4 Month Check-Up
6 days ago
Showing posts with label Christine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christine. Show all posts
25 May 2010
It appears as though I've been a bit lazy lately.
Let me assure you this is not the case!
We've had our hands full with projects and visitors and our
big summertime boy and little smiley girl.
(Y'all did not disappoint with great suggestions, thankyouverymuch!)
We did try pvc tubing and it was really too heavy. (The hula hoop cut in half was a great idea!) I ended up finding an old playmat at a yard sale the next day and took it apart and stole it's best pieces. (turns out the rods are about 1/4" thick and made of fiberglass.) Anyway, sticking those in the tubes I'd made worked beautifully, and -per your suggestions! - crisscrossing them definitely added extra support!
Two weeks ago (actually, the day after I broke down and asked y'all how on earth you managed with two - or more! - little people) my dear girlfriend Christine left her three small children (two 3-year olds and a 20-month old) in Chicago area to come play with me, wash my floors, play with my kids and work with me in my garden.
There's nothing in the world like a good friend.
She cleaned my house (even washed the baseboards!) so I could play with my kids and rest. She helped me run errands (still totally getting used to having two to get in and out of the car at every stop!) and taught Oliver "Deep & Wide". Then evening came, and we'd get to put our feet up and chat or take a walk or watch "The Office". She even took me up on my plea for a good solid apple martini! (Told you there was nothing like a good friend!)
While she was here she even made clothes for Oliver and Hazel. (She has an adorable little shop on Etsy called Little Miss Fat Bottom). Oliver was delighted with his monster shirt - particularly the eyeball peeking out of his pocket.
Stine left last week and we missed her immediately.
I gotta have another baby so I can talk her into coming again! :)
As for us - we're just chugging along. Enjoying our sweet little blondies, taking lots of walks in the evenings and getting our hands dirty in the yard during the days.
Oh, and we're also trying to sleep here and there when we can. :)
Thanks so much for your encouraging words and practical suggestions these past few weeks. I definitely didn't expect this adjustment from one to two children to be such a challenge, but your ideas have certainly helped.
Have a lovely Tuesday! And try to do something to help a girlfriend out if you can! ;)
11 July 2009
I just posted all about my great garage sale finds a few minutes ago, but I'm moving right along to share a few photos of our visit from the Case family this week/weekend.
Christine (my lovely college roommate) and her husband Steve, plus their three little ones (all two and under, by the way!) have been here visiting with us since Wednesday and will be rolling out early tomorrow morning.
Here are several failed attempts at photographing the children together (did I mention that there were four children age 2 and under in our home this week??). You'll notice the boys wearing coordinating initial t-shirts embellished by the Case Mama herself. They came in very handy when we took them to a nearby church for Super Hero Day to watch the Incredibles.
No eye contact from anyone, but at least everyone is in the shot.
Ooh, I see Baylor's eyes!
They were being markedly uncooperative.
And now, for the most successful shot of the week (even though two of the eight of us are looking distressed):
Come again soon, sweet friends! We love you dearly!
06 April 2009
So, I visited Christine's blog this morning to see how her contact solution stash was holding up (you can imagine my relief when I found the answer!) and noticed she had a cool bookshelf widget on her sidebar. And, since I like to be like Christine and have cool widgets, you'll see I've added one of my own.
On the second page of my "shelf" I have listed a book called "Supper of the Lamb". My sister recommended it to me and we're planning to use it as one of the textbooks for the Homekeeping class we'll be teaching at Franklin Classical School next year. Check it out!
I also have listed one of Oliver's current faves: "Bob the Christmas Reindeer". Yep, it's April. Oliver isn't incredibly discriminating.
That's all for now. There may or may not be a Not Me Monday! in my future today. I know, you're all on the edge of your seats. We'll just have to see how the day progresses.
Happy Easter week, friends!
Oh, and one more thing: This is your official reminder for this week's Way Back Whensday! Let's show off some hairdos worth remembering (or forgetting!!). I can't wait to see! And, I'm planning to give the Mr. Linky think a whirl, so PLEASE, link up so I don't feel like a big linky buffoon!
02 April 2009
A sweet friend of mine pointed out to me yesterday that I haven't been writing much lately - at least nothing substantial.
She's right. I haven't.
We talked about it a bit and I think I realized why. So much of what I write on this blog is about our baby girl - what I remember about her and her short life, what I miss about her, and how I try my best to function on days when I feel much more like staying in bed.
The thing is, I suppose I've become a bit self-conscious about it all at this point. It has been nearly a year now, and it's honestly still what's on my mind - what I want to talk about. I'm just afraid to do that anymore because I'm afraid of what people will think. (I know, that's stupid and I sound like a 3rd grader!) I'm scared that people will be annoyed that I am not "over it" yet, that it's been a year and I need to move on. I guess I should give y'all more credit than that, shouldn't I?
