My sweet mama

Happy, happy birthday today to my sweet mama! 

It has been no small blessing to be your daughter - to have a front row seat to your life. You have always handled all of those dear to you with such great intentionality, care and tenderness; you have been there for every single ounce of the memory-making; and you are always joyfully available to walk alongside all of us down our paths so we are never, ever alone.

In this way, you wear your many hats so well - sister, friend, Mama and Oowa. You're simply just the sweetest soul and I am so proud to be yours...and that Wren and this new baby of ours get a slice of that too.

You make me better, braver and more steady. We love you to pieces and hope you always know how celebrated you are. Especially today - Happiest Birthday, Oowa!

24 weeks | baby bink 2

24 weeks and bumping right along. Sweet littlest babe, we are in so much wonderment over you! Boy or girl; early or late; wild or laid back or a little of both like your big sister, Wren? We simply cannot wait to see how you will fulfill your special place in our family. 

I've been mulling over a few things lately as plenty has been different this second time around. Most pertinent is that you'll get to have 30 year old parents with a little bit of season behind them. Hopefully that will prove in your benefit and you'll develop your own allowance of grace with us as our hearts grow bigger and we learn to stretch and pour ourselves out farther and wider. In some ways I can already feel that you are going to calm us down and keep us locked in on the simple joys of the present instead of tending to hold our gaze on the "just beyond." I already appreciate that about you. 

We love you to pieces and rest knowing that the promises remembered this Easter weekend of our Savior defeating death, offering Himself for us all already applies to you in the womb. And that your sweet Daddy, that we also celebrate this weekend for his 30th birthday, already loves you, provides for you and honors you by who he is and always strives to be. See...you already have our gaze on the important things (: 

20 weeks | baby bink 2

Halfway through this pregnancy. I can hardly believe it! A giant PTL (PRAISE THE LORD!) for a perfectly healthy 20 week anatomy scan this week. And we stuck to our guns with not finding out the gender in order to enjoy another big surprise on delivery day as we did with Wren. It was just too.much.fun!

And even more to celebrate...Michael, Wren and I are getting back to our little family rhythm again now that I'm feeling well and more energized - time I'm so grateful for as we are being very mindful of soaking up sweet time with Wren [the only child version]. 

Sweet babe, I'm so in awe of the miracle that you already are! You have restored a joy and hope in us that we will fight to never let go of again. A blessing I am now reminded of every time that I feel you kick around (finally! An anterior placenta position this time around kept me on my toes waiting a little longer than I expected to). And some of my most favorite family moments have included you already - talking to you in my belly as we tuck Wren into bed each night. She is so eager to meet you and constantly tells you that "bunnies are her favorite; she likes purple (sometimes pink, sometimes green like Mama); and that she will help you pet all of the animals, plant seeds in the garden, hike to waterfalls and climb up into the treehouse." 

We prayerfully anticipate you joining us this summer! All of our love, littlest one.

16 weeks | baby bink 2

I am finally feeling less nauseous and constantly sick which is a luxury I have apparently traded with that of fitting into my normal clothes. My heart is glad to do it though. It is funny how it's no less miraculous this second round. 

We are staying busy in preparations for you - they just look a little different than last time. Wren has been settled into her big girl room since last summer, so the nursery is simply your very first hand-me-down. First of many I'm sure. But don't worry, we will be busy working on preparations like potty training and good (better) sleep habits for Wren so she can just enjoy being a new big sister once you come home. We're not going to concern ourselves with much else - just getting excited to meet you and love you! 

12 weeks | baby bink 2

12 weeks somehow snuck by me before a reminder from a sweet friend got me started on bump progress pictures this second time around. Between chasing a wild toddler and being oh.so.sick (totally different than with Wren) I'll be trying my best to keep up with these. 

But we're no less excited for you, sweet babe. After a trying loss last year, we are confident that God needed us to learn and stretch and grow and that He just had you especially in mind for our family. We pray you continue to grow steadily and in perfect health all along the way. We love you and cannot wait to meet you!

|Big| sisters make the best friends

Wren is going to be a big sister! We'll be growing a new, little best friend until early August. Grateful down to our bones to be adding another blessing to our little family adventure!

Snow day | 1.7.17

Like any snow day, we got up early and watched through the window as we ate a hot breakfast anticipating our day's adventure. After packing and piling into the trooper with an eager pup and toddler we drove the long way to Table Rock for some sightseeing, a family snowball fight and plenty of snow angels. There was definitely whining over cold, wet hands and nearing exhaustion, but we are thankful for a day spent seeing Wren add to her experiences and seeing the years lift from Sully as he runs wildly through the snow. Easily his favorite kind of day!

After Table Rock we warmed up the trooper, hopped in our seats and shared snacks and laughs all the way to Ben and Emily's house for more playing in the snow. They are always down for snow day adventures, so they ventured out (for the second time) to treat us to some sledding down their neighborhood hill and then to warm grilled cheeses for lunch after we shucked our wet layers and snuggled up on the couch. 

Easily one of our family's favorite kind of days!