Summer is Here :)

It looks like Summer finally got the memo and decided to come join us all! I LOVE this weather!! There are so many great things about it, it just makes my heart happy :) Things have been busy around here and I haven't blogged in awhile. I just finished tutoring with my kindergartners. It was a good experience and a great opportunity for me. Finishing up our tutoring hours with the kids yesterday was a refreshing feeling knowing that my schedule will be freed up... just in time for S.U.M.M.E.R.

Here is what we have been up to lately-

*Playing outside with a bowl of water, utensils, and rocks...making all kinds of scrumptious stews



*Making Sidewalk chalk creations-Okay so maybe this is just me... Sienna is totally uninterested

*Going through 4 rolls (seriously- I counted) of toilet paper blowing my nose these past 3 weeks. I cannot kick this cold! Sienna has gone to the doctor twice now in 2 weeks with a double ear infection, goopy, matted eyes, conjunctivitis, and something-funkyitis... Poor girl is handling it like a champ!

*Going to the park to play- and of course stopping at Cook's to get a scoop of icecream to split! Definitely not a good habit to start, but it was more of an excuse to get myself some icecream :)

*Playing on our neighbors playset!



* Taking Sienna in a ride in the Bike Bugger



*Tutoring-- YAY to be done! Now more time for productive things like... going to the pool?! ;)

That leads me to my next question-- Do any of you keep your house clean in the summer??? For me I am learning it is REALLY hard to do. Sienna loves to be outside, and I want to take advantage of the nice days as well. The house work is getting Out.Of.Control. To be honest, a part of me doesn't care :) and a part of me says "Shame on you..." The verdict is still out. I'd love to hear your tips or thoughts on summertime cleaning!

*My hubby has been working hard mowing and doing some landscaping for others. He has been busy, but we are so thankful for what he does for us and how hard he works!

*ALSO- HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BEAUTIFUL SISTER TOMORROW!! Happy Birthday, Tiff!

(Tiffany and her husband Austin.)

Happy Memorial Day Weekend to you all! Enjoy your families!

My second Mother's Day, as a mother, has come and gone... and I can honestly say, this one was SO sweet!! The day was filled with some regular events and time with family. I was telling Justin the other day that I like Mother's Day better than my birthday :) "Really, why?" He asked. To be honest, I didn't have a quick response to his question. It's just a simple fact... I do!

The more I contemplated it, it became really clear why Mother's Day is so much more special and meaningful to me. Being a mother is a choice, it's a selfless, and exhausting profession at times. The day of my birth was nothing I made a conscious choice of - However I am eternally grateful that my mother chose this! :) And went through the joys of childbirth for me. Being a mother was something that I chose and it is something that I AM... something that I absolutely love being more than anything else in the world. Being a mother has been the best thing that has happened to me (alongside marrying the most amazing man, perfect in every way for me). Having kids changes your perspective on life. Things are no longer about yourself... it's about this little, precious, innocent life that God has entrusted to me... Wow- is that ever a humbling thought?! There are times where feelings of inadequacy seem to be overwhelming, but remembering that God, in His omniscience, assigned this amazing little girl to Justin and I - even for this brief time on Earth - seems to comfort me and brings me back to relying on His strength and wisdom to do this hefty job.

Often times I just look at Sienna and beam. I'm talking a grin from ear to ear, with absolute, pure, untainted joy. I am SO proud of the small things she is doing and learning. I can just pray and pray and pray that one day her and I will have a relationship that mirrors the incredible relationship that I have with my own mom. Who is by far one of the most amazing, giving, selfless women I've met, not to mention one of my best friends!

On the days where I don't get a shower, the house is a sheer disaster, I am wearing snot on my clothes, I was up countless times at night soothing a sick child, and frankly pulling my hair out sounds like a good idea... I am still forever thankful for this enormous blessing that is packaged into such a little girl. The job of a mother is something I could never truly grasp until 15 months ago :) How incredible it is..

So, without further ado... Mother's Day was filled with us spilling the beans about the newest little blessing that is growing!! November 22nd I am due with baby #2! Justin and I are thrilled. We know that chaos awaits... but, also even more love and reward that comes with being a parent :)

Here's our first picture of our peanut!

