April showers - uh, we ain't got 'em

April showers bring May flowers? Well here is the desert it is good bye to the water and hello to grass/weeds turning brown and then turning into dirt in about another month LOL The trees are beautiful though! Quick run down and then here are a lot of pictures :)

NATE: This is his last week of school!!!! His first year of seminary done! He has done so well and gone without much sleep but God has sustained him, even when he got sick, the Lord made it on spring break so that he could rest (more than usual). I know he has learned so much! Summer school starts next week LOL But it is only one class and it's only 2 weeks long. We will be attending the class together. The class is called Pastor's home and the future pastor's wife is supposed to go. So I get to be with Nate every night for 2 weeks :D but we have to leave Silas. If you think about it, pray for us to be able to make it through those 2 weeks without traumatizing Silo. During the month of June, Nate will be teaching adult sunday school at the church every weekend. The elders at the church wanted to give him this teaching opportunity in order to further prepare him to teach in "big church". There is potential that he will be preaching his first sermon this summer.

SHALANE: I'm a mess LOL Oh how I wish that I was this beautifully organized and put together homemaker. I'm not. I have looked at blogs to get crafty home decorating ideas or recipes and I think, "Do they lock their children away in a basement?" How does their house look like THAT? And how did they make THAT? Seriously? Who are these wonder women?!!!" I don't know them - well I know one, my good friend Kathy, but she doesn't take the time to blog it. I really think it comes down to being lazy - I've concluded that I'm lazy with my time. So I've been praying through out the day asking the Lord to help me have the energy and desire to just do the dishes now, mop the floors, wash the laundry and PUT IT AWAY. I had a couple of really good days and then got sick so I'm behind again but I shall conquer this dwelling some day!

I'm 28 weeks now - 3rd trimester! Let's see the pregnancy has been going really well. Until the last few days - I have had something going on that is cause back pain, abdominal cramping and nausea but no other symptoms. Thankfully today (day 4) is better. Hopefully in the next few days I will be back to full energy, well as much as a pregnant woman has, and able to get things going here again. 

SILAS: He is a mess too ;) But the cutest mess I have ever seen. I love that little man so incredibly much and I know that Nate does too. We soak up all the snuggles and kisses we can get. He makes us laugh really hard too with his imitating or facial expressions. Nate was helping Silas get a cheese stick out of the lower fridge drawer. Nate used his foot to close the drawer, but it only partially closed. Silas quickly went to close to completely with his hands then pulled back his hands and kicked the drawer with his foot hee hee hee! He has started using the potty - whenever we offer it, he will go and sometimes he asks so maybe just maybe he will be potty trained when Cambrya is here. His first sentences are, "Where did it go?" and "Outside, go" New words: go, outside, cracker, cheese, juice, pee pee, push LOL

noise for horse, pig, car, vacuum, bird, He started singing too :)

FARM: Ugh, worst. month. in. Walter's farm history! We had coyotes come and attack - leaving us with 4 hens and a few babies alive, several missing chickens, partially eaten ones and the rest just killed for fun. It was so so so sad. We've changed up the routine though to better protect them. Our neighbor was moving and gave us 4 laying hens - one of which is super sweet and gets so close to you that she trips you, little chicks and fertile hatching eggs to put under one of our hens who is setting. FOR FREE! We were so excited and blessed by this. Our farm, back up and running for free?! We added a couple of new ones ourselves called showgirls - check out the white one

Waking up Daddy on Saturday morning

I turned on the shower and someone stole it before I got in! He has become our little shower buddy. Literally, no one can go in without him. I like it though because I can take a shower and know that he isn't digging in the fireplace or climbing on the stove.

Oh just me being me! I was trying to freeze the milk in a bag instead of the jug and the bag broke open - I had mopped the floor that morning or the night before ;)

What? Mommy had stuff organized on the bench? NOT!!

My first edible cookies 

Prepping the lawn mower - he knows to push the fuel button and then pull the string already. He just can't do it - yet

Pretending to mow using his push car

Playing in the pool for the first day at the house - he laughed so hard at getting Piper

Oh how I wish you could hear him laugh

Diving puppy - although she isn't trying to get anything, just likes to put her whole head in and explore?

Nose

Piper's nose

Ridin' Piper!!!

