tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27939526293159618182024-02-07T13:07:02.916-05:00with grace & laceJenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239466600408611812noreply@blogger.comBlogger548125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2793952629315961818.post-48799831239857959562014-09-19T00:34:00.001-04:002014-09-19T15:47:40.860-04:00if you can't sleep, write. and watch food network.i'm laying on the couch watching pioneer woman [instead of showering and going to bed as i should at midnight] so why <strong>not </strong>write a post full of exhausted ramblings. i just kind of missed this little corner of the world so i thought i might as well just jot a few things down. i have a two year old update cooking for my sweet little emmie. i really would love to post it now, i just want to make sure i give it the attention that itty bitty deserves.<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbioRWKhAn2fjIdfvcel-hIg7E2lDyfojmIOnGgBvsvPRuO2MSP962jd7KAx2ornPJfyQv4F3jHbKc_NFGIOlKKxB2jEkwvRCse3DAFPKCeIMJkqb18iVn6z2ZlaeHgfg6gpazMCbjce9l/s640/blogger-image--1411289470.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbioRWKhAn2fjIdfvcel-hIg7E2lDyfojmIOnGgBvsvPRuO2MSP962jd7KAx2ornPJfyQv4F3jHbKc_NFGIOlKKxB2jEkwvRCse3DAFPKCeIMJkqb18iVn6z2ZlaeHgfg6gpazMCbjce9l/s640/blogger-image--1411289470.jpg"></a></div>...not her party. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div></div>things have been changing a little around here. i'm still staying home with emmie and working part-time from home but things are in full swing with ben back at school. the school teacher schedule is actually really incredible but we are both completely knocked by the time he gets home in the afternoon. <br>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMYTcx6PNqj90qxGHldahc-ZJ60pdOyCAgc0ksQCQ9XDphcGo0dUB9zzhwP5MbJaQoMu-nWv58nYRDsZ2-NbVPXT7tAfSk2bJCUUnz7Wgkk4tLHdoVa_3D4ii4DbvSqc3TWFOXhwMNMH_Z/s640/blogger-image-1823058697.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMYTcx6PNqj90qxGHldahc-ZJ60pdOyCAgc0ksQCQ9XDphcGo0dUB9zzhwP5MbJaQoMu-nWv58nYRDsZ2-NbVPXT7tAfSk2bJCUUnz7Wgkk4tLHdoVa_3D4ii4DbvSqc3TWFOXhwMNMH_Z/s640/blogger-image-1823058697.jpg"></font></a><br>
em is <strong>super</strong> emotional these days. we're hoping that it's not a preview for our teen years. if so, we're in for it. after a day starting around 6-something am of consoling, encouraging or disciplining my crying, fussing or disobedient little one, i need a nap, or a pop, or a massage. <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqpy4uKjBSa2GZV_zXKsFw7XNV2r5dn1YnpVoZC_CHmFESwte6FBSid_P8hJuzwU2Wjoo14773RI9L43qZ3S6SuO1SxFBjibsu27ORr5WmP-oiwt7sOvGkxZ_olJ_6eV4HxXa9Y5gN1THu/s640/blogger-image-566563663.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqpy4uKjBSa2GZV_zXKsFw7XNV2r5dn1YnpVoZC_CHmFESwte6FBSid_P8hJuzwU2Wjoo14773RI9L43qZ3S6SuO1SxFBjibsu27ORr5WmP-oiwt7sOvGkxZ_olJ_6eV4HxXa9Y5gN1THu/s640/blogger-image-566563663.jpg"></font></a></div><div>not all day, everyday is that difficult but on the days that are, they typically are like that all day and my patience is so thin. i've really been trying to keep perspective that this is just a stage and we are <strong>so</strong> incredibly blessed to be entrusted with this little life. some days i'm just very much reminded that i'm in need of grace [for me to give and for me to receive]. <br>
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for pretty much six years i've been struggling with doing 'homemaker' type tasks. i'm not great at cooking or cleaning or grocery shopping etc. but as of late, i've got a twenty-seventh wind, blame it on nesting, but i really desire to love my family well in creating a home that they're happy to be in and that other people are blessed by. it's just very small baby steps for me to get there. i started loosely following a weekly cleaning schedule the <a href="http://www.cleanmama.net/">clean mama blog</a>. i like that there are just small tasks to do everyday. and while i have failed [everyday] to complete even the small list that she has it feels manageable and our house is getting a tiny bit less overwhelming. i'm also trying my hand with some couponing and cooking some each week.<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPBrYnZRDHUA7qqPZwi3vS7RHV3N00snos3IEEDi-agD1p71cI1kmxPzrB3zlojDnvw8ugqwB5g5YascZEMmLDm7JDUhCpyLIXEDtfewcJBYtHT-8dUpABCZL9XUeQhRpk4CkCJTYWbIVR/s640/blogger-image--2092967730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPBrYnZRDHUA7qqPZwi3vS7RHV3N00snos3IEEDi-agD1p71cI1kmxPzrB3zlojDnvw8ugqwB5g5YascZEMmLDm7JDUhCpyLIXEDtfewcJBYtHT-8dUpABCZL9XUeQhRpk4CkCJTYWbIVR/s640/blogger-image--2092967730.jpg"></a></div><br>
i had my first yard sale last weekend. we're trying to unload some things from our house that we just don't use as well as quite a few items left over from our little booth that we had with our besties. it was pretty successful i suppose but i still have plenty that i need out of my house and garage so tomorrow i'm opening up the garage and hoping to empty out some more this weekend. it's not my favorite way to spend my weekend but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.<br>
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little baby number 2 is growing like crazy. or at least that's what my waistline would suggest. this week we're 19 weeks and the size of an heirloom tomato [says an app]. in just less than 2 weeks we go for our anatomy scan and we <strong>will</strong> also be finding out the gender - woo hoo! i'm no longer nauseous which is a huge praise and i'm just enjoying dreaming about the babe to come & what our life may be like. half of those day dreams are sweet sentiments and half are terror about how crazy and inadequate i might be for this job. the babe moves all the time. i get less sleep that way but i love those little kicks. i felt kicks for the first time at 16 weeks and ben [& friends] have had the pleasure just this week. <br>
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one of my dearest and most creative friends suggested that since our guest room will be a nursery and all storage will be lost that we should convert our dining room into a playroom / office. it really is a much more practical use of our space for what we <strong>really</strong> do in our house. i don't throw formal dinner parties. i do have plastic food and a printer in the dining room so it won't really be a stretch. i'm really excited about that transformation and actually feeling infinitely more organized that way. my craft goodies are the only thing i'm slightly concerned about finding a home for. i'm on the lookout for shelves and some sort of cool hutch / cabinet if you see anything let a sister know! i've been scouring craigslist but with no luck thus far. i'm not spending $300 on a cabinet, so that must be how you get luck - get money.</div><div><br></div><div>I'd love to write again soon, pick up that two year old emmie update with all her new developments, her 2nd bday party, our sixth anniversary, the end of one chapter of ministry, the beginning of another and much more. I hope that happens before I forget all the dets. </div><div><br></div><div>Happy Friday friends. LOVE!!</div><div><br></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="text-align: left; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. -lam 3:22</span></div><div><br></div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239466600408611812noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2793952629315961818.post-1749106235002901462014-08-23T23:13:00.001-04:002014-08-23T23:13:51.061-04:00future family of four<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV8QHYAd6TeBHuuiqHJ8jJoNVo0drf5rKKiI8XbC_qnwnAu6392TBN0HsBII3IEI6ykg-dw54CMQmPPK2K_V9U_EUAcFkMLVAHK-j_B2F0pA5Ozo7rPG2raW3H195D2-6rUrdw7yW0odRn/s640/blogger-image--430351154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Well, it's true. There is a little one joining our family in just a few short months. We were 'trying' for this little miracle but for some reason we're still a little shocked when you actually realize "HOLY MOLY we're having a baby!!" </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV8QHYAd6TeBHuuiqHJ8jJoNVo0drf5rKKiI8XbC_qnwnAu6392TBN0HsBII3IEI6ykg-dw54CMQmPPK2K_V9U_EUAcFkMLVAHK-j_B2F0pA5Ozo7rPG2raW3H195D2-6rUrdw7yW0odRn/s640/blogger-image--430351154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-dNYCY5MP0uKP8g-z7Sgu5cb6HLSqFrO3kKJqZJ4CfWHsoZ4XFe3LP1Ys3zkP7MuxT6HP7VtNLTPnl4MlFfzZlKUEXHGcCXmU1ks9W-mtpbVY5FwS8o2wUwo8CdJR2OkkI6yX0SlfGQ6e/s640/blogger-image--1430315279.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-dNYCY5MP0uKP8g-z7Sgu5cb6HLSqFrO3kKJqZJ4CfWHsoZ4XFe3LP1Ys3zkP7MuxT6HP7VtNLTPnl4MlFfzZlKUEXHGcCXmU1ks9W-mtpbVY5FwS8o2wUwo8CdJR2OkkI6yX0SlfGQ6e/s640/blogger-image--1430315279.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Ben & I could not be more excited. We're due February 12th, 2015 and I'm sure it will fly by. We saw the doctor very early in my pregnancy because at 8 weeks I was leaving for Young Life camp and knew that I'd be "outted" namely because I couldn't do hardly anything that camp entails (tubing, go carts, ropes course etc.). I didn't want to announce the little bean so soon but under the circumstances we at least wanted to know (from what we could tell), that all looked good with the babe. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyeDh_y_RGaj4tjExME0znyQIfM2F7vf2rkUbyorfuO3Q-TQKIjy74bFrI0Njia_QhAmwofaPoRzjhe9eG9aEJ4GVDhWPtOUB5-wPShvMcO1EYXvthR0EStbFqCtlVv4-fIy4q6r-GRVep/s640/blogger-image--763914782.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyeDh_y_RGaj4tjExME0znyQIfM2F7vf2rkUbyorfuO3Q-TQKIjy74bFrI0Njia_QhAmwofaPoRzjhe9eG9aEJ4GVDhWPtOUB5-wPShvMcO1EYXvthR0EStbFqCtlVv4-fIy4q6r-GRVep/s640/blogger-image--763914782.jpg"></a></div>At 7.5 weeks had the ultrasound (above), one baby, all looked well, strong, fast heartbeat, looked like a tadpole. At that point our baby was the size of a lentil and today (15.5 wks) babe is the size of an apple. </div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV8QHYAd6TeBHuuiqHJ8jJoNVo0drf5rKKiI8XbC_qnwnAu6392TBN0HsBII3IEI6ykg-dw54CMQmPPK2K_V9U_EUAcFkMLVAHK-j_B2F0pA5Ozo7rPG2raW3H195D2-6rUrdw7yW0odRn/s640/blogger-image--430351154.jpg"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">From weeks 5 to 13ish I was super duper nauseous. Sadly, I thought I was immune since I had no nausea with emmie - guess that's not true. Lots of people have suggested that maybe that means this one is a little fella but we've had lots of friends with babies of the same sex and felt really differently between the two so I'm not totally convinced.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Speaking of gender, Ben and I are in a bit of a disagreement about whether or not we should find out. It has never crossed my mind that I WOULDN'T want to find out for this babe. If we were to have a boy it seriously wouldn't even have one sleeper that's not covered in ruffles. Not to mention that I'm pretty sure I won't feel AS enthusiastic about getting his/her room together AFTER giving birth, wrangling a newborn and a two year old. I'm not against other people not finding out (well maybe I am) but anyway, I just don't know that it's for me. So one of us is going to have to budge. We'll see how that works out. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I've also been more tired than any period of time I can remember in my life. Like at any moment I could sleep...driving, walking through target, I mean anywhere. "They" say that I should perk up in my second trimester but I'm here and still sleepy as ever. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">One fun aspect has been talking to Emmie about her little brother or sister that's on the way. It's lucky that we get 9 months to try and get there with her. She now talks to the baby, always points at me and says "baby," kisses my belly and gives it hugs. She also sometimes lifts up her own shirt and says "baby" and also sometimes kisses ben's belly (and then says "ew!") so she may be a little confused. It's a hard concept. She's going to be such a fun & sweet sister I just know it. That is one of things I'm most excited about - seeing them be friends. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We have some fears about having two. I sometimes struggle just operating well with our one kiddo. I'm not great with house-keeping, cooking, budgeting, holding lots of things in my arms at one time & I lose my patience more than I should; it makes you a little scared thinking about how you'll survive with another. But I know that God will give us what we need, when we need it and hopefully provide a ole heaping helping of grace over all of us. And maybe more arms?<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXgz-zs8pitpdGustgfcFk1_AfhtDS7cG5D01avsiCN0AjLCeNf2cDg5MU6bUAmO1sz0-GEh6JJHByacWDQflRHqfCr8VfFs-_iDpds4uamOjij33jnKp0dBGECagGnUSFENWuiLXvo9zp/s640/blogger-image--1122637645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXgz-zs8pitpdGustgfcFk1_AfhtDS7cG5D01avsiCN0AjLCeNf2cDg5MU6bUAmO1sz0-GEh6JJHByacWDQflRHqfCr8VfFs-_iDpds4uamOjij33jnKp0dBGECagGnUSFENWuiLXvo9zp/s640/blogger-image--1122637645.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">That's Em wearing pajamas, fairy wings and caring for her perpetually naked baby. She seems like a reliable assistant, right? Also, her face - ha!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">All kidding and fear aside, we feel incredibly blessed. We know that even getting to this point is a gift and we rejoice in that daily. It's so fun to dream about this little bean and what it will be like to grow our family. I know that it will involve some bickering and sleepless nights but much more than that I think of lots of giggles, story times, costume wearing, snuggling, room sharing, nature walks and talks about things that really matter (long before you have any idea what we're babbling about). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Poppa wanted me to tell you that he loves you already and you're so small. He's gonna squeeze you and play catch with you. </div></div></div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239466600408611812noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2793952629315961818.post-52884539629942785392014-05-17T23:48:00.003-04:002014-05-17T23:48:46.127-04:00life right now<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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i wrote this a few weeks ago and just realized i never added pics and posted. so now here i am. i'm stuck in the house with my babe who's sick and sleeping and my bigger (manly-er) baby who snoring on the couch so it seemed right to play catch up. <br />
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our little angel baby is now (then) 20 months old and crazier than ever. i am so overwhelmed with how sweet our life is right now. i mean i could use a shower, my house is literally covered in clothes, my sink is overflowing with dishes that actually kind of smell (ew!) but as far as all important things go, i wouldn't change a thing.<br />
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i realized after writing this that no one besides ben & i would likely be interested or excited about most of these little tidbits & updates about ems but i have to write them down or i won't remember. i understand if squealing over 'baby steps' ain't your jam - this is us right now.<br />
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emmie bear, here are some of your newest developments...<br />
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you clasp your hands up near your chin and then do tiny little claps. you really love to make little "sweet" and darling little girly head tilts and hand on your cheek things. i have no idea where you get that (probably a cartoon) but i love it.<br />
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we had back to back consignment sales to attend a few weeks ago and we loaded up on goodies. besides the FIVE pairs of shoes i found (that i'm crazy over) for dirt cheap, we found a gem toy in this little kitchen. you can play in your pretend kitchen for hours. you move all your plastic food, one piece at a time from the mircowave to the oven, shut them both, bend down to check on the oven and then do the next piece.<br />
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you run like a wild woman. sometimes she just runs laps up and down the hall. you give her a little bit of room and she's gone. now i just need to get her some tennies - for the love, will someone please make baby tennis shoes that aren't hot pink with purple leopard print? update: she has some, found by nana Karen and worn almost constantly.<br />
