Happy 31st Birthday Kevin

Today is kev's 31st birthday! It was so funny a few weeks ago we were watching the Tour de France and they mentioned that Armstrong was 36. This was surprising to me because it seems like he should be a lot older than us. I told kev that he was only 5 years older than him...and he looked at me funny. He said no six years...i am almost 30. Evidently we didn't do enough celebrating last year because he really though he was about to turn 30. I am sad that we are both almost out of our 20's. Time just goes way to fast. I wish we were 23 or 24 again!

I know I have said this before on my blog but God really gave me a wonderful husband. I love so many things about him. We truly are a case of opposites who compliment each other well. I need him for so many reasons: he takes care of bills, makes the phone calls that I put off, he is super out-going and has no trouble carrying on a conversation with ANYONE, he fixes things that I break, takes care of our cars and yards, and is frugal and disciplined.

Kev is such a good daddy. He loves his little girl more than anything. He takes such good care of her when he watches her alone and I never have to worry about them. I can't wait to see how little eliza melts his heart too. I know it won't take long.

Happy Birthday Babe, I love you so much!

Shower and etc.

35 weeks 1 day

This past week the sweet girls in my Sunday School class threw me a baby shower for eliza. It was so sweet...esp. since they just did this two years ago for ella. For second showers we usually go to a restaurant and have a girls night out plus the goodies and cake. I love showers like this because you don't feel on the spot opening gifts and who doesn't like a night out with friends. I got so many cute things for eliza and I was excited to have some "shower pictures" for her scrapbook...too bad her mommy cannot take a decent pic. Seriously!! In every action shot I am making some crazy face (I left those out by the way)!

I didn't realize that ella was coming down with yet

another stomach bug! Thankfully I haven't taken it yet!

I am now almost 36 weeks and feeling both ready and anxious at the same time. My body screams...we gotta get this baby out and my head says...life is about to take a major change. I feel a lot more prepared this time around as far as some things...nursing, general care for a baby, what to expect,... etc. but yet more realistic too. I can just picture myself in the middle of target with ella trying to jump ship from the stroller and eliza screaming and me in a hot flash...and it's enough to think we need a few more weeks! I cannot wait though to see what she looks like! That is such a fun part of having a baby...seeing it for the first time. I also cannot wait to have ella come to the hospital and see her. Don't worry I am very prepared for her to a) not be at all interested b) want to hold her and kiss her immediately and think she is her mommy or c)get angry at mommy holding her and be ready to send her back! All three options would totally be possible for her, but I just can't wait to see my two girls together.

Last night I completed my many many sewing projects. I seriously have sewn almost everyday this summer. I have made bedding, tons of curtains, pillows, matching jumpers for ella and eliza, burp cloths, pants for ella, 2 slings, 2 nursing covers, and etc. I have never been so glad to put that thing away with my many projects completed. I don't plan to sew again for a long time!

Tonight I am off to hear Beth Moore at our church's live simulcast! I am really looking forward to it. I really could use a renewal weekend spiritually. The two or three weekend events that I have attended before have always really spoken to my heart at very different times in my life. I am looking forward to what the Lord has for me this weekend and praying for some revival in my heart and life.

Remembering!

I have sat at my computer today and had two good cries. Earlier this morning I read the blog of kelly's friend katie who lost her beautiful baby girl Reese Catherine just a few days ago. I watched the beautiful video and cried like I haven't in a long time. Then this afternoon Kelly posted Angie Smith's video with her baby Audrey. I cannot help as I sat and watched and felt eliza move and wiggle be overcome with thankfulness, fear and remembrance. It wasn't so long along that Kevin and I were in the midst of our grief. I am so thankful that those intense seasons of grief do pass and the Lord once again brings joy and hope to lives. I cannot imagine going through a loss without the Lord in one's life.

Today I took ella to have her picture made. I figured it would be the last time I will probably ever take just one child to have their picture made. She did so great! So much better than she did in the spring. She acted so much more mature. She sat and said cheese...and I wasn't chasing her all over the studio. While I looked at the pictures she was content to play with the legos they had there! When I viewed the pictures I couldn't believe how much older she is looking. So much more like a little girl. When I got home I replaced her Christmas picture in our room with her new one (in which she is raising up one side of her dress and has both arms in the air!) It was too cute and totally captured my ella at this age. She still looked like a baby in her Christmas picture but not anymore. Time does go fast!

While we were there ella made friends with a little boy who was probably three or four. I sat there and watched them play and thought about what it would be like if Samuel were there with us. I know ella would love him like crazy and I am sure he would be a good big helper. I can hardly picture myself having a son that age. It is hard to understand the why things like this happen but I can say that God is good. Almost four years down the path and our lives are full, happy and restored. I know there will always be a missing place in our little family...a place that only a one precious little boy could fill...but we are thankful for the healing that has come to our hearts.

Eliza Anne's Room

My go, go, go mode finally caught up with me! I haven't been as tired as I was this past weekend in a long time. I remember when my younger sister jess got married about a year and a half ago, I was trying to keep up with all the wedding festivities, do the flowers, entertain, take care of a five month old...and I got so worn out that I kept telling my mom that something was wrong with my eyes! Seriously it felt like my eyelids were so heavy that I couldn't see right. Well, I once again reached that point on Sat. Saturday night we had a little class Sunday School Party at our house and at one point I felt delirious trying to carry on a conversation. I was trying to focus but had not a clue what the conversation was about...hopefully no one could tell! Needless to say I am slowing down and have been enjoying some down time.

