Summer's Coming

Kiley's first time in the pool - 5.24.09

Kiley went swimming for the first time last weekend at our friend's pool. We all got to stay and enjoy Becca's Birthday party (except Jake, who was off seeing a boy movie). A few snuggles with Mama (below) and the pacifier came in handy at first, but no tears even though it was a little cool compared to her baths. Here she is all suited up and ready to go on our way in...

She's scooting all over the house now and she's fast! It's hard to keep up with her. We bought a few more toys this weekend - one to keep her contained and one to keep her entertained. We've started baby-proofing but still have quite a bit to do. She's not opening cabinets yet so that's a plus! She's splashed in the dog water at least twice and she'll play in the dog food bowls or suck on the edge of our flip flops if we're not careful.

Kiley's sweet face peering over the coffee table after she pulls up

In terms of real food, Kiley will now gnaw on an apple slice, a lemon rind, or a dill pickle. There are only two baby foods she's eaten more than a bite or two of so far - apples and mango. Today for the first time I actually saw her open her mouth for another bite of food instead of us having to try to sneak it in.

Jake and Sydney have three more days of school! I am excited about summer and enjoying less homework and more goofing as we've reached the end of the school year. I'm a little apprehensive about juggling work and a baby along with an 8 and almost 10-year-old this summer. But, I think with Megan's help during the day and Martin's total willingness to walk in the door and jump right in, we'll have a good one. A lot of people have asked how the nanny is working out and she's wonderful!

Part of my stress about summer is not being able to leave Kiley for more than 2-3 hours at a time. I haven't had success with pumping because it's like my body just 'knows' when it's my baby and when it's not, but I may have hit a jackpot this week... Kiley has slept twelve hours through the night - without any parental intervention - for the past three nights!!! This morning I was so full and achy that I pumped on one side and got 5 ounces of milk (sorry if that's too much info for anyone). If I can keep that up and not let my body adjust down to what she will eat then I might be able to have some reserves that give me a bit more freedom. I hadn't worried about it because I thought she'd be well on her way to eating mostly solid food by now but since she's not, it's become more of a concern with summer coming.

On a totally random note, I have been hoping to get a photo of Kiley sucking on her toes. I have one of Sydney at about 4-5 months in an outfit that I saved and that Kiley has worn as well. I wanted to frame the pictures side by side but no luck and now Kiley has outgrown the outfit. However, we did finally catch K's toe-sucking on camera this weekend. I don't know why I find it so funny and fascinating (was I ever that flexible??!!) but I do...

On the camera are pictures of Kiley's reaction to watermelon and of her first hair cut. Check back for those in our next post.

Also exciting to us this month is the fact that we bought a piano and Sydney is taking lessons. She's only had a few, but went to a recital practice this week and played Mary Had a Little Lamb in front of about 40 other kids. She will decide this week whether to play at the recital with the parents. I decided it could be her choice this time only since she just started playing earlier this month and since she did the practice with the other kids. If she performs, we'll be sure to get pictures.

Jake has his first guitar recital in a couple of weeks. He is also signed up for LaCrosse this summer for the first time and is very excited.

Milestones!

We had Kiley's 6 month appointment in April and she was 18 pounds, 5 oz. She has changed SO much and I want to document it before I forget. I started interviewing nannies on April 13th and Kiley wasn't sitting on her own. I remember one of the nannies sat her down and I put my hand up because I knew she'd roll right over and she did. But, by her 6-month appointment, she was sitting - that was April 22nd, one week later. Then, she first crawled (yes, I said CRAWLED) on the 30th. In literally two weeks she went from not sitting to crawling. From there, she went to pulling up within about a week. One day the kids and I were on the couch and she was on the floor and then we saw her cute little face up over the edge of the coffee table, so pleased with herself and grinning ear to ear. Today she pulled up and then let go and stood on her own for just a second. She's not yet really cruising the furniture, but she has walked tentatively behind her little wagon walking toy.

