August 28, 2011

Cayce's Baby Shower

I hosted Cayce's shower today and I was so happy with how it turned out!

Cayce and Cody are so blessed by our amazing church family and I'm so blessed to know them. I have been friends with Cayce for 14 years and I can't wait to see her as a mom!

Here are some pics! Cake courtesy of the one and only, Randall Roseberry!








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August 25, 2011

Encouraging Letter

I stole this from Cherry's blog and had to post it. I had tears well up in my eyes as I read this letter and realized just how bad I am failing at living in the moment and just relaxing. My kids will grow up to be who they are going to be whether or not as 2 year olds they whine at me instead of asking me nicely!

"All my babies are gone now. I say this not in sorrow but in disbelief. I
take great satisfaction in what I have today: three almost-adults, two
taller than I am, one closing in fast. Three people who read the same books
I do and have learned not to be afraid of disagreeing with me in their
opinion of them, who sometimes tell vulgar jokes that make me laugh until I
choke and cry, who need razor blades and shower gel and privacy, who want to
keep their doors closed more than I like. Who, miraculously, go to the
bathroom, zip up their jackets and move food from plate to mouth all by
themselves. Like the trick soap I bought for the bathroom with a rubber
ducky at its center, the baby is buried deep within each, barely discernible
except through the unreliable haze of the past.

Everything in all the books I once pored over is finished for me now.

Penelope Leach., T. Berry Brazelton., Dr. Spock. The ones on sibling rivalry
and sleeping through the night and early-childhood education, have all grown
obsolete. Along with Goodnight Moon and Where the Wild Things Are, they are
battered, spotted, well used. But I suspect that if you flipped the pages
dust would rise like memories.

What those books taught me, finally, and what the women on the playground

taught me, and the well-meaning relations --what they taught me, was that
they couldn't really teach me very much at all.

Raising children is presented at first as a true-false test, then becomes

multiple choice, until finally, far along, you realize that it is an endless
essay. No one knows anything. One child responds well to positive
reinforcement, another can be managed only with a stern voice and a timeout.
One child is toilet trained at 3, his sibling at 2.

When my first child was born, parents were told to put baby to bed on his

belly so that he would not choke on his own spit-up. By the time my last
arrived, babies were put down on their backs because of research on sudden
infant death syndrome. To a new parent this ever-shifting certainty is
terrifying, and then soothing. Eventually you must learn to trust yourself.
Eventually the research will follow.

I remember 15 years ago poring over one of Dr. Brazelton's wonderful books

on child development, in which he describes three different sorts of
infants: average, quiet, and active. I was looking for a sub-quiet codicil
for an 18-month old who did not walk. Was there something wrong with his fat
little legs? Was there something wrong with his tiny little mind? Was he
developmentally delayed, physically challenged? Was I insane? Last year he
went to China . Next year he goes to college. He can talk just fine. He can
walk, too.

Every part of raising children is humbling, too.


Believe me, mistakes were made. They have all been enshrined in the,

"Remember-When- Mom-Did" Hall of Fame. The outbursts, the temper tantrums,
the bad language, mine, not theirs. The times the baby fell off the bed. The
times I arrived late for preschool pickup. The nightmare sleepover. The
horrible summer camp. The day when the youngest came barreling out of the
classroom with a 98 on her geography test, and I responded, "What did you
get wrong?". (She insisted I include that.) The time I ordered food at the
McDonald's drive-through speaker and then drove away without picking it up
from the window. (They all insisted I include that.) I did not allow them to
watch the Simpsons for the first two seasons. What was I thinking?

But the biggest mistake I made is the one that most of us make while doing

this. I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now
that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture
of the three of them, sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the
swing set on a summer day, ages 6, 4 and 1. And I wish I could remember what
we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked
when they slept that night.

I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner,

bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the
getting it done a little less.

Even today I'm not sure what worked and what didn't, what was me and what

was simply life. When they were very small, I suppose I thought someday they
would become who they were because of what I'd done. Now I suspect they
simply grew into their true selves because they demanded in a thousand ways
that I back off and let them be. The books said to be relaxed and I was
often tense, matter-of-fact and I was sometimes over the top. And look how
it all turned out. I wound up with the three people I like best in the
world, who have done more than anyone to excavate my essential humanity.
That's what the books never told me. I was bound and determined to learn
from the experts. It just took me a while to figure out who the experts
were."

-Anna Quindlen, Newsweek Columnist and Author

Dear Lord, please grant me the patience to be the mom I long to be. The mom that my kids will look back on and think she really relished her time with us and not the mom that was constantly yelling or nitpicking. Please help me learn how to make sure they know that I cherish them with EVERY fiber of by being and, though I complain sometimes, could not imagine life any other way. Speaking of complaining Lord, please help me to become a more positive mother and wife and not focus so much on how hard life can be. Thank you for my amazing life with my amazing family! Thank you for letting me be Kinley and Ansley's mommy. Amen

July 3, 2011

Is this normal?

