic it comes straight from my heart because it is mostly, okay almost always, something I am personally dealing.

It’s easy to throw in the towel, swear off caffeine, run an extra mile [or walk briskly in my case], give up, pout, cry, yell, and get pissed when things don’t go according to your little life plan and the goals you have set for yourself. The goals, usually lofty, are set on some totem pole receiving daily offerings and praises that are only reserved for the Heavenly Father. I’m not saying that it is bad to set goals, but it is unhealthy and sinful to put your will and desires above the ones that God has laid before us. Some goals are great: My goal is to breastfeed Kyla until she is one year old. My goal for her is keep her eye pressure under control and to drink from a straw cup. The Lord asks us to cast our cares upon His because He cares for us– not because He is some control freak in Heaven biting at your heels.

I just love to have goals– even if I don’t call them goals. I’d like to lose another five [or ten] pounds, I’d love to get pregnant again soon [and yes, this past cycle was another bust], and I’d love to make Kris the happiest hubby in the whole world. Yet once again, reality and sometimes sin creeps in like a royal pain in the bum. Those chocolate chip cookies creep from baggie to belly very easily, nursing jacks up cycles, and I sometimes [and that is correct] snap at Kris for something silly [or stupid] he does.

I suppose you can sum up the above with a simple phrase that guys like to keep in their back pockets: suck it up. Life can be crappy, life can hurt, life can majorly suck… but on the other spectrum remember those times when your hubby [or wife] just smiled at you so sweetly, remember the first BFP [big fat positive] pregnancy test you got, and remember that cookie[s] you didn’t eat and how nicely your jeans fit. Cast all of those little cares [good and bad] onto Jesus. He seriously wants to take those worries off your back. I can picture Jesus in heaven now– with ripped muscles from carrying all of our crap around.

Oh yeah, a goodie for today. I totally bought 6 steaks [porterhouse & tbone] @$3.00/ea. Regularly $9.99/lb. I guess you can add another goal for me– cook some yummy steaks!

…that I write a blog entry.

Sorry that 1. I have been too busy to blog, 2. I have been too absentminded to blog. and 3. I have not felt like blogging.

If you only believe 2 and 3, that’s okay. Now let’s get down to business. The kind of business that makes us laugh. Here’s a tale for you. Two days ago I received a -at time dreaded- piece of paper on my door. I had a parcel to pick up at the post office. Paranoid, I searched debit cards, credit cards, Amazon, Snapfish, eBay, Walmart and every other online establishment that I purchased from in the past years. I called mom, Kris’ mom, and everyone else who would send a parcel to ME. I was determined that I wasn’t going to open this huge piece of mail at home– only at the post office, lest it blow me up. So yesterday after chores, chores, dirty diapers, changing Kyla, burning CDs, and punching out bulletin board letters, it was time to go to the post office. [at this time, I must admit, I was a tad excited. Someone thought so much of me to send a parcel.] We went to our “local” post office and the postal officer said it was downtown. So, I get to the car and yell, “Kris, it’s at Jebbia’s.” “WHAT?” “Jebbia’s.” Note: Jebbia’s is a fruit market located near the post office. So, we go downtown to the post office and I stand in line with Mabel, Esther, maybe even Eve and St. Nick [everyone in line was 90+ and driving! YIKES!] I patiently, or not so patiently, await my turn while aforementioned patrons purchase rolls and rolls of stamps for Ye Olde Sante Clause Cards. Finally, it’s my turn. Postal woman gets my Parcel [While You Were Out Card] and comes back with a small 4×4x4 box addressed to me from Mead Johnson Nutritionals. It was no other than a canister of formula– baby formula. Ah, to say that I was surprised was an understatement. I was shocked and the carnal side of me, was mad and sad that I don’t get to use my present. Though, I will share the present with a great friend of mine who will surely use it.

If you’re in the mood for another Danielle adventure, please read below.

Last night Kris, Kyla and I went to his mom’s house for supper. After a long, [at times stressful-look above] day, I was thankful for a hot, yummy meal that I didn’t have to cook. We were talking about life, love, Beagles [which we were supposed to get today-- another story for another time.] and Kyla. I thought of some earthshattering event that I seriously needed to tell my mother, which I now forget. That’s how earthshattering it was. I forgot her phone number and thought my cell was in the car. It was way too cold outside to get it, so I used MIL’s phone. I dialed xxx-2733 and I say, “Mum?” “ewauroieurh [could not understand who answered.] I hurried up and hung up because that was, of course, not mum’s house or work. I was thinking and thinking of what her number could be. Note: she has worked at the same place for 7 years and I have been dialing it for at least 2x week for 7 years. So, [lightblub moment] my cell is in my coat pocket. Ta-da. I am finally able to call xxx-2273 [which I did remember just now without looking at the contact list.] I still don’t remember what I told her; I do now that in the midst of that chaos that I lost my keys. I swore they were in the side pocket of the diaper bag. Kris, that’d be pocket #3. [teehee] They were actually in my fleece pocket at home on my bedroom dresser. Life is good. and hilarious.

Since I am so absentminded, silly and at times, just plain dumb, I told Kris on the way home that we should label the diaper bag pockets with numbers because he always get pissed [miffed, ticked, etc.] when I tell him something in the side pocket. He thinks they are all side pockets. So, we brainstormed at 11:00P and came up with a labeling system. Problem solved. Pray that I don’t forget what pocket number things are in or what number what pocket is.

If I can think of an enlightening devotion topic during Kyla’s later afternoon nap, I will enlighten you with thus said topic! Until then, happy reading!

It’s been quite a snowy, wintery day today. I bought some bulletin board things for church- Moose Themed of course. Kyla’s been bink [pacifier] free for almost a week! I’m so proud of her. If she wouldn’t have been born tongue-tied, she would have never used one after we came home from the hospital. She’s still doing well with eating and nursing and developing. I’m so proud of our [almost] crawler. I might have another devotion later today.