Mylah is 4!

We had a nice relaxing week while Matt was away for training in Atlanta. The girls did great, didn't cry in sadness over missing him. They missed him, but they did great. Ivey moved into her big girl bed and Elyanah FINALLY moved into her crib, which we still have in our room for now. I need to get her on her sleeping schedule at night and for naps. She's doing great at night, goes down by herself...but her afternoon nap is only an hour. So I have to work on her staying down longer in the afternoon. Just a little tweeking here and there, and she'll be ready to go into the room with her big sissy.

We picked Matt up on Friday of that week, we left the house at 9:30 pm to pick him up at 10:30 pm in Buffalo. It was a good drive, talked to my mom the whole way while the girls slept. And we dodged accidents all night. When I got off the toll booth in Buf. there was someone in my lane driving right at me! So I hit the brakes and honked and he realized he was in the wrong lane. It certainly got my heart racing! So we picked up Matt and got on the road to Albany...and four hours later arrived. We stayed at the Marriot on Wolf Rd...such a nice hotel...for free b/c of my hotel discount. We were wiped out, and slept in til 9 am. I took the big girls swimming for about 15 minutes and then started getting ready for the day. As I was bathing the girls, I told Mylah that we were getting ready for her birthday party. She got so excited...it was so fun telling her! We got to grandma's for the pizza party ...then went to Goold's Orchards to go apple picking, then back to grandma's for cake/ice cream & presents. It was a really fun time, she had a blast with all her cousins and got some great gifts. She's now into Barbies which is so fun to watch her dolls interact w/ eachother, how she makes them characters and makes up stories. Most of the characters and stories are from movies or tv shows, and sometimes just from her head. I can't believe she's 4. She's such a big girl, it's been amazing so far to watch her grow and become such a great big sister and just a lovely girl.

Then that Sunday, my in-laws renewed their vows and had a banquet. It was so nice! They've been married for 35 years...what a legacy!!! Both mine and Matt's parents have been married 35 years, our grandparents married 'til death' or still are, their parents...etc.....we have a legacy of marriage in our family, and I thank God for it! What an example we have in our families of commitment to marriage. And we saw extended family that we only see at weddings and funerals. It was nice to see them at a celebration! And the girls got to meet cousins they'd never met. It was just a day filled with joy...and Matt's parents beamed like it was their wedding day all over again...too cute!

The next day was Mylah's 'real' b-day and we saw my mom and my grandfather (who mom is caring for) my sister & nieces & nephew. Mom went to Puerto Rico to get him a few weeks ago. It was nice to see him, and have Matt and the girls meet him for the first time. And to have all his great grandchildren in one spot...that was really neat. (Well, not all, Zoe is still in Melissa's belly...but she'll meet him soon, I'm sure) We got home way too late and had Mylah's slumber party in the living room, her and Ivey on the air mattress and Matt and I on the couch for Beauty and the Beast. They stayed up the whole time...til after midnight...Matt and I fell asleep...then we moved the air mattress to our room and had our sleepover. It was great...my first born is 4! Wow...time has flown by and next year is Kindergarten (sniff sniff) I'm so proud of her. Her name means 'merciful maiden'....and it's so her. She is just such a forgiving little girl who sees the best in people and loves unconditionally. I just LOVE HER!!!

While Daddy's away...

Matt is away this week in Atlanta for training, so it's just the girls home. It's been fun, only day # 2, but they are doing great. Usually when Matt is away, they are much more emotional and cry alot about missing Daddy, but thank you Jesus, they are adjusting fine! Lately we've been very careful to say things like 'it's ok to miss people when they leave' and stop the conversation right there. They used to stress about when mommy and daddy were going to work, and when they ask, we only give them information for that day, otherwise, they would stress that mommy had to work tomorrow! So now we say not to worry about tomorrow...and stay in the present. Funny how you have to learn how your kids tick and roll with the punches.

Ivey (our middle one) has been in her crib all her life. Recently Matt took off the front of it to make it a 'day bed' and she loved it and did so well sleeping in it. Now that Elyanah (the baby) is 5 months old, we REALLY need to get her in the crib! And Ivey just hasn't wanted to go into the toddler bed, and I haven't wanted to push her. She is, I'm finding, sensitive, so I've been very careful not to change alot since we brought the baby home. So I haven't pushed the crib issue. But I was thinking that maybe she didn't want to sleep in the toddler bed b/c it was on the other side of the room, not 'her' side. (totally a God-thought!) So today I moved the toddler bed to 'her' side and she said all excited 'ohhhh...my big girl bed!' It was funny, and she's down for her nap and went so naturally! Like it just makes sense, this is where she sleeps, whether a crib is there or a bed, this is 'her' spot in this room. She didn't even really look at the crib as an option anymore cuz it's not in her spot. YAY!!! So after naps, I will put together the crib for Elyanah. I'm so excited! I love seeing the crib with the crib skirt and bumper and the headboard! It's so fun, cuz it's so baby-ish! And Elyanah needs more space. She is still in the pack and play bassinet insert. I will miss her dearly putting her in Ivey's room, but I know it's the best for her. I'm hoping that before Matt comes home, we'll have the pack and play out of our room! (what a neat thought!)

I'm a little concerned about Mylah (firstborn), I don't want her to feel left out of the room. She has her own big girl room, but lately has been wanting to sleep in Ivey's room in the big girl bed. And now that it's not an option, should be interesting. Also have to figure out naptime, don't know if Elyanah and Ivey can sleep in the same room for naps.

This is my life........funny the things we worry about in all the different stages of life. I'm concerned about beds and naptimes. Used to be concerned about the office and busy being pulled by my job and ministry. Now this is my ministry...still adjusting...and it's been almost 4 years!