Haylie time

Well, it's been a busy few days.  But here's what we've been up to.

Thursday, I enjoyed a morning of one-on-one time with my sweet Haylie.  It had been over 2 months since we had spent any time just the two of us, and I thought she was needing it, but I KNOW I was.  Of course, I love Harper, but I still miss some of the quality time I had with Haylie.  Since Harper is so much more demanding right now, I feel like I try to make Haylie act too old for her age and sometimes ignore her a little too often.  I was glad to be able to take her with me to run a few errands, eat lunch at McDonald's (her choice), and then stop off at Wal-mart for a new baby doll!

Friday, we stayed around the house, tried to get a few things done and then headed up to Seminole to visit Grandpa and Grandma for Grandpa's 55th Birthday! 

On Saturday, we went up to Norman to spend a gift card I had received from Scentsy!  We found an awesome deal!!  They had mismarked a CHI flat iron down to 29.99!  I took it to the register and when it rang up $99.99, I told them the marked price and they sold it to me for that!  I was so excited.  We also got an iHome dock for our iPhones, and some iTunes gift cards!  Yay for Scentsy rewards!! Then we went on up to OKC to watch our nephew Ethan play basketball in his league.  It was so nice to get to see some family and have a day out and about.

Yesterday, Justin preached both services at Twin Oak Baptist Church.  We had a great time, and he reminded me of some very important lessons I need to remember, especially during the time we're going through right now.  God is ALWAYS faithful.  Even when we're experiencing a valley and we feel down, we know that God will encourage us through it and restore us in the end! 

Today, Justin was off work so we headed to Ada to pick up a few things we needed, and then came home to a pretty lazy afternoon. Sometimes those kind of days are nice, though.....even though my to-do list is a mile long!

Got to go for now, time for Bible study and bed! 

2 days in a row...

So, I'm actually posting 2 days in a row!  Wow, right?  After posting about once a month before, but I'm trying to be better about remembering things to blog about.

Today was the kick off for spring piano lessons.  I had two scheduled this afternoon, and have one more starting next week.  I'm open to having more students, would love to really, but right now since we're so unsure about the future, I'm trying not to start anyone new until we know a little more about what our schedule is going to be.

Also, I've picked up a new hobby that I'm loving---COUPONING!! Last week I went to Homeland and spent $12.78 on $40 worth of food!!  71% savings!  I'm planning another trip tomorrow, and can't wait to see what my savings will be!  Shopping is finally fun instead of a drudgery!

Today I started using cloth diapers with Harper.  We received them as a shower gift, but I hadn't yet used them because I was waiting on her to get a little bigger since they're sort of bulky.  So far so good, I guess.  Of course, the disposable diaper is much easier and simpler, but the cloth diaper will save us some money, and that's what I'm all about right now.  Saving money.

While we're on this subject, another thing I've been doing to save money is making my own laundry detergent and I'm getting ready to make my own dishwasher detergent!  SO MUCH CHEAPER!!  All the ingredients cost like 8 bucks and will last probably a year.  Seriously!

Haylie's been doing this cute thing where she'll ask to shake your hand and then she'll say: "It's so nice to meet you mom!"  Not sure where she got this, but it's definitely cute.  Tomorrow I'm going to leave Harper with mema and take Haylie with me to run some errands.  Nothing special, but I'm looking forward to the one on one time with my sweet girl.  Sometimes I feel like I'm having to leave her out or ignore her some because Harper is so much more demanding right now.  It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it.  Everything used to be ALL HAYLIE all the time, but now we're having to make room (LOTS of room) for Harper, which is wonderful and all, but I just feel like I'm not spending the quality time with Haylie that I want. 

Well, not really much to say tonight, so I'm signing off now to kick back and watch some t.v. with my love!  Check back tomorrow for another post......................maybe! ;)

New Year...1/11/11

So 2011 is really here, already!  It's been 10 years since I graduated from high school! Wow! Hard to believe!

