Don't You Trust Me?

About a month ago, we went through a little phase with Leila.  It seems that, out of no where, she suddenly became terrified of the bath.  Actually, terrified seems like too light of a word.  I'm not really sure what brought it on, but one night we were going through our normal routine and she totally freaked out - screaming and climbing out of the tub.  She was shaking and her heart was pounding.  Totally took me off guard and I had no idea what was going on.  I checked the water - it was not too hot.  I didn't see any bugs in it (she flips out over flies!).  So I didn't know what was going on.

Somehow I got her cleaned - barely.  And thus began two weeks of the same thing.  I tried everything, but as soon as you would mention "bath" she would start crying hysterically.  One thing we did notice was she would keep glancing up at the shower head as she was crying.  It was then that I remembered that a while ago Libby had accidentally turned the shower on both of them, which completely scared them both.  But she had been fine after that until this episode, so I don't know if that was connected.

Anyway, we figured out she was afraid of the shower.  It got to the point that she would get in the tub, but only if the water was already in it and turned off.  But anytime my hand would go near the faucet or knob to turn on the water, the freaking out would commence.

It was so frustrating.  I didn't know what to do, or how to help.  We would talk about how the shower is not scary - it's just like rain.  And that I would not turn it on.  She would be fine until it was actually time to be in the tub.  If she even had the slightest thought I would move near the faucet, screaming she would go.

It doesn't sound as frustrating as it was.  But I even cried over it.  I didn't know what to do.  Matt and I kept praying with and for her.  I asked other moms at church if they went through it with any of their kids.  And I would keep reassuring Leila that I would NOT turn the shower on her!

I can remember, at one point near the end of the first week of this, looking at her in the eyes while she was crying and saying, "Leila, Mommy loves you and I have told you I won't turn on the shower.  Don't you trust me?" (Now, I know some of you are thinking, "C'mon, Emily.  She's four.  Does she even know what "trust" means? Well, probably not.  But I said it anyways.  Get over it. ;-) )

Later that night, as I was lying in my bed, praying for everything that was on my heart.  I was praying for Leila and for the Lord to help me teach Leila to not be afraid and to trust me.  Then I started pouring my heart out to God about our situation, about how scared I was of the future, how I just wanted to know what was going to happen with us, how I was worried about our finances and how we were going to survive until Matt found work.  And then, like a big ol' knock to the head, it hit me.  It was like the Lord was saying, "Emily, I love and I have told you that I will take care of you.  Don't you trust me?"

I literally stopped mid-prayer, opened my eyes and stared into the darkness of my room.  I knew it then.  Yes, Leila had a legitimate fear of the shower.  But I knew that we were going through this for ME to learn this very important lesson.

God has promised in Hebrews 13:5, "...I will never leave you nor forsake you."  God says in Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.  Paul tells us in Philippians 4:19, "And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus."  Jesus says in Matthew 6:34, "Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

I have known these verses since - I don't even remember learning them- that's how long I have known them.  I have quoted them to friends and family when trying to encourage them.  I wrote them out in Bible classes in high school and college.  I KNOW these verses.  But now, the Lord is asking me to LIVE them.

Here I was, frustrated because I wanted Leila to trust me, to believe me when I tell her I would not do something to hurt her.  I promised her that I would not turn on the shower.  But yet, she still would scream and cry.  And that's sort of what I was doing with God.

He has told me he has His plans.  He has tomorrow taken care of it.  He knows what's best for me.  He is able to take care of it all.  And there I am, crying and whining because I am scared and don't know what is gonna happen or if we are going to be okay.  And God is just wanting me to trust Him.

Let me tell you, I immediately asked God to forgive me for not trusting Him and resting in His capable hands.  And I let our life, our future, our family go back into His strong, perfect, capable care.  And I felt an overwhelming sense of PEACE come over me that I still feel to this moment.   I know God is in control.  I know He has it all planned out.  I know He is going to take care of us.  I know He hasn't forgotten about us.

And He's proving it to us everyday.  No, we still are not sure what is going to happen.  But we do have a door that seems to be open to us at the moment, so we are heading in that direction.  Matt is candidating at a church in Alberta in September for an associate pastor position.  As for our finances, God is taking care of that.  Just in the last week and a half, we have received (in several very unexpected ways) over 2 months worth of salary replacement!  Yes, God has it all in control.  He just needs me to trust Him.

As for Leila, it was just about two days after my "epiphany" that she said she wanted Daddy to bathe her and when he did - Not. One. Tear.  She was fine!  After Daddy bathing her for two days she was fine with me doing it again and we have been fine since!  Go figure!

You know, there are so many things I love about being a parent.  But one of the most humbling ones is how God uses their innocence to teach me so, so many lessons.  I have thought so much about this particular lesson since then because I know that God had the whole thing happen just for me.  We always spout out verses about trusting and obeying and having faith.  But its a whole lot harder to live it out.  I have been saved for 24 years.  And I still am learning these lessons all the time.

