My middle name is…

***drumroll***

Candy

That’s right.  Candy.  Like the food you eat on Halloween.  Or every day.  Depends on who you are.

What’s the story behind my name, you ask?  Okay, I’ll tell you.

My first name is the feminine form of Peter.  Petra means ‘rock’.  It’s also a city in Jordan, and a Christian rock band.  But I was named after Peter.  My six older siblings also have Biblical names – the boys after Bible dudes, and the girls… after Bible dudes (Joel, Joshua, Matthew, Marci [from Mark], Titus, and Timberly [from Timothy].

My middle name is my mom’s first name.  Petra Candy.  Her name is Candy Lovely.  Her mom’s name was Lovely Brownie.  (I’m not making this up).  I always wanted to keep up with the tradition of naming a daughter’s middle name after my first name, but I really liked the name Brittany when I was pregnant with her (and I’m going to just make it known right now that Brittany was NOT a popular name until AFTER I named her – that next year it was like the most popular name… ugh), and Brittany Petra didn’t go together.  So then when I was pregnant with another girl – and I was *sure* it was going to be my last pregnancy (haha!), we decided her middle name would be Petra.  However, when she was born we could NOT decide between Darby and Aliya, so we were like “let’s just use both!” So she is Darby Aliya Petra.

More interesting family names:  My mom’s sister’s name is Cherry.  My great aunt’s name was Love (my sister’s middle name is also Love).  My paternal grandparent’s names were Wilbur and Charlotte… and they lived on a farm.  I remember being  completely intrigued when I read Charlotte’s Web as a kid.

So far my kiddos names are:

Brittany Caitlin (I already had picked out Brittany, but was searching for a middle name – I was looking through the baby name book and my brother, Matt, said “what about Caitlin?” and I looked and that was the next name on the list, spelled the same way he was spelling it, AND I loved it – so Caitlin it was)
Justice Thor (Thor is Andrew’s middle name, and also Andrew’s dad’s first name)
Jarvis Alexander (his first name was going to be Ethan, but then he was born on his Great Uncle Jarvis’ birthday – so we named him after him)
Darby Aliya Petra
Jacob Andrew
Paige Sophia Grace

And the new one?  I always start a boy/girl name list when I find out I’m pregnant (because it takes the entire pregnancy to come up with one we both like and agree on, and plus, it’s fun to name people), and I had two names on the girl list but have since decided I hate them both.  So since I think this baby is a girl, we’ll see if she actually gets a name in the next 32 (or 30 – fingers crossed) weeks.

• First of all, I have become a woman who has a real-live husband in her life, rather than an across-the-world skype version!  So excited to have Andrew home (it’s been a week)!  He is SO helpful, you just don’t even know!!!  We went on an awesome date last weekend before the big kids (a.k.a. babysitters) left us alone with the three youngest kiddos, and got a couple of photos with my phone…
  

  self-portrait in the Bonefish Grill parking lot (mmmm... saucy shrimp...)

• I am now a morning person.  Okay, that’s a lie.  I’d still rather stay up until 4 in the morning and then sleep until noon.  But, I have forced myself to make some major life changes.  On weekdays, I get up at 4:45 (okay, okay, I hit the snooze again at 4:45… I actually get up at 4:50… yeesh), and get to my good friend, Molly’s, house by 5:00 (er… 5:05-ish) and we walk and/or run for anywhere between 1 1/4 miles to 2+ miles.  If we run, we have our ipods going, if we walk, we generally use it as our therapy sessions.  Jarvis usually goes with me so he can stay with Molly’s kids while we exercise – he doesn’t mind getting up so early, he is my one kid that doesn’t seem to need a ton of sleep in order to function.  Lucky boy!    (updated to add – Molly and I are now training for a half-marathon, so we are running 3 miles two mornings a week and have varied our workout to fit our training schedule the rest of the week – including two 3 mile runs with the Brick City Running Tribe during the week)
  

  All of us (minus Andy, who was in Iraq at the time) with all of the Houghtons.

• Ideally, on days that I actually got to bed at a decent hour (by 10:45 so I can get 6 hours of sleep), once I get home from my morning Molly time, I make some green tea, get a light breakfast of fruit and nuts, and go sit on my front porch with my phone (which has my Bible and prayer list on it).  I sit out there for about an hour – just me, the early morning quiet, and the Holy Spirit.  It’s amazing!  In my life, I think I only had early morning Bible study time once… and it’s the absolute best way to start out the day!

  

  Molly and I had a blast at VBS this year... who knew it could be so fun??

• Sometimes I workout again during the day – usually some yoga (or occasionally some tai chi that I’m really bad at), stretching, and I’ll alternate some leg/ab/arm workouts.  Andrew and I have plans to start on a serious crossfit program soon, though.  We just need to acquire some gym equipment (anyone giving away a weight bench and weights???). 
  

  Britta took me to Outback for my birthday this year (the big 3-5, eek!). Oh man - those ribs were SO delicious - I hadn't eaten ribs since we lived in Washington and MAN were they good! Thanks again Britta!!

