Bailey is now 7 months and she can sit & stand supported, pull up to standing, and as shown in the video, she is crawling, and pushing up to sitting! My baby girl is growing up so fast! In 5 more months, she'll be ONE!
1.20.2009
1.17.2009
Isn't there anything else going on in my life?
One night, while I was "working" (I use that term loosely, since I'm "working" right now), a friend looked over my shoulder as I was catching up on my blog reading. She watched as I browsed several blogs of friends and family and noticed that almost every blog I read was about Mommies and Babies. She said, "Don't these people have anything else going on in their lives?" Now, I know every one of the bloggers whose blogs I read is a well rounded, interesting individual, but it did appear that each of these people's life was consumed by his or her children. This was before I started blogging, and, now that I am blogging, every time I make a post, I think about this girl's comment and I try to find something interesting to blog about that is not related to my children. But, let's face it, my kids are what's going on in my life! Everything I do, every decision I make, is based on my family. I spend Sunday afternoon through Friday morning as the primary caregiver for Collin & Bailey. (I work Friday & Saturday nights & sleep during the day) I love watching them grow up. They bring me so much joy! They are such a wonderful gift. I really do have other things going on in my life, but none as important or as exciting (to me) as Collin and Bailey.
Right now Bailey is so much fun. She's "crawling" around the house, which is more a combination of movements to get her from one place to another. She starts on her hands and knees, then does a little army crawl, the does a little roll. She looks like a little spy if you watch the whole process! She's also trying to pull up on her toys, but mostly they end up falling on top of her!
Collin is a bit more of a challenge for me, these days. He talks about being potty trained, but he's not. He'll watch Elmo's potty "DB" (his name for dvd's, he calls most movies "DVos") over and over and over, but will not use the potty. He's all BOY! He's constantly moving, mostly jumping or running. He loves any type of attention he can get, so he makes choices based on the amount of attention they will bring him, instead of deciding whether it is a good or bad choice. He loves playing with cars, trucks, and dinosaurs, and pretending to be one. My favorite thing to do with Collin is cook. He's my little chef! Every time I start to cook he pulls a chair over to help. I think his favorite part is cracking eggs, and he's pretty good at it.
I think my biggest challenge right now, as their mom, is finding activities that a 3 year old and a 7 month old can do together, or at least, safely at the same time!
Other than my kiddos, I really do have other things going on in my life. They just take a back seat to the stuff mentioned above! I am a nurse (not an adult, according to Collin), actually, a Certified Pediatric Oncology Nurse. I even have letters behind my name (Christin Morell, RN, BSN, CPON). I love what I do, but I don't love going to work. (I'd rather be with my family.) It is such a challenging profession. I enjoy dealing with the complex issues kids have with cancer and/or blood disorders. I love learning new things. I love that I work in this super specialized area that is "my thing". Really, my favorite, even more specialized, area to work in is stem cell transplant, but in Austin I don't have those patients, and I really miss it. When it comes to hematology/oncology patients, this is pretty much the most complex they can get. So, if you ever as me a health related question, and I don't know the answer, it's probably because it's not related to pediatrics or cancer/blood disorders. When we moved to Austin, I had to learn about diabetes and gastrointestinal disorders because the oncology population here is not as large as it is in Dallas, and I have to be able to care for the overflow patients we get.
Also, I like to scrapbook. I don't get much time to do this anymore, though. It's hard to pull out all my supplies to work on a project while Collin is around, and since he doesn't nap anymore, I don't have a time to do it. A third thing going on in my life that is not children related is choir. I sing in our choir at church, but since I have to work weekend nights, I don't get to sing on Sunday mornings, so mostly I do the special programs that we have. I really enjoyed our "Christmas Night of Praise". I think it's just fun to be a part of the programs. I also love being a part of such a wonderful group of people. Really, I just love anything related to music. Third, While Spencer is looking for a ministry position, I'm learning what it means to be a "minister's wife". We are so blessed to be at Hyde Park where I have such wonderful examples to learn from! I'm looking forward to Spencer being on staff somewhere where we can minister together. In the mean time, we're looking for opportunities to minister where we are right now. Something else I love to do is spend time in the kitchen. I love to cook and bake. I love trying new recipes. Spencer doesn't like many foods, but I'm working on getting him used to trying new things. I'm even making Bailey's baby food myself, so that she'll be used to my cooking and the flavors our family eats (or should eat). So, other than a mom, I'm a minister's wife, music lover, food lover, scrapbooker, and a nurse. If I could add anything else to the list, it would be runner, but I've got a long way to go, before I get there! (I used to be a runner, but now that I'm a mom, I've got to get my body back into shape for that!) I also love to shop, watch TV & movies, spend time outdoors, and read. But, as much as I love all those other things, being a mom is my first priority, so no, I really don't have much else going on in my life!
Right now Bailey is so much fun. She's "crawling" around the house, which is more a combination of movements to get her from one place to another. She starts on her hands and knees, then does a little army crawl, the does a little roll. She looks like a little spy if you watch the whole process! She's also trying to pull up on her toys, but mostly they end up falling on top of her!