Eliza's nursery is now done except for adding in a little rocking chair that kev is painting and a little pillow I am sewing. I am really happy with the final result! It is a bright and happy room that she can def. grow with! I tried to take good pics but the lighting is so dark in so many of them..so some of them are hard to see the coloring correctly.

The view from her door..the coloring looks most accurate in this one!

Crib and bedding!

Initials and crib

Frames 40% off at AC moore's, left over fabric, 1 sheet of poster board,

and left over paint from the room for the letters.

A sideways view of inside the crib!

Garage sale lamp spray painted and re-covered in coordinating fabric.

All the pink frames used to be old black ones we had around our house...they were

easily spray painted!

Target bookshelf!

My quilt! I am very happy with the final result!

Our Craigslist armoire re-painted! The frame on the left was a team effort.

Kev cut it out of wood and I painted it.

It is much lighter than this

My curtain!

Doesn't ever little girl need some bows???


Hope you enjoyed it!

Almost done!

I seriously have been going like a whirlwind. I am about to drive myself and my family crazy! I guess they call it nesting...seems like I've been nesting for a while now...I think it is more like losing your mind. For example...we have lived in this house for almost 4 years and the only curtain in the entire house was ella's. It never cost me a minute of sleep! After making eliza's I began to think about curtains! I scored some awesome Pottery barn panels at a garage sale a few weeks ago! I got six 84 inch panels that match my house for 25 dollars. This worked well for two windows but we didn't have enough for another room. SO what does Julie decide to do....make them! I have been sewing curtains like crazy! In fact every room in our house has curtains except our master bedroom. The kind lady at the fabric store told me that it would be 50%off just on Sat. so I of course decided to wait till Saturday! I found some fabric that I loved 7 yards total on the clearance table this week for $2.99 a yard! I used it to make 6 panels for our family room. I have also made curtains for our Frog (finished room over garage) and our spare bathroom!

I just want to add here that curtains are really really expensive! I decided to look at Target the other day just to price them because I am so ready to put my sewing machine away...but they were $29.00 per panel..which means $59.00 per window plus the cost of the rod! Several of our rooms have three windows each! Whew!!! Now I know why we haven't had curtains for the 6 years we've been married. I have found once again, that I can save a lot of money by making things myself. I also have found out why things cost so much...they take a lot of time and work! For example, I originally began making eliza's bedding to save money. After making it I told Kevin it I were selling it I'd sell if for twice as much because it was so much work!

I have gotten great deals on my curtain rods at Ross. I got most of them for $7.99 each which is by far the best price I have found. I also have used some upholstery tacks to hang a few curtains. You can do a lot with them (they just leave some holes in the wall...esp. if you have to re-adjust the curtain a few times...shhhh!) As always I am looking for the cheapest way of doing what I like and as always it has required lots of work.

The nursery is done! Praise the Lord! I have worked so hard! I will share the pics tom. and share the budget friendly ideas I used! Check back...and don't tell me if you hate it! :)

Pregnancy Q and A
How far along? 33 weeks tom.
Total weight gain/loss: Let's just say I've gained as much as I need to with several more weeks to go...Oh well!
Sleep:I have been having a hard time sleeping...although I am getting uncomfortable it is more because I feel all keyed up and can't relax and go to sleep until 1 or 2 am. I am sure I will get back to normal soon...and in a few weeks I'll be saying, "why in the world did I not sleep when I could have!"
Best moment this week: Completing eliza's bedding...and it looks good! I was so worried about sewing the quilt and doing the mitered angles but after watching an on-line tutorial about 50 times I figured it out. I will post pics this weeks when kev gets the pictures up! So glad to have it all done. It was a lot of work...much harder than buying bedding from the store...thankful for the $ it saved and I feel so much more invested in it...if that makes sense.
Movement: She is a wiggly one...My stomach moves all over the place. It is fun to watch. I constantly feel her feet jab me in the sides!
Cravings: Ice Cream, Cherries, and juices....(I am so tired of drinking water!)
Gender: Girl!
Labor Signs: I have tons of Braxton Hicks...I always do and really have them from about 20 or so weeks on...I have tons and tons of pressure...doc. says she is already very low!
What I miss: Tons of diet coke, diet drinks, subs and hotdogs! I have allowed myself to have a little more caffiene this pregnancy than I used to. I think I am relaxing a bit...which is good!
What I am looking forward to: Driving in my car and looking back in the mirror and seeing two girls in the back!
Weekly Wisdom: This will soon be over...enjoy this precious yet challenging time in a pregnancy.
Milestones: This week marks how far along I was when went into labor with Samuel. I am sure she is larger than he was...when makes her around 4lbs and around 19 or so inches. Can I just add how thankful we are that she is healthy so far. I never want to forget this great blessing!