• God has healed a lot of my ailments that had me down for so long, and the ones that remain only show their ugly faces now and then.  It’s SO very cool to be able to function as a normal human again, and Andrew and I (and the kids, I’m sure) have learned many life lessons through the process of me getting well.  It’s so crazy that less than two years ago, I couldn’t run up the driveway without crying/passing out/dying from the excruciating pain that would have caused, that is, if I’d been able to run at all.  I’m still so amazed when I run more than a few blocks at a time that my body is still moving.  I love it!!!  Now, I’m definitely not ready for a marathon yet – but I can run at least a 1/2 mile without having to walk for a minute (updated to add – Molly and I ran a mile and a half without stopping to walk this past Monday, then proceeded to run at least a mile of the next mile and a half!  Hooray!). Earlier this summer, Molly and I had a day where we walked a mile in 9:45 then ran in 7:15 or something close to that.  We haven’t done it since then, but we have no doubts that once the 973% humidity dies down, we’ll get our speed back up and be smoking everyone, including Nick and Andrew (hahahaha – I made myself laugh on that one!). 

  

  Jacob's main goal in life is to be a superhero.

   

• I’ve become social again, and I love it.  Not that I ever stopped being social, but with all the moving the past several years, plus my health issues that kept me down (not to mention the bed rest with the last two pregnancies), I wasn’t able to do as much as I wanted to do.  Now, I have friends, and a social life, and I volunteer for things, and I’m constantly on the go.  I wouldn’t have it any other way!  God has really blessed me with some wonderful people to hang out with around here!

  

  Please... someone tell me you want an adorable kitten! They are super cute, but we do NOT need to have four cats. The white one and the calico are up for grabs. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller??

• Britta is outta here!  Well, not officially yet, but soon.  Britta graduated high school in June (through our homeschool umbrella program based in Nashville), and we just got her sanford achievement test scores (that she took last spring) and she scored post-high school on absolutely everything and she scored in the 90′s% on many of the categories (not math though – lol)… so yay!  Homeschooling was a success!!  Britta was all set to apply to some colleges (her plan was to major in art education and minor in spanish so she could teach art to inner city kids and also be ESL certified so she could actually communicate with them), when another opportunity showed up.  In early October, Britta will be heading to Ethiopia with some missionary friends for 8 months.  She will be helping Jon & Jess Bridges with their 2 year old son, Dawit, and she will also be teaching art to kids at a drop-in center for street children, and possibly teaching English to girls at a halfway home on their way to foster care.  Britta has felt led to missions since she was really young, and Africa has always been #1 on her list of places she wanted to minister, and children in need have always been on her heart.  I believe God has been preparing her for this her whole life, and He custom-made this trip just for her.  Even Ethiopian food is naturally gluten-free!  Amazing.  (if you have not received one of Britta’s support letters, and you’d like to learn more about what she’ll be doing so you can be praying for her and/or offer her financial support, send me a note with your address and we’ll get a letter out to you!)

  

  Paige loves watching music videos with "bitta"

   

• Britta is currently in Atlanta, staying with Andrea and Adam, so she can help care for Gideon as they welcome a new baby into their family.  Who knows how long she’ll be gone, as that depends on how long Little New Van Meter wants to stay in her mom’s belly!

  

  This is the kitten we are keeping. So cute.

• Justice and Jarvis have spent this week at church camp.  We have been praying that God would speak to both of their hearts and they would come home closer to Him.  They get home tomorrow (I guess I should figure out what time, since at this moment, I have no clue what time I’m supposed to pick them up from the church – I’d hate to make them walk home after a week at camp!  lol). (update – they are home and they had a good time!  So happy to have them home!)

  

  Justice got a much needed haircut when Andy came home! (this was taken at our church picnic last weekend)

• Justice has had a pretty good lawn care business going this summer, and once he turns 16 (in early September), he has grand plans of finding a high paying job so he can order a million pairs of custom-made Nikes.  Ah, the priorities of a teenager.  lol

  

  beautiful britta

• Jarvis is such a well-mannered, easy to get along with kiddo.  He’s still into video games and animals and any kind of science… and also correcting me if I get some sort of math issue wrong.  Also, he is signed up for recreational soccer this fall.  He tried out for the Challenge team, but then they ended up not having a Challenge team for his age group or the one above it because they didn’t have enough players and coaches.  They did say the U13 Rec team does get to travel around the area, though, so it’s pretty similar to the Challenge team he was on last year… but they get to play on Saturdays instead of Sundays!  Hooray!

  

  silly jarvis

• Darby is a nut, as always.  And I’m pretty sure her room will never ever be clean for more than ten minutes.  She’s a sweetie though, and still loves to talk… to anyone… about anything.  There’s really no telling what random information she has put out there.  I cringe just thinking about it.  lol.  I have had people ask me about the strangest things.  Just know, people, that if you are talking to Darby, that even though she means well, she doesn’t always get her facts straight (especially if the story is about me… and especially if it’s any at all embarrassing – I’m just saying).    Oh, at the end of gymnastics in the spring, they asked Darby to join the advanced girls class next time.  We are figuring out where she’s going to sign up (and yeah, pretty sure I need to call them tomorrow – someone remind me) for the fall sessions.

  

  Darby jumping off the high dive at swim lessons last week

• Jacob is so excited to be starting soccer in the fall!  He has also turned into quite the little socialite.  I’m pretty sure he has more friends than I do.  He’s so cute, and says the most hilarious things.  I think he could get whatever he wanted with those eyes and that smile.  He’s quite the charmer.

