Changing over to Wordpress.com for blogging.

Hello Everyone!

Just a quick note to let everyone know we will changing our blogging client. We are making the switch over to Wordpress.com to host it. Please bear with us at the new site while we modify it the way we want it!

READING:

Nothing changes. Continue going to www.rachandjosh.com.

There may be a 24-48 hour period while the DNS server redirects the URL to the new blog. If you run into this issue you can temporarily go to: rachandjosh.wordpress.com

FOLLOWING:

There are now two ways to "follow". You can receive email notices when there is a new post, or you can follow the traditional way via RSS feed. (You can do both if you wish)

• Existing Followers and new RSS feeds: add the following URL to receive updates: rachandjosh.wordpress.com/feed/

• Receiving email notices: Go to our new blog and in the right had corner select "sign me up" (exisiting wordpress.com users) or type in your email address and click "sign me up" (if you don't have a wordpress.com)

You can always click the RSS feed button on our blog to follow as well.....(you know, that little orange funny looking thing!)

Have a great rest of the week!

Sleep well, Sweet dreams...

Our litte K is having a hard time going to sleep these days. We have the same routine. Bath (most nights), snack, stories and back rubbing. The story/back rub process has recently been taking over an hour. For awhile it worked to say, "I am going to go do...., but I will be back to check on you." She did really well for a couple of weeks.

Now Kiera knows she can get out of bed and wants to leave her room. Tonight I tried to leave her room 5 times. The last time I got down to her level explaining to her that I will simply be in another room and I will come back. She sat down in my lap and proceeded to cuddle. I began to rock her on the floor in the entry way to her room. Her eyes instantly began to flutter, struggling to keep them open, but she wasn't tired that's what she kept telling me. I simply watched her and it was so heart warming, I love cuddle time. Then I began to giggle because she was so not tired, but was, and I was sitting on the floor in the entry to her room rocking our little, big girl. We moved to the bed. I tucked her in with Ally-dolphin, Dolly, her blanket and Dolly's bottle in her hand. She began to play with her hair, snuggle in and fall asleep.

I love being a mom to our beautiful little girl.

The Magic City

My hometown is under water. Thankfully my childhood home is dry, thanks to a sump pump that was installed after 30 years without the need for one. My parents didn't have to leave their home. My sister didn't have to leave her home. Thankful. However, Minot will never be the same. The flood is nothing Minot has ever seen, they have to boil water for 24 hours because of possible water contamination and this evening possible tornadoes. My parents lost power and access to their phone lines temporarily. How much can a community take, ugh!

I am thankful that we have the internet and the coverage provided by KXMC. It's nice to feel somewhat close, when we're so far away.

My junior high is completely submerged the church I grew up in and Josh and I were married in is water logged. The pictures and stories are unbelievable. I can only imagine and my heart aches for the people who have lost their homes and for the entire community. It makes me sad. I know these things can be replaced and Minot will rebuild and continue to be a wonderful community. I am praying for strengh, perserverence, peace and hope for Minot and the surrounding communities.

One of Kiera's new favorite Hobbies.....

A very rare opportunity, Kiera standing on the couch saying "Take Pictures...Me!!"

One of the first jumps off the couch ever!!!

(Sat am)

I'm a pro....one day and roughly 40 jumps later (Sunday PM)

30 weeks!?!?

We can't believe we have only 10 weeks (give or take a few days) until we meet our baby! As you may know Josh and I love the TV show Chuck. Kiera's nickname in utero was baby Bartowski after the main character - Charles Bartowski played by Zachary Levi. This little baby is baby Ryder after Flynn Ryder, played by Zachary Levi in Tangled :-)

In the past 30 weeks we have seen our little one 2 times and heard baby R's heartbeat numerous times :-) The 12 week ultrasound little baby's heartbeat was 157 bpm. During the 20 week ultrasound the heartbeat was 144 bpm. The little one didn't want to have a profile picture taken and wasn't very active, it might have been nap time!

