Seasons Greetings!

We are always amazed when December comes, as it marks the end of another year. We are amazed at how quickly time goes, and look back with gratitude on the blessings of 2009.

We have now lived in Portland over a year and are beginning to feel more involved and more comfortable with Jason’s busy work schedule. We have worked hard on our little house; landscaping, cultivating our garden, painting walls (never ending), and growing closer to our neighborhood friends. The house work has become Jason’s favorite hobby outside of work and disc golf.

Jason is busy working hard and putting in many hours at Providence Portland. He has had incredible training and gained confidence in his ability to be a physician this last year. In November Jason placed second out of 44 candidates in an all-state poster presentation. God continues to set up Jason’s path for the calling He has given to him.

We all have grown to love our church, Easthill Foursquare. We were blessed to have Kyla dedicated to the Lord there in April. Rachel took up a leadership position as Care Coordinator for our church’s MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) program, and Jason has joined the worship team playing drums once a month. Kyla enjoys her “class” and continues to ask to go to church at least once a day.

Kyla has grown a great deal this last year, and has definitely taken on the two’s with force. She is determined, but continues to show us her compassionate spirit as her nurturing side is coming out more in her imaginative play. She is quick to make those around her laugh, as well as assert her leadership when trying to coordinate her friends, or her parents. J She is starting to show her love for babies and dolls. We are thrilled about this as Kyla will take on the big sister role in March! What a blessing it will be to have another little girl in our family.

With all the growth and memories that have taken place this last year, we look ahead to what God has for us as individuals and as a family in 2010. May the Blessing of this season touch your hearts as you celebrate with family and friends!

Jason, Rachel, Kyla & Baby Van Winkle

Cookies with Emmy

Kyla and I headed down to Ashland while Jason was on nights. The trip was short, but very rewarding as we had time to just relax with family. A highlight was making cookies with Emmy. When I was little I loved making cookies with my mom. The mess never seemed to bother her, and we always seemed to have fun. This trip down, it was now Kyla's turn to make cookies with Emmy. It was a time to remember for both myself and my mom (Kyla may remember bits and pieces of it). So fun to share things with each generation! Kyla sure enjoyed licking the beater and cutting out cookies after her nap (you can tell which pictures are after her nap due to her hair).

This face tells it all!

Zoo Lights

Thanksgiving weekend we went to Oregon Zoo's annual Zoo Lights. We are so glad we did! The weather was perfect, a little chilly but no rain. We got pizza for dinner to eat while on the zoo train (thanks Papa for standing in line) which ended up working out perfectly. Kyla loved all the lights and even wasn't scared of the big elephant that greeted at the front gate. Kyla wanted to give him high fives. I wish I could have gotten a picture of her face. This night was one of the greatest highlights of our Thanksgiving weekend!

Potty Training Update

Since my last post, I can count on one hand how many accidents Kyla has had. Still not perfect, or potty trained at night, but she wears her big girl panties all day. So proud of her progress. It is also saving us money which we like with baby number two coming in a few months. She now cheers for mommy and daddy when we go potty, and gets very excited when she gets to try a "new" potty in public places. Although this is a simple post, it has been a big undertaking in the Van Winkle household.

Potty Training 101

Potty Training...one of those parenting topics that feels very foggy when you try to start implementing your plan. I now know why most parents dread the beginning of potty training.

At first, I was one who didn't have a plan, but thought to myself, at least I am introducing the idea to Kyla. Our family has been sick this last week. I decided to start potty training at the same time. I wasn't sure if this was a good idea, but thought since we were going to be house bound anyway, why not start. After getting lots of advice from those parents that have gone before us, as well as those just wishing us luck, we decided to jump all in and start!

We decided on three tips that we were going to use:

*Only use big girl panties (including nap), and do pull ups at night until Kyla can get the hang of going on the potty. to be honest, I was a little nervous of this one because I knew there would be many accidents.

*Instead of asking if Kyla had to go potty, we used the phrase "let mommy/daddy know when you have to go potty". This way she would be thinking it was her idea to use the potty. Kyla is strong willed and very determined to have things be her idea and her timing.

*We would give "treats" and BIG cheers for when she went %100 in the potty and not on the floor. Then she would get "treats" for telling me she had to go, and going.

* Giver her as much juice or liquids as she wanted. She needed lots of opportunities to learn the sensation, and experience the potty.

We are on day four now, and Kyla is now telling me when she has to go, and has no accidents today (we have a couple of hours before bed time). I would have never thought that she would "get it" so fast! Yes, there are many methods and all kids will be different, but this TOTALLY WORKED! The first day was long and hard with 9 accidents and 10 pairs of panties. However, she learned in that one day the sensation of going potty because day two she only had three accidents and half the day she used the potty with no accidents at all. I must admit though, I wanted to give up after day one. I felt like there was not one room in the house I hadn't cleaned in, and I was really wondering if she was learning anything. The best advice that I was given, came to my mind that night..."stick with it, she will get it".

I am so proud of Kyla, and feel a little proud of myself and Jason for sticking with it. Granted the process is not perfect or over yet, however I feel like we have gotten past the first hurdle. I am sure there are days to come that will feel like set backs, but I will remain excited for accomplishing the first hurdle of potty training.

Congrats Jason!

It has been about a month now since we headed down to Eugene for and ACP (American College of Physicians) conference for internal medicine physicians. During one of the afternoons Jason did a case presentation of one of his patients that he saw this last year. He researched the rare infection the patient had and then created a poster and presented it during two rounds of judging. He was asked many questions, and answered as many of them as he could. There were 44 other medical residents that did this, and we were so excited when Jason took 2nd!!! He worked so hard to create a good case, and favor was granted. Great job Jason! You are an amazing Physician and your patients are lucky to call you their doctor!

WE ARE HAVING A......

GIRL!!!