Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Always

Another song to share.  This one always makes me cry, especially now that I have a child of my own. Check it out.  And remember that God is with you always. :)



If you can't see the video, you can watch it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6LTfueFPpM.


I was standing in the pouring rain
one dark November night,
fighting off the bitter cold
when she caught my eye.

Her face was taught and her eyes were filled,
and to my surprise,
she pulled out a photograph
and my heart just stopped inside.

She said,
"He would have been three today.
I miss his smile, I miss his face..."
What was I supposed to say?

But I believe always, always
our Savior never fails.
Even when all hope is gone,
God knows our pain
and His promise remains...
He will be with you
always.

He was living in a broken world
dreaming of a home.
His heart was barely keeping pace
when I found him all alone
remembering the way he felt
when his daddy said goodbye,
fighting just to keep the tears
and the anger locked inside.

He's barely holding on to faith,
but deliverance is on its way.

'Cause I believe always, always
our Savior never fails.
Even when all hope is gone,
God knows our pain
and His promise remains...
He will be with you
always.

Friend, I don't know where you are
and I don't know where you've been;
maybe you're fighting for your life
or just about to throw the towel in.
But if you're crying out for mercy
if there's no hope left at all,
if you've given everything you've got
and you're still about to fall;
well hold on,
hold on,
hold on...

Cause I believe always, always
our Savior never fails.
Even when all hope is gone,
God knows our pain
and His promise remains...

Always, always
He will be with you
Always
He will be with you
Always
He will be with you

Monday, August 30, 2010

Babyhood: Week 25

Babyhood: Week 25 (August 20th through August 26th)

* This was a sad week for our family.  My Great Grandma Krewson (my Grammie's mommy) went to be with Jesus.  Nobody knew she was going to go see Him right now.  Mommy and Daddy say she's very happy now in heaven, but lots of people down here are still sad because they will miss her.  I went with Mommy and Daddy to celebrate Great Grandma's life at her memorial service, and then we stayed to visit with Grammie and Grandpa Todd for a day so that I could help cheer Grammie up.  I sure hope I helped!
* I also tried to cheer up friends and relatives at the memorial service.  Lots of people got excited that my first name was Great Grandma Krewson's last name.  They all wanted to hold my hand when they came to say hello, but I don't like that very much so I usually pulled my hand away.  I did smile for lots of people, though.  I like to smile.
* While we were visiting with family after the service, I kicked my first soccer ball while cousin Hannah held me up.  Everyone in the room got super excited and clapped and cheered.  I was even wearing my Adidas soccer outfit.  It was a splendid occasion.
* Mommy bought me some new shoes at the beginning of this week and she sure likes them a lot.  She took about a thousand pictures of me wearing them.  I've posted a couple below so you can see. :)

Look at those snazzy new shoes!

I like cabinet knobs now.  They're pretty sweet.

Hanging out with my Grammie.

Her cheek was super comfy.

Me and Grandpa

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

It's like getting the last kid out of the house and finding out you're pregnant again.

As some of you may remember, Dave and I have had some fire-bellied newts as pets for the past couple of years.  We got them right before we got married (along with some red-eyed tree frogs, which sadly died about 9 months later).  We recently gave them away to a nice man with some children who would enjoy them, because with taking care of Krew and our pups we've not given them the attention they deserve.  (As in, we would forget to feed them and clean their cage.  Yes....that makes us horrible newt parents.)




On Sunday, Dave and his brother Dan decided to clean out the newt cage so we could put it in storage and make some space in the living room for Krew's play area we're planning.  I was upstairs doing some housework, and I came downstairs to get the vacuum.  Dan said to me, "There's a surprise for you!"  At first I got excited, until they told me that the surprise was in a tupperware container on the kitchen table.  Then I was like, Oh no....

Oh yes.  I went over and looked down, and lo and behold, there were two itty bitty newts with gills!!!

