Mini Summer Vacation

We knew we weren't going to take a summer vacation this year because of our anniversary trip this spring, but we wanted to do something small with the kids that would be a special memory for them. We found a resort close to home that was very reasonably priced and packed up the ridiculous amount of stuff that a family of 5 needs for 2 days. 

 We had a cookout/pool party for Father's Day with family on Friday night, so we ate at Nate's favorite Mexican resturuant after church on Sunday and then headed to the gorgeous resort on the lake. The kids were literally bouncing on the walls they were so excited!

 For the next few days, we enjoyed lots of fun in the sun, piled on the bed at night for a movie and spent truly quality time together. It was so much fun and the time really went by slow, which was perfect since our time was so short!

Father's Day--no words to describe how thankful I am for this man and the thoughtful, caring, fun, consistent dad he is to our children. They all are so attatched to their daddy, and there is no one else I would rather be my kid's hero!

Baby brother makes a good head rest ;)

Yes-jumping on hotel beds is a must

This is how they pose for me. Seriously?!

This. Slide. We were really lucky to have the whole place almost to ourselves and the slide was a hit for all 3 of the kids. Or should I say all 4--cause I went down a bunch too ;).

Lunch in our room after hours and hours of swimming. Of course I brought enough groceries to last a week!

Shopping and ice cream on an absolutely gorgeous night!

Relaxing and watching a movie ;)

The spectacular view from our room. Nathan kept wanting to "go in that pool".

A cozy hotel nap

Like I said, we had almost the whole place to ourselves most of the time. The kids loved that they could touch the bottom in most places, and Brooke was able to practice swimming a lot!

What can I say... we had so much fun and I hope it's something the kids will remember for a long time. The great thing about teaching kids to be thankful is that it doesn't take much for them to be ecstatic about something simple and say "thank you Mommy and Daddy!" over and over. A hotel room, kids sleeping on a rollaway bed and the floor, cereal for breakfast and sandwiches for lunch eaten while sitting on the floor, pool time and an ice cream cone and they were over the moon. I am so, so grateful for my husband who is my best friend and my kids who make me so grateful to be a Mom. It was such an enjoyable few days!

 Summer seems to be flying, but we're doing our best to make memories in the few months we have left before school starts back up again! 

 I will leave you with a crazy family selfie. Look at Nate and Brooke--they are twins! 

 Have a great week, friends!

Baby #4, weeks 24-31

I have missed a ton of pregnancy updates this pregnancy, so I wanted to a little bit of a catch up. My last update was finding out we were having another precious baby boy. After that, Nate and I went to Florida and that was when I really started feeling super great and loving pregnancy again ;). May was extremely busy for me, as I mentioned before, so it really flew by. Really, this entire pregnancy has flown. I'm already buzzing through the last trimester and time doesn't seem to be slowing down yet!

Possibly the worst moment was when I came down with the stomach flu the night before I was shooting a wedding. Let me just tell you, throwing up at 7 months pregnant is not fun. You Mom's that have awful morning sickness--my hats off to you that you keep having more kids! I wouldn't do it, I know myself. I'm a wimp. Give me labor and delivery any day over that!

 At around 28 weeks, I had my glucose test as well as an ultrasound to check on my placenta. As usual it was a little low, but as of now it's moved to where it's supposed to be. Praise the Lord! The best part was seeing my precious little man again--seriously amazing. He was all smooched against the placenta, but she was still able to get a pretty decent 3D shot for me and I really fell in love with him more than ever.

24 weeks, 28 weeks & 30 weeks

As usual, my braxton hicks have started in full swing. My body likes to prepare early, even though I don't necessarily deliver very early. But when the time comes, it's fast, and I attribute that to my weeks...and weeks...and weeks of braxton hicks and eventually contractions.
 And speaking of labor--this time around we are going with a birth center and I am SO excited about it. I really needed to switch Doctors (much to my disappointment--they were amazing) because of fast labors and the minimum 40 minute drive to the hospital. I did a lot of research and really looked into water birth, because I would love to labor and possibly birth in a tub depending on how I'm feeling at the time. The only place that even had tubs to labor in was a birth center about 25 minutes away, so I went for a tour at the beginning of my pregnancy and fell in love. They have all of the equipment there for infant resuscitation, if, God forbid, it's needed, as well as IV's, medicines and pitocin for hemorrhaging, a wonderful relationship with the hospitals, etc, etc. I was so impressed with all of this, and since I've been blessed with 3 natural deliveries and no complications, Nate and I made the decision to switch to them. It has been amazing. I've worked with midwives since my first pregnancy and anyone who has knows how special they are! I have friends who have delivered there, and another friend due one day after me who is delivering there as well, which is so much fun!

