I've been working on losing weight lately (by way of Weight Watchers and light physical activity).
I'm proud to say that I can now fit into my pre-pregnancy jeans! Now, I would like to drop 1 more size, and that would bring me back to highschool jean size! :) I think I can do it.... 
Not sure what to write, or how to go about it.... Here are some major events that happened in our life over the past year...
In December, I started watching a little boy named Zachary during the week. He's like a brother to Sophie now. He just turned 1 yesterday! It's so amazing how fast time has flown! We love him like he was our own.
In February, Sophie and I were in a car accident that totalled my car. Sophie was fine, and I was just a little bruised and sore. Thank God that was all. It could have been much worse! Now, I am the owner of a Honda Odyssey. I love being a mini van mom! :)
Sophie turned 2 in July! She has grown so much! She's way more than half of my height. She'll be a tall girl. She is hilarious and I'm pretty sure she'll be the class clown someday. She loves to sing and make up songs, dance, and LOVES her baby dolls. She really likes playing with other kids and isn't too shy when it comes to playing. She is also a very caring and compassionate little girl. Sometimes, Sophie will come over to me and ask me "Are you ok, Mommy? Are you tired?" And then give me a hug and a kiss. If someone is crying, she always wants to know if they're ok. She thinks a hug and a kiss will make it all better. :)
My in-laws are no longer missionaries to Africa. Now, they are in Panama. Which is awesome, because it's cheaper to fly to the US. So, this means we will see them a little more often (like, for Christmas, yay!) and this also means, that we will definitely make a trip to Panama at some point in the next few years! So exciting! They can see the jungle from where they live! And the Panama Canal is just down the hill. :)
We've also recently switched churches, and LOVE our new church. I'm finally starting to sing again on the worship team. This will be my first week. In the short time we've been there, we have made a lot of friends. We have found our home church at Crossroads Community Church! They are awesome!!! :)
So, that's all for now. I finally have a computer of my own. So, I will try to keep up on my blogs! :)
It could just be that she's beginning to make some changes in her life, and I'm not familiar with her new ways starting to come forth. I need God to help me with my patience and understanding. Sophie is really doing a good job at testing my patience, and I need to learn to be calm through it. It's not so easy. Time-outs have already been given, and she's only 16 months. But, they seem to work. :)
Anyway, life isn't TOO exciting, but I'm enjoying it. We definitely try to get Sophie together with other kids throughout the week, because she needs it.
I can't stop reading Ted Dekker books. I'm averaging about 2 books a week. I never would have thought that I would be a reader! But, look at me go! :) I love it! Who needs t.v. when there are amazing books to read!? :)
Anyway, just thought I'd post something while I had a couple of minutes. Now I'm off to read while Sophie naps.
I really do love my job! This is the perfect way to be a neat freak and be O.C.D. and get paid for it! I clean the orthodontist office Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday night. I'm only there for 1.5 hours a night, and I do my complete best. I put my 100% into my job. While I'm there, I get to think, pray and worship God. I put my praise on, and go. Apparently I do more than the previous guy that cleaned. I met some of the ladies who work there last night, and they all were to my surprise, very happy to meet me. They said they noticed the difference right away. I don't know what I do differently.... but all I know is that I want to do a good job, so it reflects positively on my boss.
Anyway, I think I found my calling in life! I LOVE TO CLEAN!! Maybe someday in the future I'll take on more jobs, but I'm going to stick to just one for now, so I can focus on raising my family. Honestly, it doesn't feel like work to me. It's just something I really enjoy doing. :) God knew what I needed and he provided it to me. He has blessed me and has exceeded my expectations! :)
I get online everyday, but not long enough to post a new blog... not until Paul and I get a laptop of our own.
Anyway, I just wanted to check in and give an update on life!
SOPHIE:
Sophie is a very bust toddler! She doesn't stop until I put her down in her crib. She just GOES and GOES and GOES. But she is finally starting to learn how to stop and give mommy and daddy hugs and kisses and love on us through out her busy day. FINALLY! :) She will be 15 months old in a couple of weeks! Crazy how time flies! I love being able to spend my days with her!
ALISHA:
I am home during the days with Sophie. Finally doing what I've wanted to do since Sophie was born! I'm a SAHM. We go to the parks and go for walks, and hang out with friends and family. I have also just started a little job. The perfect job, fell into my lap. It was totally a God thing! My friend Sarah works as an orthodontal assistant and found out the news that their cleaning guy of 14 years was retiring. She thought to ask me if I'd be interested in picking up this night job. After finding out the details, I figured I'd be a fool not to take it. I work Monday-Thurs (the days they're open) and go in around 6pm for about an hour to vacuum, take out the trash and straighten up the waiting room and make sure the bathrooms are clean. On the weekends (which could be Thurs night, or any time I choose on Fri, Sat or Sun) I just need to do a little extra cleaning, like... the dusting or mopping floors. So, how can I deny a job that pays me $60/day? (or per hour if you look it that way). I'm thanking God for that! :)
PAUL:
He pretty much got a job offer right away, but it didn't start until about 2 months after he got the offer. So, as far as money goes, things have been tight, but... he's finally started and will get his first paycheck this week! Thank God, because we have crazy bills to pay! Anyway, he is working at Perkins School as a crisis aid for boys who have behavioral problems. Sometimes he fills in for teaching the classes too if need be. He's liking it, and so am I. He is home by before 3pm everyday. I like that aspect of it A LOT! :)
So, Praise God! We've settled and are doing well! Now all we need to do is get involved in the church and find some fishing spots for Paul. Poor Paul, he misses having a river right down the street. :( If anyone knows of good fishing spots out here, please let me know! :)
So, we're here in MA now. Paul has been without a job for a little over a week now, but today he went for an interview at a school for those who require special attention. His particular job will be handling boys who have behavioral problems, which he already has experience with when he worked at a special school his mom was director of in Maryland a few years ago.
