School Craft Time!

These pictures are from earlier in the month, but I didn't realize that Jakub's school had a new, updated website and that his teacher was taking so many photos of their daily activities for the parents to see.  I'm so glad she does and so thankful for the awesome and involved teacher that she is!  Here are a couple of pictures of some crafts Jakub made for the holiday season.  It was great to see pictures of him at school with his friends!

I love this ceramic fish he made us!  It's a classic Christmas symbol here in the Czech Republic because their traditional Christmas dinner includes a carp-fish soup and some form (fried, baked, grilled...) of Carp for the main meal, which is served with potato salad and other things.  When the Christmas markets open here and it gets close to Christmas time you can find in the square and near large shopping centers large tubs set up with live Carp in them.  You can then buy one and take it home live or ask them to kill it for you before you leave. I hear, though none of my friends do it, that it's tradition to take it home live for the children to see and then put it in a tub or a bathtub for a while for the children to watch before cooking it up for dinner. :)  We do not participate in this Christmas tradition- mostly because I don't usually like to eat fish and this one is particularly fishy and very boney.  I like to stay close to our tradition of ham and turkey. :) 

I hope you have all had a blessed and merry Christmas and that you will continue to enjoy some holiday time with friends and family!  We have been very blessed with many visits from our Czech friends and a lot of family time at home.  :)

Merry Christmas and God bless you and your family!

Free digital greeting card created with Smilebox

Baby Girl - 32-33 Weeks

Here's a picture of baby girl at 32 weeks, which was last week at my final genetic-ultrasound examination.  I know most everyone has been able to see what's in the picture, but, just in case, it's a picture of her side profile of her head/face only, which is looking up.  She's so big now that you can't get a very good picture of her.  This is her as if you are looking at her side profile on the left side of her face, with her nose being at the top, center of the picture dipping down from the curve of her forehead and then back up to her nasal bone.  Just below the nose is her mouth, which looks like it's spraying up water and bubbles.  In the top picture I tried to outline her head, but sorry I'm not a web-painter and it was shaky. :)  Hope you can see it! 

Thanks be to God that everything looked great at that appointment and he doesn't want to see me again!  She was healthy, had all organs accounted for, and measured one week further along in size.  I just realized that today as I was at the regular OB for a check-up and she measured 33 weeks and 4 days when I should be 32 weeks now in time.  So, we'll see if she keeps this up.  She weighed today 4 lbs 9 oz and looked very long.  She was in the perfect position with her head down, centered, and facing away from us with her long legs up high near my ribs.  Everything looked good today, as well, and so we've entered the time when I begin going every 2 weeks for check-ups.  Next time I'll go for my first 30-min session of monitoring the baby's movements, heartbeat, and any contractions or changes.  I'm excited about that.  I always loved laying there feeling Jake move around and listening to his heart the whole time.  I can't wait to hear hers and she moves even more than Jake ever did!







These were taken last week at 32 weeks.

I'm definitely starting to look and feel a little swollen in my face and fingers.  Otherwise I'm doing pretty good.  It's amazing how different pretty much everything has been with this pregnancy, including her head-down position, which is causing some lower back aches I didn't have with Jake and some painful rib kicks and strange belly movements I didn't have with him.  He was just too big at this point to move much I guess, and with his head up high  I felt more shortness-of-breath, but not this painful and strange kicking and weird tickling of toes or knees or something as they move across my belly.  It's so strange to watch and to feel.  I know it won't be much longer, though, so I'm trying to enjoy it all. :) 

Christmas Time with Friends...

Here are a few more pictures of Jake's Christmas program at school.  They were so sweet all walking in together dressed as angels. 

Here's Jakub's best friend Mikulas reciting a poem about Svaty Mikulas.  He did so well and remembered every word!  I was so proud of him. :)

The best one I could get with my "angel" after we danced together and then he tried to kick me and got embarrassed and then in trouble. Can you feel the love? :)

After the singing and dancing was over we were able to enjoy some traditional Christmas treats, hot tea, and craft time with various Christmas crafts at each table.  Here they are making a Christmas card together.  We also made a very cute Saint/Wise Man out of an orange and a lot of props.  I don't have a picture, but it's really cute.