Silas, Maggie and Helen playing in the pool with Kyle. Clearly the kids aren't looking but I just wanted to show off how big they all are. Helen is the one I nannied for a few months.

Midwife appointment - Silas gets to help

Christy is pressing on Cambyra's knees here and saying hello!

The funniest part of the appointment! Nate is going to have a little blood drawn so we can know his blood type. Right now Christy is out in the car, getting the supplies and Nate is nervously biting his nails.

This is the needle going in - He. Is. Serious. I thought he was joking when he made that face and started yelling ow, ow ow! LOL It was over before he knew it since we just needed a tiny bit. Found out he is A positive :)

Easter - we were invited to spend the day with the Jenison family and they set up an egg hunt for Silas and Maggie

Silas laughing as he asks Miriam to open the candy. He quickly figured out that Mom and Dad were not the best people to ask to open the candy.

Stealing candy from each others baskets - Silas mouth looked like this for the next 20 minutes

This face is classic Silas. "OOooOOo" while laughing as Cody offers to open a treat!

Yay for candy!!!!

Just thought he looked so handsome this day

And goofy!

For Uncle Timmy - the only person left without Facebook ;)

It's a.....

Things have been busy as usual here in March. Nate had the Shepherd's Conference at the seminary and that was a long few weeks surrounding it. Shepherd's Conference meant he didn't get home until 10:30 or 11pm. We missed him lots! Plus he was scheduled to work a lot because they were testing at work. I was so thankful that one of the weekend tests were cancelled so that Nate could have the weekend off and catch up on rest! Sometimes it's hard to watch him not get much sleep because I can't help him in any way but this is part of being a student again. Only 5 or 6 more weeks until summer time - of course he is thinking about taking summer classes ;) We do love the school though and feel blessed that Nate is able to go to Masters. We were able to attend the Master's Seminary 25th Anniversary Dinner. It was a nice dinner at the Ronald Reagan musuem so we toured a little history (I LOVE history LOL not really but it was fun to see the Air Force 1 plane) There was a singer and JMac spoke kinda about where the seminary was heading in the future and the uniqueness of the school. I felt very proud of Nate that he was accepted to the school and excited for what God does through these men and the school. Here we are dropping Silas off with our friends, Bryan and Mandy...he did great for his first time away from mom and dad for that long.

Silas: Well he finally calls me mommy! And it such a beautiful sound! He will call for me across the house, "Mommy, Mommy!!" The other night he was with Nate on one side of the door..he would close it and laugh really loud inside then open it up and yell, "Mommy, Mommy!" "Yes buddy?" "Bu de buh do buh dee" and then close the door and start all over. So fun to see him trying to tell me that him and Daddy were having a fun time in the other room :) Other new words -up, open, egg and cracker....I have got to get egg on video LOL It takes so much effort! We are constantly amazed at how much he eats and eats...AND EATS! He still has no idea that there is a baby in my tummy but he sure likes poking my belly or belly button!
A new definition of breakfast in bed

He really likes movies now- Veggie Tales top the list and I think probably finding Nemo is right after that. We have kinda of a limited selection cause I'm too cheap to pay $20 for every movie. I found one at the consignment store and one on Ebay for a little cheaper though so that we have a little more to choose from. I think I'm going to look for Ratetouille on Ebay - he laughs at the preview so that's a good sign.

Oh how Silas loooooves his daddy - every day he checks the office for him while saying BaBA?! He even brought a book that they read together with him just in case Daddy was in there.

Daddy came home from Costco witha surprise for Silas who woke up the next morning to find his new trucks and immediately wanted to take them outside

And put his snacks inside

So much emotion in this video!

Making cookies with Mommy-although I gave all of these to the chickens cause I am cookie impaired...


Marshmallows( I made rice crispie treats to make up for my lack of cookie skills and they were delicious!) Silas liked the marshmallows :)

Patty cake or pat a cake or whatever it is

I'm kinda sad to see my time with just Silas coming to an end but I think he will enjoy having siblings - eventually :) And it will be fun to see him grow into the role of big brother. He got his first hair cut -BIG TEAR :( the sweet little curls are gone! but he is just as handsome as ever and Nate keeps reminding me that he had to have it cut some time - this is true

before with a dirty face from dinner:

What are you doing with those scissors?