Yup, that's right.  Our fire-bellied newts reproduced.  And we had no idea.  I guess this shows how little attention we were giving them.  I did some research online after our discovery.  The chances of breeding in captivity are very rare, and supposedly the females produce 50 to 200 eggs that are easily visible.  How on earth did we miss that????

Well the mamas tend to eat the eggs and the baby newts, but two of the babies somehow managed to hide and live.  So now we are back to having newts again...and not just any newts, but baby newts that we have no idea how to take care of.  Good grief.  As Dan said, it's like parents who just got their last kid out the door, only to find out they're pregnant again.

Here's an image I got online that somewhat resembles what the babies look like:


SO...if anyone has any hidden knowledge of how to care for newborn fire-bellied newts or has any desire to raise some, please let me know!!!!

Monday, August 23, 2010

We'll Miss You Grandma Krewson

Dave's Grandma Krewson (his mom's mom) passed away yesterday suddenly and unexpectedly from a heart attack.  Please keep his family in your prayers.  She was a woman of faith, so we have peace knowing she is with the Lord now, but nothing takes away the pain of losing someone you love.  Please especially keep Dave's Grandpa Krewson, Dave's mother, and Dave's aunt and uncles in your prayers, as they are suffering the loss of a wife and a mother.

Saturday, August 21, 2010

I'm Still Yours

This song touches on one of what I believe to be the most difficult things that comes with faith in God.  That He can take it all away, and we, in our faith, should still lift our hands to Him.  I find it so hard to accept that if God chooses to take away my home, my job, my skills, or, worst of all, my family, that He is still the same God and loves me with the same intensity that He did before.  And He still deserves to be praised in every way.  What a challenge!

Friday, August 20, 2010

Babyhood: Week 24

Babyhood: Week 24
(August 13th through August 19th)

Let's see, what exciting things happened this week?

* I can now scoot across the floor!  I'm not super quick or anything, but Mommy and Daddy have to keep checking on me when they lay me on the floor cuz I like to scoot over and slap the hardwood.  I also like to grab lots of things...anything really that they leave on the ground that I'm not supposed to have.  Daddy says he's going to make me a play rug and he and Mommy are going to set up an area with gates around it to hold me in.  I'm not quite sure how I feel about being caged in like a wild animal, but we'll see.
* I started biting Mommy a lot while I'm nursing.  It just feels so good to chomp down on something with my gums!!  Mommy doesn't seem to like it too much, though. She screams and jostles me and even says "No!" (Like I'm a dog or something.  I mean, it's one thing to tell Maggie and Rogan "no", but me??  Your only beloved child???)
* I sit up all the time now.  I sit up on the floor, on the bed, in the shopping cart, on nice people's laps...all kinds of places.  I really like sitting on the rug or bed and playing with toys in front of me.  I might even like it more than the jumperoo (crazy, right??).
* Mommy let me sit in the grass and boy was that neat.  It was all prickly and soft at the same time.  She watered the bushes and garden while I just sat there and pulled on little blades of grass.  I loved it.

I'm a scooter! Watch out!

All that scootin' wipes me out.




'Till next week!


Thursday, August 19, 2010

Kara vs. the Hornworms

The other day I found this crazy-looking caterpillar-type thing on one of our tomato leaves.  It was green with white things stinking out of it everywhere.  I found it quite interesting.  I showed it to Dave, and he found it equally as fascinating.  We had a new pet!

Then yesterday I decided to do a little searching online.  And discovered that our cute new little pet was actually a tomato plant eater.  Whoops.  And that those white things sticking out him were actually (eck!) wasp larvae.  Oh yes, we had a wasp-infested hornworm on our hands.  Check it out here:  Braconid Wasp on Hornworm.

So apparently hornworms with white things sticking out of them are good, and hornworms without white things sticking out of them are bad.  (If you want the full details, read the article in the link above.)  Much to my relief, we'd only seen a hornworm with white things.

