Exciting Eight and Noteworthy Nine

(Please note that I had this post done quite a while ago and never realized that I never actually posted it!)
What am I talking about???  Why months silly! 

The 8 and 9 month milestones have now passed for our dear little Aleah.

Sadly enough, I said I wouldn't do it again, but I did. 
I neglected to get her 8 month update done before she reached 9 months...just as I did with months 5 and 6.

So here it is...a post for months 8 and 9 for our dearest, sweet Aleah Lynn!

Aleah Lynn
Eight Months Old
9-7-11

At EIGHT MONTHS Aleah:
-made her first trip to NE with just Natalie and Mommy...Daddy was busy harvesting so he couldn't make the trip.
-mastered the crawl.  Her version is a bit different in the fact that one of her knees never touches the ground.
-uses this so-called 'crawl' to climb up the stairs from the family room to living room. 
-spent her first Sunday in the nursery at church during the Sunday morning worship service.
-met her first set of dorm kids, from all over the U.S. and world. 
-Can pull herself up to her knees and then to her feet using whatever is within reach.





Miss Aleah Lynn
Nine Months Old
10-7-11

At NINE MONTHS Aleah:
-can give herself her own bottle...she's getting to be so independent.
-has also mastered the sippy cup, especially when seated right next to her big sister and she has that 'I want to be just like her' feeling!  :)
-no longer needs to use the baby food grinder.  We cut everything up for her in tiny pieces and she is figuring out how to chew. 
-has taken her first 'winter wheat seeding meal' out to the field to the guys.  Nothing better than homemade chili and cinnamon rolls on a COLD 55 degree harvest day!
-took in her first parade..GHS's Homecoming Parade.
-and Natalie gained a 'big sister' for a few months.  Nicole Klaessig moved in with us from the dorm.
-met her second cousins Xavier and Kate Nasner for the first time. 
-spent a lot of trips to the mailbox behind mom in the 'gently used' two-seat bike trailer she and Natalie were given by the wonderful Iman family.
-popped through her top two teeth.  What an adorable smile now!
-crawls around at top speeds, standing up to furniture with ease.
-enjoys blessing us with her ear-deafening high pitched screams of excitement.  WOW!  They get really intense when she and Natalie both get going!
-says 'Dada'.  Sadly though, it is not for her Daddy, it is just a sound she is learning to make.
-imitates many of the sounds we make. 
-is very curious about other people's faces, and loves to grab at them.
-had her first overnight foreign guests from LCHS stay the night.  What a fun time we had with MJ (Thailand) and Sarah (China).

Pirate and Princess

Listen closely, Natalie has something to tell you!

'Happy Ween!"

Our little princess Snow White.

The cutest pirate I've ever seen!

A little lawn mowing on Halloween afternoon!

All smiles!

We hope you had a blessed 2011 Halloween!

(Natalie 16 days shy of 2; Aleah 7 days shy of 10 months)

It's time for the Bear Cha-Cha-Cha!

I had to get a video of this today.  I cut out just this 30-some second clip for you all to enjoy.  I think this went on for atleast 20 minutes.  I should have counted how many times Natalie went around the table. 

I love my life and my girls!

The Consumption of My Time

So, you may all be asking yourselves the following questions:
"What has happened to Amy? Did she fall off the face of the earth?  Did she forget the password to her blog account?  Is she too good to post about her life these days?  Did she lose her fingers in a horrible gardening accident and can't type therefore she can't post on her blog??"

Okay, so the truth is I just got BUSY!!!

Life has taken a huge change for us lately.  We went from a family of four to a family of five overnight.  We now have three daughters, ranging in age from 9 months to 17 years old.  You have all met the younger two additions to our family, but its now time to introduce you to our most recent. 


Her name is Nicole.  She is originally from New Hampshire, but more recently from Seattle, WA.  She was initially a dorm student at the private christian high school up here in our area, but with the oncome of some specific circumstances, she moved in with us and will remain a part of this family for the rest of the school year. 

She is a joy to have around, we're just working on her heart and helping her to get to know the Lord and His Word.  Prayers would be much appreciated!!!  It has definitely been a bit of a challenge for Tony and I, but only with positive outcomes thus far.  Having a stranger in your home can put a strain on things, but it has definitely helped me to really understand the 'Fruits of the Spirit.'

 ¹⁶ So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.  ¹⁷ For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.  ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.



²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control.

