Updates

Tim:
He finally got a break from plowing for a couple of weeks although this is bittersweet as he is antsy to be out there bringing in the money! We were blessed with an extra snowy December and January though so the break hasn't hit us too hard. While at home, he's had a chance to do some organizing, marketing and planning for the upcoming lawn care season so that's been nice. It did snow last night so he is back out right now clearing driveways and parking lots! I'm so grateful for how he maintains his business and for how hard he works!
I am also grateful for the way he continues to strive to be a Godly husband and father! He wakes up early on Friday mornings to join a bunch of other men at 6am for Bible study and fellowship geared specifically for men.
Firefighting is going well. They've been a little slow lately although last night was an exception as a local restaurant burned down. Unfortunately, Tim couldn't make the call as he was plowing. I am also grateful for the medical training that he recently completed (he is one step below an EMT) since a couple of weeks ago, Teagan choked on a piece of food while we were at a restaurant and Tim had to perform the heimlich maneuver on her. It was a really scary moment that shook both of us up for a long time but we praise God for allowing Tim to think and act quickly and correctly. For those of you who don't know how to help a baby who is choking or not breathing, please learn how HERE.
On a final note, Tim is giving me a hard time for not posting pictures of the basement that we finished off. It was a slow and long process, taking up most of the past year, but it's now completely finished and turned out really nice! Due to time commitments, we did get some help from our builder for some of woodwork and drywall and Tim used his skills to lay tile in the laundry room/bathroom as well as put the stone around the fireplace. I'll post pictures soon!

Me:
For those that don't know, I am now officially a stay-at-home Mom and I'm loving it! This was a very difficult decision to make for various reasons, and I learned a lot about myself in the process...but we've received total confirmation that this is where God wants me to be for this season of life! I'm grateful to have even had the choice. I am also grateful for Bethany Christian Services and for the work that I was a part of over the last 6 years! I appreciate the way they sent me off so well with support and encouragement! I am planning on volunteering there once a month so it will be nice to stay connected that way.
Now that I'm home full time, I'm happy that we finally have nailed down a good daily routine so life can be a little more predictable. Teagan is down to taking just one nap a day now, usually around noon. I like this better b/c now we can actually go places in the mornings without feeling like we have to rush home or that she's going to be thrown all off. I am part of a Mom's group at church that meets every other Wednesday and love connecting with great friends there. Teagan has fun playing in the nursery during this time (after she stops crying when I leave....). :) We are also a part of a book club/play group that meets on Friday mornings. This has been a fun way to meet other moms in the community that I normally wouldn't have known otherwise. I've also been taking Teagan to the "Book Nibblers" (nursery rhymes and songs and book reading for kids ages 0 - 2)at the library on Tuesday mornings but I'm not sure if we'll continue this or not. It seems to take more time to get READY to go there compared to the amount of time that we are actually there. Along with these, we've enjoyed going on other fun adventures but also just being home and spending quality time together.
Pregnancy is going well for the most part although I'm more than excited to be done with this first trimester. I've been feeling pretty nauseous and REALLY fatigued. These feelings, along with getting a bad cold this past week, made me want to spend every minute of the day on the couch. I'm so glad Tim was home b/c I realized how difficult it is to be a good Mom when you're sick! Thankfully, I've been feeling a little better the past two days so I'm hoping the worst is behind me. Also, I learned this past week at my first doctor's appt. that I am actually further along than previously thought. Our due date is now September 8! We are very excited though still anticipating the craziness that I am sure is to come with two kids 20 months apart! It's nice how much less anxiety we have with this pregnancy and the upcoming changes compared to the first! It's nice to have gotten through all those "unknowns" of having a new baby!
Speaking of our growing family, I am now a mini-van mom! Yikes! Never thought I'd say that. I've actually embraced it and am loving the '05 Honda Odyssey we bought after trading in our Ford Escape. Practicality, safety, comfort, space, and a good deal won me over. Shhh... Tim really likes it too (of course, the GPS and DVD system that came with it help with this). :)

Teagan Alise:

