Rachael is Learning to Walk

Rachael is getting very close to walking on her own. She enjoys pushing her stroller all over the house and really loves to hold my hands as she practices this new skill. She likes the view being vertical gives her and gets so excited when she is on the move. 

** This will be the last post on this web address. Next time you come by to check on our family happenings it may says "this blog has been removed"- DON'T WORRY. Just go to:    thewhitelawfamily.blogspot.com

See you there! 

A Fun Farm Weekend

This weekend we loaded up for a 3 hour drive out to my family's farm. We love it there. It's in the middle of nowhere with tons to do [if you like being outside, that is]. There is never enough time to do everything we have planned. 

The kids had an absolutely wonderful time! 

They both loved riding the 4-wheeler with their Daddy.

Their big cousins, Ricky and Cate, were also there and all four had lots of fun together.


Cate and David loved playing 'deer hunting' and Rachael loved watching them.




Ricky was a very willing bottom to the dog pile of cousins.



The weekend was full of fun and relaxing times.


Fishing with Daddy and Bogie




Baby Girl enjoying a cool Fall afternoon.





David shooting his gun.





And working hard.





Oh! My beautiful little girl.





All three of my sweet babies.




** A quick update on potty training- on the way home, about 30 minutes away from our house, David told me, "Mama, me poop on potty when me get home". I just smiled and nodded and basically brushed it off as him just talking. But, low and behold when we got home the first thing David did was go to the bathroom! I was SO proud! I couldn't believe it. YAY, for my big boy. 

Last Week

I know I've been kind of slack lately with my posts, but things have been a bit busy around here [what's new, right?]. Between Rachael catching her first cold, which then developed into a sinus infection, and David's school morning emotional breakdowns, we did have some fun last week. The weather was beautiful all week long, so we spent a lot of time outside. 

David would get right to "work" digging in my flower beds and helping me plant my Fall flowers. Rachael was apprehensive at first, enjoying being cute and stylish. 

Then as she saw how much fun David was having.

She finally joined in the fun and ended up even dirtier than him! 

Rachael and I made several visits to the doctor's office last week. At first, her sniffles were diagnosed as a cold. But, when they weren't going away, I started to get a little suspicious. So, late last week we went back for another exam and walked away with her first prescription of Amoxicillin to clear up the sinus infection that had developed from the cold symptoms. The doctor was impressed that she caught her first cold at 11 months old though, so that's good. She is feeling much better now. 

David is starting to like school but won't admit it. He starts "crying" as I get him dressed to go to school and continues the whole way there. David's head teacher suggested that instead of me walking him to his classroom, I utilize the assistant teacher drop-off area. This where we get in a line of cars, pull up to the let out spot, locate David's assistant teacher, and she walks David to his classroom. I was a bit skeptical at first. But, his teacher said on Thursday morning she didn't even know the assistant teacher had brought David into the classroom because he wasn't crying when they got there! The only time he got emotional all day was when it was time to go home. She asked that I be the first one in the pick-up line when school is over to help keep David calm and teach him that I WILL be there to pick him up. We're making progress.

Sunflower Festival

Today's weather was just perfect for a small town Fall festival! Not only do we live in a small town, we are also surrounded by some really nice, quaint cities. One such town hosted the Sunflower Festival today. We attended last year [just the three of us]. 

We had some great family time at the festival today!

As soon as we arrived a train went right through the town. The engineer waved to David and blew the train whistle!

Rachael was deep in thought as she watched the train go by.


After the train passed, we walked around stopping at several of the booths- mostly the ones with homemade dresses and bows! Mama and Rachael had to control themselves, there was just so much cuteness!!

Then we saw the ponies! David wanted to ride one. So he waited his turn, picked out his pony [whose name was Oreo], and jumped on. He LOVED it!! Look at that smile.







A little girl from David's class was riding in front of him. She wasn't having as much fun as he was. It was kind of funny to see both ends of the emotional spectrum going around on the ponies.
Again, check out his smile.



Rachael was bummed she wasn't old enough to go for a ride this year.

She stayed pulled up to the edge of her stroller the entire time we were at the festival. She wanted to make sure she saw everything.



David got to stand up on a real firetruck!




And "drive" an old tractor.

Both babies with the old tractor. 

yes, that's the same old tractor as last year and yes, that's the same shirt David's wearing as last year. No, I didn't not mean to do that.


Checking out some old cars with Daddy.




And Rachael says she's seen enough.

proof I was there- reflection in her sunglasses.

Our time had to come to an end long before we really wanted it to. But, we had to head home for lunch and much needed naps. It was an action packed morning for us at the Sunflower Festival. Hopefully we'll have even more fun next year. [And David will be wearing a different shirt!]

