It's a....

Sorry, can't tell.
Jonathan and I made a pact over two years ago when we were pregnant with Adaya. I really wanted to find out the sex. He did not. I mean REALLY did not. So, we compromised by me finding out and then keeping it a secret from everyone. Yup, everyone.
Well, I was able to do it then and I can do it now! So, you will find out if we're having our third girl or first boy next March.
The important thing is that he/she is very healthy, growing well and squirming all over the place ALL THE TIME! Actually, I found out that with this baby the placenta is toward my back so I feel every kick, every flip and every tremble magnified! Both Chloe and Adaya's placenta were toward my front so it acted like a buffer, but not now!



In other news, fall has been absolutely beautiful this year. An abundance from our garden, now either canned in our pantry or frozen in our freezers, peaceful frosty mornings and 82 pounds of deer meat from Jonathan's successful hunt! Finally, after three years of no luck, Jonathan shot a 3x4 point buck on the last day of the season last Friday! He was so happy! What a lucky man he is...brand new Ford Truck and another trophy pair of antlers!



Artisans in the Grove wrapped up our summer market season in October with a ton of rain...kind of like how we started in June and we just had our first Holiday Market of the season last week...24 vendors and a great turnout for a cold and wet Wednesday night! We are already sold out for our December market with 25 vendors and a waitlist of another 6! And there are still 3 more weeks left!



It was a lot of work, but well worth it and I feel blessed to be a part of this new endeavor. Unfortunately it doesn't leave me with a lot of free time like I used to have. Between teaching Chloe and Emma DuPont homeschool preschool twice a week, Chloe's Art Smart on Tuesdays and Mom's Group on Thursdays, I hardly feel like I am home anymore. So starts having school-age children, I guess!
Homeschooling has gone terrifically! Ive been using a combination of a couple different curriculum and adding in a bit of my own creativity as well. And I have to say I am really enjoying it as well! Who knew?! But don't think that means I want to do this for the rest of their educations. I feel pretty confident in preschool and perhaps kindergarten, but after that, I think I will leave it to the professionals!



Art Smart has been great for all of us, too. Chloe gets good experience of learning from another teacher, meeting new kids and she looks like such a cute little artist when I pick her up and she's covered in paint! Those three hours a week have been great for me and Adaya as well and I'm enjoying having one-on-one time with my "middle child." Since it's all the way in Beaverton we usually run errands, grab lunch and just spend quality time together. It reminds me how much I cherished this age with Chloe before the horrific terrible two-and-a-halfs and threes came! I am thankful I get a couple more months with her at this fun age before her little sibling arrives.



Writing-wise, I finished my third draft of the book at a whopping 101 pages, added a dedication, preface and afterword before sending it out to my third wave of readers: Kaylin, Ken and Heather and Eric. I decided to one more read-through while awaiting their opinions and boy am I glad I did! I've caught a ton of typos! I've also been working on a cover, adding a little scrapbook of pictures in the back and doing a little research on publishers. If all goes well, my deadline goal is the first of the year to begin seriously submitting it as a manuscript. If I cannot get a publisher, I will look more into self-publishing. Either way, I hope to have it published and marketed by March, so I can concentrate on my newest job: mom of three! But, all in God's hands and I trust His infinite wisdom and timing.

Our Little Family of Four...NOW FIVE!

After three months of trying and subsequent disappointment, I can now say, "We're Pregnant!" We found out this weekend while away at the beach. Its been on my mind, counting the days until we could take the test and since I think I'm on a 31 day cycle, that meant not until Monday, July 4th. However, while touring Newport on Sunday, we found a Dollar Tree and stopped in to by a test and some baby wipes. Trying to be funny, the clerk said, "you know, sometimes the results of this (the test) can keep you from needing these (wipes)." I guess the huge grin on my face wasn't big enough for him to see that it was a very much PLANNED and even more WANTED pregnancy!
Anyway, we were going to wait until the morning to take the test, but in true Kaiser tradition, we couldn't wait and took it the evening before, after we put the girls down. We waited the 3 agonizing minutes with the test high on a shelf so we couldn't peak and after the time was up, I let Jonathan do the favor, begging him not to joke with me. When we saw the two pink lines, we hugged and cried together, woke up the girls and told Adaya she was going to be a big sister and Chloe would have another little sibling. Then we called our family. Tracy, first, who was in Canada so had to find out from Facebook, even though I promised her she wouldn't. What could I do? Internationally charges! Then Jim, then Papa, Grandma Cheryl, Grandma and Grandpa Kaiser and finally Grandma Beka. Chloe got to tell all the grandparents, saying "Mamma's gonna have another baby!" It was so exciting for everyone.
After that, we posted it on Facebook and have been receiving so much love and congratulations. Most of our friends are done having kids now, so this might be my first pregnancy where no one else close to us is pregnant too. Hmmm, maybe we can start a trend for all our friends with only two???

April Showers Brings May Motivation?