The past few days or maybe even week I have had this overwhelming feeling of pride and love for my two girls. I have always felt this way but man the past week it's just been 100 times more intense. I often get a little embarrassed with how often I think of them and how incredibly perfect they are. I find myself wanting to repeat everything they say to anyone who will listen just so they can see how amazing they are as well.

Being a parent is simple one of the craziest jobs there is. It is so magical and yet so frustrating at times. I just can't even put into words how I feel about them and no one can possible understand until they have their own. They are almost 2 years 4 months and I love this age. With every stage things just get a little easier and are a little more fun.

I have thought for a long time that Jason and I wouldn't have anymore kids and Jason still thinks that! However, when I look at them I think why wouldn't we do this again?! We brought two of the most beautiful, innocent human beings into this world! We at least need to try for a handsome boy!! But now is definitely not the time!!

Dear God, thank you for giving me and Jason the chance to be a mom and dad. Please help us to do the best job possible to raise 2 Christian women with a love for you that cannot be matched. Be with us and guide us in every decision we make. I am the luckiest mom ever and cannot wait to see where you lead our family. Amen!

June 19, 2011

It's Potty Time!

So potty training is in full force with Ansley. Overall she is really doing pretty well! We have had 1-2 accidents a day and they are mainly when something exciting is happening! I've just got to remember to make her go!

We are having trouble with pooping though! She typically goes once a day but hasn't made it on the potty in the last 3. How can I fix this?!

Kinley isn't ready quite yet bit that's fine with me!! Now to leave you with a picture...



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June 13, 2011

The joys of contract work!

So today I worked from home this morning and then grabbed lunch took it to Cayce's and have been working by the pool! Life is good!


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June 12, 2011

Blessed

I am having an overwhelming feeling of just being blessed! I am so thankful for my life. I am blessed with a great husband, beautiful girls, an amazing family, awesome friends, and I great church!

After having a girls weekend with my friends from our old church in Abilene I am flooded with memories of our time in Abilene. Hillcrest was the best thing that happened to out family of 4 and I hope to never forget that.

Thank you God for placing us in the right congregation just when we needed it in order to not completely fall apart


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May 19, 2011

Girls' nights!

I am so blessed to be surrounded by so many amazing woman that I can talk candidly with. I have the best friends anyone could ask for and I love that the circle is just growing bigger. I always say that I don't know how people do it without God. Well I also don't know how great of a wife, mom, employee (or any other role I might play in my lifetime) I would be without my girlfriends.


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May 8, 2011

It's the little things

My girls are such a wonderful blessing! Mother's Day is mostly like any other day and sometimes it's hard not to let that get you down. All it took for me was hearing my babies say the words "Happy Mother's Day Mommy". Just watch for yourself!

YouTube Video


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May 4, 2011

Working hard or hardly working

I met Celice at the public library to work so we could save gas but hopefully work harder than we do at home. Do you think it worked?



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May 1, 2011

A lot has happened....

So it has been quite sometime since I blogged and a lot has happened since then! I want to try this blog thing again but we will see! Since the last post we have moved from Abilene to North Richland Hills! I am loving all the changes that have occurred over the past several months! I am now a Title Agent for an oil & gas company. It is the perfect job for me b/c of it's amazing flexibility. I only go into the office 3 days a week (if that) and I am at home with my girls the other two days.

The 3 days I'm at work the girls go to my Aunt Debbie's In-home daycare! It is mostly family members and they absolutely love it. The girls are so incredibly smart and I credit a lot of that to Debbie. I love having a place that I know the girls are loved and well taken care of! I loved playing at her house when I was little and it is so special to me that they are so close to her too.

Jason is now a Project Engineer for a road & bridge construction company and he is really enjoying his new job. His favorite part and being able to wear jeans every day and getting to hop in his company truck to check out the site when he gets bored at his desk. I am so thankful that Jason find a job that he is so great at and enjoys so much.

When we first moved to North Richland Hills we lived with my parents for 7 months. It was so much fun watching the girls with their grandparents every day. By the end of it they were entirely too spoiled from having 4 adults cater to their every need. In December we bought our very first house! We decided to do some remodeling so we didn't move in until February. We still have a LONG ways to go in terms of remodeling, furnishing, and decorating our house but there is a good chance this is the house the kids will grow up in so we have a while!

