Cold and Wet

Cold and Wet
Cold and Wet
To wet to play outside
One of the three to sick to go anywhere.
So we sit sit sit.
Oh sun come out and play.
And all three be healthy.

8 months!

Elizabeth and Cosette turn 9 months tomorrow. So I thought I'd be on the ball and put the 8 month picture up!

How I became a NARC and my other adventures on Saturday

Well, now ALL the youngest girls have whatever it is that is going around. We had to reschedule everything so I decided to make the most of the great day and cook up some massive amounts of baby food. There is something I love about having 10 things going on at the same time. I was steaming rice and barley, steaming broccoli, making bread, browning ground meat, and cooking squash all at the same time. I loved it!
I took a break when all the girls were napping and then when everyone was awake John and I decided to go to a store. We got some of what he needed, and some things I did just for good measure. I usually only go shopping on the weekday mornings so I was totally overwhelmed with the amount of people in the store. Who knew- Saturday shopping= crowded. We got all on our list (and one or two things extras) and headed to check out. We happened to pick the check out right by the bathroom. So this of course lead to Gianna asking to go. So I had to take her. She headed right to the dirty potty. Why? I don't know. I practically had to drag her to another stall. So I was steering her around and we went into the stall behind us. I saw they had toilet seat covers- how great! I thought. Not every place has them and it is so much nicer than getting the toilet paper out. So I was getting the seat cover and Gianna is eye level with the back of the toilet. And there she spies a bag and grabs it and asks loudly as only kids can in a public restroom, "What's this?"
What is it about kids that they ask and touch at the SAME time? Giving you absolutly no time to: think of a good answer/ excuse, or divert and redirect.
I really wasn't happy about Gianna touching anything in the public restroom. I've seen those Dateline and Oprah shows. I pry it out of her hand and say, "I don't know." Because I didn't. So she goes and I am really confused about what exactly was my daughter holding in her hand? I take a closer look at the bag and see some strange black things that look like old tobacco.
Friends, it was pot. That's right- P-O-T. All of the sudden I get this weird shaky feeling go down my spine. Because I've seen the Dateline/Oprah shows I think I know what is going on. I feel like some bad lady is going to knock down the stall and we are going to be in the way of her Mary Jane. I hurry Gianna as fast as I can because I all I want to do is get the heck out of dodge.
We wash fast and get out of there. I walk up to John who by this time is in his 10th conversation about how cute the babies are and who else in their family/neighborhood/ long lost relations has twins. I scan the crowd for a manager and find some guy who looks like he's in control.
Are you a manager?
No, but how can I help you?
Um well, umm. I'm no expert, but my daughter found this bag of something that looked like pot um marijuana um something that looked like it. Again I don't know but I don't think it was supposed to be there. (Thinks in head: And I'm SURE it wasn't an air freshener.)In the bathroom in the stall in the first one um OK.
I turn and tell John as we walk/run quickly towards the exit.

And that's how I became a NARC.

Heart Broken

With tears and stomping of feet she announced, "No momma. NO!!!!" "I don't want to!"
It was time to go the momma had said. Crying responded.
Patiently the momma picked up the girl, held her close and wiped away the tears.
"Not you momma. NOT YOU!"
"The Teachers!!!" She said in one last act of defiance.

The momma had no words. She caught her breath and thought at least she likes school.
And silently, silently a heart was broken. For the momma knew- this is just the beginning. More heart breaks and more tears will be shed. So the momma held the girl on her hip and walked to the car.
All buckled up and driving the momma said, "I love you."

Silence came from the back seat.



"Can I have a snack?"

Pretty Christmas outfits

So proud- our new skill: sitting up!

E and C

E and G
Sister loving

I've decided to finally review Christmas for your viewing pleasure. I bought these outfits before the babies were born. It was so fun to see all three of them so cute. I did however have to force Gianna into wearing her outfit EVERY. Single. Time. I'm coming to terms with the fact that she has an opinion that is different than mine. But I decide to pick my battles and that day was that day!

E,G and C
Look at those smiles! Daddy was doing some funny dancing.

