Welcome, Baby

The blog’s been quiet lately, but our home has been busy!  This little one finally arrived on November 22nd and we’ve been busy loving on and snuggling her ever since:

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She was about a week late, so we are especially overjoyed to finally have her in our arms.  Big brother and sister are thrilled to meet her after waiting so long to get their hands on her.

Newborns are just the best, eh?  The snuggles and sweet smells and first smiles sure do make up for the sleepless nights and nursing woes.

Welcome, sweet girl!  We’re so glad you’re here, and we all A D O R E you so much.  You’re the perfect addition to our little family.

xo

Savoring These Two

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So we are just one day away from wrapping up this 31 day series.  Often throughout this past month, I have been reflecting on and just enjoying these two little lambs.  They change and grow so quickly, and I don’t write down their little stages and idiosyncrasies often enough.  It has been a sweet thing, just being a little family of four and seeing the friendship grow between these two.  They are usually pretty inseparable and love to do most things together.

Noah is almost two.  He is talking up a storm, and repeats a lot of what we say.  He loves anything to do with trucks, tractors, airplanes, trains, and firetrucks.  I love how when he sees something or wants to say something, it’s almost always directed at me.  “A truck, momma!”  “See a car, momma.”  “All done, momma.”  (Although in my weary moments, it can be exhausting, it is the sweetest thing ever to be the one he wants to share everything with.  I hope it never changes.)  He is just beginning to really love books, and now brings me books to read to him and says, “Gook, momma.”  (He never used to sit still long enough.)  His favorite is a board book we have that has 100 first words, and he wants to “read” it at least five times a day, which entails me having him find things in it or tell me the word for the picture. He loves “spiky hair” in the bath that Daddy gives him.  Daddy whips it up into two spikes and he smacks it down, squealing and laughing.  He loves music more than even Phoebe I think, and breaks out dancing as soon as we turn it on.  His favorite songs to sing at night before bed are “Jesus” (Jesus loves me) and “Ka-kee-us” (Zacchaeus was a Wee Little Man) and “David” (Only a Boy Named David).  When we ask him what he’s thankful for each night, it’s almost always “Jesus.”  After his bath and jammies are on he comes running for me down the hall saying “momma, momma, momma” and then shows me his clean snuggly self and just jumps up and down around the room.    When he’s thirsty he says, “water, me,” so I call him my little plant.  Lately he loves to lay down and drive his cars slowly back and forth, staring closely at the wheels and looking at how they work.  Yogurt is “whoa-gurt.”  He comes up to me often out of the blue and says “I la lu tooo, momma.”  He is obsessed with his blankie (“Dee-dee”) and always has to chew it.  One of his happiest moments is when I say in the morning “Ok guys, shoes on.”  He screams with arms in the air “Shoes on!” and runs downstairs for his shoes.  He’s pretty shy with new people and other kids, but he’s starting to warm up more to others.  He seems to be understanding that a baby is in my tummy and he sits on my lap, facing my tummy, poking it and talking to the baby.  He’s starting to love saying hi to people when we’re out, realizing often people will talk back to him.  He shoots his hand straight out like he’s jabbing them and says “Hey dare.” (Hey there).

Phoebe is almost four.  She loves wearing dresses, and changing outfits at least ten times a day.  Half they time she’s just running around half naked in between “costume” changes.  She loves to dress up in her tutu’s, or be “the bride,” or “Laura (from Little House on the Prairie).”  She could read books all day long if you would read to her.  Pretty much, if you sit down for more than thirty seconds, she will run to your lap with a book for you to read to her.  She loves to play with Noah probably more than he needs to play with her and is always scampering around to see what he’s up to.  And often pestering him, though she usually doesn’t mean to.  She loves to sing, often her own renditions of things like “If you’re happy, then you know it, clap your hands.”  She loves being outside, jumping on the trampoline, riding her trike or scooter, playing at the park, and going for walks.  She’s starting to be really interested in bugs and getting up close to examine them.  She loves when you play Doctor with her (she usually only wants to be the patient).  And she cannot wait to have another little baby in the house to hold and help mommie with.

I know that when baby girl comes, our “normal” will be thrown for a loop for a bit, but then we won’t be able to remember what it was like before she was a part of things.  It’s good for me to find things to look forward to in the next season so that saying goodbye to this one is easier.  It’ll be so fun to see Noah get to be the big brother.  And to see what Phoebe is like with a sister we can dress up, a real, live doll.

