Don't Cry Over Spilled Sprinkles

It's Monday. We've already had a cup of milk that spilled all over the end table, dripped down onto the carpet and into the toys on the floor. The kids helped me frost cupcakes for Nathan's party tonight which resulted in millions of sprinkles spilled on the floor which I haven't even bothered to sweep up yet. To say the house is a mess would be an understatement.

 Inhale, exhale. Happy Monday!

 This weekend was gloriously warm, like how you might picture the weather in Heaven. Sunny, breezy, puffy white clouds and 78 degrees. We spent all afternoon and most of the evening outside, searching for ladybugs, reading in the sun, swinging, climbing and exploring.

The car we got the kids for Christmas has been awesome. There is a "fast" speed that is perfect for me getting in a good power walk while the 3 of them zoom around having the time of their lives. Brooklynne is a very good driver but Joe...not so much. Which is why he's usually in the passenger seat!

My baby turned 2 yesterday. Two! His present from us was his very first suit and I wanted to eat him all day, he was that cute in it. Of course he couldn't resist finding bugs and dirt on the way out the door to church while he was all dressed up. Typical boy!

By Sunday evening it was 26 degrees. The weather here is so strange! I've confidently told family and friends that the "cold is gone now"...well, I lied. 26 is freezing here for December, let alone March. All that global warming has really affected us, as you can see. We are about to melt! 

 Hope you all had a great weekend, and remember: don't cry over spilled milk. Or sprinkles!

Balls of Concrete

As our first flight landed in Chicago in the dark, I was delighted to see snow on the ground and excitedly pointed it out to the kids. Brookie squealed as she looked out the window, "Mommy, look at the snow!" but Joe had other ideas. He hasn't seen snow since he was barely 2, so he definitely does not remember it.

 "Mommy, that is concrete," he said adamantly. "It is not snow. It's concrete. Little balls of concrete." 

 We arrived at Nonnie and Poppy's house very late, but the next day he was convinced--the white stuff really was snow and he was completely delighted. They sledded with their Aunts and Cousins for hours until we dragged them inside to warm up and take much needed naps.

 Even though Nathan's face was somber, he loved the snow and sledding and I got quite the workout pulling him around on the sled!

Christmas is in 2 days and the house is full of cookies, the tree is overflowing with presents and the excitement for Christmas day is growing. I love this time of year to reflect on all that God has done for us, starting with his humble birth. I hope each one of you has a very merry Christmas, wether it be warm and balmy or snowy and white! 

After the Rain

It’s been a rainy week. In Texas, this means it has rained for approximately 6.2 minutes over a span of 3 days, and it is a novelty here.

 “Can we play out in the rain?” the kids begged as it started to downpour again.

“No,” I replied quickly. “It’s lightning out.”

 After a few minutes, the lightning stopped and within a few minutes the kids were in their swim clothes, jumping in puddles, filling up cups with streams from the gutter and yelling “IT’S RAINING!” as loud as they could. Because, obviously when it rains, you have to scream loudly for the full effect. 

Because of the rain, the weather cooled off a little at night so we’ve been sitting in the driveway, letting the kids ride bikes and trying to keep our toes from being eaten by fire ants.

Don't you play outside at night in your boxers?

Learning to ride a 2-wheeler. I remember when I learned how to ride, and now I have a child old enough to do this?

Brooke started attending Music Class at our Christian school once a week, and I’m really thankful for this opportunity. She eats lunch with the First Grader’s and spends a few hours in their class doing quiet activities until Music starts. It’s definitely a highlight in her week!

This past week, 2 different couples I know through Facebook lost their daughters at age 2 and 3. One nearly drowned last year and remained in a coma until she woke up and saw Jesus' face. The other battled a horrible, rare disease until she graduated to Heaven where she is now playing, talking and laughing and Jesus’ feet. News like this really knocks the wind out of me. Both sets of parents have incredible testimonies of faith and are amazingly strong, as they’ve endured what I cannot fathom, but I wonder how they cope? My life is perfect. Absolutely perfect, and I can's even begin to grasp going through something so crushing.

  All we can do is rally around these suffering people, pray for them, cry for them and appreciate the little things our children do each day. When they arch their back trying to wiggle out of your arms in protest, be thankful that they have the muscle strength to do so. When their whines escalate to screams, rejoice in their strong lungs. When they unfold fresh laundry piece by piece, be amazed that their brain is communicating with their arms to complete such a task. When they spit out food they don’t like, appreciate the fact that you are feeding them with a spoon and not through a feeding tube. I think that is what these Parents would want us to do: appreciate the things we see as obstacles, and as always, love more, hug more, cuddle more, enjoy more.

After the rain comes the rainbow, God's reminder to us that he keeps his promises. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. This is the hope we cling to.