Because you wanted to know, I do try to dress the babies in the same thing or in coordinating things. (See previous paragraph about Gianna having an opinion on her outfits). They don't have fits about what to wear (yet!). I love my dress up babies!!!!!!!!

Hold on for one more day

John's been out of town so we booked it for help in the form of Grandparents!
We headed to Temple to see John's family and enjoy time with out of country cousins.
But the result of the weekend only makes me want to say 'Sorry' to my momma.
You see, one time when my dad was away, my momma let me sleep with her. I didn't want my dads side- no I had to have her side. I was so excited. I LOVED it.
My dad was gone for a LONG time in kid world, but for some reason I only slept with my mom for one night.
I slept with Gianna for two nights. That girl is NEVER still. It was a king bed and she managed to take up all of it. She woke up early and never napped. She wore me out!
Maybe that's why I only got one night with my mom.....

Haiti

³⁴"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

³⁷"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

⁴⁰"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

Matthew 25

Give here.

Target you redeemed yourself

*

Target,
Thanks for today. I was a little upset with you for what happened a little while ago. But you proved to me why I like you ever so much more than WalMart. Besides the fact that our WalMart is under construction and nothing is where it should be inside and you have to hike a mile to get to the front door. Yes Target, you are the better choice.
First there were good friends to be seen. A total of three different friends that we knew we saw there. AND two other moms of twins! One mom had 21 year old twins and the other had 3 year old twins. Both fraternal and both sets girls- just like us!
You were uncrowded and had (almost) every thing stocked and ready for me to buy. Thanks for your $1 section where I treated myself to some Valentines spatulas. And for the baby section that I found some cute things on CLEARANCE!!!!
I chose not to get coffee today, but thanks for allowing me the option if I need it.
No one was judging me in the shoe section today, and my friend said she choose the same shirt I was looking at in a different color. If she picked it I know it's cool. So HA college girls- I'm cool! I really am!
As always,
Your faithful shopper,

Charissa

* Picture from Christmas Eve service. IT was SNOWING! We had a white Christmas in Dallas.

Thanksgiving

This is what turkey does to you:

Makes you sleep in public places and force your parents to take pictures of you.

I loved seeing her like this because she is ending her nap stage now. So to get her actually sleeping is a prize! She was watching the Cowboys with Grandma and learning how to say, "Go Barber!" Well all that excitement wore her out. She only slept for 30 minutes, but how sweet she was. More thanksgiving pics on our pictures link!

How you doin?!?!?

My goal is to be cute everyday.
Done!

It's January 12 and I've now come to grips that this is a new year. I had to write out 2010, for the first time yesterday. Do you know how hard it was to not put that double 00 there? It was. So hard in fact, that I couldn't do it. I wrote the 00 and then had to go back and correct it with a 1-0 on top.
But I digress. The point is, how are you doing on your "New Years Resolutions?" I'm doing just dandy thank you. And "why?" do you ask? Because I've only made one and so far I've been doing great. I won't tell you what it is, but it DOES have something to do with this blog. (Guesses accepted but not necessarily confirmed or denied.)
But what I want to say to you all today is: We are only on day 12 of this new year. DAY 12 people!!!!
So if you've already fallen off the wagon- there is still hope. Hope to get back on and say tomorrow is another day. (while you stand with a shriveled beet in your hand shaking it at the sun. -name that movie)
Really- don't give up. It's only day 12. Did you know that it takes 30 days of doing something for it to become a habit. And the same if you want to break it. But I'll attempt to use my special learning to help you out with some tips.
How to replace a behavior:
1.Start by being aware.
when you are aware you begin to notice when and how long you do a behavior.
2. DO something else.
find a replacement behavior. something you can do that you will like that replaces the behavior you are currently engaging in. It helps if it is close to what you want to replace, but more acceptable to you.
3. Break down you behavior into small manageable steps. Then replace the behavior you no longer want to do with the more acceptable one.
4. Reward yourself for small goals accomplished.
Set a limit and stick with it.
Tell someone what your goal is and they can help you accomplish it or help keep you accountable.
5. Remember that we are all imperfect people serving a perfect God.
While we would love to never sin, hurt others, let anyone or ourselves down, we will fail. This just highlights our need for the One who can redeem us. And our need to depend on God to ultimately help you change.
Philippians 3:12-13
¹²Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. ¹³Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,


So there you have it. From chewing your nails, to dieting, to breaking any negative talk. Your 5 easy steps to change.
I'm off to find that Elton John song- tiny dancer.

