A Survey About Us

I thought it could be fun to write up the answers to this Valentine’s Day survey that is making the rounds. So here we go!

How did you meet?

We met at a church Bible study and also briefly at this young adult volleyball event.

First date?

I made him wait a long time! I said I needed to work on some things first (and I did! Probably could have worked on even more in counseling). But we did go to Sonshine together and then we weren’t together. About a year later though we went to Carlos State Park and had a long talk. He then took me to Cherry Berry once he decided he wanted to give it a go again!

How long have you been together?

We started officially dating June 2012 and were married by December! We met January 2010.

Age difference?

I’m older by 5 months.

Who was interested first?

Probably him. Although, the second time around I was.

Who is taller?

Him!

Who said I love you first?

I said it kind of out of habit (how I usually end conversations with family) on the phone when I called him from Greece. He didn’t hear it though!

Most impatient?

Me. I’m usually wanting to know things or have things done ASAP.

Most sensitive?

Neither? Not in terms of like crying at things.

Loudest?

Neither. Ha. Maybe him by a little bit. Although, I can get loud in a fight.

Most stubborn?

Me. I don’t like giving in or not “winning.”

Who falls asleep first?

Him. Though, I totally sleep more.

Who is the better cook?

Both! We love cooking together. He’s better at doing exact things and I’m better at improvising.

Better morning person?

Neither. We both can get up. He likes getting up early more than me.

Better driver?

He’s better at driving in snow and with backing up and parking. I’m better at paying attention to stop lights, signs, and knowing how to get places.

Most competitive?

Me. Totally.

Who is the funniest?

Him!

Where do you eat out the most of the couple?

We love to try new places! Some places though are Birchwood, Pizzeria Lola, DJs, Pike & Pint for dessert nachos, and lots of ice cream places.

Who is more social?

He is! I kind of hit my limit earlier.

Who is the neat freak?

I wish I was. But I’m not.

How long did it take to get serious?

Not long! We both went in pretty clear about intentions and saying we didn’t want to date forever. I probably was more serious first. We were also older and wanting to be married!

Who plans date night?

Both of us! I usually come up with ideas and we decide together.

Who picks where you go to dinner?

I’m usually pickier about what I want but we decide together.

Who has more tattoos?

Me. Though, he probably wants more.

Did you go to the same school?

Nope! He was homeschooled and I went to public school. We went to different colleges too.

Who drives when you are together?

He usually drives.

Where is the farthest you two have traveled?

South Africa!! Twice and hopefully more travel in the future.

Arrow at 4 & 5 Months

Another two months have flown by with our little man! I am still in awe that I have 3 little boys and one little girl at home. The noise level and destruction level feels appropriate though for this many kids.

What we have learned…despite our efforts you still prefer your thumb to a pacifier, ditching the swaddle is never fun but you’re still a good sleeper even if I am not a routine following mommy, you love to roll and thankfully your spit up is a bit less. You still spit up a lot but maybe not every time you roll. Your drool though has increased. No teeth in sight.

What we are enjoying…having you sit in our laps, more head control, your laugh especially when getting a new diaper, having you listen to books, watching you explore new toys and seeing what you want to grab, and mainly just having you here with us.

We are struggling with…all the noise, the mess, and winter. I’m really in need of some sunshine and warmer weather. Oh and this postpartum hair loss could stop anytime and that would help.

Most exciting milestones…you’re in the I’m going to roll to my tummy ASAP when you’re set on the floor stage! You also are getting more head control and starting to hold onto us when we hold you. Plus, you’ve got the cute grab your toes and bring them to your mouth milestone down pat.

Arrow seems to like…being held, having us talk to him, when we come home and say hi to him, being on his tummy, trying to chew on everything, his kick n play, and listening to music for naps.

Dislikes seem to include…getting stuck on his tummy, his arm being stuck, being left alone for too long, if he goes down for a nap when he is overtired, and too much touching.

Sleep looks like…getting up once or twice to eat in the night and then back to sleep! usually he goes to bed around 8ish and then either eats one more time before we go to bed. Up sometime around 3ish or 5ish and then up for the day around 7:30ish. A morning nap around 9/10ish and an afternoon one around 1ish. Usually one more around 3/4ish too. Lots of flexibility with school pick up and drop off and just general life.

He’s eating…milk! I haven’t really tried bottles either. But still eating about every 3-4 hours except more like 5-8 hours at night. Still takes him about 10-15 minutes to eat.