Not Much New

I have been a lazy blogger this past week. Not much new going on right now at our house. We are just anxiously awaiting daddy being done with his class next week and ready to spend some time together as a family. We are STILL eating up items from our freezer and pantry. I think this is like week 4. I do plan to head to the grocery store today for a few items but we still have some things to finish before I am ready to do a big grocery shopping. This week we had: spaghetti and left-overs 2 nights,Bisquick waffles one night(don't know if we will ever eat up all our Bisquick) along with finishing a box of instant grits and vegetable and chicken stir fry with rice. We ate out last night which was nice. It always amazes me at how much food and money we are waisting in un-eaten groceries! I do think it makes me be more cautious about what I throw in the cart too!

I cannot believe it is August! This year is flying! That is good news because you know what next month is...September! I am so thankful for a healthy and easy pregnancy. Something to definitely be thankful for. I have to admit that I am ready to take a nice very long break on being pregnant. For almost 5 years straight I have either been pregnant, seriously trying to get pregnant, or breastfeeding! I think my body is ready and deserving of some rest! I am ready to wear regular clothes again, move comfortably, and just enjoy being content with my two girls.

Little Eliza is quite the mover! I am amazed at how much more active she is than Ella or Samuel. I continuously feel a little foot in my left side (Not sure what that means about her position at this point). I can totally feel her stretch it out and poke me. Kev and I are both getting anxious about seeing her and finding out what she looks like. I am also a little worried about ella's reaction. She is getting more and more jealous! She is excited about getting to ride in the new double stroller with eliza (we'll see how long it'll last!) She tells us it is mines and whiza's and shows us where they will sit. I know it is gonna rock her little world as she has been our little world for so long now.

So not much new....I will post pics of our nursery IF we ever get it done. It is going to be repainted thank goodness! The bumper that I ordered will be her this week. Maybe it will all begin to come together. :)

Busy, Busy, Busy!

I can truly say that "nesting" is in full swing! Whew! I might not live to see this child be born if I don't slow down a bit! It's like I have a million things in my head and on my list that I want to clean out, throw away, use up, make and create...and too few hours in each day. I am finding myself burning the candle at both ends and hoping that this burst of energy last a few more weeks. I have several projects that I put on Kev's to-do list but the poor guy is overloaded with school right now. Two more weeks and he'll have a short two week break before his fall semester begins. Hoping we can knock out a lot of stuff them.

My nesting seems to always throw me into a major crafty stage. I have tons of projects I am working on...from finishing eliza's bedding, to sewing curtains, a fall jumper for ella, scrap booking! Seriously, I think I will be glad to feel lazy and unmotivated again. I know it is coming!

Another thing we have been doing is eating up everything in our pantry and freezer (no not all at once!) This is something Kev and I started doing early in our marriage and we have always found it to be resourceful and good on the budget! It calls for some creative and maybe not our favorite meal choices...but this will be our third week with no grocery buying other than bread, milk and fruit. I think most families are like this but we are bad about buying foods and not eating them and just letting them sit. For example, we had breakfast for dinner on Wednesday night with a bag of frozen hash browns and bacon that had been taking up freezer room for way too long. I did have to be creative with my hash brown casserole because it called for cream of mushroom and cream of celery soups and I didn't have either...so I just used cream of chicken. I turned out really yummy! I made a blueberry cobbler last night to finish off our blueberries before they went bad, and we've been having lots of Bisquick biscuits and jello with our meals! We always seem to have tons of jello...but rarely eat it! We are also bad about buying snacks and not finishing them before I get tired of them and want something new. It feels good to get it all used up and start over with a fresh supply! One more week of "creative meals" and then we'll shop!

Ella has been so sweet and cute lately. She has started wanting to pray at times throughout the day other than meals and before bed. It is so sweet! She'll say, "Mommy, I pray!" She'll fold her little hands and bows her head (we really haven't taught her that) and say Je-sus, thank you...and I fill in words and she fills in the rest! Her prayers usually sound like this...Je-sus thank you for this day. Please help me to obey. I love you. Amen. Nothing makes me happier than to see her little heart being tender toward the Lord. We have been working on colors and shapes....and would you know that the only colors she knows is gray and black! Those are the only two she is interested in! She always wants to see the gray and black pictures cards. Too funny! Kids surely have a mind of their own!

have a great day!

Happy Birthday Joy!

Today is my sister Joy's Birthday! I feel very blessed to have been given two sweet sisters! I have been thinking a lot about the "sister" relationship as I am about to be the mother of two sisters just barely two years apart. I am already preparing for lots of drama, arguments over clothing and shoes, comparisons, but best of all two lifelong friends.

Joy and I are 2 1/2 years apart and yes that makes me still very young in comparison! Funny how I always wanted to be older like her until I got into my mid 20's and then I was glad to be a little younger! In my opinion the sister relationship is often a very complex and deep one! Joy and I spent a large portion of our lives sharing a room, bed, friends, and even clothes...which really caused quite a bit of drama back in the day! We look completely different (she got the dark skin, hair and eyes and I got the red hair, fair and freckled skin and blue eyes...so funny how those different combinations come out...and yes we have the same two parents!) Our personalities are also very different in many ways. Although we have our differences, I am thankful for the many memories and experiences we've shared throughout the years.

