green river...

my babies are sick...so sick. jackson has a river of snot flowing freely down his face at all times, he's just about lost his voice (which sounds ADORABLE!!!), and he has a barking/croup-y cough that sounds absolutely miserable. BOO church nurseries!!!!!! and DOUBLE BOO to parents who don't just stay home with snotty, cough-y kids!!! zoey doesn't go to church nursery, but has caught "the crud" anyway. she was beside herself with "what has happened to me?!?" ALL NIGHT LONG...with a matching river of snot. and of course they're both too young to take over-the-counter cold medicine...rats! so, let's just not think about how sick and miserable they are...

• jackson managed to change the settings on our tv and it seems these changes are permanent. matt and i both spent well over 30 minutes trying to get things back to normal--even made a phone call to the cable company--no luck. matt was irritated...i was impressed...what a smart boy!!!


• jackson is obsessed with going "bye-bye"...he asks, first thing, EVERY morning, "bye-bye??? bye-bye???" he won't stop asking until we "bye-bye"...and even then, when we're out and about, he still asks "bye-bye???" and i have to tell him THIS is "bye-bye" we ARE "bye-bye".


• jackson is a climber...i find him in zoey's bed, on top of the changing table, and he's quickly learning that he only needs a little boost to make it almost on top of the kitchen counters.


• he loves to read, he loves to make lucy bark, he loves to collect sticks/rocks/mulch/leaves, and he loves to DANCE!!!


• zoey is an awesome sleeper and always wakes up with a smile...a smile that melts my heart...she is SO HAPPY to see me in the morning and after naps...such a boost when parenting frustrations seem overwhelming.


• zoey has learned to roll from her tummy to her back...which is making the sleeping a bit more difficult because she is a tummy sleeper...shhh, don't tell the pediatrician that she sleeps on her tummy. but still, awesome sleeper!!!


• zoey talks all day long. ALL. DAY. LONG. it is the most precious sound of my day. and this girl GIGGLES!!! GIGGLES like she knows what's funny...great personality AND great sense of humor??? can't get any better than my zu-zu belly!!!

the sickies will pass...i will forget all about the miseries of this week...but i do not want to forget the sweetness/cuteness/preciousness of these two littles that i am so lucky to have living in my house!!!

even when they are miserable little pickles...even when they are overflowing with snot...they are mine...happy, happy me!!!

beautiful girl...

not that i love seeing her cry, but i LOVE this picture!!!

cause one is not enough...

interlude...

whilst waiting for the cookies to bake, jackson finally convinced mommy to let him get in the swing...he's been faithfully trying since i got it out for little zoey to use...she HATES the swing...so, why not...

and...lo AND behold...HE FELL ASLEEP...could not believe it. the boy who bounces in his bed for at least 25 minutes before falling asleep...asleep within 5 minutes of getting into the swing...unbelieveable!!!

being back in the swing must have taken him back to his baby days...when the swing was the only thing that soothed him...

baker man...

we made cookies this morning...oatmeal raisin.

yes, i let jackson "help"...yes, i know how a one-year-old "helps".

i HAD to...i HAD to get over the mess it would be...i HAD to let him help...it was therapy for me...a person who does not like mess, a person who likes to do things quickly.

when his hands began to find their way into the mixing bowl, i did not scold...he looked at me as if to ask, "is this okay? or am i going to be sent to the corner?" yeah, it's okay...your nutty, mess-free mommy is going to relax and let you have messy fun...

a grab...

and a taste...


and since she's not fussing...i'll try an ENTIRE RAW COOKIE...

i didn't let him eat the whole thing raw...i took it away...and YES...i put it back on the cookie sheet to bake...and YES...he did lick just about every other raw cookie before i was able to get them into the oven. no worries...you're NOT invited for milk and cookies...but the next time you are, it might be a question worth asking..."did jackson lick the cookies?".

enjoying the finished product...

week one...

no tv...have to admit...i am still a bit itchy to turn it on...but...

