I know.

I know I promised pictures. But I left my camera at church in my Mom's bag. I will post them in the not too distant future. I promise. By the way, Bryan decided to spell his name Zakry. Which he has said all along, but apparently forgot to inform Shanna. So it is Zak-ry. No a in there.

Now, tell me. Does anyone else have this problem where you try to clean house and 3 hours later, it looks exactly the same as when you started? I haven't even gotten to the bathrooms yet. Or really to anything. I am still in the pick-up mode so that I can clean-clean. But I have to say that I have had help in my not getting anything done. Gracie accidentally locked her bathroom door and shut it. WHY was she locking it in the first place??!!! Well, then, Faith needed to poo. And since she is 2 and can't reason, she went in her panties in front of the bathroom door. Then, because "gross" she took them off. And sat on her bed to put on clean panties. And that left me with a very dirty daughter and a poop print on the quilt. So to the bath we went. Screaming. Because she didn't want a bath! It was stuck to her. I had to scrub it off. Gagging. So I used Cam's poofy thing because I am not sure the poop will ever come out, and GROSS, I wasn't using mine!! So now I must wash the quilt. In sanitary mode. And that takes 2 hours!! Geez. And I was steaming, so I told Faith she had to sleep on the poopy covers. She did NOT like that. So the crying commenced. I am just so mean. I then told her, "fine. then just stick your nose in it" Now, the quilt was already in the laundry room, but she wasn't quicke enough to see that I guess. Then, I had to explain that I wasn't REALLY going to make her do those things. Even though I wanted to. Except that I would be the one to clean her up again. And it stunk so bad. ewwwww Now it smells like Christmas cookie candle in there. And I must go make them take a nap. Now.

Details

Zacary Michael Dorman arrived sometime after 8:30 this evening with a head full of blonde locks. He weighed 6 lb 13 ounces and was 20 inches long. Both Shanna and Zac are doing great (Bryan is doing well too especially since he got to deliver!). Her official due date was her birthday, Jan 15th, so this came as a bit of a surprise to us all. She wasn't thrilled with his birthday being two days after Christmas, but really, who better to share a birthday with than Jesus?!!

Zacary Michael is on his way!!!

Just to let you all know...my sister-in-law, Shanna,is giving birth to my new nephew as I type. I will give more details just as soon as I have them. Yay!! Off to the hospital I must go!!

Christmas at The Strange's

In the order they occurred...

Early Christmas with Nanny and Papa Strange. Gracie LOVED her new dressy outfit.

Ellie got a vaccuum that does all sorts of fun things.

Faith is pumped about her new doll from Caleb and Colby.

Gracie and Aryna sang a special at church on Sunday while sporting matching dresses...Gracie looks like she is hogging the mic doesn't she?!!

Santa came!! Ummm....Gracie moved some of the loot before I could take the picture, but you get the idea.

Ellie was too tired. She slept through all the fun.

Still sleeping...Gracie is opening Ellie's gifts for her.

STOCKINGS!!!!

Opening a box of clothes I think.

The "real" guitar Santa brought Gracie because she "wants to be just like Daddy".

This one is my favorite. Cam is teaching Faith how to change a diaper. She got the dumb potty baby from Santa (hehehe).

Can you see her outfit? Cute isn't it? She dressed herself...
Ohhhh it is the swinger! Faith just loves her new fancy clothes.


The house is undecorated and the tree droppings are all vaccuumed up. The presents have found new homes (mostly), and life is getting back to what we call normal. We had a really nice Christmas full of family, food, games, and gifts. And of course, there were some disappointments as always when everyone is together...hehehe. But there were some snapshots of the day so that you can pretend you were here...(this was supposed to be BEFORE the pictures, but I didn't want to retype it. So just read it here and pretend you read it first).








