Many Thanks

Hope everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving. What a great feeling to see all our family, laugh, and eat great food. I am exhausted. I haven't yet figured out why just being pregnant automatically makes you tired? Huh... Anyways, my fave part of the day is when we went around the room and said what we were thankful for. I thought for a second that someone would try to get out of it, but everyone smiled and listened to the many different choices from family, friends, our health, etc. When it came to my lil nephew his little voice became so clear and loud as he proclaimed, "I'm thankful for my dog". Precious. Don't take the many moments for granted that we have.

Im thankful that we have forgiving & loving Father who gives us life. Im thankful for that life... the life in my belly, the life of my child, the life in the wind that blows the fall leaves and not just today... tomorrow and forever.

Be thankful and give thanks. Every day.

Updates

Hello All! Just an update on the happenings around here.... Getting ready for the holidays has proved to be a bit tiring! But, Im hoping that we'll be able to relax (haha) when the time comes. :)

Lil baby girl #2 is moving around alot lately. Its SO great be feeling her tumbles and kicks. Daddy was even able to feel her last night. YAY!

Ayla is growing up so fast and such a sweet girl. She is speaking more and more daily- she loves to repeat things and is always polite saying "peas & tank ou". I got a break today from my lil toddler, my sis n law watched her so I could visit a friend and do some Christmas shopping. It was really nice, I got alot done, but Im tired! We just put Ayla in bed and she waved her babydoll's hand to me as she and daddy went to her room. SO CUTE!

Oh yeah... we SOLD our house! :) So thank you for all your prayers.

Anyone need a spa day?

Ayla always gets Christmas pictures with my brother's little boy Parker. So, we woke up early, bathed, ate, and painted our nails in prepartion for the big day....

Big day it was :)

Let's go back to painting our nails... hehe Ayla loves to have her nails painted so I did them this morning. I went to go pack her bag and potty. While running around I heard Ayla saying "mommy" I called to her. Then again, "mommy". She came down the hall- covered in bright, red nailpolish. Covered head to toe. (It's 5 min til pic time) As she totters toward me in the hallway she places her hand on the wall and looks like she knows something is bad. Very bad. I yell for her to sit immediately- as I assess the situation. She of course, starts crying because now she is really sure its bad, very bad. ha About a 2-3 ft. section of my new carpet is swirled just in time for the holidays with Christmas red nail polish.

(big deep breath)

I go back to my screaming child, painted red. I scramble to find what I have left of my acetone and start to peel the color off her hands. Trying not to cry myself. Thinking bad mommy and trying to make the most of what the day has left! I know you all are either laughing or holding your breath... I assure you one day I will laugh, but not today.

**P.S. Pictures turned out just fine. We have multiple sessions set up with family so it was kinda a warm up.

Prayer Request: Home

Calling on my blog friends to come together with me and my family to pray over the selling of our home. If you follow my page much, you know we've moved and currently have 2 magical house payments. As the holidays approach, I have prayed for this to not affect our family (too much) & for the family belongs in our old home.
We have delt with many negotiations recently and both parties have came to an agreement!
Yahoo. maybe. It still has to go through the rig-a-ma-row of selling a home. SOOO.. we are quieting our excitement and waiting to see how it pans out. In the meantime, if you have time please say a quick prayer for the buyer, realtors, & sellers (us) as it will be good for all parties.
Thanks!

Hello, God?

I feel like I don't share enough about our lil babe to be. Its so easy to see Ayla and her accomplishments & brag. I can't help but connect my relationship between my unborn daughter and my relationship with God.
Alot of times its so easy to go to Him and talk and "brag" about the wonderful stuff I see, touch, and experience in my life. But, what about the unspoken miracles & plans He has for me. Why does it take me til it smacks me in the face to thank Him or ask for his help?
I know life is busy, but there is no excuse for me to not place Him in front of every single situation in my life. So why not start now?

Lord, Thank you for the day, for my life, my children, for the air I breathe. I pray that I can be more aware of you in my life in every situation. I know you are patient and unwavering...

As far as my sweet, baby girl #2.. we are already so in love with her. My belly is becoming increasingly round & pregnant. hehe Ayla kisses my belly and calls her by name (hopefully, can announce this offically soon) & Daddy loves playing classical music for her before bedtime, the same one we played for her big sissy. I long for the day I can feel her move inside my belly. I can say this thought consumes my thoughts most of the time. Paitence is a virtue.