Until today.  I'm working from home because I'm a bit under the weather, so I decided I would pick some cherry tomatoes for a snack.   Well guess what.  I about rammed my hand straight into a plump hornworm (white-thing free) munching on a cherry tomato leaf.  Then I looked closer and saw another.  And ANOTHER!!  I came inside to tell Dave (online), and informed him that their death was going to have to wait until he got home, because I just couldn't do it.  Simply looking at them was giving me the heebie jeebies.  He of course said ok, being the wonderful husband he is.

But then I went and checked on them a few minutes later, and they had completely demolished the leaves they'd been munching on previously.  I mean, the leaves were GONE.  I'm thinking, oh goodness, this can't wait.  I'm going to have to do something or half of our plants are going to be dead by 5pm.

Enter kitchen tongs.  (Seriously?  You thought I was going to touch those things with my hands?)




I pulled them off one by one and threw them in the empty dirt lot behind our house.  Hopefully some bird will have a tasty afternoon snack, because I just couldn't do the deed myself.  I found four total.  I quit searching after that because I was feeling pretty nauseous.  I also found two additional ones with white things, and I let them be.  Hornworm with white things = friend.


This one wouldn't let go, so I just pulled the whole branch off.

Let me tell you, those pests have got some strong grippers.  They would not let go of those branches!!  Hence, I discovered that their innards are also bright green.  Awesome.

I Qualify!!

I qualify!!
Woot woot. :)


Mark Your Calendar.
Hello Kara,
At Chick-fil-A at Apex, we strive to be a community restaurant. That’s why we have events for families such as yours to get out and have fun together ... and enjoy some great food at the same time.  
We would especially like to invite our Mothers and Sons of all ages to our first Mother Son Date Night on Wednesday, September 1, 2010 from 5:30 pm-7:30 pm.   You will enjoy table side service, reserved seating and activities.
The best way to stay aware of what events are happening at our Restaurant is to visit our website’s Events Calendar. We hope to offer lots of great ways for you to spend a fun evening with your family!
We look forward to serving you,
Tony Holmes
Operator, Apex
Visit Our Website

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

20 Things I Never Knew I'd Say

Ah, how motherhood changes you.

A list of 20 things I never knew I'd say (or at least be tempted to say):

1. "It's just drool."
2. "It's just spit-up."
3. "It's just pee."
4. "It's just poop."
5. "There's a booger hanging out of your nose.  Here, let me get it."
6. "Ouch!! Stop BITING ME!!!"
7. "Wait, what?  The event doesn't end until 10pm?  Are you CRAZY???  We can't be out that late!"
8. "Why on EARTH does this store not have automatic doors??"
9. "There's no changing table in this bathroom!  What is WRONG with these people??"
10.  "I can't take the cart into the dressing room?  Seriously?  Do you want to watch my kid then?"
11.  "Why are you using the handicap stall if you're not handicapped and you have no child?  That's fine, I'll just stand here with my kid and stare at all the empty regular stalls while you're doing your business."
12. "Look at these bright, colorful, gaudy toys that rattle and make lots of noise!  I MUST have them."
13. "Why, yes, I am willing to stand in line for an hour and a half to get these used children's clothes for a dollar a piece.  Do you KNOW how many outfits my kids goes through in a day??"
14. "Here, suck on my finger."
15. "I just got another diaper coupon in the mail!!!  YES!!!!"
16. "Please stop staring.  Yes, I am feeding my child under this giant piece of fabric called a nursing cover.  Yes, I am in public.  It's either this or you get to listen to him scream.  Your choice."
17. "All the bright, colorful, larger-than-ever-necessary baby items around my house make me feel so warm and fuzzy inside.  In fact, let's change part of our living room into a play area so we can have all the children's toys out in the room all the time."
18. "Do do do do do DO do do DO do do do do..." (to the tune of a children's mobile)
19.  "Oops.  Sorry about that waterfall of spit-up that just landed all over the store floor.  Let me wipe it up with one of the ten burp cloths I have on hand at all times."

and last but not least....

20. "Wow.  I am starting to see the perks of owning a minivan."

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Babyhood: Weeks 18 through 23

Ok it's time for crazy catch up!!  Here's all the exciting events that have happened in my (Krewson's) life in the past month or so. :)


Week 18 (July 2nd through July 8th)
* Daddy and Mommy took me to Grayson Highlands and Hungry Mother State Park in Virginia.  Mommy hiked for 5 1/2 hours carrying me in the Baby Bjorn!  She's like a super mommy or something.  She didn't fall at all, not even once.  (Thank goodness, too, cuz that would have been a little scary for me, being attached to the front of her and all.)  We climbed up really high and got to look over a super scary ledge, and we also got to pet wild ponies.  Mommy even fed a foal a clover and then it tried to eat my pacifier and toes.
*At Hungry Mother I went swimming in a lake with Ellie and did a lot of splashing.  I also spent my first 4th of July there and watched some fireworks with Daddy, Mommy, Maggie, and Rogan.  The fireworks were far enough away that I didn't get scared.
* Mommy finally got to see me roll over on Tuesday night.  I did it over and over, back to front.  But then I kept finding myself on my belly, and I'm not a huge fan of that, so I'd whine until Mommy flipped me back over onto my back.  Then I'd roll right back over onto my belly and start whining again. I like to keep Mommy on her toes.
* I started moving all over the place in my crib at night.  When Mommy and Daddy come in in the morning, sometimes my head is even at the other end of the bed.  One morning I moved so far in my crib that my motion detector alarm went off (telling Mommy and Daddy that I'd stopped breathing), and Daddy rushed in faster than you can say 'pancake batter.'  Of course, nothing was really wrong.  I had just moved far far into the corner to show them what a good mover I am these days.  I know they're impressed.
* I turned 4 months old!!  Mommy shared my 4-month picture here.

On the edge of a big cliff at Grayson Highlands.

The wild pony nibbling my toes while I pet it.

Playing in the lake at Hungry Mother with Ellie!

My first 4th of July!  Fireworks time!

Week 19 (July 9th through July 15th)
* On Monday night, I rolled over front to back, both ways (left and right).  Holy camoly was Mommy excited.  She clapped and everything.  It made Daddy happy too, but he's not as crazy as Mommy.
* My gums started kinda hurting or something, so I thought I'd start biting Mommy while I was eating to see if it would help.  It did!  But Mommy didn't seem too happy.  In fact, one time she fell asleep while I was eating and I bit her and before I knew it she smacked me!  It didn't hurt at all, but she felt super bad.  I think she thought I was a mosquito or something.
* We visited Grandpa John and Grandma Teri in Charlotte and went to Daddy's ultimate frisbee tournament.  It was super duper hot.  My cheeks kept turning bright red and Mommy would have to go sit in the car running the AC for me.  After that Mommy did some research to try to find a better way to keep me cool.  I had a baby sun shelter already, but not much wind could get in so I got really sweaty and icky.  So she decided to order me a standup umbrella.  We haven't used it yet but I bet it's going to be super awesome.  
* My legs got stuck in the crib slats like three times while I was sleeping, so Daddy and Mommy decided I needed a bumper.  But grownups are all paranoid these days that us babies will stop breathing if we touch a bumper, so Daddy and Mommy ordered me a breathable bumper. (Ya know, so I can keep breathing.)  They got it in dark brown so it matches my spectacular room.
* I had my 4-month checkup with Dr. Bloom and she said I was growing splendidly.  I weighed 15 lbs 11.25 oz (~74th percentile) and I was 26.5 inches long (90th percentile).  My head was 16.5 inches (~45th percentile).  So I am tall, a little skinny for my height, and I have a little head for my body.  (They only think my head is little because they're not measuring around my cheeks.  If they'd include my cheeks, I bet my head would outdo the rest of me.)  I also got more of those horrible shots to keep me from getting sick, and Mommy hugged me until I stopped crying.  She didn't cry this time.  I was proud of her.
* My other wonderful achievement for this week was that I peed all over myself three nights in a row.  How many of YOU can say that??

