let there be peace

Will received his Pottery Barn Kids chair as a Christmas gift from Blake and I this past year. He has loved it and loved it and loved it. He continues to love it while pushing his sister out of it... You see, Riley has grown to love the chair. Now she can love her own. Her big 1 year old present from her mommy and daddy is TADA: A Pottery Barn Kids chair of her very own. Tonight was a much more peaceful movie watching night.

A Proud Day For A Preacher

When we visited Illinois a few weeks ago, Blake preached the morning service at the church he grew up in... Of course the kids and I went to cheer him on! Riley spent the service in the nursery and did wonderfully and I thought we would give the service a try for Will. We have been practicing some at home and I thought that if ANYONE was going to keep Will entertained, it would be his daddy... Well, it turned out to be a proud day for Blake because Will sat through the ENTIRE service! He colored a little and ate a few crackers, but really did wonderfully! Both the preacher and the preacher's wife were 2 proud parents of their 2 1/2 year old son!

it's my party

riley's 1st birthday party was this afternoon(birthday on monday)... my wonderful parents hosted at their home and our sweet friends came over to help celebrate our baby girls milestone. we had planned an outdoor fun party and rain threatened all day, but god was good and we have yet to see a drop! much fun was had... much sugar was eaten... much sleep is needed to recover! :)

the spread

from scratch sugar cookies and strawberry cupcakes/strawberry icing

we just handed it to her... the icing went first :)

our sweet friends that helped us celebrate

(missing the barretts)

the grandparents and great grandmother

4 generations

my precious friends

i find them a necessary part of my life

a little tired from swimming and partying, but had to display the adorable birthday shirt

Ecuador Mission Trip

At Ninth and O's evening service this Sunday, we are presenting to the congregation a summary of our High School and College's recent mission trip to Ecuador. This video captures some of what we experienced in South America and is an adaptation to what we will show Sunday evening. Please keep the Ecuadorian People in your prayers.

Happy Birthday Paulie!

A Few Things For Emery

I can't believe I am buying baby clothes again! And "newborn" baby clothes at that... They are sososo tiny!

With baby #1 I was buying clothes before we even had Will's referrel. :) With baby #2 we went out right after our 18 week ultrasound and began purchasing girl clothes(and even had a few neutrals before the ultrasound)... Poor Emery. Baby #3 FINALLY got her first few things this week. I went out Sunday afternoon at 24 weeks and bought Emery a few items. I was given alot of advice with Riley not to purchase newborn items and then Riley ended up wearing them for 2 months! :) My mom met us at home when we left the hospital with a huge Babies R Us bag with some newborn clothes in them since I did not have 1 single item that didn't fall off of her! Even if she doesn't wear them for long, at least Emery has something to fit her when she comes home!

Riley's First Nikes

Riley turns 1 next week and has really mastered walking. Running, here we come. Blake and I decided that before she begins running she needed the proper shoes. Nikes... Pink, Shiny, and even glittery Nikes! These even make me want to exercise!

A Llama Farm

During a recent trip to visit Blake's family we spent a morning at his Aunt and Uncle's Llama farm... The breed, raise, and board Llama's! And no, we did not mention Riley's love affair with the llama haired bear from Ecuador! :) The kids enjoyed the animals and the beautiful country landscape!

An Unusual Love

During a recent mission trip to Ecuador, my brother Paul bought a small gift for Riley: this fuzzy wuzzy bear made of Llama hair. After much debate about whether to attempt to wash it before giving it to her I decided, "Awww, she's #2!", and handed the bear to her. An unlikely love affair began in that moment and she has carried this fuzzy bear everywhere since! When she spots it across the room it as if her long lost love has returned from war and she runs(waddles) as fast as her little legs will carry her to throw her arms around it. We are still deciding on a name... and what to do when it begins to fall apart! :)

Baby Update - 22 weeks

Well, Emery and I have 22 1/2 weeks behind us! I feel as if I am much smaller with her at this point then I was with Riley. I am thinking that 2 active children as opposed to one who was barely crawling is the difference. Our little girl is supposedly about the length of a carrot(10 inches), though I have been poking and pushing her around and can't quiet figure out where all of she is! :)

Emery and I have made 5 doctors(only 1 scheduled) visits in the past 6 weeks... 2 were actually trips to the labor and delivery wings of the both Baptist East and Norton Suburban. Blake and I have become quite used to getting to closely watch her growth and progress through the ultrasounds they have run. So far I am allowed to carry on as I have the past 6 weeks... At my last visit this past week(unscheduled and while Blake was still in Ecuador!), I was given the good news that I am still not softening or dialating, but the disruptive news that she thinks in a few wks or HOPEFULLY months that will change. Many have asked what will happen at that point and while I was given a brief picture I honestly don't have much of an idea. I didn't ask and I don't want to know right now - We will cross that bridge when and if we come to it.

My baby girl is becoming quite active and I feel her pretty often now. I guess all of those 10 inches are in there! :) Heartburn, exhaustion, backpain... all of the typical stuff has accompanied this pregnancy! What a blessing they are to carry though. Blake and I have to give a "shout out" to my parents - They have been amazing and I seldom have a day where I go the entire 9 hours Blake is gone without help. Emery is deeply endebted to them, as are we.

you can never be too careful

blake called me into our bathroom this morning... "no one is safe," was his response! :) riley had both of our toothbrushes in her hands. blake turned on the hot water while i simply tossed mine! 3 toothbrushes and only 2 teeth! riley has some impressive oral hygene!

A New Pool

Will's small plastic pool from last summer just wasn't going to cut it for our pool savy 2 1/2 year old this year(esp. after our vacation in Destin)! It was a slight bit small for 2 kiddos anyway. So last week Riley and I went in search of a pool that would "WOW" and entertain for hours! :) This is what we came home with...

Boys Will Be Boys

Last week, I went on a mission trip to Ecuador with a group of high schoolers and college-age singles from our church. The main purpose for our trip was to go into local schools with the intent of ministering and evanglizing the children and teachers. An easy way I was able to connect with the children was by showing them pictures of my own family. By the second day, several of the boys were saying my wife's name and subsequently making kissing noises (they thought they were cute)! The below video captures their antics. You'll also notice from the video that they love to see themselves in the camera so they are quick to run to the backside of the camera to see their faces.

Happy Father's Day Papa's

It has worked out that both Blake's father and mine are called Papa... Riley has been such a chatter box the last few weeks and we have been able to work with her on several words, one being the cherished name of her grandfathers:

HAPPY FATHERS DAY TO BOTH PAPA'S!!!

Great Strides for Riley

In the few days before Blake left for Ecuador, Riley made great strides with walking... There was a still alot of falling and crawling, but I knew that before he returned she was going to make great progress. By the time Blake returned (at about 1.00am on Saturday morning) Riley was a walking machine! :) Even when she falls down, she stands right back up and goes at it again... Here is a short video shot today: