In the blink of an eye...

From this beautiful little angel...

To this delightful DIVA...

In the blink of an eye!

Oh, how fast two years have gone.

Hurricane Mary

Hurricane Mary strikes again!

I put together this cozy little reading nook for our toddler, Mary Grace, in hopes she'd pull out a book for us to snuggle up with and read.  I envisioned quiet moments with me reading to her and helping her to develop a love of books. 

She loves books alright!  

She LOVES throwing them off the shelves, she LOVES coloring in them, and sometimes she LOVES ripping out a particular page to show me.

  

Yes, Hurricane Mary is definitely rocking my boat at the age of 23 months!  Maybe it's because I'm raising a toddler at the age of 44, maybe it's because of working and homeschooling that I'm exhausted most of the time, or just maybe it's that red hair of hers that makes her so wiley!

I often think of all that I went through to get her here 

(you can read my story HERE.).

 I think about how she has her father wrapped around her little finger.

I think about how her older brothers are her happy minions.

 I think about my life and all the wonderful blessings we've been given...and then I think to myself,

Yes, I can weather this beautiful storm
but Lord, give me strength!

Our precious girl turns ONE!

Thank you to everyone who came and celebrated Mary Grace's first birthday with us!  And God bless our Mary Grace with many more happy birthdays!

Raising the bar on the cuteness scale one month at a time!

Mary Grace ~ 6 months

5 months old

At this time last year, I was merely existing day to day thinking she would never survive.

But God is so good.

And now our day to day living is full of hugs, kisses, the most glorious laughter and smiles!

Mama & Mary Grace

Yeah, she might hate me when she's sixteen for that last one!

dimple butt ~ SQUEEE!

Adjustments

Well I survived my first week at work!

Thankfully it was not very busy and I could stare at photos of Mary Grace on my phone and text Doug all day long (and trust me, 12 hours away from your baby is a loooong time!).
It got me through the day.
When I came home I couldn't wait to get showered and snuggled in the bed with my girl.

I was a little surprised when someone else joined us:

I was hoping that Mary Grace had been missing me, but as soon as I had her in my arms she was out like a light! It turns out that my little Danny had been missing me instead. He climbed right into our bed and talked and giggled as he told me all about the things I had missed. He gave me full reports on everybody - even Abby!

All I've been thinking about is leaving my new baby but I left my old babies, too. I never thought once that it might be difficult for little Danny. I have spent every day for the last three months with him and now I'm suddenly gone. Sure, he's old enough to know I have to work, but he's also still little enough to want his mama around to talk, laugh, or to make him a PB&J.
I thought it was just me that was making adjustments, but we are all making them it seems. These little hearts are fragile and they are only little for so long. Yes, I know we'll all adjust in time...but for now I'm snuggling these two up tight, stroking those soft red heads, and listening to them breathe as they sleep.

Right now it's all I can do.

One month old

Don't let the red hair fool you,
this is our most mellow kiddo yet!

Has it already been a month?
Seems like just yesterday to me.
We are still finding our way through these newborn days and the fog is starting to clear a bit.

Life is good, tiring, but good!

Another growing season

I saw seed packets in the store the other day and like a knee-jerk reaction, I bought some. I had Kyle clean out the garden boxes nearest the house (four 4X4 boxes I had used for herbs in the past) and filled them with compost that has been brewing the last nine months.

John Paul and I planted about 40 cloves of garlic, some swiss chard, turnips, and romaine lettuce seeds.

I'm not sure how this fledgling garden is going to fare this fall with my attentions on a new baby.

But I guess it will manage, like I will manage...

I'll provide them both with sunshine, food, and lots of love, and they will grow.

Except swiss chard won't wake me up at 4 a.m.!
;-)

Daddy's girl

Mary Grace ~ Child of God

Update on us

I'm currently just shy of 38 weeks pregnant now and the jig is up!

My blood pressure is getting worse.
My blood sugars are wack-a-doodle.
I'm old.

The doc says it's time to deliver and I'm not fighting him about it.

Wednesday October 12th is "D" day.

I have to let go of all control and completely rely on God for both our sakes.
He has carried us thus far.
He gave us this gift against all odds.
She shouldn't have survived past 12 weeks, yet here she is!

I told myself that anything past 36 weeks would be gravy...
I feel like my gravy boat overflowing.

Please offer a prayer for us on Wednesday.

A most blessed day!

Doug's precious cousins, Kristi and Joni, came halfway across Texas this past weekend to give us the most wonderful baby shower!

They planned EVERYTHING!
I was told to just sit back, relax, and enjoy...

BOY, DID I EVER!

I'm still amazed at all the loving support we have received, I mean, this is baby number five! I would have thought all the hoop-la would have vanished by now. But this out pouring of love has blessed my heart and soul in ways I could have never imagined.

Thank you all for the beautiful cards, well wishes, and most generous gifts for our baby girl. I hope none of you noticed, but I had to slip away to the bathroom a couple of times during the day to compose myself for fear of blubbering like a baby in front of you all!

Maybe it was crazy pregnancy hormones...

Or maybe it was being surrounded by the most wonderful friends and family a girl like me could ever wish for.

We love you.
We thank you.
We have been so blessed by your presence in our lives.

I can't wait for our daughter to know you all too!