Collin is a bit more of a challenge for me, these days. He talks about being potty trained, but he's not. He'll watch Elmo's potty "DB" (his name for dvd's, he calls most movies "DVos") over and over and over, but will not use the potty. He's all BOY! He's constantly moving, mostly jumping or running. He loves any type of attention he can get, so he makes choices based on the amount of attention they will bring him, instead of deciding whether it is a good or bad choice. He loves playing with cars, trucks, and dinosaurs, and pretending to be one. My favorite thing to do with Collin is cook. He's my little chef! Every time I start to cook he pulls a chair over to help. I think his favorite part is cracking eggs, and he's pretty good at it.
I think my biggest challenge right now, as their mom, is finding activities that a 3 year old and a 7 month old can do together, or at least, safely at the same time!
Other than my kiddos, I really do have other things going on in my life. They just take a back seat to the stuff mentioned above! I am a nurse (not an adult, according to Collin), actually, a Certified Pediatric Oncology Nurse. I even have letters behind my name (Christin Morell, RN, BSN, CPON). I love what I do, but I don't love going to work. (I'd rather be with my family.) It is such a challenging profession. I enjoy dealing with the complex issues kids have with cancer and/or blood disorders. I love learning new things. I love that I work in this super specialized area that is "my thing". Really, my favorite, even more specialized, area to work in is stem cell transplant, but in Austin I don't have those patients, and I really miss it. When it comes to hematology/oncology patients, this is pretty much the most complex they can get. So, if you ever as me a health related question, and I don't know the answer, it's probably because it's not related to pediatrics or cancer/blood disorders. When we moved to Austin, I had to learn about diabetes and gastrointestinal disorders because the oncology population here is not as large as it is in Dallas, and I have to be able to care for the overflow patients we get.
Also, I like to scrapbook. I don't get much time to do this anymore, though. It's hard to pull out all my supplies to work on a project while Collin is around, and since he doesn't nap anymore, I don't have a time to do it. A third thing going on in my life that is not children related is choir. I sing in our choir at church, but since I have to work weekend nights, I don't get to sing on Sunday mornings, so mostly I do the special programs that we have. I really enjoyed our "Christmas Night of Praise". I think it's just fun to be a part of the programs. I also love being a part of such a wonderful group of people. Really, I just love anything related to music. Third, While Spencer is looking for a ministry position, I'm learning what it means to be a "minister's wife". We are so blessed to be at Hyde Park where I have such wonderful examples to learn from! I'm looking forward to Spencer being on staff somewhere where we can minister together. In the mean time, we're looking for opportunities to minister where we are right now. Something else I love to do is spend time in the kitchen. I love to cook and bake. I love trying new recipes. Spencer doesn't like many foods, but I'm working on getting him used to trying new things. I'm even making Bailey's baby food myself, so that she'll be used to my cooking and the flavors our family eats (or should eat). So, other than a mom, I'm a minister's wife, music lover, food lover, scrapbooker, and a nurse. If I could add anything else to the list, it would be runner, but I've got a long way to go, before I get there! (I used to be a runner, but now that I'm a mom, I've got to get my body back into shape for that!) I also love to shop, watch TV & movies, spend time outdoors, and read. But, as much as I love all those other things, being a mom is my first priority, so no, I really don't have much else going on in my life!
12.21.2008
Things I've Learned this Christmas from a 3 year old
Collin has taught me so much about Christmas this year! I'm not sure where he comes up with this stuff, but it sure makes me smile!
1. The Sherbets came to see Baby Jesus. (He didn't specify orange or rainbow, but my guess is orange!)
2. Jesus' mother's name is Mary Jesus. (He couldn't give me a scripture reference for that one, but he's very confident about it.)
3. The angel told Mary not to be scared because she has a baby. (That one is pretty accurate, but I think it's out of order. When he plays with his Little People manger, he always tells Mary not to be scared after all the sherbets and wise men have come to see Baby Jesus.)
4. We can pray for anything at any time! He's right about this one. Collin is pretty spiritual, Spencer discovered recently. Today, while watching an early Bowl game, Collin told Spencer "we need to pray." Here's his prayer: Dear God, Thank you for the goldfish and for everyone gathered together. Protect us from the "bominable" snowman that he will get scared and run away and to behind the tree. Amen. That's the story of prayer. (He was eating goldfish at the time, and I think we've watched "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" many times!)
1. The Sherbets came to see Baby Jesus. (He didn't specify orange or rainbow, but my guess is orange!)
2. Jesus' mother's name is Mary Jesus. (He couldn't give me a scripture reference for that one, but he's very confident about it.)
3. The angel told Mary not to be scared because she has a baby. (That one is pretty accurate, but I think it's out of order. When he plays with his Little People manger, he always tells Mary not to be scared after all the sherbets and wise men have come to see Baby Jesus.)
