Sweet baby

No, this isn't a glitch. I'm actually doing two posts in one day. I don't know what has come over me! Actually, I thought I'd share our ultrasound photos of our sweet baby girl that we had done yesterday at 22 weeks. She currently weighs 1 lb.

She was quite the photogenic little girl. They were shocked how much she faced forward to get her photos taken. Isn't it amazing what technology can do these days? And isn't God amazing for this precious gift He's given to us?

Yawning.

About to suck her thumb. She did this during our last ultrasound as well. Guess she might take after her sister.

And here she is counting. She looks like she is giving the peace sign here, but during the ultrasound video she was actually counting with her fingers. Here's to girl #2!

It's amazing how much we have already fallen in love with our baby girl. The 4D ultrasound was a fun way for the kids to get to see their baby sister and learn a little bit more about what is to come. What a joy that day will be!

The photo dump

I decided since it's been awhile since I last posted, I'd just do a big photo dump as I go through my camera.

Several weeks ago, when the air conditioner went out in our rental house, we decided to make an impromptu trip to Dallas. We headed to LegoLand first thing in the morning.

One tip if you want to go to things like LegoLand or SeaLife, buy your tickets online ahead of time and get there as soon as it opens. You'll get right in. Unfortunately we did not do this. And did not get right in.

It was so hot out so I was thankful this little LegoLand was indoors, and very small compared to the one we've been to in San Diego.

LegoLand was like heaven to our little guy.

I didn't get the greatest photos while we were there since I was trying to keep track of the little miss while the boys built stuff. There was a raceway that you could set the car you built on.

Amazingly N's kept winning. I think it was because his was simple and the bigger boys kept adding to theirs. I like the message in that. Keep it simple.

There was also a bright pink Lego room for girls. We headed there for our princess.

I think the Lego city is always my favorite. Of course they highlighted all of the Dallas sites.

Because I still had my SeaLife membership from when we lived in Arizona, and the kids got in free, we purchased a duel pass to LegoLand and SeaLife for the hubby and headed there the following day for $10. Can't beat that. And I'll take aquariums over zoos any day.

What shark would you be?

Nothing like looking through a bubble.

Miss M has this thing with dressing up in whatever shoes are around. Apparently if your shorts are laying around she'll also wear those. She was thrilled to be dressed like her brother for the morning.

We like to pretend play around here. N set up his little restaurant counter for us to order food. He also gave us $50 with every order and we didn't even have to pay for the food. Daddy said he might need to double check his business plan before he goes public.

Ready for church. She knows the dolls get left in the car, but they go with us everywhere.

Our handsome boy before church.

One of the things I participated in this summer were two online Busy Bag Swaps. Basically, 30 of us participated from all over and put together one activity 30 times. We mailed those activities to the coordinator and received 30 different activities back. Awesomeness.

The activites are all very simple, and educational. The point is really when you need to give your child something to do for a little bit you have 30 activities to choose from. This activity was the caterpillar counter.

They are made out of the swimming pool noodles (probably on clearance all over now). The pieces are numbered through 20 so the child can put them in order on a string.

These activities will be great when I'm working on preschool activities with my son and little miss is running around. I'll try to share more as we do them in case they give you ideas to create your own!

I'll leave you with two photos of the kids after church last Sunday. I cannot tell you how good it feels for church activities to be starting up again after a long summer, and for us to start to get more involved.

There is nothing better than moving to a new place and starting to put your church family together.

(This is his "take my picture because you took sisters picture" face.)

Five.

We are thrilled to recently find out we will be adding another sweet baby GIRL to our family, come the end of this year. I love how God designs what every family will look like and am thankful ours is growing to a family of 5. Big brother and sister couldn't be happier.

"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward." Psalm 127:3

To the movies we go

One thing that has been great about my husband's job is that he has every other Friday off. It's nice to be able to take those days to do family activities at places that might otherwise be more packed if we were to go over the weekend.

We had been getting the kids excited about going to see their first movie in the theater, Winnie the Pooh. There really haven't been any movies we've felt comfortable taking the kids to go see so I was thrilled to see this was coming to theaters and thought it'd be a fun outing for our family.

I thought it'd be fun to make little movie bags for the kids and fill it with candy and some bean bag Winnie the Pooh characters I had found. I tried to keep it simple by using bags I already had and just printed off the image and taped it to the bag.

I also found some images online to print on iron-on transfer paper for their shirts.

The t-shirts were a hit. Sister calls it Winnie the Poop.

I knew we probably only had a limited amount of time before sister started to get antsy so I'm very thankful we had brought goodies to keep her entertained. My poor husband had her on his lap the entire time and you should have seen both of them after she was finished eating the m&ms. I died laughing when I saw them after the movie with chocolate all over her face, hands and both of their clothes.

It was a sweet little movie. Great for a 3 and 1-year old.

A Fourth of July update

We headed to my parents home in Arkansas to celebrate the Fourth of July weekend. It was nice to go as it had been awhile since we've been there. While we were there, the kids helped Papa out a little bit with the chores. This one loved it.

This one did not.

And there was lots of time with Nana.

We beat the heat with a dip in the backyard pool.

My parents have an awesome pond just off the back of their home so the boys got up early to go catch us some dinner.

I couldn't believe how well little man did. I think they stayed out for at least an hour and a half. He was on cloud nine.

We sat on the deck, in our jammies, watching and waiting for the boys to return.

So they didn't bring home dinner...but they did catch 3 little fish while out on the water. N was thrilled to get a photo taken with his first catch. We tried to show him how to gently put it back in the water to let it swim away. He was so anxious he didn't wait for the instructions and plopped it right in.

And here is the crew.

Later that day nana made some cupcakes to decorate.

Here is how sister decorates.

And here is what I caught papa doing while he thought no one was looking...

And the finished product topped with a flag.

Dinner was quickly followed by an evening of setting off fireworks in the nearby court.

Daddy setting off the first firework.

This photo completely shows our kids personalities. We have "cautious" vs. "have no fear." And would you believe N ended up sitting a little bit down the street on my mom's lap in my parents driveway to watch the rest of them. He didn't appreciate the loud "boom."

Thanks mom and dad. We had a great time.

Dreams of gratitude

Some days I sit on my couch feeling sorry for myself. As the children nap, I look around thinking of all of the things I'd change in our somewhat small rental house. Wondering if we made the right decision to move, as we fight the inefficient air conditioner that has our main living area set at 84 degrees.

And then I read this. And God wakes me up. Shakes me into seeing how good I have it, and how unbelievably ungrateful I can be. I love when He does that, and I dislike it all the same. Who wants to be told how ungrateful they are?

And I'm content for the day. Thanking God for ALL that He has given to us. The abundance we have. The food that fills our fridge and bellies, and the opportunity to go to the store to shop for more when necessary.

But sadly it might only last a day or two and I find myself back in that same place of discontentment. Why does that happen? I've realized it's a daily struggle for me right now. One of many reasons we are asked to call on Jesus every day. To be in His Word daily so we don't forget how much He has given us. Have you forgotten?

Don't get me wrong. I'm not unhappy. Just a girl with many dreams wondering how they're all going to happen. And as I wonder how those dreams are all going to happen and fall into place, God challenges me to wonder if those dreams are what I should be dreaming of in the first place? Afterall, He is the one "who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us..." (Ephesians 3:20). He wants more for my life than I can ever dream up.

So today I'm looking for the doors that God is opening, and perhaps closing, for our family. Doing my best to seek His Will daily in a world that constantly reminds me to seek my own. This is what the Lord says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls." (Jeremiah 6:16). Oh to have rest for your soul.