Another thing the Lord brought to my mind through all this was something I heard a preacher say in college.  He was talking about the will of God and how we make it some mystical, hard to figure out thing.  Then he said something that has stuck with me and always will.  He said, "If you can trust God with your eternity, then why can't you trust Him with your life?" Touche.  We seem to so easily trust Him with our salvation and our eternity with Heaven.  But we have a hard time with the here and now.  Seems a little, ridiculous, don't you think?  I certainly do.

I don't know what all is going on in your life.  But I ask you now - is God having to ask you, "Don't you trust me?"  Take it from me.  Just trust Him.  You will never regret.  Never.

Until next time...

Scenic Saturday(ish) - Leila's 3rd B-day

Our last day in Mistissini, Quebec also happened to be our Leila-girl's 3rd birthday.  We had a little gift for her to open that day, but waited until we came home to have a little party for her.  Instead of doing a big hoopla of a party like we did the year before, we just had a quiet little party with just us, my in-laws, and Matt's aunt and uncle who live a few hours from here.  We still had fun and I am pretty sure she enjoyed all her gifts, since she still plays with them everyday (well, and sleep on them!  Mom, she still loves her new sheets and always wants the "ones with the birdhouses" on them! :-0)

She wanted a "George" cake.

Not interested in blowing out the candle!

She LOVES Strawberry Shortcake.  I mean LOVES!

She plays with this stuff every single day!

Again, you can see the look of delight on her face!  She was so excited!

Yes, we make the kids read the cards first! ;-)

Our beautiful girl!

A new Strawberry Shortcake video!

Just had to add this - Libby thought she'd help herself to all the loot! :-)

Our Little Leila-Girl

Well, it happened.  Last Sunday, June 26, our little Leila-girl turned three. Three!  Did you hear me?  She is three!  I just can't believe it!  Where in the world does the time go?

Leila, Mommy and Daddy just can't believe you are already three years old.  It truly does seem like just yesterday that you were born.  I remember when we found out you were on the way.  We were so excited! Liam was going to have a little brother or sister!  You were very good to mommy for most of the pregnancy.  Until the end when I felt like you were NEVER going to come (even though you did come right on time - on your due date just like your brother and sister!).  You Aunt Amanda came about a month before you were born to help Mommy and to be here when you were born.  I can remember Manda, Daddy, and I walking and walking several times a day trying to get you to come.  We were so excited to see you and hold you!
Finally, on June 26, you made your appearance.  You came much quicker than your brother (and a little easier too!).  We didn't know beforehand if you were a boy or a girl.  Honestly, I didn't know how much I would love having a daughter until I laid eyes on you.  When you came and they announced that you were a girl, Daddy and I just started crying!  A daughter!  How wonderful!  It was then that we revealed the name we had picked out - Leila Claire.  Your middle name is after your Aunt Amanda.  I think she was surprised and pleased when we told her your name!
I can tell you that it took Daddy all of 2 seconds to have have you deeply burrowed into his heart.  After we moved rooms and Mommy fell asleep, Daddy held you for the next 4 hours just talking to you, telling you all about how much he loves you and his "rules" for dating!  Ha!
From the day we brought you home you have showed your independent spirit and a little bit of stubbornness.  You like things your way and in your time.  Even at the age of one you were particular about things like which shoes you wore and what clothes we put on you!  Your quite the little girl, but not overly frilly - just how we like it!
You started talking ALOT and very early.  You pretty much still talk all day.  And you say the cutest things and are constantly asking questions about anything and everything.  You've never been much of a snuggler, except with certain privileged people like your Grammy.
Now that you are three, I can see you growing up so much!  You love everything Strawberry Shortcake and Curious George.  You don't really like me to fix your hair, but sometimes you ask me to fix it into "cupcakes" or even in "apples."  I'm not really sure what you mean by that, but I put it up and hope that is what you meant!  Haha!
You are really starting to learn things like counting, your ABC's, and even a few Bible verses.  You love to sing and will make up songs about what you see and are doing all the time.  You love to play with your big brother, and love to tease him even more.  You don't like Libby to touch anything of yours and you have made it your mission to make sure she is always doing what is right.  If she isn't, you are quick to correct her and to let me or Daddy know.
You are such a beautiful little girl and Daddy and I are so privileged to have you as our daughter.  We love you so much, Leila-girl and love your spirit, your excitement, and how you either run or hop everywhere you go!  Happy birthday, Sweet Pea.  We love you so much!

Kids, Kids, Kids...

So, before I got up this morning, I'm pretty sure my kids got together and made a deal with each other that they all were going to try my patience today.  And they succeeded.  Don't get me wrong- I love my kids more than I could ever say.  But they really drove me crazy today.  It probably didn't help that I had a headache and was tired all day.  But, anyways, it was a harder day but we made it through.

