Week 19

It’s a boy!!!

Our family is now referring to the newest Strait boy as Elisha. He was the prophet that came after Elijah in the Old Testament.
A side note: Ben informed me over dinner last night that it is the woman’s responsibility to bear the children. It is the man’s responsibility both Biblically and traditionally to name the children. I will be waiting with the rest of family and friends to hear my newest son’s name.
Exercise schedule:
Sunday walked 2 miles up & down a mountain
Monday 2 and a half hour hike up & down a mountain
Thursday ran 3 miles
Various small hikes throughout the week in Estes Park
Weight gain ?

Week 18

This was another blur of a week with family in town and a trip to Estes Park later in the week. Exercise was slim again and the next week isn't much better. I am definitely slowing down with my mile times. I am running 10 minute miles at the moment. Not too impressive but at least I am still moving. Just like Elijah, I'm sure this baby will want to be jogged to sleep.

Weds ran 3 miles
Friday ran 3 miles
Weight gain ?

Week 17 and Other Miscellaneous Items

So I only exercised one day this past week. I ran 3 miles on Thursday. We had a super busy week between family in town and graduation. I went to my prenatal appointment this morning and we will find out the sex of the baby next week. I gained 4 pounds since my last prenatal appointment exactly 4 weeks ago. Not too bad, I think. I keep waiting for the month when I gain 10 pounds or more. Maybe with the changes I have made in my diet since my last pregnancy, things won't be so drastic.

Chloe and Elijah posing in front of the donkeys at the Littleton Historical Museum. Chloe remembered that Jesus rode on a donkey to Israel.... er... Jerusalem.

COUSINS!
Chloe, Tirzah, Elijah and Avery

Ryan and I

Ben and Elijah sitting on Chloe.

Week 16

Another week flew by. My mom came into town on Friday for my great grandma Ruby's funeral. My great grandma lived a very full life and passed away at the age of 94. She was glad to go on and be with our Lord. Having my mom here has been so good. I have become quite lazy due to her lovin'care.

Exercise:
Sun walked 4 miles
Mon ran 3 miles
Tues ran 3 miles
Weds ran 3 miles
Thurs
Fri ran 3 miles
Weight Gain: 1/2 a pound
This next week should be interesting with lots of family coming into town for Ben's graduation party.

Week 15

Okay, here goes with the exercise this week. I felt fine again and don't see any reason

to slow down at this point. Trisha pointed out that this does not include the time I spend chasing after two young children, cooking, cleaning, ironing, doing laundry, etc. She is right, those things should factor in but I will only include time I spend in the gym or outdoors.

Weight gain: Since my last doctor's visit (2 weeks ago) 1 pound

Note: this will greatly increase in weeks to come and I may decide not to post due to embarrassment.

Mon: ran 3 miles

Wed: ran 3 miles

Fri: ran 3 miles

I did not get to exercise as much as I would have liked because Ben is in the middle of his last few weeks of school and I was too busy running after my rugrats. Again, this should count for the other days.

Easter 2009

Celebrating with family. Incredible how large the family is growing!

Aunt Jenny, Elijah and Chloe
There is nobody better on earth than Aunt Jenny. When she is around, Elijah ignores everyone else.

The babes Easter Sunday.

Elijah's green egg

Chloe was very careful about getting the entire egg colored while Buddy focused on getting the most eggs colored. That pretty much sums up the difference between Ben and I. Ben is quality while I am quantity and it is so fun to see it expressed in our children.

Strait Baby Number 3

Being that this is our third baby, I am going to keep a log on how my exercise progresses through this pregnancy and post it on the blog. I ran until 31 weeks with Elijah, which seems like a real feat!

Week 14 exercise went really well. I felt strong and could have ran longer had time not been an issue. Ben juiced quite a bit which may have contributed to more energy as well as being firmly in my second trimester.

Week 14
Sat ran 4 miles
Sun
Mon ran 3 miles
Tues ran 3 miles lifted for 20 mins
Weds
Thurs ran 3 miles
Fri ran 3 miles

Weight Gain unknown

The belly at 14 weeks.

The world is perishing for lack of the knowledge of God, and the church is famishing for want of His presence - A. W. Tozer

The Mighty One, God, the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets. From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth. Our God comes and will not be silent; a fire devours before him, and around him a tempest rages. Psalms 50: 1-3

Sorry for the blog hiatus. After a few complaints from loved ones, here is a new post.

Since our last blog, we've had beautiful, sunny days and then an incredible amount of snow. The kids took their new sled out of the garage for the first time and enjoyed their first rides on about an inch of snow.

" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIj-Em9GkBcdVV5sG4aeyS1-H4WjP13TWrrfCREoZ4_l7jGemv3q6FwK6cTrMf00F70YUO2M5M-psN5TqqTBcCaI24mY6DVHkYMTy5yWBdZJNEVTgBeVHiMgBZov-cfeuqyzmuBA/s1600-h/IMG_2774%5B1%5D.jpg">

align="center">Here is Chloe very unhappy with her tight snow pants.

My cuties Helping dad clear off the car, on top of the car.

We spent Wednesday night with our friends, the Garaways, at their house in Boulder for the first night of Pesach. It was such a memorable night and we are so grateful to have celebrated with them. For me, it was a reminder of G-d's desire for a people unto Himself, separated. From the preparation made days in advance, the removal of all leaven from the house for 7 days, to the cup of redemption, it is a reminder that we serve a covenant keeping G-d.

Today is Good Friday and we are looking forward to celebrating Easter with family. He is risen!

January and February Update

Life it is busy once again for us with the Spring school semester starting in January for Ben. He is in his final term and on his way to graduation. Yippee!

This is a picture of our day tubing in Frasier. Elijah is with his cousins, Avery and Ethan.










Chloe is posing in her new jammies from Grandpa and Grandma. Thank you!















This is a picture of Chloe's beautiful birthday cake. Our friend Paula made this Belle cake it both looked and tasted incredible.












Elijah and Ethan chillin' on the way to tubing. We rode in a bus so we could all hang together on the drive.












Chloe, Ben and Elijah sitting on a log. We had some beautiful days in January. Notice, no heavy coats.










Chloe on her first day of dance class
Doesn't she looked thrilled?

Mexico

Here are some pictures from our trip. We had a blast and want to do another vacation soon. This time we will bring the kids with us, because, boy did we miss them. We really appreciate Larry and Helen watching them to give us time to relax. We saw humpback whales in the bay, newly hatched sea turtles crawling out to sea, lots of birds and the beach. What more could a Colorado couple ask for?

I know it has been awhile...

It is that busy time of year when other things take precedence over blogging and viewing blogs. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, there hardly seems time for anything. Ben, the kids, and I have all been a little under the weather. Hopefully we will be healthy in the coming weeks. We were blessed this Christmas season to be with family and friends. Chloe and Elijah were especially precious this Christmas. Elijah opened presents like a pro and Chloe took great joy in all of her gifts. We are so grateful to be able to celebrate the birth of our Saviour.

Lego Towers, Bunk Beds and Thanksgiving... pretty much sums it up

We pray our family and friends had a blessed Thanksgiving including a time of rest. Ours was a day of rest followed by buying a new refrigerator, losing my wedding ring (Laura) and redoing the kids' room. I did however get lots of good deals on Black Friday. I got up at 5 am and made it to 8 stores all before 9 am. It is my favorite time to shop because no one misses me.

Chloe came home with lots of information regarding Thanksgiving from her preschool. She kept mentioning the fact that some people call it Turkey Day and Pig Out Day. She considered that quite humorous. Elijah had no interest in eating his Thanksgiving dinner. He was starving during prayer, sticking his finger in the potatoes and butter, but by the time his plate was full, he wanted nothing to do with the meal. Instead, he pestered Aunt Jenny and I.

Boy in the Striped Pajamas

Jenny and I saw this movie today in one of two theatres that is showing it in Colorado. It left me asking for God's forgiveness. While I will suggest the movie, keep in mind that it will leave you very heavy hearted.

Grammie's 66th Birthday

Elijah is getting some lovin' from Uncle Scott and Aunt Jenny. The boy reminds us so much of a puppy. He likes his belly tickled like no other and often times, smells like a puppy.

Our little musician. Uncle Ryan can't wait to get him signed.

Finally, this is a picture of the desert I made, a chocolate box filled with chocolate creme and fresh raspberries. It was delicious and it goes to show you that hours of watching the Food Network is not a waste of time.

My Mimes

Our kids dressed as mimes for our church party on Halloween night. Chloe kept calling herself a Smartie.

A few things I am working on: May be hard to tell but this is a reversable bag. The blue one is not quite finished yet but close. I am sewing on my Great Grandmothers 1930 (I believe) Singer sewing machine and I love it. It is incredible to be connected with so many generations.

Here is another reversible bag. This one is finished and I think it looks pretty good... but not give away good. I'll improve as times goes on.