Abrielle update

Well, this weaning thing has been easier than I thought. Abrielle still gets her mama before bed/naptimes, but she has been easily distracted when she's asked to nurse other times of the day.

Thank you everyone, for your notes of encouragement. I know there are plenty of worse things in life to have happen, I realize, but it has been hard for me nevertheless.

Abrielle, however, is completely oblivious to any problems whatsoever, and is happy as a clam doing her own thing. She's busy, learning new things all the time, talking up a storm, and will pretty much repeat anything we ask her now. She calls Adam "Da-da," Liana is "La-la," and Aleksa is "Lessa" (light on the s's). She also tells us when she is wet, and when she has had a diaper leak (we use cloth diapers at home) -She says "Uh-oh, peeeeew!", and because of her tell-tale concentration look, she's even gone potty on her little potty once when we rushed her to the bathroom. (Got it on video to pull out when she starts bringing boys home...) *tee-hee* She's a fearless climber, loves her babies, tucks them in and kisses them good-night in their little beds, puts her own shoes on, and absolutely loves her big brother and sisters. They take her places. For a while she was calling Adam "Wing-wing" (swing-swing). It was so cute, Adam just could not say "no." She's a little spoiled.

Anyway, just wanted to post a quick update to thank you guys and to say we're hanging in there and doing well.

Stressed

Been having a rough time with this blog thing, haven't I? I figure that by not writing anything on it, that nobody will be getting any older, and my babies will stay my babies just a little while longer. My older crew is really old. Makes me teary. *sniff, sniff*. I don't even want to write about the baby, because SHE is also growing up. *sniff, sniff*.

I've got issues, man.

Actually, I have been a little stressed. Abrielle, now 18mos., has not been gaining weight as she should. She actually fell off the growth chart and is now considered "Failure to Thrive." Can I just say, this is pretty devastating to hear? MY BABY???? She's developmentally just fine, and even advanced, but she just isn't gaining weight.

It is so weird having this happen after having the opposite happen with our oldest crew. They came to us starved and they instantly grew seven stories tall. Then we have a baby "on our own" and she's having a hard time gaining anything. It's definitely not something I ever expected to have happen, for sure! The doctor just told me Friday to wean her immediately - like by next week. (!!!!!!!!!!!). Having a hard time with that. Baby Girl is not going to like that much at all.

Anyway, been feeling a little melancholy about writing. Hope you understand... (I doubt there's even anyone out there anymore anyway, but anyway, in case anyone does check in from time to time, this is what's up...)

She's growing up

Bought Aleksa her first bra today. She's growing up. *sniff, sniff*

On the way home, she asked, "Mama, how do you put it on?"

Jokingly, I said, "Well, first you put one foot into it..."

... and she said, "That's what Liana does!"

LOL

After I laughed a few minutes, she asked me another question.

"Mama, which way is the front?"

I laughed the rest of the way home....

Happy Valentine's Day!

Have I ever mentioned how much I love Valentine's Day? *sigh* Well, I do!! I do!!

In an effort to squeeze every ounce of mushiness out of the holiday, we've actually been celebrating all week! I bought little felt "Valentine bags" at the Dollar Store, and kept them hanging on the backs of everyone's diningroom chairs. Then every night I'd add a few treats for the kids to find in the morning. We've also been working hard this week to fill out some Valentine fill-in-the-blanks for each other. "One thing I admire about you is ________" kinds of things. The answers ranged from silly, to waaaay mushy. The last question was "I love you more than _____" Answers ranged from "bubblegum" to "myself" which is what Liana wrote on Abrielle's valentine. Since we each had so many to write, we've been making one each day and putting them in each other's Valentine bag to be read the morning of the 14th (today!)

Our homeschool group had a Valentine party last night where we not only exchanged cards and goodies, but we also made cards for the folks in the assisted living home next door. The little old grandmas sure loved to see all the little ones.

The kids have been working on memorizing I Corinthians 13 - the "Love Chapter" since mid-January, and they've had a few chances to recite it already. Mama forgot to ask them to do it at last night's party, but we've had company a few times in the last few weeks, and the kids have been able to practice it for them. Good public speaking opportunities you know. ;o) They'll do it for John tonight.

We opened our Valentines to each other over our nice breakfast (french toast, fresh fruit), and the kids were also able to read their valentines from last night's party.

