The Williamson Life

The morning

2009-08-12T11:01:00.002-04:00

I offered to give the kids baths after breakfast this morning. They didn't really need it, but I thought it would make things a little easier for me. Always easier to clean up the kitchen when they're off busy somewhere else.

I got busy in the kitchen and forgot to shut the water off as soon as I wanted...so the tub was quite full.

I got busy again, and when I came back, I saw it. POOP. What was I thinking?? Gage ALWAYS poops after breakfast! WHY did I think I could be faster than his scheduled poop????

Joel is at work. Both kids are sopping wet. We wait, trapped in the bathroom (so Gage doesn't run off) for 5 minutes while the tub drains. I then, still trapped in the bathroom, have to spray the tub down and clean it out. Is there room for my belly while leaning into the tub? No.

I get the kids back in the tub, and start rushing to clean them up and get them out as fast as I can. My back is really hurting by now. Asia: "Mom - I have to poop!" Me: "You'll have to wait a minute. Let me get you washed up first." Asia: "But I have to go really bad!!"

She sits on the toilet. 30 seconds later, "Mom, I can't go." Figures...

After the kids are out of the tub and dried off, I take Gage into his bedroom to get him dressed. He gets mad that I lay him down to put his diaper on.

So he pees on me.

Recent Asia Quotes

2009-08-10T16:50:00.003-04:00

Those of you that know us well, know that Asia can say some pretty clever things sometimes. Here's a few from the last couple weeks that I've enjoyed.

Asia: "Am I still growing up?"
Alaina: "Yup."
Asia: "Am I gonna get this big?"
Alaina: "You're gonna grow until you get as big as mommy."
Asia: "And then I'll be able to reach cereal and ice cream??"

Asia: “Why are our neighbors not outside anymore??”
Alaina: "I don’t know honey."
Asia: “Probably because they’re playing and tickling each other.”

Alaina: "Where's Gage?"
Asia: "He's down here, I told you!"
(Apparently I already asked her about him, and had forgotten!)

Newest Family Picture

2009-07-14T15:20:00.003-04:00

Here's the newest, and probably the best, family picture we have! It was taken on the 4th of July at Joel's parent's lakehouse.

BaCKyArd FuN!

2009-06-29T16:24:00.004-04:00

Trying to get a picture of Asia smelling a flower - I said, "Lean in and sniff the flower and we'll take a picture of it." This is what I got...wording is so crucial!

After re-explaining, this was the next shot that we got!

4 Months!

2009-06-06T22:26:00.003-04:00

So I'm basically 4 months... I was 17 weeks on Thursday (to be exact). I'm showing a lot sooner this time around, but I hear that's how it goes the more kids you have.

Here's the first 'official' pregnancy picture of me. I think something's up with our camera; every picture taken today has been blurry, especially around the edges. So this isn't the clearest of picures, but I guess it'll have to do!

Rockstar's Allergy Test

2009-06-04T15:50:00.006-04:00

Since Asia has an allergy to almost every nut, and had other allergies when she was younger, we figured it would be a good idea to have Gage tested for allergies as well. As it turns out, he tested a 4 (on a scale of 1-4) for a peanut allergy. Next year, he needs to have a blood test in May, then a recheck with skin testing in June.

Immediately after the scratch test. The left is environmental allergies, the right is food.

The control is the left reaction, the peanut is the right.

The final results.

Although he didn't like the test itself, he cheered up really fast.

Eyebrow Ring

2009-05-09T17:18:00.004-04:00

Joel let me get my eyebrow pierced again for Mother's Day. I had one seven years ago before we were married, but it only lasted a couple months and I took it out not only for our wedding, but because New Tribes wouldn't allow it, and we were moving onto campus only a month after getting married.

Joel had Wednesday afternoon off, so we headed out to my cousin's shop, Van Gogh Tattoos in Grand Ledge.

Lining up the clamp.

The needle's in! I didn't want to watch - can you tell?

The top ball is on, getting ready to put the bottom on.

Afterward, in the car!

