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| Hannah 2008 ~ 1 year old |
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| Hannah 2009 ~ 2 years old |
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| Hannah 2010 ~ 3 years old |
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Beautiful Fall Day
We are in the midst of perpetual runny noses. Grace's nose has not stopped running for over a month now. The middle part of the month was probably teething, but last week saw the beginning of yet another cold. And Gracie, being the generous younger sister that she is, decided to share her cold with her older sister. Thanks, Gracie!
Because I had no desire to be "that parent" by taking my girls to any kind of indoor place where they could possibly share their germs with other kiddos, we went for a walk at a local woods. Well, shall we say, mommy went for a walk and the girls enjoyed the beautiful day from the comfort of the double stroller. I thought Hannah would want to walk and gather leaves in her bucket, but she said she was "scared" because it was too quiet! She would crawl out to gather a leaf and then crawl right back in the stroller. So, I got a great workout!
I did get some pictures of the girls enjoying the outdoors. Did I say what a beautiful fall day we had?!?!?!
Because I had no desire to be "that parent" by taking my girls to any kind of indoor place where they could possibly share their germs with other kiddos, we went for a walk at a local woods. Well, shall we say, mommy went for a walk and the girls enjoyed the beautiful day from the comfort of the double stroller. I thought Hannah would want to walk and gather leaves in her bucket, but she said she was "scared" because it was too quiet! She would crawl out to gather a leaf and then crawl right back in the stroller. So, I got a great workout!
I did get some pictures of the girls enjoying the outdoors. Did I say what a beautiful fall day we had?!?!?!
This one is my favorite of the sisters!
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Finding myself...
Recently I've been doing a lot of thinking about who I am again. It has been a process full of more questions than answers and honestly, I really haven't spent much time doing it. Between being exhausted as a 23-week pregnant woman chasing after a very adventuresome toddler and a very talkative preschooler, there doesn't seem to be much time in the day for deep thoughts.
So what has prompted my journey down this trail... I'm not really sure... restlessness? boredom? wondering if I'm measuring up... as a mom... as a wife... as a human being? and the follow-up... measuring up to whom? the sometimes/often monotony of the day? the realization that a third child is coming and I'm barely holding my house together with two? wondering if I'm missing something?
The other week our pastor preached a sermon from Hebrews 12 about running the race marked out for us. One of his challenges to us was "whose race are you running?" In the midst of the sermon, I realized that some of my dissatisfaction was because I was "looking over the fence" at the lives of other people and deciding I wasn't doing enough. I am not doing all kinds of neat, crafty things with my girls. I'm not buying/cooking organic. I'm not using cloth diapers. I'm not juggling a career and raising my children. I'm not keeping my house showroom perfect. I'm not selling everything and spending my days with those less fortunate. I'm not... I'm not... I'm not.
So this prompts the questions... what am I doing? Who am I? What does it mean to live my life as authentically me... Dana Olson... and not someone else? What does it mean to be called by the One who made me authentically me? I don't know right now... but maybe that's ok. Perhaps the questions are a good place to start.
So what has prompted my journey down this trail... I'm not really sure... restlessness? boredom? wondering if I'm measuring up... as a mom... as a wife... as a human being? and the follow-up... measuring up to whom? the sometimes/often monotony of the day? the realization that a third child is coming and I'm barely holding my house together with two? wondering if I'm missing something?
The other week our pastor preached a sermon from Hebrews 12 about running the race marked out for us. One of his challenges to us was "whose race are you running?" In the midst of the sermon, I realized that some of my dissatisfaction was because I was "looking over the fence" at the lives of other people and deciding I wasn't doing enough. I am not doing all kinds of neat, crafty things with my girls. I'm not buying/cooking organic. I'm not using cloth diapers. I'm not juggling a career and raising my children. I'm not keeping my house showroom perfect. I'm not selling everything and spending my days with those less fortunate. I'm not... I'm not... I'm not.
So this prompts the questions... what am I doing? Who am I? What does it mean to live my life as authentically me... Dana Olson... and not someone else? What does it mean to be called by the One who made me authentically me? I don't know right now... but maybe that's ok. Perhaps the questions are a good place to start.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Dear God, what can I do?
I read the most amazing, heartbreaking story tonight. I'm weeping from my very comfortable home. Dear God, what can I do?
I would challenge you to read it and read other posts from this family in Haiti... Wow!
I would challenge you to read it and read other posts from this family in Haiti... Wow!
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Weaning, Walking and Waterworks
It is time for an update about my little growing-like-a-weed baby, who is no longer a baby, but a full-fledged toddler. It seemed to happen overnight and yet we watched it happen... feeding after feeding... step after step.
Friday, a week ago, was Gracie's last nursing session. We had gotten down to one a day, just when she got up in the morning. On Thursday, Gracie slept in until 7:00. I actually had a chance to get up and start the day alone. It was very nice. During that time, I just got the sense that I needed to offer her a cup of milk instead of nursing her when she got up. I knew I only had a couple days before leaving on a trip that would take me away from her for 3 days. I figured it would be easier on Daryl if I weaned her before I left instead of using the trip to wean her. Anyway, when she got up I offered her the cup and she took it, no questions asked:-). Wow, I thought, that was easier than I expected. Well, Friday came and Daryl went to get her with a cup a milk. That was a no go. She demanded me and when I took her, she made it very clear that she wanted to nurse. I didn't have the heart to refuse her. On Saturday, we tried the milk again and although she didn't want it, she also didn't demand to be nursed. I left on Sunday and Daryl didn't have much of a problem distracting her from the fact I wasn't there.