The girls turned TWO on March 12th and I really cannot believe it! I don't know how they are growing up so fast! They have more than caught up in every aspect. You would never guess they were my little 3 lb 32 weekers! Every day I look at them and I am completely amazed by the little people that they are and cannot believe they are really mine. They are still completely opposite of each other in pretty much every way!! Ansley talks non-stop and loves to sing. Kinley often just repeats Ansley because she loves her so much! She still has the most tender heart and loves being a helper at Debbie's house! Well that's all for now! Hopefully I will write again soon!

June 28, 2010

For the record...

Ansley took her first real steps on June 16th and has been walking ever since!!! She still crawls more than walks but she is getting there.

Kinley took her first real steps last night, June 27th!!! She is already taking several steps and I know she will be a full on walker in no time.

March 27, 2010

A post (or 2) dedicated to Kinley showing off!

This video is for my dad! Kinley has just started saying "Papa"

The other video

It was easier to post in 2 posts!

This video is of Kinley giving "kisses"! Quite possibly one of the cutest things I've ever seen!

March 21, 2010

Blogging Failure!

That's me! But oh well... I made it through the first year of having twins!!! Honestly, when they were about 4 months old I thought I would never make it! The girls are getting so big and I can't believe everything that they are doing. I will make a quick list for each and promise more posts to come with pics and their AMAZING 1st birthday party (if I say so myself)!

Kinley
- 19 lbs 3 oz
- 28 inches
- Size 3 diapers
- Pretty much 9 month clothing but we put them in 12 months
- CRAWLS! This is awesome. Kinley wasn't even rolling at 11 months. We put her in physical therapy (PT) and on March 3rd she did it! I have never been more excited for a milestone. She had been working so hard and she just started. She never did belly crawling just all 4's!
- Pulls up to kneeling
- Waves hi & bye
- Signs more
- Has said "Thank You"
- Says "Dada" "baba" and a ton of other random consonants except no "mama"
- Extremely picky eater
- So cuddly

Ansley
- 20 lbs
- 28 1/4 inches
- Size 3 diapers
- Pretty much 9 month clothing but we put them in 12 months
- Crawls
- Pulls to standing
- Waves hi & bye
- Signs more
- Says "mama", "dada", "baba", "nana", and lots of other random sounds
- LOVES to eat! She just shovels food into her mouth. We are always afraid she is going to choke
- Is quite the explorer and is VERY busy

Kinley & Ansley,
Mommy & Daddy were so surprised to find out there were expecting a baby on September 2, 2008 and we were STUNNED to find out on the 22nd that we were going to have TWO babies!! Now here we are in March 2010 and we have two beautiful, healthy 1 year olds!! I cannot believe how fast it went. You both are full of so much personality yet you are so different. It is amazing to see just how unique you both are. I am truly blessed by being your mother and I know your dad feels the same way. My prayer for the two of you is that you grow up in a healthy, happy Christian environment. I pray that we don't teach you that happiness is the most important thing in life because sometimes to get to the greatest points in life there will be periods of unhappiness. But instead you learn from us how to gracefully deal with those periods of life and when you come out on the other end you feel blessed for having that experience. I pray that you are strong examples of how to be a Christian even when it is the hard thing to do. I want people to look at you and wonder what you have that sets you apart from the world and for you to have the strength to teach them that it is Jesus Christ. I hope that you learn to laugh at yourself and have fun in life. I pray that you both find a strong, Christian leader and you continue to learn and grow with him through all the fun and hard times life will bring you as a married couple. There is so much more that I continually pray for you beautiful girls. I love you so much and you always make me proud.

Love,
Momma

February 1, 2010

10 months and counting...

Well, they will actually be 11 months in 11 days! That is so crazy but I figure I should blog about their 10 month. They are changing so rapidly. It is incredible to watch them grow and learn new things. Ansley has learned to get to a sitting position from laying down. Let's just say this has not been a fun new trick at night. She wakes up often now and when we go in she is just sitting in the middle of her crib. Kinley likes to sleep with her face pushed in the corner of her crib. I need to get a picture of this!! It is not very settling for mommy and daddy. Ansley says Mama!!! She started saying it on a regular basis on the 27th. Let's just say I love hearing it and can't wait for Kinley to start! Kinley has finally started getting her 1st tooth!! It broke through on the 27th. That was a big day in the Pittenger house! We are eating table food 3 times a day! Ansley will eat anything you put in front of her but Kinley seems to be a little too much like her mommy in this area. She is extremely picky and when she decides she doesn't like something, she will purse her lips and turn her head. We are having to really push veggies with her! I know there are so many things I am mising but that's it for now. I will leave you with some pictures of my beautiful baby girls!

Their 10 month pic
Ansley sporting her new shades
Kinley putting the style in stylin'
Kinley watching the dogs play after dinner
Ansley is getting close to crawling on all 4's
(but for now her army crawl suits her just fine!)