Feeling Drained

So the girls and I have been sick for almost a week now and I am weary!! Today I was having one of THOSE days. . .all you moms know what I am talking about. The crying wouldn't stop and Avery was being completely disobedient. I felt like I was failing at motherhood. Right before bed Avery was sitting in time-out for 20 LONG minutes SCREAMING!!! She was having the ultimate melt-down, so Andrew and I decided that she would not have a snack or a show before bed. She was sad. I was sad. She kept repeating "I want to obey you". Well, I put her to bed and was on to deal with Brynn (who hadn't slept since 1:00 this afternoon)!! I was rocking Brynn in the living room really feeling like a failure. . .thinking of all the missed opportunties to teach my girls, to talk to them about their little hearts, to groom them to be beautful women of God! I was sad. . .then I heard a little voice singing . . .Avery was singing "Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me". How precious our little children are to teach us that at the end of the day our saviour LOVES US. He is gentle and patient and LOVES us through our BAD days! Those are the only words she know to that song and those were the ONLY words I needed to hear!

Trying Again

I have been thinking a lot about blogging lately and I am going to give it a second try. So much has changed in my life since the last post that I have been overwhelmed at the thought of a "Catch-up" blog. . .I quit my job, but picked up watching some kids from home; started a playgroup which has been such a blessing to me and the girls (mostly Avery - Brynn is still a little young to fully appriciate the relationships that are being built); have rekiddled old friendships and made new ones; have learned so many things: cleaning a house is much harder than an apartment; even with "all" my time I still can't get the clean launry put into the drawers; my girls change everyday and I need to invest in them every step of the way; my husband is my best friend and a loyal companion - I find JOY in my role as his wife; I am a student of life and am learning to love even when it is hard. . .like I said A LOT - including myself has changed in the last 4 months.
My dream of being a stay at home mom has finally come true and I thank Andrew for that daily. He works so hard to enable me to be the one raising our children! I know God created me to be a help meet to my husband and to train our children and to delight in the role He divinely designed! I have embraced who I am as a woman and as Andrews wife and help - created equally, but equally different to fulfill God's perfect plan for marriage!
I enjoy spending everyday with my girls. Avery is changing so much. She is sassy as ever, but is learning what is means to be a friend and share everything that God has blessed us with. She pushes her limits most days which means my limtis are pushed as well :) Parenting is the most difficult yet rewarding job I have ever had! Brynn is getting so big already. I forgot how quickly babies change and grow! She is five months - rolling every where she wants to go, talking it up, and still NOT sleeping through the night! I guess that will come with time, I just hope I get here sleeping though the night before she is 2 (like Avery was)!!
Here are some pictures of what we have been up too. . .


Play group!!

Playing on the swing set we got for the girls!

My sister and her son Joshua came to NJ for our family vacation. . .this is Brynn and Joshua!

Daddy and Avery riding the rides on the boardwalk! Avery LOVES the rides :)

Avery and Brynn

All of the cousins ( minus my sisters newest addition - Eleanor "Nora" Lynne born 9/19/09 ) for the OCNJ photo shoot!

Avery and Brynn hanging out together! Best Friends :)

Round 2

Brynn Ariana Hulfish

Born: April 21, 2009 at 11:22am
Weighs: 5 pounds 9 oz
Length: 18 1/2 inches

Here we go second child/same sex, bring it on!!

I was so excited when I found out I was having another girl! I wanted Avery to have a sister/best friend like I have. Andrew contiually makes fun of me for saying that they will be friends, only time will tell. Anyway, I am learning to be a mom of 2, taking time to soak them in while they are young. So far Avery loves Brynn, but Brynn isn't playing with her toys, or drinking out of the wrong cup, etc; again only time will tell! I am more tired this time around because I can't nap like I did with Avery. I have to focus myself in the morning to make sure that I am in the right frame of mind to deal with my 2 year old. Avery is generally a good kid, but some days she gives me a run for my money. Overall, we have ALL adjusted well to the newest addition to our fmaily. Brynn just needs to learn to sleep at night not just all day :)

Dying Easter Eggs

It has been a family tradition for as long as I can remember in my (Ange) family to dye Easter eggs. I think we did this every year until we all left the house. . .which when I think about, my parents may have only had 1 year without one of their children living with them (random point). Anyway, Andrew and I dyed eggs with Avery this year and I am pretty sure she thought it was better than Christmas! She could hardly wait to get started once I put all of the supplies on the table. She dropped her first egg right into the blue dye, which I knew would be her color of choice :) She had eggs in every color at one point and then she started moving the eggs from one color to another, stopping to write her name on each egg before putting it into a new color. She had so much fun and I am pretty sure that her hands are going to be blue/green for days!

Obsessed

Avery has a "small" obsession with shoes. She loves to put ALL shoes on and it doesn't matter who they belong to. Her new thing is "I do it" and sometimes when I am in a hurry I cannot stand little miss independent, but other times it is so cute :)

And shes 2. . .

I can hardlt believe that it has been 2 years since I had Avery. I remember holding her in my arms while she just looked at me with her puffy eyes and thinking it doesn't get any better than this. But I have learned everyday it DOES get better. . .EVERY DAY! I remember when she relied on Andrew and I to meet her every need; now it is "i do it". I remember when all she did was cry or make the cutest little cooing sounds; now I catch her singing songs with actual words. It amazes me that God has blessed me with such a wonderful little girl who is learning so much and teaching me SO much.
Happy 2nd Birthday Avery Noelle!
I love you with all my heart!