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January 31 Update on our girlsWell, the excitement of potty training has worn off. Emily was a different kid today. She peed twice in underwear so I put her in a diaper. Then she pooped in it. Didn't even try to go to the bathroom. She did go twice on the potty, but we went through like 4 diapers today. AGH! I guess this is going to be one of those long processes...
However, I can't stay mad at her when she takes one look at your disappointed face and she bursts into real tears. I try to be strern with her so she knows it's serious business, but she breaks my heart when she does that. Each time she had an accident, she cried over it...on her own accord, so I know she knows it wasn't the right thing to do. I hugged her and changed her...and then we did it again.
 Hannah said something so cute the other day. She was writing my phone number and our house address and I told her the number was 240...she wrote 2...4...and said, "Mommy, how do you do 'orty?'"
 Her skills are climbing by leaps and bounds. She has gotten so creative and artistic since she started Kindergarten. Her people are not stick figures, they have real faces, details, emotions. She can draw almost anything from a model, paying attention to every detail. Every day there is more to marvel at when I look at her. And she has become a whiz on the computer...scary. Both of our girls are amazing!!
We just finished reading Hannah her first chapter book, "Charlotte's Web." She is quite excited about borrowing the movie from the church library on Sunday. When the new movie goes to the cheap theater we plan on taking her. In some ways it's very fun having a big girl. Why can't I keep one big and one small forever?!?!?
 January 27 Baby Steps...Ok. Today the Rau family has turned a corner. We have no more babies in this house. It's official...and very sad.
Emily did well with the potty again today. Not perfect, but really, really well. She was left at child watch at the Y, stayed dry, and went on the potty when I picked her up. She even woke up dry from her nap and then went on the potty. Amazing! I am sooooo proud of her.
Because she was doing so well, I didn't want to keep going back to diapers at night. So we put her toddler bed together and are trying her in it tonight with the portable potty in her room.
To simplify our Sunday mornings, I decided we didn't need to lug the big diaper bag around, so just a few pull-ups and wipes will do in a small handbag. I packed away her baby diaper bag that we haven't gone a day without since her birth. I packed away her blankies because she only uses her bed blanket now.
In one day I've finally given up everything I've been holding on to...the crib, the diapers, the blankies, the diaper bag...and she's a big kid now. I never thought I'd feel so sad, I loved watching Hannah grow up. But this is different. My baby. And we're not having anymore. Yeah, it sounds so overused..."my baby's growing up!!!!" But that phrase has a real, fresh, emotional ache for me.
Another overused phrase that never has meant as much to me as it does today..."Oh, the thorns of Motherhood."
January 26 On the road to the potty!Today my Emily spent the whole day in underwear! It was great! She peed on the potty about 4 times and only had one accident. She knew it was coming and was on her way to the bathroom so I'm not upset. Except for bedtime and naptime she was diaper-free! Woo HOOOOOO!!!! Thanks, Mindy. You've helped her a ton. Luckily we are not busy this weekend so we can stay on her and leave her in undies for 2 more days. I'm so excited and proud of her!!!!! So Cccoooollld!It is soooo cold. It has been this week, but today I'm staying home with Em and we had to drive Hannah to school. Since Steve was driving the car pool he got the good car and we had to have the Mazda that has no heat. It isn't too bad when it has been in the garage all night and we just drive down the road to the school, but we accidentaly left it at the church last night. I had to take the kids to the church, drop Steve off and drive that frozen truck home. Then take it again to take Hannah to school. I wasn't driving longer than 10- 15 minutes, but it was torture! And now I can't get warm at all! My legs and feet are still freezing. AGH!!
Emily is potty training! She had been doing well at my friend, Mindy's house when she babysits and I decided to try her in underwear. Last night she took them off and peed on the floor. But this morning she has been in them for 2 and half hours so far and peed on the potty once. Woo Hoo!! She is enjoying her treat and I'm wondering if this is really it. At this stage Hannah kept going and never looked back, but I know it is not always that easy. And Hannah was 7 months older than Em is now. Time will tell...
We have started a new home group with the Schraders and LaScoleas and it is going to be really good. We are studying , "Facing Your Giants" by Max Lucado and keeping each other accountable. I really need this. A chance to open up with friends and be able to share my inmost struggles. It feels like such a relief. I haven't had that for a really long time.
Steve and I had a date last night and he prepared by compiling all the songs from our wedding and dating onto one cd that we listened to in the car. Then over dinner he reminisced with me about when we first started dating and after that we decided on a "new" song for us that reflects where we are in our relationship. It was so sweet and romantic. (He had a little help - from "Simply Romantic Nights," but still he was thoughtful and sweet)...such a special evening. sigh~
Well, I must take advantage of my precious Friday afternoon by cleaning the house. Lovely. Maybe the activity will help me warm up!!
