Everything BUT the bathroom sink!

I was getting ready to give them a bath and put Zachariyah in the tub while Nathan was getting Eliana undressed! Since it was taking me a little while to get Zachariyah all washed, Nathan decided to put her in the bathroom sink! She loved playing with the faucet and looking at the other baby in the mirror! She is getting so big! How did 9 months go by already?? Someone needs to hit the slow motion button for a while!

Rub A Dub Dub....!

It finally dawned on me that with all my limited time, and since Eliana can sit up pretty well....it was time to start bathing them together! They are both still young enough, and they have so much fun in the tub together! Zachariyah even wants to help drown...I mean rinse Eliana off! It's too cute!

Laundry Day!

Every time the laundry basket comes out Zachariyah wants to take a ride! Hey, I'd take a ride if I could stuff myself in there and someone would push me...ahh to be a kid again! This time however, we had a second passenger.....Eliana!! Zachariyah got a kick out of it, but Eliana was still trying to figure out what all the fuss was about. Maybe she was worried I was going to put her in the washer!!

Lazy Sunday Morning!

Nathan's new schedule has him working Sunday through Thursday! So Zachariyah and I are just hanging out this morning while Eliana naps and I thought I would update my blog with some pictures of the kiddos!

A Welcome "Sign"!

Since I never thought I would see this again, I thought that I would snap a picture! Gas prices were getting pretty crazy there for a while....and in some places they still are!! Here in North Texas we topped out at just about $405/gallon=arm/leg! Somebody is getting rich and it sure ain't me!! But at least for now we will enjoy the slightly more reasonable prices at the pump here!!

Enlightened Perspective

(Zachariyah either looks enlightened or confused!!)


Over the years I have collected poems, short stories and tid bits here and there! One of my favorites is something titled "Enlightened Perspective" which was written by Andy Rooney!


*I've learned that the best classroom in the world is at the feet of and elderly person.
*I've learned that when you're in love, it shows.
*I've learned that just one person saying to me "you've made my day, makes my day.
*I've learned that having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.
*I've learned that being kind is more important than being right. *I've that you should never say no to a gift from a child.
*I've learned that I can always pray for someone when I don't have the strength to help them in some other way.
*I've learned that no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.
*I've learned that sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.
*I've learned that life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer you get to the end the faster it goes.
*I've learned that we should be glad the God doesn't give us everything we ask for.
*I've learned that money doesn't buy class.
*I've learned that it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular. *I've learned that under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.
*I've learned that the Lord didn't do it all in one day. What makes me think I can?
*I've learned that to ignore the facts, does not change the facts.
*I've learned that when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.
*I've learned that love, not time, heals all wounds.
*I've learned that the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people who are smarter than I am.
*I've learned that everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.
*I've learned that life is tough, but I'm tougher.
*I've learned that opportunities are never lost, someone will take the ones you miss.
*I've learned that when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere. *I've learned that one should keep his words both soft and tender because tomorrow he may have to eat them.
*I've learned that a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.
*I've learned that I can't choose how I feel, but I can choose what I do about it. *I've learned that everyone wants to live at the top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it.
*I've learned that it is best to give advice in only two circumstances, when it is requested and when it is a life threatening situation.
*I've learned that the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.

And The Binky Stands Alone!

I have discovered that there is something much worse than a baby with a cold! And that my friends is a "binky baby" with a cold!!!!! Eliana has her first official cold and last night was a whole new experience trying to get her to sleep when she couldn't suck on her binky! Poor thing with her nose all stuffy and she wanted her binky so bad! But she just couldn't suck on it and breath at the same time! Eventually she did finally figure out that she had to breath through her mouth to sleep comfortably, but it took a LOT of rocking!!!

Sittin' Pretty!

Another milestone.....!! Sitting up, check! Although she is still somewhat wobbly, Eliana is now sitting up quite well all on her own! She is becoming such a big girl! When Zachariyah was a baby I couldn't wait for him to do everything...! It seemed he couldn't reach each new thing fast enough! But this time around I'm wiser, and I know just how fast it goes. They are babies for such a short time, and I am trying to enjoy every moment of it!!

Take a Look....It's In a Book....!!

Nathan and I both enjoy reading....and I suppose it's genetic because both Zachariyah and Eliana LOVE books! Zachariyah would rather flip through a book and have you read to him than play with toys! Eliana is also starting to show more and more interest in books....or is it just because Zachariyah is looking at it..??!! Hmmmm!! Curious!

Where Did The Time Go.......?

Hard to believe that Zachariyah is on his way to being three!! Everything has happened so fast. It's like when you drive somewhere over and over and you know the way so well. Sometimes you get to your destination and you can't even remember the drive there! That's how I feel about the last 2+ years with Zachariyah. I know that I was there for everything....the first tooth, the crawling, walking and running, first words...!! I see him now and it's like...how did we get here?? Were you really a baby? I think back and realize that it went so fast and all those little moments are either lost in time or captured in pictures! It has made me realize that I truly have to cherish every day I have with Zachariyah and Eliana! Because before you know it their childhood will be over! Even during those days when I just want to pull my hair out! It's important to remember that someday...I'm going to miss this!!