Cam got me some of the neatest gifts. Nothing that I asked for, but he did good!! All by himself. Impressed I am! He got me a digital sewing machine. I do not know how to sew and seriously, it took me an hour to thread the thing. But I really want to learn! You push start and it sews all by itself. There is no foot pedal that you must use (it came with one if you don't like the auto thing). It embroiders and makes neat little designs and does just about everything you would want it to do. Now if only I can figure it out...I am sure you will hear LOTS about it later.

Merry Christmas!!

Things are getting busier with Christmas drawing nearer, so I am going to take a little break from blogging in order to spend more time doing the things that truly matter.

I hope you all have a wonderfully Merry Christmas!!

Sleeping Update

Ellie slept from 10:30-4:15 in her crib. Without nursing. WooHOO!!!!!! We are slowly making progress. She ate at 8:30 this morning, and not again until 3:15 or so. Someday, I think we will be weaned. Really I do! It is one of those exciting yet extremely sad things...

Cameron gave me an early Christmas present today. A new phone. At first I was thinking, "Ummm...I NEEDED that, so it doesn't count as a present". But, the more I looked at it, the more I saw how extremely thoughtful he was in his choosing this particular one. I have been telling him that I want an Ipod. The reason was for the music. Specifically to listen to the music while driving in the car with him. Because he likes silence or sports. I like neither. Well, the phone has an MP3 player in it. And a little keyboard thingy to text with, and it even has email! So, I am pretty pumped. I checked out the logistics, and it fits in the little pocket of my Vera bag. That was all I was concerned about. Plus, I can even buy a goofy little bluetooth (because they make them in pink, and that is kind of neat) if ever I choose to join the thousands who look like idiots talking to themselves while they are on the phone. Perhaps someday...

I also bought Cam's Christmas today. After dropping a whopping $500, I am done. He is done. And I seriously doubt that I will get that much loot! hehehe But he will love it, and that makes me sooooo excited. I am not sure I can wait a week to give it to him! But I must. Eek!!!!!!!!!!

My Stomach Rested in my Throat...

There is a battle going on in my heart. Cameron has asked that I be finished nursing Ellie by February. She will be 14 months old. I have always had the cut-off date in my mind to be one year. But this baby is different. She doesn't take a pacifier or a bottle. She hates milk (until she tryed my vanilla latte and has decided she likes coffee flavored milk!). She wants to nurse every other hour. And the nights. Oh the nights. She nurses ALL night long. So, I thought the best course of action was to not let her nurse during the day. She has been making it until about 1:30. However, she is staying up allnight nursing. So last night, after two nights of virtually no sleep, I decided she was going to sleep in her crib. Which means she was going to cry. A LOT. It was also decided that Cam would get up with her during the night so that I didn't cave. Last night was the first. He put her in her room and she screamed for almost an hour before I went in there and sang her to sleep. This was about midnight. As I lay in my bed, with my stomach in my throat, I whisper to Cam, "I am afraid she is going to die." And that about sums up what I was feeling inside. The tears started to roll down my cheeks and I battled with trusting God to let her live. I KNOW He will take care of her. What I don't know is whether He will choose to let me help, or do it Himself in heaven. So it scares me. I couldn't sleep. Cameron put his warm hands on my cheeks and prayed. He prayed that all of our sweet girls will be safe. He prayed for peace. And my Jesus answered almost immediately. I dried my face and trusting that I would hear blessed cries in just a few short hours, I fell asleep.
She woke up at some point, and when I nudged Cameron, he got up and put her back to sleep. Then around 5, she woke up again. So I went and got her and she came to nurse and sleep with me. So I had five hours of almost uninterrupted sleep!! And we overcame a hurdle. A huge one.

The Picture.

There is a picture in the card Summer! Silly. Like I would forget that! Hehehe, but I will ruin the surprise of it all and show the picture to you now. It turned out really great! It was actually the ONLY one that turned out okay out of the hundred I took...