The postman brought a package from Grandpa and Grandma with some Valentine goodies in them. That was sure fun! Oh! And this morning, I woke up to a great big heart on the floor made by my favorite - Kit Kats! Num! I also got some roses! (He loves me!)

Tonight I'm planning to make one of John's favorite meals... Nice and quiet day otherwise though.

I just love this lovey-dovey day!

Merry Christmas!

Sunday was the kids' Sunday School Christmas Program at church. Liana was Elisabeth, and Aleksa was Mary! (Adam got to pass out the bulletins... the boy does NOT like to be on the stage!)

We had been preparing all week for company this weekend... We'd expected the Fishers to come up for the Program, and then Friday we learned it was going to blizzard out, so they had to cancel. We then invited another family over for Sunday dinner. Sunday morning they had to cancel because of illness. So that left all of us with a spic-n-span house, a table set with china and pretty holiday linens, and all of us dressed to the 9's.

"Hmmm..." says I. "Maybe we should turn this afternoon into our present opening time. That would save me from having to do this alllll over again on Tuesday." (We're planning on going to John's grandparent's for Wed-Fri, so we were going to open our presents on Tuesday morning.) Having a spic-n-span house, a nice meal, spiffed up kids, and allll the presents already wrapped does not happen without much travail, tears, scrubbing, nagging, whining and complaining and flat-out WORK. So. After dinner, (on my mother's china pattern), we headed downstairs to the family room, where we had a very nice gift-opening time. We got a Wii this year, and you can guess what everyone is doing right now! I even got in a game of boxing with Adam this morning already. Don't need any more exercise until 2017. Abrielle's favorite thing was her color-wonder. Too bad we wasted so much money on the other things she got! ;o) She's been very interested in pencils, crayons, markers and the like, and they've all been no-no's without Major Supervision until now. This morning she was so excited about having free-reign over her markers that she was walking around and around and around Adam and me (we were playing Wii boxing), shrieking her excitement and holding her markers in one hand, and masterpiece creation in her other. It was hilarious. Aleksa got mostly horse-themed things, and Liana got a few herself, but her favorite gift was a spiral curling iron. My Liana aged five years yesterday. She sure looked glamorous! She hasn't quite gotten the hang of how to do it, but I stepped in and finished her up. It was a fun mom-daughter time, and I hope she never forgets it - I know I won't! Adam got a giant over-stuffed bear, a remote-control truck, and some other guy stuff like a RAZOR, (!!!), socks, clip light for his bed, etc. My kids are growing up... *sniff, sniff*

It will sure be nice to relax the rest of the week! I'll do some extra cooking/baking, but it feels good to have John home, everyone playing their hearts out, and me not having to correct science tests or monitor their wiggles. Merry Christmas everyone!

Trees and things

Sorry, Gang, I've been awol again. We have our computers downstairs, and we do school UPstairs, and well, unless I take a pitstop here at the computer on the way out of the laundryroom, (which happens, I have to confess), I just don't get to actually "sit" with the computer until after the kids are in bed. And then I've been doing other stuff.

Like Facebook! I never even knew what that was a month ago. Now I can't wait to see who is doing what. I've connected with friends I haven't seen for years and years through Facebook, and it has been a blast seeing what has happened to whom. If you haven't, you should try it!

Been a little sentimental this year - first Christmas without either of my parents. That's a little rough. Plus, the sale of the house is final on Wednesday. My brother wound up not being able to buy it. *sniff, sniff* He did wind up with an absolutely adorable and perfect-for-him house anyway, so I'm very happy for him.

A few weeks ago I had mentioned to my siblings that I was looking for a thrift-store Christmas tree for our familyroom. Already had a big one for our livingroom, but wanted something downstairs as well. My brother mentioned that Mom's tree was still in the basement "at the house" and was about to be sold with the house unless I came to get it. I came that very weekend. As luck would have it, I got not only Mom's big tree, but Dad's 4' "little" one as well. I have them both up and lit. And I love 'em! My livingroom has one tree on one side, and one on the other, and then Mom's tree downstairs. I love decorating for Christmas anyway, but it has been fun to have LOTS of decorations.

Except that I kind of forgot that we have a one-year-old in the house. We had Mom's 7-foot tree fall over one day. Nobody got hurt, but it was sure enough to make my kids think that Mama was probably going to have a Cow in a minute... the room got suddenly completly silent and everyone stared at me wondering if I was going to keep breathing or not. I did. But it sure took me a while to get that thing up again and looking nice.

