Rife Life

August 25th, 2011

2011-08-16T16:04:00.002-04:00

That will be the birthday of the newest Rife, if all goes according to plan. But I'm smart enough to know that things don't always go according to plan! Nolan is breech, so we have a c-section scheduled for 7:30 next Thursday morning. Next Thursday! In a little over a week we will be a family of five. But this kid likes to do things a little differently than his sisters - guess he's figuring out now how to hold his own - and I wouldn't be surprised if he makes his appearance earlier.

Will keep you posted...!

Not Poopy, not Animal, but...

2011-05-24T18:30:00.005-04:00

I'm stealing my friends', the Colleys, cute idea to announce the name of the smallest Rife. So here you go...

Years of me looking at baby names produced nothing. Three minutes of Matt looking over a baby name list on a website, and there you have it. Totally not what we expected to like, but we do! Anna's still disappointed that he won't be Poopy, and Holly had her heart set on Superhero Baby (there's an insight into their personalities, btw). But it seems right to us. And I'm just glad we didn't have to choose another girl name.

Mother's Day

2011-05-09T21:08:00.005-04:00

It is still strange to me that I get to celebrate Mother's Day. Mother's Day is for MY mom, and Matt's mom. I want to make sure they feel loved and celebrated, and I kind of forget that I fall into the "Mother" category now. But sweet Matt wouldn't let me forget for long. He asked several times how I wanted to spend Mother's Day, how I wanted it to go. And yesterday he showered me with wonderful gifts and did all the dirty work with the girls (that was my answer to "how do you want it to go?").

Holly and Anna also worked hard to make me feel special on Mother's Day. At school, Holly made this flower pot for me...

Look closely at the sign. When asked what she loves about me, this was her answer...

Sigh. Tear. Love that girl.

She also, under the supervision of her patient Daddy, made me Auburn colored sand art.

Here is Anna's gift to me - a popsicle-stick-framed picture of her cuteness. On the fridge, smiling at me every time I open it to pour her [more] milk.

And today, a fun package arrived on my doorstep from a dear friend, filled with goodies for all of us. I think my favorite thing inside was this little plaque...

Two little girls and a little boy. Or, as I will look at it, two sisters and their baby brother. Here is an actual picture of little baby boy Rife...

I'm thankful for so much this Mother's Day - a wonderful mom, the best mom-in-law I could ask for, a loving husband, two beautiful girls, one baby boy on the way, and amazing friends.

It was a happy day, indeed.

Signs of Spring

2011-04-02T20:28:00.004-04:00

Oh, we are so ready for spring. After a few teasers, I'm hopeful that it's actually here to stay. Until summer at least. Give me the yellow layer of dust on everything, the itchy eyes, and swarms of mating carpenter bees all over my porch and patio. I'll gladly exchange it for cold, gloomy days inside and restless girls who long to run outside and play with their friends and neighbors. I'll see you in the backyard for cornhole and cookouts.

Milestones

2011-03-19T09:02:00.002-04:00

After dinner with neighbors, one being a boy Anna's age who just moved from his crib to a big boy bed, we decided to make the move with Anna. Like, at 7:30 at night. No preparation, no talking it up. Just, "Anna, do you want to sleep in Holly's room tonight?" Here was the reaction:

They both did great! They talked and played for a while, then Holly's giggles turned to, "Shh! We're supposed to be sleeping!" Anna continued to talk and sing, and I realized Holly had fallen asleep when I heard Anna say, "Holly! Holly? Come here?"

I'm not declaring victory yet, but here's to one successful night in a big girl bed. And two big girls in one room.

It's a Beautiful Life

2011-03-15T10:41:00.001-04:00

Add this to the list of things she'll kill me for later...

Little peanut

2011-02-25T14:42:00.005-05:00

Yep, we're expecting Rife baby #3 on September 1st! This is a picture of the peanut at 8 weeks. I'm 13 weeks now. So if I were to have an ultrasound today, you'd actually see a baby rather than a kidney bean. But isn't it the cutest little kidney bean ever?

We weren't intentionally keeping it on the down low this long - if I've seen you in person, I've told you already I'm sure! But I honestly keep forgetting that I'm pregnant. No real problems (other than the usual I'm-going-to-hiberbate-for-the-winter fatigue and a few weeks of blah) and 2 active little girls have made it easy to be distracted. But realized I'd better get the word out now before people run into me at the store and think I've totally let myself go.

A few pregnancy facts:

- our peanut is now the size of a medium shrimp (??)

- I should only be consuming 300 more calories per day. Umm....

- If this baby is a 3rd girl, we are going to need serious help, and possibly marriage counseling, to name her.

And, yes, we will be finding out the sex. Of course we will! Since Matt will not discuss baby names until we know if it's a boy or girl (as he says, otherwise we're wasting half our time - way too inefficient for this engineer), we would be in real trouble after the baby is born. Weeks without a name. Which would drive you monogrammers nuts. So we're doing it for you.

And for those that argue that it ruins the surprise...come on. I completely respect that you like the suspense, but we will be just as surprised when we find out. At 20 weeks. And we won't have a collection of 30 onesies covered in yellow ducks. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

I love you all!

(PS - I had this in nice, neat paragraphs, but when posted it comes out like one big run-on essay. I apologize to my literary friends.)

Thank you to the Academy

2011-02-12T14:51:00.003-05:00

I'm a little behind, but gotta give props where props are due. Matt's family has an annual NFL pool, and the prize is one year with the revered Rife Cup. This year - for the first time since I've known him - Matt brought home the trophy!

I'm so proud of you, my love! Here's to your next win in 15 years...

WAR EAGLE!!

2011-01-11T11:07:00.006-05:00

Auburn Tigers are 2010 National Champions!!

A few fast facts:

• Auburn becomes the first team since Georgia Tech in 1990 to win a national title after starting the season ranked outside the top 20.

• Cam Newton is the 9th Heisman winner to play in the national championship game in the last 11 years.

• Auburn's win, coming on the heels of Alabama's title last year, marks the first time in 70-plus years that two different teams from the same state are crowned national champs in consecutive seasons.

• The SEC improves to 7-0 in BCS title games and has now won the the last five.

(ESPN Stats and Information)

Wish I was here to celebrate...

Preciousness

2011-01-02T16:40:00.002-05:00

Snow Fun!

2010-12-29T19:38:00.003-05:00

There's nothing quite like a white Christmas.

A new Christmas tradition?

2010-12-17T12:56:00.003-05:00

I LOVE all things Christmas, and our December this far has been full of all the usual fun Christmas activities. We got dressed up for the Chick-fil-A Open House (note Holly's name tag - so cute!):

Decorated a gingerbread house:

And baked Christmas cake balls.

We've had some reeeeally cold nights, and have used the heck out of our old-fashioned, woodburning fireplace already. And it's not even winter yet.

All of the activity, while all good things, makes me think about how we distort the spirit of Christmas with our consumerism and excess. I fall into this trap each year, and it bothers me. Then I read books like Radical, and read verses like these, and I have to wonder...are we missing the boat? Rather than collecting things for ourselves (and teaching our kids to do the same), shouldn't we be giving our things away? I'm not there yet.

But I'm being challenged lately, and it's as though Jesus is saying directly to my heart, "I have blessed you with so much not so that you can consume more, but because you are the means through which I will love and feed the poor and oppressed." And man, does Jesus love the poor and the oppressed.

What does that mean for our family? What does that mean for me?

After talking about this with our small group, our neighbor and friend Kerri challenged me. Above and beyond their family's normal giving, she had decided to give away all of her discretionary monthly allowance for 2011 to Charity: Water. No fancy haircuts, no department store lipstick. Instead, she is bringing clean water to people who have none. That's what I'm talking about! THAT is the spirit of Christmas!

Knowing I had to put up or shut up, I decided to give up my entire clothing budget for next year (and Matt's too...if I didn't tell him, he would never even know). I'm not sure where it's going yet. But I'm excited about knowing that the new shoes I didn't buy just fed a child. Or purchased a teenage girl out of sex slavery. Or did just about anything other than fill up my already full closet.

Having decided that (last night!), my heart feels full. And ready to receive my King.

Merry Christmas to all!

Happy Day!

2010-11-21T21:32:00.004-05:00

Dori and Lee got married last week in Kauai and celebrated on Saturday with a reception in Memphis. It was perfect - a beautiful bride, her handsome groom, and an art gallery full of adoring friends and family. They are blessed!

I have a few tips for Lee, from someone who has known Dori for 21 years.

1) Don't talk to her while she's trying to fall asleep.
2) Don't talk to her too early in the morning. If you do, don't be too cheerful.
3) Don't touch her with your feet.
4) Take good care of my bf. Love her well, lead her well, and cherish her. I know I do.

Congratulations Dori and Lee. Wishing you a life of love and a home full of laughter and joy...and little Schumanns!

Happy Things

2010-11-16T19:27:00.004-05:00

I love the mountains outside of Asheville.

I love them even more with my honey.

I loved the sunset from my front porch this evening.

And the bright red tree in the yard across the street. (Doesn't it look like I altered the photo to make the background look black and white? Nope! That's how red the tree is.)

I love my gangsta baby. Side note on Anna...the girl finds something she likes and becomes obsessed. Today, it was this pink hat. Had to have it on and wanted to nap with it. Other obsessions of late: anything that's yellow, her princess pajamas (which happen to be yellow), a butterfly bib that she wears all day. Obsessed. She is stubborn and strong-willed, and when she doesn't make me crazy, she makes me smile.

