Can you give yourself a high five?

Katie Story...

Katie has been doing high fives for a handful of months now. But this past week Justin was playing a game with Katie like this..."give me a high five up high, on the side, down low...oh, too slow!" (I am sure many of you played this in elementary school or with your parents-I played a ton of times with my dad!) Katie has taken to this game and has slowly understood the concept of trying to hit his hands BEFORE he moves it away. Justin lets her get his hands every few times.

Well, during dinner one night, while Katie was sitting in her chair, Justin nudges me to look over at Katie. Here is what we saw...Katie was concentrating very intently on her hands...Her eyes were glued to her two hands as she was trying to play "high fives" by herself! She especially was trying the down low high five...oh, too slow! She was taking one hand and trying to "trick" the other hand to not hit the low five. Just like Justin does with her!

Waiting for Daddy.....

 
 
 
 

Katie waits and waits for Justin to get home. "daddy?" "daddy?" It is definately a play time as she waits for his "honking". She then RUNS to the door, or RUNS to me to pick her to RUN to the garage. What a sweet treat Justin receives each night. :) Things don't get much better then hugs from little ones!

katie's been sick :(

 

Here is a photo taken yesterday (Thursday the 12th) as we both sat on the couch and watched, "blue" or VeggieTales "Madam Blueberry". Doesn't she just look sick?? Oh my heart hurts for her! This is her second time at really being sick since birth. The other time around 5 months was just as scary and hard! Katie caught the flu bug and boy did it hit hard. She had a fever of up to 103.9 at times, runny nose, cough, headache, tummy ache and all the other things the come with the flu. I think I rocked a few miles last week between Tuesday night and Friday morning. It was not a fun time. I did get a chance to read a fiction book that I had gotten for our trip to GA that we canceled. Justin still needed to go to his conference (though he offered to see if he could stay home if I needed it...thanks Love!) so it was a double bonus to have him away while we were struggling through it. But I know that many of my friends prayed and it was those prayers and God's goodness that kept us both sane. She was able to break her fever on Thursday night and I was SO relieved. I know the fever is her body burning off the virus and I wanted it to work, it is just NOT fun to have a sick baby. But Katie came through it and we are on the mend. She still today has a cough and runny nose and I have a bit of it now as well, but all in all? We are doing well.

A book that helped me not get to worried and one I recommed to keep parents sane, is "How to raise a healthy child in spite of your Dr." by Dr. Robert Mendelsohn He is NOT against Dr's. after all he is a ped. dr. He just wants parents to think and work at keeping their children healthy and not run to a dr. office each time a child sneezes. Definately a worthwhile have! Whew...the fever section came in handy! The other thing to keep on hand, --phone numbers of seasoned parents that can listen and help you work through things when they are tough! This is priceless!

But praise God, Katie is much better. All healing is from His hand. It again caused me to put my trust in His plan, to know we live in a fallen world that He has redeemed for His purposes. May I Lord, continue to have my life refined so that one day Katie may look back and see a bit of Jesus in me. And not by my trying, but by your grace. :)

Making Smoothies, DELICIOUS AND GOOD for ya-Brandy this is for you!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

One of the health things we have added to our diet is the addition of Kefir. And since I am not especially fond of the tartness that homemade Kefir brings I add this to our daily smoothie. (you can buy kefir at the grocery store, plain or flavored!) This smoothie is CHALK FULL of nourishing things. I am sure that most of you will think we have gone off the deep end with all this, but I promise it really has aided in keeping us function well and staying healthy so we can walk in the path the Lord has called us to each and everyday! Whew..thats a long sentence! But, Justin, Katie and I try to have a smoothie everyday or at least every other day. It makes a wonderful snack-fills us up in the afternoon and our digestive system gets a head start before dinner. Plus it is delicious! Directions...add everything to your blender and blend! Enjoy!

Note to Brandy Lynn Seago! Girl, finally I am able to get this to you! Most of the things I order are from www.vitacost.com. They have the best prices and a simple $5 shipping fee, which sometimes you can get a coupon for and then it will be free!

Somethings I add most times that you didn't see...a large spoonful of coconut oil and whole flax seeds.

Oh, and since I make homemade kefir and you don't at least for now :) just by some whole fat yogurt (Stoneyfields makes a good one) or kefir from the store. You can buy flavored or the plain. We add frozen fruit too like you know. You can add anything that you like-peaches,blueberries,strawberries,bananas,pineapple,apples, grapes,etc. I have found that adding frozen and not simply fresh this makes it much more thick and we like it this way. The bananas I just buy, peel then freeze myself. Blueberries/strawberries too if I can go and pick them...but I know that you know how to do this and I will be looking for photos sometime in the spring/fall when you go picking! Let me know if you need other thoughts or if I have made this confusing. Rock on sweet Brandy! Work hard at loving Jesus and John and in the midst of it all--HAVE FUN!

An excuse to party...

The Superbowl!
We invited friends of the girls downstairs, some Bible Study peeps and...Katie's invitation was to the McKenzie boys. :)

A Nap anywhere

 
 

Katie has taken to putting her "babies" to sleep. I guess when you are a baby doll you can nap anywhere.

Children are amazing, Katie takes in so much information on a daily basis that it blows my mind. She is a sponge and I continue to be humbled by what the Lord has called me to do-be a mommy!

Morning Requests...

 

So...Katie has been waking up happy...for that I am glad...but along with happy she has started to make a few requests in the morning.

Saturday morning at 6:29 am, calling from her crib... "Mama, Daddy, Mama, Mommy, Daddy, Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, Daddy, KK Up please, up please" Justin goes to gets she up and as he is walking into the room she says, "Pnckes? Coffee?"

Sunday morning at 6:33 am, calling from her crib..."Mama, Mommy, Mommy, Daddy, Daddy, Mama, Up..." Justin again goes and gets her up and as he is walking into her roon, he hears, "Waffles! Waffles! Please?"

Today at 6:03 am, calling from her crib... "Mama, Mommy, KK Up, KK Up, Please?!, Mama, Mama, Mama" Again Justin goes to get her and this mornings request? "Chicken!"

Oh, what a riot!

Our Georgia Friends...

 
 
 

Thanks for staying at our house friends!

These are our GA friends-Andy, Brittany, Carson (10 weeks--awww:). They are SUPER fun and it has been great getting to know them. Brittany and Andy's PR firm has done work for The Barnabas Way and we have gotten to know them through that. It has been fun hanging out with you three and hopefully we can do it again soon!

Note to Carson from Katie
Carson, I had a great time with you. Make sure you keep your pacifier in your mouth so other little kids aren't
tempted to try it out! Keep reading also, it really helps you become a smart cookie. See you soon. Hugs, Katie