Poor Libby had to go and get her first set of shots today.  After much debating, researching, and prayer, Matt and I decided to postpone her vaccines until she was one year old.  So today she got her first set - poor baby!  But she did wonderful and only cried during the process.  And except for a little fussing right before bed, it did not seem to affect her much at all.  Praise the Lord!

We have been having some really good days lately with Leila (well, except for today, but we won't go there...).  She has been my little helper and has been really, really good.  She is generally attached to my hip - wherever I am, she is.  That makes it a little hard when I am going over school stuff with Liam, since she doesn't really know how to be quiet.  But she's been so sweet lately.  And yesterday made me laugh really hard.

I was getting her ready in the morning, and asked her how she wanted me to do her hair.  "Um, I want cakes in my hair."  she said without a moments hesitation.  "What?  Cakes?"  I asked.  "Yes mommy, I want cakes!"  So, I thought and tried to think of a way to seem like she had cakes in her hair.  I'm really not sure where she got that idea.  Anyways, I finally came up with putting her hair in pigtails, then braiding the pigtails, then putting them in little buns - sorta the Princess Leia look - only much cooler and cuter.  And did she ever look cute!  I should have taken a picture, but I didn't.  But she looked super cute and she was so pleased to have two "cakes" in her hair.  Haha!  It still makes me laugh!

Liam is still loving school, though I think he is getting a little bored with it.  The class isn't moving fast enough for him, I guess.  But he is loving that he can read one vowel words.  I love it too!  I can't believe my little boy is reading!

We got a lot more snow yesterday, and have more forecasted for the weekend.  I'm trying REALLY hard not to complain too much, but its hard.  I am so ready for spring.  But, I know it will be here soon enough, and then we can all be outside as much as we want to play, play, play!  I just can't wait!

So, not too exciting here.  Sorry no pictures.  I have kinda not taken too many lately.  Need to fix that!  Anyways, hope your Tuesday was a good one.  Happy March!  Wow - March already!?!

Until next time...

Sooo...

Ya, the whole trying to post more often isn't going so great right now.  I am going to try to do better in the new year.  Since I use this as our family scrapbook of sorts, I feel as if I am missing tons of stuff that one day I would wish I wrote down.  So I need to do better.

Well, this time tomorrow we will be on VACATION!!!!!!  I am so excited I can hardly stand it.  But, I still have a lot to do.  I am not packed yet - been trying to get the laundry and cleaning all done.  I don't know about you, but I like to leave my house as spotless as possible so that I can come home to a clean home.  So I have most everything clean except the last minute stuff.  And laundry is pretty much all done, so I just have to put our clothes in the suitcases.  We are leaving tomorrow evening and travelling to Andrew and Danielle's house in New Hampshire.  From there, we all (our family and Andrew's family) will fly out of Boston on Saturday and have a STRAIGHT flight to Denver.  I can't tell you how happy we are to have gotten a straight flight.  Somehow the thought of running through an airport to get to another gate to catch another flight with five kids and four adults (on of whom is almost 7 months pregnant) and all their stuff just didn't sound appealing at all.  Yay for Southwest and their straight flights and NO CHARGE for checked luggage!

I believe in my last post I said something about a winter wonderland.  Well, wouldn't you know that the very next day it would warm up, and start raining and not stop raining for a day and a half?  And all that rain would cause all the snow to melt, which would cause MAJOR FLOODING in our province?  Oh, it was so bad - many people were evacuated from their homes, power went out in many places, roads were completely washed out, there were many rescues made in the river, and many homes were ruined.  Our church got a little flooding, but nothing bad at all.  I feel so bad for some people who have so much damage, and so close to Christmas!  Yesterday the schools were closed due to buses not being able to travel the roads.  And then, wouldn't you know that it we woke up this morning to more SNOW?  And it is cold again.  And it is snowing now, even as I type this at 11pm.  Weather is a strange thing, don't you think?

We have a first here in the Sealy Household.  Last night, we got our first black eye.  Matt and I were at youth group, and my mother - in-law was babysitting.  Liam and Leila were doing something, and Liam (for reasons we still do not know) got upset and threw a frying pan at Leila's face (a TOY frying pan, mind you!).  Anyways, she woke up this morning with a pretty little black and blue and purple eye.  I guess it was bound to happen sometime!

WE have one more day of school with Liam before Christmas break.  He is loving school, though I think he is getting a little bored since it is not moving fast enough for him.  He catches onto things very quickly, and since he does video school, it is just like he is in a classroom.  Well, a teacher only goes as fast as the average student, and I think that is a little too slow for Liam.  So I am going to try to add some more things to his usual school day when we start up again in the new year.  It is fun to see him learn though.  I still can't believe my little boy is old enough to sound out one vowel words.  And he does very good at it, too!  His imagination is really taking off, too.  He is always playing stuff now, reminding me of things I used to play when I was little.  I have heard him trying to get Leila to play "school" with him, and he plays "church" too.  Just the other day he came to me and said, "Mommy, when I get taller, then I can preach."  I then asked him, "So, you want to preach, huh?"  to which he answered, "Yes, just like Daddy."  Aww... how cute!