The last couple days have been hard for me to keep motivated. I seemed to come to a huge, stumbling road block in my driven weeks of the past. I keep telling myself that I shouldn't be too harsh, as I've already gotten my garden in the ground, much of the home re-organized and I'm on my third draft of my book...yes, book. I am writing a book! Wow, it still is so freeing to utter those words into the web oblivion for all to read!
For nearly seven years now I have been writing a memoir about a huge event that happened in my life ten years ago. God has called me to bring this "Secret" out into the open and I have been amazed at the lessons He has taught me through it. The first and hardest of which was making the decision to call it a memoir and not a novel and to come to trust Him with what it might mean to no longer carry this secret from most of my family and dearest friends. It has been such a liberating journey, leaving my worries of what people will think of this story, and as such, me. God has taught me that this is not my story, but His and to Him be all the glory and praise for it. The future of this work is still a mystery to me. Will it be published? Widely distributed? Will He use this in other's lives to help girls in the same situation as I was ten years ago? I am not sure. He has not revealed that to me yet. Right now, I'm just writing and leaving the rest to God. Perhaps it will go no where, just privately published and distributed around to family and friends. If so, I will be okay with that. It is God's story and I leave it in His capable hands.

I write when I can, usually during the girls' tv time or naps or after they're in bed for the night. Pretty much when I can squeeze it in around my other mom and wife duties or when I'm not completely exhausted. It certainly makes the days fly by. I cannot believe how quickly this spring seems to be passing. Before we know it, summer will be here! Im so thankful that despite crazy business, the garden is mostly done. All seeds are either in the ground or germinating in th greenhouse. Most of the beds are prepped or planted and I have high hopes for produce this year after taking much advise from Garden Wisdom and Know-How and Backyard Farming.



Easter was fun for our family. The girls got dressed up and took pretty pictures together on Saturday and then opened bunny baskets and found hidden Easter eggs on Sunday. Then, we spent the afternoon with family on the east side for a large dinner.



The previous week the girls and I spent a few days in Bend with my dear friend and cousin Tracy and her family. We got snow while there, which was cool, and spent much of the days playing, talking and wiping noses, like we often do when we get together.

Our being gone allowed Jonathan to catch up on much work without distraction at home. We had planned on taking that trip a couple weeks ago, but had to cancel because of colds. Jonathan still needed time to work at home, so we spent that week at my parent's instead. It turned out to be a good thing as my mother had fractured a rib and was given strict doctor's orders to lay low and rest until she healed.
Jonathan has been so busy at work lately because in a recent re-org he was given many many more employees to manage. Hopefully, they will eventually make things easier on him in the future, but until then, he continues to put in many hours in Salem as well as at home. The weather has been nicer lately, though, allowing him to ride his motorcycle more often to work, which has been nice on our gas budget! I've also been able to ride a couple times with him since we got me a helmet and jacket and we even had ourselves a little "Motorcycle date night" where we hired a sitter and everything!
Despite his business with work, Jonathan continues to improve his talent in beer and wine making, most recently, he has been working on my Eagle Creek Blackberry Wine, which probably still wont be ready for another six months. Other works he has in mind include an Earl Grey summer beer and perhaps even a batch of Mead!

In March we took a trip to Seattle, just the two of us, while my parent's watched the kids. A friend of mine was getting married and it was nice to attend the wedding sans kids! When we got home, though, we had to put our Big Kitty, Sylvester down. He had lost ten pounds in less than a year and had a mass in his abdomen. It was very sad.



Adaya continues to blossom into a little girl, standing up and cruising all over the place. We are certain it wont be long before she is walking unassisted. In Bend, she learned to crawl backwards down the stairs and since we have been home has been perfecting her new skill almost constantly! She continues to say more and more new words each day. Last week, we packed up her high chair and she is now sitting in a booster at the table with the rest of the family! It's hard not to think of her as baby Adaya anymore, but she really seems to be adjusting well into her little girl role.

Big sister Chloe is such a help and joy around the house. She picks up after herself so well, is getting better at listening and obeying and loves to play and pretend. For Easter she got a Tangled doll and takes her wherever she goes. I find it harder and harder to keep up with all her questions and endless energy. She is definitely ready for some summer parks and rec activities as well as preschool next fall!

With both our girls growing up so fast, a part of us is excited about bringing another baby home and we think May might just be the right month to start trying! It would be so easy to stop at two and while some days I cannot imagine bringing another baby into our crazy lives, but at the end of it all, both Jonathan and I know we want more that two kids.



So, here it is, almost May...the days are getting longer, the garden is sprouting and it, spring cleaning, my book and babies are constantly on my mind. And yet, I have no motivation. Instead, it is 11 am and I am still in my pjs, drinking coffee and blogging, when I have a thousand things on my mind I should be doing. Reading my Bible, cleaning, cooking, packing away winter stuff and bringing out summer stuff, doing laundry or writing. Oh spring motivation when will you hit me again?

Christmas turns to New Year and soon it's...March?!

Yikes, I am embarrassed how much time I have allowed to pass without a post. Prepare yourselves, this is gonna be a long one!
We had a fantastic time with family in California over the holidays. Our drive there and back went well, again through the night so the kids could sleep. This time we left a bit earlier so we could arrive earlier and get more sleep, but the kids did not do well being put back down...even at 4 in the morning. As you can guess, we were not very happy. Lots of fun times with family and a car full of presents later, we found ourselves heading back home.