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em's had her first ever baby ponytail! she could have probably had one months ago but i never bought those tiny little hairties. now that we have them, ponytails for life. just like her momma. who would have thought flippy little chunk of hair would bring us so many smiles. i think we just feel that way because it makes her look so grown up, it's a little heart wrenching but awesome at the same time.<br />
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emmie mems hums / sings along when i sing or when music is on. she still doesn't say many words at all so anytime she uses her little voice in unexpected ways i basically melt. she also loves dancing! if she hears even just a few beats, this baby is swaying. she swings those arms and bobs that head. can't get over it.<br />
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you sing and mimic songs and words from Disney movies. it kills me. the fact that you've memorized scenes from frozen and act them out while using fake gibberish words - oh my goodness. i didn't know this was going to happen so little. </div>
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you're still loving bath and bubbles little one. </div>
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you understand nearly everything that we say although you don't already listen. you still don't fully understand picking up after yourself but you do love to throw things away in the trashcan which is really helpful and sweet, when its trash that you throw away.<br />
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you are so great at hugs and kisses. you give really strong squeeze your neck hugs, you have all different kisses, butterfly kisses, eskimo, on the mouth shouting "MMWWAAHHH" and possibly my favorite when <strong>you </strong>want the kiss and you squish your cheek super hard in my face. the best squishy cheeks i ever saw.<br />
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you like to go in your room, turn your fan on high, sit on the floor and 'read' all your books. you can entertain yourself for a good long while.<br />
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calls ben "momma" still, it sort of bothers him but is also kind of adorable because she always says it in response to being so excited to see him.<br />
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obsessed with swings - squealed with delight. i think spring is going to treat us right. update: i was right. we have had SO much fun going to the parks on every pretty day. our morning park trips will soon be replaced with the pool but i think our park dates will just be moved to the evening instead. man i love spring / summer!<br />
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you have been really rotten out to in restaurants lately. i guess we've entered into that phase of toddlerhood. it makes me sad because i kind of love sitting and relaxing over a meal with my family that i didn't cook or have to clean up. i think the relaxing is done for now. unless a sitter is involved. haha<br />
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i left em and ben for a conference, hope spoken, for 4 or 5 days. the time away was really sweet and refreshing but i did miss my little family dearly.<br />
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i came home to spring break - woohoo! we stayed in town for the week and this week has already been such a huge blessing. AND we got a little nephew out of it. i gotta post that!!!!!<br />
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i've really been processing more and more about the mom that i want to be and what i hope i give to em as she grows up. it is utterly overwhelming for me to fathom living out the gospel in every little and big situation. i'd love to think it'd be second nature for me as i chase after Christ & seek to know Him more intimately but it is just kind of terrifying to me. i know that i will be imperfect and fail a million times but i just don't want to waste it, not one opportunity to point this little girl toward her creator who loves her so. the reality is that God is good and that He is soverign, that Emmie will have to grow up and make her own decisions about what she believes but seriously, i want to be so faithful with what has been entrusted to me and i feel so clueless about the best ways to do that. praying over you precious little heart my sweet one.Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239466600408611812noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2793952629315961818.post-7595764531239966562014-05-17T23:12:00.001-04:002014-09-20T09:32:32.318-04:00To celebrate<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGMem6KttjCSW4IYbxpnZY_YZZ3CGVArgmYKMXlf3M4vZiSc4rFCrf6nutS2Ma8waY1Tmw9Uo5X1RJJ0MVRXcNSkL3EQK6PniCsbnx4n-8UMimnpeKkrqirP0JkuyIty7ifY50svrIPtiY/s640/blogger-image-172265717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGMem6KttjCSW4IYbxpnZY_YZZ3CGVArgmYKMXlf3M4vZiSc4rFCrf6nutS2Ma8waY1Tmw9Uo5X1RJJ0MVRXcNSkL3EQK6PniCsbnx4n-8UMimnpeKkrqirP0JkuyIty7ifY50svrIPtiY/s640/blogger-image-172265717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Fz6Lmi1xDHsVM49WdSeK1iq-a1ARrNdKqFSdxCqKeCZIhB2xRtMdqsNbEqN5RQPvRN5iJ54t-A-qREM8smcrmbxicS8_A7Z_s60tdWWi9fTA7Qzuw0MeG2AWc04LpaAhdpxK1NhkL3mh/s640/blogger-image--1968392293.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Fz6Lmi1xDHsVM49WdSeK1iq-a1ARrNdKqFSdxCqKeCZIhB2xRtMdqsNbEqN5RQPvRN5iJ54t-A-qREM8smcrmbxicS8_A7Z_s60tdWWi9fTA7Qzuw0MeG2AWc04LpaAhdpxK1NhkL3mh/s640/blogger-image--1968392293.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvWcUJV9g4B_6uDhdoN-2E3XFiIGDqrdzuhyphenhyphenxTKXgZG12kB5oph9wZzHQVXYP6GNZskewjPaSJxNsMOrQfg3b7YGaBMb0IMkSrh25XSMoVXrkaTSnYtTrUA8WsCysMz5wchJFWCs-0sRbQ/s640/blogger-image--611463210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvWcUJV9g4B_6uDhdoN-2E3XFiIGDqrdzuhyphenhyphenxTKXgZG12kB5oph9wZzHQVXYP6GNZskewjPaSJxNsMOrQfg3b7YGaBMb0IMkSrh25XSMoVXrkaTSnYtTrUA8WsCysMz5wchJFWCs-0sRbQ/s640/blogger-image--611463210.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">So I must have uploaded all these pictures and thought I'd write a post right away. Four months later I've got no details but I do know this was from</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Mother's Day weekend. . </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We are surrounded by such great family. It is really incredible that out of all the people in all the world we were both born into the homes we were. The examples of mommas (biological, step, in laws, grandmas, friends, aunts, etc) that Ben and I have are such an encouragement to our family. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">From what I can tell I think we spent the weekend in Louisville, had a date night and then brunched with my momma and pop. </span></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Fz6Lmi1xDHsVM49WdSeK1iq-a1ARrNdKqFSdxCqKeCZIhB2xRtMdqsNbEqN5RQPvRN5iJ54t-A-qREM8smcrmbxicS8_A7Z_s60tdWWi9fTA7Qzuw0MeG2AWc04LpaAhdpxK1NhkL3mh/s640/blogger-image--1968392293.jpg"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Fz6Lmi1xDHsVM49WdSeK1iq-a1ARrNdKqFSdxCqKeCZIhB2xRtMdqsNbEqN5RQPvRN5iJ54t-A-qREM8smcrmbxicS8_A7Z_s60tdWWi9fTA7Qzuw0MeG2AWc04LpaAhdpxK1NhkL3mh/s640/blogger-image--1968392293.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX51YpUlgRwDH7yFngDAP5cSxZF7CATMHRVTBG_NIIRlA_cr72_-pmADhVqpYwmhJhei2119Lrsx_jQQzm1PW1yRIZE5DoAIYHdu9-52wpgVotT5tPSWRFpHYtiSkQxZCqrT_NGLxWFt1A/s640/blogger-image-1512526133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX51YpUlgRwDH7yFngDAP5cSxZF7CATMHRVTBG_NIIRlA_cr72_-pmADhVqpYwmhJhei2119Lrsx_jQQzm1PW1yRIZE5DoAIYHdu9-52wpgVotT5tPSWRFpHYtiSkQxZCqrT_NGLxWFt1A/s640/blogger-image-1512526133.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And if memory serves, I got pampered by our little family the weekend before. My sweet family brought me donuts in bed and emmie colored in a book for me w pictures from the last two mothers days. </div></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGMem6KttjCSW4IYbxpnZY_YZZ3CGVArgmYKMXlf3M4vZiSc4rFCrf6nutS2Ma8waY1Tmw9Uo5X1RJJ0MVRXcNSkL3EQK6PniCsbnx4n-8UMimnpeKkrqirP0JkuyIty7ifY50svrIPtiY/s640/blogger-image-172265717.jpg"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGMem6KttjCSW4IYbxpnZY_YZZ3CGVArgmYKMXlf3M4vZiSc4rFCrf6nutS2Ma8waY1Tmw9Uo5X1RJJ0MVRXcNSkL3EQK6PniCsbnx4n-8UMimnpeKkrqirP0JkuyIty7ifY50svrIPtiY/s640/blogger-image-172265717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmx5foRql9QN9aN2d_Jp_AEccB1KP9t-lI3Dnl8t70a3R-P-JYgnTsp5IOi1s8uOo39IIN3s7aJWjR8FPUgPNSKrmdL0urCyUIdmqFuQZB1UtaujJexGnKWuOy0VjLn6RCnz1WJBP06W8o/s640/blogger-image--229206321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmx5foRql9QN9aN2d_Jp_AEccB1KP9t-lI3Dnl8t70a3R-P-JYgnTsp5IOi1s8uOo39IIN3s7aJWjR8FPUgPNSKrmdL0urCyUIdmqFuQZB1UtaujJexGnKWuOy0VjLn6RCnz1WJBP06W8o/s640/blogger-image--229206321.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I feel like its such a sweet gift and I can't even think about how my love for it will continue to grow as our little family grows and grows up. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGMem6KttjCSW4IYbxpnZY_YZZ3CGVArgmYKMXlf3M4vZiSc4rFCrf6nutS2Ma8waY1Tmw9Uo5X1RJJ0MVRXcNSkL3EQK6PniCsbnx4n-8UMimnpeKkrqirP0JkuyIty7ifY50svrIPtiY/s640/blogger-image-172265717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrxfl6PwuwBxP5b3iXxNJhryVqefJeDc8DB6KaSII1OzD47GNBvnxp-V5uC7X0BjBPqCLNqblk-Zp6kJbVuQ_6sDoipRiL6tJxuTq9Fd34rBXiDWgc-l8u-Tu8gaqXEyWE4F4k151iRFWV/s640/blogger-image-577997564.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrxfl6PwuwBxP5b3iXxNJhryVqefJeDc8DB6KaSII1OzD47GNBvnxp-V5uC7X0BjBPqCLNqblk-Zp6kJbVuQ_6sDoipRiL6tJxuTq9Fd34rBXiDWgc-l8u-Tu8gaqXEyWE4F4k151iRFWV/s640/blogger-image-577997564.jpg"></a></div></div>This isn't the book. This is a planner that emmie was obsessed w. and if you were wondering what emmie looked like in April or May of 2014, here she is. I'm so late!<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMFJMvnwBA81EzY1tioRgiHFaAqX_7y4HDhEbY78wU8Pq3EVf10YqTRvdkPypblG_kE8dR_t83ffKctHeM269hKFS72ayvqC9GSBGSFAoj9RvvqVTY-ypXOB0PQ2tDXiwOXhYv-8xdRvY3/s640/blogger-image--503435205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMFJMvnwBA81EzY1tioRgiHFaAqX_7y4HDhEbY78wU8Pq3EVf10YqTRvdkPypblG_kE8dR_t83ffKctHeM269hKFS72ayvqC9GSBGSFAoj9RvvqVTY-ypXOB0PQ2tDXiwOXhYv-8xdRvY3/s640/blogger-image--503435205.jpg"></a></div>This IS her eating donuts in my bed though. She really enjoyed this party of Mother's Day. <div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj60X5y4kSLaIIyEzxKin77IEo0Qvf0PJ2Uin4gNNXvoe0sPXA4SivnBC6y066LxgW4H0eMqTUU1lFcWE7GkpqpoV6KrOAnzSqLwCug-BcJHp-SfGUANAiYZmO-UGVHaMcqyZ_q_Hb2fZ6s/s640/blogger-image--1563448181.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj60X5y4kSLaIIyEzxKin77IEo0Qvf0PJ2Uin4gNNXvoe0sPXA4SivnBC6y066LxgW4H0eMqTUU1lFcWE7GkpqpoV6KrOAnzSqLwCug-BcJHp-SfGUANAiYZmO-UGVHaMcqyZ_q_Hb2fZ6s/s640/blogger-image--1563448181.jpg"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj60X5y4kSLaIIyEzxKin77IEo0Qvf0PJ2Uin4gNNXvoe0sPXA4SivnBC6y066LxgW4H0eMqTUU1lFcWE7GkpqpoV6KrOAnzSqLwCug-BcJHp-SfGUANAiYZmO-UGVHaMcqyZ_q_Hb2fZ6s/s640/blogger-image--1563448181.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhvF_dxF-P0b9kxugFnR69G91NQrFyoq54Gngtdh4nFoikUPq-8lTujw78U7QiYW6Vmu1xtrW2ErcGmApjZK01IHv-ihrpjreI03byZRZjtPV-fTsAtB6RijTEQTm9MQsh7wWh4YNdupVn/s640/blogger-image--1852654483.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhvF_dxF-P0b9kxugFnR69G91NQrFyoq54Gngtdh4nFoikUPq-8lTujw78U7QiYW6Vmu1xtrW2ErcGmApjZK01IHv-ihrpjreI03byZRZjtPV-fTsAtB6RijTEQTm9MQsh7wWh4YNdupVn/s640/blogger-image--1852654483.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Being a mom has been such a humbling and incredible gift. My heart could seriously explode when I think about her little life and us being entrusted with her while she's here. Even on hard days, it is so very precious to me. I know The Lord in new ways because of Emmie and Ben in new ways too. I pray that I will be faithful with her, to point her (and future baby) toward Jesus everyday, what this whole life is really about. I'm so thankful for this sanctifying blessing of motherhood. </div></div></div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239466600408611812noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2793952629315961818.post-20007081737119170082014-05-06T01:06:00.001-04:002014-05-06T01:06:58.914-04:00All play & no work<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
I always want to be a better 'journaler' but I ALWAYS flake. So I've been thinking about posting just really quick snippets to remember so that I may be able to commit to it a little more easily. </div>
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Today was such a sweet day. A morning visit my momma, emmie's nana was long overdue and much enjoyed. Emmie is slightly obsessed with her and is stuck to her like glue the entirety of the time she's here. One of my favorite things was that when mom would walk away at all emmie would shout the same string of jibberish at her over and over. I love that she really was trying to tell her something. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">she's picking her nose. i'm sorry.</td></tr>
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Em finally for some tennies to play in. HOORAY!! Nana always comes bearing gifts. She's had to play in jellies and ballet flats until now so this is amazing! She's in between sizes and baby shoes are so expensive or the amount of time they wear them, so hard for me. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">hanging dead-weight in the swing for a good few minutes. she's something.</td></tr>
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when Benny got home we got to have family time at the park (she got of practice on the big slide), a music / dance party with poppa on the guitar and then a walk around the neighborhood before bed. Em kicked a kickball up and down our streets and if you know our daughter, this is a BIG deal! Up until like a week ago she would try and hold on to something for balance to pick up her foot and kick. It was so fun to watch her learn to do something new and she was SO excited. 'ball' is one of her few words :)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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last but not least, today was emmie's first ever top knot. I took 500 pictures of her in hopes of getting a picture that encompassed how truly precious that mini-bun was but she wasn't too cooperative. but never fear, I think that there will be many more buns in our future. <br />
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we're in the laundry room because emmie likes to go into rooms by herself, shut the door and lean up against the wall. normally she 'reads' books while she does that. this time she was putting on chapstick. she wouldn't leave the laundry room so in I went. perfect place for commemorative pics right? oh and I don't mean to be in these pics but i'm too lazy to edit them, ignore me.</div>
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ben kept said "she looks like such a little girl" and break my heart, she totally does. I can't believe how fast she's growing. so thankful to be along for the ride. better get to work now {wink wink}</div>
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Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239466600408611812noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2793952629315961818.post-71044364244060483512014-04-09T00:24:00.000-04:002014-04-09T00:28:40.212-04:00hope spoken<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
this is a super long post, i'm sorry in advance. i'm recapping <strong>every little bit [no joke]</strong> of a recent trip in one place - i don't really expect anyone to read all of these words, but i want to have this all tucked away to look back on. oh and i didn't proofread this. yikes.</div>
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it finally happened, after more than a year of hoping-wishing-waiting, <a href="http://hopespoken.org/">hope spoken</a> finally has come and gone. when my bestie, <a href="http://corymargrave.blogspot.com/">cory</a> asked me and<a href="http://rachelridd.blogspot.com/"> rach</a> if we would be interested in a girl's trip across the country i had a 3 month old. a weekend of girl time, truth, rest & fun sounded ah-maz-ing, even if it was 15 months away. without knowing anything about any of the speakers, what was planned or how we'd get there, i bought my ticket - well, i asked for it as a birthday present really. i trust my friends' taste in adventures and they were a little more 'in the know' than me.</div>