Then we went back to our home after the program for some more treats, tea, and play time together.  The boys were so excited and on a high from their big day at school. :)

Sweet Stana.  She is an amazing friend and I love her!

Our sweet boys, who did not want to sit with their own moms... At least we got better smiles out of them this way. 

I have to say I've moved into that final phase of pregnancy where I do not enjoy my pictures and feel very big and swollen, and I've still got at least 6 weeks left...  But Josh looks great!

První Vánoční Besídka ...

Tuesday Jakub had his first school Christmas party and Christmas play.  I was so excited all day while waiting to go and watch him interact with his teachers and classmates.  I was so thankful he was well in time to attend this very special school-day and program.  He continues to do well at school and with adjusting to it and the language, but you'll have to remember when you watch the videos that he only attended school for 6 days total, and not in a row (due to major ear infection), before this performance.  He very obviously looks lost and embarrassed a lot of the time. :)  But he stood there through it all and at times seemed excited and happy as well. :)  I'm thankful for that, too!  I am completely biased and totally in love with this kid when I say he was the MOST beautiful angel there!  Sorry, I just have to say it.  Josh thought so, too. :)

I was a little nervous when 2 kids immediately lost it and starting crying upon seeing there parents in the crowd.  Thankfully, Jake has his go-to for comfort of nose picking... shwew... glad he stayed calm and collected. ;)

This is an example of what several of the kids in the class did throughout the program.  They would come forward, bow, and then recite some song or poem.  They did so well for 3-4 year-olds.  I was so proud of all of them and look forward to Jakub doing something like this next year.  Jakub is the newest addition to the class since he just turned 3, but he sure looks bigger than most of them.  The lady in white, singing, is his teacher.  I thought she had a beautiful voice and she has been a very kind and patient teacher.  We are thankful for her!

A short, cute little poem and a very sweet, embarrassed smile from Jake at the end. :)

These next 2 are my favorites because I loved the song, I loved that Jakub participated better, and I loved that the Mothers were invited to dance with them at the end.  Of course, with Jakub being embarrassed and especially when I showed him some affection in the last video, he acted out like a little stinker.  Oh well.  He was still a beautiful little angel by costume. :)  I'll have more pictures another time, but after this last dance we were invited to stay for tea, snacks, and several Christmas crafts to make with the kids.  It was a great program!

 

More pictures to come soon!  And hopefully more video since we'll be taking Jakub ice-skating for his first time after school today.  We're meeting several of our teen friends on the square to skate outside for a while under the Christmas lights. :)  I'm so excited for him and sad I can't do it with him this year, but I know he'll have so much fun with Josh and the others there. 

Videos of Jake's First Day of School...

Here are some videos we took from his first day of school.  They aren't super interesting, but I know the grandparents want to know all about it. :)

He's speaking mostly English, but a little Czech here, so if you don't understand it's not your fault. :)  He said he's going to play with toys, Paní Učitelka (pon-ee oo-chee-tell-ku) (his teacher), and Mikuláš (his best friend who is also in his class) at školka (school). 

This one gives you a good view of the outside of the school, from the front.  His classroom is the one on the bottom level, where the blue water and waves are, closest to us and with the lights on.  He also loves this playground outside and it has many parts to it all the way around the building.  I really love many parts of this school and what they have done here for the children.  It's beautiful!

  

I put this one on here because I never want to forget the way that he walks.  He's been walking this way since he was 1 1/2 yo.  Really. Everyone who sees it comments on how confident he seems (he's not always, but he looks like it) and how determined his walk is.  Even on his first day of school when he didn't know his teacher yet or what the day would hold he walked right up to the doors of the school like this... not  even caring where we were.  I do love this about him and know he didn't get it from me. :)

These last 2 videos are of the inside of his classroom, which is in a large L-shaped room.  One side is for playing and for the teacher to do music, gymnastic, and other programs with them.  Then, in the last video, you can see where they also play, sit to do crafts, and sit to eat lunch together.  What you can't see is a really cute room that is very long, off to the side, with about 8 mini-toilets, mini-sinks, and mini-shelves for them to go to the bathroom, wash their hands, and use their individual towels and tooth brushes to clean up with.  It's a strange room to be in because you feel so huge in it as you walk through since everything in it is so small and low to the ground for the kids.  It gives them a lot of independence, though, as they learn to go by themselves to take care of these things and they have their own supplies to use.  Jake is doing really well at it!  I'm so proud of him!

