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On your mark, get set, GO!

Christmas is over. It's sad, but true. That means it's time to prepare for the upcoming year. In my mind I have less than a week to clean and prepare for the year 2008. So now I need to reflect on 2007: what has been accomplished and prepare for 2008: what is yet to be accomplished.
Lindsey:
Really Lindsey accomplished the most in 2007. She was born. She's leaps and bounds from the teeny, tiny vomit inducing being that she was this time last year. In addition to being born she has managed to learn to roll over, make cooing noises, smile, laugh, do "push ups." In the 2008 she plans to sit upright, crawl, walk, run, talk, and play. She's even thinking if all that goes well she may attempt speaking in small two word sentences but she may save that for 2009. Frankly I'm exhausted just thinking about what she will accomplish!

Christin has had a big year as well. She learned how to ride a bike, scooter and roller skate. She started nursery school and can even spell some of her name. She recognizes some letters and thinks she can make a C (it's usually laying on it's side with the opening down but whatever!). She's a pro at colors and pretty good with shapes. She can add and subtract sometimes but only when it's important (yesterday I told her she could have 10 m&ms then poured out 7 and asked her how many more I needed to give her to get 10. She said 3 pretty quickly. Even I was shocked and I've been trying to teach her that.) She learned how to pose (I'm not sure how because I never turned ANTM on until she was in bed) but if you say "act ... fill in the blank" she'll make a face or body movement so you can take her picture. I know she's done more but I won't bore you with how my kid is better than yours (oops excuse me while I add "don't be such a competitive parent" to my new years resolutions). In 2008 Christin plans to learn how to write her name, read some, add, subtract, do the dishes (meaning wash them and put them in the drying rack as oppossed to her current practice of taking them out of the drying rack and putting them in the soapy water), if she has her druthers (adding "find out what druthers means to new years resolutions) she'll learn ballet, piano, soccer, and a bunch of other things, she may, if she has time, write a book.

George, well George turned 30 this year and unlike many people who have a breakdown about not accomplishing anything George decided he's accomplished pretty much everything he ever hoped to with the exception of winning the fantasy football trophy. So while I haven't asked him I assume his goal for 2008 is to win that trophy (and maybe buy a bigger house so he has somewhere to display it).

As for me, what have I accomplished? I gave birth, I managed to help 3 children (including Aidan) get through the year with no major injuries or illnesses, I threw 2 surprise parties, was in a wedding, went to a wedding and danced (an accomplishment because I was 8 and 1/2 months pregnant and it was July), gained 25 lbs, lost 25 lbs, made some new friends (Alicia and Liz:), and kept myself only 6 months behind in the scrapbooks! For 2008 I decided to set some lofty goals. First for the vague ones: blog more, catch up on the scrapbooks, feed my family healthier, learn more about herbal health (insert witch doctor joke here), catch up with old friends while maintaining new friendships, do a better job keeping in touch with my siblings, get my child 100% potty trained! (she just came down from her nap walking in that all to familiar way and saying "it was an accident, I didn't mean to). I'll wrap up with my specific goals and expect you to keep me accountable! Read through the Bible in a year, Run a marathon, do daily Bible school time with the kids, and win that ever allusive Mother of the Year Award (or at least make it through January before being disqualified).
PS. Updated pictures are coming for now I have a peepee child and bed to clean up.