Taking it all In

I think God created babies with the need to eat every few hours for a reason: it would give Mom an excuse to sit down for 20 or 30 minutes and take a break. If it wasn't for those times during the day, too much time would pass and at the end of the day I would realize that I hardly observed my kids at all. The imaginations of a 2 and 4 year old are so creative and watching them while I'm nursing, hearing their miniature conversations, listening to giggling or bickering is priceless. 

 It's taken three kids for me to really start to enjoy them and take it all in as time flies by without a thought to the priceless moments that are swept away with it. I'm slowly learning to stop and enjoy the little moments that would otherwise go unnoticed if I wasn't paying attention.

We enjoyed lots of fresh pineapple this week. I finally learned how to cut one properly (thanks to the diagram on the pineapple tag) and we got a lot more bang for our buck!

Nathan turned 8 weeks yesterday. He is out of newborn clothes and fitting perfectly into 0-3 month clothes now. My guess is he is a good 12 pounds, according to my scale--my other two were tiny for a long time, so this is something new for me!  He is sleeping longer stretches at night, still nursing a lot during the day which allows me lots of breaks that I won't complain about one bit.

He is a very, very smiley baby. I don't remember off the top of my head when my other two started being so responsive, but at 4 weeks this guy was smiling up at Mommy with his eyes wide open and hasn't stopped since!

I had my first post-baby photo-shoot this past week. It felt so good to get out again, doing something that I enjoy and love. They were new clients and had the cutest kids, but it felt even better to get back home to my babies again. 8 weeks at home with them, not going many places or doing much, has made me grow even more attached to them. My photography business is awesome but my real job as a Mommy is even better.

The weather is warm, in typical Texas fashion. The pool opened and Anna and I took the kids down the first chance we got. 

He was adorable in his tiny swim-suit, but that material doesn't breathe very well and he ended up with a little heat rash on his belly. So until he's ready to get in the water (which probably won't be for at least a few more months when the water gets super warm) he'll be sporting his cotton rompers. :)

The front of my stroller has a little foot rest that Brookie fits perfectly on, which solves the problems of three kids in a double stroller. For longer walks I use the moby wrap, but this works great for the short trips!

These two were rearing to go the second we told them the pool was open. Brooklynne loves the water and Joe is happy to run around outside the pool, giving me a heart attack every 8 seconds when think he's about to topple in.

My mother taught me well. You don't go swimming without snacks. You just don't. I am passing on this sentimental tradition to my children, because there is nothing like sitting dripping wet and dipping sun chips into hummus on a hot day.

Take a second to stop and observe your loved ones this week and you might just see something that you would have missed in the whirlwind of this crazy thing we call life. Make all the little moments count.

 Have a great weekend!

The Season of New Life

Spring has sprung in all of it's glory here. The days are warm and breezy and beautiful wildflowers have sprouted up between luscious blades of green grass. Green. That's something we haven't seen in a while, but because of the generous amount of rain we've gotten this year we're now seeing it everywhere, taking it all in before it turns crunchy and brown again from the heat.

Our nightly walks have resumed

Baby is 6 weeks old so I'm up and around more and resumed my normal workout routine this week. I'll do it for a week or so more before I start a Jillian Michael's dvd. After no exercise for 6 weeks (and just walking for the last few weeks of pregnancy) I need to work my body back up to where it was before I take on that much of an intense workout! 

This week we had a picnic outside, the first of many before the weather gets too hot.

I love my quilt that makes me feel all picnic-y. Best $3 I ever spent!

Thankfully he only got a hold of half of a turkey sandwich. It could have been worse.

Brooklynne requested to wear a princess dress this day, with a shirt underneath of course, because God forbid we "FEEEEL ITCHYYYY!" and have a meltdown.

She hates pictures these days, so I have to sneak them here and there when she doesn't know. My little girl is almost 5 and is so grown up and mature--my biggest helper with the baby and around the house!

What would spring be without bugs? Rolly Polly's abound and must be shown to Mommy, but I refuse to keep them as pets. Sorry kids. Mom has limits!

I love having a spring baby. The outdoors calms him right down and he usually falls asleep immediately, but if not he sits contentedly, observing the beautiful world around him. I am blessed with a happy, content baby!

My cousin bought the kids bubbles, a perfect activity for them while I fed the baby and watched, taking in motherhood and the warm fuzzy feeling it gives me.

Those chubby cheeks get kissed. A lot. 

I can't decide what my favorite season is in Texas, but right now I would have to say spring. We're spending it outside, enjoying friends, walks, the park and play dates. It's a good time to reflect on new life and how the Lord Jesus Christ will give us new life if we only believe and ask!

Happy Weekend!