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in between buying the ticket and arriving at the conference i did a tiny bit of research on a few of the ladies that were involved and also found out that some of my favorite bloggers / IGers would either be in attendance and/or leading small groups, etc. i got even more excited [if that's possible] about being there. if my friend's who i look up to are about it, and these women that i don't know [ha!] but look up to are about it, then it's gotta be great, right?</div>
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we planned our trip to get in thursday morning, a day before the conference so that we could really get the fullness of our 'adult spring break' and not feel too rushed. we had from about 10:15a thursday until 4 p on friday to do as we pleased, see dallas, just visit, etc. i <strong>really</strong> loved this part of our trip. if i were to do it again, i would not skimp on this! since we were splitting our hotel room 4 ways, one extra night wasn't so much more and it was really worth it for the extra time. although, our 6am flight out of louisville was a wee bit rough!</div>
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they may have gotten up at 4a to shower and get ready. i may have rolled out of bed and brushed my teeth. don't judge. we only got about 2 hrs of sleep that night. i'm a lover of sleep. like i said, rough.</div>
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we were <strong>super</strong> psyched to hear that our sweet friend <a href="http://libbyryder.blogspot.com/">libby</a> wanted to be a part of this conference too and immediately made our plans to all stay together. lib lives in virginia (we're in ky) so we get to visit way less often then we'd like. all of these ladies are such an encouragement to me - the way that they love the Lord, and people - especially their families and the people they minister to - spurs me on in a way that i can't fully communicate. and the way each of these friendships have been created and cultivated is nothing less than ordained. God has really woven our stories together in such an intricate and beautiful way. i'm one really blessed lady.</div>
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when we arrived we got our rental car, got some authentic tex mex and went shopping at an outdoor mall. funny enough we only went into a loft and gap in two hours. the gap? honestly? hahah when the clearance rack is an extra 40% off i guess there's nothing left to do. the poor boy working in the dressing room as we tried on all matching outfits for 60 minutes.</div>
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lib's flight was delayed, which was no surprise because that sadly happens to her kind of often, so while we were waiting for her we checked into our hotel and went to the pool. YES THE POOL! i was in a bathing suit while it was 34 degrees at home. it was so nice just to feel the sun. i need freckles and vitamin d already! when libby got in we visited, got cleaned up and hit the town. ironically, the locals working at the hotel sent us to this terrible restaurant downtown but at least it got us in the vicinity of good things. we ate a delicious meal outside catching up talking about life and motherhood and ministry and being a wife and what's hard and what's good and what we're looking forward to and what we dread. we talked about what we wanted out of the weekend and so much more. i've become more 'introverted' in my old age but i still really crave people time, just in smaller groups. i love to hear about other peoples' hearts and lives. i love laughing til it hurts. after thursday i already considered the weekend a success and the conference hadn't even started yet. </div>
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we slept in friday morning, oh glory! it was so nice. after a starbucks run, a long walk and lunch at 'the porch' [must try!] and it was time to check in. #itshappening</div>
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the place was absolutely gorgeous. basically i will steal all of these ideas for future baby birthday parties. so many special handmade pieces that made it all so sweet and made all the ladies feel like they were entering into a weekend that was crafted thoughtfully just for us. so many super talented and generous people were involved in making the weekend such a raving success. </div>
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i've never been to a women's conference before but for me the vibe was very cool. all the women, even if you were just with people in the elevator, would be friendly and introduce themselves. it didn't feel cliquey or fake, just seemed real and lovely.</div>
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when we first came into dinner we sat right behind some girls who actually are involved in young life [a ministry that all of us girls are/were involved in] and know a ton of the same people of us. out of 250 people, it just seemed kind of amazing that we'd be there together and then sit right behind each other. one of the girls i had actually met once before and the other is going to be on assignment with libby this summer - what are the chances? then as our table filled with really sweet women, two of the ladies were two that i've read their blogs for quite some time -<a href="http://jonesdesigncompany.com/"> Emily from jones design co</a>. & <a href="http://www.thenatos.com/">Jami at from the nato's</a>. i silent screamed and tried not to be too awkward - i know they're normal people. but they're normal people who have amazing stories and are mommas of bunches of babies - <strong>these are the people that i didn't know but that i look up to! they're at my dinner table! </strong>we actually ate all of our meals together. i can't believe i didn't ask them to take a picture with me like a crazed fan but i had to draw a line somewhere of being a complete creeper.</div>
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the worship was amazing! tim halperin, jordan & lauren & jenny simmons did a phenomenal job! not that i didn't think worshipping the Lord in song would<strong> not</strong> be great no matter what but they found some seriously talented people to lead us in that. since i had no expectations, i was completely blown away. ps // tim said that he's playing at several young life camps this summer friends! your students are going to l-o-v-e him and he did an excellent job of speaking about Jesus in a way that i think will completely resonate with teens. i wish he'd be at camp with us - jelly!</div>
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holy moly, i haven't even written about my notes yet or anything i learned. what a mess. i should have done two parts. hmmmm. i'll hit some highlights from each of the women i heard speak and then hopefully be back to really share some deeper things that the Lord has been pressing on my heart.</div>
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it was really obvious that danielle, casey and emily, the dreamers and hostesses of the event, really care for women and wanted to be such a blessing and encouragement to all the women attending. they weren't just trying to get something done or gain recognition for themselves - it was so obvious that they just want to glorify the Lord and point ladies to live full lives dependent on Christ.<br />
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many of the women spoke out of place of their testimony. they spoke about their personal lives and how they know God. i'm not going to retell their testimonies but they are totally worthy of hearing. you should seriously read about these women and what the Lord has so faithfully done in and through them. some of these women were keynote speakers, so everyone heard from them, and then the others were breakout sessions so different people heard different women. here were some of my take aways. some of this they may have actually said and some may have been just things they made me think about. [i don't want to not credit them and then i don't want to credit them for something they wouldn't have wanted to say - haha]. bolded things that really hit me hard.<br />
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<strong><a href="http://www.shaunaniequist.com/">shauna niequist:</a></strong><br />
-living a life of love: 1 Corinthians 13<br />
-lay down the hustle and rebuild your life on purpose<br />
-your choices can draw you toward or away from the person you want to be & the life you want to have.<br />
-saying "no" to some things opens you up to say "yes" to the most important things<br />
-what is important to you vs. what is important to the world?<br />
-exodus 16: you can't handle the workload alone, you will wear yourself out<br />
<strong>-acknowledge that God can use other people too</strong><br />
<strong>-give up the need to be known for something other than Jesus, it doesn't matter what someone else can do.</strong><br />
-luke 10: mary and Martha, we want Jesus to say "you're so capable, i'm so impressed by you" but he says "you're missing it! it's me!"<br />
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<a href="http://laurenchandler.com/"><strong>lauren chandler:</strong></a> she actually did an amazing job that was really more of a sermon format, and it was great. my notes on this are terrible but she broke psalm 107 showing how God works in and through so many different hard things we go through, whether that's circumstantial or self-inflicted.<br />
-psalm 107<br />
-God often draws people into the desert before he does something different, a time of preparation, sacred time. you need me, not the promised land<br />
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<a href="http://www.thewiegands.com/"><strong>casey weigand:</strong></a><br />
this was kind of a q & a format and i didn't jot notes really - whoops! but she did share about her life, the awesome parts and the hardships. it reminded me that we don't always know what God is up to but we do always know that He is for us and for our good.<br />
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<strong><a href="http://www.wifeysinger.com/">hannah singer</a>: was so incredibly proud of her speaking in front of this group of women. it takes so much guts to share your story in a place like that and she was such a rock-star. as a girl who utterly hates public speaking i felt so blessed to see a woman who maybe doesn't love standing at a podium do it for the cause to pointing people toward the Lord - super encouraged.</strong><br />
<strong>-psalm 107:14-15</strong><br />
-Isaiah 43:18<br />
-grace will show you that you are unworthy without making you feel unloved<br />
-romans 8:31<br />
-the devil doesn't want you to share your story, he wants remind you of your shame.<br />
-galatians 5<br />
-<strong>2 Corinthians 12:9</strong><br />
<strong>-</strong>joy and grief can co-exist<br />
<strong>-jeremiah 33:3: "Call<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-19779A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup> to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-19779B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup> things you do not know.’"</strong><br />
<strong>-"when i look at my scars they always remind me of what God has done and i remember that Jesus has scars too."</strong><br />
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<strong><a href="http://www.thenatos.com/">jami nato</a>:</strong><br />
-romans 11:32<br />
-don't look at the 'heroes of faith' in the bible and imitate their life, look at them and say "who is their God?"<br />
-if i'm not the hero who am i? i'm the adulterer.<br />
-we're just arrows pointing people to jesus, like john the Baptist in the desert.<br />
-the only way that ______ will change is that God will change your heart, work a miracle<br />
-know that you are loved, precious & chosen<br />
<strong>-moses knew God intimately but he did not get to see the promised land. the promised land is not the reward, knowing God is the reward.</strong><br />
<strong>-you don't need to fear the trials that God will allow to lead you closer to Him. HE IS SO GOOD.</strong><br />
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<a href="http://www.danielleburkleo.com/p/about-me.html">danielle burkleo</a>: <br />
<strong>-your story matters, even if isn't "dramatic" it is the most incredible story of love and grace, it's worth sharing</strong><br />
-step out in faith, say yes when God prompts you<br />
-don't miss the moments you're in<br />
-God is a God of redemption<br />
-Isaiah 26:3: "you will keep in perfect peace <span class="indent-1"><span class="text Isa-26-3">those whose minds are steadfast, </span></span><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Isa-26-3">because they trust<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-18134B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup> in you."</span></span><br />
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<strong><a href="http://www.topofthepagewithleslie.blogspot.com/">leslie padgett</a>:</strong><br />
psalm 119:11<br />
hebrews 12:2, 11:1<br />
-faith that remains unchallenged usually remains unchanged<br />
-faith is often challenged by pain<br />
-you don't always have to avoid or mask pain, you can participate, seek God, praise God, glorify him.<br />
-Isaiah 43:19<br />
-1 Kings 18<br />
-Zeph 3:17<br />
-God told her who she was before He told her what to do<br />
<strong>-Isaiah 61:1, 54:5</strong><br />
<strong>-God is enough, He is trustworthy and good.</strong><br />
<strong>-God withheld the only thing she thought she needed and replaced it with what she truly needed --> God himself</strong><br />
<strong>-We are wired for surrender: we know when we've carried too much & not given our burden to God when our sin creeps up as anger, impatience, worry, etc.</strong><br />
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so that's that. i can't possibly type anything else. except, check out that guy behind cory. i had a wonderful time and felt so blessed to be on this weekend. thank you for all the hard work so many people put into those few precious hours.</div>
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oh and i met maybe my all-time favorite blogger, <a href="http://ashleyannphotography.com/blog/">ashley campbell</a> in real life. nbd. i was really awkward and she was really sweet. and very small. so nice to have met you if you ever click your way here and then read for three hours to the end of this post ashley!</div>
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emmie was really glad to have me home. ha!</div>
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until next year ladies! wink wink!</div>
Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239466600408611812noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2793952629315961818.post-53811720095311590922014-03-03T23:39:00.001-05:002014-03-04T00:01:41.931-05:00surviving wintertwice in one week, i'm on a roll! ow ow!<br />
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today was snow day number 12 for good ol' Lexington and school has already been cancelled for tomorrow. my teacher of a husband will be going to school til july. it was wonderful to have my sweet hubs home for the day but my little monster was actually, kind of a monster. it was one of those days where lack of napping led to one baby meltdown after another. bedtime couldn't come soon enough - for either of us.<br />
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but even on the hard days, i have it pretty good. here's a few from the last week trying to survive winter.<br />
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emmie <strong>just</strong> started letting me leave bows in her hair! you have no idea what a huge development this is for us! i have been collecting hairbows for 19 months in anticipation of this! and now that her bangs are constantly in her eyes it's more of a necessity than just an accessory. i wanted to send ben a pic of em in a bow and this is the face she made when i said 'smile!' <br />
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one great way to make it through eternal frozen nightmare is with an adorable scarf. this little stinker helped me enter <strong>and win </strong>a giveaway from my bestie, <a href="http://corymargrave.blogspot.com/">cory</a>! what are the chances!? i always threaten her to pick me & she never does, now my luck is turning around! i submitted this pic of em in her <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/eclecticjoyshop">eclectic joy</a> baby scarf, how could it not be lucky? cory's clearing out all her fall/winter scarves to make room for spring. grab them while you can!</div>
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over the weekend we got to celebrate our sweet friend, lu's birthday, a little earlier than her <strong>actual</strong> birthday. thai food for everyone. i wanted a sweet family shot. hey, we tried.<br />