Many of you already heard the news... but bear with me as I share again ;)

Rainy Day

As I type, the rain is washing over the windows and thunder is cracking near by. I am not going to lie... I'm beaming :) Today is the first day in awhile where it is rained... HARD! I am sitting here in my pjs, kind of excited about the rain today! Normally, I get up before Justin leaves for work to go for a run. This morning, I enjoyed the guilt-free extra half hour of being snuggled under the covers. I have no where to be, so this rain is kind of refreshing. Tutoring is a No-Go today because they don't have school. So my weekend starts NOW!! :)

The rain is a good excuse to stay inside and tend to some of the things that have been obviously neglected for the past week and a half because of a busy schedule (& nice weather). Now I just need to pray for a burst of motivation to accomplish something today. Of course, I will probably steal a few extra snuggles on the couch from my little sweet pea. She LOVES being outside, so we have done a lot of playing in the yard on the nice days. Her knees are evidence of what a rough and tumble girl she is ;) She has scabbed them both up for the past week. Gotta invest in some band-aids with this little one!

Well, before I sit for any minute longer, I better whisk myself off to get ready to accomplish something big and impressive today!!!! ...(haha.. who am I kidding?!)

So for all of you out braving the rain today... get out the rain gear, strap on the galoshes, and make it a great day!

This picture just makes me smile :)

Bedtime Routines

Can I just say that bedtime routines can often been the sweetest time of the day. The snuggling as she guzzles her last bottle of the day, then cuddles right up to me as we rock back and forth... She is really good about listening as we pray... (Before meals, prayer time is almost TORTURE and she has started to dislike taking that time to thank Jesus for her food knowing that it is prolonging the act of stuffing her face. Hopefully this will soon change. I'm sure Jesus will appreciate when it does :)...) I cherish holding that tiny little hand that seems to be growing bigger by the day.

Sometimes the nighttime routine seems like an exhausting part of the day when she is WAY past tired and kicking and screaming (literally) while we wrestle to put her pjs on and nestle her into her bed. Or the times where Justin and I feel just to tired to put the effort into getting up, changing the diaper, the clothes, warming the bottle, and doing the routine.

However, many times the bedtime routine is smooth-sailing, and it makes me want to relish every bit of that snuggle time with my sweet pea. The sweet way her eyes seem just too heavy to keep open and the way she loves being cuddled - even though she is looking pretty big in my arms these days - I can't imagine anything else! ...Her silly little giggles as I gobble up her soft, chunky cheeks. Lately, she has started grabbing my face and pulling it close to hers so that I will do that over and over again. How can I resist the chubby cheeks? The giggle is just music to my ears and makes my heart happy. She opens her mouth wide for a big, amazing, baby sloppy wet kiss. I. Am. Blessed.

I am feeling refreshed after spending the day listening to a Live simulcast of Beth Moore and her message on insecurities. It was soo great to get in The Word and God's promises while worshiping with lots of other women. Justin had some great daddy/daughter time which just melts my heart :)

Here are some recent pics... some are from our Florida Vacation.

Back to Reality...

Wow- Time is flying and I am realizing I am not nearly as committed to this blogging thing as I planned to be! So.. bear with me and my sporadic, few-and-far-between posts. However, we were out of town for a week so I was officially M.I.A from Facebook, email, and blogging for an almost entire week. I am not going to lie- IT FELT GOOD!! But now, I feel like I am making up for lost time trying to catch up on all that went on while I was gone ;)

I will post pictures, but I have been busy playing "catch-up" and haven't downloaded them all yet. The mounds of laundry, full sink, and toy-strewn floors seem to be grabbing my much needed attention.

Regardless, we had an AWESOME, sun-filled week in Jacksonville, Florida. This was Sienna's second trip to Jacksonville as we took our 9-week old on a crazy cross-country road trip during Spring Break last year :) This year, however, the car ride seemed even more daunting because our Sugarpie is much less content than that 9-week old who was always snoozing, eating, or pooping. We traveled the majority of our time at night since our little sleeper does better that way. The bad news was that Justin had to pull some all-nighters ;) He drove it like a champ.

