Comparison

This following post is from a note I wrote exactly one year ago:

Today I...

• Took Alyssa swimming. Pregnant woman and bathing suits don't work well. Pregnant woman and husband's rash guard shirt works a little better until pregnant woman tries to float. Then just looks like a beached whale. Glad to have been the only ones in the pool/awake at 9:30am.
• Watched Alyssa crawl on the carpet with her face first. Not sure why she thought that was funny, but alas, she did. Definately carries more of her father's genes than mine.
• Laughed at my child when she tried to run away from me before naptime. She happened to corner herself and then turned to look at me and started yelling at me in Japanese. I laughed, picked her up and took her to her room. Her response: To suck her thumb and lay her head on my shoulder.
• My dear sweet child started calling me "Mommy-son" Where did she get that from? What movies does she watch in her free time?
• Allowed my child to make funny of me. She walked around the house with her shirt up, belly poked out in full glory, smacking it, saying "Baby". Oh. And laughing at me.
• Sang "The Farmer in the Dell" so many times while awake, that it was like a chant that put me to sleep at naptime.
• Watered my plants, even the dead ones. When I say "dead ones" I mean they are shrivled, black/brown in color and crunchy dead. Why do I continue to water them? I secretly hope they are still alive under there and are just playing hide and seek?
• Took out the trash. It used to take me about 2 minutes to take the trash out and come back. Now, after two minutes, I am winded and only half-way there.
• Got a sweet surprise from my husband who came home on his lunch break to see how I was doing and drop off a Wild Cherry Pepsi for me! How did he know I was craving sugar? Oh wait...I do have the nickname Ms. Wonka
• Did some "mess-free" art with the babe. Special markers and paint that only work on special paper. I don't care if the paper is special or if it's the art tool is special-the stupid things ended up in her mouth and if I don't know what's making them so "special" should I let her use them?

One year later, after all the craziness of babies has almost been settled and we are settled in our new city and our house and jobs, etc-- my list for today is sooo very different.

• My day started at 2am. That's when Sam threw up. Yay!
• My husband got up early (6:30am) to help get the babies to daycare so I could have some time to myself to get ready for work.
• Even with that time, I snuck into Alyssa's room and we cuddled while she woke up. She then giggled as she poked my face.
• We went to say good morning to Sam and he was already sitting up and playing in his bed. He laughed and smiled when he saw us playing peek-a-boo
• Then the wrestling match begins with the children. Who the heck wants to stay in a pee-pee diaper!  So after I get them changed, cleaned up, and clothed, we are back to playing.
• Alyssa decided to she wanted to crawl like Sam---so I now had two inch worms in the hall :)
• And Surprise! She wanted a hair bow instead of a pony tail this morning.
• Left for work at 730-had to pick up a some materials that I designed to be distributed to local businesses. That was awesome feeling-to see something I had worked on be printed and publicized over the entire county to assit business with their workforce
• Attended a staff development meeting where my co-worker spoke of a process that I use with my youth and praised it in front of some of the corporate leaders
• Am now sitting at a facility in one of the poorest areas in our county to meet and teach students

There are joys to be found on both lists. The joy of being pregnant and waiting to meet your little babe, the joy of taking care of a toddler who is mostly compliant, the joy of being able to breathe for a five minutes and take care of yourself, and the joy of knowing your children are excited to play with their friends and just as excited to come home.

I enjoy spending time with my family and raising my children. I enjoy using the experiences I have had to mentor and lead youth. I'm not a stay-at-home mother, nor do I think I was made to be one. Have you met me?!  :)

March 2011

YES! Samson has TWO teeth on the bottom and his top ones are coming in now! He is sitting up like a pro, flipping nad rolling over to get where he wants to go. He's always laughing or smiling about something. He talks to his dad all the time! "Dadadadada" He holds his own bottle now and loves having his own space. He doesn't like eating jar food and would much rather use his fingers real food. His favorite meal? Green beans, mashed potatoes and chicken. Like a true Southern boy :)

I made her smile and look at me before she got her snack. And....that is what I got. Alyssa is very excited to be wearing "pincess panties" and potty training.  Alyssa is moving to a big kid booster seat as well as a twin size bed. Both the babies had their first school pictures taken this month. It's been a very emotional time for me. So many big changes!

We are loving the warm weather and playing outside with the kids! Bobby got a grill and has been making good use of it We LOVE grilling and have even started to try seafood . I got a cabinet with a hutch that has now been converted to a craft area. Bobby loves it because "all the junk is in one place now". I did some DIY and created some fabric inlays for the bottom cabinet doors and used the same fabric through the shelves as well. My mom sewed a liner for a storage basket, I used some to cover the bulletin board and two canvas. All with 1 yard. That's all that we have been up to this month!

[psst-Emily--this post was for you]

February 2011

[Happy Valentine's Day!]

