4/8/09
Coen is not a huge fan of my kisses anymore.
2/14/12
"I wasn't prepared for this."
"I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, As long as I'm living, my baby you'll be."
Showing posts with label Amy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Amy. Show all posts
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
The Shaws
A long time ago, in a land far far away... oh, wait...just a long time ago.
A long time ago, when my mom first started homeschooling me and my sisters, we met the McGaughs. Emily, who was a little bit older than me, Erin, who was Julie's age, and their new baby brother, Matthew. "Thewy" they called him. Our moms became instant friends and all of us kids hit it off great! We spent countless hours playing with the girls. Birthdays, PuttPutt Golf, movies and the slumber parties? OH the slumber parties!!
Like most friendships, things faded after a few years. My family moved to a new town and Emily and Erin began attending private school. It was harder and harder to keep in touch. Occasionally we would run into each other at the mall, then Emily got married and Daniel and I (newly engaged) attended the wedding.
About five years ago Daniel and I started going to a new church. We joined up after sever months of scoping the place out and then who should turn up? Emily (McGaugh) Shaw. Emily Shaw with a baby on her hip and plans for a second! Goodness how time had flown by! It took us a while to get around to really re-connecting, but boy have we! Our boys play so well together and our husbands have so much in common! It's so nice to have my old friend back!!
This past week Emily treated the boys and I to a trip to the museum . A place we went together as kids! Such fun!!
A long time ago, when my mom first started homeschooling me and my sisters, we met the McGaughs. Emily, who was a little bit older than me, Erin, who was Julie's age, and their new baby brother, Matthew. "Thewy" they called him. Our moms became instant friends and all of us kids hit it off great! We spent countless hours playing with the girls. Birthdays, PuttPutt Golf, movies and the slumber parties? OH the slumber parties!!
Like most friendships, things faded after a few years. My family moved to a new town and Emily and Erin began attending private school. It was harder and harder to keep in touch. Occasionally we would run into each other at the mall, then Emily got married and Daniel and I (newly engaged) attended the wedding.
About five years ago Daniel and I started going to a new church. We joined up after sever months of scoping the place out and then who should turn up? Emily (McGaugh) Shaw. Emily Shaw with a baby on her hip and plans for a second! Goodness how time had flown by! It took us a while to get around to really re-connecting, but boy have we! Our boys play so well together and our husbands have so much in common! It's so nice to have my old friend back!!
This past week Emily treated the boys and I to a trip to the museum . A place we went together as kids! Such fun!!
Big Dino! It's kind of a running joke between Em and I. When Jurassic Park showed in the theaters my parents took us all to see it. Scared us all half to death. Her oldest son is obsessed with dinosaurs! Coen doesn't really know what to think.
After two boys, Emily was blessed with a baby girl! What a beauty!
Coen has been all about the trains lately, so he spent almost ALL of his time at this station.
HARDHAT!!
Of course the water station was a huge hit! Especially on a hot day.
Shaw girls!
Together again!! Yay!!
Monday, May 9, 2011
Mother's Day 2011
What a wonderful Mother's Day this was! There were a lot of tiny little details that made it extra nice, but I won't bore you with those. The big event of the day was our Mother's Day Brunch! We wanted to do something extra special this Mother's Day and a brunch seemed like the perfect thing. I hosted and provided drinks and Julie and Becky brought food.
So I set a pretty table...
(That's my china and those are my great great grandmother's glasses. Supposedly they are crystal!)
... and the nibbling and sipping and chit chatting ensued!
Daddy took Coen to the park during our brunch. Here he is with me before he left. Such a sweet boy!
Sisters!
Here's Mom opening her gifts.
Grammy with her grandsons!
This Mother's Day was also special because my sister Becky is expecting! Due in early October. First Mother's day! Julie and I got her a cute maternity shirt.
Here's what Daniel got me for Mother's day! I was sooo pumped. I've been wanting some kind of jewelry to represent my children and this is such a beautiful necklace! It's from The Vintage Pearl. Eeeek! Even better! I've been looking at their stuff for years! It's such a special necklace. Of course the "C" is for Coen and the "W" is for Wallace, but the pearl means something to me too. It represents our baby in heaven. I realized today that it was one year ago that I miscarried. Just a day or two before Mother's Day. That was difficult and yet look at how the Lord has blessed me. I have my sweet baby Wallace. A healthy, sometimes happy, baby boy. :)
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Lately...
Well, there's been a LOT going on lately in addition to Wallace's quickly (but not quickly enough) approaching arrival.