  

  Jacob at swim lessons last week

• Paige is a mess, but she’s adorable, so it’s okay.  She also says hilarious things, and she loves to sing and/or dance!  I love hearing her have little conversations in her bed at night before she goes to sleep – she does different voices, her imagination goes wild, and sometimes if we’re lucky, she’ll belt out some song lyrics at the top of her lungs (favorites of hers: “baby mine, don’t cry, baby mine, dry eyes” [she leaves out some words, but it's okay] and “hallelujah, he reigns… he reigns!”)… she also makes up songs – the other night, Andy heard her make up a song about poop.  Oh well… lol.

  

  Paige drawing (her favorite activity) at the Marbles Museum

• Jarvis’ soccer team finished their season winning 7 out of 8 games.  Way to go Jarvis!  The tournament is next weekend, and if they win some of the games, then they’ll also play in the championship.  Go Firestorm!!
  

  Jarvis and one of his teammates

• Paige has been talking more and more – she is so adorable!  She has gotten sillier and more cuddly, and wants us to repeat everything she says back to her so she can be sure we understood her.  (and she gets frustrated if we did not understand her!)
  

  Paige's "fish" face

• Brittany will soon be graduating from high school!  Am I old enough to have a grown child??
  

  Last week, a puppy followed Jarvis home from his morning run... thankfully we found the owner (or at least a woman who claimed it) because my kids were begging to keep it! lol

• I had more energy in [the last half of] March and April than I’ve had in years, however, the last week or two have yielded pretty much zero energy, so I’m hoping it comes back in full force very soon!
  

  The kids running with friends at the soccer game... I wish I had 1/2 their energy!

• Andrew will be home in two or three months (hoping for two).  I can’t wait!!
  

  Paige misses her Daddy!

• Darby has had a pretty big growth spurt recently – her newest pants are all suddenly too short!
  

  Darby being silly... as usual.

• Is it really May 7th?  How does time seem to go so slow and so fast at the same time?!
  

  Paige likes to wander off ~ she doesn't worry about losing anyone, she just keeps going... because up to this point someone has always run after her. We have to keep a close watch on Miss Wanderer! lol

• The kids and I took a day trip to the beach about a month ago – we had a total blast and want to go again really soon!!
  

  Jacob loved the beach and surprised me by running right into the water! He also loves his "beach shirt", just fyi.

  

  Paige was a maniac digging in the sand. I think she could have stayed there for many more hours just playing in the sand. It was pretty much her favorite thing in the world.

  

  I really wish the beach was ten minutes away instead of nearly three hours!

  

  Working hard to fill that bucket with sand (note the giant belly poking out of her tankini!)

• Easter was fun and I have a ton of photos to put on Facebook soon.  We were sad Andrew wasn’t here to join in the celebrations with us, but we sent him videos so he didn’t feel completely left out.
  

  Me and my six gorgeous children on Easter Sunday

• Paige turned two last month!  I put a birthday photo album on Facebook from her April 22nd party (her actual birthday is the 8th).  She is so adorable. 
  

  My sweet little two year old.

• I have been taking more and more photos lately.  It’s time for a camera upgrade, so I’m hoping to budget that in at some point in the near-ish future… not sure where I’m gonna pull a couple grand out of, but I’m hoping a money tree grows out back.  Think it’ll happen?  lol  I actually got paid to take some photos last week – that was quite the novelty for me!  It also forced me to step up my game a little and learn some things I had been putting off – so expect my photos taken from here on out to be a little bit better (not the ones in this current post though… most of these were taken before the new things I learned). 
  

  Miss Priss

• Mother’s Day is in the morning.  I am so thankful to be the mother of six amazing, smart, beautiful, funny, silly, well-behaved (for the most part ), talented, wonderful children.  I am incredibly blessed!
  

  Silliness abounds in our house!!

I am aware that I haven’t blogged in over a month. I haven’t felt like it. Sue me. Or don’t. I don’t really care. To make up for it, this post is going to cover all the happenings of March. If you are my friend on Facebook, much of this will be a repeat, but as you know – part of the reason I blog is for the online-journal aspect of it. I am actually referencing Facebook (along with my calendar) to remind me of what actually did happen this month.

March:
1: Took Darby to gymnastics and Jarvis to soccer. Hung out on Facebook a lot.
2: Who knows? Took the kids to church in the evening.
3: Had an OB appointment. Everything looked good, until she went to listen for the baby’s heartbeat. Ended up getting an ultrasound, only to find out that little baby Mila had passed away. Sad day. I was 13 weeks, 2 days along, but she had not been alive for a few weeks. The reason my belly was growing and I was still feeling so many pregnancy symptoms is because my uterus and placenta were still thriving.
4: Brittany and I headed to the hospital at 10:30 for my D&C. I was really nervous, having never had surgery on anything before except getting my wisdom teeth cut out. All went well, though, and it was quick and smooth. Over the next few days, friends from church brought meals to us (so nice!). Marci drove up from Atlanta to help out. So good to see her!
5: Stayed drugged up and slept a lot! Karyn and Jess brought over tonight’s meal and stayed and hung out for a while. Marci took the kids out eating, shopping, and to see a movie. They LOVED having her here.  They bought green hats and wigs and came into my room with flowers – to make me laugh.  I was groggy and half-asleep and had no idea what was going on.  It was hilarious. 