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i always bite emmie's cheeks, like play bite not for real, and i guess she's catching on. sadly for her, my cheeks are a little less adorable to nibble.<br />
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which brings us to today. today, like i said, was one of those days. i know i have it super easy, our life is <strong>crazy</strong> blessed but today i felt like i cleaned up the same pile of toys 10 times, emptied to sink full of dishes to turn around and it be filled to the brim again, and was a tad low on patience. [by tad i mean a lot low]. but those aren't the things you want to remember in your family blog / journal. you want to look back on flowers and puppy dog tails but sometimes that ain't true so lets call it how it is.<br />
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in all the frustrations that come, there are those sweet, totally worth it moments too. we spent the morning at home because the roads were pretty bad. i made breakfast for us which was yummy if i do say so myself. we pretended we were at josie's with the brehms & junkers with chef jen jen. <br />
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later on we ventured out. cabin fever is setting in thick around these parts. i cannot wait to feel the warm sun [will that ever happen!?] and take em outside to run around daily. oh man, she can't wait either.<br />
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we ate linner as a family in an almost empty restaurant, which was good because ems was a hellion.<br />
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and then to burn some energy we took em to the book store to run some laps. she found a $25 little stuffed bunny [what?!] that we had to pry from her tiny grasp upon our exit. my favorite part besides watching em with the train table and trying to climb into the fountain was this scene...<br />
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playing dollhouse with poppa & tiny kitty cat dolls. real men sit in tiny chairs and play with their babies. ugh, my heart.<br />
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soaking up these little moments with my favorite people. hope you're surviving the snow with your favorites too!<br />
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i have friends who are working on fun business ventures doing things that they love. life is short, why not do things you enjoy?! i am so proud of each of them for putting themselves out there. i love these girls and i must say, my friends are so talented. check these ladies out and support them, they're the best!</div>
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/eclecticjoyshop">eclectic joy</a>: handmade, beautiful infinity scarves for ladies and babies</div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThirstyHeartsDesign?ref=l2-shopheader-name">thirsty heart designs</a>: digital and physical prints to make your home happy & inspired </div>
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<a href="http://www.twobellesandabride.com/index.html">two belles & a bride</a>: two precious girls with a passion for people and a love for the wedding industry have started a blog to be an encouragement toward the Lord and eye-candy of all things pretty.</div>
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<a href="http://instagram.com/emndesigns1">emndesigns1</a>: brand new instagram vendor with digital prints for purchase coming soon. she is so super creative and i abuse her talents often! </div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/stellabellaboutique?ref=em">stella bella boutique</a>: hopefully returning to the scene in the very near future my dear friend rachel makes unique & thoughtful handmade jewelry. maybe shoot her a message and tell her to give the world her jewels stat!?</div>
<br />Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239466600408611812noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2793952629315961818.post-46583926806580550352014-03-01T21:09:00.003-05:002014-03-01T21:09:58.870-05:00winter 2013::2014 with emmie beanoriginally written at the end of january i'm pretty sure. kept hoping to add to it but obviously failed, so i'm gonna go ahead and hit the 'publish' button. without further adieu...<br />
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per usual, i have one billion things i need to post. a thousand things i want to remember about this time in our lives. i've come to the realization that my hold up is pictures. i don't have all my images in one place, some on my phone, some on ben's, some on my camera and <b>none</b> on my computer. it always seems like such a bear to upload from 3 different devices just to post & no post is complete without pictures. true?<br />
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so anyway, these next few posts will be of seasons past, out of order, and half-remembered but it's better than nothing.<br />
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memories to remember:<br />
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we were out to an informal family dinner, just the three of us, like 70% of our nights...bad momma. when we went into the restaurant it was just cold as heck & dusk but when we came out it was a full blown blizzard in the dark. i hope to always remember how precious little em was when she watched the snow come down for the first time with her little furry hood on. it was sticking to her bangs and her little eyes were fixed with wonder toward the sky. the parking lot lights lit up those perfect, fat, fluffy snowflakes (i'm convinced they're the best kind), she was in heaven. i could have watched her smile at the sky all night, if i wasn't freezing my buns off. it was a really precious few moments.<br />
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since then we've had relatively <b>no</b> snow in lexington. all surrounding areas get pummeled, and we get a rain shower or something equally lame. since that first snow i've had one other opportunity to take sweet mem's out into flurries. the wind was kickin' something fierce & she could barely stay standing against it in her 'christmas-story-esque' outfit. i snapped a few shots and let her stick her mitten hands in snow before i dragged my screaming [freezing] baby inside. she's obsessed. i have a wilderness babe that is for sure. i like to be outside and all, but mostly in a laying on a beach towel sense, so i'm not sure where she gets it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJxEK4JEM-qUlqprlvu8VJ7hmAhlhqWkOUfI2xDPSOuz9hPI5EXEBfA0VvP9Gp9LEupnOqvADHAIW4dPaFSN75gnWtjAwvPNk6TzxvO7CHvZDHcmgSamKeXtk_hE-yF-R0v-HkOBioA08Q/s640/blogger-image-183513454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJxEK4JEM-qUlqprlvu8VJ7hmAhlhqWkOUfI2xDPSOuz9hPI5EXEBfA0VvP9Gp9LEupnOqvADHAIW4dPaFSN75gnWtjAwvPNk6TzxvO7CHvZDHcmgSamKeXtk_hE-yF-R0v-HkOBioA08Q/s640/blogger-image-183513454.jpg" /></a></div>
in other news, i try and stay on top of rotating emmie's clothes in and out for sizing, as she grows out of one size and then into another. we've been super blessed with adorable hand-me-downs, or future outfits that couldn't be passed up by a certain nana. if i slack, she might even miss wearing them all together since she grows so quickly. all that to say, in rotating into a new size i found these awesome faux-cowgirl boots. i had been waiting for her little feet to grow into them and now that it was fall, the stars were aligning and it was time to squeeze those little chunky toes in there. much to our surprise they had their own squeaker in the shoe and seriously, watching emmie stomp all over the house, stores, restaurants with these boots brought me at least a years' worth of laughter.<br />
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other little emmie-isms that currently kill us:<br />
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she now puts her hand up to her face to giggle. she still belly laughs the most at her poppa. <br />
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she tries to fake snore like i do when i 'fake' sleep but really she just opens her mouth, breathes really loud and keeps her eyes open.<br />
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she squints her eyes when she smiles at me sometimes, intentionally. i think she's mimicking me but what's funny is that it's just the way i normally smile at her. i'm not making my eyes squinter than normal, that's just my face.<br />
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when she runs or walks really fast she breathes, huh huh huh, really short little breaths because that's what i do when i fake run holding her. it's awesome.<br />
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she shrugs her shoulders and put her arms out to say "i dunno." without words. <br />
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she's starting to sing and dance more. she <b>loves</b> music. anytime she hears any kind of tune her ears immediately perk up and she starts to wiggle and/or hum.</div>
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she uses her chin as an extra pair of hands or a pocket. i've never actually seen anyone else do this so i guess she's just resourceful. she wants to be hands-free to grab one more leaf or carry a few more plastic pieces of food, insert object under chin, keep walking like normal. she's makes the best concentration face when she does this & also creates a classic ecb double chin.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB9_CAu_2QjOL_FtftS3P7I8ywK_Y2NRwY3jwOoIVs9sCLOmW67_SJa1l1Sx8KLCisXIAQZJVfS3oSkYtNTYuu4eIxHQVeUi5IAVbO8z-Q2BadHsvzlfmzD-dnD5V_DbOrOLNli3LG9QhQ/s640/blogger-image--1155556183.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB9_CAu_2QjOL_FtftS3P7I8ywK_Y2NRwY3jwOoIVs9sCLOmW67_SJa1l1Sx8KLCisXIAQZJVfS3oSkYtNTYuu4eIxHQVeUi5IAVbO8z-Q2BadHsvzlfmzD-dnD5V_DbOrOLNli3LG9QhQ/s640/blogger-image--1155556183.jpg" /></a></div>
she's known how to hug and kiss for a couple months, and let me tell you, it doesn't get old, but now when she hugs it's real hard when you mean it. sometimes she wraps her arms around me and pats my back. i may have created the most overly affectionate baby in the whole world. she seriously would give hugs 85% of the day if i didn't distract her with necessities like food, tea parties & mickey mouse club house. and sometimes even that results in hugs. she's really into giving hugs between bites, to both parents at one time. i found scrambled egg in my hair the other day. anytime she sees ben and i hugging, she almost whines and then runs as fast as she can to squeeze in the middle.</div>
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em knows most of her body parts, her favorite far and away is her belly button which she will whip out on command, in public.<br />
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she loves to sit in her toy corner or go shut the door in her room to read by herself. she pulls out all of her books, surrounds herself and then gets to work flipping diligently through all of the pages.<br />
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everyday is an adventure with this little miss. being together is far and away one of my greatest joys and undeserved blessings.<br />
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hopefully we'll be back again...someday. she's already grown so much since this! </div>
Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239466600408611812noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2793952629315961818.post-42039602058407364982013-12-19T00:01:00.002-05:002013-12-19T00:01:32.690-05:00thanksgiving [yes, thanksgiving]<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
why not post thanksgiving happenings the week of Christmas? i love the reminder to <b>give thanks</b>, it can also be pretty convicting when you realize you've spent eleven months being a little less than grateful for all the amazing gifts we've been blessed with [not just material, but relational, family, opportunities, provision, the promises of God, etc.]. i pray that God grows our little family to live in gratitude over the next year [and always]. when next november rolls around i hope i don't get broadsided with the same heart issue. i pray that Jesus would be our everything. that we'd believe and live like HE IS ENOUGH. because he is.</div>
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the weekend before thanksgiving benny played in the first annual turkey bowl football game! it was awesome; such a great turnout, guys and girls ready to rumble and then share a meal together. the only downer was that it was twenty-something degrees and windy. ouch...feel the burn. i'm not much of an athlete [surprise!] and i may actually be anti-competitive so emmie and i opted to be cheerleaders. i lost my voice so we were the silent type of cheerleaders. </div>
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look at all those people!!! mainly Young Life leaders and friends of those folks. </div>
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emmers did really well for how cold it was. I stuck her in this snowsuit for the first time that i originally thought was WAY TOO BIG for her. go figure, i could barely zip it up, but it did do its job once we got it on! we snuggled in puffy blankets until she was too restless and then we headed out to thaw & nap.<br />
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i think if it had been warmer emmie would have tried to run onto the field and play with her poppa. maybe they'll have a spring game so we can see? i think she'd love that.<br />
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on thanksgiving day we got to go to my cousin's for 'supper'. this was the first thanksgiving since my sweet grandma passed away and we always had thanksgiving at her house in the past. maggie was an amazingly gracious host but it was a little sad to not be at Grandma's with her ridiculously infectious laugh in the place we're accustomed to. still a wonderful day with family and after about 5 minutes emmie was comfortable enough to start raiding drawers and screaming wildly. i'd say it was a success. :)<br />
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we hopped from one fam to the next and headed up to northern ky to see benny's crew. since he had a few days off school we wanted make the most of it and some extended family was in town so it was double great. i took almost no pictures [fail!] but i did get these gems!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw0vwPylmZxb1yOvZj8LRno7lX-8oJ50p-s6Jcdmle6y5PlIC3Kr-5OBxLVcBzhlIhO15lRHeo5EMLrHkswAlMuT4-H14b5xJ1hDNgp_Rd6qV9JkcVeGntpru2Zzg48lVk2hSZIgcCDJQo/s640/blogger-image-1538174480.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ecb in nonna's heels</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLQrDJMG00iA9y_qQgZFAz6U2V29YJpdSuaTse011HL4sXm3Qa5sbY0bDN1mo5XCBv15hQjO7zRxptLFauQMaCaWVPbPHz3dc7PPnKVf-_x4f0rxyfOR1po3_nQn58WTNWjN6E8D_3PMLu/s1600/Photo+on+12-7-13+at+1.20+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLQrDJMG00iA9y_qQgZFAz6U2V29YJpdSuaTse011HL4sXm3Qa5sbY0bDN1mo5XCBv15hQjO7zRxptLFauQMaCaWVPbPHz3dc7PPnKVf-_x4f0rxyfOR1po3_nQn58WTNWjN6E8D_3PMLu/s640/Photo+on+12-7-13+at+1.20+PM.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">they love each other</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2fjYlPVzDvZP_gR3n4AHD4BmwbHNVS11Mw57F-V8NUaXH68yhrHoS2M2TRwPJrSEOFbautizFrAr7ukDHAOsuGQNiUN0RPQQLFVqrImz7a-dZL9sSLaJn6_pf-mgq_d3uDTpOZsZpxGt9/s640/blogger-image-1564122429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2fjYlPVzDvZP_gR3n4AHD4BmwbHNVS11Mw57F-V8NUaXH68yhrHoS2M2TRwPJrSEOFbautizFrAr7ukDHAOsuGQNiUN0RPQQLFVqrImz7a-dZL9sSLaJn6_pf-mgq_d3uDTpOZsZpxGt9/s640/blogger-image-1564122429.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo booth pics with this doll...in my ducks</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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last but not least, we got to celebrate our precious little babe silas' birthday! i cannot believe he's four. i can't communicate how shocked i am that he is <b>that</b> old. i checked his birthday invite at least a dozen times to check his age. time has just gone by so fast. he is such a sweet-hearted little guy and is growing into a wonderful little boy. unbelievable. i love that he takes time to look after emmie. he's really sweet to her and him with his little sister - i melt. your momma and daddy are doing such a great job loving and investing in you buddy. we're so blessed to watch you grow! happy birthday sweet boy.<br />
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si had a great lil party complete with cupcakes, cousins and scooters. em even crashed a 'little picnic in a tent' situation that was taking place. she didn't ask permission, just made herself at home. hilarious. we'll work on manners / social ques someday soon.</div>
