Little Bit of This and That

My husband asked me if I was going to do my Wednesday blogging anymore :)  I haven't been very faithful in it lately.  I am getting close to the finish line with this pregnancy.  Less than 2 weeks to go.  I'll be induced on the 9th or 10th of May unless this baby comes sooner than expected.

God has taught me so many wonderful things throughout this pregnancy.  But, I am really looking forward to being back at church, physically being able to CLEAN my house, lift my kids, exercise, and so on.   My two kiddos have really started to "grow up" during this pregnancy, and I am itching to be able to do some more things with them as well. 

In the last two months Madison learned to walk.  It took her quite a while to decide on walking.  Probably because she could crawl like lightening :)  But, she finally took off walking the week my mom was here.  She surprised us by signing please and thank you all on her own.  She is saying new words.  Two words that I really like hearing her say are belly button and baby.  I'm sure the average person would not understand her.  However I understand and I love to hear her little voice say those words.  One word I hear WAY too often is "more."  Both of my kids will repeatedly say that over and over and over!  I have to remind them to say please, and then I see 2 kiddos vigorously rubbing their tummies.--That is their way of signing for please.  It can really be humorous! 

Ethan has totally lost the toddler look.  He is now my little boy.  I can hardly believe how big he is and how much he has grown these past few months.  Ethan is now enjoying daycare.  I miss him during the day, but I am so happy he is getting to play outside, interact with kids every day, and receiving the benefit of learning new things and being on a good routine.  We love our boy so much, and want to see the Lord work in his life.  I think this pregnancy has been hardest on him.  I am really looking forward to the ability to lift him again.  (It will be a good work-out for me since he is over 37 pounds now!)  He looks like a giant next to the other 2 year olds in his class.   One of his teachers sent home pics. for us to see how happy he is during the day.--As a mom I just couldn't stop looking at those precious pictures of him with all his little friends.  It made my day!!!

Backyard Visitor

Every once in a while we get a fun 
visitor in our backyard.  

Sometimes it is a cat,

a bunny,

 or an armadillo.

This time to my little boy's

DELIGHT,

it was a turtle :)

Blessings in Trials

These past 2 weeks have been pretty tough.  There are so many things I could say to expound on that, but it is not necessary.  In a nut shell we have made 2 ER visits, doctor visit, many physical therapy visits, decisions on putting my 2 year old in daycare, etc.  It's been a little of an emotional roller coaster and some of that probably has to do with the very strong pain killers I'm on.  The days are a little blurry to me right now.

Yet, through this pregnancy I know God is in control.  Jon and I have seen God answer prayer in marvelous ways.  I've seen God provide help when we just felt like we couldn't go on.  I've seen God show himself mighty!  My body seems to be failing me in so many ways.  Yet, it is such a comfort that all these circumstances are in the hands of a God who NEVER fails.  I can trust Him to give me the physical ability to take care of my one year old, trust Him with my 2 year old being in daycare, and trust Him to give my husband the energy to keep carrying the load of 2 parents and keep working full time.  Would I have chosen the trials in this pregnancy? NO!  Does God know best? YES!!!!

Sometimes God brings us to our worst physically so that all we can do is put our hands out before Him and say, "Heavenly father, I place everything in your care.  I give everything over to you. There is NOTHING I can do without you!"  Have you ever found it easy to push yourself to do what needs to be done instead of relying on God's strength and wisdom for what actually should be done?  Sometimes when the physical ability to do anything is completely taken away it helps you see how little "living by faith" you've actually done.  Isn't it a blessing that God doesn't give up on us?!  He is not finished with Amber Cline, yet.  I've been blessed with "physical battles" not as a punishment, but as a help for me to cling to Him with my whole heart.  It is a choice I can make.  That little saying, "Two choices on the shelf, pleasing God or pleasing self" is so true!  I choose to see the blessings!  I choose to look to God and trust Him.  I thank Him for caring for my family during this time and providing just what we need.  He is all-sufficient!  What an amazing God I serve!

BTW, only 4 weeks of pregnancy left!  Praying for my little Emily.  So thankful God has blessed us with another "bundle of joy."  Someday she'll hear about this pregnancy :)  I hope at that time I remember to share the blessings of what God has done!

God Cares!

Ever had a burden so heavy,
Ever thought your heart might break?
No one knows like God does
He cares and wants to make
Our trials into blessings
If I but trust and wait.

Keep your eyes on Jesus
Don't walk through storms alone
Cling to Him in weakness
Talk to Him above
His grace is ever flowing
Just look to His great love.



I serve a wonderful Lord!  He is always good!  I am thankful that He cared enough to save me from the penalty of my sins, and that I have Him living inside of me.  He is the great comforter, provider, and friend.

Crocheted beanies

 I am thinking of getting into a little crocheting for business after this next baby is born.  I might wait a few months though :)  I've made a couple of these newsboy caps.  I have the pattern in ALL hat sizes!  I think it will be fun to make one in an adult size.  I just haven't had the chance to, yet.  I also have a newsboy pattern for boys.  Can't wait to try that one out!

newsboy hat with rose

"flapper" beanie with some ribbon

Doesn't she look a little like a bunny?!

