autumn adventures

Is it wrong that I just goosebumps when I watched this? ...For the second time. 

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I am such a sucker for those twilight movies/books. It makes me feel like a teenager again...and somehow I can get lost in it for just a little. I guess like any good book and or movie, huh?


This last week has been oh-so-busy and oh so wonderful. We've been busy 'round these parts and mostly inspired by the change of weather. We welcomed September with open arms and it brought cold mornings (today the house was 62 degrees inside! I was so tempted to turn on the heater.) and lots of beautiful clouds full of raging thunderstorms. Sunday night we had friends over for chili and enjoyed the open windows and consistent rain. On Monday night we gathered in a warm home full of breakfast-for-dinner foods and watched the rain dramatically fall outside accompanied by plenty of thunder and lightening. It was so, so beautiful. To us Arizona folks, the rain is a celebrated event. 

Bummer of the week was the much anticipated discovery of the sex our babe was put off for a few more days. The tech was sick (not sure what's a bigger bummer. That she was sick or that we only have one tech at the doctor's office.) and they couldn't get me in again until FRIDAY. I was a wreck. It was like knowing you were going to Disney Land on September 12 for like a month and then when it came...to find out it's postponed. I was like a kid on Christmas morning who was told it wasn't actually Christmas, but December 20. My goodness. So, one more day and we shall know, hopefully.

Casen, Jude, Cougan, Jack and Lincoln

I am so thankful for dear friendships...particularly of the female variety. I love my man, but I love me some good girl-time and contagious laughter, exchanging stories of the struggles of motherhood and beyond, and of course, enjoying some yummy food. 

On Tuesday we had a french-toast/latte extravangza. There were five boys all within months of each other. Future warriors of truth and grace. They played, they hit, they laughed and chased each other. It was such precious moments to experience...their little personalities sprouting from within. It was wonderful. It was a cool morning and letting the boys explore outside was perfect. 

We put on a tractor movie in order to keep the boys on the couch. I think they liked that more than their crazy mama's trying to get their attention.

sweet Jude

this man loves his tractors and i was in the way.

baby girl Brynlee was there for the fun too. Poor girl amidst all those boys. Maybe we'll have a girl to join her?

the kiddos and their mama's.

Casen was so smooth with his model face.

blowing bubbles in the rain water

Lincoln, so sweet and friendly. When Jack hit him I kept asking Jack to say sorry and Lincoln would just say, "sorry, Lincoln. Sorry." haha.

Jack loves dogs...even if they run away from him.

Most mornings have looked like this:


And in the evening we try to take advantage of the breeze and beautiful sunsets.

the growing belly

Our boy is almost two. Where has the time gone?

What I'm looking forward to tonight? The season premiere of PARENTHOOD.

Welcome, Fall. I've missed you.

moments to remember

We heard the little ones heartbeat today. It was perfect and brought much peace and relief. We find out in ONE month what we're having! I can hardly contain myself. I saw the ultrasound tech today and almost wanted to grab her and ask her, "can you just check now? Please?! I'll pay you!" haha. But I didn't. It's so worth the wait. Kind of like Christmas.

I've been kind of enjoying the differences in this pregnancy than with Jack. 

With Jack I craved, 

-cereal
-sweets
-pancakes
-anything bad for you

With this one I crave,

-cheese
-milk
-chips and sour cream dip (is there a pattern here?) 
-Egg salad
-popcorn

It's so different and in the mornings when I have cereal I sometimes have to force myself to finish it. Whah? This is not me. Pregnant or not pregnant. I love me my cereal. Maybe I should go back to investing in my golden grahams and fruity pebbles. I bet then I'd want to finish it ;) Or maybe not. Healthy cereals stay in my stomach longer.


The nausea is finally subsiding and I've already gained 5 pounds. My doctor was a little concerned that I had a lost a pound at my last appointment, but I told her, Don't you even worry, girl! I've got this one taken care of! 


I'm still kind of in awe that this is really happening. I look at Jack and wonder how I'll manage another one and how I'll manage to give them as much love and kisses as I do Jack. Last night on the way home from Bible study I asked Jack if he had fun to which he piped, "Yes!" And then did this loud and growl-giggle that made John and I break into laughter. He's growing so fast and has become a very independent little boy. At a playdate this morning he didn't want me (unless it was to show me the cars outside) and didn't mind falling or getting toys taken away. He did however, pinch a little girl and pull two older girl's hair. Oh, man. We left shortly after and he was asleep in the car within 10 minutes. My little fiesty monkey. Apologies to those kiddos and their mama's. 

Jackboy's expression when he sees his daddy is home.

Jack's recent "cheese" face. Literally.

a pool day out back with dear friends

I feel like this new kiddo is a girl, even though we have a great boy name picked. I'd love a little girl, though, and we shall somehow agree on a girl name if that happens. We started to talk about it yesterday and John said, "Let's just see if we even need to have that show down, okay?" haha. I wonder where Jack gets his fiestiness?


Girls night tonight and rain this afternoon. Two of my favorite things and it's only 2 o'clock.