• my house is REALLY clean...i mean, REALLY CLEAN. i'm not saying that i would eat off of the floors or anything...because it's snowy here and sloshy, messy feet are constantly tracking in the salty/slushy goodness from outside...but you can certainly eat off of the counters.
• my house is organized...OR.GAN.IZED...the closets and drawers and cupboards...really, come and see...it's ridiculous...even for me.
• jackson is no longer asking for the tv to be turned on in the morning...instead he asks for music...and i happily oblige. we host regular dance parties...you're all invited!
• i've read four 300+ page books while the little ones are napping. shame on me for ever saying that i just don't have time to read anymore....hello, dummy, turn off the tv!!! i did...and it's the best thing i've done for myself.
• i've indulged a crafting itch...while perusing blogs, i was inspired to try my hand at something i saw on http://megduerksen.typepad.com ...she had a crafting weekend with girlfriends she met through her blog...how fun is that?!! anyway, scroll through her posts...to pictures of that weekend...and look at the hoops...FUN!

i decided to do mine a bit differently...frames instead of hoops.

confesssion: i actually had a panic attack in the process...i gathered everything together...had it all sitting out in front of me...and had a panic attack that i would start being crafty...and i'd do it wrong...and it would be ugly...and i would hate it and throw it in the trash...and that would be a HUGE waste of money. silly, silly me. something that was supposed to be fun and creative...almost ruined by over-thinking it...silly.

so, i got over it and just started...and here's the result...

what i used:

fun, bright material

rick-rack

embroidery floss

the fabric that you use for cross-stitching

fabric glue

white frames i found at target for $3.99

all stuff you might have around the house...go find it...don't have a panic attack...get busy and have fun!

next crafty-craft: tissue paper pom-pom flowers...wanna make some to hang over zoey's crib.

no tv??? okay...TRUTH...we still watch some...about 1/8th of what we used to watch...it's off all day...we record what we want and are able to watch the shows we love in about half the time by fast-forwarding through the commercials...yay, DVRs!!!

so, correction to the beginning of this post..."some tv"...baby steps...

hymn-singers, part 2...

one of grandma matchette's favorites:

DAY BY DAY

day by day and with each passing moment, strength i find to meet my trials here. trusting in my Father's wise bestowment, i've no cause for worry or for fear. He whose heart is kind beyond all measure gives to each day what He deems best, lovingly its part of pain and pleasure, mingling toil with peace and rest.

every day the Lord Himself is near me with a special mercy for each hour. all my cares He fain would bear and cheer me, He whose name is Counselor and Power. the protection of His child and treasure is a charge that on Himself He laid. "as your days, your strength shall be in measure," this the pledge to me He made.

help me then in every tribulation so to trust Your promises, o Lord, that i lose not faith's sweet consolation offered me within Your holy Word. help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting, ever to take, as from a Father's hand, one by one, the days, the moments fleeting, till i reach the Promised Land.

one of grandpa matchette's favorites:

I'D RATHER HAVE JESUS

i'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold; i'd rather be His than have riches untold; i'd rather have Jesus than houses or lands. i'd rather be led by His nail-pierced hand than to be the king of a vast domain and be held in sin's dread sway. i'd rather have Jesus than anything this world affords today.

i'd rather have Jesus than men's applause; i'd rather be faithful to His dear cause; i'd rather have Jesus than world-wide fame. i'd rather be true to His holy name than to be the king of a vast domain and be held in sin's dread sway. i'd rather have Jesus than anything this world affords today.

He's fairer than lilies of rarest bloom; He's sweeter than honey from out of the comb; He's all that my hungering spirit needs. i'd rather have Jesus and let Him lead than to be the king of a vast domain and be held in sin's dread sway. i'd rather have Jesus than anything this world affords today.

when i asked what their favorite hymns were, their first answers were identical to grandma and grandpa halsey's...VICTORY IN JESUS and FACE TO FACE...