So, what's in store in 2011 for the Villines' family?  We are still waiting on God to direct us and let us know His plan for our lives.  Justin's BCM position is ending.  It was supposed to end on December 31, however, they extended it until he finds another position.  We are currently talking with a church, hoping and praying that this is the right place for us and the plan that God has for our lives.  We are waiting, waiting, and waiting some more.  That's our life story right now.  We go to church, pick up the phone, go to the grocery store and everyone's question is: "Have you heard anything yet?"  We know they are asking out of concern, but right now we just want to scream: "NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"  Being patient, and waiting on God to work is HARD WORK.  No, we're not doing anything, technically, but it's still HARD!  One scripture that's really been on my mind lately is: "Be still and know that I am God!"  I can't wait until our prayers our answered, we know what God's will is, and we can begin the journey!

Here's what we do know, so far: 

Haylie is 29 months old.  She is hilarious, but SO ornery!  She says some of the funniest things, and it amazes me how smart she is.  She's such a sweet little girl (most of the time), and makes our lives so much more fun.  What did we ever do without her??  Some of her favorite things right now are:

*Baby dolls. and everything that goes along with them. strollers, car seats, blankets, swings, bouncers, etc...of course, she's probably really into this right now since we have a real life baby doll living in the house!

*Singing. She LOVES to sing, and I LOVE to hear her.  She sings "Jesus Loves Me," "Jesus Paid It All," and then some variations of made up "Haylie" songs!  They are so sweet, and I hope she continues with her love for music.  She even sings "Stuck Like Glue!" 

*Deer Jerky. Yes, a two year old likes deer jerky!!  Actually, I'd say it's more than likes, she's addicted!! She asks me for it WAY too much in one day. 

Haylie is such a great help to me with Harper.  She gets me burp cloths, diapers, wipes, pacifier, clean outfits, etc whenever I ask her. 

Harper is 2 months old as of yesterday!  I CANNOT believe it's already been that long.  She had her two month well-check last week and weighed: 11lbs 13 oz, and was 22 inches long. Believe it or not, this is the EXACT weight that Haylie weighed at her 2 month check-up.  Only difference: Haylie was one inch taller.  She received her first immunizations, but did great.  No fever, no reactions.  She's pretty good at sleeping at night too.  Her New Year's Resolution was to start sleeping in her own bed. So far, so good!  She goes to bed around 7:00 and then usually wakes up twice, around 1:15, and 4:15!  Mommy and Daddy are loving the grown-up time.  We actually have time to watch t.v., surf the internet, read books, and even BLOG! Harper is a beautiful, sweet baby girl that looks a LOT like her older sister did as a baby.  Can you tell??

Haylie was on top, in both examples! 8-)

We are loving being parents to TWO amazing girls!

One of my many goals for the new year is to be more organized. In everything.  So hopefully, that will mean a few more blogs, and me keeping a better record of what's going on in our lives.  Not that anyone else reads this or cares, but so that we can look back and read later....

Family Pics 2010

A friend of mine took some new family pictures of us this past Sunday afternoon....Had to get our family portrait updated since our beautiful new addition.  Here are a few of my favorites!

Harper Grace Villines is here!!

Harper Grace Villines decided to join our family on Tuesday, November 9, 2010.  She weighed 8 lbs 14.4 oz and was 18 1/2 inches long (or so they said...) When we went back for her one week checkup she was already 20 inches long!! 

So here's how it happened:

I had a regular scheduled appointment (my 39 week) on Tuesday morning at 9:15, but I woke up at 4:30 having some contractions.  They didn't hurt that bad, but they were about 5-7 minutes apart.  We went ahead and took all of our bags with us just in case they decided to keep me.  Justin thought they would, I didn't.  So they called me back for my appointment and when I told them I had been having contractions, they didn't even check me there, they sent me straight to the OB Triage!!  I was surprised!  When the midwife came in to check me I was already at a 5 so they admitted me right then!!  By the time I got admitted, lab work done, etc. they checked me and I was at a 7!!  At 11:20 am they broke my water, checked me a few minutes later and I was at an 8.  I was still feeling really well, not in very much pain at all, but they talked me into going ahead and getting the epidural just in case the pain got worse....so I got the epidural.  At 2:56 pm we had a beautiful baby girl join us after only 4 pushes!! 

Here are some pics to tell the story:

Praying for God's plan for our lives....

Well, it's pretty bad when my husband looks at our blog and tells me how outdated it is!!  I guess I should try and do a better job of updating more....

Today is November 1st!  It's so hard to believe that the month we've been anticipating so much has finally arrived!!  Harper Grace will be here within just a couple weeks! Yikes!! I'm so excited, but a little anxious and nervous too!  I know I've been through this before, but I don't think that giving birth to a baby ever loses it's ability to make the new mom and dad just a little bit scared!! 

