Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Bethany Beach 2014

For the past couple years, it seems as if becoming sick upon arrival, is part of our yearly tradition to Bethany Beach. Our first weekend there all 3 kids were sick.  Eli's fever, we soon realized had to do with the fact that his 2 bottom teeth came in. I wasn't expecting that at 4 months! And as I write this his 2 upper teeth are coming in soon too! Chloe and Noah had their usual round of fevers and vomiting but once we got home after a long and sanctifying weekend, everyone was healed. When we we went on our week long trip, Danny's dad spiked a high fever and needed urgent care for chest pain he was having.  They had had to head home for IV antibiotics and a stent placement.  We were grateful he was doing better but bummed they couldn't be with us at the beach.  BUT, other than that we couldn't have asked for a better week with great weather and fun together as a family with my parents....

This is the only picture we got from the first time we went. It pretty much sums up the weekend though.

We stopped at the harbor to eat on the way there for the first time (and probably the last).
Eli did awesome and loved to sleep on the beach like the rest of us.







 
she still likes the taste of sand

Noah & Chloe actually did great boogie-boarding, so we thought we would get a head start on Eli.
Everyone is actually looking
kite flying was fun
waiting for fireworks, eating snacks
  and waiting for fireworks, working on balance on the walkway

mommy & Eli picture since birth??



last evening at the beach

Thursday, July 17, 2014

1st Frederick Keys game with Nathan


things I'm enjoying

- Conversations with a boy who wants to be just like his daddy in every way
Noah,
After you saw daddy sweat so much playing volleyball, you've thought it's really cool. You tried to convince me to turn the AC off in 90 degree weather the other day just so you could sweat :)  On several occasions we will have conversations that go like this...
Me: Noah it's hot outside, you sure you want to wear your sweatpants and jacket?
You: Is it going to make me sweaty?
Me: yes buddy, you're going to get really hot and sweaty
You: yeah, I want to sweat like daddy

- a little girl who loves to sing all the time at the top of her lungs
Chloe,
You know so may songs! Today we went to Target and when we got out the car you sang "God is so good" at the top of your lungs in the parking lot, so everyone can hear.  You sounded so cute.  You also know all the words to Jesus Loves Me and The B-I-B-L-E.

-a baby boy thats squeals and giggles constantly
Eli,
I love how happy you are and how your eyes disappear when you smile. You are quite the squealer. You actually squeal instead of crying, it's sometimes hard to tell the difference.  You always greet me with a grin no matter the hour.  Last night after your feeding I couldn't go back to sleep.  You kept smiling at me and I just could't put you down. So I kept you asleep in my arms and lay next to you until the morning.  You made it worth it:)


 love your little rainbows for eyes
I love the relationship you guys have

Monday, June 23, 2014

Noah's new sport

Danny took Noah to the Pottstown Rumble this past weekend, while I stayed home with Chloe & Eli.  My time with Chloe was memorable and I enjoyed having special time with her. Noah too had a really good time watching Danny play volleyball and playing volleyball is what we like to do now.  Last nights bedtime conversation...
 
Me: Noah what was your favorite part about this weekend? 
Noah: Watching dad play Volleyball.
Me: Aww buddy that's so sweet,  Daddy loves when you watch him and play with him. 
Noah: Mom, can you jump serve?
Me: Sorry Noah, I don't think I can.
Noah: (ever so proudly) I can!


Monday, June 9, 2014

Catching up

Time is flying by way too fast.  Transitioning into 3 kids got off to a good start and quickly got rough once we discovered Eli doesn't like to sleep as much as the rest of us do. His days and nights were mixed up for longer than I anticipated and I discovered how quickly your brain begins to malfunction when sleep deprived. Things have gotten much better and I hope to blog separately about this transition but won't be surprised if I don't get to it.