Today I'm excited to go see him at 330 because they are putting on a Christmas show for us parents.  He's going to be dressed in all white and be an angel in the small play and singing they will do.  Then we get to do a craft time with them and have snacks together.  I'll be sure to take pictures and video of it. :)

Christmas Tree Time!

I think Jakub is so, so cute here! :) We have begun doing some "Christmasy" things around the house now that it's December and it's been enjoyable to experience them with Jakub.  He's at the perfect age for making every experience count and be full of joy and love and adventure.   

Since he's been home a lot this week, due to the ear infection and antibiotics, we've begun working on some home-made Christmas cards. :)  He LOVED that I actually painted his hands green for this project.  I guess normally I keep him a little too clean when we paint together. :) 

We invited some of our teen friends over this week to help us decorate for Christmas - American style.  They thought it was a lot of fun and of course they are like our family here so they helped us make some very special memories together this season.  One of their favorite things is hot-chocolate, so I made it homemade for them and it was very good, I must say.  

Putting together the tree and listening to Christmas carols together.

Verča was stuck behind the tree doing the lights and arranging the branches for me. :)

Watching and helping Jakub put on the ornaments this year was one of the highlights for me. 

Of course there was a lot of play time as well. Miša is great with him and he loves to wrestle with her.

Christmas Tree Project complete!

The tree...

And outside that day, while we were listening to carols, drinking hot chocolate, and decorating for Christmas, it was doing this...  It couldn't have worked out better to make for a beautiful afternoon spent together with family and friends.  We continue to experience God's blessings and beauty and creation all around us.  I am very thankful! 

And last night, as I mentioned in the previous blog post, we experienced the Saint Nicholas holiday with these same girls as they helped me with my Moms' and Kids' program (as they always do and have for 2-3 years now) and then on the square together for the fireworks show and concert.  They are such lovely young ladies that I'm so thankful to have in my life.  Please pray for God's presence, blessings, and guidance in their lives as well as they are constantly learning and exploring about Him.

Happy December to you all! 

Svaty Mikulas!

Today is Saint Nicholas Day in the Czech Republic (and a lot of Europe).  Unfortunately Jakub is still at home (or with his Babicka) until next Monday due to his ear infection, so he didn't get to enjoy this holiday at school with his friends.  They have a person come, dressed as Saint Nicholas, and ask the kids if they've been good to their teachers, friends, and family.  Then they give them fruit and chocolates.  Jakub has an amazing Babicka (an older, grandmother-like, woman who helps watch him during the mornings) who arranged for a St. Nick to come visit her home this morning and bring Jakub some treats.  So, so sweet!  I'm thankful for her and how much she helps us and loves him.

So this evening, after our Moms' and Kids' program was over, we went to the main square for the holiday celebration.  They have live bands, children's stories, Christmas markets, ice skating, and then a fireworks show set to music.  It was awesome this year and we enjoyed with alongside Jakub and a couple of our teenage friends.  Jakub was startled at first, then a little scared, and then settled in to it and later said the fireworks was his favorite part of the night. :)

Here's a picture of what our square looks like right now.  It's very magical and definitely Christmas-like.  I love this holiday season and for so many reasons beyond just the little, fun ones I've already mentioned.  Here's the picture.  I'm off to bed.

First Day of School!