And besides the falling over tree, my livingroom tree is bare on the bottom because the baby either walks off with the ornaments, or we catch her touching them and then re-hang them on the TOP of the tree. So the top has too many ornaments and the bottom is bare. I love it! :o) Ok, I didn't much love it when the 7-footer fell over, but hey, nobody got hurt, and I did get to rearrange the candycanes a little more evenly after that... ;o)

John and I have been learning a lot about 13-month-olds in this "tree/baby" season... We've been needing to say the big "N" word to Abrielle more than she's ever heard it before (aside from when she goes after the electrical outlets, which she's also terribly curious about), and the other night after we said "No-no" a few times, Abrielle found two clothespins from who-knows-where, and she slooooooowly moved the clothespins over to the tree as if to find out whether she could get away with touching the tree if she only touched it with the clothespins. We could just see those little wheels turning in her head! We've also watched her slowly back herself up next to the tree to find out if she could touch it unnoticed that sneaky way. Lets just say that we Fishers are getting our exercise hopping up and redirecting our busy, busy little toddler, who we love to pieces and could just eat up she's so adorable and fun...

Hope everyone is having a terrific Christmas season!

Tooth Fairy

Leksa lost a tooth today... I have to read you the note we found under her pillow along with her tooth... Still chuckling over here...


"to the dear tooth fairy,

I cannot find my tooth pillow, that is sad. I mis you.

I am in the hole because I don't have any mouny. You are my friend. :o)

Love, Aleksa"

The tooth fairy, you'll be happy to know, left her not only some "mouny," but also a personal note on cardstock in pretty purple font...

Operation Christmas Child

Tonight the kids and I went to our homeschool group to assemble boxes for Samaritan's Purse: Operation Christmas Child. Great organization that sends shoe boxes full of goodies to needy children around the world at Christmastime.

Talk about choking a mom up... I had known that our kids were recipients at least once of these boxes back at the orphanage, but I wasn't prepared to hear Adam speak up voluntarily at the meeting and tell everyone not only that he'd gotten such a box, but also share how he felt when getting it, etc... My normally tongue-tied and silly Adam was very articulate and mature. Coulda heard a pin drop.

Very proud mama moment... Had to share.

Happy Birthday, Abrielle!

Yesterday's big day was also celebrated by going outside and enjoying her first snow. We've had snow before, but nothing stuck. I thought it was only fitting that as a birthday treat, we head outside and check out what the white stuff was.



She was so curious, and careful! I loved watching her in the snow! We hadn't bought her any boots yet, so I just threw some socks over her shoes to keep her feet extra warm and dry. Worked slick, especially since she was so bundled up otherwise, the poor girl could hardly move!





The big kids made her a snowman for her birthday. She seemed to like it, but she knocked the thing over after about five minutes. Oops.





Here's her smash cake, which true to her nature, she very hesitantly dug into. She sat and looked at it a good long time before someone took her hand and stuck it in the cake. She sat there a while and wondered what to do next with her poor hand all covered with frosting.

Oh, Abrielle, your siblings have so much to teach you! lol!

Birthday Girl!

Well, tomorrow is the day. My baby turns one year old. It's been a rough day... Days before birthdays are always tough on me. I've been known to be a blubbering mess at tuck-in time the night before birthdays.

Last Saturday John's family came up for a little party for the birthday girl. I had a little meltdown right before cake time. Had to get a hug from my mom-in-law, who is always good for those. :o)

She's taking several steps at a time now, stands very solidly, and is even starting to jabber now! Our little girl's vocabulary as of right now is: mama, papa, Brella-brella (it's soooo cute to hear that!), baby, pretty, poop (sigh), bye-bye, bear, and ball.

The most important word on that list is definitely "Ball." I'll be rocking her to sleep, and she'll shake herself awake and say, "Ball!" And then I'll ask her if she likes to play ball, and then rock her some more and she'll fall asleep. She'll wake up in the middle of the night saying, "Ball! Ball!" It's also the first thing out of her mouth when she wakes up, or when you pick her up. She lovvvvvvvvvvvves to play ball. Any ball. It's her favorite thing in the world, and she thinks about it a LOT. lol!