Birthday Parties

2009-04-25T23:02:00.005-04:00

Asia turned 3 on the 19th, and she had a Princess Party. Gage turned 1 on the 23rd, and he had a jungle themed party with a monkey cake! Here's a few pictures from the excitement:

Surprise!!!!

2009-04-25T22:59:00.002-04:00

I've had 2 ultrasounds so far - we had some concerning blood work in the beginning, and I was having some unusual bleeding. Everything is fine, there are no problems, and I am due November 5th.

Surprise! A couple years early, but we're still excited!!

A Little Lazy

2009-04-25T22:54:00.002-04:00

Clearly I've been a little lazy lately in updating. I've got a couple slightly good excuses. The month of March was filled with sickness. After Asia got Pneumonia, she kept getting sickness after sickness, and it eventually spread. We've been feeling lots better this month, BUT were having trouble getting our pictures to upload from our camera to the computer. We finally got them uploaded, FULLY, not just partially, last night! Yay!!!

So now it's time for the updates....

Pneumonia

2009-02-23T13:10:00.001-05:00

Asia's fever went away Sunday, but she started coughing and sneezing like crazy. Then late last night her fever returned.

Joel took her in to see our doctor this morning, and it turns out she has a slight case of Pneumonia! (It certainly doesn't sound like a slight case though!) She also has a small ear infection in her right ear. We can't wait to get her started on antibiotics this afternoon. Hopefully she'll back to old self soon - I was not expecting such a big diagnosis!

Unfortunately Gage has started coughing too. We're just waiting to see if he gets a fever too, and if so, we'll be taking him in also. Please pray that he doesn't get sick too!

A Rough Week!

2009-02-21T16:30:00.002-05:00

We discovered Wednesday afternoon, after having a daughter that was unusually tired, that she was in fact, sick. Besides being tired, she has acted normal. Today she started having a little diarrhea. Yuck. Good thing I trusted my instincts and swapped out the underwear from diapers! Luckily Joel has been a good guy and has done his fair share of diaper duty.

I've gotta admit...I like having Asia sleep this much. She slept for 14 hours last night - from 6pm until 9am (she was awake from 12-1am when I had to wake her up because she had a high fever again). Starting Wednesday, she's been taking daily naps. The first consistent nap taking since the summer! We've tried 4 or 5 times this afternoon to get her to lay down for a nap. Despite how tired she acted or looked, she kept fighting it. FINALLY after a HUGE meltdown (Joel is at the church right now. Of course.) I laid in bed with her for less than 5 minutes and she was out cold. So this is my few minutes of rest before Rockstar wakes up from his nap.

I hope she feels better soon. I don't like seeing her sick! We'll see how the rest of the day goes, I guess. I'm supposed to play bass guitar during special music tomorrow at church, and I'm really excited - I REALLY hope Asia is better by tomorrow morning so that I don't have to stay home!

Busy Life

2009-02-08T21:29:00.005-05:00

Joel has started back to school. He is in his sixth week I think - hard to believe it's been that long already! He has been doing well. All online classes, and a couple are not worth the effort in credits. At least he's getting those out of the way.

Since Joel is back to school, I am spending more time taking care of the kids. Naturally. All I can say is, I've been exhausted lately. Seriously. I can hardly get out of bed in the morning. Asia is sleeping through the night again. We're praying that this will continue. I'm not sure why she started getting up during the night again, but it was aweful. Asia would wake Gage up, accidentally, so now Gage is also in the habit of getting up every night. With two kids, it's honestly easier to just feed him and go back to sleep, versus letting him cry it out and learn to go back to sleep on his own. I would get even less sleep doing the latter.

Gage is a handful. He's still quite attached to me. He loves toys, and he loves his big sis. He follows her into her room and plays very well with her. I'll find him by himself playing with his toys quite often. He gets into everything. Something about Asia's potty chair attracts him. We're having to keep the bathroom door closed again. We're sure he'll be walking soon.