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so thankful for all the precious time with family and friends this season. i pray that we live in thanksgiving, now and forever more.Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239466600408611812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2793952629315961818.post-857046561740566692013-12-17T21:14:00.000-05:002013-12-17T21:14:49.980-05:00...there is freedomi meant to post this ooooh over a month ago but this is my life...<br />
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my dear friend <a href="http://cassieschacht.blogspot.com/">cassie</a> had a series rockin' through november up until last week all about <b>freedom</b>. she felt like the Lord was pushing her to put this good news out into the universe and to use the good ol' blog world to do it. she is such a faithful young woman & i'm incredibly blessed to know her. seriously, one of the most genuine, kind people i know. beautiful inside & out.<br />
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cassie wrote, along with some of our friends, all about what God has been teaching them when it comes to living out the freedom we've been given in Christ. i even had the honor of contributing a lil something myself about <a href="http://cassieschacht.blogspot.com/2013/12/freedom-joy-living-secure-unconcerned.html">freedom & joy</a>. you can find the beginning of the series <a href="http://cassieschacht.blogspot.com/2013/11/freedom-filled-fridays-series.html">here</a>! i hope you'll be blessed by their words!<br />
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i'll be back someday soon...maybe.<br />
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<br />Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239466600408611812noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2793952629315961818.post-17816204984795708752013-11-17T23:16:00.002-05:002013-11-17T23:16:46.719-05:00pumpkin patchin' with our pumpkini missed halloween but we're squeaking in this post before thanksgiving. ay ay ay, i'm patting myself on the back. we found ourselves on our first annual pumpkin patch trip as a family of 3. i think we will find a 'new' patch next fall but this was just fine for the day with a 1 year old - officially, sweet memories made.<br />
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her favorite part was probably this. wandering through the pre-picked pumpkin field as soon as you enter the farm. she went around and touched each one and then tried to steal some mums.<br />
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it was a gorgeous day, but a surprisingly, blazing hot day. i was wearing a sweater and jeans and immediately wished i was in shorts and a tank as soon as we exited the car. that made me a little 'eh' ... oh and i forgot to wear deodorant. so it was an 'eh' and a 'ew' moment for me [and maybe for others too ... yikes]. although, it was worth enduring to see our little babe on a 'fall farm' for a day.<br />
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my little doll baby ran her little heart out. we didn't pay to do any of the extra things - she wouldn't really appreciate it and was just as content running in fields and touching grass, so that's what we did.<br />
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we had quality family time for a bit. i think in an effort to wrangle this wild one we gave her the best seat in the house...right on poppa's shoulders and then we wheeled her around in a pumpkin wagon, which she thoroughly enjoyed. she wanted back in as soon as we got her out. i bought what i thought was an 'emmie sized' pumpkin and at check out she found an even ittier one for herself...like so tiny. i loved that, it fit in her tiny hands perfectly.<br />
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it was a sweet day and i think little ems had a good time. i look forward to many years of patchin' in our future, hopefully we'll be more appropriately dressed, ahem, prepared & at a farm that is a little less 'commercialized'. hay rides should be free! i'm just saying.</div>
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we hope you're enjoying what's left of fall in your neck of the woods, i know in ky i'm clinging to what's left of the colorful leaves, days in the 50's & well, the month of november.</div>
Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239466600408611812noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2793952629315961818.post-67236428442151188892013-11-16T15:07:00.002-05:002013-11-16T15:07:48.673-05:00day in the lifei started writing this a month or two ago so the info & some pics are a little dated but it still needs to be posted for this momma's fading memory. i don't want to forget! and since i'm not making a point to do them monthly [i'm hoping just to be consistent as life happens, so far...failing] i just need to fit them in when i can. here's some of who little em is becoming...<br />
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em loves walks, like with her own two little feet, not strolling. she started walking pretty well around 13 months, where she would take more than a few unassisted steps. now at 14.5 months she is trying to run. it is awesome. she goes as fast as her little legs will carry her until she falls down or runs into something. if we're inside she's doing laps around the house and if we're outside on the court [which is a very common occurrence] she doesn't run so much as stop every two feet to pick up leaves and rocks. she is obsessed with leaves and rocks. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this is her around this time - 14.5 months</td></tr>
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she is going to flip once all the trees around here lose their leaves. i'm going to let her jump in leaf piles. -- it's now one month later...well, the leaves have fallen and oh man is she in love. something that i find especially sweet is that she loves the ugly ones best. there will be vibrant red or yellow leaves right in front of her in autumnal perfection and she'll specifically go after the ratty, broken brown ones. ben says that she finds beauty in unexpected things. i hope that it means that she'll love the unlovable someday. either way, it's awesome. i taught her how to stomp on crunchy leaf piles - it's a new favorite! oh, and she found her shadow!! on an especially clear day, she looked down and there it was. i showed her how her shadow can wave and dance, so she giggled and chased it for a long bit.<br />
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em wore her little hunters this past week for the first time [a month ago]. she was so adorable but they are still a little too big for her and she's pretty unsteady in them. i can't wait until they are in her normal shoe rotation. *** they officially <b>are</b> her go-to shoe. when we're around the house, even in a diaper, she goes and gets her boots and wants to put them on so we can go play outside. hint: if you want hundreds of strangers to comment on your babe's adorable feet you should invest in some baby hunters and just wait as the unsolicited raves come pouring in. em's sweet aunts definitely nailed it!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">more current 15.5 months</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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now that it's cooler we go on lots of target and mall runs. it's a little dangerous for my wallet but worth it for you to get some exercise. you've memorized where build a bear and the disney store are in the mall and they are the only stores you try and go in to. sometimes you let me hold your hand when you walk, but only on your own terms. you hate when i force it [for safety of course].<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">build a bear CEO</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih_AjKzD3yHy4P40Dd-7phmN84LTwiEIIvKTf9CdNLue4DWnYph7n7sZEad4palcFo95WU4Rlun_zdqtHJfT8LKbcJpjf6rODJU2NVtyA0XgxbQqcH09zJ9NMRd6n6DVKVUWGYkk4XXjWj/s640/blogger-image-551771611.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih_AjKzD3yHy4P40Dd-7phmN84LTwiEIIvKTf9CdNLue4DWnYph7n7sZEad4palcFo95WU4Rlun_zdqtHJfT8LKbcJpjf6rODJU2NVtyA0XgxbQqcH09zJ9NMRd6n6DVKVUWGYkk4XXjWj/s640/blogger-image-551771611.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">trying to convince me that a giant mickey mouse would look great in the living room.</td></tr>
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she loves to run back to her room, even when the light is off [creepy] and sit down and turn the humidifier on. hahaha when i go in and turn the light on she's just sitting there in the mist with a huge grin and giggles.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaGOJUdyRLO4x5l4RSmj2mGp_KDwh6XDe9dU3dFmsK6TzivpCxz4ggnQHR_o4NCyjvTcUfeYAgKjncQ2APp6k51WxKZ13R3OGmPPuS4i4NTonFm0yaatMJGuOa5z4AGHgpxH_qvBORs9lD/s640/blogger-image--828822083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaGOJUdyRLO4x5l4RSmj2mGp_KDwh6XDe9dU3dFmsK6TzivpCxz4ggnQHR_o4NCyjvTcUfeYAgKjncQ2APp6k51WxKZ13R3OGmPPuS4i4NTonFm0yaatMJGuOa5z4AGHgpxH_qvBORs9lD/s640/blogger-image--828822083.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ems running like a maniac through a fabric store. she LOVES to touch things</td></tr>
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she plays little library and reads books, has tea parties and talks to all her 'babies'. she has me make forts over her crib and then belly flops to the open side of her bed and just giggles and giggles. she loves to put all over her bows in her hair at the same time. love love loves to brush her teeth. she can be focused on something for a pretty considerable amount of time now. she can spend 20 minutes or so reading books or one of her favorite pastimes, moving her sharpie markers from one mason jar to another...a baby's work is never done.<br />
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em dances whenever she hears music and wants her poppa to play the guitar whenever it catches her eye. she bobs her head in the backseat if a song comes on the radio that she likes. makes me laugh every time. she just recently started to try and sing herself, especially when i rock her to bed. as i sing, she sings too.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">em and si playing / screaming at 'family dinner'</td></tr>
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she still doesn't say a lot of real words but she talks constantly and just this week started shouting "MAAAAAAM" whenever she can't see me or when she wants something. in a really loud voice. when i tell her "shhh" she sticks her finger up her nose. i don't know where she got that.<br />
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she eats everything, always. like, really never refuses food.<br />
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she still takes two naps a day. just when i thought she was becoming a one nap baby, nope. still sticking with too. most days its two 1.5 to 2 hour naps each and then bed for the nap from 7:30p to 7:30a.<br />
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something i'm obsessed with. her facial expressions, namely, the brows. she has these super expressive eyebrows. when she's concentrating on something or thinks it's interesting she raises those little brows and her eyes get wide. melt my heart.<br />
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she went on her first ride in a swing after a lunch date with our sweet friend bridget. we'd tried the park a few times in the summer but with no trees covering, the black plastic seats we're basically a little inferno, ready to scorch. fall is perhaps the best swing weather? we shall see.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ISunZWogFXMdzlxSP4V1jMq6BgmSCY0N-9IoxA9JocXMyAzTOw8dZkqZKkI6ZuBqsROWPmX5LZckHlVGyURoDFoB266Zfz-7LW9t-d9v2o_dMUd4dMXCLrxu4bCWtXbylfqxsW0z793w/s640/blogger-image-604169686.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ISunZWogFXMdzlxSP4V1jMq6BgmSCY0N-9IoxA9JocXMyAzTOw8dZkqZKkI6ZuBqsROWPmX5LZckHlVGyURoDFoB266Zfz-7LW9t-d9v2o_dMUd4dMXCLrxu4bCWtXbylfqxsW0z793w/s640/blogger-image-604169686.jpg" /></a></div>
i can't believe how much she is growing up and changing. this stage is so fun. we laugh together pretty much all day long now - sometimes i think i need some adult conversation, a massage and lets be honest, a shower...but really i can't imagine being anywhere else, chasing this crazy little princess as she's becoming a little girl - for sure my favorite job.<br />
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and just for good measure...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh85t-I3ti4n_ql1zxXSl0pmJsIsdpRFm81GzdhO4UnCPG8W3W-k2BrysATFZsx4jBPgDnWiuExTtKG4-u8S4RLWOERP_OsgK3WbS1Q-60QkAYZYt6OREoCsbhKOYVBmUNPvF72XhSaGLBX/s640/blogger-image--843496686.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh85t-I3ti4n_ql1zxXSl0pmJsIsdpRFm81GzdhO4UnCPG8W3W-k2BrysATFZsx4jBPgDnWiuExTtKG4-u8S4RLWOERP_OsgK3WbS1Q-60QkAYZYt6OREoCsbhKOYVBmUNPvF72XhSaGLBX/s640/blogger-image--843496686.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">an em in the wind</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqzW7jY96KwgQVan0idM4syVxLbdn8uzF6Uk2Ut_2cfcb4wc-_PqRvRsmfgmoQlVCjx42AhjpAGaS_RASQfrhJWnJslXkie1d0ddgNz0T2z26dYJm_7XyC8bOLiHDPyqgpW0Uw7x1NwIS/s640/blogger-image-657002724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqzW7jY96KwgQVan0idM4syVxLbdn8uzF6Uk2Ut_2cfcb4wc-_PqRvRsmfgmoQlVCjx42AhjpAGaS_RASQfrhJWnJslXkie1d0ddgNz0T2z26dYJm_7XyC8bOLiHDPyqgpW0Uw7x1NwIS/s640/blogger-image-657002724.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">auntie liz airplaning em while momma takes a migraine break {THANKFUL}</td></tr>
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Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239466600408611812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2793952629315961818.post-55408391282694761272013-11-12T12:19:00.001-05:002013-11-12T12:19:23.756-05:00first trick or treatour little mems became a little mouse and had her very first trick-or-treat halloween. i kind of don't know if i should 'like' halloween or not, you know the underlying meaning and all but to have a reason to dress up our sweet little babe and adventure around to see neighbors with friends and family, i can get behind that.<br />
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we actually had two days of halloween, the 31st our town was having a big ol' storm so they moved trick-or-treat to the 1st but my family has a tradition of all being together, aunts, uncles, grandparents and cousins all go to my parents, visit and trick or treat together. since the soup was already 'on' before halloween was rescheduled we still went over, with our mouse in tow, to the parents.<br />
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:: emmie driving her car vs. emmie driving my car :: </div>
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we all loved getting to see the family and have our little mouse run all over the house with her itty puffy body.<br />
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on trick-or-treat night we had a super duper busy day since it wasn't really our original plan but that was ok. we went over to our sweet friends, the postons and wandered from house to house collecting leaves, and candy, but mostly leaves. emmie didn't go to every door but she did walk up and down the street like a champ, little tail just a waggin'. and look at her duck friend...eeeek! best friends in the making...<br />
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:: memmie the mouse :: si as super-hero flash :: liz the super-sitter :: elle the fuzzy duck ::</div>
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i know emmie doesn't look so sweet in this picture. to that i respond...her face just looks like that.</div>
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and last but not least, the mouse eating cheese. could it be more fitting?</div>
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ben got the sweetest video of emmie bear wandering the streets. it was a beautiful night with sweet friends. even though emmie may not remember it always i think i will. i'm really glad we could do this as a family.Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239466600408611812noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2793952629315961818.post-22681850849935695402013-11-02T23:27:00.003-04:002013-11-02T23:29:31.369-04:00growing girl: summer recap<br />
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fall is already giving way to freezing temperatures every few nights and i've yet to post some pics of em over the <b>summer</b>.