Our biggest trouble with her right now is that she is overly cautious. She's a regular chicken, in fact. At the table, she will NOT open her mouth for the first bite of anything - even food she's eaten many times before. She thinks she might not like it. We have to actually pry her mouth open for that first bite - and she fights it bigtime. After that, though, she realizes, "Oh, I like this, I remember." And then she'll open her mouth for us just fine thereafter. It. Is. Weird. And she doesn't like mushy textures. No pureed food, baby cereal, etc. Gotta be able to chew it, or she won't eat it. She's a strange one alright. Still primarily nursing her for her feedings though, and she doesn't seem to mind that. ;o) Not planning on weaning her any time soon. I can't even fathom weaning her yet, in fact. She isn't five years old yet, afterall. *wink*

She also has a new trick of scowling at people. Like out-and-out dirty looks! It's hilarious! She actually has MY scowl. She can go from being a "total Fisher" to being a "total Shelly" in a split second. Cracks me up!

Abrielle, you have sure been a fun addition to this family! Don't grow up too fast, my sweet girl... your older siblings haven't listened too well to my telling them that, but I hope, my baby, that you'll stay little for at least a little while longer yet...

Shorty

That's what Adam calls his baby sister.

For some reason, that just melts my heart...

Tricks and treats

Had a fun night here... The kids' loot bags are bulging, and everyone had a blast gettin' candy from the neighbors.

However! This afternoon as I was fashioning a cardboard and tin foil fairy-princess wand for the littlest Fisher, Liana came in from sweeping the porch. She brought the broom in with her. On the end of her finger. And it was stuck. Apparently, the cap came off the top of the broom, and she shoved her finger waaaaaay into it. And the broom bit back. I had visions of heading to the emergency room there for a few tense minutes. I ran cold water on her hand for a while and eventually her finger shrunk enough that we could wriggle her finger out. Her finger was dark blue. Skeery.

It's nice and fleshy pink now, however, and all is well in the world. I don't think she needs to pull that "trick" again on Halloween. We'll stick with just the "treat" part...

Three

The number of bugs we've caught the baby eating so far.

One box elder and two dead ladybugs.

*shudder*

Pictures for ya!

Thought you'd all enjoy these... (Sorry no text... busy time of the day here at the Fisher house...)

Happy Fall!

Been a while since I've posted. It's been harder for me to do so lately... school is in full swing here, and I've been spent by the end of the day - Been spending just time enough online to check my email, a few favorite websites, and then crash.

We have had a fun fall though. Grandpa and Grandma Fisher and Uncle Jared came to visit us a few weeks back and we visited the apple orchard. Was fun staying up late catching up. They even came through with presents. Imagine that! The girls got (among many other things), some lip gloss, which Abrielle decided was the prettiest stuff in the world. It was cute seeing her try to steal all of it in her little hands (and mouth!) She kept dropping them as she grabbed for more. Had to be there, but it was soooo cute! We also went to a rodeo that the university in town here hosts. The kids LOVED the horses, and even Abrielle was giddy with excitement over seeing them too.

Also have had some of our beginning-of-the-school-year struggles (yearly thing as you might remember). This year, though, it has been just with Adam. And instead of it being an in-your-face kind of bucking of authority, he's been quiet about it. We've had to deal with fun things like Adam not wearing underwear. And throwing two turquoise towels in a load of whites. And telling us he's doing his chores when he isn't. And skimming instead of reading. Stuff that's *really* tough to catch him doing, but makes him feel that little bit of control. It's been frustrating, but it's easing up and even feeling a little "normal" around here now. Things were so wonderful all summer that I had almost forgotten to buckle my seatbelt for this kind of thing this fall, but it didn't take long for it all to come back to me. ;o)

Aside from all of that, school has been a lot of fun this year. Auntie Sharon has been a faithful penpal to all three kiddos, and our "Monday" writing assignment is always a letter to her. She sends back color pages, word puzzles, "kid" recipes to try, and of course a juicy letter. When she had trouble with bees in the house (needed an exterminator even!), she sent bee-themed pictures and puzzles. When they went to the orchard, she sent apple-themed stuff. This week is fire prevention and since she's an EMT and her hubby is a fireman, well, you get the idea. ;o) She's been having to spend a fortune on postage. It's been so fun though!

John has a possible work-from-home situation for his next contract... I'm really hoping it can work out. He's been driving over an hour to work every day, which, while it was definitely our choice to move here instead of into the Cities, it would be a sigh of relief to be able to have him not have to spend the fortune on gas, extra hours on the road, and not to mention, to be able to see him so often. We'll probably find out this week.

That's about all I can think of... Have a good week everyone!