Eli, you're getting big so fast and I can't get enough of your chub and smiles.  I thought I wouldn't have much time for you since I'm caring for the other two, but that hasn't been the case. I feel I've spent ample time with you.  I hate putting you down. I love to cuddle with you and hold you as long as I can.  I loved the nights you slept in my arms and giggled at me when you should've been sleeping.  You gave me spurts of Gods gracious blessings in those difficult and long nights. I kiss you so much it scares you sometimes.  I had such a sweet time with you in Mexico. Daddy and I thought it would be time for us, but instead I released him to have man time with his buddies and I got extra one on one time snuggling with you in the sun by the pool.  It's the months after 3 months that I enjoy the most, and we just stepped into that phased. I love making you smile and " coo-ing" with you. You hate tummy time so much to that you already learned how to roll to your back.  So although you may have less pictures than the others it's because I am enjoying the moments I have with you instead.

Chloe, I need to record you talking these days.  I love how you accent certain words when you talk and how you speak and have the vocabulary of a normal adult.  You pick up things so quickly, typically after 1 time. I think you learned how to talk because you literally repeat everything Noah says, especially when you guys play.  We call you his echo :) You are so unbelievably mischievous and I would need another blog to write about the things you shouldn't be doing.   At Tayta's house you found some TUMS and helped yourself. When Tayta confronted you about it you responded with, "Tayta, put it up top so I can't reach it!" And one time I was in tears after a long morning, maybe the one after you dumped hot pink and yellow pain on the carpet,  and you tried to comfort me with a hug. Then you said, "Mommy? Does your tummy hurt?" You are teaching your brother your ways.  You and Noah got big chocolate bunnies for Easter and I hid them from you hoping you would forget. Well the next morning daddy and I woke up, (He went back to sleep on the couch after you guys got up), and we found you both under the table in the playroom having devoured then entire bunnies.  We laughed and felt nauseated at the same time.  About a week later I found Noah under there during his"quiet time" with a bag of m &m's. What influence you have! And let me not forget that you have had your 2nd trip to the ER. This time you split your head open after hitting the corner coffee table jumping off the couch :( On a sweeter note, you are super affectionate. You are into your 3 baby dolls and Eli might as well be your 4th.  You love to help mommy with him and you love to kiss and hold him.  I love going to put Eli in his pack n play, swing or carseat, and being greeted by your dolls all buckled in.  You are my sweet girl and I still love to hold you when I can and never deny your request to "just rock me for just 5 more minutes."

Noah, my Prince Charming, what a sweet and sensitive boy you continue to be.  You are such a good friend to those around you, and I love the big brother you are to Chloe &Eli. The other day she fell outside, and you carried her little hand to me, telling her "It's okay Chloe, you're going to be ok." And one time Eli was crying and I couldn't get to him. I looked on the monitor because he had eventually calmed down, and there you were standing on the bedrail holding the paci in his mouth.  And just yesterday I gave you a hug goodnight and told you that I loved you, and you responded with, "I love you, I love you to the moon and back." So you've pretty much dissolved my heart. I hope you get married one day, because I feel like the girl you marry will get the undeserved love and care I get from your daddy.  You lead Chloe into playing some fun games, sliding down the stairs in sleeping bags, racing to put PJ's on first and running back in forth through the upstairs, "running errands" as you say.  When Chloe sat on the potty for the first time, you grabbed the potty book and started "reading" it to her. Daddy and I totally forgot about that book too! It was so cute. This year you can bike the 1.3 mile loop that we do and you don't need any pushes on the hills. You really don't care too much for Eli yet.  You keep asking when he's going to start talking and walking so you can play with him.  Instead, you are very much into Disney's Cars and Planes so much that Chloe knows the characters even though she hasn't seen the movies.  You love to play with puzzles, Candyland, Trouble, and the matching game.  I think your memory is better than mine.  You ask so many questions as we read stories.  You have started asking questions about Jesus and Heaven and we pray that the Lord will open your heart to see and know the truth of God's saving grace.