A big piece of my heart is still with Evie. It may always be that way.
So, thanks to you, B, for reminding me that it's my blog and I can cry if I want to! :) I don't know when I'll be ready to write about what's going on in my heart and head at this time. Reliving this 4th month of the year was bound to happen, but boy is it difficult. For now, I'll just ask you all for your prayer support. And, I can be comforted to remember, in the words of my new best friend Nancy Guthrie, "deep sadness and deep faith can coesixt".
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And now, for my latest installment of "Way Back Whensday"! This week, I invited y'all to share photos of where you were 7 years ago at this time. (That'd be April 2002.)
Can I also just share that I have totally considered putting up a Mr. Linky for Way Back Whensday, but I'm just not sure I can handle the rejection if no one uses it! I know, I'm a nut. Would y'all like to be linked from here? Is anyone out there enjoying Way Back Whensday?
Okay, to begin, I believe with all my heart that these are the two most important photos I can share right now. Christine and I lived down the hall from one another in Williams Hall freshman year. It's hard to remember exactly what we were doing or why, but all I can remember is there was a small nook in the wall, and we wanted to see if we could squeeze in and have our photo taken. The big joke was that 'Stine was pretty sure everything but her ghetto booty would fit. I loved freshman year!
Apart from that little moment in Raechel & Christine history, I have a few other photos from that time to share.
For spring break that year Ryan and I flew down to Florida to visit our friends Mark and Megan (who were also LCS high school sweethearts and are now married as well!). Here are a few photos from that trip (probably why I was so tan in the photo above with Christine).
You may be able to see here a nickel on a leather cord around Ryan's neck. There's a great story behind that nickel. Remind me to tell it sometime.
This may not have been spring of '02, I can't remember. But, I love this picture because the guy in the tiger suit is smiling for the picture. It's just funny because when there's a camera and somebody says "smile!", it's just instinct!
Here's our official engagement photo. We were SO happy! (Still are, for the record!)
And, as I'm looking at these again, I am realizing that they're from spring of 2003. Marcie, Christine and I found a nest of baby bunnies that had been abandoned. We snuck them into our apartment and took care of them for a week or so. We even took them into WalMart with us, bought infant formula and baby bottles (what were we thinking??) and eventually decided to sneak food from salad bar in the cafeteria for them. We eventually had a bunny farewell across the street at Perry Farms (when the photos were taken). What can I say, were were mothers at heart!
That's all for this week. I'd love to hear your suggestions for a good "Way Back Whensday" theme for next week. Leave me a comment if you have an idea!
18 March 2009
Hello, bloggy friends! It's Wednesday again, and you know what that means: time to sort back through all your files to find the funniest, oldest, coolest, whatever pictures from way back when.
Last week was my inaugural post where I shared my bright idea with the world! (And by world, I mean y'all that read my blog.)
This week, I'm sharing a few photos from high school when Ryan and I first started dating. These pictures were taken in early 2000 in our Junior year of high school. (Ryan and I began dating in our sophomore year.)
This one absolutely cracks us up. Ryan looks like he's about twelve and I somehow look swollen and nothing like myself. I was a real fan of the skinny eyebrows in high school I'm ashamed to say. But, you can see where Oliver got his bright blue eyes!
Here's a photo from our freshman year of college. Yes, that's me and Christine kissing Ryan on the bench. I'll also note that this was the year that Christine wore her "Barbara Bush" dress and pearls.
I wish I had more, but I really am going to have to do some digging this week. What do you say next week we all share big belly photos from our pregnancies? And, if you don't have babies yet, share a photo of your most regrettable hairstyle!
See you next Whensday!
02 February 2009
We have been safely and snugly at home since Sunday night and, although we had a lovely time and quite lovely accommodations (those Beckers and Cases know how to take good care of their guests!), there is just no place like home. We had a great time in Chicago and we are so glad to be back.
As expected, it's taking Oliver a few days to acclimate to being back at home with Mommy and Daddy after spending five days with his Granddad and Groovy in Michigan. I think it must be the combination of his age and the trip that has caused him to really give it all he's got when it comes time to meltdown. For now, we're just holding on tight, loving him well, and hoping he'll settle back into our routine soon. Wild man.
I have just a few more pictures from our trip. I wish I had more, but I just battled with my camera batteries all week long and have finally resolved that I need to replace our rechargeable batteries after their nearly two years of good service. It's just time.
While we were in Kankakee we stopped by our first home to see how it was doing. We bought this home when we were both 21 years old and finishing our junior year of college. We spent our senior year gutting and renovating the kitchen (three cheers for Ikea cabinets!) and bathroom and finishing the basement. It was quite a project and we learned so much about electrical and plumbing, installing cabinets and tile floors and so on. Ryan and my cousin Lee even built a fireplace with brick and mortar in the basement that we assume is still standing.