Update on School

David is learning to like school. Over the last few school days he's had some difficult separation anxiety and major tears. For his second day of school, Ryan came with us so David could show his Daddy his classroom. When it came time for us to leave though, he was NOT happy. There was only one thing that helped soften the moment. It was his turn to bring the snack for the day! This is a big deal in his class. It meant David got to hold the flag while the class said the Pledge of Allegiance AND be the line leader whenever they left the classroom! His teacher said David absolutely loved holding the flag and was a great leader as they went out to the playground. She said he was happy all day except when they would change from one activity to another. David would think the end of an activity meant it was time to go home and when he was disappointed he got emotional for a bit, but quickly got over it when he saw what fun they were having with the next lesson. When I picked him up, he was bawling his eyes out and didn't want to talk about school at all. 

Yesterday morning was a little more difficult. As I was getting David out of his car seat to take him to his class, he looked at me with those big brown eyes and said, "Go home, Mama. Okay?" I just kept talking about all the fun he was going to have at school that day. As I carried both of my babies, one on each hip, into the school, David cried harder and harder as we got closer and closer. He didn't want to carry his backpack or say hello to his teacher as we enter the classroom. He just kept saying, "Go home, Mama!!" except now he was yelling it more than saying it, through tears streaming down his face. [Rachael is fighting me to get down so she can play with the all the toys and kids!] 

I helped him hang his backpack up at his cubby and tried to encourage him to play, all the while he is screaming. I kissed him, told him I loved him, and that I would be there to pick him up when school was over. His teacher came over to comfort him, but he was having none of it. He was reaching for me, screaming for me, breaking my heart. It took every ounce of strength I had to walk out that door. 

When I got back to the car, before I could drive away- I fell apart. I cried the ugly cry. All I wanted to do was run in there, scoop him up, and take him home! But, I knew he was in good, well-trained hands. And if David became inconsolable; they would call. 

They never called. 

When I picked him up, again, he was crying. And again his teacher said he loved the activities, just not the transitions. She also said he used the potty!! I was so proud of him and, of course, went on and on about it all the way home. He still said he didn't "wike dat skool", but I think it's starting to grow on him. 

I should mention that David is not the only one in his class that is not fond of their Mamas leaving them. I would say at least half of the class is crying when we get there. Those poor teachers. Having to console 5-6 crying toddlers at the same time.

There is one fun upside to these last couple of difficult days. They do lots of crafts during class which eventually get sent home in David's backpack. 

Last week was "B is for Beans" week. 

And yesterday David got to use scissors. They sent home his cuttings from that first time experience. Isn't that funny?

These cute, little mementos help ease the separation, at least for me. I now get excited to open David's backpack because I can't wait to see the special creation he made at school that day. The "B for Beans" hangs on our fridge and David is very proud of it.

Each day will get easier, I know. A little less crying every morning until eventually he is excited to go to school [this is my prayer, at least]. This is a learning experience for David and me. He is learning that school can be fun, to trust that I am coming back, and that others can take care of him. I am learning to let go just a little, that I can't always rush in and save the day, and that although it breaks my heart, this is what's best for him in the long run. 

11 Months Old

Well, another month has passed and Rachael is now 11 months old! Do you know what that means? Next month she turns 1 year old. How is that possible?

My sweet, little girl is growing, changing, and learning everyday. She is so much fun. She loves to share her toys, her food, even her paci. She enjoys rocking herself in the nursery rocking chair. As soon as she hears music, even if it's just me singing the "ABC's", she is dancing. She can brush her own hair. She giggles when she gets in trouble.  

She has recently learned how to drink out of a straw. But, here is a cute video I made while she was still learning. 

She still loves food, especially now that she is allowed to get her hands on the spoon sometimes.

Oh, to have such a passion for food...

Wait. Where'd the food go?

She is cruising all over the house now.

She likes to examine everything, just before it goes in her mouth...

In my eyes, Rachael is a living doll. I love dressing her in cute, girly clothes and I always try to have a bow in her hair even though she often pulls it out. 

Happy 11 months, Baby Girl!! 

Guess I need to get to planning a birthday party... 

Name Change

Just another reminder that we will be moving to a new web address very soon. Please save the new address so you can find us!

www.thewhitelawfamily.blogspot.com

You may have noticed the name of the blog has changed. I have been trying to come up with a name that better describes our life. "Blessed" is a word I use very often when I write or talk about my babies, husband, family, even my dog. Tonight, after an extremely busy and chaotic day, as I was rocking Rachael to sleep, I couldn't help but think of how, yet again, I am Beyond Blessed to have the life I have. My house is filled with toys. But, I praise God that I have a healthy, happy son and daughter who make those messes. One of each. A boy and a girl. How perfect.