On the food front, she still doesn't like any kind of food that we can tell. She makes the most hilarious faces when you put anything in her mouth, but she'll suck on a piece of paper all day long. She doesn't have any teeth yet but we think she's getting one on top so we'll see if those help on the path to weaning :) Right now I am still much in demand (or at least parts of me are) not quite around the clock. She did actually sleep through much of the night last night. From about 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. This is the longest stretch she has slept at one time. Martin finally got her sleeping in her crib upstairs, for which I was very grateful! I still don't feel caught up on my sleep, but at least I can see the light at the end of that tunnel... She's not much of a napper so far. She takes little cat naps - typically 2 or 3 ten to forty minute naps throughout the day depending on what we've got going on. She'll often sleep in the car if Jake & Sydney aren't back there with her. The rest of the time she mostly falls asleep nursing or in the stroller on a walk. I have to admit I haven't done the job of most first-time Moms to try to get her on a schedule, but with two older kids and their activities (soccer, scouts, football, guitar, piano, swimming, etc. - thankfully not ALL going on in the same seasons but many of them overlapping) - it's hard to keep her on her own separate schedule.

I'll add some pictures or do another entry soon with way fewer words and way more photos to balance this out, but I want to be able to look back and remember what she did when, so this was important for me to put on paper (so to speak).

I hope all of my friends and family had a wonderful Mother's Day and Happy (belated) Birthday to several who share May 12th as their special day - Emily Ortiz, Ryan Wilson, and Mona Yamasaki - hope your day was fabulous!

Soccer at It's Best

This past weekend Sydney had a soccer game. She has a game practically every weekend but typically it's not like this one. This one was different because they actually had to try to win. Her soccer team, Spirit, has been playing together for 4 years and over that time have learned to play together very well. This season will be there last at their current skill level, 4 girls on each team and no goalie. The goalie rule can be debated because most teams they played against used a goalie to try to keep the scoring in check. It usually kept the score from going into double digits, it's been a good strategy for their opponents but has not kept them from coming out on top. Sydney also has a great coach.

This week they played a team that was also undefeated and gave Spirit one of their only loses last year. They are just as good and also have a good coach. Actually I don't know anything about their coach except he wears the same hat he's worn everytime I've seen him. I think that means he's pretty serious about his coaching.





Me and Kiley sat out on a blanket as we took in the game. The girls got plenty of advice from the sidelines which came in handy a couple of times that I noticed. "move to the middle", "defend the goal", "kick it into the goal". I would say the parents have learned the game as well as the girls playing.

After the first quarter they were down a couple of goals. A little in shock but not freaking out. They've been behind before and come out ahead but it took a lot more work than usual. They actually had to run and play defense. The lead changed a couple of times and there was some debate over who was leading over the course of the game, since there is no scoreboard and it's easy to lose track. In the end Spirit scored a final goal in the last few minutes of the game. We were very excited and some of the sideline cheering for Spirit led to some ugly glances from the girls on the other team directed at the parents. It's all part of the game, right. :) In the end everyone shook hands and parted with great sportsmanship. It was fun fun fun. Sydney scored a huge goal and blocked a couple of key shots by the other team. Even so, I think we were more excited than she was. She was just out there playing the game with her friends and having a great time.



Good job SPIRIT.

Men's Breakfast at Gateway

Yesterday morning we had our Men's Breakfast at Gateway (that's the Church community we belong to). We heard from a guest speaker named Josh Riebock. He was described as a radical man of Christ and even though he denied that his story told led me to believe differently. He challenged us on the day before Easter to be radical ourselves. The word radical might frighten some of you but, trust me, it's okay in this context. :) I'm going to give a recap of what we heard as best I can. I liked what I heard and thought it was worth sharing with family and friends.

Josh began by first describing how we sometimes view our Lord. Comforting, caring, loving, relaxed, at ease....and He is, no doubt, all of these things. But He was also amazing and strong and dynamic, and a little edgy. A lot edgy as we learn from the story Matthew tells in Matthew 14:22-32 (Jesus walks on water). Many of us have heard the story of how Jesus walks out to the boat and reveals himself to his disciples and how He invites Peter out onto the water with him and when he begins to sink Jesus is there to grab him and keep him safe. Many of you may have envisioned this story before, as I did. A nice calm sea where Jesus walks out to the boat and calls Peter out of the boat and when Peter follows the Lords command to come to Him on the calm sea. This story helps illustrate that when we are troubled God is there for us and will not allow us to sink. Not a bad way to think of the story. And it's words are true. But let's dig a little deeper and understand it in a light that has much stronger meaning.