LOVE THESE GRANDPARENTS!!!

la-la...aka elmo...

covered in elmo stickers...jammin' to the "peanut butter and jelly" song...LOVE THIS BOY!!!

hymn-singers...

hymns...make me think about sunday nights at mc coy memorial baptist church...when we could call out a hymn number for the whole congregation to sing. as a little girl, i felt so "in charge"...i got to decide what we would sing. my favorites? heaven came down and wonderful grace of Jesus. last weekend, i bought a hymn book...because i'm forgetting the words...i start singing a hymn to jackson and zoey...and have to stop because i can't remember the next verse...sad. i LOVE a good worship song...but i miss hymns. SO. MUCH. (sidenote: i'd love to get my hands on an old, green mc coy memorial baptist church hymnal...because the new hymn books have WAY TOO many praise choruses and not enough of the old hymns.) hymns...make me think of my grandparents...because they haven't forgotten the words...and on those hymn sing sunday nights i was usually sitting with one set or the other singing my little heart out.

just a few years ago...one of the most precious memories of my life...singing hymns with grandma halsey and grandma and grandpa matchette...in g & g matchette's living room. they certainly didn't need hymn books to remember the words...

one of grandma halsey's favorites:

VICTORY IN JESUS

i heard an old, old story, how a Savior came from glory, how He gave His life on calvary to save a wretch like me. i heard about His groaning, of His precious blood's atoning. then i repented of my sins and won the victory.

i heard about His healing, of His cleansing power revealing, how He made the lame to walk again and caused the blind to see. and then i cried, "dear Jesus, come and heal my broken spirit," and somehow Jesus came and brought to me the victory.

i heard about a mansion He has built for me in glory, and i heard about the streets of gold beyond the crystal sea; about the angels singing, and the old redemption story; and some sweet day i'll sing up there the song of victory.

o victory in Jesus, my Savior forever! He sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood. He loved me ere i knew Him, and all my love is due Him. He plunged me to victory beneath the cleansing flood.

one of grandpa halsey's favorites:

FACE TO FACE

face to face with Christ, my Savior, face to face--what will it be when with rapture i behold Him, Jesus Christ who died for me?

only faintly now i see Him, with the darkling veil between; but a blessed day is coming when His glory shall be seen.

what rejoicing in His presence, when are banished grief or pain; when the crooked ways are straightened and the dark things shall be plain.

face to face--o blissful moment! face to face--to see and know; face to face with my Redeemer, Jesus Christ who loves me so!

face to face i shall behold Him, far beyond the starry sky; face to face in all His glory, i shall see him by and by!

LOVE those hymns!!! MISS those grandparents!!!

must ask g & g matchette what their favorites are...i'll post those, too...

wanna a good read???

more like...wanna a disturbing/cringe-worthy/can't-put-it-down read???

very well-written, very thought-provoking, VERY good books!!!

finished all three within days.

so glad i didn't find them before all three were written and released...

they're meant for young adults, but i really enjoyed them...kinda violent...kinda graphic (descriptions of violence, not sex stuff)...with a love triangle thrown in for good measure.

i recommend...

OOPSY!!!

***OOPS!!! i put sugar down twice in the banana crunch muffin recipe...see below for correction!!!***

hope no one has tried to make the muffins...or you had good sense to find my mistake...or you called me, like katie did, to ask about it.

SEE?!! this is why i shouldn't be allowed in a kitchen...

M-MM-MMM...

banana crumb muffins:

1 1/2 c. flour

1 t. baking soda

1 t. baking powder

1/2 t. salt

1/2 t. cinnamon

3 mashed, ripe bananas

3/4 c. sugar

1 egg

1/3 c. melted butter (5+ T.)

crumb topping:

1/3 c. brown sugar

2 T. flour

1/8 t. cinnamon

1 T softened butter

1. preheat oven to 375

2. mix muffin ingredients and spoon into cupcake papers or a greased cupcake pan

3. mix crumb topping ingredients and sprinkle over muffins

4. bake for 18-20 minutes

YUMMMMMMMY!!!

zu-zu...

