1 Year

My SWEET Brynn turned 1 yesterday and I can hardly believe it!! People always tell you that times goes so fast and enjoy it while it lasts, but you never REALLY understand what they mean until you have children of your own. I was just marvelling at my growing belly as her little life grew in mine. . .I am always amazed by that. God's perfect design! She was a part of me God created her so perfectly just for Andrew and I!
Brynn is a beautiful, carefree, bald (and I LOVE it), loving child that God entrusted to us to raise for HIS glory. In one year she has grown *less* dependant on me. . .moving for herself, feeding herself, putting her own binki in her mouth :) In the years to come she will need me less and less, but I pray that she will come to know and rely on God to supply all her needs. I pray that she will come to a knowledge of the saving grace found in Jesus Christ!!
Happy Birthday Brynn Ariana - I love you and you fill me heart with Joy OVERFLOWING!

Sleep

This morning I woke and wondered what it would be like to sleep for a full night! You know, one of those nights where you don't even wake to pee. . .I haven't had one since before I had Avery!! This is partly my fault because I like to feed my babies even in the middle of the night (and it is the fasted way for me to go back to sleep), but infants aside most moms with children will agree that there is NO such thing as a full nights sleep. Whether it is a bad dream, or a trip to the potty (for mommy or child), or a "missed" trip to the potty (hopefully only for child), or waking to check the clock in wonderment of why you haven't heard from one of your children; you get the point. . .moms DON'T get full nights of sleep. This morning I am REALLY tired - baby to blame, but not for the usual reason. Brynn has been waking around 3am to eat and then goes right back, but last night she was up atleast once and hour! She didn't want to eat; she turned is away disgusted! So the guessing game began. . .maybe it is her teeth. . .she has a cough and a runny nose, maybe she is really sick. . .could dinner be upsetting her belly?? Whatever the reason she was NOT sleeping which meant I was not sleeping - you may be able to tell from the ramblings of this post! I let her cry twice, but it didn't matter - she woke up 30 -40 minutes later and wanted her binkie or to be rocked. . .what to do? All I could do was pray that she would sleep/feel better/stop coughing/keep her binkie!! I realize this morning that this is a season a crazy wonderful season of life and I am resonsible to care for these children (lovingly) with or without sleep! So my day will go on - while Brynn peacefully sleeps upstairs in her crib!

Whispers

Our message in church today was all about God's promises! About how ALL things work together for Good for those who are in Christ (Romans 8: 28-39). Our pastor pointed out today that this doesn't mean that we (those who are IN Christ Jesus) are exempt from experiencing trails or being miss treated. He pointed out that we are to remember that everything works for God's good! What a great TRUTH to be reminded of! After the message we had a time of praying for people in our church that were experiencing trails in their lives. They went forward and leaders and friends surrounded them with prayer. Those of us that remained in our seats were encouraged to pray for them as well. I was silently praying, but very aware of the prayers around me. . .I heard all of the whispers, but couldn't make out any words. Then it HIT me - GOD hears all these prayers AND HE cares about them! He knew what everyone needed prayer for; He heard the heart ache, the loneliness, the stress, the pain, the fear. . .when all I heard were whispers - God heard it ALL!

What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Today has been a day of deep thoughtfulness for me. . .I have been looking unward (in a good way). It all started this morning when my 7 year old neice walked into my house with her new Bible and proudly stated "I'm reading Joshua"! "That's awesome Liv" was my only reply and she happily bounced away. Ever since she got her new Bible I almost always see it in close promximity to her - she carries it wherever she goes. HMMMM - isn't that what we are called to do, have God's word at the center of our being - to meditate on it day and night. Paul often talks about the Faith of a child and today for the first time I REALLY saw what Paul is referencing. I have NOT been good about reading my Bible and when I do I rarely have the passion and excitement that Olivia demonstrated today! I desire that passion! I will Pray for that passion.
The more I thought today and reflected on my life and the lives of those around me and the lives of my children and the other children that God has entrusted me to influence - I knew that I needed God more than ever! I was humble by my humanity today; by the fact that I am flawed and that I will struggle in this journey towards holiness, but I was more amazed at the GRACE the MY God displays for me.
Today, one of my friends was sharing something she was struggling with. . .a burden that was hard for her to carry. I thought about all of the things she was saying and God told me that NOTHING is TOO small for him to care about. He loves us! He cares for us! and HE wants to carry our burdens!! What an AWESOME God! He reaffirmed this promise to me tonight. I sat down to play the piano with the girls (something I try to do often) and I filp open the Hymnbook that sits on my piano. I flipped to "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" and was struck by words that I have sung so many times before but never really heard. The words to the Hymn are below and I have made lines BOLD that really hit me tonight! Notice that in 3 verses we are reminded to PRAY 6 times!! I LOVE the !!!!!. . .

