Baby Iggy (not really the name)

We had our 20 week ultrasound yesterday. Normally, this is the time you go and find out the baby's gender. This time, we didn't want to know. It was such a joyous time just focusing on the fact that our baby (boy or girl, loved either way) is HEALTHY!

Jacob and Nathan were extremely helpful as they made predictions that we were indeed having a vampire or a robot baby. So glad we brought them along :)

This is the only picture of the lower half we got. Do you see anything? :) Ian believes he saw boy parts in the very beginning when the technician was trying to get the camera positioned. Once she did, she was VERY careful not to go down towards the legs. Ian's theory is because she knew we would see parts. I'd like to think she was just respecting our wishes. We're trying not to analyze her actions too much.

Here comes baby!

  

Day One

For those of you not interested in this kind of post...I do apologize. I write this for all Mom's with little one's yet to be potty trained.

The time has come for my littlest guy...to potty train. He has been showing signs that he is ready for weeks now (awareness of wetness, taking off his diapers, staying dry for longer periods). In my procrastination and lack of desire to do the work, I have put it off. Alas, here we are, before our 4th baby arrives, before the start of another school year and I can't help but think, NOW is the best time!

For my last two boys, I read and used the methods outlined in the book "Toilet Training in Less Than A Day" by Azrin and Foxx. Jay was just over 2 years old when he started and Nathan was a whopping 18 months old during his training. So the time is just right for Austin who will be 2 in a few weeks. Although, I know for boys, this seems early but I probably should mention we use cloth diapers for our babies and I am a firm believer that because they can FEEL the wetness in a cloth diaper, they are prone to potty train earlier.

The premise of the book is simple, "to teach your child to toilet himself with the same independence as an adult and without the need for reminders, continued praise or assistance." This is done through a very thorough method. It starts with the Doll-That-Wets-Herself. Using the doll to demonstrate to the child how one uses a potty.
I think dear little Austin has enough brothers around to show him that so we skipped this step.
Next is creating the motivation for correct toileting  by approval. Essentially, rewarding them for each step achieved along the way. This is what our basket of rewards looks like...

Yep, that's right. Pure sugar!

The next step is training through accidents. The child is taught to practice the potty routine when they have wet their pants. Part of the training also teaches them how to change their own wet pants and help in cleaning up the mess. This is the most time consuming but most efficient step. The last step involves gradually removing the need for reminders and rewards.

Before I began, I was sure to ask God for help for this tedious task. Day one began with an encouragement. The first attempt on the potty was successful and proved to me what I hoped was true, he was indeed ready. He responded well to the rewards and approval but the practice through wet pants proved trying to his patience (and mine). It was a looooooong day but I'm glad to say there were more success's than accidents. And the Lord was faithful to provide patience that was not my own and strength in time of need.

I pray for the same for day two!

One of the Many Reasons...

Reason #13,701 that I love being a home school family starts with a story.

Imagine a little boy, grabs his lunch, kisses his mom goodbye and hops on the school bus. He's headed for a day with his teacher and third grade classmates. He enjoys a morning filled with math and reading time, then finds himself ready for lunch as his tummy grumbles. When instructed, he heads towards the cafeteria with his lunch his mother packed with love.

He arrives at the lunch room and stops to survey the best place to enjoy his break. First he sees the tiny but sweet kindergartners enjoying their pb&j's and grapes. They aren't quite as mature as he is but they're still having lots of fun. He looks a little farther over and sees all his best buds sitting together eating their cool kid lunchables. He knows he'll have great conversations with them about all their favorite video games and best poop jokes. He puts on a smile and he walks over to hang out with the kindergartners to make new friends.

What would you think about a scene like this in schools today? Is this typical or rare for classroom students? Would he be labeled "weird" for interacting with children not in his grade?  How often in your environment or work place do you interact with people who are only exactly your age?

One wonderful outcome of having the privilege to home school is my children are learning to interact with many different age groups throughout their education. While they spend the day with their older/younger siblings, they are learning how to enjoy different age groups. I believe this will serve them well when they become independent men in the workforce. They will have the ability and desire to appreciate all different age groups.

I witnessed this in my oldest son this weekend when we spent the morning with neighbors at our favorite coffee house, Pearland Coffee Roasters.  Our neighbors have two girls, 5 and 3 years old,  and a baby boy. I watched my son as he happily played a game of Dora dominoes with them because he knew they would like it. I remember being a third grader and I remember how important it was to be cool and shed "baby" ways. But here was my son, adapting to another age group easily.