it kind of breaks my heart because i know i meant to post these a long
while back and make myself a few notes about all the fun things that she
was learning and doing as she was growing into a little girl. </div>
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during the summer emmie turned 1! i think i still need to post that too...eeeek [i'm sorry emmers]! it is so crazy how quickly time passes. even looking at these pictures that are 2-4 months old seems like forever ago. she already seems so much bigger. </div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoTIRvwo2uacl-D4pDjTfgG5EyFkNmDnbGPTZr8eE86fbmVtuL6MxpdKtKyTUHo85d0VgDCGNankTEjOZQd-Wa4Ul3jbUl97ucM5yiXlDXZw6W4y8rdGQj4aAa4GQnV4JDLcFTIwDFvs0y/s640/blogger-image--2048997112.jpg" /> </div>
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in the summer she had 8 teeth total, 4 on top and 4 on the bottom. she loved/loves to eat food, all kinds, any time. basically turns <b>nothing</b> down. she had like 2 days of being finicky and then got over it. i feel like we totally lucked out in this department. </div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUzXSeFoFZm5qXu_iBRXSzAtw40PJSbGWHqnQFKSYHzPWT_IKuOOPx_aioplqVnr2C6rjaENfDAKHaMusuvLBN8Z2cvhK3mf5ZuRv0G-4cgIAAo0NeHpLZlzFR_8Np8Qs03-CWFqH9Ij1y/s640/blogger-image-425599807.jpg" /> </div>
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emmie bear learned to walk! like for real. mid-july she took her first steps but was so timid and not read to go for it. by thirteen months she was on a roll, going steady and now she's running absolutely wild. i was so anticipating hearing her little footsteps scamper up and down our hallways and now she does! basically all. the time. she's getting more and more independent and it is just the sweetest thing for her to run back to her room and just sit quietly reading her books while i peek in to check on her. just adorable.</div>
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i spent about 3 weeks in this position, me leaning down, walking like a hunchback, while little bit holds on for dear life, getting those feet moving.</div>
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during the summer [and on pretty days now] we spend a lot of time during the day outside. emmie LOVES the outdoors and is obsessed with nature, all kinds - wind, birds, flowers, rocks, leaves...oh geesh how she loves leaves. during the summer the pool and parks were certainly our friends. we either went on tons of stroller walks, pool splashing and picnicking & once she started walking a little better she started walking herself on our adventures.</div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTp7wZHkg3_Rvd4Xj-R7yknD6InhimGQj60VPRgCPMcEBQ9r8jiBIL1TQN2uuYDurCuOFLJoZI7WFd-kt8VDJQo_1dubd_JmhHnUtQt7egW50aJbGufp9dPAqrHzSZLTAbDPeuUB68zyT3/s640/blogger-image--285888701.jpg" /> </div>
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i'm struggling to remember timelines and details...dang it momma-brain! </div>
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emmie's hair really started growing in around 13 or 14 months. these pictures are a little before it really started going. currently, the back is an awesome baby mullet that usually is full of baby curls. </div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQigtI9lOaV70uGpeI5EqLIxOD4x-gpAolqNPV9xsWtt0TQSNan9b1CUug7zk2YT5dnzzJmIxl1WPeBIMUwJE1rIIf7xrpcVljXDD5_nER6PCcsUVkLasDDRnF6gdaXpxbp0shyNE7ieKG/s640/blogger-image-810307210.jpg" /> </div>
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this summer, she started using sign language for "more please," "help please," & "all done." she also has a "i want" sign that she taught herself. she started loving to point at things and have us tell her what they are, loves to push buttons, flip light switches, unpack and pack things. she is a baby tornado, that is certain, but around mid-summer she learned that she can also put things away. hallelujah.</div>
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em had two or so overnight adventures with grandparents and then a few other weekends with just poppa at home while momma was gone. all has gone super well, she seems to be pretty flexible. she just wakes up a little earlier at other people's houses. speaking of sleep, she has still been a great sleeper. i think sometime during the summer she switched from 3 naps to 2. that may have been close to her birthday which seems crazy that she was sleeping so much, while she's so big. maybe i'm misremembering. currently, at 15 months, we're down to two naps, one at 10 am and one at around 3:00p (each for 1 to 2 hours), down for the night around 7:30p and waking up for the morning around 7:30a. ain't too shabby.</div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQtyuHBRxgu4PnHC4_jhvUFjuG-hxK_0oVV0tRq7Lp-UxTOwE6-AKdNKHOwEWrl3RyFFaiN_mP9RY6ORznrEo4F8p8vFXa7X9IEgAlTbkrOS4P6RuDbcL1CJbzjn7zDszUYbDTsFLiCR6s/s640/blogger-image--1550575757.jpg" /> </div>
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this summer emmie had her poppa home from work! the teacher's summer is uh.maz.ing. i had one month of craziness in the summer for my little part-time job but it was such a blessing to have ben home with emmie so i could go to the office and get things done when i was home. i actually don't know how i would have gotten through camp season without ben being home. we may have needed a nanny. then for the second half of summer both of us were out of work essentially, if we're being real. i remember thinking almost everyday how thankful i was that ben got to have such sweet time with emmie while she's changing so much. so many parents don't get this opportunity, i hope we never take our sweet summers for granted. i was blessed to get to spend time with him too [he he he].</div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpkJVnZA9dbFUiv6fl2npssp3aMen0SsyGk_1Luqg6AoH5GY6kM5FmhmUchdpSxZJXYcuO_jopc1ILrNzfUeuWcNVBHTxJ9FK_VLDmd3KcgCRvf8vs_QPPDBx6NkO1sNZ8L1DyEGtxnAL-/s640/blogger-image--1627735858.jpg" /> </div>
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well that's all for now. goodbye summer. you were good to us.</div>
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i'll catch up soon...right? </div>
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it's november. ugh.</div>
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Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239466600408611812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2793952629315961818.post-75415227515479216632013-10-24T15:38:00.000-04:002013-11-18T21:11:36.724-05:00i'm going :: hope spoken<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://hopespoken.blogspot.com/p/about.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSisqlGbx6q-64SIMt8ELkPcz2aPK-71LhcJfyXTa4aH3tNdtwWuBoAnlLAoqw8JHV-YD6-mQmSn01pmULCFTikSWxplNPRc3TXxWoXYIXDXjAYTgj8osKBN49CM2Mc-TRLpdM1fpmbMZm/s1600/sitehs.png" /><span id="goog_995671054"></span></a><span id="goog_995671055"></span></div>
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i hope that sometime in ... ohhh the next 5 months or so i find the time to click through some of the other lovely ladies' blogs that have linked up to introduce themselves, but until then, i'll just say<b> hello</b> myself! i am going to a conference next march, <a href="http://hopespoken.blogspot.com/p/about.html">hope spoken</a>, with 3 of my favorite friends and i am so pumped! </div>
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so. so. so pumped. </div>
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[right now all the tickets are sold out but i hear that they be releasing about 30 more in the near future]. this conference is put on by a group of women who love Jesus, the gospel & people. they had a dream to get a bunch of ladies together to spur them on to do the same - live our lives for something big, purposeful & eternal. i'm so excited to be a part of that. it feels kind of selfish to want a weekend to yourself to be 'fed' but on the flipside i do believe it's healthy & good to 'hunger and thirst' for more of the Lord and i'm hoping that's my motive. aaaaand i'm not going to lie, a weekend away with no responsibilities having slumber parties with some of my favorite people ain't too shabby either. i'm praying that i can spend my time there deepening my love for the Lord, cultivating a heart of servanthood, build up any that i encounter & come home refreshed, ready to go hard at this life that God as blessed me with.</div>
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they're having a little link up party for anyone who's going so we can sort of cyber-ly introduce ourselves. i think i feel pretty 'safe' since i'll be surrounded by some besties there but if i had been brave enough to go on my own i think that this little party would bring me a lot of comfort, reminding me that i'll be in the company of a lot of amazing women, so i'm glad this exists! [not that i'm amazing but you know what i mean...]<br />
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i'm jen. that's my handsome stud of a husband, ben. we didn't get together for the rhyming names but it is totally a bonus. that little babe making the 'nervous face' is our doll, emmie collins [she's already so much bigger than this pic, melting]. i just turned 28, which sounds infinitely older than 27 but i'm embracing it, kind of. i'm a stay-at-home mom-ish. i work part-time, mostly from home, as office admin / assistant for young life in our city. i also volunteer with that same ministry as leader at a high school right down the road. i have been incredibly blessed with the sweet gift of amazing community and a giant, caring family. <br />
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some random facts:<br />
-my hubs is an elementary teacher and is soooo precious with kids, they LOVE him.<br />
-i have a lot of weird, mostly negative, life habits: i have probably the worst diet of any adult, love naps, am crazy forgetful [post babe] and can get lost going to a location i've been 100 times before. wait, maybe these are all connected!?<br />
-i'm not a super great "house wife," i spend chunks my days home but i don't get much cooking and cleaning done. i'm hoping i grow into it. i spend most of my days chasing after our 15 month old tornado and loving on high school / college girls. i always feel like everyone else can juggle a lot more than me but i'm trying to learn that that's ok. like daniel tiger says "in some ways we are different..."<br />
-once i cried at the end of 'bridesmaids' in the theater. yes, the comedy. all my girlfriends thought i was pregnant & it was embarrassing.<br />
-i have dreams of making a quilt, or millions of quilts. if anyone is looking to either teach someone to quilt or give away beautiful quilts...i will take them all.<br />
-i love pictures and wish i knew how to use my fancy camera a little better<br />
-i have an obsession with thrift stores and looking through someone else's weathered treasures <br />
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i look forward to meeting all you beautiful ladies at hope spoken and pray that the Lord moves there in big ways!<br />
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Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239466600408611812noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2793952629315961818.post-78925542230825785322013-10-07T23:35:00.000-04:002013-10-08T09:51:06.418-04:005 years wed :: anniversary weekend<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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about a month ago ben and i were so blessed to have a weekend together to celebrate our 5th anniversary! we had tossed around the idea of going on a mini-trip but since school just started taking time off didn't sound like the best idea and we actually already got a few trips in 2013 thus far. even still, ben made sure that our few days together were super special, relaxing and fun. he took care of little every little detail and it was perfect.</div>
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our anniversary weekend was actually the first weekend that i spent away from emmie without other responsibilities (leader weekends and camp trips are the only nights i've been away) and while i love my little bean extravagantly it was uh-maz-ing to be footloose and fancy free, sleeping in, coming and going as we please, it was pretty sweet.</div>
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we stayed in a hotel in downtown louisville called 21c. it's a unique little place in the museum district that also doubles as a 24-hr art museum that only features contemporary artists. it's uber-modern and actually quite a bit outside of our 'norm' but still lovely.</div>
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we were welcomed with chocolate covered strawberries and champagne. mmmm. once we dropped off our gear we were starving and wandered down the street to the first restaurant we could find with meals under $50 a plate. luckily it was a really yummy place with local food <b>and</b> we're pretty sure it was the happening spot for everyone over 55. we are old souls...it was fitting. we took a stroll down to by the river before heading back to the hotel for the night.</div>
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the next morning we woke up to the most delicious breakfast in bed. i don't think i've ever had breakfast in bed [other than juice and donuts] and i savored every last bite. like i said, everything about this place was a little more extravagant than we're used to. i'm kind of the cheapest, plainest person in the world so having my hubs pamper us like this was basically jaw-dropping.</div>
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next on the agenda...spa day! massages for us both, steam room & sauna complete with fluffy robes and fuzzy slippers. this. is. the. life.</div>
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for our celebratory dinner we went to the restaurant attached to the hotel, proof. it was actually voted one of the top restaurants in the state, or maybe the country. ow ow. uh we were kind of fish out of water. it is just a taaad hoity toity. not in the way like you feel like you should be wearing a tux but more like in the way like your husband should be wearing skinny jeans and that we should only admit to eating juiced meals or something. the food was indeed delicious but there were at least two elements of each meal that i had never heard of. we had alot of fun together and shared many laughs so the night was a success.</div>
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the dessert was my favorite part, some kind of caramel wonderfulness and then they give everyone a heaping bowl of cotton candy. the brzinski's like.</div>
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when we came back to the hotel i found this gem. its basically an inflated morphsuit. #winning.</div>
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i loved, loved, loved that we got to spend a few days together without distractions and responsibilities. that isn't really our reality anymore, which is ok, but having that just for a few moments was pretty wonderful. sometimes with busy schedules and juggling responsibilities having <b>quality</b> time with each other drops to low priority. not intentionally, but every now and then too long will go by before we recognize that we haven't gone out of our way to have good time together and meaningful conversation. we're figuring out this new stage of life and how to love & serve each other well. this weekend was a refreshing reminder of how fun it is to take that time.</div>
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the past five years have passed so fast and slow all at the same time. it seems like just yesterday i was walking down the aisle to my groom, blubbering embarrassingly in front of nearly everyone we love. </div>
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i'm so confident that ben is the man that God has called me to live my life with, love and serve. i'm so blessed have him as my husband & my baby daddy. i love that he plays music to our little girl, will be silly & dance with me, loves all things nerd, & works so hard to provide for us selflessly. i am on lucky lady. the end of this ceremony was the beginning of the greatest adventure.<br />
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its amazing how God has grown how we understand and value of the vows we've made since that day. in the same breath it seems like forever ago that we were just starting out, struggling a bit against our new 'one-flesh-ness'. marriage is so incredible in its ability to refine you and mold you, over time making you look more like Jesus if you let it allow you [even if at times its uncomfortable or even painful to be molded]. being able to look back at some of those trials now, being on the other side, i see they've been redeemed & used for good. i'm really thankful for that.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOywDGZ7M1Vq2K7x1aEeLHObus-4fLhYoZrb5HGs3iDVOzUWniGlqohK1OIMc8AgcCcSuyySD9cqWdgISHYPWJZuc1YrFbTzeXB9eU3BmOmyGh4CSvCGWbzPwL7XzzOGTfk61YEKq1qlmf/s1600/354_609277041890_3444_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOywDGZ7M1Vq2K7x1aEeLHObus-4fLhYoZrb5HGs3iDVOzUWniGlqohK1OIMc8AgcCcSuyySD9cqWdgISHYPWJZuc1YrFbTzeXB9eU3BmOmyGh4CSvCGWbzPwL7XzzOGTfk61YEKq1qlmf/s1600/354_609277041890_3444_n.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">our first week as newlyweds. it just keeps getting better.</td></tr>
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thanks for picking me benny. i'm so thankful for you and look forward to growing old together. you're the best. happy anniversary boo!<br />
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">"for by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-- all things have been created through Him and for Him. </span><span class="highl" style="background-color: #fff4ec; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><b>He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together</b>."</span><br />
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Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239466600408611812noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2793952629315961818.post-52688714221485524842013-10-06T16:07:00.002-04:002013-10-06T16:07:50.062-04:00throwback: part 2 of spring break<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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well, here's another oldie but goodie. i forgot to finish our spring break posts! you can find <a href="http://jenniferbrzinski.blogspot.com/2013/04/our-first-family-vacay-with-bean-part-1.html">part 1</a> here for a little refresher ha! this was back in april and i can't believe how tiny she was. i'm trying to remember exactly what it was like since she's actually had her second beach trip now that i'm writing this in october. goo!<br />
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we were in gulf shores, al for our first time ever on our first ever family vacation with baby in tow. everything was new, it was a learning experience and so super super sweet.<br />
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our chauffeur around town & tour guide, emmie collins.</div>
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certainly, a highlight was getting to see emmie experience the beach & ocean for the first time. being that it was april it was gorgeous weather outside, definitely warm enough to be in a bathing suit on the beach but the water was pretty chilly so we spent most of our time on the actual beach. she really liked to look at the ocean and at the sand but didn't really want to touch either. at the time em was only crawling and wasn't crazy about the sand being all over her. she would squish it around in her hands but then would want them wiped off. she had a little baby tent that we borrowed from friends to keep her in the shade and i laid out towels with bath toys for her to entertain herself with. <b>tip: </b>for our next beach trip we learned that an old flat sheet is a great idea for the beach instead of a million towels. it's lightweight, compact and gives babes lots of room to move around without getting in the sand [if they don't want to]. thanks for the idea, supermom <a href="http://corymargrave.blogspot.com/">cory</a>!<br />
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when we had her stand in the sand by the water and let the waves wash over her little feet she just screamed and wanted to be picked up. haha not thrilled. i think it was just too cold for her teeny toes at the time.<br />
