Spring '10

Life has been busy. The girls basically live outside so I don't get much done inside. We're trying to get some much needed yard work done in the evenings when Paul is home. Nothing too exciting has happened. In March, the Sams were here and Paul had his birthday. I hosted a baby shower the same weekend. It was a crazy but fun weekend.

A few weeks ago, Kallie cut her finger pretty bad. The cut it self wasn't bad but I couldn't get a band aid or anything on it before she would pull it off and blood would be going everywhere.

Kallie has learned how to pedal her tricycle and wants to do everything Katrin does.

Easter was a quiet weekend, it was just us. My camera batteries died that morning so I didn't get any family pictures. Oh well. I'll try again at IHC. We shall see.

The church voted on us yesterday, we are here for another three years. We really love it here!!

Spring 2010

January/ February Fun

January/February Fun '10

The month of January flew by and here it is the middle of February! Wow! The end of January was our first full revival in the pastorate. It was a wonderful experience! Mike & Evie Shiery were the evangelists and the Lord's presences were felt in every service. The Shierys are a great family and we made lots of wonderful memories!! Thank you for coming!! We love you guys!

Shortly after revival we got together with some preacher friends and had a great time. I didn't take any picture though. I'm not sure why.

Then came all the the crazy snow. I think we have over 40" of snow. It's beautiful and I've enjoyed it some with the girls, but I'm very much ready for spring!

Life is busy, as is most everyone's, but we're loving every minute of it and cherishing lots of happy times.

Kallie is now 18 months and I'm starting to potty train. Pray for me!! LOL!! Today was the first day (only three accidents).

Bible Methodist Ministers' Dinner '10

We had a great time at the Ministers' Dinner this year. We left the girls with my parents and didn't regret a minute of it! I don't think they even knew we were gone. The meal was absolutely wonderful and seeing all the other ministers was fun. We had some great laughs and wonderful memories were made. I wish I would have taken more pictures but here's what I do have....

Minister's Dinner '10

PA Farm Show '10

Last year was my first time to attend the PA Farm Show... I'm not a farm girl at all!! I had so much fun and couldn't wait to go this year. We had a blast. The girls loved all the animals and Paul and I enjoyed all the yummy food.

Farm Show '10

Christmas 09

This year we celebrated Christmas with my family in Cincinnati! It was a fun time with lots of memories made!

Christmas 09

English Muffins

Last night after dinner, I was cleaning up Kallie (she makes a huge mess when she eats) when I told her she looked like a rag muffin. Katrin heard me and then told Kallie she looked like an english muffin =) hee hee

Recovering

Last Wednesday I had surgery, nothing major. It was an outpatient procedure. Since then I've been home recovering and taking it easy. Our wonderful church ladies have been here helping me everyday! It's been so great! I'll miss the company next week!! I can pretty much do everything for myself except lift Kallie and my laundry, which are MAJOR parts of my life. The help has been very much appreciated and I've so enjoyed all the cards, calls, and meals that everyone has made. I'm going to make myself comfy on the couch for a movie and snack then off to bed.

It's official!!

Kallie is walking!! She took her first steps back in July but hasn't wanted to try since. She would walk anywhere and everywhere holding onto my finger or skirt but refused to let go. Well Monday, she started walking, taking 5 and 6 steps at a time before falling. That night she walked the whole way around our house. Since then she has accomplished standing up in the middle of the room and walking without being prompted. My baby is growing up!! Sniff sniff!!

Today she was a very big girl and used the potty!! No, I'm not starting to potty train yet, but I thought I would give it a try since it's so easy to tell when she trying to do her 'business'. It was successful, so after my surgery, I might try to start potty training...we'll see. =)

Kallie's Party

...get on my facebook to see pictures of the party. Her party was August 14th at Cowan's Gap, a local state park.

Kallie's One Year Pictures

Kallie's One Year Pictures

Happy 1st Birthday!!

Her first sucker!

Happy 1st Birthday, Kallie!!