Well, he did it.  He went to school.  I should rather say he literally ran to school this morning.  He was so excited to see his friend Mikulas and to meet his teacher.  His enthusiasm and smile/joyful screaming were so contagious I found myself incredibly happy for him and not sad at all. :)  My best friend, Stana, and her son met us there to help us figure out all of the first-day things.  His teacher is also very kind and patient (she has to be with all of these little kids, right?) and talked us through everything we needed to do and what we should expect.  She was pleasantly surprised that Jakub walked right in without us, said Dobry Den! (good day), and went right to playing with some boys and some trucks.

 

Here we are just before going in to his classroom.   We didn't take many pics of the school, but it's beautiful.  It was completely renovated on the outside, and some on the inside, last summer and now the outside is a beautiful blue with ocean waves and sea creatures painted all around it.  The playground outside is also pretty amazing with many things to do and all of it made out of whole logs of wood with interesting shapes.

 Here's his personal locker.  He's an "octopus," so that he can find his own locker if he can't recognize his name. We've just been learning about the octopus at home and he also has one on a birthday lamp I just gave him.  It was neat to see that at school he also has an octopus on his locker.  Yes, they misspelled "Jakub," but we cleared it up. :)  They assumed as foreigners that we spelled it Jakob.  I thought his classroom was for "squirrels" as each class has a nickname, but I was wrong and he is a "ladybug," which has a male and female version of the name and is a term of endearment for children here.  Stana often calls the boys her little ladybugs.  :)

That was the best picture of the boys we could get before Jakub began dancing and screaming and clapping with joy to go inside his class.  So fun!  Below is a picture of the boys in one play area talking with the teacher.  The room is a very large L-shaped room with an area for pretend play with toys, an area for gymnastics and dance with a piano, and then a typical classroom, learning-type, area where they also eat lunch together.  

We picked Jakub up today as planned, just after lunch, and found that he did not want to leave.  The other kids were all getting their pajamas on and getting their beds ready and he wanted to stay and sleep with them.  The teacher asked if he could stay and bragged about how well he was doing and that he really wanted to be with his friends.  So, tomorrow, if I still feel ok about it, I'm going to take his pajamas and stuffed dog and let him stay to have nap time before I pick him up.  I wasn't expecting to leave him there for so long, yet, and I wasn't expecting him to ask me if he could stay and sleep with his friends instead of going home with me.  That was the first time today I wanted to cry.  So, we'll see how this goes and if he will still do well and will sleep if he stays after lunch.  I missed him today, but it was a huge blessing to see and to hear how well he did at school and how much he wanted to be there.  I can tell, and already knew in most cases, that this will be my kid who's always ready to pull away, try something new, be independent, and explore life without much help from us.  Those things are blessings and I know will be a part of a strong, independent, capable adult, but it's also hard to see them in such a precious little boy who still seems so small.  I am very thankful he's adjusting so well and I'm still very excited for him.  I look forward to all of the things he will learn in this new environment, and in Czech.  I look forward to him having full conversations with me in Czech the way he already does in English. :)

Thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers.  Today was a great success!  I do hope it continues.

Happy Birthday Jake!

After we returned from the U.S. we had just a few days in Olomouc to catch up on work, be with friends, settle a little, and then we were off to Germany for the annual European Family retreat held just before Thanksgiving time each year.  It's a chance to see dear friends, be encouraged and uplifted, and to worship with a larger church family.  More on that later.  Before we left for Germany, though, we wanted to make time to celebrate his upcoming birthday alongside the birthday of his closest friend, Mikulas.  Above is the cake I made.  I had very big intentions of it turning out spectacularly with a construction site on top and trains running around the side.  I did not, however, anticipate how bad jet-lag would be on top of pregnancy.  I barely pulled this event together and the cake was the last thing I managed to do just as our guests were arriving.  It's a good thing they are like close family and I just smiled through it and said oh well, at least it has chocolate on top.  That's all the boys will care about. :)  Yes, it's missing a section of cream cheese icing, but as most of you know Josh is now allergic to milk so I left him a piece of the blueberry cake plain.  It was yummy, even if it's not the cutest thing.