On the way down, our attitudes were uplifted, hopeful, and excited about the week that lay ahead. We spent the car ride catching up on the busyness of the previous week, talking about different Bible stories, and other thought-provoking theological questions (wouldn't you love to be a fly on the wall for that one?! haha) I'm not going to lie, I dozed often and probably looked like a drunkard trying to appear awake with the ever-annoying bob of the head that befalls the one who tries to refuse sleep. This was much different than the ride home where I was complaining and swearing that I would never drive to Florida AGAIN. Ever. (But...I can assure you that next year, when I see the cost of a flight, I will swallow my pride and hop back in the car for another crazy 24 hours of madness.)

Our time in Florida was incredibly relaxing! We were regulars at my aunt and uncle's neighborhood pool-- often twice a day! Even though my skin may not show any remnants of a tan, I promise... I was in the Sunshine State.

This past week we have been SURROUNDED by generous family members. That may be an understatement. When I reflect back on the week and how we got there, what we did there I am AMAZED at how generous others were. Whether it was my parents and neighbors tag-teaming to letting our dog out 4 times a day (I know she is high maintenance with a capital "H"), my inlaws letting us drive their sweet car the hundreds of miles there, my sweet little teen cousin letting us crash in her room while she took the couch or someone else's bed. Or my aunt and uncle housing us, feeding us, and insisting on paying for a night out to dinner and dessert while they watch our daughter. It was also meeting up with Justin's cousins in Georgia who let us rest there before completing the rest of our long-trek home, who also treated us to a tasty meal at an adorable outside restaurant.

We. Are. Blessed.

I guess I should have remembered that when this customer in front of me at Meijer purposefully backed her large-behind and knocked into me to make some sort of point?!? I should have blessed her. Forgive me, Lord...

Anyways... YAY for Meijer's 10 for $10 sale that helped me save a ton on groceries. Gotta love it. ...Maybe that's what she was mad about?! Anyways.. I need to finish playing catch-up!!

Loving Productive Naptimes :)

Our little girl is growing up, thus means she has transitioned to 1 long nap (on most occasions) rather than 2 shorter ones. I am really beginning to like this!! Now that the weather is shaping up, we can get out and do something fun or run in the yard (yes, she's running now!), go for walks, play with friends, etc.



Or, on the gloomy days, stay inside and feed our faces, twiddle our thumbs, and pick our noses...


Then I can do something fun in the afternoon as the house is quite and the birds sing their songs outside :) I have enjoyed using her long naps by working on different little projects. Here are a few...




I have others in the works, just haven't completed them yet :) You can check out my etsy site here...

My husband is so sweet to ignore craft-explosion that seems to have taken over little nooks and crannies of our house. The corners of our living room and kitchen harbor the unfinished projects that will have to wait for another quite nap time :)

...In one short week, I will start tutoring 5 kindergartners (GuLp...) and my time for my hobbies will be limited- but I will soak it in while in lasts :)

Blackmail Post

Since my sister, Ashley, found it appropriate to post a blackmail picture of my sweet, little honeybun... (her post)

I guess I can break out the big guns, too... (Cody close your eyes...)

Loooves pushing the pink stroller with the baby that blows raspberries who is M.I.A in this pic. (p.s Ask my mom what "blowing raspberries" means :).


And the tutu and headband was ALL his idea!!!! I have a better picture of him with close to 16 hairclips in those blonde, beautiful locks- but luckily I can't find it on my computer :)

Just kidding, this boy is ALL boy! He is so fun and he is Sienna are best friends and play so well. It's adorable. One of my favorites is when Sienna falls, Cole rushes to her rescue pulling on her head, grunting saying "Uhh, Nenna too heaby..." He cares for her :) I love my nephew.

I just got done talking to both of my sisters today. I'm a lucky girl to have such amazing sisters that are my best friends!! Praise the Lord for Free mobile to mobile with AT&T :) ... and of course my mom who is THE greatest and just like another sister! I am blessed.