tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56297372011-10-06T05:02:06.440-07:00I dream of big cities. I live in the country.bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.comBlogger2771100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-61941871441168486762011-10-05T20:00:00.000-07:002011-10-05T20:05:08.513-07:00

The other day we arrived to pick up Melody from school a few minutes early.I said, We are early.Leah responded with, What does that mean?

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-20141273017484901492011-09-20T07:43:00.000-07:002011-09-20T07:58:31.788-07:00

Two nights ago I sang There Is A Redeemer to the girls at bedtime. It is a standby, the girls know it and sing along. I love Keith Green songs. After singing it I asked Melody, 'Do you ever sing that song at recess...' She replied, 'no.' She has told me about singing other songs at recess like, 'If you like it than you should've put a ring on it....' I told her if she wanted to sing songs like

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-87677513245495907212011-08-17T13:49:00.000-07:002011-08-17T13:50:07.053-07:00

Melody came home today and said, At recess today there was a girl just sitting in the rocks. I went over to her and said, "Don't you want to play on the playground?" The girl replied, "Yeah, but I don't have a friend." And Mel said, "Well we can be friends." So we walked over the the playground and then she just found another friend and didn't play with me!! She called PE, PG. She called the

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-21271513270783055732011-08-15T18:41:00.000-07:002011-08-15T19:02:23.781-07:00

Today was Melody's first day of 1st grade. Since we homeschooled last year this was our first time to drop her off at school. We had a fun time getting ready for the big day. Her outfit is one of my all time favorites; purchased at Rhea Lana Consignment sale. Sister shot. Leah being her silly goofy self, first thing in the morning. Pretty nails! I attempted to paint flowers on her finger

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-25698697765510279512011-07-21T18:35:00.001-07:002011-07-21T18:35:56.796-07:00

Today we needed to do some cleaning. I was dreading it because of the previous post. I didn't know how to approach the tasks with Leah. I wanted so badly to have success and not failure in our work together. At lunch, Chad talked to the girls about the afternoon and what was expected of them. An hour later, we started in their room. I am happy to report that Leah worked hard! I will never fully

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-77768739846172743552011-07-20T06:58:00.000-07:002011-07-20T07:03:17.420-07:00

The weeks are absolutely flying by. But the days are so long! Each night lately, bedtime has been a battle with the girls. I read, sing, lay with them awhile, and then try to leave. They always need more... questions, drinks, whatever. I can barely make it out of their room without a clinched jaw and one of them in tears. Another challenge. Leah will not help clean up. Melody has always enjoyed

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-20844683604395130372011-07-11T10:58:00.000-07:002011-07-11T11:30:56.375-07:00

July is here and I can't stop thinking about Back To School. It is a loaded phrase, isn't it? School supplies, fall weather, new shoes, what to wear, school buses driving by, first impressions, new names, but most of all -- the end of summer. We have decided for Melody to attend public school for first grade. Never before have I considered summer time to be short. This summer the weeks are

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-39315422337421340922011-02-04T12:05:00.001-08:002011-02-04T12:05:18.019-08:00

I remember when Melody was born. The first two years after, trying it figure out what kind of mom I was. What bothered me? What did I love? What did I stand for? Who was I? After awhile it fell into place. I hit a groove. I embraced it. It was easy and good.The other day I was holding Logan, standing in his room, swaying and humming. He was relaxed against me. We were both soaking each other in.

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-74545806437340433252011-01-23T09:53:00.000-08:002011-01-23T10:07:59.083-08:00

It's been almost a year since I wrote anything here. 2010 was a difficult year, but a blessed one. We had a baby boy! Logan Ralph Mathis was born on May 8, 2010. We had him at home. It was a faster labor than the others, but not easier. Five intense hours with few breaks. The birth experience left me shaken, but not traumatized. I am glad to have had three home births, but am stunned when I think

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-47017280969964344672010-02-08T07:46:00.000-08:002010-02-09T06:48:45.840-08:00

I made a five layer rainbow cake for Melody's 5th birthday this year. It was my biggest cake endeavor to date. I spent 3 hours on it. This cake was my inspiration. I love this perfect photo so much that I am thinking about framing it for my house. My cake did not turn out so perfect, but it was a success, thanks to Chad's help. Here is the finished product:Here are five bowls stacked and ready

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-85505300172427378252010-02-05T15:45:00.000-08:002010-02-05T15:55:09.996-08:00

Here I am again, after my longest blog hiatus ever. The past several months have been busy. Here is a bullet point list of what's up....• In November and December we celebrated three birthdays, one anniversary, Thanksgiving and Christmas. We went to Houston for Thanksgiving and Illinois for Christmas. • Chad loves his new job. He is more fulfilled in his work than ever before.• We have buyers for

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-23081120228523787472009-09-23T20:24:00.001-07:002009-09-23T20:33:19.925-07:00

Leah is a mama's girl. She often chooses to hang out when me when we are in groups with other kids. These two photos show a fun progression of her affection and her goofy humor. She makes me laugh everyday.