He received many sweet and fun gifts from Stana, Tomas, and Mikulas.  Our boys are so close and play together so well, and in true brother-like fashion, that both Stana and I thought ahead to get them the same gifts so they won't fight over them.  We didn't talk to each other about it first, so it was pretty funny that we did the same thing.  The boys loved it all and played well.  Jakub's favorite thing was his new Spiderman car and action figure.  He's a big fan of anyone he thinks is a superhero. :)

Another favorite gift from Mikulas to Jakub was a matching Star Wars umbrella. The boys loved them and now they will have the same umbrellas to walk to and from school with.  Speaking of school, Jakub starts in the morning.  As he sleeps soundly in his bed I kind of have the feeling I'm not going to.  I have the first-day-of-school jitters like I did before my own semesters started.  I'm so excited for him and a little nervous to let him go.  Please say a prayer with me that God watches over him daily, that he's safe from harm.  I can't wait to take pictures of him and I hope he'll be as excited to go as he's seemed to be every day leading up to it.

We also celebrated his birthday a little in Germany and then a little as a family when we got him.  I'll have more pics of that later. 

Our little man is 3 now.  The time truly does fly by!!

Back in Olomouc!

 We're back home in Olomouc now and trying to adjust.  We had such a wonderful time in the U.S. over the past month and now, as usual, it's hard to get back into the swing of things here.  We always miss our family so much and then to only get 3 1/2 weeks together was just not enough.  We're thankful for the time we had, though, and sometime soon I'll try to go through our videos and photos and post about our time back home.




 This week we're busy settling back into our home, picking back up with the hallway repairs we put on hold while away, getting back to work and catching up on programs we missed at our center, preparing for the big Thanksgiving celebration we always host at our church with about 40 people usually attending, visiting the doctors for the baby, and preparing to leave for Germany on Saturday for the annual church retreat held there.  It's enough to keep us busy and help us get back into a normal routine.  These are all exciting things as well, and blessings in our lives, so they make the adjustment a little easier.

In baby news: my appointment went well yesterday.  She looks healthy, was kicking around like crazy, had BOTH kidneys present, and looked to weigh around 2.5 lbs.  She has her head down so if all goes well with the rest of the pregnancy I should be able to try a more natural delivery process this time.  We'll see.  Please be praying with us that no matter the route she comes she and I will be healthy.  We don't have any names yet, and haven't started talking about it, but hopefully in the next few weeks we will.  I'm looking forward to giving her a name. :)  I'll go on Thursday for a glucose testing and then in 2 weeks back to the regular doctor and the geneticist to make sure she is continuing to grow well.  I'm so thankful to God that everything is going well thus far!  I know it won't be long before we'll be meeting her!

This little man will be turning 3 next week!  I can't believe it, but I'm so happy and excited for him.  He'll, prayerfully, spend his birthday in Germany again, as he has the past 2 years as well.  I think that's a neat tradition for him, though he doesn't understand it yet.  It's nice to be at a retreat with our large church family in Europe and celebrate his life at the same time.  This year his birthday also brings with it school time!  He'll begin going to "skolka" (sh-coal-kuh) on November 26th and I think he is so ready for it.  His best friend started 2 weeks ago and they will be in the same class.  He'll go for 1/2 the day every day and then I will pick him up after lunch.  It's just behind our home and only about 3 minutes walk away.  I'm so thankful for such a wonderful school being so close to our home. 