 Anyway, other than sore feet at the end of a long day, a really bad digestive system (ehem) and feeling like I can't breathe at night--I'm doing great! And yes, rolling over and getting out of bed is officially an act of congress. I'm not complaining--every day with this sweet boy (name TBA at birth ;) inside of me is a true gift. I love every single movement, even when he does push against my bladder and crush the living daylights out of my lungs. I cherish every moment of this pregnancy, even the discomforts, and am so thankful that God has chosen me to carry another life into this world.

This Moment

Playdough Fun

It's been a month since I posted (maybe more), mainly because it's been a super busy month of photo shoots (including two weddings) which means lots of time editing, blogging and posting photos. I hate when I don't post on here. Not because you all miss out on my amazingness (haha) but because it's weeks of our lives that don't have much documentation and I'm totally selfish in the fact that I blog for myself. 

 Pre-Mother's Day Photo--headed out to celebrate finishing school for the year!

 Today, I felt that I couldn't wait any longer. Last month a little boy close to my hometown died of an aggressive brain tumor. Another little boy I heard of online was tragically struck by a car while playing frisbee. Last week, a friend found out her baby died 1 day after her due date. A perfect, full term beautiful little girl was still born into this world after already being ushered into Heaven, and while her family has showed immense grace and strength, the horrifying grief and pain they suffer is very real and unimaginable by those of us who have not experienced it. It seems that when shocking news comes, more shocking and devastating news seems to follow soon after, and that happened today. Suddenly, this suffocating urge to document my memories of this past month. Brooke's birthday, Mother's day, kids playing on the swings, making me play dough ice cream...the every day things that I take for granted that could all be shattered and gone in a moment.

Last day of school, 2014

"Here Mommy! Ice cream!"

 The night before I shot a wedding a few weeks ago I came down with a horrible stomach flu. My patient, caring husband did all of my pre-wedding prep for me. He formatted cards, made sure I had full batteries and packed up all my lenses. Somehow in the chaos of me being laid up and him faithfully working on all of that, I lost several pictures that I had not backed up off of my cards. Somewhere in there were pictures from Brooke's birthday, along with many other every day memories. Her birthday was just a family affair with a few of her cousins here, but still. Her 7th birthday that I have a few cheesy phone pictures from and none from my camera. This isn't a big deal to some, but to my hormonal, pregnant self it was a huge deal, especially considering the news I've heard lately. 

 Thoughts of, what if it was her last birthday with us and I have nothing documented but a few grainy iPhone pictures? Her excited face when daddy rolled in her new bike, and cheeks puffed out blowing out her candles, her smile sprinkled with freckles from the sun? This is the worst way to think, and yet I couldn't help it. I'm more and more aware as time goes on of how fragile life is, and at any time it can be snuffed out. 

 

First pool days of the summer!

 

And yet, I feel like this isn't fair to the parents who have lost their children, or are being threatened to lose their children. I think they would want me to live life without fear, loving unconditionally like the moments won't ever end. So I won't. 

 I'm not going to sit in fear that my 30 week baby could die at any time, just because another baby was ushered to Heaven in her 40th week. I'm not going to live in fear that my 4 year old son could get a brain tumor and die just because another 4 year old boy did. I'm not going to mourn over lost pictures just because it could be the last birthday we ever share with her. 

 No, I will not live like that because God has not given me the grace to go through what they are going through. I will most definately mourn with them, I will cry for them almost daily, I will beg God to give them the grace, to fill the void, to guide them on the journey that they and they alone have to travel. But I will not let it affect the life that God has given me to live right this moment. Yes, I am well aware that it could change at any second. Somebody could drown in the pool, run out into the street and get struck by a car, kidnapped, choke to death, or get a cancer diagnosis. Every single day when my husband leaves for work the thought crosses my mind that he might never come home. But you know what, I have to live trusting that if tragedy strikes, God will get me through it--and not before. For now, I'm living life to the fullest, living in this moment.