So as I await the arrival of ella's little sister....I am already praying for their relationship. I am praying that they will love each other. I am praying that they will celebrate their differences and unique qualities and learn to be who God made them to be. I pray that they will one day learn to share toys and clothes. I pray that they will grow to be two Godly young women who will care for each other, call each other and always be close friends. I pray for strength and help for me as I know a little about what this sisterhood relationship is all about....and all that is to come!

So...Happy Birthday Joy! Thanks for being a sweet and caring big sis and for helping me learn this sister thing!

Kelly's Blog Children's Parties

Kelly's blog this week is featuring children's parties. Although I am not linking this to her blog I thought I'd share ella's first party! I really spent a lot of time thinking and planning her first birthday! It was so exciting to me and a chance go all out! I seriously worked for months! I went with a pink and green polka-a-dot theme. It was a hot, fall day and one that I will never forget.

I decided to make as many of the decorations as I could. I got a lot of my ideas from etsy and other blogs and in my usual attempt to save money (actually I don't care so much about the saving but I knew what I wanted for her first party and knew if I wanted all that I'd have to make it myself!) I used lots of cute scrapbooking paper and saved lots of money rather than chunking money on cheap party supplies. I saved everything so yes eliza will someday have a pink and green polka-a-dot party herself. I made the cakes, cupcakes, and food. We borrowed the tent, tables, and chairs from our church (we have some good connections!) My one splurge thing was that we hired a family friend who is a photographer to take the pictures. I knew I wouldn't have time to take them and I wanted Kev and I to get to enjoy watching ella and I didn't want to not have pictures. I am so glad I did this. I may always consider doing this! I bought her cute cupcake outfit from a consignment store when she was about 3 months old. I saw it and knew it was worth saving! Her cute puddle jumper shoes came used from ebay! I say all that to say that you can have a cute, cute party and stay on a budget...it just takes a lot of work!

I am now thinking of her second party which is actually right around the corner. We will be having it early this year because I don't want to have a newborn at the party! She is going to have a pink and brown monkey party! I have been collecting cute things for a while now. It may be more low-key this year but I still want to make it cute and special. I am debating if I want to invite a few of her friends or just keep it to family again! Our families equal a pretty large crowd so we may just do one or two friends. I recently saw the idea of inviting as many friends as your child's age. I thought that may be a good idea. Ok...now for the pics. Remember these are from last year. She looks so little!


Good ole betty Crocker cake mix!

Costco dozen roses, 1 yard of wal-mart fabric cut into squares and a spool of ribbon!

Scrapbooking paper to make the napkin rings and it was fall so we had candy apples!

Party hats made from Scrapbooking paper and thin elastic!


The tent and my Happy Birthday sign made from scrapbooking supplies!

Yes, I did pick out his outfit to match ours! He is so agreeable!

Bib and Birthday crown! I wanted to order these...but instead I found a how to make them on-line!

The cakes. I used a small Wilton cake pan and made two layers!

And last but not least my most precious birthday girl!

Wordless Wednesday!

When Life Gives You Blueberries....

go make some muffins or just sit and have a cry! This will make more sense in a minute. It's been a challenging day today. I sit here trying to process, get my thoughts together... while listening to ella have a full-on conversation by herself. I think she just said...mommy, happy! I guess from my sour expression I am not looking so happy!

We headed out for lunch when I knew we should just eat at home...but I was craving a yummy cinnamon bagel and hazelnut cream cheese from panerea bread. Ella thought she was in charge and refused to get in her stroller. She screamed, "Mommy, I hold you!" as we had a battle of the wills in the parking lot! As much as I would like to just hold her it is getting more and more physically challenging..esp while ordering, paying and carrying our food! I won but not without a physical struggle! We should have just headed home then! So we made it through lunch or me eating my lunch with ella playing with the buckles of her stroller...and pushing it into one not so friendly lady who evidently wanted a nice, peaceful and quiet lunch! I should have warned her when she sat done close to us!

We decided to make a quick run into Costco for some cherries and blueberries! This went well until the whole entire Costco sized container of blueberries dumped out in the bottom of the stroller as I was getting it out to pay! Evidently the tape that was supposed to hold it together was broken! So here is the big pregnant girl squatting down picking up hundreds of little sand and fuzz covered blueberries while holding up the entire line. While all this is going on ella begins to scream for me because she can no longer see me. Whew! I think my patience was gone but I tried to hold it together for the sake of the public!

We rode quietly home thinking the worst was over! When I got home I went to open ella's car door to get her out and what do you know those stupid blueberries fell out of the car and hit the driveway! All 500 of them began to roll down the driveway! I couldn't believe it! Do I leave them for the wild animals! Do I waste the $5.00 I just spent on them. I knew my husband wouldn't like that! So I did what most would do...big pregnant girl bent down in the 100 degree heat and began picking up blueberries. Ella was still in her seat and was ready to get out! She began screaming to get out! It was hot...and it seemed like the job was never ending. I finally couldn't take the screaming any longer, decided to leave the rest and unbuckled her! I guess she couldn't tell that mommy was on her last thread because she thought it would be a fun time to play chase! I was hot, tired and frustrated. I got her inside as fast as I could and put her in time-out! It was not a pretty scene. In fact I prayed that none of my neighbors were watching as I carried her inside kicking and crying...along with the blueberries I prayed wouldn't open again!

