Currently : October

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I love fall and October is generally my favorite month. Everything about it is wonderful!  This October however has been particularly difficult.

Thinking About: I used to sleep. I don't mean a few hours at a time...I mean all night. Since N's birth, those days of restful, restorative sleep are but a distant memory. This October has been full of sickness in our family. This has greatly contributed to many sleepless nights. For instance, we've experienced the following:
-My diagnosis of octal migraines (yes, my eyes have migraines)
-Teething
-Fevers
-Strep
-Common cold (which is miserable for the babes)

Working On: November's meal menu. I love breaking out the crock pot this time of year.

Learning: It's an ongoing process when it comes to learning how to accept things that are beyond my control. I want to learn how to really slow down and embrace the now instead of constantly feeling like I need to be prepping for the next thing.

Watching: The leaves are turning. It's peak season here and everything is gorgeous. How quickly time flies.

Listening to: G console her baby brother. They both have colds and when he coughs she does what she can to comfort him.

Trying: I'm really trying to get some order back in our home. Between myself and the kids being sick, I've been trying to disinfect but haven't done well to keep things organized.

Loving: I'm loving all the little things. Life goes by far too quickly and every moment we have is a gift.

Countdown to Halloween Link-up : Week 4

We're finally all on the mend. N appears to still be teething and G may be getting a cold but overall, this is the healthiest we've all been for the last 3 weeks. We finally got in some good fall fun.

On Saturday G and I met up with our friends to participate in our local pregnancy center's costume 5k. Not only was it awesome fun, but what a wonderful cause. The money we raised will go towards helping those facing pregnancy learn about options that will promote the health and life of their unborn child. We had a blast!

On Sunday we celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary by going out to eat after church. We opted to try a restaurant that catered our friend's wedding. We were not disappointed.

We got in a fall craft and later that evening we went to a local church's Trunk or Treat. My computer is on the fritz so I'll have to post those pictures later. We have a few more things coming up this week that I'm looking forward to and will share next week. Until then I'll leave you with a swert little pic of sweet N enjoying the fall weather. Happy fall!

Linking up with the Countdown to Halloween Link-up

Seven Years Strong

Today my husband and I celebrate 7 years of marriage. In that time we've seen many friends get married and then far too many divorce. People have their reasons for separating but likewise, he and I have our reasons for staying together.

Before I go on, our marriage is far from perfect,  but we do try to live according to the marriage God has put together and continues to bless.

First off, we don't consider divorce an option. We are solely committed to each other and the vows we made to God. We try to keep him the center of our marriage and that helps to keep our marriage centered on what it should be. Our thought on the matter is that if one of us leaves, it's because the Lord has called that person home.

Secondly, we try to make the other feel appreciated. A lot of divorced couples use that as a reason...they feel under appreciated. Marriage takes work. It's not something that just magically takes care of itself. You have to be in it...all in.

Thirdly, we pray for each other. We know that temptation is out there. The grass always looks greener, especially when things are a little rough at home. Praying for your spouse through the good AND bad times makes a huge difference.

Finally (there is so much more but for the sake if time), we tell each other how much we truly love the other. We don't throw that phrase around. We mean what we say. We give compliments and words of encouragement when we can. It's so important to affirm the other person.

Like I said, we have our faults and our flaws but we truly love one another. We truly want Christ in our marriage and we want others to see His blessings in our lives. It's not always easy but it's worth it. Besides, we set the example of what our children will look for in their own relationships. We want to know that we are showing them the right things.

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5 Reasons Why October is My Favorite

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Oh October,  I love you.

Why?

1. On October 25, 2008 I married my best friend. He truly is the love of my life and I look forward to many years to come.

2. In October 2012 we announced the miracle of our first pregnancy.

3. On October 31, 2014, we were blessed with another prayed for miracle. We learned that we were expecting baby #2.

4. It's the time of year when fall festivals are in full swing, the air is crisp and sweater season truly begins...

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5. My newest reason to love October is that on the 20th of this month (yes, just this week!) our dear friends brought their new son home to his forever home. This adoption has been long prayed for and they have been truly blessed. I can't wait to meet him soon! You can read about his homecoming here.

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Countdown to Halloween Link-up : Week 3

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I really wish I had something spooktacular to share. I had every intention of enjoying some of the fall activities in the local area. Instead, this week was filled with doctor appointments and I can still be found laid up on the couch, waiting for the antibiotics to kick in.

N waiting on the doctor earlier this week.