Pumpkin Picking

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House of the Firstborns

No this is not the title of a new horror movie, but some days it seems like that. We have, basically, four firstborns in our house. George and I are both firstborns (a rare combination in marriage), Christin is, obviously, a firstborn and we babysit Aidan who is also a firstborn.
The problem with firstborns is that we are always right. It's not that we a trying to be obnoxious or know it alls, we honestly believe that our opinions are right. When George and I agree on something good luck changing our minds. The problem comes when any of us have differing opinions (of course I am always right but occassionaly George, Christin, or Aidan will be wrong about something and not realize it.) These disagreements can turn into complete standoffs. There are days when Christin is so convinced she is right and will not back down. I know that she thinks she is right (not just being stubborn) because of two things; first: she will not give in, and second: she uses adult language. When she was very little she would say "Listen to me!" Now we get anything from "I need to explain something" to "I'm going to give you another chance." She is convinced that she is just as intelligent, wise, and grown-up as we are and that her opinions are completely valid.
Before she was born I had hopes that because George and I are both such strong leaders (middle and lastborn children incorrectly use the term "bossy") Christin would learn to be under authority rather quickly and easily. It's not like we were going to back off very often. It has been my observation, however, that when two firstborns have a child that child is a super-firstborn. For example during the summer Joel got her seconds on dinner. We said, "say Thank-you to Uncle Joel" TWO HOURS LATER after numerous spankings, and plently of angry tears she called him (he had left) and said thank you. I could not believe a child could be that stubborn. After the fact she said, "I wanted to call him on the phone anyway"
I was reminded of this incident just last week when I told Aidan to say please. He dug his heels in and refused. I couldn't believe the battle of the wills!
A part of me actually feels compassion for these kids. I know what it's like to be so convinced that you are right and have someone in authority tell you you are wrong. You can't even comprehend how they don't see it your way. Unfortunatly for Christin and Aidan in the heat of the moment it's hard for me to see how they don't understand that I am right!
I fear that we will have many battles ahead of us. My hope is that Christin will learn to be a strong, but compassionate leader, that we will be able to instill self confidence but also humbleness and that we will not seek to break her spirit but can teach her to use it. I also fear that Lindsey will always think she is wrong, or quietly hold a grudge against us all. My hope for her is that she will always be able to smile and light up a room. That she will have a quiet self-confidence, that she will speak up when she needs to, that she will be a compassionate, empathetic listener but will not let people walk all over her.
It is my prayer, that my two girls will learn from each others strengths how to be godly women and that I will also be open to learning from them:)

"Moments of brilliance amidst sheer putridness"

That's how my assistant soccer coach once described a game we were playing and that's about how I feel my ideas have been lately. For those of you who knew about the mouse, the saga continued. After seeing our very bold little mouse George put out some poison. Now up until this point we had been seeing bird seeds in random places but not droppings or damage. Apparantly the mouse very much enjoyed the poison and thus invited every mouse he knew to come party at our house. One morning I came down and found they had chewed through our peanut container. That day I meet George at the door for lunch and said "bring home a cat." He laughed. That evening when he got home I said "where's the cat?". He laughed. Several days later we had caught two mice in snap traps. Sunday night George came home and said "Guess what I brought home" I laughed. That's right, we now have a cat, sort of. His owner can't currently take care of him so left him at the church and we are watching him while the man tries to get things together. It might be a permanent situation. I've always heard "Be careful what you wish for". I think I understand now. After a week with the cat our basement smells funny sometimes (from the litter box) and just the other day I was on the computer when what should run by, you guessed it, a mouse. The cat just watched it. My idea to get a cat was a total flop, and now we have a cat!
At this point you are probably wondering where the moment of brilliance comes in. As far as the cat goes there is no moment of brilliance, however, I had a parenting flash of brilliance this week. I was trying to get something done (I don't even remember what it was now and I'm sure whatever it was needs to be done again), the chidren, Christin and Aidan, where being pests. They were alternating fighting and bugging me to play with them (which I had already spent much time doing). So in what can only be described as a stroke of genius I said "I have a game!" in my most annoying, high pitched, isn't this going to be fun mommy voice. I continued, "You each get some paper towels. I'll spray the windows and then you wipe them down, get off as many fingerprints as you can!" They fell for it hook, line, and sinker. I did whatever it was I was trying to do and they scrubbed my windows for about 20 minutes. Brilliance! Now I realize that they didn't do near the job I would have done but lets be honest, I was never going to get to it!

Mommy Guilt

Motherhood goes hand in hand with guilt. Am I spending enough time with each child? Do I discipline too much? not enough? Do I read to them enough? give them enough outside time? Are their lives structured enough? over structured? and the list goes on and on. Lately Christin has been the main source of my guilt.

Last Thursday Christin started nursery school. The morning went beautifully. We were all up, feed, dressed and out the door at exactly the right time (still not sure how that happened). I took pictures at home and brought my camera to take more at school. She walked in like she'd done it a million times, hung up her backpack, washed her hands, found her name on an apple, gave me a kiss and went off to play. I turned around happy that she was doing so well but expecting to tear up a little: nothing. Then I took Lindsey to the park and worked out and had a GREAT time. Then the guilt set in. I felt guilty for not getting emotional about Christin going to school. I felt guilty for so enjoying my time working out. I've yet to tell Christin that everyday we drop her off and head to the park. Christin has always been my workout buddy and now it's like I'm cheating on her with Lindsey and Aidan. I have this secret life of working out. I try to hide it by eating as much Ben and Jerry's as possible so she won't see the effects but I know one day I will slip up and she will learn of my affair.