This is life! Normal annoyances like flat tires when your running late for work (that was kev's morning)...dropping an egg on your freshly mopped floor, and children who want their own way! After ella was in time-out I sat down for a few minutes and had a good cry! I felt like such a terrible mommy! I know my tone was anything but loving and I was frustrated and lost my patience with her! Oh how I need the Lord's help today! I need His help to soften my harshness when I am frustrated. I need his help to see the big picture of life when normal life annoyances seem to be overwhelming. I need His help to love and nurture my precious bundle of energy on days when I have none.

So today life gave me some blueberries, I've had my cry and later I will make some muffins!

Do it Yourself Crib Sheet

If you have been reading my blog you know that I am attempting to sew some of my crib bedding in order to save some $$$! So far I have finished the crib sheet and the curtain! They were both relatively easy (and I am a beginner) and they each took just one evening! I now have the crib skirt and quilt left...which are the most intimidating to me!

I did buy a pattern but really didn't use it at all! I found some good tutorials on-line and they were the most helpful! Patterns to me are like reading a foreign language (even the ones that are supposed to be for dummies!)

Here are my steps:

1. Wash and dry your fabric so it will shrink before you sew it!

2. Cut a 45 by 70 inch rectangle. (I found several different measurements on-line!)

3. Cut out a 9 inch square out of paper of scrap fabric for a template! (I also found several diff. sizes for this too!)

4. Cut a 9 inch square out of each of the four corners. Your sheet will look like this.

5. Iron your ends under all around! There is a fancy sewing term for this....but just fold 1/4 under and iron and then 1/4 under again so that when you sew there will be no stray ends to fray.

6. Sew around your sheet.

7. Now for a french seem. This is a fancy way to say a way to have a good closed seem. You are going to sew parts where you cut out the squares to forms the pockets of your sheet! You sew the the two right sides tog. which feels like you are really messing up. Then trim any excess. Flip to the back and sew the wrong sides. When you open it...it will be right!

8.Elastic! This was the part I was the most unsure about as i have had very little exp. using elastic. You cut (4) 10 inch strips of 1/4 in. elastic. You will fold the elastic in half and match the middle of the elastic to the french seem you just created! Start in the middle and use a zig-zag stitch and sew over the elastic as you pull it! This is all you do. Make sure to back stitch your ends. Do this to each corner.

9. You now have a crib sheet! Woo Hoo!

22 Months Today!

This was about the best picture I could get! It is hard to get a decent picture of a busy little one!

Ella is 22 months today and I cannot believe how fast it is going. It seems like the months and years just fly! She is such a joy to her daddy and I. She is growing, learning and changing so much!

Ella at 22 months:

-is talking all the time! I love when she says "dank do mommy!"

-Is super apologetic! Anytime she gets in trouble it is soon followed by "sorry!" She sometimes gets sorry and excuse me confused and if she bumps into something always says "sorry!" I hope she will always be sensitive like this!

-She loves to be outside and is super energetic!

-She loves to help her daddy! She always tells me she is gonna help daddy work! They take out the trash and he lets her help him fix things around the house. He is so patient with her and gives her a screw driver and lets her help! Maybe she'll be handy like her daddy!

-She loves playing with her babies. She is really starting to pretend play! I love to watch it! The other day her baby got in trouble and she put her in time-out! It was hilarious because in a firm little voice she told the baby to sit...walked away and told me that baby was sad. She then went back to the door (our time-out spot) asked baby if she was happy....got the baby up and hugged and kissed it! She was copying me to a T! Can you tell we have done this a lot!

-She is still a picky eater! She loves apples, mac and cheese some days, chicken some days, veggie straws from costco, oranges, cherries, and well...that is about it. She has a mind of her own when it comes to eating and has from day 1! This is always stressful for mommy!

-She knows our town and where things are. She knows where to turn for church, her grandparents house, target, wal-mart, her cousins house, the doctor, etc.

-She loves to for us to sing! Her favorites are "If your happy and you know it!" and "Love somebody!"

-She is now praying at our meals (copying our words) which is so sweet to hear.

-She loves to look at her scrapbook and pulls it out almost everyday! She also likes to look at Sam-ewls and tells us Jesus which means he lives with Jesus! I love that this is just common understanding to her.

We love her and thank the Lord everyday for blessing us with her. The wait for her was long and painful, but was so worth it! I am so thankful that the Lord waited and gave us her. I am thankful that God knows what he is doing when he blesses with children. I am thankful he has a plan for us and also a plan for ella. I cannot wait to see what the Lord will do in and through her as she grows to know Him!

28 weeks

This pregnancy is moving along! I am excited to be entering the 3rd trimester and we are getting excited about adding eliza to our family! I had a check-up today and also my glucose test....hoping to pass! I measured right on target and eliza had a good heartbeat! I saw a diff. doctor on my last visit because my doc. was out on vacation and she couldn't believe that I was already 28 weeks. I will now have appt. every two weeks!

