nothing like it, part 2

simply put, yesterday was nothing like the day before that i posted about...and for those who enjoyed the sweet rocking chair moment, i just had to post this one (though truth be told, my pride almosted kept me from doing it!) cue the circus music...

so yesterday started with another walk, though this one was much more stop and go because morgan kept pulling me to the left for some reason, which in turn pulled us more and more into the center of the road. thankfully, we don't live on busy streets, so no big deal. a bigger deal, however, was when we passed a house with a pitbull mix, whom i've met before and is really very gentle. but when he got a look at morgan, he made a barking run for us. morgan, in turn, barked back and proceeded to attempt to drag me around the parked cars to get at this dog. thankfully, pitbull was on a run and morgan wasn't strong enough to outpull me. we moved on from there quickly :)

then when we got home, isaac napped while elise and i played a game and drew with crayons. he woke up, nursed, and then it was time for elise to clean up...this turned into a correction moment. while i was trying to get her out of her seat to sit on time out, isaac started pooping in my arms. "no problem," i thought..."his poops haven't been that massive lately...i shouldn't have to worry about leaks." not true this day. as elise's behavior escalated, so did his poop, until it was leaking through his shirt and onto mine. a moment of grace entered right here (when i needed it most)...as i was changing isaac, elise finally said, "sorry mama...sorry mama." PRAISE GOD!

after this, it was nap time for both of them. elise requested that i rock both of them together again. did i have the sweet moment like the day before? nope. instead, we had an awkward, uncomfortable rock, to which neither could really get into a good position. so i attempted to lay isaac on the floor and then slide elise down to stand while i readjusted...but instead of sliding to her feet, elise (who i guess wasn't reading my mind at that moment and who was more asleep that i thought) slid off my lap and landed face first on the edge of the ottoman.

and the mother of the year award goes to....

could i have apologized any more?! oh my goodness, i felt horrible! after cleaning up her fat bloody lip, she just looked at me with those gorgeous eyes, and wimpered, "rock?" so we did. elise and i rocked, with isaac screaming on the floor...she passed out in my arms...and he did too about 10 minutes later. whew...

i was still able to smile and chuckle somewhat in the midst of this, thank Jesus once again, and echo the theme from the day before...there's nothing like it.

nothing like it

after successfully enjoying a walk with both kids and morgan (who by the way, is awesome on a leash!), elise had lunch and then both kids slowly started unraveling with tiredness. so i rocked both of them at the same time. after a few songs, isaac was long gone in one arm and elise looked up at me with those gorgeous, big, brown eyes...she snuggled into my other arm and before i knew it she was asleep too. aside from thinking, "how will i get the two of them into their cribs?..." i couldn't stop staring at them...from one adorable face to the other. each time i was ready to get up, i would sit longer just soaking in the moment. "thank you Jesus," i kept repeating under my breath. thank You for these children, thank You for a husband who works so hard, thank you that i am home each day for moments like these...there is nothing like it.

morgan

say hello to morgan-the newest member of our family. in a nutshell, God answered our unspoken prayers for another shepherd...for free! the family she came from was needing a finacial reprieve and wanted to find a loving home for her. we were looking for a kid-friendly, trained, pure bred shepherd...without having to go through the puppy phase. God crossed our paths and morgan joined our family this afternoon. and for those of you who had the privilege of knowing josie...could they look any more alike?! oh my goodness...i can't tell you how much i'm catching myself wanting to call her josie! anyway, she's already developed a tendency to follow justin wherever he goes...hmmm...that sounds familiar...what is it with him and dogs! lisey loves her and follows her around saying, "come here morgan..." she's only called her josie a few times, which is sweet to hear. it's only been a few hours, but already it seems she's doing well. just another evidence that God cares about the details of our lives.

recent pics

"spike"

lisey and jojo had a playdate at our house

we put an island in the kitchen just recently. lisey just discovered that the one side is just high enough for her to hide under!

yogurt face

stroller dude has a new hat!

oh my goodness...could he be any cuter! my handsome boy!

carrying on the name

justin and his other two male cousins have wondered for years now whether or not the baloche name would live on...but here is living proof that it will...thanks to little clayton and isaac...and any other little men the Lord might bless the family with. aren't they cuties!

our first vacation with two kids!

we recently returned from our first vacation with both kids...and we had a great time! we vacationed with mimi, grampy and aunt mare-mare. we stayed at doug's family's vacation house and got to visit the Zooquarium, the beach, a cool spot where the fish and seals come in, restaurants, and more. as crazy as it sounds, this was lisey's first trip to the beach and first time seeing the ocean! she thought the beach was her own personal sand box...and sort of warmed of to the ocean after a while as well. she also had her first experience with an outdoor shower and did quite well! isaac proved faithful to nurse and nap just about anywhere...even on a windy beach! it was a memorable time for all of us! thanks mimi and grampy!

recent pics