I love my wacky fairy-butterfly-princess. Wish you could see the pink rain boots she's wearing.

And I love Sunday morning dances. Does it get any sweeter?

'Tis the Season?

2010-11-12T13:12:00.004-05:00

Ever since I read Candace's enthusiastic blog post about pumpkin flavored goodies, I've been wanted to try something. An experiment, if you will. I'm not a big pumpkin fan (when I eat anything pumpkin flavored, I can't help but picture pumpkin guts), but I have been on a cake ball frenzy since I discovered these.

So an idea was born.

What if...I combined Candace's mom's recipe with Bakerella's recipe? Spice cake, cream cheese, pumpkin, chocolate. It's going to be amazing.

I decided to make them this morning (because although I'm supposed to be packing and handling logistics for a weekend getaway that begins in 2 hours, I must have nothing better to do).

Start with the basics:

I added a couple eggs, a little oil, and a little water to the cake mixture, because I just didn't trust that pumpkin and cake mix alone would work. Wasn't necessary. If you decide to make these, follow directions. Isn't that the number 1 rule in baking?

Throw her in the oven:

Find yourself a good helper who doesn't mind getting her hands dirty:

After rolling the mix into balls and chilling (per Bakerella's instructions), dip them in chocolate. And the end result:

Actually, the TRUE end result:

My opinion, not bad. But not amazing. I still felt like I was eating the inside of a gourd, to be honest. But I think most people, especially pumpkin people, would enjoy it.

If you live in my area, I'll save you one and you can decide for yourself!

We're back!!

2010-11-01T13:16:00.010-04:00

Thanks to some encouragement from some sweet friends, I'm resuming my blog. I took an unintentional summer break...we had a season when our lives were really busy but not especially interesting. So a week turned into a month, which turned into two, which turned into nearly forgetting my blogger.com password.

I'll give you a few highlights of the previous few months for the Rife family. Hopefully it doesn't leave you thinking, "no wonder she hasn't had much to say!"

August included a girls' trip to Vegas: my mom, her sister Bonnie, my sister Leigh, and myself. Fun, fun times!

We also took the girls to a Braves game. We made it through at least 5 innings, and this time actually got to see some baseball!

In September, Matt and I took the girls for our first real family vacation with just the 4 of us. We went to the Blue Ridge Mountains and had a great time picking apples, hiking, and enjoying the end of summer (or so we thought...who knew summer would hang around until mid-October?).

In October, Holly got to celebrate her birthday twice. In Greenville for her actual birthday, with Grammy, Pappy, Uncle Kelly, Aunt Megan, and Evan...

...and with Nana and Papa and our incredible neighborhood friends for her Little Mermaid birthday party. My baby is 4!

And to bring you fully up to speed, a few pictures from our Halloween festivities. Anna made a cute peacock, but a compliant one she was not. Spending $17 on a costume was enough to make the battle worthwhile.

Sorry for all the photos, but sometimes pictures just tell a better story. Especially when there are 4+ months of stories to tell.

See you again soon!

Never wake a sleeping baby

2010-06-27T19:46:00.002-04:00

Go Bravos

2010-06-15T21:24:00.005-04:00

Anna's spending the week at Grammy's and Pappy's, so we decided to fill our time with things that are hard to do with a 19 month old in tow. Tonight, we took Holly to a Braves game! It was a fun night, full of firsts for Holly:

First time at a Braves game

Well, that's not exactly true... she did go 3 years ago, but I don't think that she has any memories of it.

First time taking a picture with my camera

(And yes, I now realize I'm wearing the same shirt today that I wore 3 years ago. Mama needs a clothing budget.)

First time eating cotton candy

The girls is smart though. Towards the end, she asked Matt for popcorn. When he asked if she had finished her cotton candy, knowing the answer was "no," she said, "I don't want any more of that stuff - it will just give me holes in my teeth." Needless to say, she got her popcorn.

And this was my first time at Turner Field without seeing a single pitch.

We got there at 6:45 and there was a rain delay, and by 9:00 the tarp was still covering the field. It was time to get the wee one home to bed.

As you can tell by Holly's goofy smile, I think she still had a pretty great time.

I'll leave you with one of Holly's moves, rarely caught on camera...

Ode to the Georgia Peach

2010-06-05T20:11:00.004-04:00

This bag of peaches was full.

But I thought it might be fun...

...to make my first peach pie.

And now there's only one.

Bento-ware

2010-05-24T14:34:00.011-04:00

I'm certainly not leading the way in living an eco-friendly lifestyle, or in preparing my family healthy, organic meals. But something I AM good at is taking baby steps. My kids prefer crackers and cookies over carrots and tofu (and I kind of prefer them myself). But for every fruit loop Anna eats, she balances it with a broccoli floret. We're getting there!

I recently found Bentobloggy (thanks Heather!), and am totally inspired to get creative with my kids' meals. I love how her presentation makes asparagus look downright tempting. And check out her collection of picks - forks are for suckers! Holly would go to town with this stuff. I just need the willpower to serve them with cheese and spinach ravioli instead of chicken nuggets...

And for an adult meal (yes, I still make 2, sometimes 3 meals for dinner...baby steps...) I will definitely be trying this Stuffed Chicken Valentino.

One of my favorite things about serving food bento-style is that it encourages sustainability. We're trying to create less waste and use fewer disposable items, and this offers some kid-friendly ideas. Holly uses the Laptop Lunchbox for school, which helps me make her well-rounded meals while eliminating the need for a ton of Ziploc bags and individually wrapped items.

My other favorite thing - it's really, really cute.

Where My Kids At?

2010-05-15T13:44:00.001-04:00

Welcome to my world.

Happy Days

2010-05-14T16:13:00.002-04:00

This digital slideshow created with Smilebox

This makes me laugh...

2010-05-11T20:14:00.002-04:00

Holly Visits the Dentist

2010-05-11T13:52:00.003-04:00

There's a pretty important event that I've been putting off for a while now. The American Dental Association recommends that children visit the dentist by one year of age. Holly is 3 1/2, and has never been to the dentist. Have I mentioned that she was born with a tooth? Yeah, I know, not getting Mother of the Year for that one.

But here's my rationalization... 1) Holly is nervous around new people 2) Holly is even more nervous when her space is invaded 3) Holly is in near panic attack mode when new people invade her space. Not to mention the fact that she has what I consider a rather normal fear of doctors and machines that spin and buzz - especially in her mouth while a giant light blinds her sweet, sensitive eyes (I don't think her eyes are actually sensitive, but didn't it make you go "Aw!"?).

So, my plan has been to brush her teeth as thoroughly as I can and pray for the best. Until she turns, maybe, 10. Just kidding. Sort of.

But then she had to go and fall on her top front teeth a few weeks ago. After a day or two of extreme sensitivity, they seemed fine. Until they started turning a lovely shade of gray. I realized that she had injured them and that they were at best bruised, and at worst, dying. Ugh. Time to make the call...

I'm super picky about dentists, and it seems that Holly will be as well. She insisted it had to be a girl dentist. So I found a "girl" that came highly recommended, and called yesterday. They were able to get her in at 10 this morning. Score 1 for the dentist.

We walked in and saw a marker board with all today's patients' names written in really fun colors on a big marker board. Holly loved seeing her name on the board. Score 2.

The movie Cars was playing in the waiting rooms. 3.

The movie Cars was playing on the ceiling above the exam chair. I'm losing count.

There was an aquarium across from the exam chair and huge picture windows overlooking some woods to the side. Holly loved it.

The hygienists were wonderful, taking lots of care and time with Holly, never pushing her beyond her comfort zone. They explained everything, even trying the instruments out in her hand before putting them in her mouth. Holly, who I was expecting to have to sedate, was awesome. They gained her trust quickly, which says a lot. She walked out with 2 stickers, a bouncy ball, and a new Winnie the Pooh toothbrush. Holly racked up. The best part? When she got in the car and said, "I'm so proud of myself!"

And the top teeth should be just fine - we just need to watch for infection, and they should return to normal over time.

So maybe all along, I was the nervous one and Holly would have been just fine. I don't know. I'm just glad we got this first visit down - x-rays and all - and I have a feeling we'll both be looking forward to the next one.

Another year...

2010-04-21T20:42:00.008-04:00

Two posts in a row! Yay for me! This one may seem a little self-serving and narcissistic because it's about, well, myself. Yesterday was my birthday, and I really like birthdays. My parents always made a big deal about them (and still do), so I always enjoy waking up on April 20th wondering what the day has in store. So I thought I'd share with you, as many of you reading this called, texted, or emailed that you hoped I'd have a great day [Facebooking counts...].

The day started with my gift from Matt.

Check it out! I have totally jumped on the D-SLR bandwagon and am LOVING it! It was a complete surprise, which is kind of hard with me. If you drop a single hint, I will figure it out (but I'll act like it's a surprise - is that bad?). But Matt dropped no hints and I had no idea.

I had much of the day to myself to clean (cleaning with an empty home is a gift itself) and play with my camera. Here are a few things it can do:

Check out that action shot! I don't know what to do with myself.

The day ended at my favorite restaurant, Agave, with some of my favorite people.

Carrie and Brenda! Loved laughing and indulging with you crazy girls!