Eliza's room is making some progress. Kev painted the armoire we bought off of craigslist white (it had been bright pink) and he painted the room pink! I am still trying to decide if I like the wall color. It is bright...although I thought I was getting a soft pink! It is so hard to pick out a paint color! He has already said he is NOT repainting it so I better learn to like it. I also started washing ella's old newborn and 0-3 month clothes. Looking at each outfit was like unpacking a memory box! I also saw that I did a lousy job removing stains. I guess I was too busy with being a new mommy to even care...but now I have some work to do! Anybody know a good stain remover for things that can't be bleached. It reminded me of the need for lots of burp cloths and bibs...as ella had some reflux and her baby clothes prove it! My material to sew the bedding has been ordered and is on the way! Pray that this is not a terrible decision!

We had almost decided to just get ella a big girl bed...as kev thought this would be a wiser investment! This was until we let her sleep with us on Sat. night when she was sick. The girl was all over our bed. From headboard to foot board. She only lasted for about two hours when I decided it was in everyone's best interest for her to go back to her bed. Needless to say we have re-thought the big girl bed thing! I know she would fall out on her head!

have a good day!

Happy 4th!

We have enjoyed a rather quiet and relaxing 4th this year! Although it wasn't what I'd been planning...it was a good day! It all began last night when kev, ella and I went to our favorite little local restaurant for dinner. We were having a great time.

Kev was enjoying a huge stack of their yummy pancakes (they are so good you even want them for dinner)! I was enjoying my chicken sandwich and fries and ella was working on her grilled cheese, fries and lots of ketchup. She likes to dip anything in ketchup and lick off the ketchup and leave the food! She decided to eat some lettuce off of my sandwich which is odd because she has never liked it before. She was chomping down when all of a sudden she gagged and well it was all over at this point! She threw up everywhere! It was terrible! So of course we clean up...I head to the car..covered and strip her down. So here is our dilemma...had she caught my stomach bug from Monday...5 days later or did she just choke on the lettuce and it made her throw up??? So we forfeited my plan for Dunkin Doughnuts on the way to a family day at the beach so we could stay home and make sure she was ok. She has been 100% fine since that one episode...so I am thinking she is fine. It was probably best that we stayed home because my husband is in the midst of summer school which is consuming every spare second that he has. It is a 5 week course that includes....A LOT! If I didn't know that God had called him to go to seminary...I would be saying that this was the wrong season of life for this. We miss him and hate that he just has so much studying, reading, paper writing, and lecture watching to do everyday!

So what did we do today....



We splashed in the pool!

We played outside and had a yummy cook-out at mimi and papa's..we missed all our cuz's being there! !




Our annual 4th of July picture!



It was a great summer day!

Back in the Land of the Living!

I feel like I need a t-shirt today that says, "I survived the stomach virus of 2009!" Yesterday I woke up and began getting us ready for my Monday morning bible study! I kept feeling so weak...like I need to just sit down for a few minutes. I kept blaming on the fact that I hadn't eaten breakfast yet and continued to get ready. On the drive to bible study I felt a little nauseous and thought...surely morning sickness isn't reappearing! I almost turned around and went home...just feeling so very weak. I went on to bible study, ate a bagel hoping that would get my motor going..but still felt so bad. In fact I really considered laying my head on the table and resting a bit. I finally decided to leave early...thinking maybe my blood pressure was low or maybe I'd become anemic. I got ella from her class, got in the car and swung through McDonalds for ella very healthy happy meal! After waiting in the long drive through line the lady said they were only taking cash! Great...I never carry cash! Off to chick-fli-a because I knew I felt too bad to go home and cook. I should have known something was wrong when absolutely nothing on the chick-fli-a menu looked appealing! I got home and got ella in her bed for her nap and decided I'd rest! I was sure that was all I needed after such a busy week last week with VBS! Let's put it this way...my rest was quickly ended and I had to face the reality that I had caught yet another stomach virus! I am always in denial until there is no more denying it! I spent the rest of the day laying in the bed! Ella spent the rest of the day watching Mickey! I think a stomach virus should really come with a warning.....ALERT, ALERT, CAUTION...you may think you are dying for the next 24 hours! One thing about a virus...it always makes me so so thankful for my health. I cannot imagine feeling like that everyday! Now I am praying that it stays away from the rest of my family!

VBS and bedding

We have had VBS at our church this week and tonight is the last night. It has gone very well but I must admit I will be so glad to have a free night tomorrow. I have had a very sweet group of kids and have enjoyed being their "family leader." It always cracks me up at the sweet comments kids make about the Lord. Often times their theology is way off but their hearts are tender and and that is what counts. One little girl said that when her granny died she gave her the spirit of God! One boy said something like Jesus gave us his blood and now we have it in us. I think he was thinking very literally here! The theme is on Rome, Paul and the underground church and all the leaders are wearing "biblical clothes" ....truly not a good look for a pregnant girl...think large sheet! :)