Jacob in his funny hair and hat

Britta and Darby

Britta, Marci, and Darby

6: Marci took all six kiddos to church, then to eat and grocery shopping.  I slept so much in a very quiet house – it was nice!  Marci headed back to Georgia.  (soccer game was rained out today).
7: Still recovering. Out of bed today and feeling a lot better.  Talked to Andy on the phone a lot.  Had other things to deal with as well, but not blog fodder (sorry). 
8: Took Darby to gymnastics.  Did lots of resting, as far as I can remember.
9: Had a small nervous breakdown (hormones changing, I’m sure) and couldn’t stop crying.  It finally passed though, thank goodness – because I HATE crying.  And I’m using the word “hate” here, in the strongest sense of the word.  So thankful for an ecouraging husband, who, even though he is on the other side of the world, called at just the right time and was such a comfort to me.  And also thankful for good friends (like Ali) who will yak on the phone with me for hours and who I can be completely open with.    Bought Paige’s Easter dress while talking on the phone to Ali.  Took the kids to church (Paige and I don’t go to church on Wednesday nights – I drop the oldest 5 kids off for an hour and a half and Paige and I head home… why?  our church has Kids Klub for Jacob and Darby and youth group for Jarvis, Justice, and Brittany.  There is a ladies’ Bible study, and I have been to it, but it’s not really geared towards my age group [i.e. I'm the youngest woman in there by very far], and I have found that I love spending that one on one time with Paige without interruption.)
10: My new dishwasher was delivered.  It will sit in the front room while we wait for my neighbor to have time to install it (he’s busy).  Jarvis had an orthodontist consult.  Not quite time to start braces, but there is a plan in place, and we go back in 4 months to see if his mouth is ready.  Had some other things going on that aren’t blog-worthy (again, sorry).  Soccer practice got rained out, so I took Brittany and Jarvis to see The Adjustment Bureau.  It was good.
11: Rested in the morning.  My kids were all in desperate need of new shoes or clothes or a combination of the two, and I had some tax refund money, along with some other unexpected income, come in.  Jarvis was the first one to get to go shopping, since I owed him a birthday movie anyway.  We went to Jason’s Deli, Target, Marshall’s, and to see Unknown.  Loved it.
12: Dropped Justice off early at Molly’s yard sale to sell a few things.  Took Brittany and Darby shopping.  Ate at Jason’s Deli (again – ugh).  Shopped at Marshall’s, Old Navy, and Target.  Found lots of good deals!  And we all got new swimsuits (shopping for those is always a nightmare!  And why is the Target dressing room lighting the HARSHEST lighting in the world?!). 
13: Sunday School and church.  Brittany and Jacob went with Molly to a friend’s house to play (Britt went to help with the little kiddos).  I took Darby and Paige to Jarvis’ soccer game.  Didn’t get home in time for evening church. 

Paige at Jarvis' soccer game

Darby at Jarvis' soccer game

Jarvis playing soccer

Paige playing peekaboo with her sunglasses

14: Various errands, including getting my annual car inspection (and found out I’d been driving around with a giant screw stuck in my tire). 
15: Darby to gymnastics.  Got a ride for Jarvis to soccer so I could take Justice on his shopping trip.  We splurged and ate at Carrabba’s (so good! BUT I got glutened there and ended up feeling bad for the next few days - ugh!).  Shopped at Target, TJ Maxx, and Kohl’s – found everything he needed. 
16: Various errands and dropping kids off places (I have been leaving out a lot of things like this on this list).  Darby’s orthodontist consult.  She could really use ortho treatment now, probably make it a lot easier down the line, but alas – it turns out our insurance only covers ortho treatment ONCE per lifetime (and only a small percentage then), so we are waiting.  If Jarvis wasn’t about to get braces, we might go for it, but yeah – that’s a bit much.  Dropped off the kiddos at church in the evening. 

Jacob being a nut at Darby's ortho consult... Darby in the dental chair in the background

Paige with her "I don't feel good cause I'm teething and my nose is runny" look

17: Justice did yard work at someone’s house – he’s done a LOT of that this month.  He spends most of his money on Papa John’s ordering.  Dropped Jarvis off at soccer practice, and then headed out on the town with the Mollster.  Ate a yummy dinner at Bonefish Grill (love me some saucy shrimp! mmmmm!) and got some Starbucks and headed home. 

cell phone self-portraits are the best, no? lol. Ali will be shocked I was actually wearing a ruffled shirt!

my attempt at taking a self-portrait of Molly and me at Starbucks. Worked out well, don't you think?

18: Haven’t been getting much sleep – aside from not being able to fall asleep at a reasonable hour, Paige has been teething (2 year molars) and that’s been interrupting her sleep. Even with the sleep issues, my energy has been increasing, though.  Starting to get a LOT done around the house.  Had a couple months worth of deep cleaning to catch up on, we are rearranging some kids’ rooms, doing some construction, etc. 
19: Worked around the house.  Kids played outside.  Weather has been gorgeous!  Jarvis fell off the neighbor’s playground (er, JUMPED from the roof of the playground to a rope swing, which broke when he grabbed it so he hit the ground).  Dropped Justice off at the church for Winterjam.  They didn’t make it in though, it was sold out and many thousands of fans didn’t get in. 