And of course Brenda's sweet Jo...

Matt had another surprise in store...this super awesome birthday cake.

Now, this better not show up on Cake Wrecks. It makes perfect sense.

It was a wonderful, quiet day (and happened to be our 1 year celebration of Matt getting laid off). I loved 32 and am looking forward to what 33 holds...

Weekend Highlights

2010-04-19T11:39:00.023-04:00

Celebrating my sister's best friend (and best friend's sister, and friend who's like a sister - still following?) at her baby shower ...

...with some of my favorite ladies.

Then celebrating her mom with a grandmother shower!

Cousins getting to know each other...

Some Papa/Anna love...

And of course some Mommy/Holly silliness...

The smiles and giggles of my adorable niece...

Her parents are pretty cool too...

And FINALLY meeting some very important men...

All in all a great - and exhausting - weekend. Missing this collection of special people already.

Happy St. Patty's Day!

2010-03-17T22:33:00.003-04:00

We celebrated by melting butter and marshmallows...

...and adding Rice Krispies and some green food coloring. Yum! Nothing like the aftertaste of green dye in your otherwise organic, wholesome treats.

And yes, that's Holly's TV dinner front and center.

Anna was a little more subtle in her revelry. Just a few accessories, nothing too flashy. You would have otherwise not known that the day meant anything to her.

Counting to 10...

2010-03-03T20:33:00.007-05:00

We're in the middle of a rough night at the Rife household. Well, just between Holly and me actually. Matt's out with a friend and Anna is snoozing soundly. Ever since Matt and I returned from a 4 day trip with his work, Holly has been Miss Sensitive. Shyer than normal around others and experiencing a LOT of separation anxiety when we're apart. So when I put her to bed tonight, she asked if I can walk her into her classroom tomorrow (instead of dropping her off in the car line). She didn't like my answer. And she's been bawling her tearful protest for the last hour. Loudly. In my defense, I'm not heartless, just trying not to start a really inconvenient - I mean bad - habit.

In my effort to keep my blood pressure from boiling and my patience from tanking, I thought I'd remind myself of some happy recent memories. Ah, the way we were.

Holly, checking out the dolphins at Sea World a few weeks ago.

Shamu show, "Believe." As in, believe you can tame a wild animal. I wonder what their theme will be now? (Sorry, I had to.)

Fun silliness at Magic Kingdom! Yes, she's wearing a Tinkerbell costume. Don't laugh. All the girls are doing it.

Holly and her prince.

Tea cups! I think I went a little fast for her.

Here are her brief thoughts on the tea cups...

The house is quiet now, and my little exercise in patience succeeded. But now I reeeeally want to go on another vacation...

My little Valentines

2010-02-05T14:15:00.006-05:00

It's messy, it's dangerous (licking the spoon of raw-egg filled cookie dough is living on the edge!), and it's so much fun! Holly and I are always looking for an excuse to break out the rolling pins. Wish we could deliver cookies to you, wherever you are, but alas we can't. Unless you live in either St. Simons, GA or Orlando.

We're heading out tomorrow for our first official family vacation. Mickey and Shamu, here we come!

Happy Pie Day!

2010-01-24T14:21:00.006-05:00

Did you know that Saturday was National Pie Day? I did, thanks to my friend Dori. She was in town for the weekend, so we decided to celebrate this most important day with...pie. Chocolate chip cookie pie, a la Bakerella.

Happy Pie Day to you and yours.

Joy!

2010-01-23T07:27:00.010-05:00

It's been a long week. Nothing in particular, but the combination of lots of heavy (but good) conversation, the continuing suffering in Haiti, and not a whole lot of time with Matt (which means LOTS of time with Holly and Anna! You get my point here?) has me a little weary. I was so thankful when my friend Candace gave me a gentle reminder to stop and see the beauty all around me.

And yesterday, there was a lot of beauty to be found. And joy. I have to share three things that made my heart sing yesterday:

First - the image of this little Haitian boy being rescued. Joy! Thank you God.

Second - Anna Grace Chaney and her friend Aidan had a lemonAID stand for Haiti.

Third, Passion is a movement to make Jesus famous among college students worldwide. Those of us who have worked with or followed Passion are very familiar with Ashley's story (hers is the second post, titled "Ashley's Home").

Today, I read this post from the Passion blog. Wow.

God is working all around us. In the midst of the pain and suffering in Haiti, He works. In the lives of children learning to love the least of these, He works. In the lives of those who don't know Him, He is working. He is relentlessly pursuing us, His children.

Joy indeed!

Happy Birthday Jesus

2009-12-23T20:57:00.006-05:00

How do you explain Christmas to a child? This is the first year that we've fully felt the weight of that responsibility - taking the traditions, the celebration, and even the greed and gluttony and making it all point to Christ.

We tell Holly that Christmas is all - entirely - about Jesus. She knows about Mary and Joseph, and she can sing all the words to "Away in a Manger." All this "intentionality" (for lack of a better word) forced me to take hard look at all our customs and traditions surrounding Christ's birth and ask, "Is this the BEST way to bring honor and glory to our King?"

So this Christmas season has been one big paradox. On one hand, I'm experiencing the joy of Christmas through the eyes of our 3 year old, which is pretty incredible. How can you not love hearing "Frosty the Snowman" for the 35th time [in a day] when your child is singing along (especially when her version goes "Frosty the Snowman, had a Happy Halloween")? Even the tackiest Christmas lights are a display of wonder. Blow up snowmen and Santas? I wish my whole street was full of them!

(so I don't have to have one in my yard)

But on the other hand, there's been an unusual tension in my soul this year. Heavy, I know. Maybe it's because so much of Christmas has become so selfish (this self included). Or because so little about our celebration has anything to do with Jesus. We were loving the season, celebrating much, but something was missing.

Until...

We made it to the 6 pm service at church on Sunday, driving there straight from Greenville with sleepy little ones. When we picked the girls up from Waumba Land, they handed us a red bag. It was a kit to have our own "Happy Birthday Jesus" party at home. Brilliant!

So on Wednesday, Holly and I baked a cake and put a few decorations around the house. We shook things up and had dinner - pizza and chicken nuggets - in the dining room. Matt read the Christmas story from Luke 2 (continuing the tradition, Mom and Dad!). And then we sang Happy Birthday to Jesus. Holly was very concerned that he wouldn't mind us eating his cake.

All of this led me to a new thought. How do you teach a child about Christmas WITHOUT the customs and traditions that for a moment seemed so trite and almost sacrilegious? The songs, the lights, the sweets (lots of sweets), and the gifts have completely captured Holly's awe, and she's curious about why we do it. All of a sudden she actually has an attention span.

I'm already looking forward to the next birthday party for Jesus, and celebrating with our 4 year old Holly and 2 year old Anna. What joy.

Merry Chrismas, joyeux noel.

The most terrific Christmas card

2009-12-23T20:40:00.003-05:00

As Matt tells it, he and Holly were browsing the card aisle at the store when Holly spotted this snowman card. "That's the one for Mommy!" Matt looked at it, shrugged, and said "Okay!"

My Christmas card is definitely unique, but still terrific!

Doing the platelet dance!

2009-12-18T07:01:00.004-05:00

We're celebrating in our house - I talked to Anna's doctor yesterday, and her platelet count is 132,000! Up 100,000 in 6 days. The doctors prepared me that it could take 1-2 months for her body to "correct itself" so this is great news. Thank you all for your prayers, your concern, and your words of encouragement.

Holly and I had to wake Anna from a very deep sleep so we could make it to her doctor appointment on Wednesday. I rarely see my kids while they're sleeping, so this was a little treat (except the waking her up part). Here are a couple of pictures...

Haircut day!

2009-12-14T07:32:00.008-05:00

We had a pretty super weekend. A few highlights I'll share:

- breakfast in front of the (real) fire on Saturday
- lots of family time
- a Pandora radio station created around the Charlie Brown Christmas music
- staying in pajamas until the afternoon
- almost completing the Christmas shopping
- dinner at the Brick Store on Saturday
- changing things up and going to church at 6 pm (love having options!)
- Anna continuing to do great
- haircut day for Mommy and Holly on Sunday!

Holly was a little apprehensive at first...it's been a long time since she got her hair cut and all she remembered was that scissors are involved. But Miss Brooke bribed her with a cookie and she hopped right in the chair.

I don't really have a good "after" picture. I'll try to add that later. But it was sweet time for Holly and me - some rare alone time for the two of us (well, sort of alone time). Now if I could just get her to sit still for a mani/pedi...

Anna update

2009-12-11T21:11:00.002-05:00

We have a diagnosis - ITP, or Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura. Basically, as Anna's body fought an infection, she overproduced antibodies which attacked her platelets. This disease often corrects itself over time, but it's the in-between period we have to be careful about. Because Anna's platelet count was so low (10,000 instead of the normal 150,000), she could be in serious trouble if she had a head injury.

The hematologist recommended moving forward with treatment to increase the platelet count. This led to hours of waiting, as we first needed a new blood count. The nurses had an awful time trying to get some blood from Anna and start her IV line. She screamed and fought, and they tried two veins before giving up. It was so hard to have to restrain her as she looked at me with frightened eyes and a tear-soaked face. All I could do was sing in her ear and pray for her.