Asia is a handful. She is such a sweetheart. She is such a brat. She's like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. She's all girl...princesses, princesses, princesses!! Pink, pink, pink! Make up, lipstick, dresses, hair, and all that jazz! She's turning three soon. I'm scared that three will be even worse than two. She already has quite an attitude - I'm not sure if I can handle it getting even worse!

Here's a couple pictures from a few weeks back. The pictures of Gage, are not bad/ill-timed pictures...those are his silly faces! He has quite the personality!

First Official Haircut

2009-02-08T21:20:00.003-05:00

So....this blogging thing is getting really hard for me. I don't have much time to make updates. Facebook is a lot easier. And Blogger is a pain when I want to upload pictures, and format everything. I've probably complained about this before...

Anyway, I've trimmed Gage's hair a couple times before, but he's never gotten an official haircut. Until a couple weeks ago. He is a busy boy who doesn't like to sit still. Especially when he doesn't like something that's going on. Needless to say, the haircut didn't turn out perfect. And sadly, I don't think I have an after picture. I guess that's something I'll have to work on...he was too worked up to get a good picture of him afterward.

I guess it serves me right for cutting his hair without daddy there to help.

Bedhead....those poor chapped cheeks!!

Alright mom....I'm not liking this so far...

Pleeeeeaaaase be done; you're torturing me here!

Merry Christmas!!

2008-12-21T17:07:00.001-05:00

Click here to create your own video

Halloween 2008

2008-11-01T21:51:00.004-04:00

I can't believe we're already past Halloween! We had a good day, although it wasn't as stress-free as I thought it was going to be. We started out in Toledo visiting Joel's family because his mom is very sick. We drove to our house to pick up a couple things then headed straight to Joel's sister's house where we had less than an hour to eat, feed Gage, get costumes on, and get back into town for the Fall Festival at their church to start. Let's just say we barely made it...all in all though, it was fun.

Asia with her Cinderella pumpkin...unfortunately, a squirrel ate the face out of it that night...

Asia the little Princess! If only it were true in real life...

Asia with her cousins and a friend at the Fall Festival at our parents church.

A Prayer

2008-10-11T22:22:00.005-04:00

Joel and I are working with Asia, teaching her how to pray on her own. Here's one from the other night.

Joel: Dear God,

Asia: Dear God,

Thank you for today

Thank you for today

Thank you I got to go to the grocery store

Thank you I got to go to grocery store, see the food

Thank you for mommy

Thank you for YOU (pokes me in the chest)

Thank you for daddy

And for gage

Thank you for grandpa and grandma

Thank you for grandma and grandma (yes, you read that right)

Help mommy's owie to feel better

Help your owie right there (points to my mouth)

Help daddy to work good tomorrow

Help daddy work

In Jesus name, Amen.

Amen!

Here Am I, Send Me!

2008-10-10T15:45:00.003-04:00

This is a video a friend posted on facebook that I wanted to share...the Lord really spoke to me as I watched this. So many times we ignore the moving of the Holy Spirit telling us to share God's love with someone. So many times we think, "I could never live in a third world country like they do." So many times we say, "I don't want to offend them." If God was to ask us why we didn't go, or why we didn't tell, can we really, truly stand before Him and say, "I didn't know You called me."?

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phillippians 4:13

Visiting with Friends

2008-10-10T10:53:00.007-04:00

We don't get to make it down to Indiana as much as we'd like to (gas prices!!), but we were able to go last Thursday thru Saturday. We had a nice time visiting with the Fennells and the Picheas (who we haven't seen in 2 years!).

Us ladies had a scrapbooking night Thursday, we visited the Picheas on Friday afternoon, the guys had a lanparty Friday night, and then Saturday we went out for breakfast, and then went to a fall festival thing around lunchtime. Lots of fun!

pictures and an allergy test

2008-09-28T22:20:00.005-04:00

I'm taking Asia back in to see her allergist tomorrow. I'm stoked! It's been a year since her last test, and I'm super excited to see what she's allergic to. We're hoping she's outgrown some of her allergies (milk, soy, eggs, peanuts).