Love,

The Vann Family

January 2011 from Sam and Ally

This is Samson here. Just wanting to let you know what's been going on around this house. Well, you know,  I spend my days sleeping, playing, sleeping some more, laughing, eating and--oh! did I mention sleeping? These past few weeks have been a little rough at the Vann House. First, we moved.Then, I started school. Then, we all got sick. However, I would like to say that I enjoy my room and can't wait to get out and mess everything up! I've been working on my acrobatic skills. For example, when I go to bed at night, I push my feet against the crib and turn in circles. Also, I am a PRO at rolling over! I do it so much that I now roll over in my sleep. Mom and Dad find me on my belly in the mornings. I do like to sleep you know! OH! And another favorite of mine is eating. I now eat 2nd and 3rd foods. I will eat 2 entire jars, plus some milk, plus some rice. For snack, I have a biter biscuit. It's more like a cookie and helps me with teething. I don't have any chompers yet, but I will soon! Give me a week and I'll bust my tooth through for you! I am a growing football player, you know! I'm only 6 months old and am wearing 18 months clothes. I am 30 inches long and 20 pounds. My big sister was that height and weight when she was 1--I got her beat! At my school, there is a really REALLY cool jumper play set. Let me tell you, I LOVE jumping. I have one at home too. You think I'm about to take off because I can jump so good in it. It's great. Well, you know I hd the flu and all and was sick last week, but I am finished with my medicine now and am feeling great. My big sister--isn't feeling so great.


Alyssa here. I'm under the weather. I haven't been feeling good this past week and my Daddy took me to the doctor. They said I had the flu. Well, I started the medicine, but then got a really high fever so Daddy took me to the ER. We sat there all night long and they said I have RSV. I have some medicine that I have to take and an inhaler with a little mask to put over my face to help me breathe the medicine. Mommy and Daddy have taken turns holding me and trying to help me feel better. I do like the "benefits" of being sick: popsicles, all my favorite movies (over and over and over and over) and LOTS of cuddling. My fever comes and goes, but I stay cooled down with medicine, special snacks, and lots of juice/water. I hope I feel better soon. The weather is so nice and I want to play in my big yard! Well, I'm going to go rest-now to find my pillow/Daddy :)

As for Bobby, he is enjoying getting settled in at Maple Baptist Church as the student minister. He did a lock-in last Friday night and has been working diligently on his lessons and getting to know the youth. Right now, the youth have sunday school and evening worship on Sundays, The Upper Room on Monday nights, and a more informal Wednesday night study also.

Virginia has settled into her job at KRA. Right now, we are trying to recruit for the program since it's very new to the area. My case load is expected to be in the 50's range and right now I have about 20. I very much enjoy my job. I am classified as a "Career Agent" which looks just like a guidance counselor except we have contracts with various businesses to help provide job experience for the youth we are working with. My biggest challenge that I have been working on is preparing cirrirculum for our workshops on subjects like: time-mangement, public speaking, finances, career planning, interviewing, communication, attitude, etc. I am excited about teaching, but nervous for now.

We are excited about being in Conway and look forward to getting to know others in our community!

December 2010

Quick Updates: List form.

1. We're getting ready to move...again :/ I'd like to be in a place where we can settle...put glue on our feet and stay. I'm tired of packing boxes only to unpack them for about a year and then repeat the whole thing again. But, I am excited to move. I know you can really tell, huh?

2. I wish I could hear my dad laugh again. Or hold Grannys hand. Or talk to Pam. I miss these people terribly. Some days I don't want to move. I feel stuck and don't know how to go on without them.

3. Alyssa is a treasure. She brings me joy everyday. There is always a new adventure or discovery waiting to be made. She turned 2 a few weeks ago.

4. Samson is my football player. 5 months old, eating almost everything in sight. Wearing 12 months clothes. Laughing, rolling over, jumping, bouncing, etc. He's a wonderful blessing. Now, if only we can get him to sleep through the night :) 

5. A co-worker and I are struggling alot with an incident that occurred at work. Wonder at times if our hard work and investment in these families is in vain sometimes. I try not to get discouraged, but often wonder.

6. On the subject of dealing with things: there's a situation that I have not really let go off. The friendship is gone and has been for many years, but I hold on to it so tightly. I know that people are in our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.Maybe I needed her in my life while I was in foster care. I needed to see someone "normal" and know that I could make better choices. Maybe that season ended because after her, God placed incredible woman of love, strength, and encouragement in my life to take over. College was a wonderful time for me and allowed me to cultivate friendships that have lasted through fire and have come out stronger. Brandie, Andrea, Stephanie, Heather, Cherie, Becca--You have been and continue to be blessings. After college, Godly women, mothers, we placed in my life: Esther, Michelle, Janice, Wanda, Erica, Lynette--you're living examples of how to be be a woman striving after the Lord and while being completely transparent about how difficult it is, continue to be strong. Role-models. True friends and sisters in Christ. I've got to let that old relationship go.

7. Allow me oto introduce you to Stella. Yes. I named my Kindle. I like how it groups all my quotes in one place "My Clippings" . Makes it a lot easier when I need to reference one, instead of flipping through my library of 75 books (which are now all packed). Plus it's lightweight an I take it everywhere. AND I have a really neat quiltted cover for it on etsy.com

8. Looking forward to getting settled and taking classes again. I'd like to finish my Masters, but actually just enjoying learning. Especially history. Ever since an AP History class in high school, I've become addicted.

9. Incredibly thankful for my husband Bobby. Everyday he challenges and encourages me to grow stronger and to grow closer to God. We have been together for 8 years now and he's been nothing short of amazing.

10. That's all folks :)

FAMILY PICTURES!

My beautiful little girl

I love that man :)

Daddy's Girl

Our First Picture as a Family of FOUR!

August 2010

August

My birthday cake
26 years old

Samson-2 months old
24.5 inches and 13 lbs 6 ounces.

Alyssa-22 months old

I started back to work this month, the kids started back to daycare and
Bobby kept his busy schedule (for a few more weeks anyway)
It's good to be back in the swing of things.