Leila is really becoming quite the clown and likes to talk and make people laugh.  She is pretty much right by my said ALL DAY LONG which some days can be a bit tiring, but in the end, I love it.  She is my helper and will talk to me all day if I let her.  Matt and I were just talking today about maybe getting her into gymnastics because she is quite the flexible little girl and is always hanging on stuff and doing all kinds of splits and stuff.  A funny story about her:  yesterday Matt was going to go run and errand.  He was putting on his shoes when she walked up and said, "Where are you going, Honey?"  Matt laughed (as did I from the other room) and informed her that only Mommy calls Daddy "Honey." She just said, "Oh."  I guess I must call him "Honey" alot.  At least it isn't "Pookie" or something! ;-)

Libby is almost pulling herself up, and she can stand for a long time while holding on to stuff.  She still takes great pleasure in pulling stuff off shelves.  Guess she is going to be a strong one as she isn't getting the message that is a no-no.  Her vocab now consists of "hi," "mama," dada," "yay-yu," (I think that is Leila), and "bubba" (we sometimes call Liam "Bubba").  She is working on her 4th tooth.  She made me the HAPPIEST mommy in the world last night by sleeping all night long.  I know, I know.  She is almost 11 months old and still does not sleep all night?  Yup.  I did everything I knew to do, everything I did with the other two (which worked like a charm on them by 2 months), but not her.  I guess she just starts to miss me around 4 in the morning because that is when she always wakes up.  But, the past few weeks it was moving to closer to 5, then 6, and last night, I woke up at 6:30am and realized she hadn't woken my up!  (Yes, just so you know, I DID go in to check on her...).  I actually had to wake her up at 7:15am in order to get her ready to go.  We had to leave early.

Well, I guess that is all for now.  Seeing as how we are on vacation, I am not sure how much I am going to blog, but I will try to at least once or twice.  I have to be careful, though, because last time we were all together, I forgot to sign out of blogger and my brother Jeremy got on my blog and posted something odd.  So if you see something strange or what doesn't sound like me, then know it is probably not me! :-)

If I don't "talk" to you all before then, have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

Winter Wonderland

Hello from the chilly north!  It is definitely winter here.  It has snowed off and on all day every, day since Sunday.  And it is cold.  When we got up this morning, it was a whopping 1 degree F outside (right now it is 7 degrees)! Woohoo!  I don't mind it as long as I don't have to be out in it!  I just LOVE snow - and the snow has been the really pretty, fluffy snow.  Just love it.

Well, I have not been blogging as much lately for one simple reason - we need a new keyboard!  I guess my attempts at fixing it were futile and only making things worse.  So, I guess "Santa" is going to get me a new mac keyboard for Christmas.  For now, I have hooked up our old keyboard from our PC computer, but once you get used to a Mac, the PC stuff just doesn't match up.  So, I guess this will work for now.  Anyways, I just thought I give a little update on everything!

We are nearing our vacation (one week from today it starts!!!) and we are SO ready for it.  Matt needs a break, majorly.  I really wish we had someone who could be an assistant to him, to take some of the load off.  But, as of right now, there is no one and so we will just continue you on.  We have a church breakfast tomorrow (mmm.. bacon....) and then Sunday night is our Christmas program.  We will have some singing groups (we don't have a choir) and Matt is doing a little drama presentation.  I usually do one, too, but just have not had the time to get one together this year.  Then, next week we have something every night until Friday when we leave for New Hampshire.  Next Saturday us and my brother's family all fly out together to Denver for two weeks!  Woohoo!

I am feeling pretty good.  I had another test at the hospital yesterday - an ultrasound.  Now, don't get all excited.  I'm not pregnant.  I had an ultrasound of my kidneys, gallbladder, etc.  They are still trying to rule out tumors and such as to the cause of my symptoms.  Well, the good news is they found nothing.  The "bad" news is I still have no answers for my problems.  I just don't know.  But one thing I do know is that God is good, and He does things for a very specific purpose - whether we understand them or not.  You see, I told you last time about my friend Andrea who just found out she has a brain tumor.  Well, they were told yesterday it was infused so they are not able to operate on it.  So they are going to begin treatment on it January.  I do believe that God has brought her into our lives so that I could be an encouragement to her.

No, I have not had a brain tumor.  But yes, I have had a tumor, a very serious one (actually, still do...) and there is so much emotional things that go along with that which cannot be truly understood unless you have experienced it.  People can say, "I understand what you may be feeling..." but to be honest, it really doesn't help anything, doesn't make you feel that much better unless you know they mean it.  It is a whole lot easier to talk about that stuff with someone who can totally understand.  To be honest, I never really have had that.  Oh, yes, my family has been a great comfort in being there with me, loving me, helping me all they can.  But to actually talk to someone who has those same thoughts, feelings, pain, etc. is helpful too.  So I believe that I could help her in that.  My heart is breaking for her.  But I know God is in control, He is working in her life.  Please pray for her.  It is a long road ahead of her.  At this point, they do not think it is cancer, so that is good.