The nurses were able to draw a tiny amount of blood, but decided to call the IV team in to start the line. By then her numbing cream had worn off, and the thought of them trying several new veins with no numbing cream just broke my heart. As we waited for them to arrive, her worn out little body finally fell asleep in my arms. It the best part of my day. Until...

The doctor came in a few minutes later and told me that she had gotten the new blood counts and her platelet count was at 32,000. Tripled! In a day! She no longer recommended the IV infusion, and was really optimistic that Anna's body was taking care of itself. We will go back next week and check her blood again to make sure the platelets are continuing to increase. We'll probably be doing this weekly or bi-weekly for the next month or so.

I'm overwhelmed with gratitude. I'm so grateful that Anna, seemingly miraculously, was asymptomatic despite her very low platelet count. I'm grateful for platelet counts that triple in a day with no intervention. I'm grateful for our wonderful and perceptive pediatrician, and the amazing doctors and nurses at Children's Healthcare. I'm grateful for friends I can call when I need some encouragement, and for a community of people committed to praying for us. And I'm so grateful that God, in His grace and mercy, seems to be healing our Anna. Thank you Father.

Signing out now, going to bed, and sleeping well tonight.

Asking For Prayer

2009-12-11T07:16:00.002-05:00

We had a little (?) health scare with Anna yesterday. Her body is covered in bruises and petichiae (a rash of purple freckles), which points to a blood problem. We had a full blood count taken yesterday, and thankfully her white blood cell count is normal, which means we should be able to rule out something serious like leukemia. But her platelet count is extremely low, which indicates there is still a problem. It could be a viral infection, reaction to an antibiotic, or a number of other things. We are going back to the hospital today at 10:30. I'm not sure what tests will be done, but we need to try to determine the cause of the low count. In the meantime, Anna is making me nervous! She just started walking and is a clumsy little toddler. But because her blood isn't clotting much, she has to be very careful to avoid any injury (even injury that doesn't break the skin can cause internal bleeding). So I'm asking for prayer this morning.

1) That her platelet count rises quickly and drastically
2) For wisdom and discernment for the doctors as they try to determine the cause
3) That Anna will stay tough and keep her sweet spirit through it all
4) That I will stay tough and keep my sort of sweet spirit through it all
5) That Anna will somehow stay free of too many bumps and falls
6) That this ordeal, however big or small, grows my (our) faith and dependence on our Heavenly Father and brings glory to Him.

Thank you! Will keep you posted...

Anna is (almost) one!

2009-11-16T07:38:00.013-05:00

I can't believe my baby will be one on Thursday. I've been quite the slacker on all of the one year milestones I'm supposed to be helping her achieve. I think they call this denial. But since it's happening whether I like it or not, I figured a celebration was in order.

So celebrate we did. With grandparents...

And presents...

Good friends and neighbors...

And lots of treats...

I looked around at the community God has surrounded us with in this season of life. You have all been a blessing to us, and we're so thankful that we have you to celebrate with.

Happy Birthday sweet Anna!

Trick-or-Treating fun

2009-11-01T11:33:00.004-05:00

(Thanks to Joni for the photos. The camera picked the perfect time to die...which was when Holly threw it down the stairs...)

Conversation with a 3 year old

2009-10-22T17:03:00.004-04:00

Holly (rocking her arms like a baby): Do you remember my baby...Bali? (she had to pause to come up with a name)

Me: No. Who's that?

Holly: My baby. She's lost. She's by herself.

Me: Oh no! Where is she?

Holly: At the top of a mountain. A volcano is coming. It's coming to get her.

And that was that. If anyone finds a baby at the top of a mountain, be sure to let Holly know.

Holly's 3 year/3 day birthday

2009-10-10T21:26:00.015-04:00

It's been too long since my last post, but I haven't had the time (or motivation/inspiration) to update. But there's nothing like a 3 year old's birthday to motivate me to sit in front of my computer.

It started on Friday with chocolate chip pancakes.

These are not my actual pancakes, but a nice image I found on Google.

Next we went to Zoo Atlanta with Grammy and Anna. Fun times! Holly saw flamingos...

... and frightened the whole zoo when she posed as a lion.

But the highlight was definitely the petting zoo. Holly was chasing goats and sheep with no fear, and for a girl who likes her personal space (and frequently proclaims "I'm not giving hugs"), she sure liked hugging these woolly friends.

And then there were the gifts. So many gifts that we had to spread them out over a few days (and she was STILL overwhelmed).

Fun igloo tents and tunnels...

And a trunk packed with dress up clothes (where was this when I was a kid?).

She even got a housekeeping cart complete with mop, broom, toilet scrubber, and cleaning spray. And she was excited. She'll learn soon enough, but until then I'm fine to deceive her a little bit ("Holly! I don't know anything more fun than mopping the floors! What a lucky girl you are!").

Today we celebrated Holly with an ice cream social. Way too much sugar for 2 year olds - I mean 3 year olds! - but great fellowship with friends who love Holly well.

I'm a little worn out from this birthday that never ends, but I've found so much joy in thinking of things that will delight Holly and make her feel special. Thank you to all the friends and family who have made this birthday a great one.

East Tennessee Awesomeness

2009-09-08T09:48:00.009-04:00

Matt and I decided to take advantage of the 3 day weekend and spend a couple of days in the Smoky Mountains. What could be better than a weekend of hiking, football, and all the Pigeon Forge tackiness your heart could desire?

Here is our cute cabin...

Game day munchies...

The 8 mile hike in the rain that kicked. my. butt...

Nice to have little reminders of our babies (who were living it up with Nana and Papa)...

OK, here is the actual sign...

And I can't leave out the beautiful sights of Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg. Matt called it Myrtle Beach in the mountains...

My favorite part? You can get your picture made Wild West style AND GET MARRIED IN THE SAME PLACE! Brilliant!

Sorry for the blurry photos. Matt wasn't real excited about actually stopping at these establishments, so these were taken from a moving vehicle. IF you call going 5 mph all the way down the Pigeon Forge strip "moving."

The letter "H"

2009-09-01T14:06:00.003-04:00

There are plenty of milestones in kids' lives that you learn about from books, doctors, and good old experience. Crawling, walking, talking, toilet training. But I've been observing some of the minor but more unique milestones in Holly that mark a definite transition from one stage of her life to the next.

Which brings me to... the letter "H". My little girl can write letters! She's been able to identify some letters for about a year, but has shown no interest in putting that to paper. It was just a few weeks ago that she drew her first intentional drawing - a smiley face. Then a few days ago she brings us her chalkboard and proudly displays her first written letter. No help, no coaching.

In the picture, her first "H" is on the right. When she realized how much praise and excitement that created, she went on to write another one on the left side and then a big "O" in the middle.

On a similar note, I was talking with her the other day about the letter "B" which she's learning in pre-school. I was giving some examples of words that start with a "B" and she said, "and bouncy balls!"

Little milestone perhaps, but big deal. Our days of spelling words (should we go to the p-o-o-l today?) are numbered.

My girls

2009-08-17T17:46:00.002-04:00

These pictures were taken by our good friend, Alison Church. Thank you, Alison, for capturing these moments of my girls. And for bringing chocolate chip walnut cookies.

My pleasure

2009-08-14T14:18:00.003-04:00

When you eat at Chick-fil-A (and if you don't, let's talk), you might have noticed that when you say "Thank you," they respond with "My pleasure." That's just the Chick-fil-A way, and it happens at the corporate level as well. Matt has gotten in the habit of saying "My pleasure" any time one of us thanks him.

The other night, Matt was walking with Holly upstairs to put her to bed, and he thanked her for something. She said, "Daddy says 'My pleasure.'"

And this morning when I went to get her out of bed, I thanked her for staying in bed and getting a good night of sleep. She said to me, "In Spanish, we say 'My pleasure.'"

Oh, too funny.

Here are a couple of pics from our first family lunch at Matt's work. It was part nature hike/museum/dining out experience for Holly. And for Anna, well, it was a long time to be away from her bed. As for myself, it was nice to eat something other than a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch. And seeing adults was an added bonus. Gotta recommend the spicy chicken sandwich...coming soon to a Chick-fil-A near you...

North Point Online

2009-08-01T13:12:00.003-04:00

My church is doing the coolest thing. Beginning August 16th at 6 pm Eastern, they are launching North Point Online and will be streaming the entire church service - music, announcements, message, everything - live as it's happening.

And yes, it might be strange that we love our church service from beginning to end, but that's for another post.

I hope you'll join Matt and me as we tune in to North Point Online on August 16th.

And we can even google chat while we watch. Is that wrong?

North Point Online - Promo 1 from North Point Media on Vimeo.

Happy Sunflowers

2009-07-31T16:54:00.002-04:00

Check out my new kitchen curtains. My friend Katie makes curtains, designs rooms, and generally just has a flair for anything creative. I decided that our kitchen needed a little pick-me-up, and there's nothing like sunflower patterned toile to pick me up.

Thanks, Katie, for the cheery addition to our house!

Nice to meet you

2009-07-23T15:26:00.002-04:00

While I was feeding Anna yesterday, Holly walked into the kitchen with her baby. It was a little bear that she had swaddled in a blanket. She was talking in her high, sweet "mama" voice (surely that sounds just like me), and I couldn't help but laugh at her conversation with little bear.

"Here you go, it's bedtime now. Nice to meet you." The "nice to meet you" was said like one might say "everything's going to be okay" - in a slow, comforting voice. Then she said, "Oh, are you hungry? Here you go. It's nice to meet you..." She must have said "nice to meet you" 6 times to her bear.