I do not know what is wrong with me but I have spent so much time thinking about how I want to fix Eliza's room. I look for furniture everyday on craigslist. I have spent hours looking at cribs on-line and reading reviews. I have changed my mind about 10 times on my bedding! I don't know why I am stressing on this. i am generally a know what I like and don't like kinda girl! I think because I know it is a blank slate and a chance to do a new room. Good news though, we got a cute bright pink armoire off craigslist...and even snagged it for 100 dollars less than it was advertised for! Woo Hoo! Good thing I sent Kev to look at it because I am so not good on negotiating prices. I am still trying to talk Kev into leaving it pink as he thinks he needs to paint it white. It is pretty bright but I like it! Maybe we will just tone it down a shade or two. I have also picked out my bedding. I decided I wanted to use some different colors this time and I found some cute, cute, cute bedding off etsy.com. If you haven't ever looked there....you might not should! There is tons and tons of cute handmade things! So I found the material that I liked...the only problem is I just cannot justify spending more on baby bedding than I would my queen sized bed. Plus, I do find some joy and satisfaction in being crafty myself. So I had this great money-saving idea (which I knew my husband would be all for)! I am going to buy the bumper off etsy...buy the material I want and sew the rest myself! Just call me crazy now! I am a simple sewer...as in I made simple jjumpers and dresses for ella. I am getting better...but I have a long way to go. Needless to say I am getting a little nervous (esp. after looking at the patterns)! My plan is to make the crib skirt (I mean really how hard can it be..haha), the sheet...which actually looks somewhat easy esp. on an on-line tutorial, a very simple, simple blanket, and a curtain! I have about 12 weeks to get it all done! I am sure there will be a few tears and lots of seam ripping...but hopefully in the end it will be just what I want!

These are some of the fabrics that will be used esp. # 9, 15, 5, 4,

This is the look we are after!

I am beginning to get so excited about meeting Eliza. She kicks so much more than ella did. Ella was not a very active baby(but don't worry she is so making up for it now!) and Samuel really couldn't move due to the lack of fluid...so this is fun! I can now watch my stomach and see her moving and yesterday she'd kick and I'd poke and she'd kick and I'd poke. I just cannot even imagine what she will look like. She could literally have any color of hair because in kev. and my immediate family we have red, brown, blond, strawberry blond, and even black! It will be exciting to see how she adds to our family in a unique little way! Third Trimester...here we come (in about a week!)Woo Hoo!

98 Days!

I just noticed on my sidebar as I am sure I am the only one that looks at those tickers....but I have less than 100 days left in this pregnancy...98 days till my due date! WOO HOO! That is a good feeling!

I found a really cute piece of furniture for eliza's room on craigslist this morning and Kev is going to check it out after work. I check craigslist everyday and so far three great dressers (two from pottery barn) have slipped through my fingers! I wish I could go and check it out for myself but we start VBS tonight. I am really praying for strength and energy. I feel so worn out today and I'm hoping the Lord will give me some grace and energy to be a fun first grade leader.

Happy Father's Day Daddy!

Dear Daddy,

Mommy says tom. is your day...so I thought I'd write you a little note and tell you how much I love you. Mommy keeps taking me shopping to find you a present but so far we haven't found the right thing. You are the best daddy in the whole world. I love to wake up everyday as soon as I hear that you are up! You bring me my milk every morning so I can drink it while I watch Handy Mandy! I love that show...he is a hard worker like you! You always warm my milk just like I like it. You always give me lots of kisses before you leave for work. Mommy says you go there to make us money so that we can go to Tar-get and Chick-fli-A! I ask mommy about you all day when you are gone. I miss you. I love to watch for you at the front door and it makes me so excited I can hardly stand it when I see your truck! I love to ride with you in your truck! You give me lots of rides on my car and you let me play with fun things like dominos (mommy thinks they make a big mess but you think they are fun too!!) I love when you take me outside and let me play in the yard! We have so much fun together. I hope you have a fun day tom. Can we go to the pool? Please! Love, ella

Mommy Ques. and Answer

I saw this on a mommy blog...if you are a mommy feel free to copy and answer! It helped me to think back and think ahead to what my next few months will include!