See it was long on the top

After

Laughing at Piper

Me and Pregnancy:

Getting my craftiness on - fall wreath to spring

It's a GIRL!


I'm feeling her move much more these days which is one of the best parts. I've gained about 10-12 pounds now - the same way as last time...nothing, nothing and then 8 in one month. I was expecting my midwife to be like WHOA! that's a lot for one month as some of you will remember my OB did. I was so upset that I couldn't control my weight gain and I felt nervous every time I went to the Dr. that they would lecture me about it. Anyways, my midwife said, "That's great! 10 pounds and half way there?" That was comforting! I'm enjoying seeing the midwife for the prenatal appointments. One thing I have been working on is drinking more water. I was so sure that I would see improvements at our last appointment but I didn't :( Thankfully my midwife left some of the test urine strips with me so that I could figure out just how much I needed. I figured it out so I am trying every day to drink lots and lots. So baby girl has room to swim and turn head down so she can come out like we hope! Interestingly, I still have some morning sickness hanging around after breakfast time but it doesn't last long and usually I am at home so I can just chill until it's over. God has blessed me with great pregnancies!

Profile


I added some labels so that it becomes more clear what you are looking at but you'll need to click the picture to make it large enough to see them

My first purchase for her :)

We have her first name picked out but Nate and I are still debating over the spelling:

Cambrya or Cambria and we do not have the middle name yet

Fun at home

Silas has been learning so much lately and wanting to help or at least do what we are doing. Here are some examples :)
Nate got a new bookshelf and was transferring books from the living room to the office. I asked Silas to take the book to daddy, which he couldn't see because he was in the office. I also told Nate to make a big deal about it because Silas was listening to a kinda complicated set of instructions....this is the result. My favorite part is that Silas starts looking at the second book while walking and isn't paying attention to where he is going so he almost passes the office.


I have a video of Silas trying to feed the chickens but it isn't working so this is what happened after he was 'feeding' them:

FAIL!


He dumped the bag of cereal on the floor while watching a movie so he just stomped on it and ate it from there:


BUt of course he was willing to help clean up!



He took the head phones out of the desk and his sweet little imagination thought this was a great place to plug in:


I have no idea how he knows this stuff?! I haven't showed him and I don't walk around the house with head phones ha ha!


First attempt at eating yogurt with blueberries and whip cream on his own.

The food goatee (sp?) kept growing!



Unfortunately I don't have a picture of him doing this one but I gave him the can opener to distract him during the last few minutes of making dinner - he ran to the pantry, grabbed a can of peas, and tried opening it with the can opener - again, I have never showed him anything about this but he just watches me so closely.

He has finally learned to give kisses:

There was a stand off across the yard. Piper crouched down a little so Silas squatted down like this. Little did he know that in doggie wolrd this means the next picture is about to happen...


AHHHH!!! She's coming to get me!!!! This ended with a little pounce by Piper, knocking Silas to the ground and Daddy rescuing him :)


Here is a link to an album on FB with more pictures from this last month including some from Silas' first cold.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2622062&id=5011339&l=71c28deec7



18 weeks: I only planned to take a picture every 4 weeks until closer to the end but I realize that it seems like a long time between for those of you who can't see me so I'll try to take more.

Oh man!

I've gotten really far behind on this. I could play catch up but I think I'll just start where we are at now instead of creating a monster of a post! Here are some things going on with us! If you click the pictures, they get bigger so if you want to REALLY see Silas eating cereal, click away ;) hee hee
Christmas Eve service in Florida


Silas:
Our sweet Silas is 16 months.
*He runs all over chasing the chickens or dogs or just trying to keep up with us.
*He is a show off for company which includes loud babbling and spinning in circles
He was crackin' me up, staring at me thru his glasses...mallet and piano = perfect!