Think Pink

You knew it was bound to happen. With so many girls in one house...
Pink shoes, pink jammies, pink hair bows, pink dresses. We even have pink toothpaste!!!!
But today we got word about something we DON'T want Pink.
Elizabeth has PINK eye!
And poor John- even the medicine is PINK!

Three

My dearest Gianna,
HaPpY bIrThDaY to you!!!!!
Today you turn THREE years old. You are a pure joy! I am so glad to get to be your momma. I remember three years ago, most of the action happened on the 7th, but at 12:02 AM you came to meet me. Feet first and blue! I was so excited and still am.
These days you LOVE pink. Anything and everything pink. Except your pink boots that I just bought you that you promised you loved, but don't. That makes me laugh, because EVERY time I try to figure you out, I am usually stumped. You are your own person and have your own mind.
You love being a princess. Everything dress up is on your body all day long. You get dressed the instant you wake up. Some days it's with a smile, some days it's a long sssssllllllooooowwwww process to be awake. Today you woke up with no clothes on. The coldest day of the year and no clothes on?!??!?!! "Must be a Birthday suit for your birthday," Your daddy said.
You want to get dressed by yourself with no input from me. Except when you want company. Although this pains me to not let you be my little dress up doll and to let you make your decisions for yourself, I let you. Because I know what is important is that you like you.
You are a wonderful big sister. You love Elizabeth and Cosette and always try to make them smile. You comfort them and it brings joy to my heart when you say, "It's OK Sweetheart."
You love Mary, Jesus' mom. You love that Bible story and ask for it everyday. You especially like the manger part. You enjoy singing "Away in a Manger" loudly, and "In egg sellll sioussss daaaaaayyyO!"
You are shy when a lot of people are in a room you don't know. You warm up when food or fun is presented.
You are starting to get too heavy for my to carry, but I try to do it as much as I can.
You can rote count to 12 (once to 15) and can one to one count to 7!
You can "read" and enjoy being read to.
Your favorite books are the Brown Bear books by Eric Carle
You love playdoh and LOVE to color with markers and pens!
You can go potty ALL BY YOURSELF!!!!!! Mommy is most happy!
I like cuddling you.
I love you very much! I love seeing how God had made you and continues to shape you. I enjoy YOU! I still see you and marvel how God loved me enough to be your momma.

Grandma made some too!

Grandma made us these hats. We are TOO cute!!! Mommy loves how they keep our ears WARM!

Hats that Granny made

We LOVE these hats that Granny made us. They are stylish and just what Mommy ordered!
Thanks Granny!

What do you think her nickname is?

New

New things have been hapening over here at Highs and Ludlows. New and fun things.
Things we will be sharing in depth soon. For now a recap of our time this advent season...
My parents made it from Alaska! They just left this morning and are on their way back home. We had a wonderul visit and are already looking forward to the next time.
I had a birthday. And let's just leave it at that.
We dedicated Elizabeth and Cosette. I can't wait to show you those photos and tell you how much it meant to me.
We celebrated Christmas! We visited my brother and his family in Dallas. It was one of the best Christmas Eve services I've ever had. It wa so special to hold my baby ELizabeth while she slept and watch "Mary" hold her baby. Are you still celebrating? I am- with my folks here I haven't been able to take down the tree yet. Tonight's project!!! Maybe I'll celebrate 3 Kings day this year and do it the 12th day after Christmas.
I shopped great sales!
Craziness happened in Lubbock. And I was Sad.
We celebrated the New Year with Old Friends.
I am blogging again with new purpose and a new background.
And.........

Elizabeth and Cosette learned how to sit up by themselves!!!!!!!!!