Dance party!

pouty pajama time

20: Sunday School and Church.  Luncheon at church.  Got a ton of stuff done at the house.  The boys had a couple of friends over and played airsoft, etc.  Jarvis missed his soccer game because of his hurt foot, and it happened to be the first game they lost all season.  Justice and my very helpful neighbor installed my awesome new dishwasher!  It’s so so so nice to have a dishwasher after not having one for almost a year!!!

Paige the Mess. (photo by darby)

Cutie! (photo by darby)

Paige's first time with painted fingernails and toenails. She LOVED it! (photo by darby)

My attempt at photos of the kids after church - sun too bright, kids hungry, Jarvis missing (on the couch with a hurt foot), etc... not ideal photography conditions. lol

Jacob needs his sunglasses!

Paige insisted on being on the step with Jacob and Darby!

The expressions say everything!

Britt attempted to take a few photos of me (for the hubster, and also for the "before" hairdo)

another photo by Britt

21: Aside from some errands and cleaning, took some time to myself.  Went and got a real, actual haircut.  She ended up giving me too many layers, but that’s my own fault (I wasn’t specific enough).  My friend, Jess, came by for a few and chatted and dropped off some eggs (she’s been keeping us in stock since they have chickens and we love FRESH eggs).    Went to a movie by myself, saw Limitless – loved it. 

Britt attempting to get a photo of my hairdo. It looks better in real life. Much.

Attempt #2

Attempt #3?

Our kitten - pretty sure it's current name is Ninja. I liked Odin better. But it's not my kitten.

My bathroom mirror attempts with my cell phone to get a pic of the new do...

Last attempt to show you people my new hairdo!

22: Darby to gymnastics.  Took Jacob with me and bought him some new tennis shoes, flip flops, and sunglasses – all things he desperately needed.  After we picked up Darby from gymnastics, I took the two of them through an automatic car wash.  Jacob had never known such a thing existed and I’m pretty sure it’s the most exciting thing that’s ever happened to him.  Best 9 bucks I’ve spent in a while!  (p.s.  When did it start costing NINE bucks for an automatic car wash?!?!).  Took Jarvis to the doctor to get an x-ray for his foot that was still bothering him.  No brake – just a sprain, thank goodness! 
(you only need to watch the first 4 seconds of the following video to see Darby’s cartwheel – I kept recording thinking something else would happen, lol…)

(apparently I’ve become retarded when it comes to embedding youtube videos – either that or WordPress has become more difficult – either way, you’ll have to click on the link: Darby\’s cartwheel)

23: Got stuff done around the house, ran errands, etc.  Got to church a little early to pick up the kids and it was a gorgeous evening, so Paige and I swung on the playground swings while we waited.  Paige LOVES the swings.  She’s too cute.  My cell phone takes horrible photos, especially at night:

Paige swinging

24: Took Justice and Jarvis to the dentist.  Justice had been hurting since his last filling – they made a small adjustment and the pain automatically went away – yay.  Jarvis had to get a filling.  Worked on kids’ bedrooms (a seemingly neverending project).
25: Clean, clean, clean.  (had to cancel/postpone our trip to Atlanta).
26: Dropped Justice off to do some yard work and then I went grocery shopping.  Felt pretty under the weather and didn’t get much done the rest of the day. 
27: Did nothing.  All day.  Felt ick.
28: Today – not much going on.  Going to try to get some major bedroom work done today, but still feeling pretty blah.
29: Tomorrow – the usual gymnastics and soccer practice. 
30: Kids will go to church.
31: No plans. 

And that concludes March in Review.  I hope you enjoyed the show.

If only I could post on here by osmosis.  I think of posts all the time, especially when I’m falling asleep (those are the best ones, even though I rarely remember to actually ever post them), but I can’t be bothered to log on and type what I’m thinking most of the time.  Sorry.    One day I will blog interesting things again.  One day.  For now, you’re stuck with my mundane update lists, which I add for posterity’s sake. 