So, I figured, we were done. By the time I got back, I thought she would have forgotten. I was WRONG!!! The first two mornings I was back, she was very upset and wanted to nurse. I actually let her try one morning, and as I expected, it just made her frustrated and more upset because she didn't get anything. At this point I burst into tears and was very grateful that Daryl hadn't left for work, because I needed him to take her and distract her while I grieved. I felt like I had pushed her to grow up too fast. She was just one month over a year and right in the middle of teething. The one thing that provided her comfort was ripped from her... ok, I'm being a little dramatic, but at the moment that's what it felt like to me. I was feeling like I was especially selfish just because I wanted to get away for a while and I wanted to have a break before beginning to nurse again in February. Deep breath... I think she has forgiven me already and I guess I'm ready to forgive myself.
So in addition to weaning, Gracie has begun to walk. It seems like it has been a dramatic change because just in the couple days since I was gone, she has changed from crawling with a couple steps thrown in to walking with a couple crawls. It started right around her birthday when she received a Fisher Price stroller that she can stand behind and walk without help. Then it progressed to walking between the futon and loveseat without encouragement. Now she it toddling all over the house. Daryl jokes that she finally figured out that her knees bend. Those early steps are so stiff legged.
Finally, her teeth are coming through with a vengeance. She has 4, 2 top and 2 bottom, but it seems like all the rest are trying to push through at the same time. I never really needed to use a bib with Hannah to catch the drool, but Gracie sure needs one these days. Today is the first day since I have been home that her sweet personality is back. The first day I was home from my mini-vacation, I didn't think we would survive... she cried and cried and cried. Poor girl... poor mommy!
I want to get some video of her walking and I will post it as soon as I do. I also want to share about the great time I had with my mom, my aunts and some of my cousins in Delaware... a girls (over 20) only vacation! Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures, but I am hoping to "steal" some from my cousins or aunts.
Friday, a week ago, was Gracie's last nursing session. We had gotten down to one a day, just when she got up in the morning. On Thursday, Gracie slept in until 7:00. I actually had a chance to get up and start the day alone. It was very nice. During that time, I just got the sense that I needed to offer her a cup of milk instead of nursing her when she got up. I knew I only had a couple days before leaving on a trip that would take me away from her for 3 days. I figured it would be easier on Daryl if I weaned her before I left instead of using the trip to wean her. Anyway, when she got up I offered her the cup and she took it, no questions asked:-). Wow, I thought, that was easier than I expected. Well, Friday came and Daryl went to get her with a cup a milk. That was a no go. She demanded me and when I took her, she made it very clear that she wanted to nurse. I didn't have the heart to refuse her. On Saturday, we tried the milk again and although she didn't want it, she also didn't demand to be nursed. I left on Sunday and Daryl didn't have much of a problem distracting her from the fact I wasn't there.
So, I figured, we were done. By the time I got back, I thought she would have forgotten. I was WRONG!!! The first two mornings I was back, she was very upset and wanted to nurse. I actually let her try one morning, and as I expected, it just made her frustrated and more upset because she didn't get anything. At this point I burst into tears and was very grateful that Daryl hadn't left for work, because I needed him to take her and distract her while I grieved. I felt like I had pushed her to grow up too fast. She was just one month over a year and right in the middle of teething. The one thing that provided her comfort was ripped from her... ok, I'm being a little dramatic, but at the moment that's what it felt like to me. I was feeling like I was especially selfish just because I wanted to get away for a while and I wanted to have a break before beginning to nurse again in February. Deep breath... I think she has forgiven me already and I guess I'm ready to forgive myself.
So in addition to weaning, Gracie has begun to walk. It seems like it has been a dramatic change because just in the couple days since I was gone, she has changed from crawling with a couple steps thrown in to walking with a couple crawls. It started right around her birthday when she received a Fisher Price stroller that she can stand behind and walk without help. Then it progressed to walking between the futon and loveseat without encouragement. Now she it toddling all over the house. Daryl jokes that she finally figured out that her knees bend. Those early steps are so stiff legged.
Finally, her teeth are coming through with a vengeance. She has 4, 2 top and 2 bottom, but it seems like all the rest are trying to push through at the same time. I never really needed to use a bib with Hannah to catch the drool, but Gracie sure needs one these days. Today is the first day since I have been home that her sweet personality is back. The first day I was home from my mini-vacation, I didn't think we would survive... she cried and cried and cried. Poor girl... poor mommy!
I want to get some video of her walking and I will post it as soon as I do. I also want to share about the great time I had with my mom, my aunts and some of my cousins in Delaware... a girls (over 20) only vacation! Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures, but I am hoping to "steal" some from my cousins or aunts.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Not so Wordless Wednesday
Hannah and Levi Having Fun Together!
I was looking for a picture to upload for Wordless Wednesday and instead came across this. The video is in honor of our friends, who celebrated the arrival of their darling daughter, and my own daughter, who wants SO DESPERATELY to go visit them! (I think the rest of our family wants to visit equally as desperately!)
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
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