Galations 5:16-18, 22, 23

What a blessing it is to be able to walk by the Spirit!  Knowing that in His hands it is well.  

A great youth pastor and friend of mine once said in one of his sermons, "Its not easy to follow Jesus, but it is worth it."  This is the one thing I hope Nicole learns from living with us...the Way, the Truth, the Light.

So, if you've been wondering why I haven't been doing much blogging, this would be the reason.  My time has been consumed with many other things.  Again, we'd appreciate your prayers in this stage of life that we're in.

"It's not easy to have a stranger in our home, but it is totally worth it!" 

Big Sky Country

There really isn't anything quite like the 'big sky' out in eastern Montana.  The mountains on the west side of the state are beautiful, but Montana's nickname definitely came from the eastern side of the state. 

These pictures do it absolutely NO justice...just ask anyone who is not from these parts that come and visit.

We truly do live in "Big Sky Country."

"BEAUTIFUL Big Sky Country" that is!

'Aben'

I love the innocence of children.

I love love love the innocence of children whispering words to their Lord Jesus.

This video makes me laugh.

I wanted to share it with you all so you get then chance to see what we get to experience

three times a day at the dinner table with Natalie at this age. 

I want to cherish this age.

All too soon she will be all grown up.

WE LOVE YOU NATALIE GRACE!

You make us laugh with your sweet innocence.

You most likely bring a smile to your Heavenly Father's face as well!

"Aben" to that!

Taken 9/2/11

21.5 months old

Never a Dull Moment

Natalie loves to color and do stickers.  We do this atleast once a week.

About a week ago she was busy coloring and then applying stickers to her picture. 

They were garden- and tea party-themed stickers.

As she was getting close to done, I went over to see how she was doing and noticed she forgot the hat from the tea party-themed stickers. 

As soon as I said, "Natalie look, you forgot one."

She said, "HAT!" and had it on her head rather than the paper without thinking.

(These pictures are really bright, so hopefully you can make out the 'hat' on her head.)

What a hoot!  She keeps us on our toes...there is never a dull moment!

Taken on 9/2/11

Mastering the Somersault

Natalie has been really into trying to master the somersault lately. 

It went from rolling around on the ground just a couple months ago to this pose just the other day.

Love it.

And here is a video of just how close she actually is to mastering one.

Natalie Grace

Photos and Video taken 9/7/11

One week shy of 22 months

This is how we roll!

Stacked up.

Right at mommy's feet while she's working in the kitchen.

Lugging a stool around the kitchen and constantly placing it right at mommy's feet.

With a flyswatter in hand to kill all the 'bees' that Natalie lets in the house with her in and out all day long.

(To clarify, Natalie calls all flying insects 'bees'. 

I have yet to see an actual bee in the house...they are all flies.)

With our noses smudged up against mommy's just washed windows.

Cuddled together in the 'not-meant-for-two-kids' stroller.

In a swimsuit and rainboots.

These are just some clips into the way we roll around here most days.

Hope you enjoyed the ride! ;)

My girls

Now that Aleah is on the move crawling and standing up,

I catch a glimpse of what is to come, although in a much more intense form down the road.

They will be playing together in harmony, and the not, before we know it.

Here was one of my glimpses.

Isn't that sweet?

If you're curious like me, they were looking at the kitty outside.

Time is rolling by SO FAST, yet I look forward to more of what these glimpses will bring.

I. Am. Blessed.

Oh the {Simple Things}

This {simple things} in life are quite often the very best.

What am I talking about?

Oh, things like...

{a good hug from your best friend}

{a smile from a child}

{a thank-you from a 100yr old lady}

{a high five from a student}

{a tear from a good laugh}

{a cool breeze on a hot day}

{that oh-so familiar smell of home}

OR

...

the sight of one of these

(see below).

You're thinking,

"WHAT IS THAT AMY????"

Well, that is one of my favorite {simple things} in life. 

(If you can't tell what it is, it is a used butter stick that we keep in a bowl in the freezer.)

Now you're thinking,

"Seriously Amy.  You are ridiculous.  Butter??  And worst of all, USED butter?"

Okay, okay, okay.

Well, not that exact thing, but what comes along with it...

That sight in our house means that it is officially {homegrown sweet corn season}!

FINALLY!

We're way behind normal this year...long, wet spring season delayed planting our corn seeds.

Here are the girls, enjoying their {homegrown sweet corn}.

Natalie enjoying her 'boyn'.

Aleah's first corn on the cob. 