January 20 New Email!I forgot to let you know that we have changed our email address. It is now: rauquartet@flmtgif.org. I wanted to make sure you noticed this new piece of information so you would have an uncontrollable desire to email us and keep in touch!  January DaysThe snow is falling and giving us a dusting to wake up to every morning, but nothing significant. Hannah is chomping at the bit to get out and really play in the snow. The flakes are flying right now as I write this and it's pretty...but I'm ready to be buried! I hate winter when there's nothing to show for it. I'm cold all the time, leaving the house is a production of bundling everyone up, and there's not enough daylight. If at least there was a foot of great packing snow I'd be willing to overlook the annoying stuff! We got a brick maker and 2 huge inflatable snow tubes for Christmas and Hannah has asked every morning if can use them. I am dying to bundle up the kids and send them outside to play. We all could use that!
 I have been home for 3 days now and I've loved it. I work part time but deep down I felt I was still a stay at home mom. I realize that I'm not. Not at all. Granted I don't work full time and I'm home with the kids at 3:30, but when you factor in all the other MOM/WIFE duties I have to take care of from 3:30 on...I find that I'm on my feet rushing from one chore to the next all evening and when the kids go down at 7:30, so do I! I feel like I never get a break, no down time, no "me" time. I drop into bed as early as I can because I'm desperately trying to get more sleep. Every morning I force myself miserably out of bed. I'm tired all the time, so I feel that I can't afford to use valuable night time hours doing anything fun. It is really rough and I don't see how it can get any better.
All that to say I've enjoyed being home and getting things done the past few days. I've dropped off and picked Hannah up from school and stayed home with Emily. We have had evening activites the last 2 nights, but after being home all day, it was not nearly so stressful.
Back to the snow discussion...I wish I had built in snow days at work. I may have to take some this winter...IF WE EVER GET THE SNOW!!
January 13 Party TimeMy husband is in his glory...he has been playing games with the guys since 11:30 AM. He plans to keep going until the wee hours! I'm glad to see him so happy. I spent the day cooking for and waiting on the men and taking full care of the kids. I'm really pooped! I've been on my feet pretty much all day, but again, I'm so glad to see him happy.
Ok, have I said I love my new computer? This is so great. Just had to say that. And just had to show some pics from today! January 12 Happy Birthday, Steve!Today is Steve's 32nd birthday. With each birthday the number sounds so old...because he is the one who reached it first!
 He is in Jamestown today and will not be back until the wee hours of morning. Tomorrow there is a surprise planned for him to celebrate and we are looking forward to that. He doesn't know so I'll tell more about it later in case he gets online before he goes to bed tonight! Steve is my best friend and the only one who cares for me completely. As with anyone you live with, he does things that are not always the way I would do them...but I would rather be arguing about how to cook eggs and how to match shoes with pants than not have him around. He is a blessing to my life and I can't imagine life without him. When I look in the mirror I can't imagine how anyone could be attracted to me, but he is and he never ceases to let me know that. I am so happy and so blessed! I pray God gives us many more years together and that we get to watch our grandchildren grow up together.
We finally got our big Christmas present, our new computer! We've been saving for it and our families pitched in with Christmas money, so we were able to pay cash for it as we had promised ourselves during Financial Peace University. It's a great feeling. This computer is so fast...it is so fun to play with my pictures and surf the internet without the delay between each and every click!!! Look what I did with this pic of the girls from Christmas Eve...
The other picture is Hannah & Emily posing in front of it...I'm just enjoying our new media drive so I can immediately upload new pics. Woo hoo! Anyway, I'm planning on snuggling with Hannah in my bed tonight until we both fall asleep watching, "Punky Brewster" so I need to get going. It's girls night while Daddy is gone! Have a great weekend, everyone!
January 05 Happy New YearHappy 2007! A new year is always exciting. I am looking forward to getting in shape (AGAIN!!) and getting closer to the Lord. These two goals have to be made new for me like every week. I've let both areas slide and I really desire to see success. Please pray for me if you think of it.
We had a very nice Christmas, but I am so sad it is over already. It went very fast. You can see in the photos an overview of our month of December. We were involved in the 4 Christmas Eve services. Steve had a full recovery from his surgery with no complications and sang perfectly (as always) at services. Thanks for your prayers!
We spent several days at home with the Raus and several days with the Stuckeys including New Years Eve when we had some college friends over. It was a small, but fun reunion. The girls were spoiled rotten and brought home a ton of toys. I'm a little overwhelmed with the looming task of organizing all the new toys, packing away Christmas decorations, and cleaning the house! That's the downside of going away for a week.
We were able to save enough money to finally buy a new computer! We should have it in the next week or so. We are both very excited about that. Maybe I'll blog more often...well, I don't know about that, but I'll definately be able to post pictures more frequently!
It was good to see and or hear from so many friends and family over the holidays. Please keep in touch. We love hear updates on your lives. Our email address is: sahrau4jc@flmtgif.org
We pray God's blessings on you in 2007. Thanks to many of you that pray for us and give to our support account. We appreciate each and every one of you. Happy New Year!
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