You three have shown me the immeasurable kindness of the Lord, and I am so blessed when I hear you call me, "mommy."


 pinterest crafts
 too much snow
 Chloe wanted to sit on Noah's lap during a movie
 Noah potty training Chloe
 baths in the kitchen sink
 Home Depot outings
 Chloe willingly let me put a skirt on :) She refused to smile though :(
 At the Rio anytime it was over 50 degrees

 Costco Outings
 first pair of heels!
all dressed up for Easter Sunday
 swaddle-free! 
my 3 adopted children
 I guess I'm officially a soccer mom
Eli's first camping trip
 

 matchy-matchy Sunday
 fashion statement?
  ER visit #2
 you did so well and you loved to sing on the potty :)
 check ups
 buddy time
and this is how we all feel at the end of the day

Monday, May 26, 2014

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Eli's photo shoot


We had the privilege of having Bekah Maka come to our home and shoot some photo's of us.  We couldn't have been happier with the results, and so I had a hard time narrowing it down to just a few!
















Eli's Arrival

It felt this day would never come.  Our long awaited baby came on February 16th, his grandfather's birthday.  The Lord worked things in our favor.  I was becoming more fearful and anxious as our due date was approaching.  After having a miscarriage, I was more aware of all the things that could potentially go wrong throughout the pregnancy and delivery.  I was having a lot of painless contractions for weeks before, and I was hopping on the treadmill daily to try to get him to come.  Then we got hit with a huge snowstorm followed by stomach bugs, and I laid off the treadmill and literally sat on the couch all day praying Eli wouldn't come.  The plan was to be induced on a Monday.  But the day before Danny and I felt I should go in and get checked.  I felt like if I were to wait one more day, I would wake up in the middle of the night ready to deliver as I did with Chloe, and the baby would come in the car (Fear #3). Sure enough I was reassured that when I arrived there at 6cm, we made the right decision.  Our favorite doctor was on call that day and everything went quickly and smoothly (minus a malfunctioning epidural that took 3+ attempts).  No complications and a healthy baby.  Our friend Ana was with us and made the whole experience much easier and enjoyable.  And here we are enjoying the fleeting moments...









"Bless the Lord, O my soul, 
and all that is within me, 
bless his holy name! 
Bless the Lord, O my soul, 
and forget not all his benefits, 
who forgives all your iniquity, 
who heals all your diseases, 
who redeems your life from the pit, 
who crowns you with steadfast love 
and mercy,
 who satisfies you with good..."
- Psalm 103:1-5

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

funny Noah saying

We've been talking about Eli for so long.  It really has been a long time of waiting especially for Danny and I.  We were hoping he would come early, but right now I am praying he doesn't come tonight as we are in the midst of a snow storm.  Anyways, the plan is for me to be induced this coming Monday and so tonight Danny was putting Noah to bed...

Danny: Ok Noah in a few days you are going to meet Eli.
Noah (with a distraught face & voice):  Daddy I don't want to meet Eli.  I don't want to go in mommy's belly.

I'm convinced the kids don't believe that he is ever coming out.

Monday, February 10, 2014

night time with Chloe

Chloe, 

Last night I put you in bed and you clearly were not tired.  You were jumping up and down laughing. Every 10 seconds you asked for something so I wouldn't leave.  I was laughing too.  Finally I told you it was night time and I had to leave.  Once I got to the door, there was one more "mom!" I looked at you and softly you said, "I love you."  You made me smile big.  I think that was your first time initiating those words. :) 


Tuesday, January 28, 2014

my sweet children

Chloe,

The other day daddy stubbed his toe, and lets say he made it clear that he was hurt.  You quickly jumped off the kitchen table bench and kneeled down to kiss his foot! 

You are picking up words and sayings so quickly without being taught.  You made Tayta laugh when she sneezed the other day.  You were so quick to say, "God Bess you Tayta."  And you say it all the time now after every sneeze in the house :)

Noah, 

I took you to Trader Joe's the other day to do our grocery shopping.  When we got to the register, you noticed the flowers by the door, and you shouted, "mom, we forgot to buy you flowers!" Daddy has taught you well.

Last week you were sick with pneumonia.  Daddy was away and it was so hard and heart breaking caring for you.  You were laying in my arms on the couch trying not to cough and I was feeling so weak and overwhelmed.   Out of no where you looked up at me and said, "mom, you're the best and I love you." How grateful you made me feel to be your mommy.

These are just a couple of the many moments I wish to remember and continue to be grateful for.  We love you guys so much and we are so blessed to be your parents.




Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Missing you.

1 year today...

"The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." - Job 1:21