We bundled a whole lot of life experience into that year (our second year of marriage) and made a lot of memories. We got our first dog in that home, had some of our first dinner parties (and poker tournaments), and even opened a guest room to friends who needed a place to stay for three months, during which they gave birth to their firstborn. We suffered great loss in that house as we experienced for the first time the great grief of losing a pregnancy to miscarriage. We also had the great joy of growing Oliver for 7 months in my tummy in that house until we moved away to Tennessee.
It was nothing flashy, especially from the outside, but it was home. It will always hold a very special place in our hearts.
We spent Saturday downtown Chicago and, as is tradition, made a stop at the fountain where seven years ago this March, Ryan asked me to be his wife.
We love this place and it was so sweet to return together.
Here's to a lovely trip with the man I love immeasurably more than I ever thought I could seven years ago. And, to the sweetness of returning home, to our baby boy and to the promises of God's love and provisions, no matter what life brings.
29 January 2009
Since I don't have any pictures of my own from the time Oliver, Jack & Baylor spent together on Wednesday, I'm sending you to Christine's post, which includes a few photos and some witty chatter. Enjoy!
26 December 2008
So, I’ve decided to assemble a list of some of my favorite things in 2008. Let me be clear, though, that unlike Oprah, I am not distributing samples of my favorite things to my readers. If I did, it would be in contest form, precious few would enter, and Christine would win. Sorry, Stine, not this time!
And so, without further ado:
Raechel’s Favorite Things of 2008
1. Toms – Toms are new to the Myers family, but we’ve loved them from the get-go. They are traditional, Argentian shoes, made with all kinds of colors and fabrics, and recently, made small enough for little feet too. The cool thing abou Toms is that, for every pair you buy, a pair is given to a needy child as well. Ryan and Oliver each scored a pair of Toms for Christmas this year, and they’re very handsome (the shoes and the boys!)
2. Anthropologie – Made famous for it’s unique fashions, original home décor and always surprising found objects, Anthropologie is definitely on the pricey side but a fun treat, even just for browsing.
3. Automoblox – I know, I talk about these things all the time, but I just can’t get tired of them! They’re pretty to look at, excellent exercise for two-year-old fine motor skills, and recently on display at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Don’t tell Oliver, but there may be some full-sized Automoblox in his near future!
4. The Parish Cookbook (a.k.a. “Saints Bearing Casseroles”) – You can read all about it here if you like! This is a compilation of over 400 recipes from the awesome homemakers in our little Parish and was created to raise funds for our new building. Worth every bit of the $20! (Let me know if you’d like one!)
5. Monsters – Who knew that monsters would be such a big deal in the close of the year? I guess I’d say it all started with the revival of Ice Bat, a gift to newborn Oliver from the Cases on a visit through town. Since then, he’s been reading “Leonardo, the Terrible Monster” by Mo Willems and has recently developed a real fervor for a shop on Etsy.com that hand-makes monster shirts. All of Oliver’s monsters are friendly, though he occasionally informs us (complete with sign language) that he is “SCARED!” of the monsters, but still wants to tell them, “Hi, monster!” What a kook!
6. Mice – Like monsters, mice have surfaced as a recent favorite. You all by now have met Mr. Mouse, have you not? He remains the original mouse in Oliver’s life. Christmas, however, has threatened his position as favored mouse with the arrival of Reepicheep (near and dear to our hearts since the story Dr. Grant shared about Reepicheep at Evie’s memorial service) and three little, soft mice from Auntie Rebecca and Uncle Caleb. Fear not, Mr. Mouse, you’re not going anywhere!
(And apparently, when you get new mice, the best thing to do is put them right in your pants!)
7. Penzeys - I love cooking. And now, I love Penzeys spices! They have only a few storefronts, so I enjoy them by catalog and internet only. Penzeys has the best prices on the freshest herbs and spices. You'll want to replace your entire spice cabinet! I highly recommend the vanilla and the Sandwich Sprinkle (that stuff makes a grilled cheese sandwich worth writing home about!)
8. The Stendig Wall Calendar – It’s huge! (4'x3') And, it’s based on the design by Massimo Vignelli in 1966. Recognized as a contemporary classic, the original is on permanent display in New York's Museum of Modern Art. My Mom ordered one for Ryan’s home office this year for Christmas. I’m sure you’ll see plenty of it in 2009 since we take so many photos of Oliver playing in that room.
9. Twitter – Do you Twitter? If you do (or, if you don’t and you want to know what it’s all about), see the “twictionary” Dr. Grant assembled on his Eleventary blog.