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-14790526468570102782009-09-17T06:37:00.000-07:002009-09-17T07:07:30.674-07:00

Chad was laid off in April. From May until August he did various side jobs for our church, including remodeling a building for a new thrift store in Fayetteville. Our church offered him a job as a manager at this store. A couple of weeks ago he decided to accept the offer and we are now employed again! I immediately became excited about start the adoption process again. We were on hold the entire

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-18214923039848661752009-09-12T12:55:00.000-07:002009-09-12T12:57:27.361-07:00

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-64673919653259017802009-06-27T09:35:00.000-07:002009-06-27T09:48:07.508-07:00

This was our fourth year to have swim lessons. Even still, the week wore me out! Swim lessons are a lot of work. I like the sun. I like the water. I like being with my kids. I like leaving the house. Put it all together, and you get one tired mama and two tired kids. Maybe its the long list of things to remember... swim diapers, sunblock, water, snacks, towels, changes of clothes, regular diapers

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-63995174268975936022009-06-26T17:29:00.000-07:002009-06-26T17:44:25.393-07:00

My brother, Chris, graduated from John Brown University last month. It was a happy day. He studied Construction Management (same as Chad) and worked hard to put himself through school. He amazed me by the small amounts of sleep he tortured himself with. I stayed up into the wee hours of the morning a lot my freshman year, but after that I got at least six hours a night most of the time. Not Chris

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-12802775995561700182009-06-19T14:27:00.000-07:002009-06-19T14:40:29.578-07:00

One good thing about being unemployed is that we have a lot of free time. Last month we spent ten days in Illinois with Chad's family. During the trip we visited Grandpa Randy and Grandma Cindy twice. They live on a farm that has been in Chad's family for several generations. Chad and Chelsea spent many summer weeks here during their childhood. Daily trips to Dairy Queen are tradition around

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-9042968768238024282009-06-08T19:20:00.001-07:002009-06-10T21:03:28.293-07:00

It's always difficult to know how to start a post after not writing for awhile. The update on us is lengthy, but I don't have much energy for blogging right now. I haven't even done much emailing lately, which is crazy for me. Chad was laid off in April. His work is in residential construction and the small company he worked for did not have one contract. He had worked there for one year and one

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-73428605495273966552009-04-29T12:13:00.000-07:002009-04-29T12:16:52.963-07:00

Today marks 6 weeks of being on the wait list. It's still flying by. I think about our little babe nonstop. He is already part of our family even though we haven't met him yet. Chad and I pray for him often. If we're matched with a baby older than 12 months we could get a referral as soon as July. If he is little bitty it could be closer to October/November. Either way is really fine with us;

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-64331935503594038162009-04-04T21:24:00.000-07:002009-04-04T21:30:40.978-07:00

Every other week Chad and I help teach Mel's class at church. Today I cut out shapes of food items for tomorrow's craft. The lesson is about God's provision during famine, so we are going to glue food items to paper plates. One food item is ice cream cones. Leah liked them so I gave her one to play with. She instantly started licking the paper and saying "Mmmmm."

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-81379477343279572482009-04-01T19:14:00.001-07:002009-04-01T19:24:32.936-07:00

We've been on the wait list for two weeks now. If the weeks fly by this quickly, we'll have our referral in no time. I assume time will begin to crawl when we near the end of summer. I already think of our boy all of the time. Sometimes the thoughts of him make me smile or laugh. Other times I tear up instantly. I wonder about his circumstances and pray for him. He may or may not be born. Either

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-17516281059845042682009-03-30T12:37:00.000-07:002009-03-30T12:44:35.825-07:00

Last Friday at our weekly playgroup we celebrated Gillian's 2nd birthday. Gilly's mom, Kristin, is the queen of birthday fun. She did a m&m theme for the party. The kids were sent home with a bag o goodies including these amazingly huge m&m cookies on a stick. Melody asked to eat her cookie 1000 times that day. I repeatedly said, "No, you can have it tomorrow...." The next morning she ran from

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-41619334451111675402009-03-20T15:45:00.000-07:002009-03-20T15:54:58.901-07:00

We are officially on The Gladney Wait List for a baby boy! We were put on the list on March 18. The average wait for a referral right now is 6.5 months. This means we might get matched to a baby around October 1. (We won't travel for another few months after that.)I woke up on Thursday morning with great peace in my heart. I laid awake for a hour, soaking in thoughts of the adoption. I am in awe

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-61168115333437348442009-03-12T23:40:00.001-07:002009-03-13T00:00:04.536-07:00

Yesterday I received a book in our mailbox. (It has been a good mail week... first our CIS Approval and then a book!) A few days ago I ordered this book. It is written by Josh and Amy Bottomly who are famous in the Ethiopian Blog Adoption World. Late last night, when the house was finally quiet, I curled up in the leather chair by the fire and began reading From Ashes To Africa. Every 15 pages or

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-8053830478704759292009-03-11T19:38:00.001-07:002009-03-11T19:43:58.842-07:00

Tonight I was standing at the stove heating up soup for dinner. Mel was at the nearby table coloring. Out of nowhere she said, "I'm just a looser."I nonchalantly replied, "Why do you say that?" Worried mommy-thoughts swirled in my head. Mel said, "Because I loose things."

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-90525878515796892332009-03-10T16:04:00.000-07:002009-03-10T16:06:19.947-07:00

Today we received our CIS Approval (Citizenship and Immigration Services)! This marks the end of our adoption paperwork process, one of the biggest undertakings of my life so far.