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i bought this little sun top at a consignment sale months before our trip. it was for a 12 month old, she was just 8 months old but her little arms were being squeezed like a blood pressure cuff and the belly could <b>not</b> be contained. swimwear sizing is a joke and also my baby was the roll-polly-ist! i kind of don't even remember how rolly she was without seeing these pics. so adorable!! gimme those thighs!<br />
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like i said, we learned a lot on our trip. we learned that lugging a bunch of baby crap back and forth to the beach is not our favorite thing but once you get there, we really loved it. multiple factors lead to a <b>lot</b> of back and forth to the beach that made it kind of wearing. at this time em was still taking 3 naps a day. ugh. we couldn't really get her to sleep on the beach but looking back i should have just tried harder to let her get wiped out and eventually nod off. sadly, i'm such a sucker when she's whiny and i'm kind of crazy over her getting good sleep. maybe i'll be more laid back if we have a second babe? secondly, i was translucently pale and was a little scared to spend the whole day in the sun myself. burning is the worst & i'm scared of that burning ball of fire. and finally, i was still nursing her and i wasn't much of a public feeder so we'd take care of that when we were in the house for naps too. for second babe i think i would probably give beach feeding under a wrap a try too if needed. all that combined equals a lot of to and fro. <b>a little tip</b> [that everyone had probably thought of besides me]: as far as food went on the beach, those squeezy pouches were amazing. no utensils required, no prep, no sand in her food. i'm so glad we brought these with us, both for the car rides and for the beach!<br />
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emmie & i went on lots of walking adventures (in a stroller) around our neighborhood and looked at many adorable little beach homes. em loved the breeze and looking around for the most part and it was a nice departure from hauling to the beach.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...family portrait attempt 1...</td></tr>
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on a cloudy, windy day we took a walk on the pier and saw lots of birds and fish that people were catching. emmie didn't love being in the baby backpack but tolerated it for about 20 minutes before getting really upset. she's just getting on the higher end of the weight limit so i think she may have been a little uncomfortable and at the time was just kind of getting into her independent stage. she couldn't walk then [even assisted] and crawling on fish & bait goo while hooks are soaring through the air is a little out of the question for this momma.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv5fvPWinn-NUUyl7S5Nyrqj_s5ZttFeKjBbcRbBplEPD6-hwg5VJJnJwH5k00fnqbRE9yjeQ_hIoc7AmkXGF27vxC4-KUC8woiHBwTWMlURyVZLb8J3G3CH129AFuTUIJ6dv9iIfvplLz/s640/blogger-image--40094921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv5fvPWinn-NUUyl7S5Nyrqj_s5ZttFeKjBbcRbBplEPD6-hwg5VJJnJwH5k00fnqbRE9yjeQ_hIoc7AmkXGF27vxC4-KUC8woiHBwTWMlURyVZLb8J3G3CH129AFuTUIJ6dv9iIfvplLz/s640/blogger-image--40094921.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">family portrait attempt 2 hahah</td></tr>
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we ate breakfast and lunch in most days and did dinners out. gulf shores is an hour behind us in kentucky and we kind of wanted to keep our normal schedule so most nights we were at dinner around 5 with all the early birds so that we wouldn't be rushed to get emmie home for bed. after din din we'd basically tuck emmie in and be in for the night. we'd read or watch a movie. in hindsight, i would have loved to pack some games for us too, for some more entertainment / interaction for ben and i.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4RM7khejbrJgA4KqujVw4_tk_RW4IpY4XimdmqYBTVWPQDx2AFHmnslVx-uEeLO0OhndlYsWd5JWhxjAJrzMNpn1d61WhsvK3lsYV4pSHQSjMPiUIJPyKKLb8bKnDstYsQyyxZmWQRmrl/s640/blogger-image--811890683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4RM7khejbrJgA4KqujVw4_tk_RW4IpY4XimdmqYBTVWPQDx2AFHmnslVx-uEeLO0OhndlYsWd5JWhxjAJrzMNpn1d61WhsvK3lsYV4pSHQSjMPiUIJPyKKLb8bKnDstYsQyyxZmWQRmrl/s640/blogger-image--811890683.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">it's easier if momma takes the pic :)</td></tr>
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due to a water heater fluke we didn't have hot water for like 2.5-3 days. something was wrong with the heater and it was easter weekend so basically no one was working and all the hardware shops were closed. it was a little rough. they had another unit a few miles away that we went to go to get cleaned up. there's not really a point to mentioning that other than the fact that it made ben and i a little less sweet to each other.<br />
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we're really different and sometimes have different expectations of how we'd like to spend our time. i think this always becomes most evident for us on family vacations because it is just us. normally at home if one of us doesn't want to do what the other is looking to do we can find another person to come along or another way to compromise. when you're 10 hours from home, just the two of you and a baby - expectations and different 'wants' seem to come up more often. i remember kind of grumbling in my head about several of my wants not being met and then i was smacked in the face when reading 'one thousand gifts'. i realized, i'm frustrated that my husband doesn't operate the way i do when in reality, i
am beyond blessed to have a wonderful man as a husband and partner. i'm grumbling that it's hard to lug a baby to the beach when lots of families never get to take a vacation or go somewhere so beautiful. i'm irritated that my kid needs lots of naps and constant attention when there are so many families that would love to have the amazing blessing of a healthy, sweet baby. so long story short(ish), i'm selfish and don't deserve so many of the ridiculous blessings God pours out on me. this week will always be a great reminder of that for me. thank God for grace, thank God for this beautiful life.<br />
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Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239466600408611812noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2793952629315961818.post-29441770347965226332013-10-05T22:30:00.001-04:002013-10-05T22:30:16.509-04:00mommas & graduatesi just uploaded a bunch of pictures onto blogger so i'm thinking i'm set to go on posting, at least for a minute! sadly i realized that there were things i wanted to document from APRIL of this year still in waiting...WHAT!? here it goes...<br />
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so about 5 months ago i got to celebrate my sweet little sister's graduation from college <b>and </b>my first ever mother's day with a babe out in the world. here are some pics from that weekend. it was really special for us. <br />
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**i just noticed that nearly every picture in this post is blurry. sorry about that. i'll work on my phone photography skills soon. maybe. i'm just lucky i took a picture - let's be real.**<br />
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my little girl used to be so ... little! i remember thinking that weekend how amazing it is that God has allowed me to become a mom. it's strange to me that i knew i wanted to be a mom without the slightest clue how much i'd really love it. i don't think i'm an extraordinary mom or anything but i know that i enjoy it more than any profession you could think up and it brings me more joy than i ever could have fathomed. i'm pretty sure God designed me to be a mom. maybe even for my own sanctification, but regardless such a gift. with that said, i'm praying with all i've got that He'll equip me to raise & disciple this little bean. there's nothing else i'd rather do!<br />
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on mother's day ben went and got emmie out of bed. weekends are the best because the three of us just get to plop into bed together and cuddle and play until we really get up to start our day. i wish all days could start like that but since poppa gets up at 6:30 i'd rather us <b>not</b> all be up together daily ;)<br />
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he carried her in and she was carrying a mother's day card for me in both her tiny hands. she literally had the. biggest. smile. she was so so adorable. her and her poppa had organized for me to have a whole spa day full of fun & pampering the following weekend. it was AMAZING! i have the sweetest little family.<br />
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we wanted to document our first mother's day together. emmie was obviously thrilled & cooperative. just like always. i have no idea where she gets her dramatic temperament. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieZW__FycOVKg24GmnhsTu6qsv3SAddG_rwpk6NVXW_3boRIYFKVW9KrGakEejOs5j0OMvOYb-ITwf6pykwcv76WQUKevhEn6VpVxXDrUUwZPvvkw0GgACRT12of3KSGGdKjPFDHWC_2GW/s640/blogger-image--489938314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieZW__FycOVKg24GmnhsTu6qsv3SAddG_rwpk6NVXW_3boRIYFKVW9KrGakEejOs5j0OMvOYb-ITwf6pykwcv76WQUKevhEn6VpVxXDrUUwZPvvkw0GgACRT12of3KSGGdKjPFDHWC_2GW/s640/blogger-image--489938314.jpg" /></a></div>
emmie bear, you'll always be the baby that made me a momma. there is such a heavy but precious weight to caring for you & loving you with my whole heart. in watching you grow and learn and thrive i've experienced such delight. me and your dad have been able to watch God move, protect & prove himself faithful through you. we've tried our best to trust Him with your little life. you're special because God made you. you're lovely because God calls you loved. i'm so thankful for how fun you are and what a loving little mini you're becoming.<br />
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as i mentioned, my little sister graduated college!! ow ow! which means i'm officially old. in my mind i think chelsea should be eternally 12 years old. graduating college and getting married are things not fit for a 12 year old so as you'd imagine, i'm stunned hahaha.<br />
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.grandma paula. momma. nana.</div>
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a selfie on skinny bleachers is hard.</div>
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tickets were limited to the graduation ceremony because the first lady, michelle obama, was the guest speaker. i'm not really political at all and whether or not you love the president, it still felt like a really unique opportunity. it's not everyday you get to hear someone like that speak in person. <br />
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this is on the jumbotron but she was there in real life [promise]...she just kind of looked like a dot on my iphone cam so this made more sense.<br />
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congrats my sister! you did it.</div>
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me and my little siblings! did i mention that i'm ancient? my little brother is in high school now!? earlier this fall, through a series of miscommunications one of his friends thought that emmie was nick's sister and that i was his mom. this is the end.<br />
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more baby snuggles and family fun as the weekend continues! look at that baby bear!!! she loves to take early morning chin pics - something you won't find me doing.<br />
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on actual mother's day we had a graduation party for chels where we got to celebrate her <b>and </b>i got to see one of my moms and several of my grandmas [and lots of other fam too!] it was a really sweet weekend full of special people and sweet fun!<br />
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Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239466600408611812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2793952629315961818.post-41212992550770017262013-09-21T00:35:00.001-04:002013-09-21T00:35:14.163-04:00where the wild things are :: emmie at the zoo<div style="text-align: left;">
[there are about two months worth of life that i haven't yet documented here. fingers crossed that i'll catch up soon but i couldn't let being behind hold me back any longer...so here goes] <br />
<br />
it happened. our sweet little emmie bear went to the zoo, ironically i don't know that we saw any bears. we traveled up to the cincinnati zoo and met our dear friend jenna. cincy is about halfway between our two houses and baby-friendly so it made for an obvious choice. we got yummy breakfast while emmers screamed at all the other diners. [that's what she does now...shouts at strangers]. </div>
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she roared at all the animals. she loves to roar. most of her favorite books now have animals in them and we always make the noises together, i think that was one of her favorite things about the zoo. that and staring at other people's kids.</div>
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<br />this is emmie and a wallaby i think. she looked at it kind of like it was a stuffed animal. but maybe a stuffed animal she didn't want to touch. </div>
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"helloooo, it's me emmie!"</div>
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whenever she was on the ground she was a wild woman. she basically acts like she's an animal on the loose and runs as fast as she can away from containment (ie: me)</div>
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::jenna and emmie collins::</div>
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my sweet little babe, auntie jenna and i loved taking you to go see all the animals and hopefully on our next visit you'll take longer than a 30 minute nap to be primed and ready for fun. you probably were too excited to sleep, i get that way too. but don't worry, i'm already dreaming up a family membership next summer. think of all the fun you'll have! my itty bitty baby is turning into a running, squealing ball of little girl right before my eyes!</div>
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oh yeah, and she was completely knocked within 5 minutes of dropping jenna off. doll baby! </div>
Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239466600408611812noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2793952629315961818.post-68176066943248683102013-09-02T21:55:00.000-04:002013-09-02T21:55:35.515-04:00should eat cereal or sleep?so i say crazy things like "i'm going to post once a week" and then i don't post for you know, like a couple months or something. hmmm, fail. the truth of it is, life is busy and in our "down" time well, i'm a little bit of a lazy bum. but i have a few things that i'm going to try and commit to, and you know, actually do them.<br />
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<br />
:: blog regularly, high hopes being about once a week to record our little but wonderful life<br />
:: be in the Word daily & prepare early for the studies i'm involved in [not last minute]<br />
:: become a clean freak<br />
:: stay on top of my work daily so it doesn't pile up<br />
:: use my dslr often <br />
<br />
got any mid-year resolutions yourself? or some 'back-to-school' habits you're trying to master? here we go ya'll.<br />
<br />Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239466600408611812noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2793952629315961818.post-4152303125181346132013-06-27T08:10:00.002-04:002013-06-27T08:10:47.669-04:00friend festi really do miss posting about life more often and i kind of even miss writing just to write. it's a lot harder than i thought it would be to keep up with this ol' thing. pre-babe i just saw so many moms that posted regularly, even daily and i thought, "once i'm not working full-time this will be cake." buuut adding a baby and working part-time hasn't really allowed for all the time i thought i'd have & when i do have free time i always seem to find myself away from a computer. i don't even keep up with my friends' blogs or any of my favorite reads from strangers like i used to (ha!). all that to say, i'm hoping to turn a new leaf. i won't be posting daily but i hope that a couple times a week or even just once a week, instead of once a month, you will find me here. two days in a row, that's a pretty good start right?<br />
<br />
so anyway, onto the goods. at this point i think this a full month late but it was such a special weekend that it deserves documentation. it was my sweet friend jenna's birthday so she traveled a few hours to lexington to visit & celebrate in style with her friends. we were lucky to be included in that. <br />
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so first thing in the morning we hopped up, bean in hand & headed over to first watch. we caught up, played sock puppets and stuffed our faces. total success. emmie liked it too.<br />
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the girls! we've got from college roommates to living in three different states & now three of us [including em] are here while jenna's not tooooo far away. well too far for me, but not really "too" far. i like to think that Shannon is wearing a veil in this picture. little bride he he he.<br />
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we parted ways for just a bit and <strong>then</strong> we were able to celebrate with even more friends that evening. dinner with lots of our favorite couples and even some babies thrown in the mix. it was a teensy bit hectic but we wouldn't change a thing. we're all crazy. God has blessed us with amazing friends. we're truly thankful for the relationships represented here that the Lord himself put together.<br />
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the guys and the girls set separately. because we're in middle school. at this point in our lives most of us get more husband time than we do girl time // guy time so it's kind of nice to just get to be together for a bit.<br />
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::brunettes unite::</div>
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and yes we did take some group shots. we had to. i hope it's not to long before we all get together again. it really is a treat!<br />
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Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239466600408611812noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2793952629315961818.post-36203633347782208902013-06-26T20:25:00.002-04:002013-06-26T20:44:09.220-04:00ten monthslittle e.c.b. turns eleven months old tomorrow [insert momma melting into a puddle on the floor] so i'd say it's about dang time for a ten month update. thank goodness i made some notes because my head is now only full of eleven month updates.<br />
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baby emmie, each month brings such growth, joy, learning and fun into our home because of you. when i reflect back over each month i always think that there is absolutely NO way we could possibly adore you any more than we do and then...our hearts just swell a bit more. your personality and abilities expand so much in such a short amount of time it is just crazy to think about the little girl you're becoming.<br />
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you started dancing this month. you have this little stand up baby piano from your nana karen and just bounce up and down as you hit the keys. we love to watch you dance, it's so precious. i don't even know how tiny babies know what dancing is but it's so awesome. we may have an infant music video concept in the works, i'm just sayin'.<br />
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you have 5 teeth in progress. three on the bottom and two on the top. teething hasn't been terrible but every now and then you will be a little fussier than normal or have a quick bout of crying because of them. you're all about chewing on evvvvverything so we started putting some of your teething rings in the fridge to hopefully give you some comfort. all in all, i feel like we've had a pretty easy road with your teeth.<br />
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you've graduated to big kid food - fo real. we still try and give you baby food and it maybe makes up 50% of your diet but you would much rather have food that you can feed yourself. because of that i really do try to keep food on hand that is perfect for little roly poly fingers to get ahold of. pretty much any fruit, veggie or bread that we've put in front of you, you gobble up.<br />