Warm Fuzzies with a little bit of Crying

Tonight was the Christmas program at church. This was the first year that Gracie actually agreed to participate. Years before, she refused and said she just didn't want to (she is my shy one--okay so they all kind of are...). But this year, she made my eyes fill up and my chest puff out. She memorized a long verse and recited it with perfect timing in the program. She also helped open up the evening by praying (that is the picture above). It is the sweetest thing in the world to me (next to nursing babies of course) to hear children pray. I love to hear the candidness and the simplicity. It is really no wonder that the Father wants us to be like children...

photos

Okay. This is the card. They have little hanging things that is not in the picture, and it open to a picture and a little saying. The snowman is made of the each of the girls fingerprint. Not as cute in the picture as in real life though...
This is our angel in the nativity. She is the favorite of the girls. Could be the pink dress...
Mary and Joseph. I just love that they are cuddling my Jesus. Makes you think about that a little bit more...about how he was their baby. They cuddled Him and nursed Him and loved Him. What a precious thing! I couldn't get a good picture of the rest of the nativity, but it is adorable. It has little white dove holding a pink heart sitting in the rafters of the stable...really unique.

I apologize

To all of my faithful readers, I am so sorry. I got busy this week and my computer is at the doctor...again. I just hate this laptop, so I didn't post. We have been finishing up school for the year (2007 year hehehehe), making the most time consuming Christmas cards ever only to realize when I finally finished them that I made 28 short. So half of my list got really cute store bought cards and the other half got the homemade ones. It was rather random, so if you got the one you didn't want, I am so sorry. But I will post a picture so you can all at least see what took so much of my time. When I get my computer back that is.
Cameron had a company shindig (for San Angelo Real Estate) on Thursday, so I had the opportunity to get all dressed up. Yay! It was at an old historic hotel that hosts quite a few weddings and proms due to the elegant charm of the place. Janie (the owner and also my sister-in-law Shawna's mama) did a fantastic job of making sure things were smooth. After the party, I went to a local shop downtown that is our sole Vera Bradley dealer for a 2 hour sale by invite only. It was after hours and not busy at all! I got the most adorable nativity set! I am so very excited! I have been holding out for a couple years for the Demdaco Willow Tree Nativity set, but it is quite expensive and Cameron doesn't really understand my "need" for one,so really, that just isn't going to happen. So, I found this other Demdaco one that I LOVE. I think I like it even better than the more expensive one. It is very whimsical, and just fits. And to top it all off, it was 60% off. Attractive, yes? I am also debatingon whether or not to keep it up year round. I want it to retain that specialness to my girls, but I also feel that we should remember and celebrate that day year round, not just for a month of the year. Would it be weird to have a nativity set up all the time? hmmmmm...I will try to get a picture up for you soon so you can see that it doesn't look anything like a traditional one.
Tonight we have the church banquet. Which means that this morning we have to go set up for the thing. I don't mind helping at all, but sometimes I totally feel like either Cameron or I help do most everything that goes on at the church. Which is fine, except it makes the banquet a thing of work, not a thing of excitement. Maybe that is just small church life. Or maybe it is because the 90% that don't ever offer to help, never offer to help. They expect to be asked. And that isn't fair. People should just OFFER. But either way, it is a little after 8 this morning, and we are about to be off to try to make a magical setting so that our brothers and sisters in Christ can have a moment away and enjoy this special time of year. And that is why we do it. So maybe there is a little bit of excitement...

Perfectly Pink Party

We had Ellie's party after church today with all of our close friends and family. Typical of our birthday parties, we had bbq (that Cam smoked all day Friday) sandwiches on homemade buns, chips, dip, and cake. It was all very very yummy (so much so that I can't wait to have some for lunch tomorrow!). Ellie did not devour the cake like I was hoping my last baby would do. For some reason, none of my kids have really gotten messy at their first party (I know what you are thinking, and no, Faith was a perfect lady at her first party). I was anticipating this great handful of pink cake smashing into her cute little nose...