At our 26 week appointment we saw that our baby was a little feisty! When Dr. Beard placed the heartbeat monitor wand (technical term) on my belly there was an instant punch or kick at the wand, my entire belly moved! Baby R really enjoys the ride as mommy moves throughout the day. The most movement I feel is in the evening when I have a few moments to kick up my feet.

The first trimester brought some naseousness and tiredness, 2nd trimester was fabulous and the 3rd trimester has brought the return of tiredness, heart burn, a healthy appetite and if you are cold in a room probably not a good idea to ask me if it feels cold :-) I am also getting very used to having my blood drawn as an Endocrinologist is trying to get my T4 Free and TSH levels, just right. We might get there by the last month ;-) I am really thankful that I still feel great walking, doing yoga and running around with Kiera, just at a little slower pace.

We are eagerly anticipating becoming a family of four and seeing if we will have a little girl or boy. Big sister, Kiera, really thinks the baby is a little sister.

20 weeks

30 weeks

Doc Hudson and Kalispell Jewel

Sunday night we spotted Doc Hudson from Cars and took Kiera out to find him. Doc was "sleeping" when we first walked by his "house" but as we walked down the hill he went racing by. We walked back up the hill so we could say hello. Kiera was very excited.

Kiera and Doc, can you see her excitement?!?



A little update on our Kalispell Jewel. She is losing her winter coat by the handfuls! Our little pup is 77 pounds and needs to brush her teeth just a bit more every week. We so love having her in our family.

I think someone is telling me it's time to wash her bed!

Memorial Day Weekend

We kicked off summer with some great friends in Fargo - the Kaspricks. It was wonderful to leave home for a bit and enjoy the company of friends.

The Kasprick's have 2 girls, one almost 3 and the other almost 18 months. Here is a snipit and a few snap shots of what we did:

Visited Dinoland at West Acres

Played at the park in the good ol' ND wind!

Rode toy cars, trikes and pushed strollers on the driveway

Piled into the minivan - 3 kiddos, 4 adults!

Learned that we have similar trials and triumphs as parents

Acquired clothes for Kiera and baby gadgets (swing, bouncer, exersaucer) for baby Ring

Ate at Applebee's (of course!)

Ate ice cream, freezie pops, Peanut Butter Captain Crunch and s'mores

Sang Johnny Apple Seed at meals (and Kiera sang it most of the way home, adorable)

Became very familiar with the words "mine" and "my"

Turned a crib mattress into a "swimming pool" jumping on it and "in" it

Learned all about water colors and paint and how it can turn into finger paint which turns into bathtime!

Read part of a book

Scott and Josh made the required trip to Best Buy and added Toys R' Us (funny how life changes)

Played with worms

Figured out it is very possible to sleep two adults and one child in a queen size bed

Enjoyed a bonfire and glow sticks

Kiera is a great little road tripper

Kali had a BLAST with Shiloh and Beth - she got run and play with Shiloh, ride in the car, chew a new nyla bone, run around the lake and swim 3 times!! Here's a story from Kali's weekend. As you may know Kali loves her grey IKEA blanket. One night before bed, Beth heard Kali whinning, she went to check it out to see Kali staring at a basket with toys and a grey blanket. Beth gave her the blanket and Kali was off to sleep with it nestled in her mouth. I guess 3 year old dogs need a snugglie too! We love our pooch, she is one tired girl maybe even a few pounds lighter:-) Thanks for taking great care of her Beth.

It is so great to have friends you can just "be" with. It was a much needed weekend for us. Thanks for a fabulous time, Kaspricks...wish we lived closer!

Weekend recap and some other odds and ends

Not many pictures were taken this weekend, but it was a so enjoyable and so fun to watch our little Kiera become more of a sweet little girl.

Josh and I got to reconnect with several camp friends on Saturday, many we hadn't seen in close to a year! Kiera showed us a very shy side, that we had yet to see. She was very quiet and wanted to be with mom the entire time. If someone started talking to her, she would shyly turn her head away. There were definitely a lot of new people to meet, but it was so fun to be with long time friends as our little family of 3.

When we returned home on Saturday we played outside for over 2 hours - blowing bubbles, playing with Josh's matchbox cars, chalk, Kiera's car and all kinds of new sports balls. It's amazing what you can find in a garage!