The kids are, well.  Hmm.  They have learned and mastered the art of whining.  I hate whining.  When they whine, I just say, "Mommy doesn't hear whining.  Talk in your normal voice and then I can hear you."  Its funny how they change their voice and talk normal right away.  Actually, it cracks me up some.  Liam is still loving school and has just begun sounding out small words like "hat, mat, bet, bat, cat, cut" etc.  you get the picture.  He will sound it out like, "m-a-ma-t-mat" then get a HUGE smile on his face.  I just sit there, mentally shaking my head thinking, "I can't believe my little boy is old enough to begin reading!!!"

Leila has suddenly become Miss Jealous.  Whenever someone is holding Libby, she get super jealous and will run and try to get that person to hold her instead of Libby.  This morning, she actually almost made me drop Libby because I was on the floor, holding Libby and Leila ran up, and basically jumped in my lap.  I don't know why this is all of a sudden, but I am trying to give Leila plenty of attention at other times so that she feels secure in that we love her just the same.  She is becoming much more independent in that she now is trying to go potty all by herself which is great, but can lead to disaster with the toilet paper and a clogged toilet!  She is still my good eater and sleeper.  She is a clown and loves to do silly things to make people laugh.

Libby is EVERYWHERE.  You blink your eyes and she is gone - in Liam's room pulling all the books off the shelves, or in the bathroom opening up the bottom drawers, etc.  She is starting to pull up on things, and will probably soon be trying to walk around holding onto the furniture.  She has a whopping 3 teeth, so I still am really mushing up her food since she can't really chew that well.  She is outgrowing all her clothes and actually weighs only 4 pounds less than Leila!  Ha!  Leila is our skinny minnie.

So, Matt is "out."  By that I mean he left, told me not to ask where he was going and that he will be back on a few hours.  I wonder what he is buying me!?! :-)  I went shopping with my mother in law yesterday and got his gifts.  We are having our Christmas with his folks tonight since we are leaving soon and we are busy from tomorrow until we leave (Ahh!  When will I have time to pack???).  So, I am off to clean the house.  I am doing something that I have not done in a while - cleaning my oven!  It really isn't that bad, just got the urge to clean it for some reason!

I hope you all have a great day, and check back tomorrow for some pics from our Christmas tonight!

Until next time...

Is It Time For Bed?

I'll just say it - I am tired.  Libby hasn't been sleeping the greatest of late, and we have been pretty busy, so I am tired.  I am pretty sure that Libby is trying to cut her first teeth, which is not too fun, I'm sure.  Its weird because she is 9 months old with no teeth.  Liam and Leila got theirs a lot earlier, so it seems like it is taking FOREVER for these teeth to come through!  Hopefully soon she will get them and then we will all be a bit happier.

After my post yesterday, I thought of a few more cute things the kids do that I wanted to write down.

Lately, when we have asked Liam a question beginning with the word "why," and he will answer it saying, "Puz I ...."  It cracks me up that he thinks it is "puz" instead of "cuz."  So now we are trying to teach him to just say "because" so he will get what the word actually is.  He also is saying things like, "Mommy, this toy is not working so very much."  Or, "Mommy, why are you not coming in here so very much?"  He said that last one after he was in bed and had called to me, but disobedient me did not come right away.  It like how he says "so very much" a lot.

Whenever someone comes to our house, Leila will immediately greet them at the door and ask them to come see her bed.  Not really sure where that is coming from.  She does this to everyone, even her Grampy and Nana who know what her bed and bedroom looks like.  But she still wants them to come see it.

Libby is sitting up on her own, claps her hands, and, of course, says "Mama" and "Dada."   You can tell she loves her brother and sister and her favorite thing to eat right now are those Gerber puffs things.  She will literally grab a handful and stuff them all in her mouth.  The funny thing is she will "chew" them, just like she would if she had teeth - only she doesn't.  So it is really funny to watch her "chew" her food with no teeth.  I guess she "gums" them!  Ha!

I just love my kids and am so thankful for them!  We had a pretty good day today, and I got a lot done.  I am in the process of switching out the clothes that the kids have outgrown.  Whew - that is quite a project!  It was a cinch when I just had Liam, and even when it was just Liam and Leila.  But with the three kids now - it can be little overwhelming at times.  How in the world do these moms with tons of kids do it?

Well, I should head to bed.  I hope you all had a great day, too.

Until next time...

Big Things Are Happening Around Here!

Okay, so this is not the post that I have been mentioning off and on that has been swirling through my head.  It isn't quite ready.  I don't want to say anything that I will regret, so that is why it is not posted just yet.  Oh, don't worry.  It really isn't anything fantastic or anything.  Just something that has been on my heart and mind a lot lately and I want to say - just in the right way.