And I was reminded that the work I am doing with them is so important and so valuable.

Almost Half Way There!

We're Going on a Berry Hunt...

So far this year, we've been strawberry and blackberry picking. By far, my favorite fruit to take the kids out for is blueberries! They get a decent size bucket and it takes them FOREVER to fill it up. Unlike strawberries where you fill up a bucket within 15 minutes. And, the blueberry bush doesn't have thorns like the blackberry bush. The other day, Nathan reminded me of how much fun we have whenever we go and we decided to make a trip for some fresh blueberries.

Unfortunately, even by 9am, it was 1 million degrees out and we couldn't take the heat too long. So we didn't end up with enough blueberries to freeze this year (that also could be a result of the fact that Austin didn't add any berries he picked to the bucket, only to his stomach!). But we still made the memories...

Making Up Words

As our resident little guy learns words from the world around him, we laugh at the ones he's made up in the meantime. Sometimes it becomes a guessing game because one word can mean many things for him. Like...

"doh" = dog, down or doughnut

"b-b" = bagel? Don't ask me how that came about

"doo-doo" = car, truck or tractor (or lately, anything Cars 2 related)

"Jay" = Jacob

"poon" = spoon

"ba" = ball or book

"da" = yes

"jue" = juice, milk or anything in a sippy cup

Just to name a few. Thankfully, Dad is "Daddy" and Mom is "Mama". At least there's no confusion when it comes to knowing who loves him!

Food For Summer

One of my all-time favorite things to have in the summer is bruschetta. Think fresh summer tomatoes and basil on top of sliced crusty bread...mmmmm. Especially this summer since I have tomatoes and basil growing abundantly in my garden.

I wanted to try a recipe that plays on bruschetta but uses different ingredients. It's super simple and super yummy.

Strawberry and Goat Cheese Bruschetta

To make them:

Take a pint of strawberries, slice them and add a little sugar to let them macerate for 30 minutes.

Slice your crusty bread and put it under the broiler for a few minutes. But don't forget them!

Smear a dollop of goat cheese on top of each slice of bread.

Add a spoonful of strawberries on top of the cheese.

Now for the yummy part...

Sprinkle a little bit of balsamic vinegar over the strawberries and the top with bits of sliced basil.

Beware, these are addictive and you won't want to stop eating them.

Enjoy your summer food!

Kids Triathlon

My oldest boy...

 had the privilege of trying something new this weekend. A really good friend asked us if Jacob would be interested in training for and competing in a kids triathlon. Since he's competed in numerous team sports, I thought it would be a good experience for him to try an individual sport. So we agreed and started training.

In a triathlon there are three legs of the competition...swimming, biking and running.

In the kids version, 8 year olds swim one full length of the pool, bike 1 mile and run 1/4 mile.

The night before the race, he was the most nervous I had seen him in a long time. The fear of doing something new, even things he could do well, was playing with his mind. I reminded him of how well he's done in other areas and how he would know what to do when the time came.

The morning of the race, the hardest part was getting him accustomed to the routine of a triathlon. There was the signing in, getting marked, chipped and numbered...

Then we had to show him where he would find his bike and park it when he was done biking. He had to learn where the bike and run trail were since we would not be available to direct him where to go during the race and he would have to know that for himself.

Finally the race was about to begin and after he saw the first few heats of older boys and girls go, he couldn't wait for his turn. I prayed with him before he started and then it was his turn. I was so excited and nervous for him at the same time. And just like that, off went my baby.

He was amazing! He didn't come in first (or even close in his age bracket) but he sure tried his hardest. And that's what matters. This was just one of many proud moments with him. When it was all said and done, he even said he'd like to do it again next year! My boy is awesome.

Overboard

I have been meaning to try a cookie idea I had seen somewhere on the internet. After the craziness of a broken-down car, online stolen credit card information and a very busy 3 day home school conference last week, I decided it was the perfect time.

It's a simple process that yields INCREDIBLE results. In fact, Jacob actually said "don't you think this is overboard mom?" What does he know, he's 8 right? =)

Oreo Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies

Basically you make a batch of chocolate chip cookie dough. (We used dark chocolate chips because they're the best) Apparently shirts are optional for baking!