As this month closes and we are almost all ready for baby girl to come, I’m looking forward to slowing down the busy rushing and just enjoy and snuggle on these two kiddos a whole lot.

Brown Paper Packages

This week I’ve been feeling really overwhelmed with all the work that needs to be done to be ready for baby to come.  There is the normal work of the household, the slow and steady process of unpacking/settling in from our recent move, and then the work of preparing a space for the new baby as well.  Pregnancy insomnia has set in a bit as well, so exhaustion during the day and being up in the night mulling over tasks and to-do’s.. not super helpful.  Needless to say, we needed to be H O M E today and momma needed to get some work done.  Already, I feel better.  Just seeing the car seat installed, baby clothes being rummaged out of tuperwares, and a few meals beginning to accumulate in the freezer is a big mental help.

The little ones love morning outings, so the announcement that  “we will be home doing things around the house” was met with the usual weeping and gnashing of teeth.  Such days call for intentionality, for pulling out some fun crafts and activities normally reserved for rainy/stuck-at-home days.

We received the sweetest package in the mail yesterday from one of the children’s dearly-beloved aunties.  Such perfect timing.  I pulled it out this morning and their delight over it all was precious.  Each had received a goodie bag of raisins and snack bars, piles of stickers, a pop-up book, halloween window decals (stickers that go on the window??  Can life get better?), as well as a sweet note and some spending money for fun fall activities.  Even baby girl was included {the most adorable onesie}!

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So today we’re savoring the simple joys of brown paper packages + the ordinary fun we can have at home.

Playing in the Leaves

Our Saturday began in the chilly cold dark, setting up for a yardsale in the dewey morning.  I sort of despise doing yard sales, but making $300 when everything is priced below $5 is pretty awesome.  We also were able to scout the neighborhood sale and found some great things for the kiddos.

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Later in the afternoon, we took the kids to ride their new toys at a nearby park and when we were back home, I was chopping veggies for stir fry and could hear screams and giggling outside where the kids were with Daddy.  Looking out the window, I see them raking a huge leaf pile and screaming and jumping in it.

Sometimes savoring the moment means dropping what you’re doing and running outside to join in the fun.

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Happy Friday!

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Friday nights are homemade pizza nights!  My husband loooovvvees pizza and we usually have a little family date at home on friday evenings to celebrate the end of the work week + the beginning of weekend fun!  What are some of your family/weekend traditions?  Happy Friday!

Our pizza dough
2 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tsp yeast (or one package will do)
1 1/4 cup warm water

I make my dough in the bread maker machine on the dough setting (takes 1 1/2 hr to stir and rise) but you could easily do by hand as well.  Combine ingredients (add a couple more tablespoons of flour if dough seems too wet, water if it seems too dry), let rise for 30 min to an hour.

Roll out on floured surface, place dough on a greased pizza pan or stone (we like to sprinkle pan with cornmeal first, too).  Then top with fresh chopped tomatoes or part of a can of crushed tomatoes (or pizza sauce).  Add aromatics such as chopped garlic, oregano, basil, salt + pepper (if just using regular tomatoes), or pesto.  We usually add organic pepperoni, a few handfuls of spinach leaves, and a combo of cheeses (fresh mozzarella, sharp cheddar, parmesan, and/or feta).

Bake at 450 for 15-17 min or until cheese is slightly browned.
ENJOY!

Rhythms

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In our photo-saturated day, taking pictures can get a bad rap.  “Be present,” they urge.  “Put down your camera and enjoy this moment.”  And there are times to leave the camera behind.  Times to rest and just soak and to see.  But I have learned that for me, snapping pictures helps me see.  Helps me notice.  Like a glory-hunter, seeking the beauty in the dreary and ordinary.  Going out with my camera, with expectation to find gifts.  I learned this some time ago from Ann Voskamp, how she numbered gifts with her camera, framing the moments.  Every frame captures a moment, a mili-second of time never to be repeated.  The way after breakfast, they clamber up onto the couch to read books.  On tiptoes at the window to see the garbage truck on Thursday mornings.  The simple beauty of flour, butter, water, and yeast bubbling in a bowl.  The way they run to help whenever they see me drag the stool into the kitchen.  That little gap between his front teeth.  The girl on her trike, far too small for her now, but still her favorite.  The way she turns to see if I am watching.  Always looking to see if I see her.  I do, baby girl, I see you.  The scraggly wild berries and flowers growing alongside the riverbank.  Ordinary, common.  Beautiful.  Hot steaming loaves pulled from the oven, and the way that nothing smells as good as fresh bread at home after wind whipped cheeks and frozen fingers.