We know from the story that Jesus sends his disciples ahead of him to cross the Sea of Galilee, dismisses the crowd and goes to pray until the evening. So considerable time has passed, yet Jesus was still able to reach the fisherman on the water before they have completed their crossing. These experienced sailors are in very rough seas. We can think of it as a storm. The winds are gusting and they are in water that is extremely rough. Waves crashing against the boat as they make their way. When, in the water, they see Christ approaching them and they are terrified and cry out in fear. And Jesus says to them, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." I imagine these men scared at what they were seeing and not knowing what to do, prompting Peter to go check it out. I imagine Peter cautiously moving to the edge of the boat where it is not quite as safe, to investigate what is there. Then he says something to Jesus, "Lord, if it's you, tell me to come to you on the water". Now that's interesting. He and the others want proof that what they are seeing is real and that it is in fact Jesus. But why does he say those words. Why not, "if it's you Lord, where were we when you asked me to follow you?" or "what was the name of the boy your rose from the dead?" or "where did you heal the blind man?" or even "where is your secret place of prayer?", after all Peter knew all these places and events well and that would offer proof enough. Instead, he asks for something he knows only Jesus can do. Jesus told him to "come". And Peter got out of the boat and went to Him.

Let's step back for a second and consider some of what is happening. The seas are stormy. There is a figure that is calling to Peter that has told him that He is Jesus. And now he's getting out of the boat to walk on water. The other apostles are watching all this happen. So we have Peter on the edge of the boat preparing to step out onto the waters and we have the apostles in the safety of the boat. Now all the apostles were amazing men and had tremendous faith in Christ. They walked in faith with Jesus daily. Giving up the comfort of their homes and way of life to follow Him and deliver His message to others. These were strong men. Strong in their faith and listening to God and yet they were frightened, terrified in fact, trembling like little children at the sight of this figure they knew so well walking toward them on the water. How often I find myself in that same situation. Disbelief in what is possible, fearful of what is going on around me or what might occur next. And then there is Peter. Fearful and terrified himself but asking if Christ wants him to take what he believes is the next step. "Lord, if it's you, [if this is the path you want me to take, if this is the direction I am to go], tell me to come to you on the water, [tell me to take that next step, tell me to reach out to a friend in need, tell me to build a church, tell me to help a sick friend even when it's not convenient, tell me to stand up and give my testimony, tell me to leave a job when I don't have a better one, tell me to give when I have nothing to give]".

So Peter left the comfort of the boat and stepped out in faith that Jesus would be there for him. And He was. It was still frightening. Let's pretend we're Peter for a second. Out on the water, waves crashing violently, wind gusting. This was an extremely uncomfortable situation. If that was me it would be very easy to lose focus and freak out a little. As Josh was describing this, describing the events, I could see myself in that situation. And when Peter cries out, "Lord, save me!" Would that had been me or would I have been the one that looked back to the ship for help? That would have been just as normal a reaction. To look back to your friends for help, to pull you from the water. And while that makes sense, when you're out of the boat, when you are where God has called you to be, only He can help you. You must do as Peter did and look to Christ. And when you are where God has called you to be, He will reach out and take your hand just as Jesus did for Peter.

Josh finished up the message with some final thoughts. That sometimes God will put us in some difficult situations and ask us to do things outside of our comfort zone. But consider this, when the apostles looked back on the previous day's events and thought about the experience of what had transpired. The apostles definitely all had a story to tell and the events deepened their relationship with Christ for being there but Peter, without a doubt, had a much deeper closer relationship because of what he did. He was out in the storm with Jesus. A little inconvenient, a little out of his comfort zone (or a lot), but that is how we build our relationship with Him. Trusting Christ to be there for us just as He was for Peter.

Our little one is waking up :) .......keep in mind that you don't have to do a complete 180 when it comes to trusting and having faith....take one degree at a time. Make a difference in your life, someone else's life and return the love Christ showed us when he died for our salvation.

Josh finished up with three points that he wanted us to remember. (I actually forgot what they were and emailed him about them so I could make sure to remember. Funny huh?) Here is a question he posed then answered with the three points.

Why does God invite us to live in faith?
1. To become who we want to become
2. To become who the world needs us to become
3. To further develop intimacy with us

I really enjoyed the time with Josh and the other men at Gateway.

(Podcast's are available on Josh's website: http://www.joshriebock.com/

Spring Break '09

What a week... Saturday we had Sydney's Birthday party at Pump it Up. She asked for donations to the Town Lake Animal Shelter instead of presents for herself, and she got a LOT of great items to give. Thanks to everyone who supported the cause! On Sunday, her best friend came to spend the night. We went to Pappasito's for dinner and then to the movies. Monday morning, we went to the animal shelter to take the donations. We petted puppies, played with cats, looked at the rabbits and found out our animal shelter even has roosters.