On Sunday morning Kiera got to spend quality time with Aunt Beth and Shiloh, which is always a treat! Then K and I headed to NE Minneapolis for a Sunday playdate with my former coworkers and their kiddos. I even got to see a high school classmate I hadn't seen since high school! It's so fun to connect with other moms and watch our kids begin to interact with each other as they get older. We made our way out of Minneapolis just in time as an apparent tornado hit north Minneapolis. Thankfully, our friends house and neighborhood were ok.

After dinner we took a chance to go for a little walk between rainstorms. Kali and Josh were already out. Kiera and I put on our crocs, I put on my raincoat, Kiera did not (this will be important later) and we headed out. We headed down the sidewalk and spotted lilacs so we had to go smell them, SOOOO yummy! Josh met up with us as we continued to smell anything that resembled a flower, none of them as good as the lilacs. It began to rain, HARD! Josh and Kali took off and headed for home. I began to unzip my raincoat to protect Kiera from the rain, which is quite an interesting picture when I am also 26 weeks pregnant! Needless to say we got wet, but we laughed about it and by the time we were home, it was sunny, so we continued to play outside. Thanks to the many downpours, there were great puddles to jump in!

Kiera has really started to form sentences, not only repeating what we say but formulating them and completing them on her own. It's such a fascinating process! A little sample...as we were praying tonight I said, "Dear God, thank you..." She said, "thank you, Dear God" and was so proud of herself. While Josh was enjoying breakfast with Kiera he finished his cereal and she said, "Daddy all done...go play!" She loves "exercising" which involves running around the house and today included squealing at the top of her lungs, it made us smile. The other day it was creating an obstacle course with blankets, jumping from one to the other, along with her dolly. She has also become completely attached to her blanket, not sure how it happened, but I hope nothing happens to it because we only have one of its kind! She also is so excited to be able to go with Josh and I to different places, all weekend she kept saying "Me go too?!?" Yes, Kiera, we are excited for you to go, too. While driving she points out every bridge we drive under and eagerly anticipates the next one, even if it's a big interstate sign.

So good, so good!

Self portraits with Kiera, she was willing and that is rare...

My own Camera!!!!

Sweet!!! Mom & Dad got me a Camera!

Let's see how this thing works......

That's working much better!

Feeling better...and hanging outside with Mom!

Easter Clips

Here are some rough cuts from Easter. Basically unedited, but shows what part of Kiera's day was like. With Easter a couple of weeks past, I figured I should at least post something!

Easter Basket Search:



Easter Meal:



Easter Egg Hunt (Yes Kali was very excited!):

Why??? Because it's Sweeet!

Easter, Kiera's Birthday, and Kiera's Birthday Party add up to a lot of pictures and video clips to go through! As time allows we will post these on the blog. For now, here is a short clip of birthday preperations......

All in a normal days supper.....

A little fun!

Checking out the flooding in Chaska

Boogers and Troy, ha!

As Kiera and I were taking a break while our oatmeal raisin cookies were baking she found a wash cloth and decided I needed my face wiped. When asked what was one my face, she said, "boogers" clear as day! Josh and I giggled and Kiera proceeded to wipe my face and check my nose for boogers!

On another note she is very intrigued with Troy, our neighbor. Troy is fixing the wall in her room and was there with Josh earlier this week when we got home from daycare. Now when I say should we go home to see Kali and Daddy, she says "Troy?" (She associates Troy with Daddy)

Today she took a trip with Daddy and Troy to IKEA, I am sure she was so excited. She also got to see Oliber (Oliver) and Boof (Booth), Troy and Ashley's dogs. Anytime Kali barks at someone/thing outside, Kiera says "Troy" thinking he is out with the dogs. While playing with her phone last night she said "mommy, daddy" Troy" and then looked at us and smiled :-)

Kiera has been such a little ham this past week. I just want to squish her, hug her and kiss her, so I do!

Josh is having fun playing with the DSLR, so look for some pictures of our loveable, kissable, hugable Kiera!

On this March 17th...