Yummy Medicine?

I looked out my kitchen window to see Liana giving Adam underdogs on the ropeswing, and hearing Adam scream his complaints... He isn't our daredevil. In fact, he's kind of a chicken when it comes to that kind of thing...

Anyway, the next thing I knew, Adam was coming inside telling me that Liana wouldn't stop pushing him when he asked, and that he was asking her to please stop but she wouldn't and blah, blah, blah.

I suggested that the next time she got on that swing to give her a dose of her own medicine.

"But, Mama," he said, "She likes that medicine."

Barbie and the Diamond Castle

A friend recently handed me an ad for a pair of Barbie dolls. Apparently, there is a new Barbie movie coming out. The two stars of the show are: Princess Liana and Princess Alexa! Can you believe it?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbie_and_the_Diamond_Castle

(Sorry, don't know how to add links that work yet. Oh, Johhhhhhn!!)

By the way, we saw the dolls at the store, and while they were indeed beauties, they sing rather annoyingly, and they would never make it a day without Mama hiding them forever...

Crayola Craziness

I love school supplies. I love the smell of them. I love organizers for them. I love pencil boxes and pencils. And glue bottles. And neon erasers. And *washable* markers. And crayons that come with their own sharpeners. And folders with Cinderella on them, and notebooks with Spiderman.

And so, when Walmart had a sale this weekend, and the aisle was packed with other frenzied moms getting last minute needs for their new grade-schoolers, I caught the bug Bad. Well, I guess I must have. I didn't realize how glazed over and put-it-in-the-cart-ish I was until I hit the cash register.

The lady got half-way through checking me out, and then stopped suddenly and said, "Uh, this isn't for a tax exemption, is it?"

That's how many school supplies I bought.

It's a sickness I tell you.

(Might be headed back this afternoon... I forgot the sticky tack and scissors...)

Please send help.

Backyard haven

It's been a while since I had a picture of all four kiddos on here. It's hard to get 'em all in one spot, actually. But in the evenings, if there's fair weather, and not much going on, we try to all hang out in the back yard. It's my favorite place on the planet. Before living here, we really haven't had a "back yard" so to speak. The last place we lived had a fabulous front yard, and even woods on both sides of us. But nobody really played "in the back."

A front yard is great and all, but hanging in the front yard means to the world, "Come on over and talk to us!" Which is WONDERFUL. But, it means fewer chances to hang out as a family and know it will be "just us." Our last yard was the neighborhood hang out in many ways, and while I loved that, I do admit that my introverted self really loves the privacy of this back yard haven.



I love a nice fire, and I love squealing kids, and I love catching my oldest boy going ga-ga all over his baby sister, and I love rope swings that hurt fannies. (Ok, well, I love watching everyone ELSE on said rope swing...)



Anyway, nights like this one will be what I reflect back on when I'm eighty remembering "the good old days." It won't be too long before my kids are all grown up. *sniff, sniff*, but meanwhile, I'm going to relish every spare second outside with my family.

Go hug someone. Time is short...

The Pioneer Woman

I'm sure I've mentioned before that I don't really read others' blogs a whole lot. The exceptions are those of you who leave me comments - I often pop in and see how you are doing. I like to get to know those who consider me a "friend" enough to keep reading my story here. Otherwise, I don't get around a whole lot. There are literally SCADS of other "homeschool mom" blogs that I really don't get into for some reason. After a while they all start sounding the same (no offense all you homeschool moms; you know I love ya!) It's just that nobody's has me hooked is all.

How Ever.

Have you ever heard of "The Pioneer Woman?" I heard of her via another homeschool board, but I don't read her because of any "homeschool-y" reason. She is just a complete HOOT. Her story has me hooked completely, and her writing is hilarious. Plus, she takes incredible pictures. (I mean INCREDIBLE). Here's her story; She's a doctor's daughter. Grew up on a golf course. Took ballet all her childhood. She went to college in Los Angeles. City-slicker who loves Starbucks. That kind of a gal.

And then she fell in love with a rancher. Like a several-generation Oklahoma rancher. And now she lives among the cows and the horses and the cowboys and the mud, and the grime. And the four children! And her life just isn't what she figured it would have been, but she loves every minute of it, and the glimpses she gives us of her life are heartfelt, touching, and very often have me giggling in my computer chair and I have to make John come over and read it too. Go check her out. I bet you'll love her too! http://thepioneerwoman.com