new. new, new

Since coming home from Nebraska our daily lives have been go-go-go, partially by choice and partially not (sickness, John gone). We've been keeping with our routine of Story Time, church, and weekly play dates with friends, but have also added to the weekly schedule.

Natural Childbirth classes.
Many of you may have seen my Facebook post about my new adventure as a Natural Childbirth instructor. I am very excited about combining my love for childbirth and my love for teaching. A perfect little marriage of passions.
http://www.bradleybirth.com/tenishalynch

MOPS
This fall I took a little leap and decided to join our local MOPS group. We are only one meeting in and it has been one of my best decisions. Absolutely refreshing for this busy momma, and Mankato loves going to "school" at MOPPETS. If you are a MOP (mother of preschooler(s)) I highly recommend checking out your local MOPS group.
http://www.mops.org/

LifeGroup
Another new addition this fall has been starting a LifeGroup through our local church. After much tug on my heart, I am excited to be surrounded by a wonderful group of ladies as we explore being virtuous together.

Shakes
I drink shakes, and drink them often. They are delicious and it took me nearly six months of contemplating to try them. They provide me with additional nutrition, help me feel organically energized, are so easy, and are helping me lose the last of my Loxley pounds and inches ... I'm coming for you, gray-skinny-jeans!
________________________________________________________________
Now an update on my kiddos (because I know that's what you've really been waiting for). Mankato went through a spell of naughtiness and I was all sorts of nervous it was the new "almost-three-year-old" coming out, BUT I am happy to report he was a little sick and once he was feeling better my sweet boy was back. He is an absolute sweetheart to his sister. Just this morning we were putting a puzzle together at the table to avoid tornado Lox from hitting, and once we were done he went and grabbed her and said, "here, sis, now you help take apart". She very happily helped take apart the puzzle. He is considered, and has a memory that amazes me.

Lox is a tornado. Her new freedom in crawling (it's been two months now) is a daily battle for my floors/dishes/cereal/dog water. She's busy, but a dollface. She has been mothering her baby (she only likes playing with a specific one) and spends quite a bit of time covering it with blankies and rocking and kissing it. She is a a blast, and has an appetite that amazes everyone. And she is ALMOST ONE!

This post is mainly about me, and additions to my life. In the last (almost) three years of being a mom I have realized the importance of still being Tenisha. It's a hard trick to accomplish, and often I WANT my two littles to experience everything with me. Often times I will tell John how much I need a break ("just 20 minutes, babe") and then he will offer to take the kids to the park or to Lowes and I.....well, I go along. I don't want to miss out on any of their preciousness. But at 28 years young, and one full year of living in NC, I am finding my way. I am realizing how to be present, but have necessary me time.
And now I'll leave you with their preciousness ...   

our j'ville house

As promised... our house...

toy room

front room aka guest room

playroom to kitchen

kitchen and dining room

Mankato J's room

Loxley Lou's room

living room with tv

our bedroom/sewing room/office/thinking couch

Not pictured: the bathrooms (because, well, they're bathrooms), the laundry room (it has a washer and a dryer and lots of clothing articles/rugs/blankets/towels/a pillow), and the back patio (needs some TLC). There is plenty to love and hate about this house. The longer we are here the more the love grows.

I'M BACK

Mankato was 10 months the last time I posted. Loxley is now 7 months.
I have come to realize that writing is therapeutic to me, and although I have been writing in journals since my last post, I figured it's darn time I start writing here again.

I am not going to attempt to catch you up on the last two years, because, well, lets face it ... I am a mom of two and ain't nobody got time for that. It is nap time now, and although I'd love to spend all of nap time typing in my quiet bedroom with the desk lamp on and the window breeze coming in, I also need to fold laundry, load the dishes, clean the upstairs bathroom, and do a general "pick-up" downstairs.

I will share pictures of our "new" (we've been here seven months already) house in the next post (there will be a next one) and I will tell a few Mankato stories in this post (he would make a great novel character).

The latest:

Mankato is a talker, and it's quite fun to have someone to talk to all day long. He is forming sentences like a pro and you can see his little brain working by all of his ever-changing facial expressions. For about two weeks now we have had the same conversation several times, usually post-nap:

Mankato: "Where dada go?"
Me: "Dad is at work, he'll be home later"
Mankato: "No, worch dada, mom worch, dada stay home"
Me: "Well we will have to talk to dad about that"
Mankato: "okay, call him"

a few notes ... he calls me "mom" almost always (so grown up, it makes me a little sad it's not momma or mommy). He has also had this same conversation and instead of telling me to "worch" he says "Mom fly HUEY. Dada stay home." (he always finds it's most approriate to yell HUEY!). One last note, I am not sure if I should be heartbroken that he wants me to work or be glad that he loves his dada so much? My feelings are still up in the air.

To say Mankato is the best big brother is honestly downsizing how great he is with Loxley. He loves her so much, and the more she interacts with him the more he loves her. He asks (almost nightly) if she can sleep in his bed. We keep telling him when she is bigger she can. Then recently she started trying new foods (or trying to get new foods to her mouth) and he said, "Oh! sis is big! Sleep in Kato's bed?" So we have now started telling him that she can sleep with him when she has a birthday. The kid doesn't forget a thing.

And Loxley. Oh, Loxley. She has not been sleeping well, so I will have to try to find nice things to say about her. Jk. Well, sorta. She hasn't been sleeping the best, but she is such a DOLL! She is so smiley (even without sleep) and loves to play with any toy. And loves music of all kinds. She is starting to "speak" her mind when it comes to what she wants, if she can't reach a toy, she yells at it (or maybe she's yelling at us?). If she doesn't want to hold Mankato's hand (he ALWAYS wants to hold hers) she will push him away and give a little scream. She may end up to be a ball of fire, but for now she loves cuddles and nursing more than anything.

And as abruptly as I brought this blog back, I am ending this post. Until next time ...