*He puts his hand up to his ear to pretend talking on the phone and is quick to point out every balloon or ball insight
*He still loves Twiggy and our new puppy, Piper.
*Right now he is really into putting things on his neck or head (purses SUNGLASSES, necklaces of links, anything really)
*Blueberries are out of season so he doesn't get those anymore but this morning he was eating eggs faster than I could get them to cool off - other favorites =crackers, cheese, green beans, chow mein, banana, pasta, grapes, cooked carrots

*Loves his bath time still and reading books
* Words: Baby, puppy, no, dada = baba, diaper, apple, mama=pacifier, hello, hi, I have no name....he signs please, more, all done and bird, A and B 2 out of 26 ain't bad!
*He has been watching us more and more this last week and imitating. He stopped his feet on the sidewalk like we trying to get the dirt/chicken poo off our shoes, he sweeps the floor, wipes up messes with towels, talks on the phone, puts shoes on, straightens his hair


Putting his buddy, Larry, on the car for a ride


Favorite breakfast is cereal right now which is very messy


Always helps me sweep and mop - someday he will actually have to help LOL




Nate:
*Works hard! He is gone a lot since the semester is under way, usually he is gone for 12 hours M-F. We miss him when he is gone but I really enjoy hearing what he is learning on T and Th.
* I can see him really growing and being challenged by his prayer class. He is required to pray for an hour each day. It is such a necessary discipline. And seeing him do this daily really encourages me to grow in this area too.
*I think he is doing really well at school. It is a challenge for him to balance everything but he does pretty well :)
*You can always pray that Nate is getting enough rest
Nate got some much needed time on the water while we were home. Silas loved the boat or at least touching the buttons :)




And of course, playing Catan with his sisters


Me:
Like I said, I'm enjoying my time with Silas. I personally enjoy this stage way more than the newborn stage and I look forward to the coming stages. At the same time, I do try to cherish those sleepy hugs and any awake hugs I can sneak too! I'm sure he is irritated with my constant hugging, "Mom! I'm trying to throw this ball!" I can tell you that I am so in love with that little boy! And when he shows affection back - it's the best! It's also fun to watch him gain independence. I enjoy watching him play in the back yard with a stick and a pile of dirt or a ball. He is perfectly content with those simple things! Being a mommy is tough because I can't do what I want when I want to...like write this post LOL He keeps interrupting me for a snack as we speak! OK, got it. You can pray for me to use my time wisely. I know there is enough time in the day to care for Nate and Silas well, the house and spiritual matters as well. I know there is because I know several godly women who do this things with joyful hearts. Not to say that they are perfect but generally speaking, they've got their priorities straight and it shows as they encourage and build up others, grow in Christlikeness and their homes are clean/organized so that it's functional for living and relaxing!
Pray that God would continue to change my heart to want to use my time to honor Him and my family instead of serve myself by doing 'nothing'
Meeting Giana


Other:
*We no longer own the goats. They went to a super cool family who has been taking them on hikes and walking them to school!

This is one less thing for me to care for in light of the fact that we got a puppy. Piper came from the shelter and is some kinda of boxer mix. So far she is doing great with Silas. Her and Twiggy still have some issues to work through ;)
Giving Piper a hug

Piper hugging back

The closet they've ever been without needing to be separated


Twiggy had to endure snow while we were in FL

There was a little bit left when we got home so Silas got to poke it with a grilling utensil - great kids toys





*We are expecting baby number 2 in the first couple of weeks of August.
Just found out!

Baby at 11 weeks 6 days- lets call it 12 weeks lol


We have decided to use a midwife at home for this birth. I know this is really risky and weird in some peoples opinions and that's ok with me. I am not choosing this route to be different but we feel like this is the best chance I have for avoiding a csection. We are not anti doctors, nurses, hospitals or medicine - those things are great things that save lives and keep us healthy. But our hospital here has a VBAC ban. Our doctor would try and work around that with us since he supports VBACs, however, I know there would be some struggle to this. Especially when it comes to due date time and I'm not in labor or if I happen to go into labor the day my doctor is out. I know that I still may not be able to deliver naturally, the Lord may have other plans for me. If this baby is breech or I become a high risk pregnancy, don't go into labor by 42 weeks...whatever the variable may be, then I will willingly submit to God's will. But as far as it is up to us, we will seek to deliver this little on healthy at home.
Here is the link to my midwife's website. You can click around and find out more information if ya want. Just a heads up...there are some photos here and there of women who have just delivered and they don't show anything but ya know, they are in a tub holding their 'ick' covered baby hee hee

http://www.gentlebirthmidwifery.com/

If you have questions about it, let me know cause it is always good for me to think through things and be educated!
13 weeks