One year ago, tomorrow, Kallie greeted the world. She was born Tuesday, August 12th at 7:27 am at Christ Hospital. She weighted 7lbs. 6 oz., 20 1/2" long. From the moment I laid eyes on her, she stole my heart. I never knew a heart could love two children so much and from first sight! Kallie is day and night different from Katrin. Kallie had a rough beginning with heart surgery at 8 days old. She was in and out of the hospital in less than a week (went in on Monday afternoon and was discharged from CICU on Friday evening). Kallie is pretty much a happy-go-lucky little bundle of love. She's a true Mama's girl. I'm the only one who has ever fed her with exception of maybe a dozen times. She loves to snuggle, hates having her hair washed, loves her ba-ba (bottle) (I always said off the bottle by one...well, I've had to eat my words. We are working that direction though), loves to walk holding on to my skirt, loves to swing and be outside. Kallie is a very picky eater, but just recently, I discovered that if I let her feed herself she will eat a whole lot more. She loves to snuggle when she's falling asleep, which just melts my heart. She is almost walking on her own. She did take 6 steps a few weeks ago on her own but hasn't really tried much since than. She just finally started sleeping through the night about a week ago. So, she now sleeps from 7:30/8ish to 7:30/8ish in the morning. 12 hours of uninterrupted sleep for me (knock on wood =)) She's still taking two naps a day for the most part. Kallie can say sissy, fishie, doggie, kittie, da-da, ra-ra (mama), and ba-ba. Kallie has definitely been a wonderful addition to our little family!

Happy 1st Birthday, Kallie Rue!!

From 6-2-2009

Tattoos

Tonight, when Katrin came to the dinner table, I noticed she had drawn all over herself. When I asked her about the lines on her arms, she told me she had drawn animals on her arms. I asked why and she told me she wanted to be like the 'worker man...he has animals on his arms'. (The 'worker man' is the property manager of our house... he has tattoos all over arms). It's amazing how observant our children are!

Today

Today is a beautiful day... not too hot. Kallie is taking her morning nap and Katrin is playing outside (picking flowers). Nothing too crazy has been happening. We were at camp a few weeks ago. And the girls and I leave for youth camp Sunday. We're taking a girl from our church. It should be a fun time. I'm excited to go, this will be my first youth camp ever!!

Well my house work is calling me.

Happy Father's Day to...

Dad Eckert with Kallie when she was in the hospital for her heart surgery

My dad with Katrin when we visited in January of this year

My dad with Kallie in January of this year

Kallie with her Daddy...she's becoming quite the daddy's girl.

Katrin loves to play with her daddy.
Thank you all for being such wonderful Dads! We love you!!

Update of Katrin & Kallie

Kallie has been crawling for a little while now and is getting very fast. She pulls herself up to anything and everyone. Paul built a gate the top of the stairs but we didn't think we'd need one for the bottom for a while yet. Wrong! Kallie successfully made up one step and would have kept going if I hadn't stopped her. You see, I wouldn't have such a problem with her venturing up the stairs if they weren't wood and the downstairs floor wasn't ceramic tile. Anyway, then Sunday night after church she was on the move. She climbed all four concrete steps of the church...AHH! Then, last night while I was weeding our walkway... she was climbing up and down the garden bench. When she would get herself situated on the bench she would clap for herself. I need to take a little video clip of it.

Katrin is a very active 3 year old. She absolutely loves to be outdoors. Her newest friend is a stray cat and everyday she goes outside and yells "Kitty, Kitty, Kitty" Of course the whole neighborhood can hear her. She's been enjoying swimming and watching all her Barbie Princess movies. She has most of the memorized and loves to dance like a ballerina and sing all the songs. She told me the other day that I was her best friend! Talk about melting my heart!

Oh, a few weeks ago in Sunday school she made a really cute little bird feeder out of a pine cone. Paul put it up in the tree for her and one night we were all outside, I asked her where she got the bird feeder. She said "From church". I asked "What church?". "The white church". "What white church?" "The HOLINESS church, Mama!!" I cracked up laughing. This is all from my wonderful 'little' three year old!

Another day she offered me some gum which I did not want. She told me to save it for IHC when I'm pregnant with Kallie. Don't know where she got that from.

A few weeks ago she saw an old classic car and told me it was amazing. Then she promptly told me that the cows out in the field were awesome. You never know what she's going to come up with.