I woke up Friday morning with a dry throat. I assumed with the change in weather I simply needed to run the humidifier. As the day went on, I still felt ok, just really tired. However, I attributed that to two children who are not sleeping like normal.

The in laws came to watch the kids so we could head to our friend's wedding dinner party. With each passing hour I began to feel worse and worse. I was suddenly cold and achy and my throat was becoming more sore. By the time I got home I had a fever and was feeling miserable. I slept on the couch so as not to have additional contact with my kids and hubby.

I woke up Saturday morning feeling awful. I went to my doctor's office to discover what I had feared. I had strep throat. A few kids at school had been diagnosed and I assume that with my pitiful immune system, it was inevitable.

So...instead of taking the kids to the annual Apple Festival on Saturday and to the orchard Sunday after church,  I spent my time resting. My hubby took the kids so that I could rest child free. Prayerfully this week will go better and the meds will kick in quickly. So far this fall has been a bust and I want that to change.

Linking up for the Countdown to Halloween Link-up

The Hand That Holds Mine

When I look at the hand that holds mine, my heart often skips a beat. It's rough and slightly calloused from hard work and helping others. It is gentle and calming in the midst of fear and uncertainty. It is secure when everything around me seems to be falling apart. 

That hand belongs to the man that God gifted to me. A man so strong in his faith that he does not waver. He is a man who provides for his family and yet tends to the needs of others with just as much love. He is a man who shows his children how Christ calls men to father and love their wives. He proves that God can use imperfections to further His kingdom. 

He is the man who has walked me through our battles with infertility. He is the one who speaks words of love and encouragement when I think "I can't." He is the one the Lord hand picked just for me. 

At the end of this month we will celebrate 7 years of marriage. These 7 years have included arguements, making up, job changes, infertility, children, a house, births and deaths and a whole lot of memories. I look forward to spending the rest of our lives together. I meant what I said when I took those vows and the hand I held then is the hand I hold now and it is the hand I hope to hold the rest of my life.

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Countdown to Halloween Link-up: Week 2

This past week was all about survival.
Survive my first week back to work...barely
Survive what may be my babe teething
Surviving on next to no sleep
Surviving multiple setbacks

But hey! It's fall and here in Central Virginia the leaves are turning, the air is crisp and the nights are cool. What hasn't been about survival has been about family time and fun. Our church was having a fundraiser by selling pumpkins so we grabbed a couple. This worked out wonderfully since our annual pumpkin patch trip was rained out.

We did manage to attend my hubby's 10 year high school reunion. It was a lot of fun!

With the fall comes back to school and our church celebrated teachers with little goody bags. So sweet!

I also have my mind set to make these Melt in Your Mouth Pumpkin Cookies this week with G.

Hopefully this week will go a little more smoothly and I'll be able to get in some more Fall fun.

Linking up for the Countdown to Halloween

Momma said there'd be days like this...

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Last night we hired a sitter for a much needed night out. We headed to my husband's 10 year high school graduation. We had a blast and felt like rebels being up past 10pm.

We got home to find both kids asleep and for that we were elated. N has had a phlemy cough the last few days, and while it's getting better, he hasn't been sleeping like normal. We paid the sitter and crept quietly to bed.

Not more than 15 minutes later N wakes up crying. I lay there a few minutes hoping he'd fall back asleep. Nope. I change his dirty diaper and lay him back down. I can hear him tossing and turning and what I'm certain was him mumbling under his breath (because we know 3 month olds do that.) Every 30 minutes or so after that he was up despite feeding, rocking and snuggling. Of course this means Mommy was also up all night.

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At 630 G wakes up and my husband takes both kids downstairs so I  can sleep. Not 15 minutes later my 2 year old comes barreling into my room. I get a few snuggles in between her squealing and jumping on the bed. Over the next hour she made her way in and out of the room. Guess who fell asleep downstairs?

I got up and got us ready for church. We were running late and rushing, which is not the way I like to have our Sunday mornings go. On our way to church my husband got a search and rescue call so we turned around so he could respond. More late. More rushing. At least we eventually made it to church. In the midst of it all I just kept reminding myself of two things : Momma said there'd be days like this and that this too shall pass.

Days like today prove that I am completely human and desperately in need of a Savior. He does not rush and He is never late. His grace and mercy are always right on time.