1. favorite diapers? pampers swaddlers when little and then huggies because costco sells them as they grow...I really like pampers the best...so soft and smell so good!
2. favorite wipes? Costco brand (soft, cheaper and no fragrance for a sensitive tush!)
3. wipe warmer, no wipe warmer? no wipe warmer - never tried one
4. sleep in gowns or footsies? footsies-preferably zip-up sleepers (you never know how hard it is to snap 10 snaps until it is 4:00 in the morning and you are delirious!
5. schedule, don't schedule? schedule, feeds are about every 3 hours
6. current favorite toys? musical toys, mobile
7. three things you couldn't live with out the first few months? swaddle blankets, pacifiers, my hubby!
8. something you can't have too many of? bibs and burp cloths esp. if your baby has reflux! I was not prepared for this!
9. three things you couldn't live with out once the baby is moving? ella's push toy (gave her stability when she was first learning), outlet safety plugs, our baby gates at the top and bottom of stairs!
10. favorite new baby invention? swaddle blanket with Velcro...she loved to be swaddled and this made it so easy!
11. favorite nursing pads? not sure of name...but they were thin and absorbent (maybe by johnson and johnson!)
12. favorite bottle? No preference (ella wasn't too fond of a bottle but I tried to get ones that were BPA free)
13. favorite car toys? any toy dangling from her car seat...now she likes her CD's, and any toy she can grab from the house...we usually have a flower and rock from the front yard too!
14. favorite teether? Never really used them...I think she thought they were too cold.
15. changing table, no changing table? no changing table (always used my bed or the floor!)
16. breast milk or formula? breastmilk exclusively for the first 9 months and then I began slowing weaning one feed to 1 8 oz. cup of formula a month until 12 months. Finally weaned the week before her B-day! (Not so much looking forward to this again...but I will do my best!)
17. make baby food, buy baby food? buy
18. first food after cereal? I think we started with carrots or squash..pretty sure it was a veggie and then after we tried them each for three or four days we went to fruits and them the mixed foods.
19. did you use your baby carrier? A front carrier a few times...it was heavy and she never seemed too comfy... I did manage to clean house a few times and cook with her in it!
20. how old when slept in own crib (not bassinet)? Naps around 5-6 months.. at night in her room...after her first b-day! This was hard for me!
21. do you use a sleep positioner? Yes I always did until she could move out of it!
22. back sleeper or tummy sleeper? back sleeper...I was anal about this....I have real fears about SIDS and will do anything recommended to prevent it! Around 6 months she began flipping to her stomach and side and I would flip her back! (I know the risk goes down once they can move too.!) I then had to give my fears to God and trust Him. I still pray over her sleep every night and althoughout the night when I wake up. I am still learning how to not worry about this aspect of motherhood!)
23. favorite part about being a mom? Ella saying mommy, her wanting me anytime she gets hurt or scared, her kisses and hugs, hearing her pray, hearing her say I'm sorry, watching her learn,she is the most fun little girl and I love her to death!
4. hardest part about being a mom? when your child is sick, deciding when to go to the doc. and when to wait it out, loving something so much that you know if you ever lost it you would never be the same....being fearful of loss!
25. favorite mommy accessories? my cute little red-head (never thought I wanted red-headed children...in fact I used to think I needed to marry someone with really dark hair and skin to try to avoid this)...Now I cannot think of anything I'd rather have than just what GOD made for me! ...and my stroller (it is great to have a place for a drink, bags, keys and etc. when shopping!)

20 Months

Ella is now 20 months old. I keep thinking...in four more she'll be two and have a new sister already! I am trying to cherish these last months of it just being the 3 of us as I know our lives will take on a new busy! She is such a joy to me. I often find that when I put her down for her nap, I am so ready to see her again when she wakes up! Don't get me wrong I love nap time...but also am so glad to love on her when she wakes up! She is growing so big! I was looking at her in her crib last night while she was sleeping. She was all stretched out and looked so long! She is really starting to talk in more phrases rather than single words so this has been fun! She is always calling things...for example..."Mommy, where are you? or Bunny, where are you?" She always surprises kevin and I am her memory! She doesn't forget much! We are working on learning to sing our ABC's and she is getting pretty good at filling in the missing letters when we sing it! We count a lot too...when walking up the stairs and putting on her clothes (we count fingers and toes to make sure we still have ten!) and she is learning them too! The teacher in me is really excited about this! She is really getting the I'm sorry thing too which is so sweet to hear her apologize! Ok...enough of my 20 month update!

I also feel bad for complaining about gaining weight and pregnancy issues in my last post. It is a little sacrifice to pay for such a great return!

24 Weeks and Thoughts

Well I have made it to 24 weeks in this pregnancy. It really seems like the weeks are flying by! So far I am feeling pretty good and still at the "enjoyable stage" of pregnancy! I have gained the most ever so far in this pregnancy...and for some reason I keep doing like 3 pounds a week instead of one...and let me tell you that can add up fast! I am just thankful I had lost a good bit before I got pregnant this time! I hate gaining so fast because this will be my third time to have to lose 30 plus pounds of preg. weight in the past 3 1/2 years. I know it does come off but I also know how that frumpy stage feels and it is not so fun! I know this sounds like complaining...and I guess it is a bit...but it is also a reality of having a baby! The body does a lot of changing and growing all over!




This was at 22 weeks. I've always loved this shirt! It is my sister Joy's and collectively I think we've worn it through 4 or 5 pregnancies. It may need to be retired soon but it always makes you feel small in all the right parts!


I was telling my mom just today that it is different being pregnant with a little one already. I am so excited about having another child but my days seem pretty busy chasing after the one I have! Thankfully, eliza gives me lots of little kicks each day to remind me that she is there and growing too! There are definitely different feelings too with expecting another child. I felt this a little with ella (just feeling like I was giving my heart away some from Samuel...if that makes any sense!) This time I am thinking lots about how ella will adjust to sharing mommy and daddy, what she will do while I sit and nurse for forever each day, how I will manage them both, will we ever make it to church on time with 2?? and on and on! I know it can be done! I know these are all "normal" feelings! I also know many moms who do this with many more kids!





I am ready to start preparing "my nest" for this baby! I tried to remind Kevin tonight that this is really a normal part of pregnancy! I am naturally an organizer and so I know I probably take this up a few notches as well. I made us a huge "to-do"list today! We both like list and work better if we have one. It includes everything from things to clean out to things to buy before the baby comes.





I have also completely changed my idea for eliza's nursery. I think I want to do something very different this time instead of keeping it similar to ella's nursery! I'll post pics when it starts coming tog. ...but it will be a while yet!