The she looked at me and said, "Hi Mommy! It's nice to meet you."

I have no idea where this came from, but my best guess is that she's heard the phrase and is trying it out. So next time you see Holly, don't be alarmed if she greets you with "Nice to meet you."

Happy Birthday Mom

2009-07-20T21:21:00.003-04:00

Yesterday was my sweet mom's birthday and the perfect time to stop for a minute and honor her.

My mom shows her love for her children in so many ways, and in so many ways is a wonderful model for me as I continue to figure out this parenting thing.

So thank you, Mom, for:

- always checking on us when the weather is bad
- dealing with years (and thousands of $$) of dance lessons for Leigh and me
- adoring my daughters and showering them with love
- showing us the importance of giving to others and being generous with our money
- loving Dad, and showing us what it means to respect our husbands
- loving my friends like they were our family
- always wanting to know the name and number where we will be. Even today.
- trusting me, and in that trust giving me freedom
- raising us in the Church - the beginning of a lifelong journey to knowing my Creator and Savior

This is just the tip of the iceberg - there are so many things I am thankful for. And I am very certain that I rarely, if ever, show my gratitude. So on your birthday (or at least the day after...), be blessed and know that you are loved and appreciated.

Twinkle Toes

2009-07-16T09:47:00.003-04:00

So, she's got at least a few of my genes (and apparently Tom Cruise in Risky Business).

We Love Cows!

2009-07-10T14:33:00.003-04:00

It's Cow Appreciation Day! It's not too late to take your calves (or yourselves) to Chick-Fil-A for some free chikin. Print your cut-out costume and have fun!

Things Anna Likes

2009-07-09T13:41:00.004-04:00

Likes:

- Her sister. Holly is her number 1 favorite person in the world. The feeling isn't exactly mutual.

- Screaming/squealing at the top of her lungs. Anywhere. This is the number 1 reason why she's not Holly's favorite person in the world.

- Her jumperoo (thanks Aunt Boo and Uncle Drew!).

- Baby food. She can put down 2 jars at a time - not bad for a 7 1/2 month old.

- Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Especially when sung to her by Holly.

- Her bed.

Not So Much:

- Her bottle. Hates taking the bottle lately. She only drinks if she's reclining in her bouncy seat (and by the size of her, I'm going to need to figure this one out real soon).

- Vacuum cleaners. Or food processors. Or hair dryers. You get the idea.

- Getting medicine. At this age, Holly loved her Tylenol (I think it was her first word). Anna's got a quick left jab, which makes giving medicine, cleaning ears, suctioning the nose a pretty tough feat.

- Sleeping in cars. Or anywhere but her bed.

- Pacifiers.

She's possessive

2009-06-15T20:45:00.006-04:00

This afternoon Holly and I were playing in the living room, having a conversation about her little lamby. It went like this:

Holly: I need to clip she's hair back to get it out of she's eyes.

me: Huh?

Holly: She's hair is in she's eyes.

me: You mean HER hair is in HER eyes.

Holly (looking at me like I'm an idiot): SHE'S hair. In SHE'S eyes.

(If she were about a year older she would have rolled she's eyes right then)

Holly is a pretty verbal kid, and I thought she had mastered her pronouns by now. But just in the last few days she's been experimenting with possessive pronouns, and I guess she must think you have to add " 's " to make something possessive. And "Her's hair is in her's eyes" must sound silly in her little mind.

Here's Lamby and the clip.

Holly would be MORTIFIED if I posted this picture without explaining that we'd just gotten out of the pool, hence the crazy hair.

A New Day!

2009-06-01T08:07:00.005-04:00

We're praying for you Daddy! Have a GREAT first day on the job!

2009-05-26T19:11:00.007-04:00

Check out Holly's moves. Nothing gets her moving like a little Nickel Creek (except maybe David Crowder). Notice Anna's air guitar at the end...nice touch.

Here is a video of Holly's first experience on a trampoline. We visited Serenbe, a charming little community 32 miles south of Atlanta. This developed community looks like it stepped back in time, with a few modern touches, and is a great place to go to get away from the busyness of city life. There is a big plot of land we like to play on, right next to the horse stable and a little gazebo with rocking chairs. Imagine this 2 year old's delight when we discovered they've now got a trampoline.

Okay, Matt and I were pretty excited too.

Lest anyone wonder about Holly's safety on the trampoline, it was built into the ground. Brilliant.

Drink More Hand-Spun Milkshakes

2009-05-20T18:46:00.007-04:00

Some pretty cool things are happening around the Rife household. It all started when Matt got laid off on my birthday... Actually, that's not true. I need to back up a bit.

A couple of months ago, Matt learned that there was a job opening at our church that was completely within his gift sets and in an area of ministry that has been a passion of his for the past 5 years. He started pursuing this path when, out of the blue, a friend in our small group (shout out to Jay Taylor!) casually mentioned an opening at his company, Chick-fil-A. The job was in Matt's field of expertise - supply chain management.

I was totally confused. How would we/he make a decision between two good options? Between what could be a calling in ministry and a career with an amazing, God-honoring company? Or, to take it a step further, should he stay in his current position with Manhattan Associates?

And then one of those options was removed from the table. Matt was laid off during the second round of Manhattan layoffs since October. Not exactly the way he wanted to end his 12 year career at Manhattan, but he was actually relieved that he wouldn't have to come up with excuses for taking time off to interview.

In the meantime, Matt sent his resume to Chick-fil-A, who decided to fill the supply chain position with a candidate they had already been interviewing. But they asked Jay if Matt had any interest in putting his business intelligence experience to use in what would be a newly created position. In Matt's words, that would be his "dream job."

Within a week of being laid off, he had an interview lined up with Chick-fil-A. Then a second interview. And on Monday of this week, he had his third and final interview and on Tuesday received an offer.

So Matt will now work 10 minutes south of us (no traffic!) for a company who places its highest value on honoring God. I could go on and on on how we've seen God work through this process and how excited I am for Matt and our family.

But I think I'll just stop here, congratulate my sweet husband, and give praise to the One from whom all blessings flow.

"I said to the Lord 'You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.'" Psalm 16:2

Squeal baby

2009-05-02T08:35:00.004-04:00

When Anna gets punchy (i.e. overtired), she gets very squeal-y. Does that make sense? She seems to laugh hysterically with very little provocation. And she is most delighted when she sees Holly's face. I captured a little bit of it on video here, but I grabbed the camera a little too late. Holly was tired of being the comedian, but you can still get the idea. No one amuses Anna more than her Holly (same goes for me, for that matter).

My sick kid

2009-04-29T17:56:00.002-04:00

It seems like every family has the "sick kid." In our home growing up, I was the strong child with the impenetrable immune system (sorry Leigh, but it's true. You were cute but puny).

In our current household, I think little Anna got the short end of the stick. In 2 1/2 years Holly has never had an ear infection, never been on antibiotics. At 5 months, Anna has just gone through her first round of Amoxicillin for an ear infection. Not only that, after 9 days of the medicine, today she broke out in hives. Great - she's allergic to penicillin. And to top it all off, I just learned today that she also has thrush. What? I'm getting a crash course in baby sicknesses all in one day.

So, right now Matt and Holly are at the drugstore filling her new Rx (this is new to us too). And I've been trying to get my overtired, rash-covered, itchy and irritable baby to sleep for the last hour.

But there is a silver lining... I got to hear these sweet words come from the doctor's mouth: "Give her some Benadryl to help with the itching."

Ahh, sleep is coming.

If you haven't smiled today...

2009-04-27T20:13:00.002-04:00

Happy Easter!

2009-04-10T07:02:00.006-04:00

We're entering Easter weekend, and I'm getting the chance to see it all through the eyes of an impressionable 2 and a half year old. Holly's dyed her eggs, and we've even had a few "practice runs" of hiding and finding them. I think she's been eating egg chocolates for the past 2 months (which means so have I). She's received gifts and Easter stickers and cards from loved ones. She doesn't know that tomorrow we'll be going to a huge Easter egg hunt, complete with inflatable bouncy houses and games and everything her little heart could desire.

In the midst of this, I wonder how to begin to teach Holly about the reason we celebrate. How do we connect bunnies, eggs, and candy to the resurrection of Christ? How do we explain that the Jesus she's learning about - the Jesus who wants to be her friend forever - died for her temper tantrums, her disobedience, her defiance? She doesn't even comprehend death yet, much less sin.

So we're starting by explaining that Easter is the day Jesus rose from the grave. At the tender age of two, I don't know if her brain (or more accurately, her active imagination which leads to night terrors and nightmares) can handle much more. Most importantly I want her to begin to associate Easter with Jesus. The rest will come.

So I've been pondering that this Easter season. I've also been challenged to think about the cross and those final hours of Jesus. Our pastor, Andy Stanley, gave a powerful talk last Sunday that I encourage you to check out. Go to the Buckhead Church messages site and click on black image - it's called "The Final Hours." You can listen to the audio or watch the video.

I've also been blessed by the fresh perspectives of some great writers on the new life and new hope we have, and the reminder to reflect on the Passover Lamb and his love for us. Thank you for helping me keep my eyes on Jesus as I hide eggs and stuff Easter baskets.