And you grab a bag of Oreos. This is the part where you say, "isn't this overboard?" Scoop a dollop of cookie dough on top of an Oreo and a dollop underneath. Then mold the cookie dough around the Oreo.

Place on a baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. 

If you are not pregnant, you can clean out the bowls and spoons as well.

And you wait as patiently as you can while they bake. If necessary, pull up a chair and stare at the oven, it might go faster.

Enjoy!!!!!

Privileged

This weekend I had the privilege of being in the company of some phenomenal women. Don't get me wrong, I know so many incredible women. From the home school moms that pour their hearts, time and energy into the training of their children, to the working moms that keep the fine balance of work and home, and so many more in between that inspire me as a woman.

But these ladies have a special something. We used to be a part of their world. I couldn't see it then, their worth and importance in our society (mostly because I was one of them and didn't consider myself special). Even as I sit here and think of who they are and what they do, my heart becomes full of gratefulness and admiration.

They are the military wives across our country.

I'm sure people think very little of the sacrifices these amazing women make. How could they? It's almost like labor. You don't know what it feels like until you've been there and done that. Maybe it's because I've been there and done that, that I am filled with such admiration for them. Maybe it's just because they are deserving of our appreciation just by doing what they do.

I stepped into a world I had long forgotten. Very dear to my heart, but no longer mine. Being in a military community has a feel of it's own. It's obvious the work that is being done and you know the sacrifices that are being made and have been made on our behalf. You can't help but recognize you are the outsider looking in. As I listened to these women talk about the difficulties involved in comforting their children when missing their daddy's, the daily struggles to maintain the home front and all the while, dreaming of being with their husband's again, I was so moved by their remarkable strength.

These are brave, strong and fearless women that love soldiers. I am encouraged by their example of support for their husband's career (in the face of danger), love and care for their families (even when it's not easy) and their strength to keep each other going (even though they barely know each other). Even though they don't go to the battlefields and take up arms, what they do is extremely important. I can hear them saying "oh I wish I could go back to the day's when doing the laundry was the biggest obstacle of the day" during a deployment.

God bless our American soldiers and God bless the military wives! Thank you for all you do!

Bountiful

This post makes it official...

I AM A GARDENER!!!!!!

Here is the proof...

As you may or may not know, I have been trying my hand at vegetable gardening for a few years now. All with NO success. Finally, this year, I made a break through. I've been harvesting my herbs for a while, and even some cherry tomatoes but here is real produce, straight from my own garden! 

I'm also excited about what's still in there. Tomatoes waiting to turn red, a handful of bell peppers, carrots still burrowed and even a few large cucumbers. I'm hopeful for a few other items but we'll see if the heat and drought don't kill them off first.

Happiness

Summer is for fun!

Among some of our favorite summer activities, summer book reading clubs and sprinklers are at the top!

The big boys can't wait to get 60 books read so they can earn the grand prize of a...trophy. After Jacob showed me his updated book reading list he said "Mom, I love to read". So thankful for that.

Even the littlest guy is working on his reading list!

When our community pool opens, that's where you'll find us during summer if you need us! In the meantime, the sprinkler provides temporary relief and entertainment, even if Dad was just trying to water the grass!

12 weeks and lots more to go...

One of the privileges of making it through the first trimester is those early hormones start settling down and your stomach no longer tells you that food is the enemy!

Well here I am. At the 12 week mark. And I know I'm starting to come out the coma of non-stop nausea, woozy feelings, vertigo and the likes of such when I can eat sweets again. So in celebration of a stomach that will let me eat the things I shouldn't, I baked!

From a friend, I found this recipe on this amazing blog. And decided to try it myself. I'm normally not a fan of making cakes/cupcakes from scratch...because the box cakes are so much easier...but let me say, this my friends, was totally worth it! Look for more of these kind of posts to come, I may have to cook my way through that blog =)

Cherry Limeade Cupcakes

I do apologize for the drooling nature of this blog post :)

The Future Sibling

While expecting a new little one is one of the most wonderful things in the world, there are some not so wonderful side effects that come along with it. Nausea, fatigue, fluctuating hormones, leg cramps...What's more is managing three boys on top of that!

There have been some incredibly sweet sentiments that have come from each of the boys through this trying time. And I never want to forget how much these little boys wanted to care for their mother and the sibling they haven't met yet.