So, on to our day.  First of all, we are all exhausted!!!!  Last week at camp really took a toll on us.  Matt especially.  Coming off a whole week of camp, speaking two times a day (besides 2 times of staff devos a day) and heading right into a full Sunday of speaking really wears a man out!  Poor guy.  He was able to sleep in some today so that was good.  The rest of us are very tired, but not as bad as Daddy.  This morning the kids and I played around with all their toys that they missed so much last week.  I have been wanting to go through all the toys and "purge" some stuff, so I started that today.  Funny, though.  Toys that they haven't touched in months they all of a sudden want to play with as soon as I pick it up to put it in the box. Hmmm... might have to have them go on a field trip with Daddy while I stay home and clean!  So I got a little bit of that done.

Then we headed out on our usually Monday family outing to the bank and to Houlton, Maine to pick up groceries and such.  That was not too bad, especially since it has been overcast and rainy all day and it was cooler than it has been.  Very glad for that.

Then we came home, the kids all took naps, and I continued to clean and organize since I haven't really had a chance to do that since we came home.  One thing I needed to do was give our kitchen chairs a good scrubbing.  They get wiped down often, but were quite sticky and grimy from little peanut-butter and jelly hands touching them all the time.  So I did that.  Also, while we were out, we got a new booster seat for Liam to sit in.  We have still been using the high chair for Leila, but she really is too big for it and has been for some time now.  So, we got a new booster seat for Liam and Leila is using the one Liam used to use (it sits higher than the new one).  So I got those all set up.

So, Leila is finally out of her high chair.  And just in time.  Today, I am excited to announce that my little Libby had her first veggie!  She has been eating rice cereal for a while, and today we started on some sweet potatoes.  She seemed to really like them.  Didn't even make a face at all.  Just ate them like it was nothing new.  Well, until they started to cool off a bit, then she started gagging.  Hehe.  It made me laugh.  Don't worry, though.  I warmed them up again.  I can't believe she will be 6 months in three days!  Wow!  This year is literally FLYING by!

And now, on to the biggest news of the day.  (Imagine drum roll.........) Leila used the potty for the first time ever!!!!!  YAY!!!!!  I actually was planning on officially starting next week.  So we bought her "big girl undies" today.  (Just a side note - I HATE the word "panties" and it is forbidden to be used in this house.  Just in case you were wondering!)  I was going to get the stuff to make her a chart and stickers and everything later on in the week and Monday morning, we were gonna go cold turkey just like I did with Liam.  I know she is ready for this - she has been for some time.  She will tell me almost every time before she goes, and even asks to use the potty.  I have been putting her on the potty a couple times, just to get her used to it.  Well, tonight Matt's parents were over and Leila said she had to go, so we ran, put her on and not one minute later - success!  We all did a little jig and made a huge deal over it and she even got FOUR smarties (Canadian version of M&Ms).  She was so excited and kept saying, "I go on the potty!"  Oh, and the funniest thing was, as soon as she was done and was getting her smarties, Liam ran, went to the potty, them came and said, "Mommy, I went potty.  Can I have my treat?"  Haha.  Not sure how I am going to handle that one!

Anyways, so that is a little of what is happening around here.  Big things for sure.  I am headed to bed now, hopefully to get some good sleep.  Matt and his dad are golfing in the morning, and my MIL, the kids and I are going to go check out a dresser for Liam's room that I spotted at a second hand store today.  We are gonna go "barter" the price and see if we can get it down some and then get it.  So, there you go!  Have a great night all!

Until next time....

P.S.  Dear Leila,
             In the future when you are reading this post that is now forever in our family "Memoirs," please don't be embarrassed about me bragging about you going potty (you went the BIG one, by the way! ;-) ).  And don't be embarrassed about me talking about your "big girl undies."  Just know that I am a proud momma and so happy that you initiated it all.  And if/when you are mommy someday, you will feel the same way!  And don't worry.  I won't pull this out and show it to your boyfriends to have them read it.  Well, maybe not until you get engaged.  We will see.  Hey!  At least I didn't take you picture like I was tempted to do! :-)  I just love you SO much, Leila Girl!
                                                                                                Love,
                                                                                                    Your very proud Mommy.

Leila's Story

(FYI - this is a long post! ;-))

I can hardly believe I am typing this, but tomorrow is Leila's 2nd birthday!  Wow.  Time just goes by too, too fast.  I just can't believe it.  But anyways, in honor of her birthday, I am going to write her birth story (I don't think I have done this before!  Sorry if I have!)