Fun times in Arkansas

2009-04-06T08:36:00.003-04:00

This weekend I went to Bentonville, AR to meet my sweet niece Abygael (and see Leigh and Dean, of course!). It was so strange to see my baby sister with a baby of her own. I can't imagine what I'll feel like when my own babies have babies! I choose not to think of that right now.

Leigh and Dean are amazing parents and Abygael is a sweetheart of a baby. She eats like a champ, sleeps through the night, and spends her days cooing away. How fun it will for her, Holly and Anna to grow up together! I anticipate lots of fun times and mischief in their future. Can't wait for her to meet her cousins!

Ba-ba-ba-Boop! contest

2009-04-02T07:24:00.001-04:00

Little Mama

2009-04-01T11:50:00.002-04:00

Happy sounds

2009-03-31T19:42:00.002-04:00

Training day

2009-03-15T14:13:00.004-04:00

Some of you know that yesterday was going to be Holly's "potty-training day." Yes, I said was going to be. I'm sorry if that just gave away the ending.

We were totally ready. I read the books, bought the treats (felt a little like training a dog to sit and roll over), and let her pick out her new underwear. We talked the day up all week. Most importantly, I should add, Holly seemed ready. She HATES having a dirty diaper. So much that she won't sit down and insists on being changed immediately. If you walk toward her she puts her hand out and says in a panicked voice "Be careful! I have a poo-poo!" (I realize that might be TMI, but this is my language now). The time had come.

I was in no particular hurry to toilet train. Diapers are easy. You can drive for hours without stopping (remember the NASA astronaut?) and don't require sitting in the bathroom for 20 minutes at a time, keeping an active 2 year old entertained and still. But I had visions of Holly walking into kindergarten with diapers on, and that motivated me to capitalize on Holly's dirty diaper disdain.

The day started out well - success in the potty earned Holly 3 marshmallows! Then 15 minutes later, another success, another treat! And five minutes after that...her first accident. And 15 minutes after that, the second accident. Is anyone else amazed that a 2 year old can have such an active bladder? We went through the rest of the day putting her on the toilet literally every 20 minutes. Let me just say she went through 7 pairs of underwear.

Interestingly, Holly didn't seem to be bothered at all by the sopping wet mess she created every time she had an accident. She just went about her business, playing and walking from room to room (leaving a lovely trail to clean) until Matt or I discovered her. No shame, no disappointment, just kind of a "what of it?" attitude.

Needless to say, I put a diaper on her at 5 pm and called it a day. I contend that it was a good attempt. No tears, no battles of will, and lots of smiles when the treats appeared. I guess she's just not ready. And I'm OK with that. Because truthfully, I'm not quite ready to stop at every gas station restroom on our road trip this weekend.

And if you see Holly getting on the schoolbus in a couple of years with padded "diaper jeans," don't make fun.

Snow Day!

2009-03-02T13:06:00.003-05:00

Yesterday was a fun day in Atlanta. We actually had snow! For several hours, big white flakes fell and fell from the sky. Holly got out in it for a few minutes, but it was really wet (we actually had thunder and lightning while it snowed), and it felt more like playing in cold rain than the snow. But we all loved it nonetheless. We sat inside by the fire and didn't do much all day but stare out the window.

It's pretty much all gone by now. So I'll just look forward to our 75 degree weekend coming up...

One more...

2009-02-13T13:54:00.002-05:00

I had to add this to the list of quirky Holly-isms...

The other day I was reading a book to Holly. I noticed she was distracted and quickly stopped paying attention. I closed the book and said, in what I'm sure was an exasperated tone, "I guess you don't want me to read to you."

Then I noticed the calculator in her hands. She looked up briefly and said, "I'm just checking my email" and then went back to clicking away on the buttons.

Ah, the joys of 21st century parenting...

Holly-isms

2009-02-10T14:15:00.004-05:00

Holly has been cracking me up lately. Every day, in her attempt to act like a grown-up, she says something so off the wall. I always try to remember them to tell Matt when he gets home, but always forget. So while I'm thinking about it, I'll jot a few down. I hope they're slightly as amusing for you.

1) Yesterday, I walked away from her in her room. She ran after me, saying "Mommy! My mommy!" When she reached me, she said "I was worried about you!"

2) She tells us all the time that "That would be a good idea!" Example: I told her we should eat outside, since it was warm out. She kind of nodded. Then I said we should eat in the backyard since we'd eaten on the front porch the day before. She said "That would be a good idea!"

3) When I say "thank you" she tells me "good manners!" and claps.

4) When Matt says "excuse me" after burping, she also says "good manners!" and claps. This doesn't happen often (and I'm not talking about Holly...).

5) When we see each other after having been apart (which is usually when we're in different rooms, since we're together all day) she runs to me and says "I'm so happy to see you!" That's the best.

6) She loves chocolate, and she knows if anyone around her has been eating it from the smell of their breath. Yesterday when I hugged her after she woke from her nap, she smelled my breath. She looked like she was about to say something, but then moved on. I said, "Wait - tell me what you were thinking." She said "I smell chocolate. Smells like brownie."

7) She thinks her name is spelled H-O-L-Y. We reinforce that extra "L" but it never makes it in.

8) When she gets excited about something (usually chocolate) she grins from her to ear, clasps her hands together, and says "I am so exciting!" Matt and I are in no hurry to correct that one. It's just too cute.

Isabella's website

2009-02-06T15:27:00.007-05:00

For those interested in keeping updated on baby Bella (see post below), check out her site on CaringBridge. Be sure to read the journal updates and look through the sweet pictures!

Baby Isabella

2009-02-02T12:30:00.005-05:00

This is Isabella Parker, the beautiful new niece of one of my best friends, Dori. Bella is truly a miracle baby. While in the womb, she was diagnosed with Osteogenesis Imperfecta, or Brittle Bone Disease. Her parents didn't know what to expect upon her arrival, but they were told not to expect much. Ultrasounds showed multiple fractures in her right and left femurs, and they were prepared for the damage to be much more extensive.

Born last Friday, Bella has stolen the hearts of her family, the nurses caring for her, and many people she's never met (like myself). She is no longer on oxygen and is eating from a bottle - pretty amazing. But the road ahead is long. Only her mom can hold her right now, as it's too risky to allow her to be much more than touched. Changing her diaper is a painful ordeal, and she screams when her legs are touched. X-rays show fractures in her skull and ribs (among others, I believe) that healed improperly in the womb. She will always be extremely fragile, but praise God that she is here, and is doing better than expected!

Please keep this sweet baby and her family in your prayers. Here are some specific things I am praying for and invite you to join me:

- that Bella will be strong enough to go home soon, and that her daddy (and Aunt Dori!) will soon be able to hold her
- that she will receive the best care, and for wisdom for her doctors and nurses
- that she will be protected from pain
- for her parents; that their marriage will not suffer but grow stronger under the inevitable strain and stress, and that they will lean on God for their strength
- for her brothers Tyler and Landon; that they will handle this adjustment as well as possible, especially with so much necessary attention going to Isabella

And as we're praying, let's stop and thank God for all the little things we take for granted. And if you have kids, go hug your babies.

These are the days...

2009-01-25T14:04:00.004-05:00

God is really trying to teach me a lot during this stage of life. I say "trying" because I've been a little hardheaded and unteachable at times. While this season is filled with incredible joy and countless blessings, it's also REALLY HARD. I had no idea how mentally, physically, and spiritually exhausting it would be to have two children. Especially when one of them is two.

Holly is having some trouble adjusting to the changes in the household. We had seem tantrums before Anna was born, but what's happening in our household these days is all the proof I need that we live in a fallen world. No one had to teach her to throw fits, scream, and fall on the floor to get her way. It's just in her (and boy, is it ever). I have to remind myself every day that, just as no one taught her to behave this way, no one ELSE will teach her to behave in a better way. That's Matt's and my job. We have our work cut out for us.

I stole away to a coffee shop for an hour yesterday to read, pray, and fill my spiritual tank. It's been pretty empty lately. It seems all my energy goes into being a good wife and mom (unfortunately not in that order), and I'm left feeling guilty that I'm not able to be a good daughter, sister, friend, disciple. God used this time to show me that I've been relying on my own strength to do it all. As I was reading a book my friend Dana gave me, Tender Mercies for a Mother's Soul, something the author said struck me. She said that, when she's parenting in her own strength, she's "great on a good day, and hopeless on a bad day." This pretty much sums me up. When things are good, I'm on top of the world. When days are 75% filled with tantrums and power struggles, I just want to throw in the towel.

I spent much of my time reading, thinking, and writing about the fruit of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). How much easier would my job be if I was fully tapping into the power of the Spirit that lives within me? And, more importantly, how much more would I be glorifying God?

So this is my goal in the coming days. To lean on God alone to fill my well and lighten my heart. And as these difficult (and joyous!) days roll by, I will remember this:

"I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me." (Psalm 3:5)

Naptime

2009-01-16T13:41:00.003-05:00

So, let me tell you about the last hour. I took Holly upstairs for her nap and could tell this might be a rough one. She was pretty wound up and playful. I've wondered for a few weeks now if she's getting close to dropping her naps altogether, as they're getting shorter and shorter. But Mommy isn't ready for that, so it's not happening. Well, not without a fight.

I get downstairs and immediately hear "Mommy! Mommy!". When I went back in to check on her, Holly said "I'm all done!" Really? Don't think so. I came back down.