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-45722100035678601432009-03-10T14:22:00.001-07:002009-03-10T14:23:29.638-07:00

Today Melody and Leah were playing in the other room. I heard Mel ask Leah to get something for her. Mel explained where it was, "Leah, it's by the pink thing.... right there.... no not that.... in the middle.... do you see it?" They went on and on like that for about five minutes! Mel never got frustrated. Then they started this:Leah: "Dat?" (that)Mel: "No."Leah: "Dat?"Mel: "No."Leah: "Dat?"Mel

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-55294686188492775672009-03-03T21:50:00.000-08:002009-03-03T22:04:25.885-08:00

Leah is a funny girl. Recently I have captured some faces that give a peak into her quirky personality. She has a subtle nature about her that sneaks out when she is feeling feisty.This pucker thing is her newest face. She makes this face when she is in trouble. I'll say her name with a strong, low, serious tone. The next thing I know, she is tilting her head and sticking her lips out as far as

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-36621232008157906732009-01-20T18:50:00.001-08:002009-01-20T18:53:23.317-08:00

Here are some photos of Melody's haircut after her scissor experiment. The first one is a mug shot taken before bedtime the day of the whole incident. The second was taken a few days later at Vance and Harmony's wedding reception. I'm slowly getting used to it.

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-41546374715036440712009-01-14T20:22:00.001-08:002009-01-14T20:28:33.977-08:00

Today is a day I won't forget. I was doing my own thing this morning... taking a shower, etc. The girls were watching a DVD, like they usually do each morning when I take a shower. I walked into the living room where they were and noticed a big chunk of Mel's hair on the couch. I looked at her with a startled expression and said, "DID YOU CUT YOUR HAIR!???" Her response was nonchalant, "Yeah, I

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-20003028194553211292009-01-07T12:39:00.000-08:002009-01-07T12:50:41.101-08:00

We had our homestudy on Monday. This is a big step in the adoption process. A social worker came to our house for three and a half hours. We sat in the clean living room with water, coffee and a muffin each. It was like a combination of job interview and counseling session. We were asked about our strengths and weaknesses as individuals and as a couple. Other questions were, "How do you cope with

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-41848880538027382592008-12-19T18:36:00.001-08:002008-12-19T19:19:38.383-08:00

We are expecting our third child! In twelve to eighteen months Chad and I will travel to Ethiopia to adopt a baby boy. When I tell people the news, tears stream down my cheeks. It's embarrassing, but I cannot help it. They are happy, giddy, joyful, bursting, fill-your-heart-with-pounding-love kind of tears.For a long time (perhaps our whole marriage) international adoption has been on the back

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-60505553275778452302008-12-18T19:39:00.004-08:002008-12-19T07:35:45.856-08:00

We celebrated Melody's birthday early this year. Her birthday is December 22; we had her party a couple of weekends early so that more people could attend. It was the first big birthday party we've had. It was a lot of work and a lot of fun! Above is a picture of Melody that I frantically snapped seconds before guests started to arrive.I made the cake four layers because Melody is four years old!

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-10222231226453244762008-11-07T18:34:00.001-08:002008-11-07T18:53:35.456-08:00

Every Friday we do playgroup. There are eight moms and 19 kids. We trade houses, passing the crazy task of hosting around and around. Today everyone came to my house and we celebrated Leah's birthday. Playgroup Birthday Parties are great. There are no gifts required. (Leah did receive one gift and a few drawings this morning.) We have cupcakes or cakes -- sometime healthy versions, other times

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-20204826425784250332008-11-05T19:27:00.000-08:002008-11-05T19:41:13.222-08:00

Leah will turn two next week. (!) I cannot believe my baby is going to be two years old. Everyone always say, It goes by so fast.... Now I can say the same thing. Leah is so much fun. She is sensitive, feisty, silly and loud. I took these photos about a month ago in the front yard.

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-43962893510875196232008-08-28T13:53:00.001-07:002008-08-28T13:54:20.917-07:00

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-53229793023617805292008-08-25T12:35:00.000-07:002008-08-25T13:02:29.771-07:00

Yesterday someone asked, "Are you still running crazy?" They were referring to my latest post from three weeks ago. No, I'm not running crazy anymore. At least not like I was. The freelance project was one of the hardest things I've ever done. There are many challenging things about being a stay at home mom of little ones, but these do not compare with the stress of trying to design 14 high

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-45763661058294060582008-07-30T06:28:00.001-07:002008-07-30T09:49:44.465-07:00

Several years ago Chad had a coworker named Andres, from El Salvador. His English was decent but he often used funny expressions. One of the comical things he said was, "I'm running crazy!" instead of "I'm really busy." For the past few years Chad and I have continued using this expression. When we are super stressed Andres' expression seems to express our feelings more accurately than saying the

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-64061441106129782562008-07-29T05:58:00.000-07:002008-07-29T06:30:06.533-07:00

Yesterday was my birthday. As a (new) 32 year old, I don't expect my birthdays to be stellar. Yesterday blew my expectations out of the water. The day began with Melody singing me Happy Birthday To You at the breakfast table. Her voice is so soft and sweet. At 10:00am we headed to town. (I hate it that I use that expression all the time. "Girls are you ready to go to town?" Ick.) Anyway, we drove

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-79825131748961960162008-07-24T07:41:00.000-07:002008-07-24T07:44:44.578-07:00

A few nights ago Chad was working late. Leah went to bed at regular time, but Melody stayed up to wait for him. We had a fun girl time. I put her hair into a multitude of pony tails and then grabbed the camera....