We had been living here in Canada for about 4 months and were settling in to our new lives as "Pastor Matt and Emily."  I was adjusting to life in Canada, which is more different than I was expecting it to be.  We had just celebrated Liam's 1st birthday and life was just going along.  I will admit that I did have the "baby bug" a little bit - I did want to have another baby, but was just waiting on the Lord's timing.  Matt and I leave all that up to Him.  So we had not really been thinking about it too much and were not trying for anything.  But, when October came but "something" did not come, I was pretty sure I was pregnant.  You can pretty much set your calendar by me - not that you needed to know that.  Anyways, Matt is a pretty observant husband, and noticed it too, so off we went to by a pregnancy test.  Haha - I always buy the ones with 2 tests in them - because I never believe the first one (and usually the second one! ha!).  It is just that I have always wanted to be a mommy, and the fact that God has been allowing it is just so wonderful to me!

So anyway, the test said "yes" and we said, "Yay!"  We then got a little worried because I was not yet a permanent resident in Canada, and had no health coverage, and independent insurance was astronomically high - which would not cover the pregnancy costs anyway since it was a "pre-existing condition."  So we immediately began to pray for the Lord to provide, as we knew He would.  And he did.  It didn't all work out until after Leila was born, but it all got paid and we are so thankful.

As any mother can tell you, once you know a baby is on the way, your dreams, prayers, and plans for that baby begin to consume your thoughts.  It was no different with me.  My pregnancy went relatively uneventful, which is great.  I didn't have any problems, just all the normal stuff like being tired and backaches and lack of sleep.  But, it was all good.  I had my regular appointments and got more and more excited about having another baby.  We got the ultrasound done, but did not find out the gender of the baby.  That was for one simple reason - they would not tell us.  It was "policy" back then to not tell anyone at our hospital (which they have changed since then.)  So, we were left "in the dark" about that, though I had a pretty good feeling it was a girl.

 My sister graduated from college then headed up the first week of June to be with us until the baby was born.  So she came and we just waited.  By that time, I was 3 weeks from my due date (June 25) and was getting desperate to have her.  I was so uncomfortable, hot, and tired.  So I walked.  And I walked.  All the time.  The people in our neighborhood got to know me from seeing me walking all the time.  It eventually got to the point that they would see me walking and would say, "You haven't had that baby yet??"  Hmmm... Don't say that to a tired, uncomfortable, hot and grumpy pregnant woman.  Just don't! :-)

So, we were waiting, and I was even considering castor oil (don't worry - I wouldn't do it!).  I so much wanted to have the labor part over with, now that I knew what that was all about!  But, everything was taking its course and I was left just waiting.  I did have the thought that, maybe, since I am "on time" for the other "stuff," and since I had Liam right on his due date, maybe this would be the same?   But no, I said.  I read that only something like 5% of women have their babies on the due date, and even less do it more than once.  Well... I have always done things a little differently than most people!

It was the day of my due, I mean, my due date - June 25, 2008.  I was having small contractions, but nothing even remotely painful.  It was a Wednesday and I went in to the dr. that morning to have a non-stress test done.  I was there for a little over an hour, and they could see that I was contracting, but nothing major, so they sent me home.  I was about 2 cm dilated, but that is pretty common for a woman who has had a baby before.  I did have them strip my membranes, though.  The dr. on call that day told me before I left, "Well, I am here until 7 tomorrow morning, so you are welcome to come back anytime and give me something to do!"  I told him I would try and off we went to do some walking.  It was a couple hours later that I started to feel the contractions a little more.

Meanwhile, my mom was on her way driving from Bangor, ME to be with me after the baby was born.  We jokingly were saying that my mom was just going to arrive and we were going to say, "Hi, Mom!  Bye, Mom!" and rush off to the hospital (she was going to stay home with Liam).  Well, it was supper time, and my mom had arrived and we were eating (and I, for some stupid reason, ate NACHOS!  Bad idea - not a pretty sight a few hours later during labor!).  Matt and I decided that he should go to church since we really hadn't planned for anyone to cover the service and off he went, knowing that he could get called at anytime (the ladies in the church were all mad at him for leaving me to come to church!).  Amanda and I went out walking again.  We saw one of the ladies that I saw often on my walks, and she looked at me and said, "Are you in labor?"  Haha.  I told I thought I was in the beginnings of it!

Well, Matt came home from church and the contractions were becoming more regular, but not more painful.  We started timing them and they were very consistent - 4-5 mins apart and had been for an hour or so.  I wasn't in too much pain, though, so I wasn't sure what to do.  But then, I started to have some bloody show (sorry to be gory!) and so I decided that we should head on out.  By this time, it was about midnight.  I hugged my mom, started to get choked up and told her, "Take care of my little boy for me!" and we left.  I said that to her, not because I didn't trust her - I knew she would do just fine with Liam, but because I sorta felt that with this new baby coming, Liam would be growing up a bit and he wouldn't be my little baby anymore.  You know - hormones do some pretty strange things to your mind and emotions!

It took us about 10 minutes to get to the hospital, I checked in and they got me all set up.  The dr. came in and said, "You did come back!"  He checked and I was maybe 4 cm, but he said I could stay anyways.  He asked me if I wanted him to break my water, which I did because I knew then it would all happen fast.