• The pregnancy is going well.  I’m not nearly as sick as the last time I posted, but have gotten glutened twice and caught a cold from a couple of the kiddos.  I’m starting to feel human again, though, and my nausea is down to a wave here and there throughout the day instead of constant 24/7.  Thank the Lord, because that was really starting to get old. 
• Justice finished the basketball season, and Jarvis’ first spring soccer game is this Sunday afternoon. 
• Paige just keeps getting cuter!  She repeats so much of what the other kids do (which they think is awesome), and she is talking more and more.  Her little voice and the way she says things is adorable.  And her outlook on life is hilarious.  She gets so serious sometimes and so silly at other times.  She’s cuddling more, which we LOVE, and she still thinks drawing is the best thing ever – on paper, on her legs, on the walls – anywhere… she’s not picky. 
• Brittany and I tried Z Pizza yesterday, in Cary.  It was good – I loved that most of their ingredients are organic.  I did not love the price, but gluten-free pizza is never cheap.  Best of all – it did not make me sick!  Score!
• We should, according to the IRS, have our tax refund a week from tomorrow.  Looking forward to paying some things, buying some things, and of course, looking forward to the shopping that goes along with “buying some things”.  I love to shop, but alas, with six children, most of my shopping usually consists of trying to find affordable shoes for them or trying to keep our pantry stocked.  It’s so fun when we get a chance to do a little ‘extra’. 
• Not sure if I mentioned it here or not, but we finally seem to have figured out Darby’s digestion issues.  The culprit is dairy.  She seems to be able to handle small amounts in baked goods, but too much milk or cheese and she’s in major pain and having all sorts of stomach issues.  I’m glad for her sake it isn’t gluten – I think dairy is a little easier to avoid. 
• The jury is still out on Paige… I think she has some food issues, unfortunately, but I’m not sure yet what they are.  She doesn’t eat gluten very often because I can’t have her contaminating me with her messy gluteny hands and face, but when she does have it, that’s not really when I notice any issues.  I may just have to wait until she is older.  She has some digestion problems sometimes, but not all the time like Jacob did when he was little, and she has some ‘patchy’ dry skin issues (which is almost always food related, though it could be environmental, but I use very pure detergents, etc., so probably some sort of food bothering her). 
• Speaking of issues – I have read and heard in multiple locations that pregnancy is supposed to ease the symptoms of celiac disease, however, I seem to be MORE sensitive when pregnant.  Also, I have heard that fibromyalgia symptoms are supposed to ease up while pregnant as well – um, no – mine are MUCH worse.  Of course, my masseuse is in Iraq, so that might have a little to do with the fibro symptoms being worse.  Still… I really do hate the head fogs, and I’ve had a lot of them lately, whereas before the pregnancy, I was really having them less and less.  And the pain… don’t even get me started. 
• Not to sound like a complainer – I really am very blessed, and so far, have not had to be on bed rest for this pregnancy.  With Jacob and Paige, I had to do some bed rest during the first trimesters for bleeding.  I did have some spotting last week, but I laid down for a full day and a half, and then everything was fine again with no issues since!  I’m hoping and praying that I won’t have to be on bed rest for the third trimester, but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.  I try not to think about the third trimester too much, because it hasn’t been long enough for me to forget about the third trimester with Paige, which was absolutely the most brutal thing ever – well, aside from her delivery, but I’m pretty sure this baby can’t top that one!  At least I hope not!!    Too bad I can’t go back in time and appreciate my first four pregnancies more than I did – and I thought I had things to complain about THEN – ha!! haaaahhhaaaaahahahaaa!!!!! 
• Speaking of trimesters, I’ve got about 5 days left of the first trimester.  I’m already starting to have a bit more energy – ya know, when I’m not glutened or down with a bad cold.  I’m hoping to get some projects around here done – hoping! 
• We plan on taking a trip to Atlanta in a month or so.  Can’t wait to see everyone, and to do some shopping with Andrea at H&M Maternity and Buy Buy Baby!
• I get to see my friend Ali tomorrow in Raleigh!  She’s coming to town for a wedding, so we’re going to meet up for lunch before the festivities start.  Can’t wait!  I wish we lived closer!
• Then, we’re (me and the kiddos) going to hang out in Raleigh and let Jarvis pick the activity, since tomorrow is also his 12th birthday!
• And I’ve zoned out – time for some netflix and snacks!

• I got glutened the other day.  I haven’t had this bad of a gluten attack in a very long time.  I’m on my 3rd day of a migraine and major intestinal issues (among the other symptoms that go along with me consuming gluten).  I’m only blogging now because I finally gave in and took a Goody’s powder (it has aspirin, and I’m pregnant, so I had been avoiding it – even though it’s the only thing that’ll take any of the edge off a migraine like this… it was just too much though, so I decided to go ahead and take one today).  Hopefully tomorrow will be better…
• My first OB appointment is at 9:00 tomorrow morning.  I’m not even sure which doctor I’m seeing.  I requested one, Tricare assigned another, and they weren’t clear who I was seeing when they called to tell me when my first appointment was.  I’ll just go to whomever they assigned, and if I don’t like them – I’ll be sure to switch.  I just hope it’s a woman!  I used to see male OB/Gyn’s, but it kind of creeps me out now, and I prefer to stick to women.  I’m also hoping for an ultrasound!
• Andrew is alive and well on the other side of the world.  We have thankfully gotten to chat on the instant messenger pretty much every day, and have even gotten to have a few short phone calls.  Being able to communicate with him regularly helps us get through this time apart.  Continue to pray for him, please. 
• Paige’s favorite show right now is The Backyardigans.  She copies their dance moves, and sings along with the theme song.  To ask to watch it, she will sing her version of the theme song, which sounds kind of like “yah-ah-gan” in her sweet little singing voice. 
• Justice is halfway through his basketball season and he is doing great!  He started off his 2nd game this past Saturday with a 3-pointer.  Woo hoo!  I love watching him play!
• I am 8 weeks, 1 day pregnant, assuming I have my due date correct, which I’m pretty sure I do.  I still have approximately one million weeks to go.  At least, that’s what it feels like.    I’m still ridiculously nauseous and exhausted.  Hoping this passes with the first trimester – another month to go! 
• Justice and Jarvis got all but two pieces of furniture moved out of the office/school room in the basement.  I’m hoping to feel good enough to get down there with the older kids and get some work done, eventually.  It would be SO nice to have a place for all our school stuff, a place for my bill stuff, a place to do scrapbooking and cards, etc.  I may let the older kids have at priming the walls themselves… we’ll see.  lol
• We gave away one kitten (the orange one), and we are giving away the fluffy calico one this week.  That’ll just leave us with Chili (the mom), and Odin (the 3rd kitten).  Chili is actually in heat again so she is forbidden from going outside!  Pretty sure I’m going to work getting her fixed into the near-future budget! 
• I have so many photos to share – hoping to have the focus to be able to go through them and post them in the foreseeable future.  Stay tuned.  I’ll try to add at least one photo to this post. 
• I’ve been watching more TV than usual since I got pregnant.  When I’m feeling awful, it helps to just zone out to senseless nonsense.  I enjoy the show Lie to Me and am nearly caught up to the current episodes.  I just started watching the first season of the Duggars, 17 and Counting, two days ago, and I’m already addicted.  I didn’t realize I would enjoy it so I never even gave it a try, but I saw it on netflix and clicked it, and ended up watching several episodes already.  I started watching Law & Order: Criminal Intent again too – I abandoned it in the middle of the 2nd season when I was pregnant with Paige and on bedrest, but it’s time to bring it back.  I don’t really love the show, but I love Vincent D’onofrio’s character. 
• Jacob had a blast at his 5th birthday party last week!  It was his first “friend” birthday party, and he was definitely a fan.  I posted the photos on facebook already, but will try to add a few on here eventually too (so that they’re here when I print my blog into a ‘book’ for the kids). 
• I’m pretty sure it’s nap time. 