Christin also made me feel guilty while riding in the car this week. We were both hungry so we stopped at McDonalds. I bought her a kids meal but opted for a grilled chicken snacker and iced tea for myself trying to be healthy. In Christin's best interest I dumped out about half her fries into my bag (I didn't want her to eat all that unhealthy stuff:) I felt a little guilty as a sneaked fries without her knowing however the real guilt set in when she ever so sweetly said, "Mommy would you like one of my fries?" I felt guilty taking it but how could I turn down her generosity. I hate to discourage her so I took it, and about 10 more.

Yup motherhood is one big guiltfest and I'm assuming it never ends but I'll take the guilt (and the extra fries) it's definitily worth it!

We love the Zoo

It's been another busy week. We went to Mommom and Poppop Perrys on Saturady, Mommom and Poppop Ragone's on Sunday, Washington Lake Park and the Pitman Carnival on Monday, an ice cream social at the church on Wednesday and finaly: the Philadelphia Zoo on Thursday.

We love the zoo. It starts and ends the same every time but the middle is what makes it great. It starts with me running around trying to get all the stuff together and everyone wearing clothes that match. During this time I usually get stressed out and try to keep to myself that this was a terrible idea (usually mine with George whole heartedly aggreeing). Then we get there and I worry that it is crowded. It doesn't matter if I only see one car in the parking lot I inevitably say something like "Looks like everyone else had the same idea." (I think this may be an inherited trait from a much loved grandparent:) I've realized this about myself and I try and say it a little less negativily each time! Once we get inside we have a great time. It never fails that at least one animal is exceptionally entertaining. This time there were several: The polar bear swam around for about 10 min. (a rare occurence we are told and very entertaining). The baby tigers were all out and about and so playful and cute! The sloth was hanging in a tree way too close for comfort (I say this and yet I made Christin stand there to show how close it was. I figured if it attacked we'd have time to grab Christin and run before it had moved much). We also got to see a really interesting and fun bird show. The birds were so funny! We especially like one that catches lizards and throws them on the ground to kill them. They demonstrated with a rubber alligator and this bird made sure he was dead. He kept picking him up and throwing him even as the trainers were trying to get him to leave. There were so many neat things I won't name them all but we had a great time.
As I said before the day always ends the same: George has Christin on his shoulders, she's barely awake, he's power walking trying to get to the car and I'm meandering to tired to even try to catch up and just hoping I have time to get to the car before he loads up the kids and leaves without me! We are all dirty, sweaty, and exhausted and it's great. God has created so many amazing animals and the zoo is such a great place to just reflect on the imagination of God. And that's why we love the zoo.

What a Busy Month!

I'm alone right now with just the company of the dehumidifier and baby monitor competing for who can buzz the loudest. Lindsey is asleep. She doesn't normally sleep for long chunks of time because she wakes up with gas after only a little while. Right now, however, she is on her belly. (I know that makes me a horrid uncaring mother and you can call DYFS on me later but she's comfortable that way with her tushy up in the air just tooting away and I needed to update my blog so back off.)
Christin and George are camping in the backyard. They took a tent out after dinner

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I interupt this post to say AHHHHHHHHHHH There is a mouse looking at me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay, the mouse situation is being handled. I was saying, that George and Christin took a tent, some sleeping bags, a lantern and some books out to spend the night camping. I made them some smores (which I of course ate too many of), said goodnight and left them to camp. Christin is having a great time (and George is too). She is becoming such a "big girl". In just two weeks she starts nursery school. I'm both sad that she is old enough and so excited for her. I'm pretty sure she will love it.


It's hard to believe Lindsey is 4 weeks old. Sometimes it feels like it was just yesterday she was born and then other times it seems she has always been a part of our family. She is smiling more and more everyday and growing so fast. (Already she is out growing clothes!) Her temperment is different than Christin's. For the most part she is content to just look around. She sits in her swing or bouncer or lays on the floor or bed and just looks around. However, when she wants something, she wants it right away! I can't help but laugh as it's reminicent of her birth. She was content to stay safe and warm in my belly, despite the drugs, until she was ready to come out and then she was coming and didn't care who was/or wasn't there:)
It's been so fun to get to know her everyday. People say she looks like Christin but with dark hair. It's funny, though, she just looks like Lindsey to me (even when I cover up her hair and look just at her face as only weird mother's do:)

We've been so busy this month: visiting with family, going to the Camden Children's garden, A Riversharks game, the playground, and even took Lindsey to church for the first time this past weekend. We've done so much and all grown and changed in the past 4 weeks. I can't wait to see what the future holds for us!

Well, it's time for me to get some sleep:):):) Maybe:)

PS. I will try and update the blog more often now!

She's Here!

