4 cuties

Last month, my sister and I gathered the children together and I took pictures for my mom's birthday present. They turned out pretty cute and she was happy to have pictures of her grandkids. She has pictures of Andrea and me with a fall back drop when we were each about 3 years old. The pictures of Ben, Nat, Mandy, and Emma will hang along side the early versions of their mothers. My mom has pictures everywhere. I love it. My mom has one wall of portraits (where the grandkid pictures will end up) and I call this her "wall of fame." Those who have made it on the wall feel very special. :)
It is fun to see pictures up in people's houses. There is something about photos of smiling faces that give life to a house.

Weight Loss Secrets Revealed

Yesterday I was watching Oprah and decided my 10 pounds is nothing! She was interviewing guests who had lost 100s of pounds. It was interesting because none of the people had taken weight loss drugs or had gastric bypass surgery. Their weight loss secrets are listed on www.oprah.com. Really there is no secret to it. I’ve read quite a few books and they keep telling me the same thing. It is common sense, but for some reason, I would still like to believe there is a magic pill or that I can eat whatever I want in excess and still lose weight.

I am down 3 more pounds (in 3 weeks) and a few more inches. I don’t think I will be at my weight goal by Christmas, but I think I will be able to fit into the pants. I am now able to pull them on and button them. I wouldn’t dare wear them in public, but some people would. I was at Wal-Mart in Dallas the other night and saw a very large woman wearing one of those 12 inch mini skirts. There is nothing like a trip to Wal-Mart to improve a person’s body image.

Taking a cue from Oprah, I am going to list my strategy for losing baby bulge.

• Fill up on fruits and veggies (even at meals)
• Don’t take seconds on the main course (I remove the serving dish from the table)
• Eat slowly
• Drink more water than I want to
• Eat 1 TBS of wheat germ a day (it keeps things moving and there simply isn’t enough whole grains in the normal food I eat)
• Don’t eat out (a study recently conducted showed that people consume 600 more calories when eating at a restaurant than if the would eat at home). Jeff and I eat out about 1 time a month or less. Yes, we are deprived, but we save our money and our calories.
• Exercise daily (T-tapp, the 7 minute miracle, or take a walk with the girls)
• Avoid dessert. I was off dessert entirely for almost a month, but now I indulge in fat-free fudge bars (60 calories), snack size candy bars (one for dessert), or ¼ cup of double churned low-fat ice cream (50 calories). An apple works for cutting my sugar craving as well.

Following these guidelines is one of the hardest things I’ve had to do. It has really showed me how much self-discipline I lack. I have the hardest time with filling up with the ooy-gooy main course at dinner instead of stuffing myself full of green beans. I still make good food for my family, so my temptations are very delicious.

A few members of my family have and continue to do Weight Watchers. My aunt, grandma, sister, and cousin have all done the programs. While I get annoyed at hearing the point value that food has, it has been good for me to hear about the values in food. Again common sense says that food with high fat and sugar will have a high point value. Food like veggies have 0 points and you can eat those all you want. Also, food with high fiber (whole grains) have lower point values.

So, gone are the days when I could sit around on my motionless butt and eat Hot Pockets. It was fun while it lasted, but I will look forward to the day when I can fit into those skinny jeans once again.

the beach

We went to the coast for 2 nights and had a blast. Jeff admitted that taking care of the girls is WAY harder than his regular job, so our little vacation wasn't terribly relaxing. For some reason, Emma is not content to watch the Food Network for hours on end and Mandy didn't get the memo that vacations are for sleeping. Emma did find a new show she loves to watch (with Daddy's encouragment).... Walker Texas Ranger. She came in from swimming and asked, "Walker, please?" Oh, brother.





The weather was amazing... no wind and about 60 degrees. We drove to the beach in the pouring down rain and drove home in similar weather, but while we were there is was great. Here Emma and Mandy and I are enjoying the calm weather. As you can see, I am now a sling wearing mama. Mandy is not content to sit by herself very often and I would rather hold her than listen to her scream for hours on end. I mostly wear it while at the grocery store (Mandy won't ever sit happily in her carrier), and while making dinner. I've found that I need extra hands with child #2 and the sling works perfect. I bought it on Craig's List from a girl in Albany who sells them as her home business. I picked the 2 fabrics and the price was great ($25). It is great quality and works just like the Peanut Shell ($50-$75).
Emma loved to run from the waves.

Look alikes

Several people have commented that Mandy looks JUST like Emma. I really didn't see the resemblance until I looked back at Emma's baby pictures. Mandy's eyes are closer together, Emma's hair was darker and thicker at this age, and Mandy is much more smiley. Mandy is pictured on the top left and bottom right. Did you get it right?

Here are the sisters ready for church.

Happy Thanksgiving

Here are a few pictures from our celebration at my mom's sister's house. Grandad always enjoys Em's and Ben and they enjoy him! Did anyone else notice Grandad's shirt matched the table cloth?

We were all gathered in one place, so here is the Ewert/Lunde/Peters clan pictured on a bright and beautiful Thanksgiving day.