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-986389351131761562008-07-21T05:40:00.001-07:002008-07-21T05:48:22.117-07:00

For two days Melody was afraid to poop. She would sit on the toilet and say things like, The poop is going to hurt me.I very want to wait.I will go later.I will go when I am four.Poor girl! We trying everything... singing, laughing, stories. She even said, "Mommy will you pray that my poop won't hurt?" The next day the girls were in the tub. Melody jumped up. I HAVE TO POOP! She held on tight to

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-60787105641159436592008-07-15T20:02:00.001-07:002008-07-15T20:26:12.663-07:00

Melody and I recently put together a package to send to our far away, very missed friends. The project began at Walmart. It was July 1st. I was pushing the monster blue double toddler cart around the acre store and found a back-to-school art supply sale. It was amazing. Elmers glue: 20¢ 24 pack crayons: 22¢two glue sticks: 30¢colored pencils: 60¢pencil sharpener: 20¢I stood and stared, trying to

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-20807199260894968002008-07-14T15:37:00.000-07:002008-07-14T16:45:04.585-07:00

One morning last week I started the day feeling lost. I had planned on staying at home that day. I felt a pull to escape responsibility, escape the house, escape saving gas money. I paced and fought the pull. I called my friend Hannah, hoping for some relief. She has three little girls. We share the folly of escaping our homes, of chasing fast food cravings, of ordering onion rings and french

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-69982305101279999432008-07-11T12:37:00.000-07:002008-07-11T12:47:31.907-07:00

Finally! Some pictures of my new hair. I got it cut about two weeks ago. I love the change. I tend to wait a long long long time between style changes. This haircut was long overdue. I mentioned to Chad that I might get it cut and when he speedily responded favorably I realized I had waited too long. (He doesn't tend to respond speedily to anything unless it's a comment about how low our

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-3963670965708774102008-07-11T06:05:00.000-07:002008-07-11T06:21:35.059-07:00

We went to Granbury, Texas for the 4th of July this year. My grandma Kotter is turning 90 this summer, so we made the holiday into a family reunion. My brother and I made the 7 hour trip together in his non-airconditioned car. I didn't mind because it was my first time in three years to go on a road trip without kids. I enjoyed every minute of the hot day. I didn't turn around to face the back

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-66585944315822270262008-07-09T08:06:00.000-07:002008-07-09T08:29:33.587-07:00

After hearing about this recipe from Anna, Laurel, and Thalia, I decided to give it a go. I mulled the idea around for a few weeks, unsure if I wanted to commit to another project. Then I found a cool jar at Peir 1 (on clearance). I love the look of recycled glass. The recipe is simple, with just four ingredients. It can be found at this website.Grating the soap was the most time consuming part.

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-86470806129176041792008-07-02T13:29:00.000-07:002008-07-02T13:50:25.417-07:00

So, I wrote a post about depression and then fell off the face of the earth. The Laura picture was a big realization. I am depressed a lot of the time. After that post I spiraled down for a few days. The house fell apart. I was socially blank. I coexisted with the girls. A new cycle came and things brightened up. I slowly pulled things around me back to order. These slumps leave me exhausted.

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-72907168710389459342008-06-19T05:14:00.000-07:002008-06-19T10:33:45.588-07:00

Laura sent this photo to me yesterday. It was taken the day after we graduated from JBU in May of 1999. Seeing this photo brought back interesting feelings for me. First I felt warmth because of the friendship portrayed. Our relaxed body language and easy smiles say a lot about us. Next, I recalled how bad I felt that day. I was struggling with being sad, mean and angry. I had PMS that day. I

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-46121210197270597472008-06-15T10:48:00.000-07:002008-06-15T11:57:22.908-07:00

Father's Day this year was low key and fun. We started the day by skipping church. This might become a Mother's Day/Father's Day tradition for our family. (We did the same thing on Mothers Day.) We started the day early, with Leah waking up at 6:15. I brought her back to our bed and she nestled under the covers with us until 7:00, dozing and waking repeatedly.For breakfast I made a blueberry

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-26012556005234551722008-06-13T15:38:00.000-07:002008-06-14T11:19:49.471-07:00

My friend Hannah is getting rid of a bunch of stuff. She had accumulated 16 sets of Fiesta Ware in various colors. She decided to keep the blues and greens and get rid of the brighter ones. She mentioned it to me and I flipped out. I've always loved Fiesta Ware. When Chad and I were engaged we thought we would live overseas doing mission work. Because of this we did not register for very much

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-60488453776831700422008-06-09T21:09:00.001-07:002008-06-09T22:03:04.161-07:00

Coloring is an activity we do a lot in our house. As a child coloring was my absolute favorite activity. I used to beg my parents to color with me. Now I am 31 years old and I still enjoy coloring. I've found an easy way to color with the girls that works well for us. I use the following: crayons (all types), easel paper (mine is Melissa & Doug brand), tape and scissors. I unroll and large piece

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-26313748105882629452008-06-04T17:53:00.000-07:002008-06-04T17:59:57.733-07:00

Today while the girls napped I ate ice cream and watched 30 Rock on DVD. I ate a whole pint of Ben & Jerry's. I just kept going. (Coffee Heath Bar Crunch. MMM.) Then I calculated the calories and fat grams. Grand total: 1120 calories & 61 grams of fat. IN TWENTY MINUTES. I've felt defeated, gross, mad, guilty, frustrated, trapped, weak, shameful, angry, and fat for six hours.