4. We can pray for anything at any time! He's right about this one. Collin is pretty spiritual, Spencer discovered recently. Today, while watching an early Bowl game, Collin told Spencer "we need to pray." Here's his prayer: Dear God, Thank you for the goldfish and for everyone gathered together. Protect us from the "bominable" snowman that he will get scared and run away and to behind the tree. Amen. That's the story of prayer. (He was eating goldfish at the time, and I think we've watched "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" many times!)
12.19.2008
Christmas Cookies
This year I decided that we would start a new tradition (or at least I hope it turns into one). Since Collin loves to help out in the kitchen so much, I thought we could bake & decorate Christmas cookies. Since cutting out the cookies involved using loose flour, this year I did that part without any help. Collin has helped with cookie cutters before, but couldn't keep his hands out of the flour, so this time he watched a Christmas show while Mommy cut out and baked cookies.
So, tonight, after the boys went Christmas shopping Bailey and I (mostly I) made frosting. It took two tries! I tried to half the recipe the first time, but forgot the half the water, so I ended up with sugar soup! Oops! Once I got the frosting right, we all sat at the table and decorated cookies. Even Spencer, who is not Mr. Christmas, got in on the action! We had lots of fun!
Collin really just wanted to eat the cookies, frosting, and sprinkles-but before we decorated. He didn't want to wait until we were finished. Bailey sat and watched, and Collin did include her. He was very thoughtful and gave her some sprinkles to eat. Thank goodness she couldn't pick them up!
Here's some pictures of the festivities!
Collin just dumped the whole bottle of sprinkles on this one cookie (it was only half full)
Here's the result:
Don't they look yummy!
Collin stuffing his cookie in his face!
12.10.2008
Snow in Austin
Yep. It really happened. At about 11:00 tonight it started snowing in Austin, Texas. I didn't believe it when one of my collegues came over to let me know. Jokingly I asked her if it was all glittery and plastic, like the decorations, but it was really snowing outside! I'm a little dissappointed that it was in the middle of the night when my kiddos were already asleep. Collin would have loved it! I'm pretty sure Bailey wouldn't have cared too much. I tried to get Spencer to take pictures of it (he was at home & I was at work), but it was too hard to see. I guess it wasn't as heavy at my house as it was here at the hospital. So, there you have it...it really snowed in Austin tonight!
I have really missed the winters we had in Dallas, (sans the driving) so I am pretty excited that there's at least potential for some winter!
I have really missed the winters we had in Dallas, (sans the driving) so I am pretty excited that there's at least potential for some winter!
Here's a picture to prove there was really winter weather in Austin...I took it when I got home this morning!
11.15.2008
I know, I know...
I know, I said I started this blog since Spencer never updates his, and here I am, not updating mine! I must apologize! It's pretty terrible, I know...
There have been some days when I've wanted to blog, but just couldn't figure out what I should blog about. I thought about politics, but I was just glad when the election was over. I didn't want to get too involved in that mess. I voted. I did my part. Then, I thought about posting some stuff about Bailey & Collin, but haven't got any pictures uploaded. We went to Longview for Halloween and Barrett's last soccer game. When I get pictures uploaded, I'll have to post about that weekend! Collin was Mister Personality for the weekend! Lately we've been passing around a stomach bug. So, this weekend I had to leave my house, where I was taking care of my own sick family, to take care of someone else's sick children. What a bummer!
Spencer was ordained October 29 in a very nice service at the church he grew up in, in Sugar Land. He also had about 3 weeks "off" from work, but was asked to come back and is pretty grateful to be back. I'm just working 2 nights each week (mostly weekends) and think it's really a good schedule for us. I do not like that I never have weekend time with my family, but I am very grateful that I don't have to put the kiddos in daycare, and that I get to spend the week with Collin & Bailey at home. We have a great time!
So, tonight I'm at work (obviously, not working) updating my blog about how I haven't updated my blog. Hope that's enough for you until I can get more pictures posted.
There have been some days when I've wanted to blog, but just couldn't figure out what I should blog about. I thought about politics, but I was just glad when the election was over. I didn't want to get too involved in that mess. I voted. I did my part. Then, I thought about posting some stuff about Bailey & Collin, but haven't got any pictures uploaded. We went to Longview for Halloween and Barrett's last soccer game. When I get pictures uploaded, I'll have to post about that weekend! Collin was Mister Personality for the weekend! Lately we've been passing around a stomach bug. So, this weekend I had to leave my house, where I was taking care of my own sick family, to take care of someone else's sick children. What a bummer!
Spencer was ordained October 29 in a very nice service at the church he grew up in, in Sugar Land. He also had about 3 weeks "off" from work, but was asked to come back and is pretty grateful to be back. I'm just working 2 nights each week (mostly weekends) and think it's really a good schedule for us. I do not like that I never have weekend time with my family, but I am very grateful that I don't have to put the kiddos in daycare, and that I get to spend the week with Collin & Bailey at home. We have a great time!
So, tonight I'm at work (obviously, not working) updating my blog about how I haven't updated my blog. Hope that's enough for you until I can get more pictures posted.
10.01.2008
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