(According to me, a 'corn-fed raised Nebraskan', this is a very noteworthy photo!)

She really enjoyed it!

Sorry for this absolutely 'corny' post. 

:)

Now you're thinking,

"Man, that Amy is so funny.  What a great pun."

:)

In all seriousness though...

I DO really enjoy all of the simple things we get to experience in life like

{Corn.on.the.cob}

Oh the {Simple Things}

Crick vs. Creek?

Question of the day:

How do you pronounce the word creek?

Do you say 'creek' or 'crick'?

I must admit, I say 'crick'.

That's the only bit of redneck you'll find in me.

That's it.  Nothing more!  ;)

(If you know me you know those last few statements are not true.)

Now that we've gotten that VERY important issue out of the way, let's move on to a lighter note.

Sunday Family Funday!

This entire year has been a crazy one weather-wise. 

As a farmer's wife, my life revolves around the weather.  Why you may be asking yourself? 

Well because my husband's life revolves around the weather.

We skipped church to spend some time as a family during the seemingly never-ending seeding/spraying season.  This was the one time we could spend some time with our dear Tony.

On a day like this, we usually start out with a nice breakfast.  From here, weather permitting, outside time is absolutely necessary...no ifs, ands, or buts, or butts. ;)

Due to the SURPLUS of moisure due to snowmelt and rainfall, we decided to see if we could cross the crick (or creek for all you non-rednecks) on the cut-across road.

Natalie in her Daddy's arms looking on to the other side.

It is possible by foot.

Natalie desperately wanted to 'bim' (swim), so she got her feet wet.

A bit cold for the little tot!

Possible by feet.  But by wheel?...without floating away?

I have a great video of this that I'll try to post. 

You can hear me doubting my man and his wheels.

Ta da!!!

She was proud!

Now to move a couple rocks/boulders to make the ride a bit more safe.

Mom, does this one need to be moved?

Definitely yes honey!  Thanks for your help Natalie!

The crew on the way home.

We had to stop for some cows. 

Now that the Little Porcupine Ranch is truly no longer a ranch (in other words, we sold the cows and now just farm), Natalie doesn't get up close and personal with cows much.

She was off. 

They were headed somewhere, and I think if we'd have let her, she'd have been right there with them!

Cheese Theft

Isn't that the cutest guilty face you've every seen?

LOVE IT!

Not long after that face came this one.

And then this one!  That guilty feeling lasted about 2 seconds!

This was the day that I realized that Natalie doesn't need Mommy or Daddy's help to get into the fridge!

Taken on July 5th, 2011

19 months and 3 weeks old

4th and Family

4th and family...no I am not talking about football.

(Although I'm loving that tomorrow is my Huskers' first game in the Big 10.) 

4th and family refers to...

yes...

believe it or not...

...the 4th of July and a family reunion. 

That.is.how.FAR.BEHIND.I.am!

Anyways, this year our 4th of July was very laid back.

Emphasis on the 'very.'

Considering we had spent the two days before and morning of the 4th at the Heidner family reunion,

the family and I, along with Tony's cousin Travis and his family stayed home and didn't even do fireworks. 

Pause...

I'm allowing you time to take that last statement in.

Okay...

are you ready to move on??

Trust me, I understand.  As I look back, I am still in shock.

We were just THAT tired.

I think this was the first year in my entire life that I haven't seen fireworks on July 4th. 

Not sure...maybe when I was a weee lassie of an infant at less than two months old I didn't see them, but really, who's counting?

Anyways, here are some picture of our weekend.

Natalie getting to push Aleah in the stroller in a wide open gym.

She LOVES being a big sister and getting the chance at independence.

Aleah in her 4th of July outfit...on the 3rd of July at church.

Natalie snuck up to Papa and Nana a couple more than a few times during the church service.

Thankfully we were surrounded only by family.  ;)

Natalie in her 4th of July outfit.

Snack time!

Aleah spending time with Daddy.

On the go, with cookie in tow. 

What's up in the sky???  (not fireworks) :(

This is a common pose for Natalie.  I think she likes the rush of throwing her head back and forth. 

She must get that from her dad! ;)

Overall, the reunion was a blast.  We were all tired in the end, but it is so fun to meet new cousins and catch up with old ones every couple years. 

And about the fireworks, as sappy as it sounds, I loved the night of the 4th of July because I had my loving hubby and wonderful girls by my side, even if all we did was watch an old episode of Shark Tank with Travis, Maella, Olivia, and Colin!