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-88090343602646705542008-06-03T19:05:00.000-07:002008-06-04T07:06:59.095-07:00

Before the girls woke up this morning I skimmed my blog archives from 2003 & 2004. I read of feelings and events about which I had forgotten. For instance, what it was like to work full time. These posts lamented and glorified my job as a graphic designer. One of the most frequent subjects of the writings was the desire I had for a baby. When coworkers would have a baby, I'd cry with joy and

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-34485119084527577332008-06-02T11:48:00.000-07:002008-06-02T11:52:50.555-07:00

Monday morning. I was sorting dry black beans in an attempt to be thrifty...

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-48895022157769570842008-05-31T10:33:00.000-07:002008-05-31T11:45:43.441-07:00

Last night I went to see the Sex in the City movie with two girlfriends. It was opening night, something I've never experience before. We bought our tickets earlier in the day and then went to the last showing at 10:30pm. It was a long movie, so I didn't get home until 2:00am! I have not stayed up that late in ages.This morning I've been thinking about the movie and trying to decide if I liked it

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-50661671561037728642008-05-29T18:58:00.000-07:002008-05-29T19:30:03.953-07:00

I have decided to share some photos of my house. I love it when people post their house pictures; especially when they are people who I have never visited. A person's home can tell a lot about who they are. One of my ongoing goals in life is to make my home a place I enjoy to be. It is a slow process. I buy most of my stuff cheap cheap cheap. We rarely purchase new things. I love garage sales.

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-89633152514230833342008-05-17T20:12:00.000-07:002008-05-18T18:59:09.856-07:00

The other day Chad noticed Melody staring up at our wedding pictures in the entry way. The following conversation occurred:Chad: "Do you know who that is?" Melody: "I don't know." Chad: "That is your mommy. She has on a pretty dress. All these pictures are of our wedding, when we got married."Melody: "She looks pretty. I wish I could have got married."And so it begins.[Also said by Melody, at the

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-3991046997726464522008-05-15T18:07:00.000-07:002008-05-16T07:22:29.631-07:00

Lately I've been organizing the desk in the playroom/office. Today I happened upon a journal of inspirational clippings kept during my time at DaySpring as a greeting card designer. I sat on the primary colored puzzle mats and began flipping pages. Career memories flooded my mind. I recalled research trips with talented coworkers. We'd travel to big cities and spend 10 hours a day on our feet,

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-61759954129914242352008-05-11T14:25:00.000-07:002008-05-14T12:28:53.864-07:00

We left the local, artsy, quality, hip, unique restaurant with full bellies and happy kids. We strolled the few blocks to the car, passing flowers, homes, library, rock walls, and lots of people. The sun and wind warmed and cooled us simultaneously. Chad and I chatted happily as each of us buckled a child into her carseat. A few streets later we sat at a red light, all four of us quiet. Several

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-7039705868591349402008-05-09T20:17:00.000-07:002008-05-10T07:12:58.434-07:00

A few days ago the girls and I came home from a long string of errands, one being grocery shopping. The girls were happy to run around in the yard while I unloaded the car. They continued to play while I put the groceries away in the kitchen. Ten minutes later I came outside to find a sullen Leah covered in black potting soil. Melody was full of shrieking glee, jumping around like a caffeinated

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-85163427873962245352008-05-08T11:24:00.000-07:002008-05-08T11:36:47.618-07:00

Yesterday I made a Mother's Day project for my mom, MIL, grandmas, and aunt. I was excited about showing them off until I saw the horrible photos I took. I apologize for such ugly, blurry, sad photos. I need to make myself read the manual on my newish camera. (Canon Powershot SD750 Elph -- any tips are welcome). I'm new to digital photography and definitely need some lessons. The project was

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-91330203017584608842008-05-07T13:10:00.000-07:002008-05-07T13:16:54.288-07:00

Leah has a lot of spunk. Her little personality might have more spunk then Melody. Leah has lots of characteristics of my personality. She is more extreme than Melody. Have you ever met someone who was strong and feisty and sensitive at the same time? That is Leah and me. In junior high my friend's mom said to me, "Rebekah, you can dish it out but you can't take it." The comment hit me like a

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-52590213514682045752008-05-06T21:19:00.000-07:002008-05-06T21:27:20.137-07:00

I've been wanting to show everyone this photo for days. I took this picture in the middle of our spunky spell with Melody. She and I spent the morning making her new rainbow necklace. The outfit was not planned. Obviously. She demanded a dress but it was a cold day, so we compromised. She is such a hoot sometimes.

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-61144531903618073972008-05-05T20:29:00.000-07:002008-05-05T20:31:47.741-07:00

Check out my new flickr photos!(I'm feeling much better after five days of Claritin and three nights of Tylenol PM.)