with Grandpa John and cousin Taylor

chillin' with cousin Taylor at Daddy's frisbee tournament

cuddle from Grandma Teri

this is why Mommy and Daddy ordered me a breathable bumper

Week 20 (July 16th through July 22rd)
* Daddy and Mommy got me a jumperoo!!  It's so much fun.  I play and play and play in it.  And I can swivel around and watch Mommy and Daddy wherever they go.  That helps so I don't get cranky as quick as I do in other baby stations.
* I ate solid food for the first time!  Daddy videotaped while Mommy shoveled it in.  She wasn't a very clean feeder.  I got pretty messy.  Then Daddy let Maggie and Rogan give me a bath afterwards. :)
* Maggie got in trouble this week.  (Well, she gets in trouble a lot, but this time it was kinda my fault.)  See, I was sitting in my Bumbo on the living room floor, and Mommy was in the kitchen, and I had just spit up all over the front of me.  Maggie came over to clean me up,  and she did such a good job licking all the spit up off my outfit that I thought she might like to clean out the inside of my mouth, too.  So I opened up and let her get all the leftovers.  Mommy walked into the living room while Maggie was cleaning out the inside of my mouth, and holy cow she was not happy!  She yelled "No!!!" and then "Eeewwwww!"  I don't really understand what the big deal was.  Sheesh.  Mothers are so weird.

my new jumperoo!

mmm cereal

Week 21 (July 23rd through July 29th)
* Grammie and Grandpa Todd came to visit.  I hadn't seen them in a long time!  They brought me a spiffy camouflage hat and shorts.  The shorts are a little big still, but the hat worked great for...
* Our trip to the lake!  We hung out with Mommy's and Daddy's friends and went out on a boat and stuff.  I got to wear my new life jacket that Daddy and Mommy bought me.  I didn't like it very much, though.  And the lake police would get me in big trouble if I didn't have it on while I was on the boat.  I wish Mommy and Daddy would have let me broken the rules.  Because I did NOT like that life jacket.  I didn't like it so much that they only took me on the boat once.
* I started eating my feet this week.  They're one of my favorite snacks.  You should try yours.
* Mommy and I flew to Indiana to visit our lots of relatives again!  (More on that in Week 22.)

Grandpa Todd and me :)

me and Grammie

the life jacket that i did. not. like.  (so I just squished down into it like this and took a nap)

I love feet!

Week 22 (July 30th through August 5th)
* As I said in Week 21, Mommy and I went to Indiana to visit some of my grandmas and grandpas (great and normal) and aunts and uncles again.  It was lots of fun.  I got lots of hugs and kisses and cuddles, which I of course thought was like the best thing ever.
* I sat all by myself for the first time!!  I propped myself up on my hands and man was I proud.  Mommy was pretty psyched, too.
* I turned 5 months old!  You can check out my 5-month picture here.

Uncle Evan

Grandma Nancy making me laugh with the duckey

my Uncle Aaron is kinda crazy

chillin' with Grandpa Gordie

look at me sit up all on my own!

the messiest meal ever.

Week 23 (August 6th through August 12th)
* I got to go to Walmart with Mommy and sit in the front of the shopping cart! Boy was it exciting. I could see so much more than from my carseat. And then when I got sleepy, Mommy laid me in the seat sideways, and I was all cuddled by my cart cover and snoozed away. It was as soft as my bed.
* I've started sticking out my tongue. I stick it out at everyone. At Daddy, at Mommy, at Rogan, at Maggie, and at whoever else wants to look at me. Sometimes people stick their tongues out back at me, and I really like that. And sometimes Rogan and Maggie like to stick their tongues out too and wipe them on mine. Mommy and Daddy don't like that, though. Whenever they see it happening, they say "NO!"
* I've gotten pretty good at sitting up now.  In fact, when I fall forward, I can even sometimes push myself back up!  It's so liberating. :)  (I learned that big word from Mommy.)
* I had a great big poop explosion out the front of my diaper. I was laying on our cream rug and Mommy got really nervous. Luckily, all the poop came out the front and none went out the back. :)

in the Walmart shopping cart with my snazzy cart cover

poop explosion.  oops.