That's My Boy

Have I ever mentioned before how Isaac is our, um, well.....dynamic child?  Like, very full of personality?   And maybe a little too much spunk?

It's this kind of spunk that makes him say things like, "I beg yours bardon?" when he's on the verge of tears.  Makes him bubble over with un-anticipated excitement over little things like going to Wal-Mart or making cookies.  Makes him sing his little heart out when I'm playing "You Are My All In All" on the piano - and makes him get all the words right, (with his own little twist on the pronounciation, of course).

He can certainly be....uh, sour at times...this face is definitely a familiar sight.  But wowzie, he can be quite the charmer as well.  Recently the thing that makes him laugh is that little part in Bambi, where Thumper is just about ready to chow down on the blossoms, and his mother makes him qoute his father's daily admonition:  Eating greens is a special treat, it makes long ears and great big feet!"  That always gets a chuckle out of him.  :-)

 

His first tooth is loose. He's the ever rightous-older-brother.  Tells me, "I'm not going to do that, I won't be a copycat like Josh."  (Which Joshua is, big time.)  And it's true. He's very original.   And besides his obsession with the color orange (check out the shirt), he's not picky about much in life....eats everything, loves to play anything.   BUT he thrives on routine.  A simple thing like re-arranging the seating order at the table will upset his entire day. 

How can he be getting so big?  Argh!  Glad I captured this time in his life through photos.  Priceless.

Love you, Ise.  (And yeah, like it or not, that's his nickname.  I know calling him a body part sounds weird but that is just what sticks, lol!)

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The Baby of the Family

 Holla!  After yesterday I was rather in the picture-taking mood this afternoon.....so it was off to the park again for another photo shoot.  Thankfully I have a very willing victim model in Josh so he was great with posing for me.  He is so incredibly photogenic so it was easy to grab these great shots of him.  He didn't seem to mind that it was a steamer outside, or that the grass was scratchy, or that flies were buzzing around us.  (Only Isaac minded - he'll be another post.) 

 I'm glad that Asian genetics have made it into the Krause lines, lol!  So, so handsome! Flawless skin, thick hair, gorgeous eyes...yep, good breeding stock!  (I'm kidding, for those of you who are offended:-)

My sweet Josh is growing up so fast.....he's already doing preschool work!  He can spell his name, knows his alphabet, sings incredibly well, and gives great kisses and hugs.  I love how he is so self-entertaining; he is content to read or play quietly for hours, literally.  And he has a smile that lights up his whole face. 

Notice the cute cowboy boots?  Thought he'd never get big enough for them.  And now here he is, a big guy, wearing big briefs and staying dry at night (BIG accomplishment around here!). 

Love this guy!  Much to my dismay he is growing too old to fulfill my dreams of having a lucrative Huggies diaper modeling career.  *Sigh* Ah well.  What a dear anyway....what do you think of the pictures?

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You've Got 2B Kidding Me.....

Remember my post about this *amazing* mousse hair product about a week ago?  I actually starting using it several weeks ago.  Thought it was doing wonders.

Now I wished I never used it.  Seriously. 

The last several weeks I have been losing more hair than I ever have before.....gobs and gobs (way more than is normal). Figured it was just one of those things that would pass with time.   But then I'm thinking, what have I been doing differently? 

Been using this mousse, and blow drying my hair upside down.  Is this what's causing my abnormal hair loss?  Not joking, I think I've lost a 1/3 of my hair....even my mom is telling me that it looks way thinner now.  NO!!!  Every time I turn around another wad comes out - it's everywhere!  I'm slightly panicking here. 

But maybe it's not the mousse.  Stress?  Hormone imbalance?  All of the above?

Needless to say, all mousse, sprays, and styling are coming to a screeching halt until I get this under control.  I've got to figure out what is going on with my poor scalp....I canNOT afford to lose any more hair!  I feel like I'm having one of those bad dreams where I *accidentally* cut off all my hair - but then of course sweet relief washes over me when I wake up and find all my hair. 