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-32155391242755190952008-05-02T14:18:00.000-07:002008-05-02T14:34:03.463-07:00

Yesterday morning I woke up feeling terrible. Lightheaded, weak, exhausted, and achy. A sore throat developed as the day wore on. I spent the day trying to take it easy, which is challenging with two little ones. Melody and I napped together while Leah napped in her crib. I love napping with Melody. Her three year old body is so much bigger than the weightless newborn who used to sleep on my

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-48896848800102845072008-04-28T17:55:00.000-07:002008-04-28T18:04:38.690-07:00

This morning I took the girls to the park. As we were playing Melody said with fervor, "I HAVE TO PEE!" I scooped her up and we jogged over to the public park restrooms. (Ick.) The women's was occupied. Mel said again, "I HAVE TO PEE!" I made a split second decision and said, "Let's see if you can just pee on the grass right here by the wall." Hahahaha. She was wearing a long dress with leggings

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-77066297053643733032008-04-28T06:53:00.000-07:002008-04-28T07:02:46.380-07:00

Said from the couch to Chad as he walked in the front door, "Hey kiddo."Said as she was jumping on the bed, "Mommy, I have so much energies."Yesterday afternoon we were all working in the front yard. Melody was picking wild flowers. After a few minutes I began to worry about snakes in the tall grass of the wild flower area. We told her it was time to stop picking flowers and to come back to where

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-64642863225047297232008-04-24T07:58:00.000-07:002008-04-24T08:03:32.000-07:00

My mom is here today. She visits every other week. Today she is helping me retain some sanity. I'm hulled up on my bedroom. iTunes is playing loudly (to drown out the noise in the rest of the house). I have a painting spot set up in front of a window with the late morning sun pouring in. Coffee and water are within reach. I'm ready to create something!!! I hope someday I can be the type of

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-35136693384139663312008-04-23T13:53:00.000-07:002008-04-23T13:55:50.298-07:00

Sally Jane Gowan!!! She was born today at 12:12. She weighs 7 pounds, 4 ounces and is 21 inches long. We are so proud of you Laura!!

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-20325273319415333272008-04-23T11:24:00.000-07:002008-04-23T11:32:08.019-07:00

I am feeling discouraged today. Life is suddenly overwhelming. The majority of my angst is related to Melody. We have been at odds with each other for several days in a row and it's wearing me out. My times with her are either wonderful or terrible. One second she is whining for me to hold her, "Mommy, you haven't holded me yet." The next moment she acts as if she wants me to leave her alone. I

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-39702508916629115282008-04-22T12:05:00.000-07:002008-04-22T12:08:57.240-07:00

I'm changing some things on my blog. I might even go as far as to change the entire design. I'm excited to write more and finally start posting pictures. I've always held off on the picture part of blogging because I felt like this was a place for me to practice writing. Well, writing is definitely taking a back seat to everything else these days, so this is becoming more of a place to talk about

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-41305412062373028302008-04-21T18:47:00.000-07:002008-04-21T19:02:30.615-07:00

"Mommy, I'm so worried about myself," Melody said as she laid in bed for a nap after a rough morning. My new adjective for her is SPUNKY. I like this word because it describes her craziness without being negative. Spunky is good, right? I told one friend, it's as if I give her a gallon of sugar every hour. She is 1000% alive with energy, loudness, opinions, demands, and nonstop talking. It is

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-61471106673362330512008-04-11T05:16:00.000-07:002008-04-11T05:29:28.716-07:00

Since I wrote yesterday's post, I've been feeling uneasy about my words. I did not explain my feelings about Melody very well. I do not want to leave the impression that I favor one of my girls over the other because thankfully that is NOT the case. They are both delightful to my heart. One of the coolest things about them is how DIFFERENT they are. Anyone who knows us, exclaims about their

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-66955427381102985802008-04-10T17:58:00.000-07:002008-04-10T18:16:37.851-07:00

Today my mom took Melody home with her. Grammie lives one and a half hours away. Since Melody turned two, she frequently spends one or two nights there. Tonight I called to chat with her before bedtime. She had a limited amount of time to talk to me because she was making s'mores over the stovetop with grandad!When Melody is gone, Leah and I have a great time together. Our relationship changes.

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-71736684283597229332008-04-08T06:17:00.001-07:002008-04-08T06:17:44.777-07:00

“Look mommy! Storm hay!”Melody has been saying the funniest things. The above statement is referring to hail. She also says, “You’re right.” after I’ve spoken a fact such as, “It’s time to eat lunch.” Or, “You took a long nap!” Her tone carries authority as if she is teaching me something when she says it. One time I was correcting Melody’s behavior and I said, “Melody. Are you obeying or

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-15856646680463742252008-04-02T09:37:00.000-07:002008-04-02T09:50:56.407-07:00

Melody is finally succeeding at potty training! I am very happy about this. She is three years and three months old. She has been quick in language skills and fine motor skills, but more relaxed about physical milestones. She rolled over at 5 months, crawled at 11 months, and walked at 13 months. Each milestone was preceded with much caution. She is like her daddy in this way. This is our third

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-33574867879326297822008-04-01T11:51:00.000-07:002008-04-01T12:08:05.905-07:00

Where to start? After months of not blogging it's time to jump back in. Melody is a spunky three year old. Leah is 16 months. They play together everyday which brings me endless joy. I'm so happy when they entertain themselves in the playroom. Several months back we changed our office to a playroom. Now my laptop resides in our master bedroom, and all the toys are in the playroom. (At least that

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-23192160587799588682008-01-12T18:58:00.000-08:002008-01-12T19:12:21.806-08:00

In the past few months I've managed to read ALL of Kaye Gibbons books. This includes the following: Ellen Foster, Charms for the Easy Life, On the Occassion of My Last Afternoon, A Cure For Dreams, A Virtuous Woman and Divining Women. I love this author. Her work drew me in. At the end of each book, I sighed with satisfaction. I liked her work because despite it's difficult themes, it did not

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-40996934423028860212007-10-25T05:25:00.000-07:002007-10-25T05:52:11.328-07:00

Melody, you will turn three years old in two months. We have been talking about your birthday party almost everyday. The plan is to do a ball theme with a polka dot cake. Your fascination with balls is still at an all time high. A few weeks ago we were at the park taking a walk when community soccer games began. We stopped the stroller to watch through the chain link fence. You sat upright in

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-61354391146136139642007-08-11T10:47:00.000-07:002007-08-11T12:22:24.151-07:00

Dear Leah,Early this morning around 3:30am (I can never remember the exact time) I was rocking you in the polka dot glider in your dimly lit room. Moments before you had guzzled 8oz of formula as you always do during your night time feeding. I lifted you from the feeding position and pulled you close to my chest. Your fuzzy head settled heavily on top of my shoulder. Your long toes spread apart

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-63489188315860465632007-08-10T13:28:00.000-07:002007-08-10T13:53:45.113-07:00

We've been home a lot this week because the girls both have a cold. I've attempted to catch up on laundry and cook some good meals as well as watch a couple movies. I saw Catch and Release and Dream Girls. They were both okay; good movies to watch by myself during the day as I folded clothes, held babies and played with playdoh. I hit the pause buttom about 100 during each movie to fetch a bottle

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-80018348360143912322007-08-09T11:18:00.000-07:002007-08-09T11:44:45.862-07:00

Melody has a fascination with balls. It began a long time ago and everyone who knows her is aware of it. Every time we go to playgroup, she makes a beeline to the first type of ball she sees. For the next two hours she clutches this precious treasure and refuses to play with anything else. Balloons are the only object that can top a ball. So I guess I shouldn't have been surprised the other day

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-52872533179008483012007-06-07T13:51:00.000-07:002007-06-07T13:57:47.895-07:00

Life has changed so much for us since Chad started his new job. It’s been about three weeks and our old life is already a foggy memory. There are things I miss and things I’m excited about. The thing I miss the most of spending so much quality time with Chad. I miss leisurely breakfasts where we work together in the kitchen and then sat down together to eat and talk. These days we still eat

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-7154309069299663042007-05-31T05:12:00.000-07:002007-05-31T05:40:35.057-07:00

Life for the Mathis family has been turned upsidedown. A few weeks ago Chad got a phone call from a business person in residential construction. It was a Sunday evening and we had no idea the conversation would lead to Chad being employed again. Several phone calls and interviews later we are back in the saddle as a "normal" family. Chad goes to work everyday and I stay home with the girls. Being

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-18691818387963809912007-05-16T04:55:00.000-07:002007-05-16T05:25:55.968-07:00

Once or twice a week Leah wakes up around 5:00am. She lays next to me in the bed with her eyes wide open. She smiles hugely and kicks the sheets with a jabbing motion. I try to cox her to go back to sleep by patting her bottom, jiggling her body, nursing her, etc. The list continues. Each attempt fails. Instead she becomes even more animated. She coos and laughs at the idea of any more sleep. It

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-17358700203447596952007-05-06T18:43:00.000-07:002007-05-06T18:45:30.226-07:00

The girls are napping. (I love it when they nap at the same time!) Chad went to Tulsa to take our Oregon friends to the airport. The house is strangely quiet after a weekend of hustle and bustle. Friday night there were eleven people sleeping here. Every bed was full, plus some floor space (sorry Dan). To top it off, the two college students were on an air mattress on the screened-in back porch.

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-41628782787784762492007-04-10T18:55:00.000-07:002007-04-10T19:15:38.241-07:00

Dear Leah,Tomorrow you will be five months old. Tonight I swaddled you in a size two diaper for the first time. You're little body is a mere 12.5 pounds. You are full of sweet personality. You squeal and growl with gusto. Your big sister makes you smile and stare. She enjoys talking to you. When you get upset she mimicks mommy's sing-songy voice by saying "Toe-Tay Leah." ("It's okay Leah.")

