Christmas Pictures Reveal!

Last night I spent hours going through our pictures from the "Old Navy photoshoot"  with Alicia Sutton Photography to create the 2012 Wise Family Christmas Card. I finally finished around 1:30am and I am feeling that late night this morning!

You'll have to remember that Parker was so misbehaved that day that I spent most of the photoshoot close to tears.... so all things considered I am pleased with the outcome. I wish Parker had worn his vest I scoured the city for but it just wasn't gonna happen! 

We got a great shot of the kids individually and a nice family picture to adorn the Christmas card with. I'm saving posting those until after everyone has received their cards but I'm happy to share the rest.

I brought a football for Parker and Daniel to play around with. I had visions of boyish actions shots dancing in my head but little Miss was much more interested in the deflated football than her brother was.

Daniel eventually grabbed Parker, the football and announced "here is your football shot..." It turned out surprisingly cute!

The light was so pretty with Avery's bright coat and grey/blue eyes

We got a canvas worthy picture of Parker and I was elated! It's on the Christmas card so I can't show it yet but here are two others of the most handsome little boy who hates having his picture made!

See the tree above? Climbing it in was the only way to keep Parker still and smiling so the majority of our Christmas card worthy photos are in the tree. The only problem is it looks like 2 legs spread open and we're all coming out of it. I giggle at the thought of being worried about our Christmas card looking like an Old Navy ad because now I've renamed it something infinitely worse.... "The Happy Vagina Tree Christmas Card" which I realize is totally inappropriate but when you see the full uncropped picture, you'll know why!

Avery got in on the tree climbing as well.

After a quick change in the parking lot, the kids were ready for Christmas! Well.... Avery was... Parker was ready for time out and a nap.

Now that I've got these photos back, I was able to finish up a lot of Christmas presents. Thank you Shutterfly! I'm feeling good about where I am on my Christmas list, cards are ordered and the Christmas decorations are beckoning me from the shed. Its beginning to feel a lot like Christmas in the Wise household!

What's goin' on?

Sorry for dropping off the blog world again! I have no good excuse other than I have been busy playing trains.... lots and lots of trains. I saved the Diesel Works today... it was a pretty big deal to a certain 3 year old. 

"So what's going on in your life, Taylor?" I hear you asking....

I've got enough sewing orders to keep my machine running for the next week straight. While I enjoy doing them, I get anxious about having such a long list! Parker and I went shopping today to restock my shirt stash and found a whole 7 shirts but we had a good time just the 2 of us.

Avery is still anti-clothing and spends most days in a diaper and t shirt. Her new favorite phrase is "NO ANTS!" (pants). I feel like the worst mom EVER because I know she's got to be cold but she takes her pants right off and socks are a waste of time! She yanks one off while you're putting the other on! Little booger.

This is Avery right now... laying on the kitchen floor with the iPad while I type on the kitchen island

Parker FINALLY goes to the bathroom without me prompting him every 2 hours or so. Of course he strips from the bottom down to do it but I suppose it's a step in the right direction! Speaking of P-man, I took him to the doctor for blood work on Friday. It took multiple times to get the blood drawn but he was SUCH a trooper! Oh it broke my mommy heart but I knew it was the right thing to do. TCBY afterwards miraculously healed him. Praying for answers. I'll expound more when we know more :)

I had a complete meltdown yesterday over a doughnut. It rivaled the nutty bar incident when I was pregnant with Avery but no tears were shed and I didn't make Daniel sleep on the couch. I don't even really like doughnuts but when your husband goes to Krispy Kreme and brings home a dozen doughnuts, you expect at least 1 to be an original glazed (the only kind I eat!), right?! WRONG! All nasty creme filled... all 12. I was mad that "he hadn't thought of me".... I wasn't "I'm divorcing you mad" or even "you're sleeping on the couch mad" but I was "I'm going to make you feel bad about this for most of the night mad." I tend to think of myself as fairly level headed but sometimes you just want a damn, hot original glazed KK. (you know what I mean, ladies?)

I got photoshop CS6.... I also got over 30 hours of tutorials on how to use it. Holy guacamole it's overwhelming! I now know how to use curves and levels... doesn't that sound impressive?! Don't be too impressed.... I can't figure out how to save my work!

It's been SO nice here the last few days that we've really enjoyed taking family walks. The camera came along on Sunday!

Watching the dogs do their business

A SMILE!

Avie walked the pug the ENTIRE walk!

That just about sums it up. A long list of sewing orders... a mountain of laundry.... don't even get me started on my ironing pile..... but the kids are happy, fairly healthy and well fed sooooo..... success ;)

Teaching my Kids to Vote Biblically

My mommy heart is so heavy tonight. I swayed Avery back and forth before bed with tears streaming down my checks. This election was so different from any election in the past for me. I have kids now. I have their futures to consider.

I've always taken my political decisions seriously. I do my research. I don't vote straight ticket. I vote in more elections than just presidential. I took my kids to vote even though they didn't understand much more than the reward of a sticker. 

They'll understand one day because I'll teach them. They'll  learn that it's their civic duty. Avery will understand the sacrifice many people made so SHE could have the right to vote. They'll learn that their 1 vote may not sway an election but if each person who thought that way voted, it may. I'll teach them to do their research and above all to consider their decisions with prayer. 

Sometimes their candidate will win and sometimes they'll loose but in the end, I'll teach them that God is over all earthy men in authority.

"He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding" Daniel 2:21

They are free to make their own decisions based on their convictions but I pray they consider the Bible as their greatest resource of direction. 