A couple weeks later, we celebrated my 31st birthday at my parents with Tracy and her kids, then Jonathan took me to get Adaya's footprint tattoo and then on a surprise overnight trip to Bridal Veil Falls B and B while mom and dad watched the girls. When we came back, we all went out to lunch and even Eric joined us!


In February, Adaya taught herself to climb up stairs and to finally pull herself to a standing position! And while, she absolutely refuses to walk or sign, her vocabulary is much more advanced than Chloe was at this age. Among others, she says "Mamma," "Dadda," "uh-oh," "night-night," "thank you," "doggie," "bye-bye," "cracker," "papa," "belly," "shoe" and just yesterday "ball."



We switched Pediatricians (again) and have decided to catch Adaya up on all her immunizations, except for Hep B and the flu, just like we did with Chloe. In her 15 month appointment she was 18 pounds, still 1 percentile, but growing fast and I am certain she will catch up in size to her peers very soon.
We got three different snow falls just in February, the most we had all winter and Chloe got to enjoy playing out there for several days. Adaya not so much.


Chloe continues to grow into a very smart and sometimes frustrating preschooler. She is enjoying learning more about letters and their sounds in our pre-preschool coop with three other families and I think we will be ready for a more advanced preschool curriculum next fall, supplemented perhaps by some preschool arts and recreation classes around town. She is learning to pray, understand more about God, Heaven and the Bible and is (usually) a very thoughtful and protective big sister.


She had her first swimming lessons, which started out really well, until it was time to get her ears wet and dunk. She did not "pass" and we will be waiting awhile before we put her back in, and it won't be at Forest Grove again, either! (But that is loooong story)


February also marked an entire month of Chloe waking up dry, so she now sleeps in panties, even at Grandma and Grandpa's which has been very exciting. She is also growing like a weed in length and almost outgrown all her 3T pants and size 8 shoes!
The first of March found me in jury duty, but I was dismissed before noon and had the rest of the day to myself and evening alone with Jonathan, which was awesome!
Jonathan has been working long hours and still commuting to Salem four times a week. he was feeling very weary of his job and even considered leaving towards the end of last year and earlier this year, but several perks and good marks have led us to believe that God still wants him there, even with the long and frustrating commute. With gas prices raising fast, the gas guzzling truck is getting a little scary to drive, but thankfully his shoulder has healed better and faster than expected and his physical therapist has cleared him for riding the motorcycle again, yay!
The housing market continues to keep up thinking we will be staying put in our little home, so God is teaching us to appreciate what we have and wait on Him and His timing.
And as spring draws near, it has us thinking warm weather thoughts, making plans for the summer, including taking some much-needed family vacations, planting a garden and looking to the future. I am starting to get bitten by that "baby bug" again and I wonder if we will have a boy, how the girls will do as big sisters and if we will burst the seams of this house!

How is it that time flies so fast?

And thus, I cannot seem to keep up with a blog, let alone journals, photo albums and baby books like I used to. Is this because I am getting older or just super duper busy with two kids, a busy household and a crazy over-worked husband?
I've been contemplating these things much more lately...how time seems to fly, that is. How a year can go by before I know it and I find myself and our family buried in half-done and dusty projects. But does that stop us from piling more projects on top of them? Not in the Kaiser household, it doesn't! I contstantly find myself making New Years Resolutions, or "plans" as Jonathan calls them, only to find the year overwith, my "plans" unaccomplished and new things I would like to add to that.
For example, last year in 2010, I turned 30 in January and my goal (having Adaya the previous November) wanting to lose weight and be "in the best shape of my life." By the end of last December, though, I of course was too busy with two kids that I just wasnt making weight loss, diet and exercise a priority anymore. This New Years, I found myself fired up again to renew that challenge as well as add another 10 or so "plans" to it! 3 months later, here I am in March, just 3 now completing Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred...in 90 days! (sigh) And my other "plans" including eating healthier, cooking more and eating out less, reading more and watching less as well as my biggest one writing more and surfing less have all been about the same success rate. I am doing better, but it is a slow process.
I guess I feel a little overwhelmed. Jonathan contiues to work long hours and commute 4 days a week to Salem, we are trying to figure out preschool for Chloe next year, thinking about "trying" pretty soon for baby number 3 and Ive been working several hours every day for over a week on a project that I have been literally stopping and starting for 7 years! All of these things, added to the daily requirements of our life sometimes makes it feel like I finish cleaning the entire house, only to have to start over again. Didn't I JUST do laundry or didnt I JUST clean all the toilets? Sometimes, my wonderful parents take the kids for an overnight stay and Jonathan and I get to do something fun or have a date night, but those are the times that fly the fastest, it seems!
I can see now why people always say "dont blink." It surely seems as though life passes us by so quickly. My prayer for our family is constantly that we enjoy each moment and live each day to the fullest, because it soon will be a distant memory to put on the shelf of our history. I pray this for you and yours as well!