Rhythms.  Rhythms of these days.  Simple.  Small.  Barely noticeable.  Easily forgotten.  I don’t want to miss it.  I don’t want to forget.  I want to give thanks, capture the moments, hands full of memories and moments to hold out to Him and praise Him for.  I love this season, I love these rhythms, Lord.  Costly.  Often painful.  Sometimes downright boring.  But precious.  Worthy.  Heavy with the weight of glory.

Fall at the Farm

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October is simply the best month to live in North Carolina.  We try to savor every minute of it before all the beauty and color falls from the trees and the long, cold winter comes upon us.

A couple weekends ago we visited our favorite local farm again, which is the most fun to do in the fall.  There are hay rides, kiddie cart rides, apples + pumpkins, beehives and fresh cider being made, goats that wander in the barn above your head, rope + tire swings, pigs, chicks, turkeys, a corn maze, a creek to play in, and a quaint little farm store to buy all the lovely things the farm produces.  And little cider pops for 50 cents!  Recently, we saw a Groupon for a free ticket to the farm so we planned to go when my husband’s parents would be in town and take the kids.

My pictures from the day are sort of haphazard, as was my brain that day, but we were busy enjoying the fun.  Phoebe got to see her friend from dance, also named Phoebe, and they rode the kiddie cart ride together (the highlight of the day for Phoebe, outside of being with her Baba + Nain).  I’ve written before about the farm here.

And, of course you know I stopped at the Flying Cloud Farm stand on the way back and bought some blooms!

Making Time for Family Time

A couple weeks ago, Brandon suggested that we take the kids to a local little wildlife park called the Nature Center.  Even though we had just moved and *really* needed to do some work unpacking, we decided we would all probably like each other more at the end of the day if we took a few hours and did something fun.  {We tackled some unpacking once kids were down for naps after lunch.}  I am so glad we did!  It is always a treat to treat the kids, always a joy to see their joy in exploring their world.  And we love taking advantage of whatever fun spots our little town offers.

{Sorry for some blurry pics. Brandon gave me a new lens for my birthday and I’ve been forcing myself to leave it on the camera full-time so I practice using it.}

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^ Looking for turtles. ^

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^ Checking out the raccoons.  This guy.  He is such a great hubby + dad.  He carried my 500 lb hot pink bag, and often a kid or two.  I’m really, really thankful him.  He loves animals maybe more than the kids, so he’s like a big kid himself. ^

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^ We loved all the lofted bridge trails in the trees! ^

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^ Brandon took this one.  It’s out of focus, but it’s the only one of kids + I from the day. ^
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^ Timely spot for a little snack break and monkeying around to burn off some energy. Then, onto the bobcats + cougars. ^

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^ The otters were Noah’s absolute FAVORITE.  He was screaming and going nuts whenever they’d swim up to the glass. ^

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P on the otter-slide and then to the petting farm to brush the goats.

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He also loved this.  So much.  He has such a sweet little nurturing side.  And then, of course, the tractor.  Maybe that was his favorite.

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^ Unfortunately, not a single shot capturing his glee was in focus.   But at least I captured the spider web.. right?! ^

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Work on the farm for the little farm hands:

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For Phoebe the biggest highlights, though she was half-terrified, were seeing the wolfies and the bears.  By the end of our couple of hours, the kids were exhausted.  And they took GREAT naps.  Win/win.

These kind of outings are so good for Brandon and I.  To just make time for family time.  There is the temptation to work without ceasing, as there is always, ALWAYS, work to be done.  But it’s part of something we’re wrestling through and learning lately: recreating together in some form draws us back together after a week of busyness and the mundane.  It “re-creates” us, in a sense, as a family.  Choosing to set aside worry and stress and just remembering how to be like children, to enjoy this world that God has made, to look for glimpses of His character and His fingerprints on all He has made, and to set aside the rush and hurry to just slow and enjoy.  It is part of what rests our souls and helps us see and remember how much we love each other and the gift God has given us in giving us LIFE, and life together.

Stopping the frenetic pace so we can savor.  This is my goal lately!

Weekends are for…

Stealing away with family to a nearby lake.
Potluck picnic in the rain.
Nieces holding hands with uncles.
First swims in a cold lake.
Boat rides.
Rest and conversation.
Swimming with grandpa.
First bee stings on tiny fingers.
Laughter.

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Happy Weekending!