At my 36 week appointment the midwife told me I was already 3cm dilated and 80% effaced!  We were shocked and thought the arrival of Harper would be much sooner than November 17, however, we've waited a full two weeks with absolutely NOTHING happening other than a few contractions here and there that end up stopping when I lay down and drink water!  38 week appointment is tomorrow, and we should be able to set our induction date at the appointment!  We can't induce until I'm officially 39 weeks, which is the 10th, but Justin has to preach that night, so we will probably schedule for the next morning, the 11th.  Veteran's Day.  That is IF she doesn't decide to come before then, but considering how comfortable she's been for the past two weeks, I'm not really expecting anything.  But, who knows?

Last week was my baby shower at FBC Seminole.  I had a lot of wonderful lady friends who worked hard to make such a beautiful shower.  I appreciate everything they did to make it such a success and am thankful for each and every one of their friendships.  The hostess gift was 2 sets of cloth diapers!  Yes, I'm going to try cloth.  You may be thinking: "Is she crazy?"  I don't know, maybe I am.  I'm just trying to be conservative and save money in every way that I am able.  Harper also received lots and lots of adorable clothes, and I've finally got everything washed up, organized, and hung in her closet.  We are as ready as we are going to get for the arrival of our beautiful second daughter!

Haylie--What can I say about Haylie?  She is SO funny and has such a personality.  She says the funniest things and acts so grown up!  She's completely and successfully potty trained!  Woohoo!!  Goal met just in time for baby sister!!  Here are some *cute* things she's said lately, and I know they're probably only cute to me 'cause I'm her mom, but here goes anyway:
           
Haylie: leaning down to my belly to talk to Harper Grace, says: "You want a grilled cheese sanich (sandwich) from nonalls (McDonald's), does that sound dood (good)?"

Haylie: also leaning down talking to Harper: "You want to do (go) to doo (zoo), n see horses, n pigs, n tows (cows), n monteys (monkeys)?"

Haylie: talking to me: "Mommy, can I help calm Harper down when she gets out of your belly? Can I feed her green beans and bread?"

And these little sayings go on and on, I really need to do a better job of writing things down and posting a little more often so I can remember!

Finally, the most important part of the post: PRAYER REQUEST!!  We found out at the beginning of October that Justin's postition as BCM director at Seminole State College will be ending as of December 31st!  Yes, this is his only job! Yes, I am a stay at home mom without income.  Yes, we have one child and another on the way in about a week.  Yes, we have a house payment, bills, food to buy, etc.....  We need prayers and we need God to work something out quickly.  He was already applying to some churches, and we have since stepped that up quite a bit.  We are praying for a pastor position at a church to open up and work out for him.  We feel this is the direction God is calling us, but we still are a little uneasy about getting the ins and outs of it all worked out in time.  I know that God's timing is perfect and that He will provide for His children, and that is all that matters.  We want to be in God's plan and we want to ultimately grow closer to Him through this storm.  I know that someday in the near future we will be able to look back at all this *stress* and know that it was all in God's plan and He had a reason for us to go through it at the time we did. 

So...there's an update.  Justin, the blog is not so outdated anymore! ;)  I will try and continue to post, at least a few times a month if possible, but I know things will only be busier here in the next week or two.....

Haylie's Two Year Pics

We had these pictures taken about a week after Haylie's 2nd b-day...the first week of August.  Just now remembering to post them!

6 more weeks!

So it's been a really long time since I had any valid updates on this blog....other than the pictures of the girl's rooms being redone...So here are a few quick things!

We are only 6 weeks away from meeting our second precious daughter, Harper Grace!!!!  We absolutely cannot wait to see her beautiful face and cuddle her in our arms.  Most of this pregnancy has seemed to go by pretty quickly, but now that we are in the last few weeks it seems like it has slowed down dramatically! 

We pretty much have everything we need since we still have all of our big items from Haylie.  One major change with baby #2 however, is that I'm going to try cloth diapering!  I'm really excited about this and have gotten lots of recommendations from different friends on what types to use.  We have been looking for ways to save money lately, and I'm hoping that this turns out a successful way!  Plus, it's better for the environment anyway! 