At the last doctors appointment…he finally had another one! He weighed 14 lb 7oz and was 25.5 inches long. His head circumference was more in the 70th percentile too. So, like 25ish percentile for weight and 60ish for height. All looked good and we are so grateful.

Working out with mommy

So loved by his siblings. They all love holding him.

Sleeping with daddy

Friday Favorites

Friday is here! I’m ready for the weekend and a new week. This has been a hard, disappointing week in many ways. Instead of going there, I’m taking a few minutes to share some fun favorites.

1. Books and Baby Snuggles

I’m reading a really interesting book and it’s been so good to sneak in some baby snuggles. Having had three other newborns, I know just how fast it all goes! I’m all about soaking up the moments with my sweet boy. I love the baby stage (most of the time!).

2. Dreaming of Travel

Even though we had to cancel some travel plans, I have been dreaming of places to go and adventures to be had. The kids especially have loved following the YouTube videos (LiveSutton) of a family who is hiking the Appalachian Trail (the mom was in Africa with me way back when).

3. Lego Creations

The kids have been making all sorts of fun things out of legos and duplos. I love seeing what they come up with and how they build differently than I would do my own. We all really are so unique.

4. Good friends

In the midst of the hard stuff, I am so thankful for some good friends who pray, listen & understand, and love me even on the hard days!

5. Desert Nachos

Nothing beats some late night desert with my husband after a hard, confusing day. He even loves going out at night to pick it up when I’d rather be tucked in a blanket.

January Recap

Wow. One month is already passed and here we are heading into another. My google photos keeps popping up all sorts of memories from years past and I love it. Though, it is so odd looking back on a year ago to see what we were doing and how we had no idea what all would be coming. Such big changes in the world. Never would I have imagined masks and school closures and for it all to still be going on today to some extent. Yet, I am so glad I set my intention as staying grounded in God’s truth regardless of shifting circumstances.

I’m still holding onto my word from last year while moving forward with “create.”

January started off with my desire to “create” some new rhythms and goals. Ryan and I jumped into doing The Little Way by Revelation Wellness and reading Sparkling Gems 2 by Rick Renner. We tried to wake up at 6:00 am and do these before he went to work but that did not end up being the best. We both ended up tired and struggling. We kept going and did what we could when we could. The kids even joined in for some workouts and kept us on our toes. We have some ideas for February to try out!

I also finished my first Sally’s Baking Challenge of the year! I’m planning to participate each month to have something fun, different, and out of my norm. January’s challenge was making a Stromboli. I definitely needed the practice when it came to rolling it up but even with the poor rolling job it tasted delicious.

I stretched my baking skills by making a delicious Coconut Cream pie that I brought to our prayer and praise celebration at church. I almost wished people didn’t eat it so I could have had leftovers!

For podcasts and books, I had a really good month! I listened to Havilah Cunnington’s series on boundaries, Crystal Paine’s series about motherhood, and snuck in one from Alisa Keaton and her daughter. I listened to some in a WhatsApp group I’m a part of too. For books, I read The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner, The Room on Rue Amelie by Kristin Harmel, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by John Tiffany, and The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins.

In other family happenings, Canon got stitches on his lip/in his mouth from getting knocked down by his brother at a friend’s house, Arrow turned 4 months and is rolling up a storm, Asher went skiing for the first time, we built some train tracks, and survived another month of winter.

Lastly, I continued writing in a Bible for Melea and am working my way through Jeremiah currently. I picked up making a gratitude list last year back in May and am still doing the practice—I’m in the 700s. Also, in that journal, I’ve been keeping notes for myself about what God is speaking to me from His Word.

Now, we are onto February! Here are some of my intentions for the month:

4+ podcasts

2+ books

Daily Bible reading, gratitude list, and Bible notes

Bibles before Bed with kids—pretty much what it says! Reading their pick of a Bible before putting them to bed.

Sparkling Gems 2 with Ryan

RevWellTV Advanced Workout Calendar—I’m switching things up and following their calendar this month instead of picking what I want.

Paint the kitchen! The walls are primed and ready for paint. We just need to make time to do it.

Sally’s Baking Challenge—I haven’t fully decided but I think I am going to do her alternative of raspberry cheesecake bars since I’ve made chocolate soufflés before. Either way, I will do something that qualifies for the challenge!

A few other things that are being held loosely but may happen this month include: intentional goal planning/year in review with Ryan, Phoenix trip or trip somewhere, and other house projects

There you have it! A January recap and a look toward February.