Measuring up!

I recently got Ayla a growth chart. Its so cute! I really wanted to start it on her 18mo birthday- but days fly by so fast that day came and went. So I settled for a normal busy Wednesday night. What better time, really? :)

She didn't want to stand still and thought I was crazy writing on the "picture" on the wall. She is now 30 1/2 in tall. Over 10in longer than the day I first laid eyes on her. She sure looked so tiny then and so big now. One day I'll look back on this and she'll be 40 in and so on.... I guess that is a good thing, huh?

Growing up isn't easy

Ayla has been growing up so quickly! Its amazing to know that I have had a part in shaping the sweet, silly, crazy little girl we love. Things have been hectic lately with moving and adjusting to mommy being pregnant. I haven't noticed her recent developments....

On Sunday she started saying "thank you" & "welcome"..... let me tell you, it is so sweet to hear! Other new words include cracker, cake, mamaw, papaw, mimi, no. Monday, we caught her snooping for her Christmas presents for the first time, also. I put a few gifts we bought on Saturday in the spare bedroom closet. Jeff came home for lunch just as she was pulling a dolly stroller out of the closet. He said her eyes were as big as pancakes! She came out to the kitchen screaming for us to open it. It was hilarious. Last but not least.. she came up to me yesterday, tapped my leg, and said "mama, I wan jews" :translation for those w/out toddlers- She wants juice. AH! It was the first time she really clearly put words together like that! I hopped to it and got her her jews, I mean, juice. hehe

Now we're trying to figure out what 2 kids will be like. Im sad and glad and kinda scared. Sad that Ayla will not be the baby anymore. Glad God trusts us to be parents again. And scared, well, I almost can't even remember what to do with a little baby anymore. Jeff happily reminds me that we really didn't know what to do before Ayla either! ha

Hope everyone is having a great COLD week. I sure don't like it!

Drum Roll Please.......

Well, today was the day. As Jeff has been explaining it- he says, it will mark which path our lives will take for the next couple years. He may be right, but really our lives are already set on a wonderful path.
We have two beautiful girls now in our lives now! That's right folks we're having a girl! :) I am in complete and udder shock! I really thought we were having a boy. It is still early so we're not painting the room or anything, but its a fun thought of having two sweet sisters close in age. Names have been thrown around for some time now-- but I don't know if I have clearence to release anything! hehe Baby Girl #2 looked great... cute legs (like her daddy), swallowing well, and wiggling like a wiggle worm!
Thanks for everyone's prayers! Have a great weekend.

Ayla's first haircut!!

Ok- so I broke down and did Ay's first haircut! Those of you who don't know, my mom is a hairdresser/business owner here in Washington. So its just what she does. She's been asking me to do it for awhile now. Ayla did SO good :) Sat really still, said "cheeeeese" for the camera, and looks too cute with her new bangs and cut in the back.

Enjoy!!

She got a sucker for being such a Big Girl!!! :)

Sneak Peak....

Here's a sneak peak of our house... or certain rooms. I included a pics of the dirty kitchen, ayla's room, master suite, and our sunroom. They are good, because the house wasn't particularly clean. We still have a few boxes and things to figure out, but its really nice being here. Thanks for everyone's interest (nosey-ness) into our lives. We love it!

Our master (keep in mind this was a garage!)

Ayla's room- the one room we still have stuff to do to

View into my dirty kitchen

Sunroom- off the master its my fave room

Visit from Lauren

My uncle Matt & Kerri came into town today for a surprise visit!! We were so excited because Ayla doesn't get to see Lauren very often. Kerri is currently expecting twin boys so we're not sure if we'll be spending any holidays together?!

Here are so pics from our short visit....

Fall Fun

Here is some fall pics, including our little bunny from my camera. I uncovered my camera cord today and found out how to dl them temp to Jeff's computer! Yay! Hope everyone is having a great weekend. We are so far. Tomorrow we plan on taking some house pics- so be on the look out!

Ayla & our pumpkins

Supporting Hatchet Football!! Good luck at Sectional Finals...

Our little bunny... just love that tail! :)

We had a small group party last Tuesday. The girls painted pumpkins and we carved ours. It was alot of fun! I heard we'll be having a new member too... Congrats Jamie & Scott!