Been a while...

It's been a while since I posted on here and a LOT has changed over the past couple of years. First of all, we added a second child to the family in March 2010 and she is an absolute joy. I have never met a happier child. Ruth is nearing two years of age and is growing into such a sweet, joyful little girl. And she is quite the talker!

In terms of Ruth, she has been sick since 2 weeks after her birth and, as a result, was not hearing well. We recently took her in to have tubes placed in her ear and she went from speaking a word or two at a time to speaking in full sentences and singing complete songs. It's amazing what hearing can do for a person!

Overall, parenting two kids has been fun and challenging. Esther has been in her terrible twos (now threes) since 7 months of age and there is never a dull moment where she is concerned. No matter what, I love her intelligence and independence. She amazes me in new ways everyday! Mix that with Ruth's incredibly mischievous personality and I am constantly running (or crawling, jumping, etc.).

In addition to the two we have, we are also expecting our third. Sometimes I feel like an insane person. After all, I'm about to have three kids under three. But I wouldn't change anything. I am so excited to meet the next kid. Will it be a boy? Who will he or she look like? And is there any chance they'll be calmer than the first two? I am a little skeptical about that last one...after all, Tim and I made these children. What can be expected from parents who are independent, opinionated, hyper, and adventurous (that last one is Tim, not me)?

For the record, I would love a boy (got to see what it's like to have one), but I would be absolutely happy with another girl. I'll never understand why people think boys are so much better. My girls rock. Just saying :)

Onto non-kid related things - we moved earlier this year. We now live in a new state far away from our beautiful home. I'm not sold on the natural world here, but I have to say that God is teaching us a lot about faith and frugality. I miss the ocean, mountains, seafood, and my beloved city of Juneau (best place on earth), but I am so glad that God worked miracles to get us here and continues to do great things in our lives. I wouldn't change much at this point (except maybe the size of the spiders).

Tim is working at a facility for incarcerated youth and is doing an amazing job. He loves what he does, even if it means breaking up fights, getting hit on a occasion, and eating prison food.  On top of his job, he is also pursuing a degree in psychology with an emphasis in substance abuse counseling. I admire him!

We have a lot going on and are looking forward to the holidays. This will be the first year that the girls will enjoy Christmas (old enough to care that Santa is coming). Tim has to work the evening of Christmas, so we're making the most of our morning as a family and I will then go and make the most of the evening with my parents and siblings.

I guess that pretty much sums up this past year. More big changes lie ahead, but I think we're brave and tough enough to handle whatever comes our way. I think 2012 will be our best year yet!

Until next time,

Meg