15 Months Old :)

Elle's,
You are 15 months old baby girl- You are all about your pink camo crocs, drawing with sidewalk chalk, eating Ritz crackers, drinking your 'big girl' milk, biting and pinching when allowed, telling mommy and daddy 'no' and 'don't', and putting everything in your mouth.  You just discovered how to take off your diaper- We are working through this issue as this mommy does not want to have you tinkle or poo on the floor (we leave that up to Oklie...LOL).
You are such a blessing Elles......
We love you so much and thank God for you (We are also so grateful for Ellie's Birth Mom Heather and her brothers)-
(I can not figure out how to turn the flash off on my camera so these pictures are over-exposed but so adorable I could not resist sharing- We were at the doctor for her burn check up when I took them....her burn is just about healed and looks great)

Ellie is holding the ring for a jar lid......She noticed that I was wearing a bracelet and found this ring somewhere in
our house- She put it on her arm and wears it around (or like in these pictures, she will take it off and hold it and then put it back on- repeating and keeping herself entertained)

37 Thoughts to Celebrate 37 Years

I was born on Sept. 16, 1975...........37 years ago today :) To Celebrate here goes 37 Random Thoughts- And Also, To my old high school classmate Lori- Happy Birthday to you too!! (Happy Birthday to you too Tika)

1. I just ordered Laundry Soap, Ivory Bath Soap, St. Ives Apricot Scrub (for Eli), and Diapers online from soap.com- They had sent me a coupon for 20% off everything plus free shipping so I thought I would give it a try- The diapers were an additional $10. off per box ($30. and some change for 200+ size 3)........I rarely order things online (I like to feel my clothes and try them on before buying) and would have never thought to purchase laundry soap online- It ended up being a pretty good deal- They sent everything next day air so it was on my door step Fri. after ordering in Thurs- I have one more coupon- I will definitely order online again!
2. I am letting Ellie carry around my camera while I type this out so she will be entertained for a bit- I hear her banging it on everything she touches and just heard her drop it- If you don't see me post pictures for awhile you know she broke it
3. We went camping this past weekend- We did not have sewer hook-ups so opted to use the campground bathrooms......I should have looked in the toilet this morning before sitting down- There was a strange bug flying around under me- Poor thing flew out as fast as I jumped up......can you imagine what that poor thing had to endure......LOOK BEFORE YOU SIT LADIES AND GENTLEMAN!
4. Speaking of camping and Ellie........While Ryan, Ellie, and I were standing by the Lake (located just behind our campsite) tossing a football around I looked over at Ellie sitting contently by us and saw that she was chewing on a piece of hardened duck poop...........OH MY!
5. My oldest son Eli sold his pickup and bought a new one- He really wanted an extended cab Toyota and was able to find one in his price range.....Congratulation Eli (and his cousin Josh who bought Eli's pick up)
6. Matt and I peculated coffee over an open fire (for the first time) this weekend.......neither one of us could bring ourselves to drink it (we never even tried it)- We drove down to the marina and bought Seattle's Best Fresh Brewed.
7. I have so much gray hair (thank you Jesus for hair color)- Because of this I think that the texture of my hair has changed........it's dry and course (unless it's all the years of chemical's finally catching up)- I've been pondering what to do- Don't want a Brillo pad for hair!
8. Going back to camping.......I forgot to shut the refrigerator door all the way on our 5th wheel before we left- By the time we reached our destination a 1/2 gallon of milk had spilled onto the carpet...........We had to leave every window open the whole time we were gone because the smell was so bad............OOPS, I'LL CHECK THAT FRIDGE DOOR NEXT TIME!
9. So that this post does not get obnoxiously long I will shorten my random thoughts.......
10. I've been using Palmer's Coconut Oil conditioner (Target) and love- I like it more than Pureology Conditioner
11. Our 5th wheel has a VHS player- I bought a bunch of VHS tapes at Goodwill and a yard sale- Last night we watched Mask of Zorro as a family- It was fun
12. I want to do a short term missions trip to the Dream Center in Los Angeles.......
13. Praying for my brother Levi who has been having significant back/shoulder pain for the past month- The Dr. is in the process of trying medication that may help- I hope it does
14. I've also been praying for the women of my church..........that the Lord would raise us up to be strong and passionate for Him- that we could be a unified Christ Centered group of women that Honor and Glorify Him
15. Women's Bible Study is starting this Tues............To God Be the Glory that all of our pastor's wives will be facilitating it!!
16. only on # 16............c'mon #37 already :)
17. I started dating Matt when I was 17
18. Got married when I was 18
19. Pregnant with Eli when I was 19
20. Had Eli when I was 20
21. For some reason, bright lights bother my eyes.......I notice I wear my sunglasses most of the time when I am outside
22. I keep encouraging Ryan to play sports- He's strong and Coordinated
23. I had Ryan when I was 23......I love you Ryno Chase
24. my basketball number in highschool (24)
25. Megan C.'s basketball number in highschool (25)
26. Psalm 26:8- 'O Lord I love the habitation of thy house, and the place where thy glory dwells'..........AMEN!
27. only 10 more
28. Did you know that 28 is the standard number of Domino's in a Domino set?
29. Speaking of Domino's- I used to play mexican train (domino game) with my mother in law.....She was really good at it- I not so much
30. 7 more
31. I usually have 'A Holy Experience' Blog music going in the background when I am on my computer- The piano music is beautiful
32. 5 more
33. 4 more
34. 3 more
35. Adopted our Elle's this birthday year (35)
36. 1 more :)
37. 37 was A LOT of random thoughts!!