She received some really cute clothes and very fun non-noisy little toys that she has played with all evening. She did not, however, have any interest in opening any of her gifts except the ones from Mush because those had shiny bows on them. I just hate these first birthday parties where the room full of people is sitting around watching me open my child's presents. So embarrassing! I just don't like opening gifts in front of people. Now, don't get me wrong, I LOVE presents. I just like to enjoy them in private. I will show them off later, but initially, I like to see them alone. So, this whole opening a bunch of presents that do not belong to me is a little weird. And I am glad I don't have to do it again. Well, maybe not. Did I mention that Gracie is praying for twins? I told her it was highly unlikely (then I did some research into the matter--Cameron was not amused), but with faith like she has, you just never know. I mean God did it for Sarah and I am not anywhere near her 90 years of age...

So, yeah. Not sure how I got off on that, but the party was a success, and it all over. Until February. When we start all over for Faith.

Gracie Tidbits

As perviously mentioned, I got a new washer. Well, I posted the old washer on Freecycle so that someone could have it and come rid me of it. The people were supposed to come pick it on Wednesday. That didn't happen. I told them to call first to make sure I was home. Well, they didn't. And she was all upset because they drove ALL THE WAY over here and I wasn't home. Then, they came a second time. Without calling. Only this time, Gracie answered the door and informed them that I was sleeping (this was the day Ellie kept me up all night). Then, at suppertime that night, I was telling Cameron that I gave it away and that the people should have already come to get it, when Gracie says, "Oh. This man came to the door today while you were sleeping..." !!!!! We had to have a talk about the dangers of answereing the door without a parent around and also about telling strangers you are basically unspervised. And the whole not relaying messages to Mama and all that. Crazy child!!

The next day, I was changing Ellie's diaper, and she asked me if there was food in it. I looked at her puzzled, and she explained to me that Daddy had changed Ellie's diaper earlier and that it was full of food. I told her that all of us have food in our poop. She replied, "well, I always look at my poop and I don't ever see food, but maybe it is just inside it." Ewwwwww...

That Dang Bug Will Not DIE

It was like a bad dream. Here we are, sitting in the front of the City Auditorium at the Nutcracker Ballet (which isn't exactly free), when Gracie says "my tummy hurts" and throws up all over herself and the seat she is in. I was mortified!! What was I supposed to do? So, like any good mother, I made her throw up in Ellie's blanket and in the folds of her brand new never before worn Christmas dress. All I could think was that the poor man next to her (luckily there was an empty seat between them) was going to have to smell that for the next two hours. So, I found a paper towel and used the kleenex that people were tossing at me and cleaned up the best I could before taking her out of there. I sent my mom back in with wet paper towels to clean up the rest and we hooked it home. Home. Where Faith was currently hovering over the trash can/toliet doing the same thing. SOOOO, I had to cancel the birthday party. The very last first birthday party we will ever have. The one celebrating my baby's passage into toddlerhood. The one that I bought 850 pink one inch gumballs for. The one that I have been feverishly working to prepare for. That one. It is cancelled until further notice. And I WILL NOT CRY. I probably will. But at this moment, I am trying not to think about it. It really isn't working...(blink blink blink)

8 Things About Me!

I was tagged by Heather to do this...even though I did it in October...I will try to find some different things because these are fun to read and learn about other people...

First of all, the "rules:" Here's what you do: Each person starts with 8 random facts/habits about themselves and post these guidelines. At the end of the post, choose 8 people to be tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave a comment telling them that they are tagged and to read your blog. Have fun!


1. I kept jumping up after Ellie nursed last night like a retard because I was afraid she was going to puke on me...poor thing. She was jostled from her slumber more than once...

2. I am in the process of making some adorable little Christmas cards (I will post a picture) that I thought would be easy but are turning out much more time consuming than originally planned.

3. I quit college with 2 classes and my student teaching left of degree requirements. So I could be done in two semesters...

4. We haven't had school this week. I am not sure if we will have school this month. Yay! for homeschooling!!

5. I CANNOT stop buying gifts for my kids. It seems like every store I go to I leave with "just one more little thing to round out the gifts". Seriously, they were rounded out about 5 presents ago.