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness" 2 Timothy 3:16

I voted. I don't LOVE either candidate but I understood my choices, their platforms and what the Bible says about my "big ticket items." 

Abortion:

"There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood" Proverbs 6:16-17

I believe that women have the right to make decisions on behalf of their own bodies up until the point she's growing another life who is unable to speak for him/herself.

Justice:

"Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer." Romans 13 2-4

I am a pool rules reader. I've never liked the phrase "life isn't fair" although I know it to be true. I do; however, still believe in rewarding good and punishing evil.

Debt:

"The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender." Proverbs 22:7

It's no secret our nation is in a heap of debt. Someone has to pay it and it weighs heavy on my heart that my children will be paying for it. We need a balanced budget and plan for debt reduction.... yesterday.

Jobs:

 "For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat" 2 Thessalonians 3:10

I know this verse sounds harsh but it speaks to my beliefs on job creation, disability and welfare reform. 

Those are some of my "big ticket items" and how I feel the Bible speaks to them. They may be controversial and my intentions are not to offend but to offer my perspective and conviction, politically. You can still be my friend if we disagree. I agree to disagree.

As I sit here and type this post, I've been listening to praise songs, in particular "God of this City" by Chris Tomlin. Whether Obama or Romney wins, the lyrics are my prayer tonight for our nation:

"You're the God of this City
You're the King of these people
You're the Lord of this nation
You are

You're the Light in this darkness
You're the Hope to the hopeless
You're the Peace to the restless
You are

There is no one like our God
There is no one like our God

For greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done in this City
Greater thing have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done in this City "

18 Months! ... A Half Birthday!

Avery Madison, you are 1 1/2 years old... 18 months.... no longer a baby! You are our sunshine and bring us all so much joy!

Everyone who meets you is instantly charmed by your smile, red hair and southern drawl. You have started speaking much more lately and speak very clearly. Your favorite phrases are "bye bye," "thank you,""I'm stuck,"  "all done," "all gone," "Yes, Jesus," "bad dog" and "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

You're OBSESSED with dogs, particularly Luna, our neighbor's new rescue dog. You also like trains, baby dolls, slides, wagon rides, shape sorters, shoes, being outside, water and playing on the iPad,

Your favorite song is "Jesus Loves Me. I sing it to you before each nap and bedtime. You rock back and forth and sing "Yes! Jesus! Me! Yes! Jesus! Me!" Singing this song is one way to get you to smile for pictures! You also LOVE to pray. Every time you sit in your booster seat you rock back and forth and sing song "God! God!" then yell "YAY" and clap for yourself when you finish. It's ADORABLE!

You pretty much eat anything. This month you found a love for asparagus, pickles (gag), sub sandwiches and CANDY. Baby girl, you've got a sweet tooth! You climbed chairs to get to the Halloween candy bucket so I moved it to the counter and then I found you on top of the kitchen island. You shimmied straight up the barstools and self served M&Ms! You do not discriminate when it comes to candy or chocolate.... you like it all. On the other hand, you eat freakishly healthy for a child your age. Apples, grapes, peas, asparagus, grilled chicken, salsa.... you eat it all!

You have become quite a daddy's girl. Yesterday you sat in his lap for extended periods of time and played with the iPad. I'm pretty sure he would have bought you a pony had you asked. Your new love for pickles and sub sandwiches is really sealing the deal for him. You got in trouble for jumping on the dishwasher door so you ran to your daddy's office and beat on the door until he opened it as if he was going to OK you jumping on the dishwasher. You're a smart cookie! Lately, if daddy runs an errand in the afternoon, you'll choose to go with him instead of stay home with me! I'm SO glad you love your daddy but I hope I'm not loosing my buddy!

You've become a MUCH better sleeper. You either sleep from 7:30-6:00 or you'll sleep from 7:30-3:30 and 3:35-6:45ish. Getting up once a night is SO much more tolerable than the 6-7 times a night you used to wake up. You also consistently nap 2 hours at 12:30/1pm. I feel like a new woman so THANK YOU!

You're still a peanut. You wear size 12 months but lately I've been buying you 18 months just so they last longer. We went down a size on the diapers since the bigger ones were falling off so now you wear a 3. We went to the doctor today for your 18 month check up and you weight 19.2lbs (.76%). You are 30 1/2 tall (15%) and your head width is 18 inches (32%). You are a perfectly healthy, peanut! When the doctor showed me the front of your chart, it was blank. No allergies. No concerns. No health problems. Not so much as an ear infection.  I teared up. I wish that so much for your brother! Don't ever take your health for granted, baby girl! I pray for you guy's health daily. You are beyond blessed!

Today, we dropped Parker off at school and then did some Christmas shopping. You ALWAYS have to stop and play with the Old Navy dog. Today you tried to ride him. After shopping, we went to the pediatrician for your 18 month well check. We had to wait an hour so you occupied your time by coloring on your development survey. You were amazing.... no tears! You didn't even acknowledge that you got a shot. I was SO proud of you! After the appointment, you napped for over 3 hours! After dinner, we celebrated your half birthday with an "Ice Cream Sundae Cupcake" and "Happy Birthday" song. You ate the cherry on top but not much else. Maybe next time I'll cover a cupcake with pickles, reese cups and peas... I know you'd eat it then! 

Avery Madison, you are SUCH a joy! You are busy, loud, fast, passionate and sassy... we wouldn't have it any other way. You are the "red headed little girl" that I prayed to God for and thank Him for EVERY single day. You and your brother are daddy and my heartbeats. We love you more than you'll ever know but will strive to show you every day, sweet girl!