So, this place is called Perkins School, which some of you might have heard of. It's a beautiful campus, and I'm looking forward to seeing what's going to happen for him in the coming year! Praise God for Paul having a job with weekends free!! :)
It's Friday, July 17th! This has been one day I've been looking forward to for a LONG time. Long before I even knew I'd be looking forward to this particular day. I've been looking forward to this day since Sophie was born. Why? Because this is my last day of professional work. As of 2:00 PM today, I will officially be a Stay-At-Home-Mom! It was decided about three weeks ago, that we would be moving to MA, and it was then that I gave my three week's notice here at GROM Associates. I've worked at GROM for almost five years. I've made some great friends and I'm going to miss them a lot. I really am. But my excitement for being a full-time momma far surpasses my sadness to leave my friends behind. It also helps to know that I still have friends back in MA. So, I'm just really excited today, and I'm looking forward to seeing what God has in store for me and my little family. I'm homeward bound tomorrow late morning. :)
I'm gonna miss GROM, Revelation Generation, especially my church family and youth. But thanks to facebook, texting and all other technological advances, we won't have to lose touch. :)
See all you MA people next week sometime! :)
Today is Sophie's 1st birthday!! I can't even begin to tell you how much we are in love with our little girl. She really is such an AWESOME baby! Anyone who has ever babysat for us tells us this, and they say "Don't expect your next baby to be so good!" Hmm... well, we'd like to choose not to believe that! :) Every baby has their own personality, and Sophie's is wonderful!
Anyway, here are some pictures taken today and over the weekend.....
Sophie got a few little gifts, and this was a ribbon that said "Birthday Girl." Anything new for Sophie to look at is a wonderful gift!!
Sophie's first taste of cake! She didn't seem overly thrilled for it, but she ate it anyway. I would have let her make a mess with the cake, but there wasn't a high chair for her, and it wasn't my house for her to make that kind of mess. I'll let her do it tonight! :)
Well, it's going to happen...
We've decided the move date is going to be July 22nd. We'll be moving to MA. I'm excited and nervous all at the same time. I really do believe God will take care of us though! We are going to leave without having any jobs secured... but I have peace about this. I really do believe God will provide a job for Paul. I will at least have my mom's paper route to make enough to cover paying our phone bill and our car insurance, lol. We'll have to do odd jobs until Paul finds a secure job.
So, yet another thing to pray for... a job for Paul w/benefits! If I need to work, I really don't think I'll do more than part time.
So, if any of you know of someone needing help somewhere, please let us know. We both have experience with administration and Paul has managerial skills. I also LOVE to clean... so I'd be willing to clean too. :)
So, here we go.... taking a HUGE leap of faith. At least we don't need to pay rent for a little bit. HA!
I'm very excited! Paul's family is in the US for the month, and his mom and sister have been with us for a week. Tonight, Paul's wonderful mom is sending us off on a date, which is long over-due! Bless her heart! I'm SO looking forward to this date! :)
I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who's praying for/with me and my husband about these decisions we need to make. It is a hard choice to have to make! We're still praying... thanks again!
Sophie has had a miserable weekend. On Sunday, she woke up with a fever of 103.5. She slept most of the day, and barely ate. We did manage to have a little bit of fun with her, but for the most part, she just wanted to cry because she's obviously in a lot of pain.
I stayed home with her on Monday. She didn't have a fever, but she was still miserable. She only ate about 14 ounces of formula, and would cry every time I tried to spoon feed her food. Well, she screamed even when I would put the bottle even near her face. Back arched, head back, tears pouring out of her eyes, kicking, arms flailing.... not a fun day! She even went to bed without having anything to eat because she just wouldn't take it. I woke up at 2 AM just to go in and try to feed her some formula while she was sleeping, and she still shoved the bottle away (this usually works).
She's drooling like a faucet, and her poor wrists and hands are red with teeth marks... so I know it's teething. She usually does get a fever when she's teething like this, but I've never had to endure watching her in this much pain and go without an adequate amount of food for so long. If she continues to not eat today, I'll make a call to the doctor, but I'm just praying that it will be a better day. She was happy when she woke up this morning, but only ate 4 ounces so far.
She's with Grandma Anne today and for the rest of the week. It's very helpful for me and Paul that his parents are visiting right now. We have a built in babysitter. :) I really pray that Sophie eats better today. Otherwise, are we going to need to take her to the hospital and have her fed through an IV? What happens next? Anyone know?
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