Darby with her new bangs that she's so proud of

• Andrew and I decided to try Carrabba’s on a date last week.  I had heard they had a gluten-free menu, but hadn’t tried it since Italian food mostly consists of wheat-filled pasta.  I figured they wouldn’t have anything good.  While their gluten-free menu isn’t extremely long, the Chicken Bryan is AWESOME.  And it didn’t make me sick at all!  Oh yum, so good.  Also, the garlic mashed potatoes are delicious.  We went there for our next date too.  But we can’t afford to go back for a while (Christmas kind of puts a dent in the ‘date’ budget – ha!).  Man oh man – I am craving it though! 
• We had our Sunday School Christmas party at our house.  My friend, Karyn, and I made the invitations (which reminded me how much I miss scrapbooking!), and the party was tons of fun.  Andrew ended up missing most of it (he was stuck at work – ), but he joined in on the fun game at the end. 
• Justice started basketball practices.  His games will start towards the end of January.  He likes his coach and his team so far.  I like watching him play!
• Darby has been loving her gymnastics classes!  I think she’d like to do them every day instead of once a week!
• The kittens are SO adorable right now.  Here are a few photos that were taken on December 10th.  I am amazed at how much they have grown since then!!!  They are running around getting into things now.  Between 4 and 10 weeks is the CUTEST age. 
  
  
  
  
• God has really been working in our family.  It’s exciting to see how He makes us learn and grow and how His Holy Spirit becomes more and more evident in our lives as we turn more and more over to Him.  I’m just in awe of His grace and love.  He is amazing.
• I actually ate a piece of candy with corn syrup in it earlier today.  What is wrong with me?  That is SO unlike me.  I can actually handle very SMALL amounts of corn and chemicals, but I usually avoid them altogether.  But for some reason that york peppermint patty was just staring at me and I HAD to eat it.  It’s been a long time since I have craved a non-food item.  lol. 
• Andrew and I have had so much fun doing all our Christmas shopping this year.  We have turned our shopping trips into dates.  We have so much fun together.  I’m so thankful for our marriage!
  
  
• We are getting closer to Andrew’s deployment.  It hasn’t really sunk in yet that he’s leaving, but I’m sure I’ll cry when it does.  At least it isn’t a year this time!
• Speaking of crying, I really hate crying in front of people.  If you have ever seen me cry, congratulations!  You must be special, because I will normally go WAY out of my way to NOT cry.  I have cried a couple of times in the last few days though – I am just so thrilled about some things that God is doing… it’s a little emotional sometimes. 
• I love my family.  I love my husband. I love my kids. I love my life.  I am just so blessed. 
  
• Question: Do any of you want to come to my house and do some construction/decorating work?  I have a big long list of things that need doing and not enough time/energy/money to get it all done.  I think time is the biggest hindrance to the progress.  First up: cleaning up all the dust in the basement (from the sanding) and putting the primer on the walls (I haven’t bought the colored paint yet, but I’ve got a huge tub of primer sitting down there waiting).  Any takers?  Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? 
• Paige thinks she’s a big girl because she can now eat things like cereal-with-milk or soup out of a bowl with a spoon without making a huge mess.  She’s adorable. 
• I think I might work on one of my books tonight.  I’m pretty sure I’ll be an old lady before any of the books I’ve been working on are done, but hey – someone can read them in 50 years. 
• I’m pretty sure I need to ask Andrew to go buy me some dark chocolate, because I’m very tempted to go eat another york peppermint patty.  The last one wasn’t even that delicious (your taste buds change when you stop eating chemicals and they no longer taste like food).  I  must just be hungry. lol
• (while I was checking my spelling and proof-reading this post, I ate a reeses’ cup.  I figured at least it didn’t have corn syrup in it so it was a better choice than the peppermint patty.  It was so disgusting.  And now I have a chemical residue taste in my mouth.  Why did I do that ? So gross.  I need to hit Trader Joe’s and get some of their chocolate-peanut butter cups.  Those taste like real food!  And they’re delicious!)