Somehow this hat just seems to go with the tent/outdoorsy theme.

No hat.  Just acting like a puppy.  It is his new, favorite thing to do :)

From Crib to Toddler Bed

I know that I am not the first or the last mom to enjoy having a  2 year old.  But, I just have to say I get more chuckles out of Ethan as he grows!  With Ethan I find myself enjoying the 2 year old stage so much.  There are so many things that make me laugh.  I could probably list a dozen (as I am sure most mom's can!)  But, I'll just stick with telling about my son's transition from crib to toddler bed.

 Ethan transitioned to a toddler bed in one day.  (His crib literally fell apart!)  Now we took that as a sign that we should just purchase a cheap toddler bed from Wal-Mart.  And that very day Jon purchased it and put it together.  Ready or not at 26 months that boy was just gonna HAVE to learn to sleep in a bed.  Well, he did so well even though we had no time to prepare him for it.  I wish everyone could have seen the proud glow on his face when Jon got the whole bed put together and Ethan figured out what he was getting!  He immediately laid down on it and just kept beaming up at us :)  He was supremely happy.

I could just see the wheels in Ethan's head turning.  He was thinking of how he now had a bed just like mommy and daddy's.  And to think of how concerned Jon and I were that Ethan would NEVER stay in bed at night!  Well, it was the start of an amazing friendship between a 2 year old boy and his very own big boy bed.  I mean he even kissed that bed!  Not in a million years would Jon and I have guessed that he would so willingly give up his cherished crib.  Obviously we were SO wrong!  Now Ethan did fall through the broken spindles a couple times and get stuck half way through the crib.  Maybe that aided in his excitement to have a real bed.--I don't know, but I am so thankful to the Lord for the easy transition!

Immediately when nap time came along I put Ethan in his new bed.  He quickly laid down with a big grin on his face.  Still as proud as ever.  I was astonished at how easy this change to the new bed was going.  However it only took one nap time for that "little stinker" to figure out that he had the "reign of the room"!  Although I'm not too concerned about him sleeping as much as him having a "quiet time."  After all this pregnant momma needs some rest :)  So after what I considered a good nap time I went to get my big boy up. 

As I opened the door to his room I could see a little boy sitting on the ground with ALL his books surrounding him.  Quick as a flash that boy flies across the floor (a little like superman)  and dives into his toddler bed!  It was very comical.  What makes me giggle is that I don't really care what he does in his room as long as he is quiet!  But, I am not going to be the one to tell him that.  We just continue to play our little game of me looking surprised and him doing his run/dive into bed!  What can I say?  It is just FUN!  We don't have trouble with him doing this at night time cause his room is dark, and we make sure that he is "tuckered out."  This fun time during the day is a moment that Ethan and I enjoy.  I know that time is short and this stage won't last forever.  As a mom I want to cherish the moment for soon there will come a time...

Pregnancy Update and Pics. of the Munchkins!

Ethan already trying to fill Daddy's shoes!

I wanted to update those of you who have been praying, and I haven't yet emailed or told.  I went to a vascular specialist for my legs, and they did find some "leakage" in them which is why I am having problems with blood pooling in the veins.  They didn't want to risk any kind of surgery until after the baby is born.  Note:  Baby Emily is fine and this doesn't affect her!  So between that and this baby sitting uncomfortably low that is why all the swelling and pain.  Nothing serious or life-threatening.  After pregnancy I'll get surgery to stop the blood from leaking back into the legs which will help take care of the vein problem.  Just being done with pregnancy will keep from seriously aggravating this problem.  Until then I am to keep my feet up above the heart as much as possible.  And believe me when I don't obey and do that I REALLY regret it because it becomes hard to get around the house!

These 2 have so much fun together!  Don't know what I would do if they didn't keep each other occupied!

I am also wearing 85 dollar compression hose right now!--I didn't even realize how expensive they were until I was talking to my vascular specialists nurse the other day.  They gave me the first 2 pairs for free just to try out 2 different kinds.  I wanted to order some more until I found out the cost.  YIKES!  I decided that I was more than happy with what I had been given :)

Doesn't Madison just look proud of her big brother?

Less than 70 days of pregnancy left now!  I will be so excited to get back to church on a regular basis, and do the grocery shopping, etc.  And of course it will be absolutely wonderful to carry this baby in my arms which will be SO much easier on the body, and better for the whole family!  Jon and I praise the Lord that none of the complications are worse.  My doctor basically said that Emily is blissfully unaware of my body's problems.  That is such a blessing!

Ethan is VERY protective over his sissy.  He is always helping her.  She really loves him for that!

 God is so good!  Although humanly I have discouraging days, the trials are SO much easier to bear with Him to look to.  God is so faithful to strengthen and encourage me just when I need it!  As Christians you and I never have to go through anything alone.  I believe that satan uses that discouraging thought to try and gain a "foothold" in the Christians life.  "Casting all your care upon Him for He careth for you."  What a great promise from the Lord!  He cares!  Just remember to cast your care, and don't keep it!  Learning to "cast" can give us so much JOY with what God has placed right in front of us.  For me that is my family!

The "love of my life" and my little sweetheart!