What a Friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should NEVER be discouraged: Take it to the Lord in Prayer!
Can we find a Friend so faithful, who will ALL our sorrows share?
Jesus Knows our every weakness – Take it to the Lord in Prayer!

Are we weak and heavy laden, Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Saviour, still our Refuge – Take it to the Lord in Prayer!
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in Prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee, Thou wilt find a solace there.

AMEN

A "Stall" Tactic

So. . .potty training has not been easy for us!! I started putting Avery on the potty when she was 15 months

Sometimes she went and sometimes she played

I thought if I got her interested in going to the potty that she would just do it!! I made a big deal when she "pee peed" on the potty; sometimes I danced around like a fool and was glad no one could see me! Well, getting her interested in the potty didn't prove to be what "worked" for her.
Next I tried reading to her on the potty. . .she didn't care. I tried bribing her with candy and soda and presents. . .still nothing worked. So, I gave up for a while. Brynn came a long and I didn't have the time to invest in potty training, but I was bummed because she was over 2 and I wanted her potty trained before Brynn was born. Oh well, life goes on.
In the summer I tried the naked thing - letting her be naked all the time. This failed too - she went potty wherever she was standing!! I was so frustrated. Everyone kept telling me I needed to find her "thing" and I couldn't find it!!! Buying underpants didn't work, coffee didn't work, markers, paints, play doh. . .NOTHING. I have come to realize that Avery can do almost anything SHE wants to do! I just needed to wait until she wanted to do it!
Now she is almost 3 and finally wearing underpants except while she is sleeping and she has only had a few accidents. Avery knows that her going on the potty makes me happy and that when she has to go - we GO! So at night she is starting a new stall tactic. . .I take her to bed and lay with her while we say prays and then she tells me that she has to go potty!! (Mind you I just asked her before we got into her room). The first two nights she told me that she had to poop! She went the first night, but not the second night. I tried to address her heart the best way I knew how, while still encouraging her to go potty when she needed too! Night three of this charade she simply told me that she had to go potty. I took my place on the floor in the bathroom while she went potty. Then she said "mommy, I love your eyes" "mommy I like your hair" "mommy I your jammas". . .She liked or loved every part of me! She may have been stalling, but in that moment she melted my heart with her sweet little heart!
I am learning that in teaching my children I often learn something too!!

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!

Recent Pictures

Andrew and I got a camera for each other for Christmas, so we have been playing with it to figure out all of the functions. Our favorite subject is Avery. . .she is so cute and now we can actually get some expression in the pictures. Here are just a couple that we took recently.

She LOVES to read!
















Picking her nose; daddy taught her that :)


She is getting so big and really starting to talk A LOT; that must come from mommy :) Her new thing to do is announce everything she is doing. . ."i jumpin" "I dancin" "I helpin" "I rockin". She always has us laughing. What a GREAT age!

Halloween 2008

Last Sunday we went to the Medford Halloween parade. Normally this parade is an Entwistle family event. . .aunts, uncles, cousins, sencond cousins, but this year the parade got rained out on Saturday and rescheduled for Sunday; so it was just Andrew and I. My cousin Dan and his girl friend Jen were walking by trying to find a seat so they joined us, so atleast we had some family with us:) Here are pictures from the parade.

Avery waiting for the parade to start. . .

Andrew and I hanging out!




My friend Stacie and her husband Brett and son Logan joined us fro the parade as well. It was really fun the watch Avery and Logan take everything in. . .mostly the candy.






Here are pictures from Halloween. Avery LOVED trick-or-treating! We only staopped at a couple houses in my parents neighborhood, but she was running down the street to the next house. It was so fun to see her enjoy the night! I added too many pictures of her in her costume, but I couldn't decide which ones to post so I chose them all!

Seriously funny expression!

Connections Through My Experiences and Thoughts

I have had some down time today so I thought I would blog alittle. I am not one who expresses my thoughts, but here are a few of my thoughts that I have had the opportunity to think about while spending the day with Avery.