 Huntin' bows and hair bows. Camouflage and polka dots. Monster trucks and baby dolls. 

As a young girl when I dreamed about my adult life this is exactly how I pictured it. A loving husband, 2 precious children who I am able to stay at home with, a safe home, and the perfect yellow lab to top it off. If only Ryan would let me get a cat...

Two scriptures that come to mind:

James 1:17 

Every good and perfect gift is from above...

Proverbs 31:28

[When describing a noble woman]

Her children will arise and call her blessed...

So there you have it. This blog is now known as "Beyond Blessed". I think it's a great fit. 

Better Late Than Never

Well, you may have noticed that it's been a week since my last post. That's because nothing much "blog worthy" has been going on at our house. The last week has been filled with fevers, vomit, doctors, medicine, laundry, sheet changes, sleepless nights, coughing, and lots of Mama snuggles. David got sick at the end of our beach trip and it's taken him 'til this Saturday to get over it! I could have blogged about the 2 trips to the doctor's office, what happens to certain foods when they are both washed AND dried, rushing to get out of the shower only to be covered in puke, changing bed sheets in the middle of the night [& how thankful I am for that plastic sheet protecting the mattress], or how David almost lost his voice from all the cough he was doing. But, I chose not to. Actually, there was hardly any time to. Me, the washer, and the drier have stayed busy. 

Thankfully, Rachael has shown no symptoms. I have praised God for that gift many times over the last several days. She has been her happy, girly self the entire week. Her only issue was that she didn't understand why David didn't want to play with her sometimes. 

Well, that is all in the past now! David started feeling himself on Saturday and has only improved since then. So.... that meant that today he got to GO TO SCHOOL!! Yes, that's right, my baby boy started PreSchool today. Can you believe it? I know I can't. He missed the last week and a half of school because of our trip and then the illness. I was so upset when I realized he was going to miss the official first day of school because we were out of town, and then when he got sick I was heartbroken. I hated that he missed all the buzz and excitement of that first day fun. He needed that because I knew he would be reluctant to be left alone with people he didn't know. But, that's just the way it worked out. God knows best.

This morning Rachael and I walked David to his classroom. Not without taking a few pictures first, of course.

There was clearly something much more important going on to Rachael's left; like a bunch of kids all over the place.

First day of school pictures for the wedding slideshow:


Fake smile

Real smile

Because we had come to tour the school a few months earlier, David remembered where he was and walked right into his classroom. He didn't want to relinquish his backpack [given to him by his big cousin, Ricky. It was his PreSchool backpack].

He even kept it on while he checked out some of the toys. I think it was like a security blanket.

I stayed for a bit and talked with the teacher. David played with the other kids and some by himself. He seemed to be doing well. He finally wanted to put his backpack away in his cubby.
Over the last day or so, I had been preparing him for my departure and comforting him with the knowledge that I would return very soon. When it was time for me to go, I leaned down and whispered in his ear that I would be back when he was all finished with school. He acted like he was unaffected until he saw Rachael and me walk out the door. He very calmly walked to the door and whispered back, "Hold me, Mama." I wanted to so badly, but I knew it wasn't what he needed in the long run. I told him again that I would be back soon and the wonderful teacher deflected as I disappeared around the corner.

Rachael and I came back home and had some wonderful Mama-Daughter time before she took her morning nap. I think she really enjoyed being the only one and I sure loved being able to hold my sleeping baby girl a little longer than usual before putting her down. Of course, there was some bitter to the sweet. David wasn't here. It was much quieter, I looked for him several times, and most of all, I worried about him. 

Finally, it was time to go pick him up!

 As I pulled into the carpool pickup line, I saw David standing with his teacher. When he saw me the tears started flowing. I acted like I was just so excited to see him and hear about his day. I did scoop him up, but I didn't baby him, just talked about how fun school must have been. He kept saying, "Ready [to] go, Mama." and "Nap time". And when I would ask him if he had fun he would shake his head, "No". I know that wasn't true...

David's teacher said he did great for his first day. He cried a bit, mostly when they were between activities and he had time to think about things. She said that several times during class David said he was, "Ready [for] Mama." "See Mama."
After we got home, he couldn't stop talking about "skool".

"Me went skool, Mama."
"Me play trains."
"Me paint."
"Me eat snack."

He went on and on about his morning and occasionally would remind me that, "Me cry" too. I told him that it was okay and once he got used to school he would love it. I know these next few school days might be difficult for him, but I also know that before too long he will be begging me to take him to school. I am so excited for David's future right now. He is growing quickly, which I am sometimes not a fan of. But, I love watching him grow mental, physically, emotionally, socially on a daily basis and can't wait to see how much he changes this school year.