Here's a few pictures from the last couple weeks!

More Asia Funnies

2008-09-07T18:27:00.002-04:00

I've got a couple more funny/cute things Asia's said recently.

SWEATER
My parents took Asia to Old Navy last week and bought her some new clothes b/c they were having a sale. That night we tried some of the new clothes on, and as I put a sweater on her, I said, "Look at this pretty blue sweater! Don't you like it?"
She said, "I like it. I get married in it?"
Joel and I just laughed.

OBEDIANCE
I had asked Asia to do something (put a tube of medicine down) and she wasn't obeying. I said, "Okay, you're going to time out because you disobeyed. I asked you several times to put the medicine down, and you didn't obey."
She whined, "I didn't understand you."
WHAT!? I was so surprised that at 2 1/2 she's trying to make excuses for her disobediance. And now it starts...

Poop...

2008-08-28T10:34:00.004-04:00

I got a good laugh out of this a couple weeks ago. Every now and then she'll say it again, and I can't help but laugh. At least she remembers...and hopefully she'll obey! (*shudders)

Asia always asks to see her poop when I change her diaper. I don't know why, but she does. One day, after letting her see the diaper before wrapping it up, she says:

"I eat my poop."

I was shocked - what exactly do you do?? Laugh while cringing, or try to be serious and explain that that's DISGUSTING and we DO NOT do it.... Well, I landed somewhere in the middle. Between chuckles, I explained that it can make you sick, and we NEVER EVER NEVER eat poop. She continued by repeating my "never ever" with each individual in the family.

So every once and awhile it pops up out of the blue:

"We never ever never eat our poop."
"That's right, we never eat poop..."

Do with this as you will...

A Trip to the Zoo

2008-08-27T16:22:00.007-04:00

My parents bought us a family pass to the zoo for an early anniversary present. Last Wednesday the zoo had an "appreciation" day in the evening, for members only. So, we went with my parents. Free dinner and free parking!

Daddy home from work - last day of turn!!!

Look Daddy - berries!

Joel was exhausted - can you tell??

What do you think I am? Stupid? (we get this face a lot...)

Our Plans....

2008-08-10T22:53:00.006-04:00

Well... I've been wanting to post an update with our future plans for awhile now, but things have been kind of back and forth as we've been figuring out some of the details:

Joel is planning on going back to school to get his degree in Network Administration. We are in the process of selling our house so that we can move in with our parents while he goes back to school (to help us save money). Until our house sells though, he will only be taking a couple night classes; once the house is sold he'll be going full time, and working. He is also looking for another job for this fall. Painting has been really slow, and honestly, just hasn't cut it for us lately!

Plans for myself, as of right now, are to simply keep doing what I have been doing; stay home and watch the kids! We are both open to me working part time, but thus far, there have been too many complications to work out.

Our end desire is to see the Lord use us with New Tribes Missions in some way, any way, as we know that they are in need of people for Network Administration. Joel is great with computers, and this kind of ministry also leaves openings for him/us to serve in other areas. We are waiting on the Lord's timing for everything to take place, and are looking forward to where He takes us!

Prayer Requests:

*Our house will sell.
*Our car will sell (and that we'll find one with better gas mileage).
*Joel will find a new job, or more consistent hours painting.
*If it's the Lord's will that I can work too.
*That we'll be aware of the Lord's leading in terms of where to live after our house sells.

Gage at 15 weeks (3 1/2 months)

Our first family picture! (At a friend's wedding)

Asia's excitement at taking a bath with Rockstar!

Our Indian...

Nice and clean!!

The 4th!

2008-07-10T16:12:00.003-04:00

We spent Friday at my aunt's house for the parade and a BBQ. Then we went the fireworks in Lansing. Both kids did quite well. Asia loved the fireworks, and when asked if she like them, she said, "Do it again?" Even Gage had fun!

Saturday morning we left for Lake Seneca again, and stayed thru Monday. Here's just a couple pics, since we forgot to take more.