Pregnancy:
We're making progress and have some good news. Still on track for VBAC!! Dr. McAlpine said that as long as the baby isn't too big we can go up to my due date and even a bit after! If he doesn't come by then, though, we'll have to do another c-section. When I went in last Tuesday I was dilated to a 1 which was cool to hear because I don't think I ever did that with Coen! Of course, now that he told me I have been SUPER impatient and expect to go into labor any second. I have another appointment in two days and Daniel has the day off, so we plan on taking Coen to the zoo. Then I'm buying some Raspberry tea. The combo should work. Fingers crossed!! ;)
Home:
So around the house has been....busy. I've been frantically trying to do everything I want to have done before bringing a baby home which is difficult when I have a two year old who doesn't understand that I am trying to keep the house tidy. We mostly spend our time outside of the home. Playing outside, running errands and hanging out at my mom's house. Me and my sisters trekked it out to IKEA and got a dresser for Coen so we could use the old dresser for Wallace. See?
This is Wallace's little corner of the world! We'll see if he ever even uses it!
Me:
Because it's apparent that I have too much free time on my hands, I have started up KENO again and started up in a Book Club! We only meet once a month, each, but it's nice to have some time out of the house, having adult conversation. If you can call our conversation "adult". ;)
Pregnancy:
We're making progress and have some good news. Still on track for VBAC!! Dr. McAlpine said that as long as the baby isn't too big we can go up to my due date and even a bit after! If he doesn't come by then, though, we'll have to do another c-section. When I went in last Tuesday I was dilated to a 1 which was cool to hear because I don't think I ever did that with Coen! Of course, now that he told me I have been SUPER impatient and expect to go into labor any second. I have another appointment in two days and Daniel has the day off, so we plan on taking Coen to the zoo. Then I'm buying some Raspberry tea. The combo should work. Fingers crossed!! ;)
Home:
So around the house has been....busy. I've been frantically trying to do everything I want to have done before bringing a baby home which is difficult when I have a two year old who doesn't understand that I am trying to keep the house tidy. We mostly spend our time outside of the home. Playing outside, running errands and hanging out at my mom's house. Me and my sisters trekked it out to IKEA and got a dresser for Coen so we could use the old dresser for Wallace. See?
So fun!
So that diaper cake is from my baby shower! A very dear friend of mine, and her mom, threw us one!! I don't have any pictures on my comp, but they are out there! It was so fun to get new things for a new baby boy. Mostly it was just nice to be "showered" and loved on by great company!
New Things:
Well, Daniel has started working closer to home, which is wonderful!! We can ever meet up for lunch now, which was out of the question before, and it doesn't take him forever to get home at the end of the day.
Also, my Dad got my Mom and new car! It's exciting because we got their Volvo!! WOOHOOO!!! Three rows of seats, leather interior, safety, I could go on and on about how much I LOVE this vehicle. Thank you Mom and Dad!!!
PLUS, my littlest sis found out she is expecting! I can hardly believe it! We'll have three babies in the fam by Thanksgiving!! That also means Coen will be the oldest cousin. Weird...
Oh, and I've started work on the garden. So far, not so good. I've only planted spinach, but it's well on it's way!
Coen:
Coen figured out how to get out of his big boy bed. We are desperately lacking sleep at my house because of this little stunt. He literally had a melt down day and finally crashed with no dinner, sleeping for, like, 14 hours or something crazy. He's been better about staying in bed now, but he comes in our room in the mornings, carrying his silky and blanket wanting to snuggle. Fine with me, as long as he's snuggling and not putting his fingers in my nose while I try to catch a bit of shut eye.
He also went potty on the potty once! We're taking the potty training thing really...really...relaxed. I DON'T want him to feel pressured and I honestly don't want to deal with training and a new baby. Everything we do is on his initiation. One day he finally went! So exciting! Here he is taking his sweet time one day...
I'm sorry, son. You're just so darn cute.
We've also been playing with playdoh, and coloring and painting...
...and spilling paint...
...and unrolling numerous tubes of toilet paper...
...and acting like we didn't.
Also, Coen has REALLY gotten into helping in the kitchen. He's always liked to, but now I can't keep him out of the kitchen! Here we are making pizza dough.