He broke my water and that's when the contractions became - uh - HARD!  Another "policy" this hospital had was that an epidural is NOT an option unless you are having a c-section.  But that was okay.  I didn't want one.  But they did offer me a gas (I can't remember what it is called, but it is good stuff!  Haha!  I used it with Libby, too.  It doesn't take all the pain away, just makes them more bearable. And there are no lasting affects - once you stop breathing it in - which you do only during the contraction - it leaves and you aren't "hung-over" for hours afterwards.).  The gas was great and I just breathed through the contractions for a little over an hour.  Then, it was TIME to push.  You girls who have had babies know what I mean.  I told them this, they checked and yup!  It was time.

We got all ready and the dr. just told me to do what my body told me.  Boy that was great.  With Liam they were telling me when to push, then counting out loud (and what seemed like SUPER slow...) but now it was all up to me.  And that was great - it made me much more relaxed instead of stressed at all the counting and wanting to slap the nurse who was counting!

Matt was helping me by supporting my head and back, and Amanda was the great nurse who was putting cold cloths on my forehead and giving me water when I needed it.  I pushed for about 30 mins.  And let me tell you - it hurt.  I did not remember that with Liam because I was "doped" up on a narcotic so I didn't feel too much.  But with Leila (and Libby) I had no pain killer.  So I was very much wanting that baby out of me.  I am sure I was pretty funny to hear.  Little me making a LOT of noise.  I do know that at one point after pushing I looked at the dr. and said, "Can't you just pull it out?"  They all laughed at me, though I remember not thinking it even slightly funny at the time.  I was very serious.  Amanda laughs at me because she says I kept saying, "Owie, Owie."  Ahh... Just wait Amanda.  Your day will come!;-)

So, I had been pushing for about 32 mins and then I felt it.  The most WONDERFUL feeling in the world.  Little Leila Claire came out, screaming and as beautiful as can be.  I remember waiting to hear the gender when they said, "Its a girl!"  I immediately looked to Matt and saw the PROUDEST and most smitten Daddy ever.  He was crying and the kissed me and said, "We have a girl!"  I couldn't believe it.  "Do you have a name?" they were all asking and I said, "Yes.  Her name is Leila Claire."  I looked at Amanda when I said this, because Amanda's middle name is Claire.  How special for Amanda to be there at the birth of her "namesake."  She did not know we were naming her that.

Leila Claire Sealy was born on June 26, 2008, at 4:07 a.m. - just hours after her due date.  She was 7 pounds, 10 ounces and was 19 1/4 inches long.  She had fuzzy hair all over her head was absolutely perfect.  We could not have been happier.  I was able to nurse her immediately, which I was not able to do with Liam.  Then Matt got busy texting (and calling) our families to give them the good news.  I remember talking to my mom on the phone, hearing the joyful tears in her voice saying, "A girl, Emily!"   And I replying, "I know!  I am so happy!"

 I had always thought that I wanted to have all boys, but once I saw my beautiful baby girl, I knew that I had changed my mind (good thing! haha!).  While they were doing all the "stuff" they do with a newborn, I got up, had the BEST shower, (such a wonderful feeling!) and we headed to our new hospital room.  I, obviously exhausted from giving birth, fell sound asleep.  Matt spent the next several hours holding his precious daughter, talking to her, and giving her his advice.  He later told me that he made a deal then and there with her.  He told her how much he loved her, but that he would let her grow up on day and get married (like maybe around age 52).  But, the stipulation was this -she could only marry the boy if the boy loved her more than her daddy loves her.  Hmmm... Guess she's never getting married! :-)

Later that day brought visitors and Liam meeting his sister for the first time.  I felt incredibly normal - still not sure how I was able to feel so well after having just given birth.  That there is the Lord.  I was not sore or anything!  Praise the Lord!  The next day at lunch time we headed home to start life as a family of 4.

And here we are, 2 years later.  Leila is a little girl who knows what she wants!  :-)  She is such a beautiful little girl who won't sit still for more than about 3 minutes unless she is sleeping.  She will literally talk your ear off (from all that I gather as "average" for talking for a two year old - she is quite a bit ahead.  Definitely her mommy's girl - she loves to talk!).  She does give us our challenges and we are working on those, but she is such a joy and we love her more than she will ever know.  She is a Daddy's girl through and through, and is mommy's Leila Girl - my little sweet pea.

We are so blessed to have you as our daughter, Leila!  Our prayer for you is that you will keep your spirited outlook on life - to love being active and energetic.  We pray that you will come to know Christ early on, and to live your life to honor Him.  We pray that your husband out there will be godly and loving to you.  We love you, Leila Girl!  Happy birthday!

Come back tomorrow for my "Scenic Saturday" where there will be pictures of Leila over the past 2 years!

Until next time...