10. Rock Climbing – We love it! It’s such a great way to go out and be active together. I’m chomping at the bit now to use the new harness and shoes Ryan and Rebecca gave me for Christmas!
11. Charlie Brown Christmas – Well, it’s been a favorite anyway. Now, it’s just more of a fixture. We’ve managed to keep Oliver from nearly all television (even the occasional Sesame Street) this December and only allowed him a once (and sometimes twice) daily viewing of this holiday favorite. He loves to make Snoopy’s funny noises right along with him. I guess it could be much worse! J
12. McCreary’s Irish Pub – Fish and chips, anyone? Or, in my case, Bunratty (chicken strips & chips) anyone? The pub has been a big part of 2008, as it was in 2007 as well. It’s not a place to go if you want to be alone – we always run into people we know when we go, even people we haven’t seen in years and who live states away – the whole world seems to converge on McCreary’s Irish Pub downtown Franklin!
13. Blogging - Goodbye, Facebook, you’ve been a faithful friend and now I’m moving on. I took up the blogging habit in June this year and have loved the sub-culture I’ve discovered. My two current faves?
a. A complete stranger who loves Jesus, has four children 3 and under, and whose newborn just survived and was cured of a prenatal, fatal heart condition.
b. My witty, crazy, God-fearing, husband loving, baby making, vampire love saga reading, simple life living, college roommate, Christine.
14. Signing Time – We’ve been watching and learning with Alex and Leah all year and, as a result, I have a toddler who can sign more than most adults (including his mother!). This is a cool, educational video series that we borrow one-by-one from our local library that teaches ASL to children. Want to know how to sign turtle, donkey or silly? Check them out!
15. Etsy.com – This is the online place to go if you love interesting, unique, totally awesome hand made things! You can also have your own shop on Etsy to sell the cool things you make with all your spare time. Oliver is a particular fan, as I said, of the “monster shirts” shop.
16. Chi – This may come as a surprise to some of you, but I don’t actually have straight hair. I wish I did. This is where the flat iron called Chi comes in. Dare I venture to say (in the words of Katy Snow) that this is the single most “change-your-life” product of 2008? “Girl, it will change your life”.
17. Pottery Barn/Benjamin Moore color swatches – They’re free! Just stop in to Pottery Barn, ask them for this season’s swatches, and you go home with a book of approximately 20 2”x3” swatches of tried and true colors that Pottery Barn recommends. It’s been a life-saver at our house, and since I’ve been “stopping in” since 2006, I’ve got quite a collection now!
18. Parish – We love our church! We are so grateful to God for our awesome covenant community and the impact it has made on our lives in 2008.
19. GPS – This, too, will change your lives, folks! Have you seen this surprising list of the top 25 endangered species? Add reading maps (and getting lost!) to the list! We scored a free Garmin gps mid-November this year, and it’s so wonderful to not have to worry about printing directions or getting lost (or finding particular food stops on the go) anymore! What will it be like for Oliver to grow up never knowing life without it? Wild. Absolutely wild.
20. Peppermint Mocha – I just had my first cup of coffee this year. Yes, of my life. Given, it was such a fru-fru cup of coffee it was more like a glorified hot chocolate, but I did it, nonetheless. Props to Starbucks for the “short peppermint mocha twist with peppermint whip”!
21. Garage & Consignment sales – Thanks to the early spring and late fall we enjoy in middle Tennessee, we also reap the benefits of a 9-month-long garage sale and consignment season. Talk about sub-cultures, Rebecca and I may be the ring leaders of this one. Beginning in March and ending in October, we are faithful to be up and out of the house before 7:00 every Saturday morning. As a result, we have been able to clothe our families and furnish our homes for “pennies on the dollar” as my Mom calls it! Seriously, folks, we rarely buy new clothes – especially not for Oliver. And, our home is outfitted with at least 50% “one man’s junk”!
22. Grandma Tillie’s Christmas Cookies – I don’t actually know Grandma Tillie, but I thank her profusely for her Christmas cookie recipe. And G.T., wherever and whomever you are, I hope you don’t mind if I share this phenomenal recipe with my friends here: (Okay, I'm having trouble posting the recipe here. Click here for the recipe).
23. Ethiopia – I love Ethiopia because somewhere in that African country, whether yet born or unborn, exist my two sweet nephews whom we hope to meet and make ours sometime in 2009. Rebecca and Caleb, we thank you for and support you in your deep passion for the orphans of Ethiopia.
24. 2007 Moscato Frizante – My all-time favorite wine. Hands down. Get out of my way!
25. Franklin, TN – If there were a Franklin city song, I’d be singing it now! We love this little city. We love the downtown, we love the landscape, but really, we just adore the people.
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