Lindsey Marie DeVol is finally here! I went in on Sunday evening to be induced and as of Monday night nothing was happening. Soooo I ate some stromboli and George went home for a shower and to grab a couple things. That is apparently what Lindsey was waiting for. George left around 9pm and by 10 the nurse was calling him telling him to come back and I was sadly saying goodbye to my stromboli (I may never eat a stromboli again). Around 11 the nurse checked me and still I wasn't progressing so she gave me some medicine that would work for 3 hours and then I could have more. By 12:30 I was begging for more which she gave me at 1:30. By 2:30 I was up rocking and breathing through contractions. Around 3:30 I started begging for something for the pain. The nurse said she wasn't authorized to give me anything else but she would check and see if anything was going on and then maybe I could have an epidural. Well, I was 5cm so she called the anesthesiologist and the doc and told them both to come on back. I never did get the epidural because in the next 30 min. I dialated the remaining 5cm. My doctor got there at 4:10 and Lindsey was born at 4:16.
She is beautiful, of course. She weighed 8lbs 2oz (2oz less than Christin) and was 20.5 inches. She is doing great. She lost a little too much weight and was a little jaundice so she goes to the doctor tomorrow but she seems to be gaining now and looks less jaundice so we aren't concerned. Christin adores her! She constantly wants to hold her and kiss her. When she wakes up in the morning she right away comes in to say hi to Lindsey and give her a kiss. She always calls her "baby sister" or "my baby" instead of Lindsey. She was a little annoyed that she didn't have blonde hair like her but she seems to have gotten over it. We are all doing great and happy to be home.
Thanks to everyone for your prayers and support!

PS. Congrats to Alicia on guessing the name so early! What made you guess that?!?!?!

Induction Cancelled

Well, it doesn't look as if the baby is coming tonight after all. My doctor just called me and told me that the maternity wing at the hospital is so packed that they already have 3 women in the surgical unit. Since niether her, nor I, wanted me to be induced she cancelled the induction. While I am a little disappointed that I won't have my baby tonight, to be honest, I'm mostly relieved. I really wanted to go into labor on my own and felt that if I just had a couple more days I would go naturally. So the plan now is that if I have not had the baby by Saturday morning I go to the hospital and have a non-stress test. Then we revisit the induction idea.

Please keep us all in your prayers. Pray that I would go into labor on my own and when I do that the maternity wing wouldn't be full!

Love you all!
Shannon

Last Clue!

Well, I had a very exciting doctors appointment yesterday. I found out that because of all my blood issues and the risk of the baby becoming anemic I'm not supposed to carry beyond my due date. So I'm scheduled to be induced on Wednesday night unless I go sooner. It's exciting to know that next Thursday I will have this baby:) However, I am a little nervous about being induced. I would really appreciate it if everyone would pray that I would go into labor before Wed. night at 6:30.

And now, the clue: In someones very first comment they guessed the first name as one of their guesses. So the name has been on the list for a long time:) Congrats to that person they'll find out next week who they are!

Thanks to everyone for playing! It's been a lot of fun. I can't wait for you all to meet our little girl!

Week 8/ I'm running out of clues I hope this is the last one but I'll probably need to make up one or two more:)

Let me start by saying I am so excited to meet this little girl trying to force her way through my abdominal wall (not the right way sweety!). Also, I really don't want her to show up until her daddy gets home on Tuesday. That being said, how can people say they "love" being pregnant?!?!?! Really?!?! Come on. I love that I'm going to have another baby and I hope to have lots more. I love that God has enabled me to have children and I would go through far worse for each little blessing. Loving being pregnant though. Those must be the same people that love to run. I mean the end result of running is great: the endorphines, the body, etc. but running itself really sucks. Anyway, you don't want to hear the rantings of 9 month pregnant woman. You just to want to read your clue, make your guess, and go to bed knowing you won't be waking up to pee in 3 hours:)

If you've never heard why Christin's name is spelled how it is here's the story: George once had a very sweet camper named Christin. When he asked why it was spelled so differently she said her parents wanted to remember everytime they read her name that she belonged first to Christ. They also wanted her to remember when she got older that she was "in Christ" hence Christin. That was when George decided his first daughters name would be Christin (long before he meet me). While I was not fond of the name I thought the story was beautiful and eventually (like after she was born) the name grew on me. This baby is doomed to have middle child syndrom, poor thing, I looked up the meaning of this name and it really gave me very little to work with. No beautiful story just "Mommy read this name in a baby book and really liked it" I guess the best thing to say is "what makes this name so beautiful is that it's yours". Maybe we should just start putting away money for therapy now:)

Happy Guessing!