LOVES to lay in her bed and stare at her animals...HAPPY, HAPPY baby!!!

snow day...

love the pant leg...

the boob tube...or tv...or my bff...

i love tv. i LOVE tv! I.LOVE.TV!!!!!

there. i've said it...admitted what causes me no small amount of shame...hello, my name is amy and i'm addicted to tv. more specifically, i am addicted to the tv being on...i don't necessarily sit around all day watching tv...but the tv is on ALL. DAY. it is company...a constant noise that every once in a while will catch my attention, i'll watch for a few minutes, and then it's back to the task at hand. yes, i do DO things...my house is not a mess (in fact, quite the opposite...come on over and use my bathroom...i won't be embarrassed)...the dishes are done, the beds are made, the kids are fed, bathed, and most days clothed. tv doesn't keep me from being productive...it keeps me company.

i love to hear paula deen prattling on about butter in her southern drawl...i love to hear the neely's banter back and forth in their most flirtatious way as they make the most delicious looking ribs...i love to see which house the house hunters choose, how the wedding/birthday cake looks when it's finished, and what happens to the poor stupid teenage girl when her boyfriend realizes that HE can leave and she's left to raise her baby on her own.

last week i was feeling especially guilty about the tv being on so much...i decided one morning to NOT turn the tv on...i got jackson his milk and began to feed zoey...when jackson starts making the "please" sign and pointing to the tv. uh-oh. when i tell him "no, we're not going to watch tv this morning", there was an actual fit pitched...and that was it for me. no doubt about it, my addiction was now affecting my very impressionable one year old...crap.

i know exactly what must be done...DO NOT want to do it...but i must...break up...with the tv. it won't be a complete departure...we'll still be friends...it just has to be the end (or the limitation) of a very unhealthy addiction/obsession.

SO...

in an effort to watch LESS tv/keep the tv off, i've been trying to think of things to do and ways to replace the temptation that tv is to me...and now is to jackson...(oh, the sins of the mother!)...

cleaning...already do that

reading...could be tough to do with two little ones, but i LOVE to read. another embarrassing confession--i read with the tv on...i know--WHY?!!

crafting/decorating...not practical or necessary in my current situation

cooking...um, no thank you--i like to watch other people doing it--for me, it should remain a spectator activity

exercising...YES, definitely will be doing that when the weather warms up

blogging...yeah, i could probably keep things more current without having to post THREE months of pictures in one day

listening to music...YES!!!

jackson loves music...dances to EVERY commercial and theme song he hears...

***SO embarrassing***

(this is jackson listening to the ipad commercial...about twenty times...because we have a dvr and can rewind tv...his FAVORITE commercial--a one year old should not have a favorite commercial...if you watch long enough, you will see him begin to pitch a fit because we do not want to rewind it ONE MORE TIME)

why not listen to REAL music? why not listen to music that edifies? learn to count, learn the ABCs, learn "school-ish" stuff? OR what about all those sunday school songs...yeah, that would be good...cause they're about Jesus...and what's more important than learning about Jesus?!!

the songs that came to mind are the "hide em' in your heart" songs that steve green put out many, many years ago...the bible verse songs...would be good for jackson...and for his mommy who has such a difficult time prioritizing scripture memorization. found them this morning...on itunes...and...no offense, steve green, but if i have to listen to those songs all day, every day i'll go crazy. so itunes, being ever-so-helpful, suggested some other albums i might like and i found...

these are songs that i can actually listen to without wanting to pull my eardrums out. maybe you've already heard of them...they're super great...several different volumes...the website is linked below...

http://www.seedsfamilyworship.net/

so, replacing some tv time with scripture memorization and worship is a good place to start...but by no means the end to my quest to occupy my time with something other than the boob tube...

the mama says "no, no"...

jackson is learning animal sounds...SO super cute!!!

what does a cow say? "MOOOOOO"

what does a kitty say? "mow, mow" (meow, meow but sounds like mow, mow)

what does a bear say? "ROAR!!!!" (REALLY gets into this one and is the "go to" sound when he doesn't know what sound the animal makes)

what does a pig say? not quite a sound, yet...wrinkled nose and a head bob...hasn't learned to snort

what does a birdie say? "weet, weet"

and for fun one day i asked, "jackson, what does mommy say?"

his reply??? "NO, NO, NO"

hilarious.

she's a supermodel...