6. I have not been to the gym in three weeks (I know!!), and I feel fat and lazy because of it.

7. I was bidding on a Vera Bradley purse and actually won TWO of them and a matching wallet. Oops (but they are different prints...hehehehe)! Guess that is my Christmas present, unless Cam wants to let me have them because he deserted me in my time of throw-up need to go hunting. Which would really be a sweet and loving and most generous thing to do. Don't you agree?

8. I got a new washer with the front loading capabilities, and I have been on a laundry frenzy. I have washed bedding, ALL the clothes, rugs, and everything else that can be put in there. Bet they would hate their new favorite enemy if they had feelings.

So there you go. 8 different things about me. Now I get to tag EIGHT people. How fun! Here we go...I am going to cheat and say if your name is on the left plus Kattie and Margie who have their blogs passworded, you are tagged. I am also not going to post you to let you know. I don't have time, so this is all the warning you get! And I will be checking ladies! I promise you that! :)

I am so Going to Kill This Bug!

I was awakened this morning at 2:30 with what I thought was breast milk running down my side. But it wasn't. Well, technically, it was. But still. I prefer to call it throw-up. Because my milk doesn't smell like that. Unless it is coming back up after playing with the acid in the belly. And apparently it did. Play I mean. Ellie has been bitten by some dreadful bug. She has yakked every hour since I was awakened from my peaceful slumber. And she hasn't quite figured out that she needs to roll over when she does it, so she chokes. And then the dry heaves came after that. So I watched a nice Hallmark movie, then another favorite movie after that so I would stay awake. I had some oatmeal about 6:30 with my coffee just like an elderly person would do. And now, while the other two girlies are up and wanting me to help entertain them, I just want to lay down and sleep with Ellie. But I can't. Because Faith will do who knows what if she isn't supervised. And that could be bad. And considering that Cameron is hunting somewhere all day, he isn't any help. It is at times like this that I really wish there were two of me. Wouldn't that be heavenly?!!

Happy Birthday Ellie!

Well, today marks the end of a chapter for me. Today is the last day I have to ever fear SIDS (unless the hilarious happens and I get pregnant again). Today is the last time I will have a "baby". Today is the day I must think of weaning in a more serious way. Today Ellie turns one. It is such a happy thing for us to have our children reach this milestone because the alternative is a Mama's worst nightmare, but I am so sad that this chapter is ending! I am not ready!! I love babies. I love having babies. I just can't face it. I am in serious denial. I don't want to get ready for her party (Summer--y'all should come...call me). I don't want to even think about it. But I did. Think about her birthday. I woke up and made breakfast and sang to her and lit a candle. I have worked all day on teaching her to hold up her little finger to say she is one. I have poured out love on her all day (I let her nurse whenever she felt like it too! hehehe). But inside I am dying. I have tears that are choking me. I want her to stay little. I want her to forever be my little baby. I really do.

Christmas is the Time for Parties!!

Thursday, we went to the mall to see Santa. They have the BEST Santa! His beard is real, he has a twinkle in his eye, and he the kindest man. Faith had no problems sitting in his lap. I just LOVE this photo of her. She wouldn't talk a lot, but she was so content to just stay there. The other girls refused to go near him, claiming fear as an excuse. It is Santa! What is there to be scared of! Would it be bad of me to use this photo for my Christmas cards? :)

Friday was Gracie's last day of P.E. until January. She got to play in the gym on some bouncey jumpy thing, then swim. What was so funny about it though, was that she was glued to the hip of some young "teacher". She followed him around everywhere! He would pick her up and take her to another spot, or help her out of the pool (I think he thought she NEEDED help and that was why she was always there...little did he know...hehehe). Then, last night, Colin (a friend) came over to look at the computer, and she hid from him! Because he is cute! Should this really be starting at 5?!!

Gracie went to her very first girlie party this morning. You can read all about it and see some cute pictures on Ashley's blog. She has looked forward to this morning all week! So, last night, she just had to have her hair braided so she would have "bumps" in it for the party. It is so funny! It looks like a bad perm, but I just cannot say to no to her when she thinks that she looks fabulous!