I took the girls to lunch at Chuy's - one can rarely have too much Mexican food! After that, Bria went home and we went to celebrate Sydney's birthday with my Mom & brother. Tuesday, we had lunch with friends and then Jake went to spend the night with Max while Sydney swan all day in Shelby's heated pool. That night, Shelby came to spend the night. The next morning when Jake came home, we went to 1/2 price books and then picked up lunch and went to the park for a picnic. The kids spent Thursday with their Dad while I got in a workout and some 'real' work, plus lunch with my Mom and husband. Friday morning, we left for Houston with Kristi and her kids to visit Jill and hers. We had lunch at Jill's gorgeous new house and then spent the day at the zoo.

monkeys at the zoo :)

Martin drove down Friday night, and Saturday our family left for Kemah to visit friends, see their beautiful, open house with two big porches and a huge kitchen, meet their dogs, and go sailing with Terri (with whom I used to work at CSC) and Scott. That was a blast with everyone taking a turn at the helm and kids exploring every inch of their big, beautiful sailboat. We drove back home late Saturday night. Today, we took Abby & Spencer to the movies with us and then went to the evening service at church. Jake was a pain today. Some days he's just really grumpy and hard to be around and today was one of them, but mostly we had a great week. I am grateful to have a wonderful husband to share weeks like this with - by myself it was harder to do as much for and with the kids. I love to spend time with my family and friends and to see my kids enjoy time with theirs.

We are gearing up tonight for Martin to be gone this week - he's out of town for work from tomorrow morning until Thursday afternoon, which is also his birthday. We have another busy, fun weekend planned for next week, including a date night/birthday celebration on Friday night, quick trip to Dallas on Saturday for an 80th birthday party for a family member, Brownie event for Sydney on Saturday night and soccer game on Sunday. There really is never a dull moment around here, but I like it. It's not all over-scheduled and overwhelming; we leave plenty of time for friends and playing outside and family movie nights. Thankfully Martin has the energy to keep up and make it possible for our house to run smoothly. We are also blessed with the happiest baby in the whole wide world. She travels well, enjoys all of the activity and cries maybe once a day for a couple of minutes when she's tired - she's truly amazing!

Camping at Enchanted Rock

This past weekend Sydney and I had an opportunity to bond a little, which was really nice. We went camping with a bunch of other fathers and their daughters from our neighborhood as part of Adventure Guides.

There were 10 girls in all with 7 dads. We got there at around lunch time on Saturday (Syd and some of the other girls had a soccer game earlier that morning) had a quick bite to eat and headed up to the top of the rock for a little adventure on the trail. Sydney is often very competitive and this was one of those times. She was very eager to be the first one to the top. After about half way up I saw that she was definitely determined to get there ahead of the group. So with all the other girls very close behind she managed to find her way to the top ahead of us all. I think she was too tired to be excited and went for the water bottle and snack that we brought up before saying much else. And by that time all the other girls and dad's were there to take pictures and explore the caves that were near the peak.

After our spending a couple of hours exploring we were ready to make our way down the path. Syd again decided to be in the front bunch but decided to walk down with her friends instead of alone.



When there wasn't any hiking or eating going on, the girls spent most of their time down in the dry creek bed. Boys in the next camp spent a lot of time in the creek bed too. Needless to say there was a little conflict brewing. The girls practiced sword play with sticks they found just in case they wanted to battle. They also spent a lot of time telling us the boys wouldn't leave them alone even though they did their share of invading the other camp.

The one night we were there it was extremely windy. Shelby decided she wanted to be in our big ol' 50 person tent since there was so much room. When I put the tent up earlier that day there was virtually no wind so I only tied down what was absolutely necessary to keep the rain guard in place. Since the tent was so big it caught a lot of wind. The big walls acted like a sail and the tent was shaking pretty badly when a gust of wind came through. Shelby was having trouble sleeping and asked that I go out and check on the tent. I think it was a combination of the wind and other creepy sounds from outside. I went out and did find that my knot skills were not very good. I retied one of the ropes holding the tent in place and added some that I didn't tie down before. That helped but the tent shook all night.

Sydney slept right through it all. I stayed up with Shelby. She was a little scared but we talked our way through it.



The trip was a total blast and it was such a blessing to be able to spend that time with Sydney. On the way home we drove down highway 29 and saw a bald eagle nesting. It's quite a site. ...something I never thought I would see in person. They are incredible birds.

A Letter to the Kids' Teachers