Me:
Because it's apparent that I have too much free time on my hands, I have started up KENO again and started up in a Book Club! We only meet once a month, each, but it's nice to have some time out of the house, having adult conversation. If you can call our conversation "adult". ;)
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
How I feel about Harry Potter
Alrighty, taking a different type of road here, one I don't think I have traveled on this blog yet. "Stating my opinion about a controversial subject." YAY! I know you've all been waiting for it, at least those of you who know me well have. "When is Amy going to use her cute little family blog to state her unpopular and usually offensive opinion?"
Today. Today is the day.
I want to write a bit about these fictional books that seem to get everyone's panties in a nice, tight dirty little wad. Be it the Harry Potter series, the Twilight "saga", The Lord of the Rings books..... pick your poison.
Confession
First let me state a few things:
1.) I have read, and love, all of the Harry Potter books. I attend the midnight showings of the movies. I will not let my children watch the movies. If they want to read the books.....I haven't figured out what age we'll deal with that one yet.
2.) I have read all of the Twilight books. I do not love them, only because they are poorly written and a bit like teenage magazines. Same stance on the kid-wanting-to-read-the-books-slash-watch-the-movies thing.
3.) I grew up on Chronicles of Narnia and have no issue with the series.
4.) I have never touched a J.R.R. Tolkien book. I walked out of the theater in the middle of one of the movies because I was so disturbed. I eventually watched the whole series with my hubbs one weekend and felt disgusting and confused for about a week.
5.) Although I own none of the movies, Star Wars (the old ones) rock my socks off. My kids can watch them whenever they want.
6.) I am a Christian adult. I know the difference between reality and fiction. And while I have never struggled with witchcraft and whatnot, I know that it is very much a real thing, not to be taken lightly.
Ok, so now that my dirty laundry is out there...
Personal Conviction
Most of the time I enjoy it when people share their opinion. I have honestly paid close attention to the conversations about this topic and read numerous articles posted about the problems people have with these books. Everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion and if they feel like they are being compelled spiritually to spread warning, I welcome that. Some, however, need to take a chill pill and realize that concern and nonconstructive criticism are two completely different things. You can't force someone to be convicted about something you,personally, have been convicted of.
God is convicting me daily about things I need to eliminate/add to my life. I am 100% positive that if He wanted me to eliminate some of the books I read, He would have done so. I'm open and listening. I have no serious attachment to anything other than my family. I can drop it if asked.
We have a free will to make choices and decisions in our life. Some people struggle with food, others struggle with fictional books and still others, anger. If you are maintaining a disciplined evaluation of your behavior, you can keep things in check. High fructose corn syrup is BAD. Eating too much of it will kill you. If you like ding-dongs, you should reel in your cravings, keep your diet in check. Witchcraft is bad. If reading LOTR makes you want to become a warlock, you definitely shouldn't read those books. I, personally, struggle with music. I know that certain bands/songs I listened to in my youth effected my attitude, skewed my world view and became an idol. It's something I have to keep in check now.
I can't demand that someone feel as strongly about the music they listen to as I do about the music I listen to. I'm not saving their soul from damnation. Chances are I'm going to end up offending them or making them feel bad about something the might not need feel bad about. Don't get me wrong! I don't buy into this whole philosophy that "what is wrong for some may not be wrong for others." Please. If it's a sin, it's a sin. However, smoking is not worse than fast food. Harry Potter is not worse than some t.v. sitcom that pushes the envelope. Some things just seem worse than others.
Fiction vs. Reality
I try to not stress out about things that are not real. Leprechauns aren't real. Vampires aren't real. Smurfs aren't real. Little Miss. Muffet is not real.Ebolavirus is not real.
If I were to walk into the middle of an occultist gathering (which I would never do) and beg for a vampire to come and bite me, do you know what would happen? Nothing. That's because there are no such things as vampires. I may have a misguided person or two who wishes he/she was a vampire offer, but a vampire would not bite me.
If I ran to the end of the rainbow and searched for a leprechaun, do you know how many I would find? Zero.
So I'm not going to get upset that someone created a story about these fictional characters, creatures and worlds. As a matter of fact, I love it. I love that people can use their imaginations is such a creative way!
The BIG issue here, is that children do NOT know the difference between fiction and reality. Young minds need concrete guidance. Impressionable teens need to be protected. There is a fine line between childhood fiction and fantasy and adult fiction and fantasy. Dealing with the issues in Peter Pan is far different than dealing with issues in The Lord of The Rings. "Death", "Dark Arts", being possessed by a ring, whether or not a vampire will rip your throat out are all topics young minds should not be burdened by.
Just the Beginning
"But Amy, aren't these seemingly harmless things just the beginning of something more dangerous?" .