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speaking of eating...i fed you about 5 allergens in a row one night. it was a birthday dinner so maybe it was a celebratory reaction but you broke out in hives. we think it was the few licks of peanut butter chip ice cream from graeters that sealed the deal. this is so detrimental because your momma is actually addicted to peanut butter & doesn't cook so... i'm not sure what we'll eat if pb&j's are out of the question. i have no back up plan.<br />
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we celebrated our first mother's day with you out in the world. i didn't know how i'd feel when mother's day actually rolled around but it was kind of amazing. benny is so thoughtful in pampering me and making me feel special. he carried you in for your morning meal and you carried in a card. you had the <strong>biggest</strong> smile on your face when you brought it to me in bed. it was sooooo sweet. you cried in bed with me when i tried to take your picture but i didn't mind. i am <strong>so </strong>incredibly blessed to be your momma. you'll always be the baby that made me a mother & will always have such a special & permanent place in my heart. i have another half written post about this weekend that i hope to post someday ... [someday]<br />
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you have recently accumulated <strong>more</strong> bows. i just can't get enough so as your hair gets thicker and thicker, i'm pretty sure you will be increasingly more decked out in girly fare.<br />
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this month was the first time that you started to sit on my lap to read books and you'll point with one tiny finger at different things. it makes me feel like you are such a little girl. well like a big girl but you know, not like a baby. sometimes you go crawl into your book basket and just fake read // flip threw the pages by yourself. we call this the "baby library".<br />
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we played outside every pretty day & go for walks with friends (& baby friends) really often. spring was a pretty amazing time for a ten month old. you can't walk so you'd just kind of play on a blanket or ride along pretty contently (most of the time). this time is really special to me. i hope that we have <strong>lots</strong> of outdoor adventures as the days pass. <br />
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i love to see you interact with wind and sun and animals & nature. you're really into pulling up grass and not super into sitting on it. you <strong>love </strong>the wind. we started taking you to the pool too!! during month 10 you were still kind of timid at the pool. definitely wanting poppa and i close by, if not holding you.<br />
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your poppa completed his first year of teaching and here he is at 5th grade graduation. how awesome is that? you really wanted to be able to go watch him and all the kiddos but it was right during your naptime. so disappointing but nonetheless you [and i] are so proud of your dad, all of his hard work and can't wait for him to keep teaching you things as well as all kinds of students.<br />
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this month was the month we began weaning. it was so much easier than i expected, and i am so thankful for that. you went right to a bottle, didn't skip a beat and my body was more than happy to just shut down the milk factory. i dropped one feeding a week until we were completely on formula. it wasn't until i dropped the very last feeding that my body did anything at all that was a hassle. not pumping or needing to be home was/is so freeing. i don't really like to be away for long but the trade off of flexibility at this age totally works for us. i feel like God gave us the most perfect set up for our family - so blessed that breastfeeding was even an option for so long and then that we were able to so seamlessly transition to a bottle. blessed.<br />
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you are a really great imitator - you love to say ahhh and stick tongue out, do hand motions, mimic noises or "words" as we call it. "mum" & "da" are words we hear often these days.<br />
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your laugh has changed. your dad is by far the best at getting your giggles out and they are awesome. it's this squeaky, weezy belly laugh that is just too much. there's is no way that a person can not smile hearing babies giggle. i mean if you have a soul, you love that.<br />
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you have a new little smile where you close your eyes tight and then do an open month grin & say 'ha'. it's hysterical.<br />
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books use the word "opinionated," we use the word dramatic. you do have some extremes, little diva. if you're frustrated or don't get your way, you do at times throw a full-blown baby tantrum. we haven't yet decided how to handle those for a 10 month old. when you're happy though, you are super happy. bubbly, giggly and playful. you're this way 99% of your day - and that is really a fun blessing for our family. you can at times be shy when we introduce you into a new situation or have new people around. usually it doesn't take too long before you warm up though and start invading personal space, climbing on strangers and stealing people's stuff [no boundaries].<br />
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you're crazy into everything these days. you love to open and close doors and drawers [safety hazard], you love to empty boxes & baskets. you're a total tornado of destruction around our house but i don't mind too much. your poppa might not say the same.<br />
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you're still an excellent sleeper. you sleep a lot. maybe too much. we're going to try and adjust your schedule soon instead of just going with your flow. you still take three naps most days, yes i said three. eeep! you sleep from 7:00p to 6:30a at night and then 3 one hour and a half naps a day. you put yourself to sleep with very little fussing nowadays. praise!<br />
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my sweet itty bitty,<br />
<br />
poppa wanted me to tell you: you're growing up so much & i love to watch that happen. i love you very much, you're my favorite baby girl.<br />
<br />
i want you to know: you are so special & so lovely. you're lovely because God made you that way, He calls you that & He means it. He knit you together & knows you. He made you unique and gifted with certain little gifts & loves & even quirks that are working together to make up who you're meant to be to most glorify him. i pray that over you everday. that you'd know Jesus as your Savior and that he'd be your treasure & very great reward. i hope you'll know who you are because of Him. you're beautiful and strong willed, fiery & passionate, even as a wee little one. you're a tiny princess. we love you dearly.<br />
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Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239466600408611812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2793952629315961818.post-35484079267028298592013-05-18T21:19:00.001-04:002013-05-18T21:19:19.575-04:00nine monthsi'm about three weeks late on this so i'm thankful that i've jotted down some notes to jog my memory. you're actually almost ten months old now but we'll pretend you're not yet. please? nine whole months. em, you've now been out in the world as long as you were in my belly. it's a little unbelievable. here's an update on life with an emmie bear.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this little heart skirt is one of my favorite items of clothing you own</td></tr>
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one week into april you had 3 tiny teeth. they were mostly nubbins, precious little crooked nubbins. i think this is one of those 'oh crap you're growing up' things for me. teeth? itty bitties don't have teeth. sigh.<br />
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you love to raise your hands high above your head. i think you're grandparents taught you the game 'so big' and you are a big fan. one of my favorite things about littles is that their little arms hardly reach above their heads. baby proportions - perfection.<br />
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you can reach over your crib now. you kind of jump on your bed when i come to pick you up in the morning or after naps, all smiley. you also teeth up a storm unfortunately and your face gets covered in paint. i figure it can't be that good for you but i also figure you can't be the <b>only</b> baby doing it - so you're prob ok. <br />
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over spring break you started having fake laugh battles with your poppa. you have no idea how much this verifies that you belong in our family. baby giggles make the world go 'round i'm pretty sure. i tried to video you all playing because i'd like to bottle it up forever but you hate to perform, nearly impossible to film. i try not to miss a single second of it.<br />
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just recently you started 'playing' more, initiating & participating when we play with you. when benny nuzzles and kisses, he makes you giggle, then you'll lean away for a second and then come back for more. oh my gosh melt my heart that you can actually <b>play</b> with us. nothing but fun from here on out.<br />
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you love to mimic and imitate. you imitate noises mostly and hand motions, facial expressions etc. you even raise your eyebrows back and forth with us. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">no donuts were harmed in the making of this picture</td></tr>
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you've tried a little bit of plain rice, crackers & the food in the pouches. we love introducing you to new food. there is literally nothing that she has turned down. love that you're not picky. it is going to be really fun to learn how to feed you. i'm hoping that it helps our family to eat better & try new things as you do.<br />
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this month you had your first family vacation. it was a beach trip and you were awesome & precious. it wasn't the world's most relaxing or exciting beach trip but it was certainly sweet. i would trade the long car ride but <b>never</b> seeing you in a ruffly bathing suit. you are just too adorable.<br />
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baby bean,<br />
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you bring so much joy to me and your poppa. something i especially love about you is your ability to make people smile. even strangers notice how sweet you are & they smile ear to ear. even when you have your stoic face on, the cheeks still do the trick. you can say momma and da. that warms our hearts. we're yours. you're sweet & a little sassy. your personality is growing and growing as well as your tiny little body - you're soooo tall. i like to squeeze your pudgy little twinkle toes and sing to you before you go to bed. we're so blessed to have you as our daughter & we pray daily that God will help us love you well & teach us how to show you Jesus.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sweetest bean i've ever seen</td></tr>
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Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239466600408611812noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2793952629315961818.post-56258845661564376882013-05-08T15:25:00.000-04:002013-05-20T20:25:13.667-04:00week of firstsIt seems like little em has had quite a few 'firsts' the first week of may and I was worried if I didn't go ahead and jot them down I may never remember the newness of this exciting week. (Assuming you find baby milestones exciting haha!)<br />
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On derby day little emmie collins stood all by herself. she did the halfway stand leaning over granna stephanie's legs and then took the full upright stance with no hands. Her arms were straight ip in the air and i think she may have been on her tip toes a little. out whole family was staring at her so our gasps and squeals scared her a little. she quickly sat back down but for a few moments...yes ma'am she certainly had her legs under her. She's getting really strong, more balanced and less timid as she moves from crutch to crutch. I don't think it will be much longer before standing alone is no big thing and walking will be on the horizon I'm sure.<br />
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She started eating lots of table food. The dr said she was good to go so we're going for it. LOTS of fruit, veggies, toast, etc. we love to watch her try new things and especially love seeing her learn how to use her pudgy little fingers & coordinating those little movements with her mouth. Things we never think about for ourselves are nearly a phenomenon when a baby does it. <br />
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Em started on formula for the first time. I think if we're blessed with more babies I'll be more open to using formula even if it is just for me to pump & build up supply in the future. I wasn't 'anti' formula necessarily but if I didn't have milk stored I would make an extra time I pump at night, I never had a break where it wasn't out of complete necessity and I think that made nursing a little less enjoyable for me. Em has taken right to a bottle and formula. Grandma carol feed emmie her first formula bottle and all my momma nerves proved to be ridiculous and unneeded. She was a pro from the start.<br />
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When I change emmie's diaper she sometimes is unruly, to put it mildly. I started making her kick her little legs while she's on her back and I tell her 'hi ya!' When she kicks. This week she said 'hi ya!' herself. Ahhhhh so awesome! Little karate kid. My bean. <br />
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This week we started brushing her baby teeth. We should have started before we did but since it wasn't in our bedtime routine before I've struggled to add it in, I gotta get better to protect those pearly whites!<br />
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<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7K8rOcEzfsQ9tu_pjJ-8Ppf1NPgxB5DWJezeAKgwjol9l4AOOtZrperhu5Y6XlQt6FHw6nCnrbjwuXju57piwfNLqD6dRXMT-g10vuhYQ4i-uchsBbPeokTA9wLxZvRYhbNhC0p9NcdZ/s640/blogger-image--595900073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7K8rOcEzfsQ9tu_pjJ-8Ppf1NPgxB5DWJezeAKgwjol9l4AOOtZrperhu5Y6XlQt6FHw6nCnrbjwuXju57piwfNLqD6dRXMT-g10vuhYQ4i-uchsBbPeokTA9wLxZvRYhbNhC0p9NcdZ/s640/blogger-image--595900073.jpg" /></a></div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239466600408611812noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2793952629315961818.post-11886415147589186892013-04-28T19:58:00.000-04:002013-04-28T19:58:02.026-04:00the games we playbeing a 'mostly' stay-at-home-mama has afforded em and i all kinds of bonding time / fun having time / game playing time. now that you are is getting bigger / older / wiser you are into all kinds of things little lady. i thought i might as well jot them down before we forget!<br />
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you love things that aren't toys the most [i hear cardboard boxes are all the rage]. you love empty water bottles, crinkly diaper wipe cases, remote controls & cell phones <strong>a lot</strong>. i also think there is some kind of magnet force field between your and the electrical sockets on the wall. p.t.l. momma finally bought those little safety plugs so i say "no touch please" about 400 times less in a day. [she doesn't know what that means fyi].<br />
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you have your own "cabinet" which is actually the bottom of our pantry. there are all kinds of kid-friendly non-toys for you to get your hands on, and you do. quit judging my pantry. you just crawl your little self on in there and momma can actually wash a bowl or something before you need more attention. it's pretty awesome! you really enjoy pulling every.thing. out of the cabinet. every. thing. ;)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi28dAnpB9Aj12ctUjTdhJ77fAUz-E_vfXsDbZDlaAmgPkjwrlhLVubcpIDdqBHqDpN1Nsu8cI5hyphenhyphenpKZ0LuGjKjdca1at0FVyEBa4Wy1JDxn6jYeIkXimkLcbGsW3g8MzpeyO1-KnJK3euC/s640/blogger-image--323442315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi28dAnpB9Aj12ctUjTdhJ77fAUz-E_vfXsDbZDlaAmgPkjwrlhLVubcpIDdqBHqDpN1Nsu8cI5hyphenhyphenpKZ0LuGjKjdca1at0FVyEBa4Wy1JDxn6jYeIkXimkLcbGsW3g8MzpeyO1-KnJK3euC/s320/blogger-image--323442315.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhROcovrlY6URalqX2RBB_VFMi2eVs5WBg7KkuT9UuNf3Sejy-FjVusLXwKbjxJqy-xsHxsLRcb0ly6BEttt9tjYdOtJ0KIzgkBrgtY_YNAegzyEhHeiKVsyN6h6BSMsg0jim8PDIcnhp56/s640/blogger-image--2008388726.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhROcovrlY6URalqX2RBB_VFMi2eVs5WBg7KkuT9UuNf3Sejy-FjVusLXwKbjxJqy-xsHxsLRcb0ly6BEttt9tjYdOtJ0KIzgkBrgtY_YNAegzyEhHeiKVsyN6h6BSMsg0jim8PDIcnhp56/s320/blogger-image--2008388726.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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you like to stand at the front door. the screen door is glass, so i don't know what you call that but you like it. you can see outside, sometimes you sit and play with dirt on our floors [yikes] and sometimes you stand, press your face to the glass, blow bubbles and slam your tiny baby palms on the door as if to say "HELLO WORLD!! it's me, emmie!"<br />
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we go on walks just about every pretty day here in ky. we've had really crazy weather, one day 80 degrees the next day 40 degrees so we have to take advantage when we can. we get all around the neighborhood and when we can we lay out a blanket in the yard so you can get some outdoor exercise too! the big tree in the front yard shades you pretty well from the bright sun on pretty days so we can stay out there for a while.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg9leMGQvcDk0cQ_zdq41rqSIgy-VrH9Au2loCYmYaWm0pe1n6ZymbeZLB6dmS0taTItFe7xdhxF0Zva23m35pNRQ7Jn4MV8APVUDsuLH3ZvwliAUkFYGoPVqSzlwo68eqlCQYzFhsmdln/s640/blogger-image-769303345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg9leMGQvcDk0cQ_zdq41rqSIgy-VrH9Au2loCYmYaWm0pe1n6ZymbeZLB6dmS0taTItFe7xdhxF0Zva23m35pNRQ7Jn4MV8APVUDsuLH3ZvwliAUkFYGoPVqSzlwo68eqlCQYzFhsmdln/s640/blogger-image-769303345.jpg" /></a></div>
on those pretty days we've also had our air conditioner kick on and that is a whole new 'something amazing' that you enjoy. you love to find the air registers on our floor and put your hands and feet on the cold air blowing out. i have to stop you eventually because your tiny little self turns into an ice cube. a few times you tried to lick the registers too. it was gross. auntie cory said "get that girl a popsicle" - i say summer prophesy!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggv6y5b_NSNY1hviOSuAGYpHU28YtZXH3w6AIM9Ob748ZGbfl7XQdMo8W5OVOs9dhSqViKPg6x8g9k5YYil0GeU9haCpT7k2qODWoQTNyeBi7rybyzFIFeMpJaB6t1LjR576zlJ6dguNEM/s640/blogger-image--270301718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggv6y5b_NSNY1hviOSuAGYpHU28YtZXH3w6AIM9Ob748ZGbfl7XQdMo8W5OVOs9dhSqViKPg6x8g9k5YYil0GeU9haCpT7k2qODWoQTNyeBi7rybyzFIFeMpJaB6t1LjR576zlJ6dguNEM/s640/blogger-image--270301718.jpg" /></a></div>
my current faves include you interacting with your poppa. when he gives you tickle kisses you laugh so loud! and you just recently started leaning into him when he stops so that he'll do it again. precious. you also have fake laugh battles with your dad. you love mimicking noises, grunts, squeals, words but most of all we love to see you fake laugh. you two exchanging ridiculous giggles is just about the most hilarious thing I've ever seen. the only sad part is that rarely will share this side of you with other people. it kills me because i know the world would LOVE to see awesome baby antics too but, sigh, so be it. we're you're audience. <br />
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sweet girl, we wouldn't rather play with anyone else. you're pure awesomeness!</div>
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<br />Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239466600408611812noreply@blogger.com2