About 2 minutes later I hear her at the top of the stairs. When I got there, she said "My fingers! My fingers!" With a sinking and knowing feeling I asked what was on her fingers. Yep, she said it. "Poop." Got her cleaned up (I think? Who really knows where else it could be?) and put her back in bed.

Then, "Mommy! Mommy!" This time I needed to hug her animals goodnight. Hugged the gloworm and the tiger. Back downstairs.

Then I hear her on the monitor, playing with toys in her room. A few minutes go by, and then... "Mommy! Mommy! I need help with my sheets!" I go upstairs and pull the sheet and blanket over her. With a stern "I'm not coming in here again" I left the room. She must have believed me, because I haven't heard her again (I'm still waiting as I type this). I'm glad she believed me, because I don't think I believed myself. The truth is, the whole thing has been pretty amusing. I'm sort of curious what she might come up with next...

Well, Anna's nap is officially over. So much for coordinating naptimes.

Coffee Break

2009-01-13T07:29:00.003-05:00

I sat down at the computer this morning with just a few moments to enjoy my coffee before the craziness of the day began. Knowing I had just minutes before one or both girls would wake up, but feeling the need to feed my soul some Truth to start the day, I visited my friend Candace's blog and prayed "Please let there be a new devotion!" Candace has an amazing and ever-growing heart for God, and the gift to share His heart through words. This morning I needed some words.

I read this post from Monday and wanted to share it. Interestingly, most of it is taken from another woman's blog (so this is a post of a post of a post of a another website - confused?). I related to this mom's words, and I wanted to share them. It's not just for moms, or women. It's a reminder for all that God sees as as we were created to be, and who He is making us to be.

Thank you, Candace, for using your gifts to build up the body of Christ.

A Day in the Life...

2009-01-07T07:43:00.006-05:00

...of two little girls.

Anna likes to lay around, looking cute.

While Holly gets her exercise, sweatin' to the oldies.

And every so often, there is actually a little interaction between the two. All in all, it makes for a pretty good day.

Fun Family Outing

2009-01-03T15:51:00.001-05:00

This kind of dining was a first for me, but I have a feeling it won't be my last.

Welcome Abygael!

2008-12-30T13:29:00.005-05:00

On Monday, December 29th, Leigh and Dean went to the hospital at 5 am to be induced. Many hours later, Abygael Campbell Dean entered the world. She's a healthy 7 lbs 3 oz (so much for all those predictions that this was going to be a big baby) with the cutest mop of dark hair.

To Abygael: we can't wait to meet you and kiss you and introduce you to your sweet cousins. And to Leigh: aren't you still 15?? How can it be that you are married, working, and now a mother? Where did the time go? I wish more than anything that I was with you to hug you, hold Abygael, and talk through all the fears and questions I know you will have. But with a newborn myself, that will have to wait a while. Know that I am praying for you, Dean and Abygael. I pray for wisdom when she's not eating or sleeping well. I pray for patience when the crying seems to be too much. Perhaps most of all, I pray that you will soak up every bit of joy this new life will bring you. Remember that she is God's child, and He has entrusted her to you as a precious gift.

Well, my Anna is calling, so I must go for now. Until I can see you in person, I'll see you on Facebook.

Abygael Campbell Dean
12-29-08
7 lbs 3 oz
19 inches

Christmas with a 2 year old

2008-12-29T07:40:00.004-05:00

So fun! I love how Holly starts handing out presents to Matt and me. Sweet girl.

Her rain boots are a little big, but all the more fun to stomp in...

Anna's Here! A month overdue announcement...

2008-12-22T07:36:00.002-05:00

I owe an apology to my second-born. I promised I would not be the parent that takes fewer pictures of you or never gets around to making a scrapbook of your first months of life. I have failed to deliver on my promise - your bedroom (Holly's old room) still has pictures of Holly in the frames and some of her toys in the closet. And now one month has passed and I'm just getting around to posting an announcement of your arrival. But it is not for lack of love! Quite the opposite... it is out of pure love and devotion for you that moments spent holding you, rocking you, feeding you, and introducing you to life (crazy life!) with your precious sister take priority over pictures and scrapbooks. And even blog posts. I definitely want lots of pictures to record these first months and years, but we'll get to that. Right now, in these sleep-deprived and hazy days, I'm enjoying just enjoying you.

And my apologies to those of you who are just learning about Anna's birth! You must be wondering if she is a month overdue.

Anna Caroline Rife

November 19, 2008

8:08 pm

8 lbs 8 oz.

(I try to keep Facebook fairly updated with photos. If you're not on FB, you can check this link: http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2011456&l=df807&id=1171625296)

Here we go...

2008-11-17T14:33:00.008-05:00

I was on the computer this morning while Holly played in the kitchen. Then I heard "I'm naked!" I looked up over the computer monitor and this is what I found.

I promise she started the day with clothes on. At least the socks survived.

Daddy's helper

2008-11-17T13:34:00.003-05:00

There must be a Simpsons episode about this

2008-11-15T09:34:00.004-05:00

Yesterday I packed Holly in the car and told her we were going to the store to get Daddy a present. She's really into presents these days, so I thought having that information would make her a little more agreeable on our shopping trip.

We went to a particular store (which will remain unnamed in the hopes that SOME of the surprise can be salvaged) where I picked out his gift. Handed over the credit card, picked up the bag, and we were on our way back home.

Fast forward to 6:15 when Matt walks in the door from work... After some hugs and kisses, Holly said to Matt "Daddy present!" He laughed and asked what it was. Before I could stop her (although I must admit, part of me was curious how much she would divulge), she said "Beer!!"

So much for my great gift idea. We laughed and wondered what else she is soaking up that we're unaware of. I've learned my lesson though - keep my mouth shut, because two year olds can't keep a secret.

Holly says the darndest things...

2008-11-12T11:48:00.002-05:00

I'm always trying to remember the funny and cute things that Holly says so I can pass them on to others, mainly her grandparents. Here are a few for those of those you who are interested:

1) When she talks about babies (her cousin Evan or our neighbor Aiden) she always says "oh, he's so cute!" and squints up her eyes, as though she's 20 years older

2) After watching the Little Einsteins "Instrument Dinosaurs" episode, Holly flapped her arms around and called herself a piccolo-dactyl. This continues, but now her stuffed animals are the piccolo-dactyl.

3) This morning I spilled some juice on the floor. I said "Mommy made a mess!" She watched from her chair and calmly said "Don't worry, Mommy."

4) Out of the blue today she said "Fantastic!" I don't ever say that. Where does she get it??

5) Every once in a while she calls me "Mom" and calls Matt "Dad." Shouldn't I be Mommy until she's at least 7 or 8??

6) As Matt carries her upstairs to bed each night, she always calls down to me and says "I love you down there!" Just might be the best part of my day.

This is some of the cute stuff...I'll spare you the rest. We're in the middle (I pray not the beginning) of the terrible twos, and much of our day is spent correcting, redirecting, disciplining, and generally doing everything possible to avoid meltdowns. It's in the emotional aftermath of those tantrums that I make myself stop and remember the cute, sweet, funny things Holly says and does, and simply be thankful for such a bright and independent little girl. I tell myself that this too shall pass - and then feel a little guilty for looking a little forward to my upcoming days in the hospital while someone else is in charge...

Her first real haircut!

2008-11-09T11:36:00.002-05:00

Yesterday was a big day for Holly - she finally had a haircut! Her bangs were hanging in her eyes but still not thick enough to really hold a barrette, so we took her to see our friend Brooke for her first beauty consultation. She loved it - didn't want to leave. She's been talking about her haircut all day. That's my girl...

Every girl has wardrobe changes...

2008-11-03T12:33:00.004-05:00

Halloween was a lot of fun at the Rife house this year. Holly had seen a Dora the Explorer Halloween episode a couple of times, so at the beginning of the week she was walking up to me and saying "Trick or Treat!" By Friday, she was in full Halloween mode. Our little ladybug experienced her first trick-or-treating Friday night/afternoon. We were that crazy family who went at 5:30, while it was still light outside. Holly got some good stuff (I PROMISE I've only snuck into her stash once!). Special thanks to the Taylors, who had Dora stickers waiting for her. Those have helped us bribe her into brushing her teeth each night... The next night was our neighborhood block party, and Holly was a flower. I got this costume from ebay last year and it was too big then. It worked out perfectly this year - how embarrassing would it have been to be seen in the same outfit twice?

Since the weekend, Holly has come up to me a few times, pointed to the cabinet where her candy is, and said "trick-or-treat." A couple of tantrums later, she's learning that that little phrase doesn't work the other 364 days of the year.

Already looking forward to next year, when we'll have two little ghouls...

The girl loves balloons...

2008-10-26T13:04:00.004-04:00

My favorite part of this is when she suddenly stops and says "little pumpkin!"

Happy Birthday Holly!

2008-10-13T14:48:00.004-04:00

Holly had a pretty big birthday weekend. Thanks to Grammy, Pappy, Nana, and Papa for being with us to celebrate and make it so special! And for the presents...so many presents... I'm still trying to find a place for everything.

It was especially fun to see that Holly sort of understands what a birthday is. We started telling her last week that her birthday was coming up, and she immediately asked for birthday cake. She knew she wanted a cake and a balloon. Actually, we could have stopped there and she would have been happy.