Our last appointment for Harper was this past Tuesday and her heart rate was 144.  Everything seems to be going pretty smoothly and the weekly appointments start on Oct. 12!  We're on the downhill slope for sure now!

Haylie is growing up SO fast I absolutely cannot believe it!  Within the past week she has become completely potty trained and it was really very easy!!  I had tried a few months back without success and decided she wasn't ready, but I was really wanting her out of diapers by November when Harper arrives so I started trying again last week.  She caught on the very first day we started trying and has done great!!  She even goes to church or out and about and stays dry!!  Today we were gone all morning grocery shopping and running errands, and she stayed dry the whole time and told me when she needed to go!!  She's doing wonderful!  Hardly any accidents at all!

Also, her vocabulary is expanding so much!  She talks and talks and talks some more.  Justin and I were just saying today that she talks nonstop---and that's not an exaggeration!  But, I love to hear her thoughts.  She's so funny! 

Yesterday, she did the sweetest thing: We sat down to eat lunch and I told her to wait because we had to tell Jesus thank you first.  She then bowed her head and on her own, without any prompting from me, she said: "Thank you Jesus, for my food.  We love you Jesus!"  Talk about melting my heart!!  I just love this girl so much!

Justin's still at the BCM for now.  We know God has other plans for us and we are constantly in prayer about what that entails and where that will be.  We are just waiting right now for His leading.  Justin's been preaching and filling in at other churches around our area a lot!  We love it, but are definitely ready to settle down at a church of our own sometime soon.

I'm still staying at home with Haylie and loving it!  I kicked off piano lessons again in August and plan to do them all the way through October and then take a couple months off when Harper is born. 

God has just blessed our little family so much and we continue to look forward to what He has in store for us! 

Well, that's a quick update of what's been happening around here at the Villines' house.  Hopefully it won't be 6 months before I update again!

Harper Grace Villines--Nursery Pics!

Quick post for now---will try to update more soon.

After an exhausting few days, we've finally completed baby girl #2 nursery....so here they are:

Harper Grace Villines is set to arrive in early November and will come home to THIS beautiful room!!  Can't wait!  

I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!!!  Thanks to the sweetest husband in the world for doing the majority of the work!!  Couldn't have done it without you!!

Long time no post.

Okay, so I know it's been quite a while since I last posted....about 4 months to be exact!!  Lots and lots has happened since then.  So here's a short rundown!

In my last posts, I knew we were expecting a new little one, but didn't want to announce yet!  So here's the announcement.  We are expecting baby #2 due November 17.  We found out the first week of July that she will be another girl--name, Harper Grace Villines!!

Because of the news above, we realized that we needed to get Haylie's room upgraded to a "big girl" room so that we could use the "baby" furniture for Harper.  So...that's what our project for the past week has been.  Painting, painting, and more painting, and then organizing and cleaning.  But, I must say, I'm VERY pleased with the final outcome. 

Let's see,  Justin's also been preaching at Konawa the past month of July.  We've really enjoyed being there in this ministry opportunity.  We will be back for sure for the month of September!!

We went on vacation to Colorado Springs also at the beginning of this month.  We had a blast and absolutely LOVED it up there!  It was so cool---that's my kind of weather.  Not this 100 degree stuff with all the humidity!!  We went to Seven Falls, Royal Gorge, Manitou Springs, Focus on the Family, etc.  We also took one day to go to Denver Downtown Aquarium and stopped at an outlet mall on the way back to CO Springs.  Overall, it was one of the best vacations I've ever had!

Last week we went down to Ft. Worth to take a tour of the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Campus.  Justin has applied and been accepted and will start seminary courses at the extension center at Oklahoma Baptist University in August.  Eventually, we may move down there for him to finish up the master of divinity. 

This past Saturday we had Haylie's 2nd b-day party!!  Hard to believe she's 2 already (or will be tomorrow)!  The theme was Elmo.  I made Elmo cupcakes that turned out very cute.  We grilled hotdogs and had homemade chili.  All of our family was there to help celebrate and it was so much fun!  Haylie had a blast opening her presents this year! Her "real" birthday is Thursday, the 29th (tomorrow).  I plan to make her a cake and have just a small "party" with the 3 of us--or almost 4?

Well, that's the rundown of July--and honestly I can't really remember much of April, May and June that would be significant to blog about.  I'm probably forgetting something, but I guess that's why I shouldn't go 4 months without blogging!!