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-60564412407709361212007-04-07T11:10:00.000-07:002007-04-07T11:39:46.060-07:00

Last week I stumbled upon a local toy store that is going out of business. I felt sad for the owners, who wore defeated expressions. At the same time, I was thrilled to find shelves full of merchandise marked 50% off. I spent $60 and walked out with three bags full of goodies for the girls. The loot included, Melissa & Doug art supplies*, large white easel paper rolls, a genuine purple playground

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-28037924366369091272007-04-02T20:40:00.000-07:002007-04-02T20:51:27.727-07:00

Melody is sick again. She has rubbed her nose/face raw due to a runny/itchy nose. She whines, "Nose hurts." about a million times a day. Sometimes she asks me to kiss it. She is in the stage where kissing things makes them 'better.' It's tricky to kiss a crusty nose without gagging. I try. Last week we had two wonderful days in a row. Melody played with her toys, sang to Leah, helped me with

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-27806351161935074682007-03-19T07:28:00.001-07:002007-03-19T07:28:57.303-07:00

Four months is one of my favorites places in the first year of a baby's life. Leah is stealing my heart everyday. I'm feeling more at ease about her weight for two reasons... she started taking bottles again!! After about a month of rejecting the bottle, she's willing to drink from it again. I've been giving her 3 or 4 ounces of formula each evening. After only 4 days of supplementing, she's

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-35874646273403823202007-03-15T19:58:00.000-07:002007-03-15T20:12:34.300-07:00

Melody and Leah are scheduled to have professional photos taken this weekend. Ever since I made the appointment a few days ago, I've been stressed out about what they will wear. If they are in a photo together I want their outfits to coordinate... not necessarily match, but work together. Melody has an adorable dress by Mini Boden (UK brand) that I bought on ebay awhile back. It is floral. I

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-885298454025501932007-03-14T06:19:00.000-07:002007-03-14T06:54:21.113-07:00

I could barely remember what a head cold felt like until this year. Let me start a the beginning. I've had numerous ailments this winter. I will recap them for you... When Leah was five weeks old I started feeling the symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI). I am prone to these, especially if I drink too much coffee. Being a new mom of two, coffee quickly became my best friend. Some days I

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-73749329542554933472007-03-13T06:33:00.000-07:002007-03-13T06:52:02.857-07:00

It is March. I can't believe it. 2007 is flying by. The past three months have been a blur. We've experienced a lot of change this year, starting with our brand new baby, Leah. She turned four months a couple of days ago. She's very different from Melody, although they share a few similarities. One of these is their size. Leah is little. I often refer to her as our Little Leah. She's almost 11

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-1164558533174479432006-11-26T07:56:00.001-08:002006-11-26T08:28:53.176-08:00

We had the baby! Most of you already know already... two weeks and one day ago, on November 11, Leah Sage Mathis was born!!! I've meant to blog about it for two weeks, but you know how it goes.She weighed 8 pounds and 5 ounces and was 21 inches long. Leah's birth was completely different from Melody's birth. The labor was longer in total, but the end was super fast. I will write the entire birth

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-1164558499355830672006-11-26T07:56:00.000-08:002006-11-26T08:28:20.090-08:00

We had the baby! Most of you already know already... two weeks and one day ago, on November 11, Leah Sage Mathis was born!!! I've meant to blog about it for two weeks, but you know how it goes.She weighed 8 pounds and 5 ounces and was 21 inches long. Leah's birth was completely different from Melody's birth. The labor was longer in total, but the end was super fast. I will write the entire birth

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-1162820181002343482006-11-06T05:19:00.000-08:002006-11-06T05:36:21.023-08:00

Lately Chad and I have been eating breakfast together before he leaves for work in the morning. Getting up with him is something I used to do on a regular basis, but the past few months have been different. During pregnancy, I need more sleep, so I used every extra morning minute for dozing. Now that I'm only two weeks away from my due date, I'm not able to sleep well. By the wee hours of the

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-1157979180075823712006-09-11T05:41:00.000-07:002006-09-11T13:31:41.090-07:00

I woke up early with the rain. I decided to get out of bed and spent some time with Chad instead of laying there awake. We had coffee and banana bread. His eyes were vacant and large with sleepiness, but the time together was good anyway. We shared a small glass of apple juice because the coffee didn't quench our thirst.As the black truck reved up for his drive to work, I stood in the rainy

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-1157589126092512982006-09-06T17:19:00.001-07:002006-09-06T17:32:06.096-07:00

The morning began with a groggy mama going on 4 hours of sleep. Heartburn and caffeine kept me awake until 3am. I served a lovely leftover pancake to Melody for breakfast and attempted to clean up the kitchen before the termite inspector arrived. He showed up late, eager to chat. We stood in the entry way as he gave me details about the log cabin he's building and the friends he's living with.

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-1150937321504326402006-06-21T17:48:00.000-07:002006-06-21T17:48:41.513-07:00

Today I went to the health food store. It’s a relatively new establishment and I enjoy shopping there. I do not frequent it as often as I’d like. It is located 35 minutes from my house, so making a special trip takes planning. (Something I don’t often do.) Making a spur of the moment trip happens even less, because Melody is usually ready to go home after two or three stops. I like the place

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-1150835033315752352006-06-20T12:57:00.000-07:002006-06-20T13:23:53.476-07:00

How many kids do I want? This question is in me all the time. I lull it over at least once a day.When Chad and I got married we thought four was the magic number. He comes from family of four. Boy, girl, boy, girl in perfect staggered order. Holidays and vacations with his family are a blast. Each child is different but alike. Music fills the house at each gathering. Piano, guitar, harmonica,

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798noreply@blogger.com6