So hard to believe that two years have passed. While part of me always looks forward to what's ahead and seeing more of the the person she is becoming, another part of me wants to have my baby girl back. I guess that's just part of being a mom.

Fun with Daddy

2008-10-05T08:19:00.004-04:00

Yesterday was kind of a Daddy-Daughter day for Matt and Holly. I got to steal away for a long-overdue brunch with my great friend Brenda, and got a little grocery shopping in. Even when I returned home, the afternoon consisted of lots of play time with Dad while I held the camera. And when you see the videos, you'll understand why I didn't join in...

Will Anna have a tail?

2008-10-01T17:26:00.005-04:00

Holly and I spent a long time swinging on the front porch today with her baby and teddy bear (loving this weather!). She pointed out the bear's tail, so I asked her if she has a tail. She reached behind her and said "yes!" I explained that, no, little girls don't have tails. She then patted my belly and said "Anna tail!" Hmmm. Let's hope not.

(Aunt Leigh, this video is for you!)

Megan is home!

2008-09-29T15:10:00.003-04:00

After battling complications from a blood clot in her leg, our sister-in-law Megan is finally home after nearly 2 long weeks in the hospital. Thank you God! It is completely by His grace and mercy that she in home now with her family - especially her precious little baby, Evan.

Matt, Holly and I went to Greenville this weekend to spend some time with Kelly and Megan, and Grammy and Pappy. This was Holly's second time to be around 3 month old Evan, and she was quite the character. It was interesting to watch her jealous streak come out...and she wasn't at all jealous of me. In fact, when Matt's mom was holding the baby, Holly would say "Mommy hold you!" She wanted ME to hold Evan so that Grammy could be 100% hers. Pretty funny. She really did try to be sweet with him, even it was just to get our praise. She would give him (hit his head with) his little toys, and lean in to give him hugs.

I have a feeling we can expect lots of crazy cousin antics in the years to come.

Happy Days

2008-09-24T10:18:00.005-04:00

Last Saturday was the Happy Days Festival here in Hapeville. Yes, our little town has a festival! It was a great time with neighbors, friends, great weather and yummy food. Holly had a blast - here are some highlights.

Fun with pretend play

2008-09-22T15:13:00.007-04:00

In the last couple of weeks, Holly entered the brand new phase (for us) of make-believe. All those stuffed animals that used to just sit in her basket are now her friends, and her baby dolls need frequent naps and diaper changes just like Holly. They sometimes even have to sit in time out.

The other day Holly put one of her babies in her new baby doll stroller (thank you Aunt Boo!!) and walked her up and down the hallway, saying something that was at first unintelligible. I soon realized she was saying "Going to Starbucks! Going to get a coffee!" Grammy and Pappy, I think Holly misses those walks to Starbucks in downtown Greenville!

I love this stage - I'm getting to see more of the little person Holly is becoming. While there are plenty of babies being dropped (thrown?) on their heads, she almost always follows it up with a kiss and "Poor baby. All better now." That's somewhat reassuring, since there will be a real little baby in her world soon. I did only say somewhat.

As I write this, she is in the living room, feeding coffee to her baby doll and stuffed llama. And I have a few precious minutes to myself. Thank you, God, for imaginations.

Happy Birthday Dad!!

2008-09-15T07:31:00.004-04:00

Over the weekend, our family gathered in Memphis to celebrate the upcoming birth of Leigh's baby, Abygael. But we also were able to take a few minutes to celebrate my dad. Today is his birthday, and I can't help but get a little sentimental when I think about what he has meant in my - our - lives.

It's a big job to be the father of two daughters. Dance recitals that he had to (pretend to) be excited about, tears he had to wipe, but perhaps most importantly, displaying for us how a husband loves and honors his wife.

Thank you, Dad for teaching me not to settle. Thank you for helping to protect this little girl's heart as I waited for God to bring my prince. And thank you for teaching me that, if that prince was never to come, I already have my King in heaven.

Happy Birthday, Dad.

Happy Birthday Pappy!

2008-09-10T18:03:00.002-04:00

We are so blessed to have such a wonderful dad, dad-in-law, and Pappy. So today we celebrate this wonderful man who brings so much joy to our lives. Hope your day is full of walks in the park and lots of Starbucks coffee!

Holly and her big girl bed

2008-09-09T20:08:00.005-04:00

Above are a couple of pictures of Holly's new room. She's been sleeping in her big girl bed since last Friday, and has adjusted wonderfully (to my amazement!). I was terrified of taking this step, as this girl LOVED her crib. But she was super excited about the transition and has slept through the night every night! She can climb in and out of her bed through a gap between her bedrail and footboard, but she hasn't been brave enough to try it. Until today...

When I went to get her up from her nap this afternoon, I noticed a lot of light coming from under her door. I thought it was odd, since I had closed the blinds before walking out of her room. I opened the door and this is what I found (see below). Blinds open, hat on her head (and a few in her bed), toys and books all over the floor.

She has discovered freedom. I am just hoping I don't walk in tomorrow morning to find her curled up in her bookcase...

And she will be called...

2008-09-08T07:24:00.003-04:00

Anna Caroline Rife!

After a process that had to be more grueling than vetting for the VP nominee, we finally chose a name. And it was all by the grace of God - truly - because we were about to pull our hair out and just call this poor child Number 2. A couple of people asked it we had prayed about her name, and our answer was "no" - it seemed such a trivial thing to pray about when there are much bigger things on our hearts. But we were reminded that names are important to God: "As his name is, so is he" (1 Samuel 25:25).

Names were so important to God that He often changed people's names to reflect their new identity in Him. Abram means "father," and God changed his name to Abraham which means "father of a multitude." And we can't forget Saul, who before meeting Christ on the road to Damascus was a persecuter of Christians, and whose name meant "demanding." After his encounter with Jesus, his name became Paul, which means "worker." And what a worker he was! From persecuter to the perescuted, from Christian hater to one who would give his life to spread the Good News to the ends of the earth...

So we prayed about it, and a few others did as well. And within a few days, it was clear to us both. No arguments, no disunity - having been through this twice now (Holly was no piece of cake!), that's a miracle in itself!

Anna (gracious, merciful)
Caroline (beautiful woman)

Some cute (I think) Holly videos

2008-09-03T18:41:00.003-04:00

A couple of weeks ago we visited my parents in Nashville (Mt. Juliet). In this video, we're at the John Deere park and Holly's wearing - gasp - a John Deere t-shirt. Am I even spelling Deere correctly? During our stay in middle Tennessee, I even found myself dropping the "g" off of participles such as "eating." Instead, I did a lot of eatin' and sleepin'. I love it! Lots of thanks to Nana and Papa for a great weekend, and to Uncle Drew and the boys for making my car as good as new!

We're in the process of putting Holly's new room together. Still waiting on the headboards/footboards for her twin beds, and excuse the lack of wall decor. It's coming. But we have the pink shag rug, and really, what more does a girl need?

Not a burp, but a...

2008-08-24T20:44:00.003-04:00

I apologize in advance for the crudeness of what you are about to read, but I can't help but share. Here is an actual scenario that took place at our dinner table tonight:

- Holly passes gas...loudly

- I tell her to say "excuse me"

- Holly instead says "I burped"

- Me: "No, you passed gas."

- Matt: "We are not saying 'passed gas' in this house."

- Me: "What are we saying? I'm not allowing us to say 'fart'."

- Matt: "We'll say 'toot'. Holly, you tooted."

- Holly: "Toot. I tooted."

There was more to the scene, which involved Matt telling her how a toot is different than a burp, but I'll spare you. I'll also spare you a photo that corresponds to this story, and instead share a sweet, smiling photo of Holly.

I hope I haven't scared you away from this blog.

I'm back!

2008-08-21T13:45:00.002-04:00

Do you ever feel so behind that you just don't know where to begin to get caught up? That's how I've been with the blog lately... I let a few too many days go by, and all of a sudden I've taken a full blown summer break. Well, here's a quick summary of what's been going on in the Rife household over the past few weeks...

1) Beer-tasting day finally arrived! For those of you who are curious, and not close enough to get a taste of the home brew for yourselves, it turned out really well for a first attempt. Matt's already made notes about how to improve the next time around...

2) Dori came to visit us (or should I say to visit Holly?). I hope she doesn't kill me for posting this picture of her in yard clothes - she was helping me plant some flowers in pots (BTW Dori, when she sees her Dora the Explorer coloring book, she says "Aunt Dowee!")

3) The Bonassos came from Pittsburgh. They left us last August to return to their PA roots, so it was a fun reunion! Holly and Louis are the same age and had become pretty tight, but I'm not sure if they remembered each other. But Holly's still talking about him...

4) Holly started school! Well, she started Mother's Morning Out two days a week, but since it requires a lunchbox, that's school in my mind.

Sorry for the long hiatus, and I'll do my best to be more consistent with updates from now on!

Holly in concert, Part 2

2008-08-01T21:43:00.003-04:00

She could seriously do this ALL DAY.

At the end she says "Cheese!"

Congrats Leigh and Dean!

2008-07-30T07:30:00.003-04:00

Here is a picture of my sister, Leigh, pregnant at 13 weeks - 4 weeks ago. She just found out yesterday, after a little sweet-talking her doctor (since it's still a little early), that she's having a GIRL!! How exciting for her and Dean, and how fun for Holly and Baby ? Rife.

Now, the race is on to produce the first male heir...