So thankful for today and time which eventually passes and Jesus who heals and restores.


I read this post today and choked up. So true.  p.s. I'm choking up like all the time now, over every little thing. Be warned.

Summer monsoons are in full swing as I sit and type and eat crackers and cottage cheese. My appetite has also returned and it has brought with it consistent hunger that doesn't seem to end unless I'm sleeping. And it all comes back to me, how I gained all that weight with Jack. And ate so much delicious food.

I feel thankful and full of hope that all is going well. We're in the second trimester this week and I can feel my energy returning, though my nausea still remains. I've been struggling a lot with fear lately and worry. Common worries for early pregnancy, but with me, worrying tends to be taken to a different level. On Sunday we heard a great sermon from a friend of ours who talked about how we are made to worship. We spend our lives worshiping something, but it's choosing what to worship. For me, I tend to let idols be what I worship. Idols that are, fame, control, fear, pride, doubt, things that we don't just think about, but allow to take over our hearts and lose our focus on Christ. I long to just have my gaze directed towards God and look to Him rather than the worry and fear that is so familiar and well known, but brings no peace and rest. To be able to look my deepest fear in the eye and tell it, "I'm not afraid anymore." Because, I'm not. Even if it's the absolute worst thing I could imagine, He is faithful. He is strong. He will use it for His glory. I was reminded this morning as I prayed that it's not a sin to be weak. That we all are weak, but in that weakness, He is made strong.

"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." 2 Cor. 12:9

And that brought such peace. A moment I could breath and let it go. Again. Until an hour later when I had to do the same thing. :)

++

Last week we went north to Sedona to see my cousin and his wife for the day. It was so wonderful. My cousin Greg and I grew up by that creek and created hundreds of stories in those woods. It was great to take our boys there and see them take it in. Of course, I imagined them being a bit older and climbing mountains and building forts in the rocks and pretending that they are running away from the orphanage. Swimming in the creek and creating another world that only they knew of. I hope all those things for them, just because I miss my childhood so.

my cousin, Greg and Jack and Noah.

Noah is so cute!

possibly my favorite picture. Noah and Jack are so much alike and both love to run, to laugh, to swing and hit. Just sometimes. They're boys, what can I say?

The creek was cool, but not freezing. The weather was overcast and beautiful. A perfect summer afternoon. 

We finished the afternoon with delicious bean soup and playing with the dogs outside on the deck. Jack fell asleep on our way home and it was the ending of a really great day.

dada day

The weather was designed for Father's Day this year. 

The sky was bright, the breeze was cool and we stayed home bound for this day. Normally we go to my parent's house, but between two sermons and a kiddo who needs a nap and doesn't nap well in the car, we decided not to go this year. After a gourmet meal of Arbie's beef and chedder, fries and a Dr. P, John settled in for a few episodes of his new favorite show, Prison Break. 

The best gift John gave me on Mother's Day was the freedom to do whatever I wanted to. John's really good at sharing the load when it comes to Jackboy, but on M-Day, he gave me the day off completely. It was just...incredible. I tried to do the same on Father's Day. He kept saying things like "Wow, this is so awesome!" and "I don't even know what to do I have so many options!" I should probably give him Father Day-like days more often, huh.

So, after nap time for Jack and three episodes of Prison Break, Jack and I ran to the store and John read a good book. We returned with strawberries in hand and a serious burst of energy to cook up some salmon, mashed potatoes, salad and strawberry shortcake. In short, it was delicious. Jack enjoyed some mac n cheese. (Our little squirt still doesn't eat a whole lot of variety) and some grapes while we sampled some pretty good, if I do say so, food. 

the earlier days, in which Jack made dada very, very tired. Oh, and mama too.

snuggle time, post work.

watching the first snow fall of winter

Our sick boy being cared for by his loving daddy.

Evening bath time.

Our Jackboy loves his dada. The first thing he says when he wakes up is, "Dada? Car?" and the first thing he wants is his daddy. I'm small beans compared to dad and that's okay. I get to be the go-to person for the rest of the day.

When John is home, Jack wants all of him. It's kind of border line pathetic, really. But ohso cute. They race cars around the couch, they build train sets and read books. Jack gets thrown on beds, couches, and over John's back to the sounds of many giggles. They go and sit in the car in the garage and while Jack drives, John catches up on the news. (Thank you, iphone.) John cuddles and loves on his boy and it is so precious to watch. Being the youngest of four boys, John wasn't groomed to love little kids, but oh has Jack captured his heart. I've loved watching him become a daddy and truly love the role that God has placed him in. 

They make a great pair and I feel privileged to watch their bond get stronger.

Happy Father's Day to my baby's handsome Daddy.

And Happy Father's Day to my wonderful Pop, too. We share so many things; our love for good music, our habit of picking our fingers, our thick, curly hair, our love for having a good time, good food and lots of laughter. I thank him for making my childhood one of the best times of my life. For every toss across the pool, trip to the farm, encouraging my timid self to do ride a bike and tickle monster attack on our living room floor. My love for him as only grown and grown.