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Countdown to Halloween link-up Week 1

While we don't do much in the way of celebrating Halloween,  we do a lot to celebrate the blessings of the Fall season. This past weekend was supposed to consist of a great consignment sale, pumpkin picking and one of our local orchard ' s apple butter festival. However, thanks to 3 days of rain, all outside activities were postponed. I did get some awesome deals at the consignment sale. Yippee!

I've been trying to savor the last bits of my maternity leave since I go back to work today. The struggle is real. To keep my toddler (and my mind) occupied, we did a couple little fall activities that we picked up from our library...not to mention lots of play dough and snuggling.

She completed a sorting activity and then a leaf activity. This was her first time using a glue stick...she is now slightly obsessed.

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Mourning My Maternity Leave

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Monday...back to being my least favorite day of the week. This Monday in particular is very difficult. After a wonderful 8 weeks of maternity leave, I will be heading back to work. I'm so envious of places that offer longer and/or paid maternity leave. If I could have afforded to take the remaining four weeks I most certainly would have. But such is life.

Checking emails is already a bit overwhelming. Meetings, deadlines, and concerns regarding next year's budget (already!) make up most of my emails. I love coming back to discussions of whether or not more teachers will lose their positions for next year (insert eye roll). Because of my maternity leave, I'll be 20 days shy of being able to earn tenure this year, which only adds to the stress whenever budgets are involved. I'm walking into a classroom of students I have met once, not to mention have very little working knowledge of their academics. I have a whole new set of parents to get to know and I can only imagine how many times I'll hear, "That's not how Mrs. ________ did it."

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Honestly, I want to cry. Packing my babies' bags for the sitter was agonizing. I know to some this all sounds melodramatic but seriously, my heart aches at the thought of going back to missing so much of their little lives each day. I was fine when I was in the daily grind and I was kind of numb to that reality. It's all very fresh right now. Add to that hormones and limited sleep,  I can be classified as a hot mess.

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Now...the flip side of this is that I serve an awesome, gracious God. I wanted N to be at least 3 months before I had to return to work and he turned 3 months this past week. I do love my job. I feel I am a good teacher and I have a passion for what I do. I just have to learn to give myself a little grace. Fortunately I'll be coming back to a very loving and supportive group of friends and coworkers. I don't have the luxery of working outside the home as an option and since that is the case I consider myself quite blessed to have a job I love, with people I treasure at a school that I embrace as my second home.

While this week, and many days to come, will prove difficult,  I am so grateful for both the time I've had with my babies, God's provision and a job that I know I am called to. It's easy to worry and stress but that does nothing for anyone. Besides...now I can start the countdown to Christmas Break ;)

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Baby N: 3 Months

Didn't I just post your 2 month update? Another month has come and gone in the blink of an eye. My heart mourns each passing month but looks forward to all of the milestones. I was not sure how I'd handle becoming a boy - mom after your sister, but there is no doubt that I can do both. My oh my how you've grown...

Weight: 13 lbs 8oz

Height: 24 3/4 inches

Clothes size: 0-3 months onesies, 3-6 months long sleeve shirts and pants  (for length)

Eat: 5-6 oz every 4ish hours

Sleep: 6-8 hours

Play: You are still not a fan of tummy time. However, if laid on your back, you'll spend a good while watching people, the fan and any lights in the room. You love playing with your big sister. She constantly wants to hold you and sing to you. To these things you smile and coo. You love people to talk to you and make funny noises.

Odds and ends: You are still working on the body swing that will allow you to roll over. You love to be held up and stand on people's laps. You are smiling so much these days and you are quite the chatterbox. You are starting to try and grasp things and occasionally succeed. You have almost completely rolled over...it's just a matter of time. You are also drooling like a mad man and starting to gnaw on things quite a bit...

You still adore your big sister. My heart skips a beat every time I see the two of you together.

Be still my heart...

Your hair is undoubtedly red. The more it fills in the brighter it becomes. You also have the sweetest blue eyes and the longest eyelashes. Is it possible for someone to be beautiful and handsome at the same time? You are also getting so long. We've noticed what appear to be dimples as your smile gets bigger.

You went to your first wedding...

You enjoyed some fun at the local library...

  

We took a vacation to Gatlinburg, TN to meet up with Granna, your Aunt Kelly and Aunt Karla. We had fun making memories. And...even though your Aunt Kelly isn't much of a kid person, she sure seemed to enjoy her time with you. We love being able to share you with others. You are such a blessing and we can't help but fall more and more in love with each passing day.

Aunt Karla

Aunt Kelly

Happy 3 Months baby boy!

N's Birth Story//Month 1//Month 2

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