Our Teagie Bear is growing up so fast! She's always been a little ahead of her time but since full fledged walking/ running has started, she really has turned into a toddler and no longer our little baby! She's been so fun and interactive lately which also makes her seem so "old" all of a sudden. It's amazing to us how her receptive skills have kicked in, seems like overnight! For example, we can tell her to get her socks, pick up her monkey, wash her duckie in the tub, go find her sippy cup...and SHE DOES IT! :) Can you sense our giddiness?! :)
Teagan's favorite things as of lately include the following:
Saying "Dada" (sometimes "Daddy"), "Mama," "Baaa" (always for "ball" but sometimes for anything that starts with a "b" - book, Bailey...), "hi," and "baby" (and actually pointing to a picture of a baby....we really don't know where she learned this!), giving Bailey hugs and kisses, trying to feed Bailey his food with her plastic fork, trying to put EVERYTHING in Bailey's water bowl (including herself), being chased and tickled by Mommy or Daddy, dancing/bouncing whenever she hears music (including the cell phone), refusing to drink milk, :) playing with boxes, emptying any drawer or cabinet she can open...and sometimes sitting in them, using her baby signs (and learning that just b/c she signs "please" doesn't mean she'll get it!), :) reading books, learning her animal noises, jumping on the couch, picking up small (and sometimes invisible!) pieces of things on the carpet and giving them to Mommy, blowing kisses, and lifting her shirt up to find her belly button and then making Mommy and Daddy show them theirs as well. She seems to especially like making Tim do this. He's such a good sport. :)

Showing off belly buttons.


The "toy" she plays with the most! :)


Cheese grin with static hair (from playing on the couch). :)


Hanging out with her best bud, Bailey.

Random Things...

I was "tagged" recently to write 25 random things about me. Some of these you may already know but I guarantee that there will be at least one that most of you don't! :)

1. I am a "mirror-image" identical twin. I'm right handed, Jess is left handed. When we look in the mirror, Jess resembles more of me and I resemble more of Jess (at least that's what other people tell me). :)
2. I really want a Jamocha milkshake from Arby's right now!
3. I am not an avid reader but wanted to improve in this area so Teagan and I joined a book club/play group with a friend of mine. I'm still not very good at keeping up with the reading each week but at least I try.
4. Tim and I first met my freshman year at Hope. He asked me out and I said "yes," only a few days later, told him I had changed my mind. Poor guy. Thankfully, God knows better and we reconnected two years later. :)
5. My mom and 3 sisters are my best girl friends.
6. I am very fidgety when I am settling into bed...I need to be "just right" before I can fall asleep.
7. I wish I had smaller, cuter feet (rather than my "finger toes"). :)
8. I am part of a Mom 2 Mom group at church that meets twice a month.
9. I don't like talking on the phone and therefore, am not very good at keeping in touch with people. :( Sorry, friends. It's nothing personal!
10. I love decorating....but usually end up just daydreaming about how I would make things look in the house b/c actually doing them takes so much time and can often seem overwhelming.
11. I've been trying really hard to have some quiet time with God first thing in the morning...what a difference it makes in my day!
12. I love Dove dark chocolates.
13. I am passionate about social justice issues and am often plagued with feeling like I'm not doing enough.
14. I still hang out every few months with friends that I've grown up with since Kindergarten. I love you West Siders! :)
15. I find it really hard not to laugh when trying to stop Teagan from doing something naughty because of the way she'll look at me before she does it. I also have a hard time not laughing when she farts b/c she gives me a big cheese grin after doing it. :)
16. I worked as a social worker for almost 6 years at Bethany Christian Services and am now a stay at home Mommy!
17. I use to be a good athlete in high school and college (basketball and track/field)....competing in five state championships and qualifying for two national championships and making all-conference several times. Never thought I'd be as out of shape as I am now! I need my sister!! (she's a personal trainer).
18. I am extremely indecisive about most things...but very opinionated about a few. :)
19. Tim and I are homebodies. We love staying home with a $5 pizza and a watching a movie or TV.
20. I loved my childhood. :)
21. I don't like doing my hair, thus, I end up pulling it back in a ponytail most of the time and constantly debate keeping it long or cutting it short!
22. One of my favorite things in this world is listening to Teagan laugh!
23. Tim, Teagan and I are going to take a family vacation to Colorado the first week of April! I'm excited to show Tim the camp I worked at for a summer during college.
24. I am not a morning person.
25. I'M 7 WEEKS PREGNANT! YUP...TEAGAN IS GOING TO BE A BIG SISTER AROUND SEPTEMBER 19!
(They'll be almost 21 months apart).
WE'RE SO EXCITED! GOD IS GOOD! :)