Some other news about Jakub at this age:
- He's talking a lot in full and complex sentences after being in the U.S. and around English so much for 1 month.
- He loves to play with cars, trucks, tractors, airplanes, tunnels, tracks and highway systems.
- He speaks Czech as well and communicates well with his babysitter, Babi (bobby), which is awesome.
- He loves Bible class time with Aunt Christie.
- He likes pretty, painted toenails on girls (odd, I know, but I don't want to forget it). :)
- He's very social, learns names well, and likes to be with older kids and people, often asking for them by name or following them around.
- He's so loud, even when he's playing alone or singing in bed before going to sleep.
- He's a huge fan of Daddy at this age and prefers to be with Josh and know what he is doing at all times.
- He loved his trip to the U.S. and all of the airplane rides.  He walked like a proud and big boy through the airports.
- He likes to try his boundaries, especially with Mommy, and can be defiant despite warnings.  He'll look you in the eyes while disobeying and needs clear boundaries and at times very strong punishments.
- His favorite songs right now are Jesus loves me, Old MacDonald, Twinkle Twinkle, Star Wars theme song and Christmas songs
- He would rather be outside playing and running than inside, which is great, except when I'm big pregnant.:)
- He's a good eater and still will try most anything I give him. 
- He had his first Halloween this year and LOVED it.  He couldn't believe people would keep giving him candy and that we let him eat so much that day.  He was super excited to be with his cousins on the hay-ride around the neighborhood and trick-or-treating together (pictures to come).
- He loves all of his cousins, can name them all, and says "those are my cousins, those are my friends!"
- He has a deep, hearty laugh that comes out the most when being tickled.  I love it!

Ok, I think that's it for now. :)

Moms' and Kids' Group...

Here's a little more than half of the group of wonderful, beautiful kids I get to spend every Wednesday afternoon with.  I love spending time with them and their Moms and I'm so thankful for the things I get to teach them and to be a part of their learning process.  This has been my group for about a year now.  Many of them were coming before that, but several have been coming for just a year or slightly more.  It's awesome to watch them grow up and to have grown so much closer to their mothers (and a few fathers) as well.  I love this group!  Unfortunately 7 of the kids wouldn't take the picture, for one reason or another, but I'm sure I'll capture them again soon. :)  I definitely plan to have some fun pictures of them when we have a Fall festival later in November, and then our annual Christmas party in December.  I'll have to get some pictures of the lovely and super sweet moms and dads who come as well. They have been and continue to be a tremendous encouragement in my (and my family's) life.  Some of them are now starting to volunteer much more to help the program out and that's a big blessing in my life.  My dear friend Sona, who you can see in this photo with her 2 girls, is now helping me with ideas for the lessons as well as helping me lead the singing.  She has a beautiful voice!  I also had one mother plan our craft time last week and that went really well, also.  Please keep me and this group in your prayers as we continue to grow together.  Please say a prayer of thanks with me that God has blessed our group so greatly and that it continues to be received so well the Bible and life lessons I get to share with these kids and Moms each week.  And they share a lot with me as well!!!

Our Dear Grandmother - We love you!

I don't know what all to say here... there are so many things running through my head.  Josh's Grandmother passed away last Saturday and we are greatly missing her already.  We already live in a constant state of  missing family and now we're grieving the loss of Grandmother and so saddened that we couldn't be there to spend time with her recently and to say goodbye.  It's moments like these that make us feel like we're greatly neglecting our family and letting them down by not being around more or constantly.  I know that's not how they feel, because they've been very supportive and reassuring, but we still feel very sad this week that we are not there with our family now. 

A huge thanks to all of our Beall family for helping us feel as connected and involved over the last week as you did. We were able to Skype many times together, to talk, to see each other, and just yesterday they made sure Josh could be a part of the funeral by Skyping him in for it.  He videotaped it for me so I will be able to be a part of it as well.  It has helped us find some closure and comfort.  Most importantly we know Grandmother is with God now and at peace.  I can only imagine how wonderful that must be and that she is truly blessed more than we can understand here.  I'm going to miss her so much.  She was a wonderful Grandmother and took me into the family and her love immediately.  I'll never forget her love of blue, her joy, her amazing recall of people and stories, or her loud, infectious laugh- she was loud and full of life like my family can be. :)  I'm thankful that Jakub shares this laugh, passed down from her to Wendell to Jakub.  I'm only sorry that she didn't get to hear his most recent version, which is definitely confident, hearty/deep and loud. She would have loved it!  I have no doubt, though, how much she loved us and him.  We have a painting from her, to Jakub, hanging in his bedroom and we'll continue looking at it with love and many great memories. 

Thank you, Grandmother, for the way you raised and loved your family.  Your teachings and joy and love were passed on to your kids, and their kids, and came straight into my life and passed on to my kid.  I'm so thankful. We love you, Grandmother!