Big Brother...Little Sister

It's cute to watch Zachariyah & Eliana interact more! As she gets older he is getting more and more interested in this little person that has come to live with us! He loves to give her hugs and kisses and much to my dismay...even wrestle with her! Nothing too extreme and she doesn't seem to mind being flopped over and pinned to the mat, or the floor in this case!! I hope that as they get older they see each other as playmates. Although I am sure we will have more than one episode of tug-o-war over a toy! So here is to all big brothers with little sisters...remember that you're supposed to look out for us, and not pop the heads off our dolls and bounce balls off our heads!!

Cold Day!

We recently had a round of cold weather here in North Texas and it was kinda fun! Although the weather has been really nice lately...the excuse to bundle up was wonderful! Although I know in another month or so we'll all be sick of the cold weather and ready for Spring!! I got to try out some of Eliana's new cozy winter clothes and she looked too cute! My little snow bunny...minus the snow!! :-)

Round, Round, Get Around , I get Around

Seems like only yesterday we brought Eliana home from the hospital. Yet any day now she will be graduating from her "zombie drag" to crawling and then there will really be no holding her back! Even though she already manages to drag herself wherever she wants to go!! It's hard to believe that 8 months has already gone by and before you know it we will be celebrating another 1st birthday! Time truly flies when you have children! And for the first time I wish it would slow down just a bit!!

A Princess Does NOT Eat Vegetables!!

Getting "Princess" Eliana to eat vegetables has been a challenge! As a baby Zachariyah would at least eat a few vegetables, but little miss Eliana has decided that since she is a princess she doesn't have to!! She loves fruits of all kinds and will happily devour anything sweet! But when it comes to veggies, they have to be cleverly disguised!! The only vegetables that I have been able to get her to eat is a medley of butternut squash, pumpkin and pears! You see, the pears cleverly disguise the other "stuff" enough so she doesn't even know she's eating vegetables!! Shhh, don't tell her or I might be kicked out of the kingdom!!

Two and a Half!

The other day I joined a couple other moms for a Mommy & Me" group session! I have been invited to these in the past, but I have always hesitated because Zachariyah is so full of energy! I was apprehensive about how he would react in a new environment! Needless to say, he was not at all interested in sitting in a circle to sing songs or any arts and crafts!! All he wanted to do was run around and check everything out! Typical little boy! Later that day the lady who hosted the mommy and me called my to tell me she felt that Zachariyah needed intervention and therapy!! I had told her during the session that he had little to no experience in these situations or playing with children his own age( there were no children his own age there anyway, only babies like Eliana), but she felt it was more than that and I should call ECI (Early Childhood Intervention) since they help children with developmental delays!! I was astounded that after 1 hour with Zachariyah she felt she could make an accurate assessment of him!! I mean, she has only met Zachariyah a handful of times and these were always very brief encounters! This was the first time she has seen him for an extended period of time! She has never seen Zachariyah in his OWN environment where he is comfortable! I wondered how could she possibly feel her observations were valid!! I was very upset by the phone call and spent the rest of the afternoon feeling like somehow I had failed as a mother! Zachariyah is a wonderful little boy!! He hit all his physical milestones quickly! Rolling over, scooting, crawling, cruising and walking!! When it came to talking however, I will say that when you compare him to other children his age he would probably be considered to be behind them! For a while I was concerned over his lack of vocabulary and I even asked his pediatrician if he could have autism...even though as his mother I KNEW he didn't!! Which the test they had me do proved!! His doctor recommend the possibility of speech therapy...but I decided to give him some time! We intensified our own communication with him. Reading to him more, always telling him what everything was and what we were doing! Repeatedly asking him questions and encouraging verbal response!! I had multiple family members tell me to not worry too much...that all children develop differently and he would talk soon!! Sure enough..right at about 2 & 1/2 he started picking up on words quickly! It amazed us how he could all of sudden repeat back to us what we would say! Some things we didn't even tell him and he knew! Like pointing to himself and saying "me"! Where did that come from we wondered! It is wonderful to see him talking more and more!! We are still working on phrases and getting him to communicate what he wants/needs more verbally, but he is making awesome progress! Could I have enrolled him in the speech therapy 2 months ago and gotten similar results sooner! I suppose, but I knew he would get there at his own pace! As a mom you just know when there is something seriously the matter that requires treatment beyond what you can give and when your child is just "going at their own pace"! Back to the "mommy & me" episode. I truly feel that he requires no therapy at this time! Zachariyah has been at home with me since day one. I wish I would have had exposed him to other children and environments from a younger age, but I didn't. He doesn't have any cousins or neighbors near by that are his age, so it's kinda just been me and him. Will it be a challenge to get him used to social environments and playing with other children? I'm sure it will be, but he won't be the first crying pre-schooler. Or the child at the playground who would just rather run around than play on the slide with the other kids and I am okay with that. He's only 2 & 1/2 and I truly feel that as he gets older and we get him out there around other kids he'll adapt and we'll be there to help him. But for whatever reason he doesn't we know there are resources out there to help us. I feel like people are too quick nowadays to "label" children or dub them "behind". Zachariyah is growing at his pace, determined not only by his personal cognitive development, but also by his environment and what my husband and I expose him to! His social skills may be lacking, but who is to say that in time he won't become the kid everyone wants to hang out with!