...I took the day off in honor of our 17th week of pregnancy, St. Patrick's Day and the fact that our little miss K hasn't been sleeping well and I needed a break :-)

I have felt guilty even thinking about taking a day off for the last 2 days and laid in bed for 20 minutes this morning, when I should have been sleeping, debating on whether I should call in or just go in to work. I made the call and I am SO glad I didn't go to work!

This has been my day of celebration!

Kiera woke up at 5:45 wanting mommy, after I had slept on the floor with her for most of the night, and had been in our bed for 30 minutes. As I made the call into work, Josh laid down with her, then I came in and after about 1/2 an hour she fell back asleep and we slept until 8 a.m. We enjoyed breakfast together and brushed our teeth, dressed in green and headed to "Shell's" so Kiera could play with her friends.

Kali and I proceeded to the dog park, crazy idea since it has been in the upper 40's all week! We walked for about 10 minutes and then headed back because it was too icy to walk and Kali started rolling in the slop. Luckily for Kali I found a mini chuck-it, that someone had left, and she got to retrieve for another 20 minutes.

When we came home, I was motivated to sweep the winter sand away from the deck and garage. It is so nice outside. I opened the windows and tackled the icky smell that was coming from our kitchen, eeewwww! I love lemon and baking soda!

I put away Valentine's decorations and set out Easter and spring decorations. I love this time of year! Everything will soon be fresh and new.

I did a few loads of laundry, the dishes, made a healthy meal in the crockpot, watched some March Madness basketball, mailed a package AT the post office, worked out and got gas-not early in the morning or late at night.

Then I enjoyed a Shamrock Shake. This has been such a lovely day!!

Josh just got done with some training early so we can hang out for abit before we go get our beautiful little girl, eat supper and go mattress shopping!

I may make this holiday a celebration EVERY year!!

One word

I am not so great with words, so when I saw this idea on a friend's blog for the second year in a row, I thought I might give it a try.

Pick one word to focus on for the year.

So after 3 weeks of thinking about this the word that keeps coming to mind is TRUST. There are many things I am not in control of in my life and I know that when my trust is in the Lord I feel more at peace. I know this year will be filled with many adventures, memories and trials - I'm looking forward to it!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Kiera Catherine

Our little munchkin is growing by leaps and bounds! She cracks us up daily and is definitely showing us her personality and independence. Here's to our beautiful 20 month old :-)

Some of her more recent words - She's had a word explosion in the last week or so...
Snow (No, but sounds different then, Noooo)
Hat (and she makes sure mommy and daddy wear one too, it's cold outside)
Tree (Tee) She gets so excited when she sees them.
Please (Peas)
Shoes
Door (She said this one clear as day when leaving Michelle's on Tuesday and proceeded to point out every door the rest of the night)
Couch
Shower
She is constantly naming Daddy, Kali and Mommy and all of her childcare friends
Backpack (Bapa)
Boots
Baby
Dolly
Snack
Snake
Bird
Bug
Milk (Mo)
More
Owe (O-ee)
Cold (then promptly points to her hat, because that's what you wear when it's cold)

She kisses her dolly's o-ee's

When we get outside she says brrr and tucks her hands in and cuddles...I LOVE it!

She can identify many animals - Some of the most recent - Bird, Snake, Bug, Bear, Giraffe

Favorite books - Where's Spot? and The Busy Bible Story Book

Favorite Game - Poee (Ring around the Rosey) When you play you must fall all the way to the ground even if she doesn't :-)

Throws the chicken for Kali and runs (pumping her arms) and hides!

She is still a wonderful eater...Mom and Dad need to follow her lead and eat more veggies!

For the past couple weeks she hasn't been a great sleeper or wanting to go to sleep, which is out of the ordinary. We think it is because her brain is learning/processing so much everyday it keeps going through the night and she wakes up and can't go back to sleep. It's hard work to learn SO much about our world!

She LOVES dolls.

Really wants to be doing chores or helping us out - throwing garbage, dusting, wiping, sweeping, folding laundry.

Kiera is such a wonderful little person even when she is really asserting her independence!

Love you to pieces Kiera bug!