But I'm not waking up this time......any suggestions?!  God has all the hairs of my head numbered - but He must be aware that they've been severely depleted as of late.  What fun, adjusting to half the hair I used to have.  :-(

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The First Goodbye

It's happened - the nest is beginning to empty.  My sister Courtney received a full scholarship to UAH (University of Alabama Huntsville) and has accepted it.  She will be majoring in business. I have to say I was slightly unprepared for this turn of events, but way to go sis! 

Last minute plans are being made, packing has started, and she's gearing up to leave for Alabama in just a week.  Wow.  Hard to believe that soon I will be not only the oldest, but also the only girl in the house.  And my own room.   And my own bathroom.   (Pros and cons there, as you can imagine.)   I will definitely miss her - it's going to be totally different once she leaves.  She's madly making lists for her dorm life to come - suitcases are out, clothes are getting packed. 

As my post title says, it's only the first of several goodbyes yet to come.  Jonathan's Navy aspirations are finally coming together, and I will update you all on that later next week.  And me?  Well as you can remember from this post, I'm headed off to a Summit Ministries conference for two weeks.....in just another....well, two weeks, basically!

This will be a very interesting and emotional few weeks for all of us....at least for me, anyway. I don't like change, I'm a homebody, and this turn of events is going to be slightly rough for me!  But all in God's plan......updates to come as they happen.  :-)

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Bro/Sis Photo Shoot

So....it all started with wanting to be published on Fresh Modesty's Friday posts.  I wanted to (and still intend to) submit photos of a favorite outfit to be published on my *bestest* fashion blog.  :-)  I actually wore this outfit to church yesterday and didn't have time to take photos.  But today on the spur of the moment, Jonathan and I headed to a nearby park to do a double photo shoot - something we've actually never done before!  Courtney usually takes all my photos so I didn't think Jonathan would do very well.  But I was pleasantly surprised. :-) 

Wish this one wasn't so blurry....

I love doing photo shoots like this, but to be honest, I have to say that I feel rather fake posting the pics. :-)  Seriously, I don't look like this on an every day basis.  I have horrible, horrible hair days.  And I don't get to prance around in heels or jewels all day long.  Just so ya know.....

In fact, just the other day I was bemoaning to my Dad his passing on the wretched genetics of straight hair.....seriously curly hair has always seemed more usable to me.  My mom just laughs and tells me she would have given away all of her limbs to have had my hair when she was younger.  (To which I say the grass is always greener on the other side.  Always.)

To which I say, I need to be thankful for the way God has made me....we all do.  There are so many things I could complain about regarding my looks, but what's the point?  Really, it seems like the most beautiful girls I know are usually the ones that think they are the ugliest on earth.   Besides, I'm not living under the media spotlight - I'm living for an Audience of One and He's the One who made me anyway.....so that's all that matters, right? 

Okey-doke, so now on to my handsome brother. 

We both tried pulling off the contemplative look, and though both of us had a ton of horrible pics to show for it, this one was a good one for him.  Maybe it's just guys.  Looking dumbly into a camera lense seems more macho than girly.

 And now he smiles. :-)

Years ago, before height got involved, people used to think we were twins.  I personally thought we looked like twins.  But now?  Not so much.  He gets the "you look

like 25" and I get the "how old is your little sister".  Yep.  Been told I look 16.  That was encouraging.

So....what can I say about this guy?  For one thing he has a great tan.  Likely he'll be making numerous trips to the dermotologist in future years...lol!  But for now who cares.  :-)

Does he look like me?  Do we even look related?  Maybe I was secretly adopted. Or accidentally swapped at birth with another baby at the hospital nursery. I don't think I look like anybody (except for Jonathan).  

As we drove to the park I kept thinking of that phrase from numerous Andy Griffith episodes, "You look good enough to take to a picture show!"  Haha....yep, it took about ten minutes to get duded up for a 20 minute photo shoot....but it was fun.  Thanks Jonathan for taking my half of the pictures!

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