There is a part of our reading curriculum at school where the students have to make connections to aid in their comprehension while reading books. The connections they should be making are text to text, text to world, and text to self. With this down time today I thought I would make some connections to "self" and to the "world" through some experiences that I have had over the past few weeks and even days.



Connection to "Self"": A few weeks ago I was able to head over to my brother's new church plant in Camden. I headed over there to support my brother and also see how the Lord is working with these people and the people around them. It was such a great experience worshipping with total strangers. I was very welcomed and felt the love from this body of believers as well as the love of the Lord. It is so encouraging to read, hear, and see that the individuals at this public meeting want to reach out to those who are lost. Leaving the building I was so encouraged to how the Lord is working at this church plant so far. I was encouraged for myself to love people more so that they can see the Love I have for Jesus. Loving the Lord more is something that I need to work on and if I am stronger in my walk I can love people more. This was my connection to "self" and how I was impacted and now a connection to the "world".

Connection to the "World": The other day I went to a wedding in Maryland with Ange. I was able to sit at a table and met a guy from England. Since he was from England of course I struck up a conversation about futbol (soccer). I don't really connect with people in such a short time, but I really connected with this individual. We talked soccer here and there (Ange said something along the lines "oh great") and he was able to share his testimony with me. Currently he is a missionary in England where he has been a pastor of a church for 19 years. He shared with me about his dark times in his life and how the Lord brought him out of the tough years. This guy has been through it all; marriage with affairs, alcohol, and bringing his life back to the Lord through a drug rehab since he was a coke addict. After rehab he was called to be a missionary and a few months out of rehab an individual over in England asked him to start a church. He started a church with only a few people attending and 19 years later has about 130 committed people. He shared with me the ups and downs in his lifes (more downs) and how the Lord is working over in England. He was saying that less than 1% of people attend a church over there compared to the 50% over in the States who attend. He shared with me a story of a guy who came into their Church one day who had a messed up life and was currently struggling with things. This individual continued coming to services and eventually told his parents that he was attending a futbol practice or league. This guy eventually found the Lord through the Love that was shown by people of this church and the acceptance. There were other stories that this guy shared with me of people coming into the church with addictions, etc. and through the love of people and the grace of God coming to know the Lord. So here is that connection to the world...The congregation in Camden is reaching out to those who are stuck in sin and the congregation in England is doing the same thing. The Lord has been working for so many years over in England where people are coming to know him with this church's philosophy and outreach. It is exciting that the Lord can and will do the same thing with this church plant in Camden.

I hope I can be an outreach to people of the world where they are able to see my love for them and where they will be able to see the love of a graceful God.

Baby #2

Yesterday I went for my first ultrasound, to measure the baby and to confirm my due date! I am due May 5th, so I am 10 weeks and 2 days today!
Here is a picture of our baby. If you look closely you can see its entire face (mouth, nose and eye). He/she was sleeping but has a strong heart beat (165 beats per minute)

Recent Pictures

Here are some recent pictures, mostly of Avery of course:)

This child LOVES watermelon. . .she could probably eat an entire watermelon in one day! She wont eat it if it is cut into pieces, she only likes to eat it like a "big" girl. She is VERY independant!

Andrew and I got a new leather chair and ottoman. We have been looking at them since we got married but my frugal (wise) husband wanted to make sure we got the best deal possible. We looked at this same chair a million times (that may be an exaggeration), but for the Labor day sale it was the cheapest it has ever been; so we bought it! The day it got delivered AVERY claimed the chair. She kicked me out of it, climbed into the chair and leaned back to watch T.V. What a stinker!
Chewing a "num"ball aka gumball








We had the opportunity to go to Johnson's Farm again this year for a birthday party! Avery LOVED it. She is such an outdoor kid and is busy, busy, busy (it exhausts me some days)! Here are some pictures from the party!



Singing and Dancing for music time!



Feeding the animals! She is an animal lover!




Family photo!
We went on a hayride and picked pumpkins, but we don't have nay pictures of that! Avery was having a 'little' melt down during the hayride because she wanted to walk around while the tractor was moving! Also she wanted to pick lots of pumkins and poor Andrew and the diaper bag, cameras, and was trying to carry 3 pumkins while I tried to DRAG Avery back to the hayride. We felt bad for the people who were riding with us! She did better on the ride back because we busted out the candy (saves me everytime)!