Yes!
Yet, everything, seemingly harmless can be the start to something bad. One muttered curse word can lead to violent profanity. One credit card can lead to mountains of debt and a worship of money. One ho-ho can lead to diabetes and obesity. One morning run can lead to a time consuming addiction and vanity. The list goes on and on and on....
I know people hurting more people with their green living, and natural lifestyle choices than I do those who read Harry Potter.
Logical Worries
1.) If anything becomes something you dwell on you've got a problem. Be it a book, an actor, politics, a snack or that person who cut you off on the highway. Nothing should consume your thoughts for too long.
2.) If it causes you to sin. If you are neglecting your family and household duties to finish a book....not cool. Put it down.
3.) If you are causing others to sin. (NOTE: I am not promoting the purchasing or reading of any of these materials.) If you have a girlfriend who is having problems respecting her husband, don't get her all addicted to Edward Cullen and advise that you get whatshisname's matching tattoos.
4.) Again, your child's spiritual well being. I'll never forget it. Right before I walked out of LOTR, there was a very violent "war" scene where someone was beheaded. For a split second the theater was completely silent as was the movie. The only thing I heard was the voice of, what appeared to be, a four year old boy sitting a few chairs down from me in the lap of his father. His clear, innocent and confused question seemed to echo throughout the room. "What happened to that man daddy?". Done. We left right after that and luckily I refrained from dragging that child out with me. It is completely unfair to subject your children to something scary and violent.
5.) What are you promoting? I chose not to watch The Golden Compass because the author wrote these books for a specific purpose, and that purpose was evil. I've heard rumors that Stephanie Meyer wrote Twilight because of some dream she had? I don't know how true that is, but I'm betting she wrote the books to make money, and that's all.
On the other hand...
Books like this make me want to vomit. Please do not force something that isn't there. Harry Potter, Star Wars and LOTR are no more a depiction of Christianity than I am the poster child for anorexia. Just leave it alone. Let it be a book.
In Conclusion
Well, there it is. That's what I think. Feel free to comment, however please do not use this bit of writing as a springboard for your personal spiritual agenda. I think we are all tired of hearing everyone point fingers. Had a ho-ho today? ;)
Today. Today is the day.
I want to write a bit about these fictional books that seem to get everyone's panties in a nice, tight dirty little wad. Be it the Harry Potter series, the Twilight "saga", The Lord of the Rings books..... pick your poison.
Confession
First let me state a few things:
1.) I have read, and love, all of the Harry Potter books. I attend the midnight showings of the movies. I will not let my children watch the movies. If they want to read the books.....I haven't figured out what age we'll deal with that one yet.
2.) I have read all of the Twilight books. I do not love them, only because they are poorly written and a bit like teenage magazines. Same stance on the kid-wanting-to-read-the-books-slash-watch-the-movies thing.
3.) I grew up on Chronicles of Narnia and have no issue with the series.
4.) I have never touched a J.R.R. Tolkien book. I walked out of the theater in the middle of one of the movies because I was so disturbed. I eventually watched the whole series with my hubbs one weekend and felt disgusting and confused for about a week.
5.) Although I own none of the movies, Star Wars (the old ones) rock my socks off. My kids can watch them whenever they want.
6.) I am a Christian adult. I know the difference between reality and fiction. And while I have never struggled with witchcraft and whatnot, I know that it is very much a real thing, not to be taken lightly.
Ok, so now that my dirty laundry is out there...
Personal Conviction
Most of the time I enjoy it when people share their opinion. I have honestly paid close attention to the conversations about this topic and read numerous articles posted about the problems people have with these books. Everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion and if they feel like they are being compelled spiritually to spread warning, I welcome that. Some, however, need to take a chill pill and realize that concern and nonconstructive criticism are two completely different things. You can't force someone to be convicted about something you,personally, have been convicted of.
God is convicting me daily about things I need to eliminate/add to my life. I am 100% positive that if He wanted me to eliminate some of the books I read, He would have done so. I'm open and listening. I have no serious attachment to anything other than my family. I can drop it if asked.
We have a free will to make choices and decisions in our life. Some people struggle with food, others struggle with fictional books and still others, anger. If you are maintaining a disciplined evaluation of your behavior, you can keep things in check. High fructose corn syrup is BAD. Eating too much of it will kill you. If you like ding-dongs, you should reel in your cravings, keep your diet in check. Witchcraft is bad. If reading LOTR makes you want to become a warlock, you definitely shouldn't read those books. I, personally, struggle with music. I know that certain bands/songs I listened to in my youth effected my attitude, skewed my world view and became an idol. It's something I have to keep in check now.