Four generations of festive women. Mandy was dressed in her red and leopard print outfit and I was given a bad time for my non-festive sweater. It seems the women in the family like to out-do eachother on holiday sweaters. We were joking about some of the outfits needing a battery pack.

Almost all the men, pictured from left to right, Jeremiah, Jeff, Grandad, Benton, Josiah, Uncle Dennis, dad (Tom), Paul, and Nathaniel

the day before Thanksigiving, last year...

Jeff asked Emma this morning, “Do you want to go to Africa today?”

Emma: Ya!

Jeff: Can you say “Africa”?

Emma: Akica

Jeff: Good. So, who are we going to see in Africa?

Emma: Aunt Denise

Jeff: Do you mean “Aunt Janice”?

Emma: Ya, Aunt Denise.

We left for Africa a year ago today. We drove to Seattle, flew to London, Johannesburg, South Africa, and then on to Malawi. It was a long, difficult journey, so why am I so sad I am not headed there this year too? We had so much fun on the trip and had many unforgettable experiences. Emma had just turned 2 and enjoyed being with us. She did great for the many hours in the air and she also did great in Africa. She doesn’t remember much, so maybe we will just have to go back!

We met Janice in Malawi and then went to a game park. It was very cool to see the elephants and other animals. You can look at the archives for more pictures from the safari. Here Jeff and Emma are waiting for our land excurtion.
I was helping to prepare a meal in the village with mama Clara. She commented to Janice that I was not very strong as I silfted the flour with a basket and tried to stir the incema over the fire. It was an experience and I am so thankful for my electric stove and other convenient appliances at home.

Africa

The market in Lichinga

The "dryer" in Janice's backyard

A typical landscape in northern Mozambique

Children at the Caio village outside Lichinga

Summertime...

It’s summertime around my house and my husband is getting to all the projects we’ve been dreaming about for the last 6 months. There is a misconception that my farmer husband does not work all winter. The reality is that he goes from working 14+ hours a day to a nice normal 8 hours with a lunch break – still he works on Saturdays. In his mind, those extra 6 hours should not be wasted by sitting around, so he started work on the basement, cleaning it out, and sealing the walls. He also put tile down in the laundry area and filled a huge hole where the previous renter decided to dig for China. I painted the walls white and am really undecided about the final color for the area. My natural instinct is to say ‘taupe,’ like I always do, but I think it would be to dingy in this space. We are getting new windows, so it will be brighter, but it is still a basement. Any ideas?

We also ordered 5 new windows to complete the window replacement on the first floor. Last night Jeff was out on a scaffold putting in the windows in Emma and Mandy’s room. He put in 2 in just 1 ½ hours. He is getting fast! They look fantastic. One old window had a bullet hole through the lower pane and the sills grew mold constantly. I love the new windows and Emma agrees. We’ve never left the curtains open in her room before and just this morning she was looking out the window and sighed, “Nice new ones.”

Jeff asked me what was next on the list and I reminded him of the Christmas lights. For some reason he hates putting Christmas lights on the house. He always agrees with me that they look great once they are up, but still doesn’t like the process.

I love this time of year, even if the rest of the world is huddled in their nice warm houses waiting for spring. This is the time of year I love.

This joke made me laugh. Haven't we all conveniently avoided the obvious? My house is a mess, Mandy is crying, I need to make lunch, Emma is "scrapbooking" by herself, and I should go for a walk since the sky is blue and not gray. Instead, I am here. Collecting email and reading funny forwards. Have a grea day, in the real world or your delutional one.

2 month check-up for Mandy

11 lbs. and 12 oz.
23.75 inches long

She has gained over 4 pounds and grown 4.5 inches since birth -- that's a lot of work! That puts her at 95% in height and 75% in weight.
Mandy is just getting over her first cold and it was miserable for all involved. She sounded like a little piglet as she snorted, trying to breath. She went from eating every 3 hours to about every 1-2 hours. She's doing a lot better now and even slept 6 hours in a row last night!
Emma whimpered in her sleep all night last night and woke up this morning with what looksl like the same bad cold. Argh! At least she can function with a cold a little better, but the whining! The mommy needs a break here. With any luck, Jeff will get the cold next, and then by the time I am sick in bed, there will be no sympathy left. We will pray this is not the case!

One more nice day...

Here is Mandy, all smiles. She's sure a sweety. Her first 8 weeks of life have really gone by fast.

Fluffy (with Mandy) and Sam (with Emma) joined our family a few months ago and have been wonderful for Emma. She carries around her "babies" and give them kisses and hugs. She didn't get her animal loving nature from me. The cats are OK and I am glad they are around to catch mice.

Life, Love, and Milk Ejection

We were reminded at church about Veteran's Day when our pastor had all the people who served in the military stand for acknowledgement. I was surprised that our small congregation (about 100) had 9 men who had or are currently serving. It is good to remember our service men and women every day in prayer. This special day is an excellent way to say “Thanks,” for all those who protect our freedoms.