Hope you are all having a great Sun-

Steph

I Love You Sis



Ellie's Burn Update

Ellie's burn is healing AWESOME!  She is down to going to the dr. once a week (instead of every other day).  Last night, we went to my Nana's 88th Birthday party- As I was getting Ellie ready to go I was changing her bandage and saw that her burn, while fairly red still (which the dr. said was good- it means that blood is flowing to the burn area) was basically scabbed over.  I decided not to re-bandage but instead let it 'go free' :)  As soon as it heals just a bit more we will start putting anti scar ointment on it (thank you Becca and Erika for the scar ointment advise)- Below are a couple of pictures of what her burn looks like now (they were taken last night by my Aunt Anne).



My beautiful Auntie Anne holding her grand daughter Claire- She (A) is going to be annoyed that I put this pic on here.......hee!! I LOVE YOU :)

Ellie's Burn

Yesterday morning (9/7) I got a frantic phone call from my mom.......'Ellie's been burned you need to come right away!!'
Ellie had stayed the night with my mom and step dad (who we call pops)- Each week she gets her fill of being spoiled and carried in 'the womb' (an over the shoulder baby sling that my mom got 16 years ago when Eli was born- She has carried each of her 7 grand kids in it- Some liking it more than others......both Eli and Ellie have LOVED it) because she (little Ellie) is carrying on the tradition each of my kids have done since a little after birth- Thurs. nights are spent at Nana and Papa's......
My poor mom and pops were beside themselves (I love you both- You did everything perfect and it is not your fault)- I could hear Ellie crying in the back ground and could hear the panic in my mom's voice- 'Mom, what did she burn herself on and did it blister?' Coffee and Yes it blistered............
When I got to their house and saw Elle's burn I knew she would need to go to the doctor but would not need to be rushed to the Emergency room- I also could tell that while it may look somewhat bad it could have been SO MUCH WORSE-
My pop had made his usual coffee and set it by his chair, just out of reach from Ellie- Over the past week Ellie has started crawling on everything- Including the couch- her little leg is just long enough now that she can get it up onto a couch cushion and swing herself up onto the couch- Ellie had managed to get herself up onto their couch and crawl across it to reach his coffee.  She grabbed for it and some spilled down the front of her chest- The worst of the burn is just under her chin on her chest area.....that is where it blistered-
Ellie went to the doctor, who put some Silver dean burn cream on the burn area and then bandaged it up- We will keep applying the cream and keep it bandaged until it heals.
Ellie Marie you were such a brave girl when the doctor was looking at your burn and dressing it- Your daddy took the afternoon off so that he could come with you and mommy to the doctor- Your nana and papa called and checked on you many times......so did your brothers.......so did your aunties.......You are so loved sweetie!!

Hanging with Daddy at the doctors

getting your bandage put on (you were mad that your arms had to be held out)

Headed home

You Just Blink....And An Adoption Prayer Request

It's literally that quick........You just blink and your oldest is starting 11th Grade- Your middle is in their last year of junior high (8th) and your youngest is almost 15 months old-
For you mamma's that feel like your kids are never going to grow up........Just blink :)
Totally changing the subject but staying true to the title of this post.....Adoption Prayer Request.  This past May, for part of Ryan's 13th birthday gift we went back East-  We stayed in the guest house of a Mennonite couple named Dan and Lena Esh.......Dan and Lena raised their children (7 of them) in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania smack dab in the middle of Amish Country on a farm (click on this link and scroll to the bottom of the pictures and you will see the farm)- Several years ago they built a new house on the farm property- Their son Gene, his wife Andrea, and their children took up residence at the original farm house to continue on with the operation.  While we were visiting I was able to meet Andrea very briefly- Lena had told me that Gene and Andrea were getting ready to adopt a baby- Their baby Jena was just born..........Little Jena will need to spend some time in the hospital.......Andrea is a blogger and has posted some blogs about what is going on both with their adoption experience and what is going on with baby Jena......To read their story click HERE- May God Bless and keep this precious family and the birth parents of their Jena....I am sure they would appreciate all of our prayers!

Hope you are having a great 'back to school' week!!

Take 1

Take 2 of trying to get the boy's back to school pic

3rd times a charm :)

14 Months Old

At 14 Months old Ellie is:

• 17 lbs. 13 oz. 
• 28 inches long
• Has 5 teeth, 2 bottoms and 3 uppers
• Walking everywhere (started walking on 8/12)
• Is weaned off of formula and just started drinking 2% milk- From what I've heard, it is recommended that children under 2 drink whole milk- Ellie does not like it at all so we have resorted to 2% for now.
• Eating 3 meals a day plus 3-4/ 6 oz bottles
• Loves Otter Pops- If we allow, she will eat 3-4 in one sitting (she only gets them outside because as they start melting THEY GET EVERYWHERE!)
• Finally started saying 'ma-ma' but will mostly call me 'ma'- She also started saying 'ouch'
• Loves playing with my shoes (Steph) and helping unload the dishwasher :)
• Still wearing 6-9 months clothes
• Takes 1 nap a day usually sleeping for 3 hours
• Wears size 3 diapers
• Does not eat baby food anymore but will eat (only in smaller portions and cut up way smaller than ours) anything we eat.