I can't demand that someone feel as strongly about the music they listen to as I do about the music I listen to. I'm not saving their soul from damnation. Chances are I'm going to end up offending them or making them feel bad about something the might not need feel bad about. Don't get me wrong! I don't buy into this whole philosophy that "what is wrong for some may not be wrong for others." Please. If it's a sin, it's a sin. However, smoking is not worse than fast food. Harry Potter is not worse than some t.v. sitcom that pushes the envelope. Some things just seem worse than others.
Fiction vs. Reality
I try to not stress out about things that are not real. Leprechauns aren't real. Vampires aren't real. Smurfs aren't real. Little Miss. Muffet is not real.
If I were to walk into the middle of an occultist gathering (which I would never do) and beg for a vampire to come and bite me, do you know what would happen? Nothing. That's because there are no such things as vampires. I may have a misguided person or two who wishes he/she was a vampire offer, but a vampire would not bite me.
If I ran to the end of the rainbow and searched for a leprechaun, do you know how many I would find? Zero.
So I'm not going to get upset that someone created a story about these fictional characters, creatures and worlds. As a matter of fact, I love it. I love that people can use their imaginations is such a creative way!
The BIG issue here, is that children do NOT know the difference between fiction and reality. Young minds need concrete guidance. Impressionable teens need to be protected. There is a fine line between childhood fiction and fantasy and adult fiction and fantasy. Dealing with the issues in Peter Pan is far different than dealing with issues in The Lord of The Rings. "Death", "Dark Arts", being possessed by a ring, whether or not a vampire will rip your throat out are all topics young minds should not be burdened by.
Just the Beginning
"But Amy, aren't these seemingly harmless things just the beginning of something more dangerous?" .
Yes!
Yet, everything, seemingly harmless can be the start to something bad. One muttered curse word can lead to violent profanity. One credit card can lead to mountains of debt and a worship of money. One ho-ho can lead to diabetes and obesity. One morning run can lead to a time consuming addiction and vanity. The list goes on and on and on....
I know people hurting more people with their green living, and natural lifestyle choices than I do those who read Harry Potter.
Logical Worries
1.) If anything becomes something you dwell on you've got a problem. Be it a book, an actor, politics, a snack or that person who cut you off on the highway. Nothing should consume your thoughts for too long.
2.) If it causes you to sin. If you are neglecting your family and household duties to finish a book....not cool. Put it down.
3.) If you are causing others to sin. (NOTE: I am not promoting the purchasing or reading of any of these materials.) If you have a girlfriend who is having problems respecting her husband, don't get her all addicted to Edward Cullen and advise that you get whatshisname's matching tattoos.
4.) Again, your child's spiritual well being. I'll never forget it. Right before I walked out of LOTR, there was a very violent "war" scene where someone was beheaded. For a split second the theater was completely silent as was the movie. The only thing I heard was the voice of, what appeared to be, a four year old boy sitting a few chairs down from me in the lap of his father. His clear, innocent and confused question seemed to echo throughout the room. "What happened to that man daddy?". Done. We left right after that and luckily I refrained from dragging that child out with me. It is completely unfair to subject your children to something scary and violent.
5.) What are you promoting? I chose not to watch The Golden Compass because the author wrote these books for a specific purpose, and that purpose was evil. I've heard rumors that Stephanie Meyer wrote Twilight because of some dream she had? I don't know how true that is, but I'm betting she wrote the books to make money, and that's all.
On the other hand...
Books like this make me want to vomit. Please do not force something that isn't there. Harry Potter, Star Wars and LOTR are no more a depiction of Christianity than I am the poster child for anorexia. Just leave it alone. Let it be a book.
In Conclusion
Well, there it is. That's what I think. Feel free to comment, however please do not use this bit of writing as a springboard for your personal spiritual agenda. I think we are all tired of hearing everyone point fingers. Had a ho-ho today? ;)
Friday, February 13, 2009
H is for Haircut
Whew! Finally got a hair cut! It's short again, hooray! I have always liked my hair when it is short. It looks better, it feels better, it's easier to manage. I didn't want to have short hair when I had Coen, or after I had him. I didn't want to be one of those typical "moms with short hair". Well guess what. I'm a typical mom, and I like my typical hair. Here is a pic. Oh btw, I was getting puked on while taking this pic. Hence the oh-so flattering look.
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