I also remember November 11^th as the day Jeff proposed to me at Paradise Lookout on Mt. Ranier 6 years ago. It was such a great day! We were on a drive up to visit my parents when Jeff had the idea to take a detour to Mt. Ranier. We stopped at a lookout, but the fog and clouds prohibited us seeing the view. We hiked through the snow up a short trail and that’s when Jeff got down on one knee, opened the lighted ring box with a beautiful 3 diamond ring inside, and asked me to marry him. I was shocked and ecstatically happy. Our relationship had progressed quickly from our first date in September just 2 months before. We were good friends before that and I knew by a few weeks into dating Jeff and he was “the one.” He was like a favorite sweater; warm, comfortable, fit just right, and I never wanted to be anywhere without him. He was my best friend and I felt like I had known him forever.

The rest is history, married in March, 2 blissful years as DINKS (double income no kids), a life changing trip to Africa, a baby girl, figuring out parenting, another life changing trip to Africa, another baby girl. Life is good and we are so blessed. Jeff is still my favorite (sweater and husband) and I am so glad he got down on one knee in the snow 6 year ago.

In other news, I put on a pair of pants today and heard angels singing! They are my size 8s from Banana Republic! I danced around the house with glee! I’m still doing T-Tapp and eating only good for me food. I’ve broken my “no desserts” rule a few times, but for the most part, avoid all sugars. I have 10 more pounds to go! I’ve been researching nutrition and checked out a huge pile of books from the library. I have some on breast feeding and some on general health and fitness. One I particularly found interesting is “The 7 Minute Miracle.” To summarize the book, the doctor author says that his research finds that you can burn spot fat by working a specific muscle group for 7 minutes. You can chose to reduce tummy, butt, hips, thighs, or arms by doing a set of 3 movements until exhaustion and repeat for 7 minutes. Also, you are not supposed to eat for 40 minutes after this work-out. I decided to give it a try and chose the butt to “spot reduce” since that is the area that is keeping me from my size 6 jeans. I am now on day 3 of the 7 Minute Miracle and can barely walk with the intense muscle pain in my posterior. It is that good kind of pain that I think maybe something is shrinking.

Mandy’s shrinking mamma is not shirking her milk factory duties, so no need to worry. I have a condition called forceful milk ejection reflex. It is like Mandy is drinking out of a fire hose. She had quite a bit of trouble keeping up with the flow for the first 5 weeks or so, but it is getting better. Instead of gulping air and screaming after each feeding, she powers through nursing and is getting quite fat. It is common for babies whose mothers have this milk ejection problem to gain weight rapidly in the first few months. Mandy has a Dr. appointment on Thursday, so we’ll see how big she really is! All this is probably way more than you wanted to know today. This is the blessing and curse of the blog. J

Another Party

All the Peters came over for Emma's birthday yesterday, minus Jeff's brother, John and Kelly, who were celebrating Kelly's birthday in Seattle. Ironically, Kelly and I were due with our first babies on eachother's birthdays. She had Josh 2 days after my birthday and I had Emma one day after hers. We will forever be sharing birthday weekends with the kids.



Kids and more kids everywhere! Emma, Micah, and Josh play well together, while the little brothers, Noah and Jake, follow them around. Mandy and Priscilla were snuggling with Grandpa and Grandma -- who needs toys?

These are all cousins, for now...
Noah, Micah, and Priscilla, Emma and Mandy, and Josh and Jake.
They were all born between September 2004 and October 2007.

Matching girls with Grandpa Jim and Grandma Judi. Mandy and Cilla have a matching outfits and decided to wear them yesterday.

1, 2, 3

Emmaleigh Danielle

It’s Emma’s birthday today. Where did 3 years go? The journey to this point in her life has gone by so fast. We made it through the tiny baby stage where I woke up in the night because she wasn’t awake. We made it through that testy stage where she could pull herself up in her crib, but couldn’t figure out how to lay down. We made it through her first tantrum because she didn’t get her way. She walks, talks, and uses the potty. She still has tantrum when she doesn’t get her way, but she is more aware of her behavior now and they are less frequent.

I’ve said before that Emma was and is my biggest challenge. No amount of book reading could have prepared me for this blessed journey of parenting. I was freaked out about childbirth and it came and went. 9 hours of back labor with 3 hours of heavy pushing labor were worth it when I held her precious life in my arms for the first time. As I held her blurry eyed gaze, I couldn’t have imagined the road ahead. We’ve cried, cried some more, and giggled over her first laugh. The giggles keep coming. Emma is creative, determined, mischievous, and expressive, an animal lover, a daddy’s girl, playful, and loving.

On her birth announcement, we chose James 1:17, “Every good and perfect gift comes from above.” I didn’t know what would come with receiving the gift of Emma. We’ve had fun on the journey so far and when more challenges come, I’ll remember this verse. Because every day is a gift. Emma will continue to grow, change, develop, and learn. I look forward to being with her through this next year – year number three.