Week 7

While I have never accutually picked up and read one of these I am guilty of reading the covers of all the "reputable" magazines I see in the grocery store check out line. (Stop, you know you do it too!) I have recently seen our little girl's name displayed on the cover with various issues. So if your stumped hit the supermarket to search for names. If it's not there now I'm sure it will be soon:)

Happy Guessing!

Week 6

Ahh the 80's. What's not to love: bangle bracelets, scrunch socks, big hair, flashy clothes. Ok not much to love and the fact that the 80's styles seem to be making a comeback is, well, tramatic to say the least. However, that being said the 80's did contribute some wonderful things like, me, for example:) In honor of the 80's we have chosen a name that was at one of it's peaks of popularity according to the Social Security website: http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/. So as you guess your names remember the 80's with fondness and say a little prayer that people will realize that bringing back the styles of the 80's is not nearly as good an idea as bringing back the names.

Happy Guessing!

Week 5

Well, we are halfway through our baby name game. That means only 5 more weeks to go (Lord willing). So how about we eliminate half the letters in the alphabet. The name starts with a lettter in the first half of the alphabet. Coincindentally (any chance I spelled that right?) the middle name also starts with a letter in the first half of the alphabet. So for those of you thinking Poppop was right on with Tiger, sorry, keep trying.

Happy Guessing!

Week 3/4

So this is scary right? Apparantly there is an exact genetic code that produces this look. Weird huh?
Well, even though Christin is not named after Laura she somehow manages to look freakishly like her. Beware our next child could look like you, but, she won't be named after you. Her first name is unique to both our families (I think, I didn't do extensive research, but if it happens to appear somewhere in our lineage it's just a coincidence.)

Happy Guessing!

PS. For anyone who doesn't know, that is my cousin Laura.

PS.

Sorry about the big white space. I tried to fix it but just kept making it worse!

Name Game: Week 2

Here she is! At 31 weeks she weighs 4lbs and maybe it's just me but I think I see dark hair on the top of her head:)

Okay clue number 2:
We really struggle with accents. It's not a racist thing because we are fully aware that we are the problem, however, ordering Chinese, Mexican, Italian (I know I shouldn't struggle with that!)food is always an issue. Don't even get me started on trying to get gas! That being said, our little girl is certain to have a name with it's origin from an English speaking country.
Bonus Clue: even though many African American names are made up in the US we are not counting them as English origin so you can stop looking at all the female basketball players for name ideas.

Happy guessing!

Name Game: Week 1

Soccer, baseball, football, softball, dodgball, volley ball, etc. We love sports, no matter how big or small. We love to watch them, play them, and talk about them. If our daughter were to become a well known athlete she wouldn't be the first with her name.

Good Luck!

I dropped my watch in the peanut butter

So yesterday was my birthday and I decided if I were going to title it anything it would have to be "I dropped my watch in the peanut butter". The night before I decided that I was going to have a good birthday and there was nothing anyone could do to stop me. I started off taking a walk with Dawkin, exercising, and then reading my Bible and praying. Christin, who usually sleeps through all this, woke up while I was exercising on the porch. Her first comment when she walked outside at 6:45am was "it's so quiet out here". All I could think was "It usually is" however I chose to be nicer and resolved not to be cranky and said "yes that's why Mommy likes it so much" My first small victory of the day. I went in and prayed that God would help me to have a good attitude no matter what. And He did! I cleaned and did laundry all happily with children hanging from me. When Aidan and Maddie decided to see who could cry louder I turned on music and started dancing like a mad woman (oh the things my neighbors would see if they were looking in my windows). By lunch time I felt somewhat victorious and thankful that God had been helping me have a good attitude. As I made peanut butter sandwhiches I somehow dropped my nice watch into the peanut butter. I'm still not quite sure how it happened but all I could do was laugh and think "I wonder if there is anyone else in the world who could say they've dropped their watch in the peanut butter?" It reminded me of my 15th birthday when I singed my hair making french toast but that's a story for another day. Anyway, I spent the next 15 minutes cleaning my watch with q-tips and pondering whether this was the devil trying to make me get annoyed, God showing me how to have a good attitude, or just me being clumsy. Whatever the cause I'm fairly certain that my watch will forever smell like peanut butter. I could be anoyed but instead I decided my watch can be a constant reminder of how if we let God have control of our attitudes the extremely annoying can somehow become funny. It made me think "don't sweat the small stuff, just laugh at it:)

PS. Look for the first name game clue this weekend!

Welcome!

Welcome to the DeVol Family blog. Hopefully we will keep this blog updated with pictures and posts. Please play along with the Name Game coming soon!