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…

Everywhere you go…

Take a look at the five and ten, glistening once again…

With candy canes and silver lanes aglow…

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…

Toys in every store…

But the prettiest sight to see is the holly that will be on your own front door…

A pair of hopalong boots and a pistol that shoots is the wish of Barney and Ben…

Dolls that will talk and will go for a walk is the hope of Janice and Jen…

And Mom and Dad can hardly wait for school to start again…

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…

Everywhere you go…

There’s a tree in the Grand Hotel, one in the park as well…

The sturdy kind that doesn’t mind the snow…

Other photos coming, along with stories and lists and cuteness and fun!  I hope everyone is having a wondrous Christmas week!

{these photos were taken when we put our tree up and decorated, the weekend after Thanksgiving}

Since my last post…

• Kendra, her three girls, and Aunt Cherry came for a visit.  Good times were had, lots of laughing was done, and we can’t wait to see them again!!   On one night, Kendra and I performed a spontaneous concert for Aunt Cherry and some of the kids.  They were awed, amazed, and inspired.  Our talent for singing along with 80′s videos on youtube is unreachable by any other.  Kyra videotaped some of our singing and dancing, but alas, Kendra, the technology guru, accidentally deleted all but two of them.  It might be a good thing. :)  Aaaaaand, I did not take ONE photo the entire time they were here.  Brittany did snap a few photos after her and Justice added some things to our wardrobe (we had been performing in pajamas), but um… I won’t be sharing those. 
• Jarvis had his soccer tournament.  His team only won one of the three games, so they are done for the fall season.  The spring season (he’ll be on the same challenge team) starts practices in February. 

  

• Darby starts gymnastics in a couple of weeks – I signed her up yesterday.  She’s excited.  She’s been asking to take gymnastics and/or dance for years, but it has just never worked out.  So yay.

  

• I have had appointments, errands or something going on EVERY day for the last two weeks or more.  Today?  I am not leaving the house (Lord willing).  Oh wait – I’m taking the kids to the church tonight and picking them up – they are going to a Lecrae concert with the youth group… that’s no big deal though… and maybe Andrew will take them.  But I may have just dashed my own hopes and dreams of staying in my cave for an entire day.  *sigh*
• Justice finished the driving portion of drivers ed and went to get his permit yesterday.  He, uh, didn’t pass.  So… we’ll go back Monday and try again. 

  

• Andrew has been working lots, getting ready to deploy in several weeks.    I’d really rather he was here 24/7.  I know some couples talk about how they need their space from one another or they get on each others nerves, etc… but Andrew and I would love to be together all the time.  Absence does make the heart grow fonder, though – or rather, it makes us appreciate one another even more – so we’ll make it through and be excited to be reunited next summer!

  

• Paige’s eye teeth finally all came through!!!  This is huge, people.  She has been so much happier, less fussy, is sleeping better, and her mouth isn’t in pain.  I know one of my other kiddos had major trouble with those dreaded eye teeth too, but I can’t remember which kid it was. 

  

• Paige has also been saying more and more words.  She understands all the basic commands we give her (“give this to Justice”, “throw this in the trash”, etc.), she nods her head for yes, shakes it for no, she does the signs for ‘eat’, ‘baby’, and ‘bird’ – and says all those words, along with lots of others.  She loves the word “shoe” and asks all the time for us to put various shoes on her (which is funny because she HATED shoes up until a few months ago).  She dances up a storm and has a ton of awesome moves.  She is adorable. 

  

• When Britta had braces, I spent much of my life at the dentist and orthodontist offices.  She got them off a couple of weeks before we moved here to NC, and I just never found a new dentist.  Then Jarvis knocked one of his teeth out a couple of weeks ago (he was holding a stick, tripped over a rock, and the stick hit his face), so we called a couple of dentists recommended by friends and went with the one that answered their phone.  It turned out to be a baby tooth that Jarvis lost (whew!), and we liked the new dentist so I made appointments for the other kids (Jarvis had to be the guinea pig to test out the new dentist).  Darby and Jacob go on Monday for an exam and cleaning, and it will be Jacob’s first dental visit.  He’s nervous and excited.  Jarvis did have a small cavity on a permanent tooth he had to get filled the next day, and we have to get an orthodontist exam for him.  Looks like my days of dental waiting rooms are back.  It was a nice year or so though.  lol
• Britta dyed her hair pink and it looks really cute!  Too bad that hair dye doesn’t last very long, but it’s still pretty bright after a week.  Oh, and a large family of tiny blonde children stared at her for a long period of time in Qdoba yesterday.  It was hilarious.  She was scared.  There were 7 little kids turned in their seat just STARING at her.  I was like “wave at them?”  So she did and finally made a couple of them smile/laugh.  Then the mom came back to the table (they were all just sitting there being still and quiet while she ordered) and they all finally turned around to eat their food.  THEN, we went to Trader Joe’s and two more little blonde children started staring at her.  It was so funny.  And Britta told me that pale kids with really blonde hair scare her, because they look ghostly or something.  Ohhhh, good times. 

  

• Okay, look for my first prompted post (see top of post) later today.