When I first started feeling sick early in the pregnancy, Jacob asked me if we had a bell. "I don't think so. The only one I can think of that we have is the Christmas ornament. Why do you want a bell?" I replied. Jacob's answer was so precious, "so you can ring it when you need something and I'll come and get it for you". I am so blessed to have these boys.

Ever since we found out I'm pregnant, we've been praying for this baby in my womb. We pray for different things. Mainly that even though we can't see or hold this baby, God does, and even though we can't keep this baby or make him/her stronger, God can. So we pray that he/she will grow strong and healthy everyday. Nathan has taken it as his personal task as big brother to remember our sweet baby EVERY time we pray now. It doesn't matter if we're praying for a meal or praying for a friend, Nathan always remembers to pray for our baby. And when mom is having a particularly rough day with sickness, Nathan's first response is always, "mom, let's pray that you will feel better". Even the other night at Awanas, the leader asked if anyone had any prayer requests and Jacob raised his hand and said "pray that my mom's baby would be healthy". So glad they trust Jesus can heal and keep us.

Finally, tonight as we were settling in for bed, Jacob rubs my belly (still not a cute bump but definitely not flat anymore) and leans down as if he's talking to the baby and says...

"I know there's nothing to do in there, so..."

and touching his pointer finger to my belly,

"tag, you're it!"


I couldn't make this stuff up!

Something's In the Oven!

Although I do love whipping up a good blackberry cobbler or sweet strawberry muffins in the oven, I am referring to something entirely different.  Usually when you put something in the oven, you're hungry and can't wait to eat it. The thing in our oven has done the opposite. Normally it may take an hour or two to cook. What I have in the oven will take a whole 9 months!

Introducing the first picture of baby #4 for the Jorgensen family, due December 5th.

Woo-Hoo!

"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."

Jeremiah 29:11

Picking Something Other Than Their Noses.

Our dear sweet friends, the Stolz's, invited us to come to what I thought was their backyard blackberry patch. Little did I realize, it was like a miniature forest on the own property complete with trails and surprises. Due to the drought here in Texas, we knew the blackberries would be few and far between but the boys had a blast going on a berry hunt. While blackberries are not as fun to pick as strawberries or blueberries, because of their thorny nature, it was even more rewarding to pick something we had to be so careful instead of careless about.

Jacob enjoyed leading us through the trails to where the "jackpots" were. Nathan was a little concerned about getting lost and Austin was perfectly content following.

For most of our trip, Austin didn't realize what we were doing. Finally he saw that we were picking berries and some how he got the bright idea to try one. After that, it was all over. He might have ate more than we actually picked! Ha.

Garden Update

I can't believe it but I actually get to add an update about how well my garden is doing! Yay! So here is the progress so far...

The unexpected pumpkin patch

Growing green beans

Flowering cucumbers

Sugar Snap Peas ready to eat off the vine

Not in the garden but I am most anxious about the pomegranates growing in our tree!

Green and red cherry tomatoes

Big Ole' Tomatoes growing too!

Soccer Stars

One of the most rewarding and exciting parts of being a parent is watching my children develop and grow in their skills and gifting's. You see them as newborns, learning how to do basic tasks like eating and sleeping. Then as toddlers the world is open to them and everything is new. Walking, talking and playing are still something to be learned. Now that my babies are older, I have the privilege of watching them develop their skills in sports.

I never played, watched or took part in a soccer game but I am one PROUD soccer mom! In my opinion, it's the best sport for children. They get to learn teamwork, field strategies, it's full of non-stop activity and it's fun! I love bringing my kiddos outdoors, plopping down in the grass and watching them play a good game of soccer.

Jacob has always loved the game and actually, he's quite good at it. This year, is no exception. While I am proud that he is aggressive, quick and scores goals, my favorite part of soccer this year with him is his character development. He is HIGHLY competitive. Almost to a fault. But for his very first game he turned and said to me "Mom, I don't want to sin anymore. So I'm not going to be a sore loser. I will be happy whether we win or loose."

But this year, his favorite part of playing is getting to have his best friend on the team!

This year marks a first for Nathan. His first year to play a game he's watched literally since he was an infant. Although he was reluctant, he is proving to be a natural. Easily one of the best on the team. My favorite part of Nathan's game is seeing him selflessly run after each ball that goes out, in order to return it to the game. Even though he could just rest and not go after it. It's just who Nathan is, he thinks of others first.

I just love those little legs running =)

Go Nathan!

He's just like his dad, sticks his tongue out while competing.