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.

Family Fun!!

6-2-2009

Recent fun!!

4wheeler fun

 

Last weekend we went to see some of my extended family. Katrin enjoyed riding 4 wheeler with my Aunt Nancy and my cousin's little girl (Aunt Nancy's grand daughter) Shelby

Memoiral Day

 

Katrin's 3rd Birthday

 

 

My new porch swing (thanks Mom)

 

Big Girl Hair

 

Katrin is growing up so fast and this hair-do made her look really 'grown up'.

Before Church

 

Our 'New' Church

 

The exterior of our new church. It still has some work to be done on it but it's coming along. Come visit if you're in the area!!

1st tooth

Kallie cut her first tooth yesterday!!

My beautiful girls!

Today I went and had the girls pictures done. Katrin is 3 now and Kallie is 9 months.

I love...

1. my God
2. my husband, Paul
3. my girls, Katrin & Kallie
4. my extended family
5. my church
6. my house
7. my life

Lately I've been trying to not take for grant my surroundings. It has amazed me how much I was missing on a daily bases.

Today, the girls and I went for a really long walk. Katrin begs to go on walks all the time and it's good exercise for me too. So, I try to take them at least once a day weather permitting. When we got home, I planted some flowers and enjoyed the outdoors. The house is peaceful right now, they are both napping =)

OH! Happy Mother's Day to all you mamas. My mom is coming for weekend!! Yeah!! It's her first time to see my house! I'm excited to see her (if you can't tell)!

Spring is here!

I've been enjoying the beautiful weather lately so much! I love watching God paint his beautiful masterpiece here in PA. God has been teaching me so much lately in my devotions and prayer life. I'm trying to read through the books of Psalms and Esther. I don't know how all you moms out there find time for your devotions, I usually have mine at night before going to sleep. It's about the only quiet time I get to myself without interruptions. I have found myself lately, looking forward to that time alone with God and just to hear his voice and read his word. I don't ever remember a time when I have enjoyed reading the Bible so much.

The girls are growing up so much. Kallie still isn't completely crawling yet, but she can get around. Katrin turned 3 last week. She's 36lbs, and 38" tall. For her birthday, she got a 'big girl' bike and has been trying to get used to riding that.

Paul is working hard, as usual, and trying to get the church growing. He's so busy and wearing so many hats (a daddy, husband, main bread winner, and full time pastor). He's great at them all too.

This weekend I'm having a wonderful friend come visit! I'm so excited I can hardly stand it! Then next weekend, for Mother's Day, my mom is coming to visit!! It will be her first time to see my house! I'm really excited to have her visit. Of course, Katrin is too. Her and Nana are pretty close.

Well I best be going to bed.

Christ is Risen!

He is risen indeed!! Happy Easter! Tomorrow is a big day, as it is for most, I'm sure. Paul will be preaching his first Easter message and then serving communion for the first time tomorrow night. Pray for him! I'm helping teach Sunday School and we have to sing in the morning. AHHH!!

Then Monday morning we leave for IHC!! I can hardly wait!

A short update

My husband told me I needed to update my blog so that's the main reason I'm doing this. I don't have anything too exciting to tell everyone. Lately I've been posting alot on Facebook so my blog has gone by the wayside.

We did get a new church and yesterday was our first Sunday there. We had 25 which was really encouraging!! This Saturday, we're having an Easter egg hunt for the community around the church. It will be fun, but I have alot to get done between now and then. We're hoping and praying for 30 kids!!

Next week is IHC!! Yeah!! We're SO looking forward to getting away. Hopefully it will be a time of rest and relaxation and catching up with old friends. Today I'm trying to get all my laundry done (I've folded 5 loads already) so I can pack for next week. Tomorrow Paul is working so he can have off Wednesday to help some of our church people move and I'm taking them a meal that evening. Thursday, I'm going to visit a friend. Friday, drs appointment... and the list goes on! Next Saturday is Katrin's birthday party.

Right now I'm trying to get Kallie better. She was sick last week and isn't getting better. I think she has a fever and might be trying to cut some teeth. I feel so bad for her. I hate seeing my kids sick. Well I must go tend to her. See you all at IHC!!