Weary

Between doctor visits (3 days in a row - fun fun) and endless crying/whining and sleepless nights due to a stubborn double ear infection for Abigail (and well child visit for EK in there), I just don't have the energy or time or free hands to post anything. I did read this verse on another blog today. Boy did I need it. I need Jesus so much...especially in times like this week. I'm so glad it's just an ear infection and hopefully nothing life threatening...but it still puts me on the edge of insanity. Okay, back to the screaming baby (who has, by the way, had 4 days of antibiotics and 2 steroid shots).

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to Me. Get away with Me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with Me and work with Me--watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with Me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.

Matthew 11:28-30

The Message

Happy Birthday Ellie Kate!

BIRTH DAY

3 Years ago, I experienced one of the most amazing miracles. Giving birth to Elizabeth Kate on February 23, 2007 was painful and long...but once she finally popped out, I was instantly in love with the 7 pound 7 ounce bundle that had a surprisingly full head of dark hair!

ONE YEAR OLD

I was grateful to have survived her first year which included horrible acid reflux, gallstones and gallbladder surgery for myself, a miscarriage, and stitches for her at 10 months old right smack in the middle of her forehead. We celebrated with cupcakes and polkadots with lots of friends and family! Sadly, I just don't remember EK much at this age. I do know that we were all smitten by her dimples and a little dumbfounded by her already emerging strong will!

2 YEARS OLD

The second year of Ellie Kate's life proved to bring lots of fun and lots of tears. Remember the strong will that was emerging...well by year 2, it was now in full fledged form. We tackled potty training, transitioned to a big girl bed, and started pre-school/mom's morning out. Ellie Kate also embraced the role as a big sister and of course still loved being a little sister as well!

3 YEARS OLD

And, so now here we are at 3 YEARS OLD. It's hard to believe that Ellie Kate is now the age of Samuel when we first adopted him. I cannot believe how much she has grown up!!! Ellie Kate is such a big girl and I think this is such a great age. Oh, we still have plenty of strong willed moments and she is such a DIVA. However, she is so sweet!!! I just love seeing her personality evolve.

So, what is Ellie Kate up to at 3 years old?

• loves to play with baby dolls
• can write her name (Ellie) without much help from me!
• her favorite show is DORA THE EXPLORER
• loves to sing and does so at the top of her lungs:)
• wears 3 and 4t clothes and is very tall for her age!!
  
• has a best friend (Neely) that she wants to see everyday and talks about non stop throughout the day if we don't see her
• loves for me to read books to her and then she "reads" them back to me
• loves to color and paint
• is very social and loves to be on the go
• loves her baby sister and adores her big brother
• rides a tricycle and scooter with ease
• sleeps about 10-11 hours at night and takes a 2 hour afternoon nap
• still sucks her thumb

Oh, how this precious child has stolen my heart a thousand times over. I am so thankful for her little life and that God chose to create her (with lots of help from modern medicine)! I seriously can't believe she is 3 years old today!!!!

Sunday Best!

We had a few beautiful days over the weekend and really enjoyed being able to get outside and play!!! I had to get a picture of the kids in their Sunday best with the sun shining. This picture is totally full of shadows that I don't know how to get rid of, but that's okay! I love my 3 munchkins especially when they all look so nice all dressed up!!! And you can tell of course, that I had Jeff behind me trying to make them smile...too bad that didn't work out so well. Also, Samuel has a snaggle tooth smile because he lost his 3rd tooth (one of the ones on top). He is about to lose another one on top so he will have a very gummy grin soon!!!

Show Us Your Life - Ministries

I haven't participated in many of Kelly's Show us Your Life carnivals since the house tours, but I just couldn't pass up on today's topic. I have always hoped and prayed that this blog and that my past (and present) experiences might be used to minister to others for the glory of God. Of course, Jeff and I are in full time college ministry (Campus Crusade for Christ) but that is a totally different post for a different day. And raising my children is a ministry in and of itself, right?

However, the story that God began and weaved together during our quest to multiply our family is the one that I get to minister out of the most. It is the time in my life that I learned so much about myself and my God. I learned about suffering, control, patience, trusting God's master plan, waiting, being still, surrender, joy in the midst of pain, and much much more. Over the years since we began the journey to our current family (infertility, adoption of Samuel, IVF journey to Ellie Kate, miscarriage, and then a totally natural pregnancy that gave us sweet Abigail), I have been able to talk with so many other women and hopefully minister to them. One reason I created this blog was so I could have our stories written out. Our stories of redemption. The Lord redeemed my pain and has given me 3 beautiful miracles! They didn't come easily (or cheap- ha!), but they came in the just the exact way He desired and planned for my life. I love to share our story. I love to talk with women who are struggling through infertility, adoption, IVF, or pregnancy loss. I love to share how God worked in my own heart through those difficult times. I love to point them to Christ...that He is the ONE who gives us the strength to get through. That HE is the ONE who gives us HOPE. And that our Father is the ONE who is writing our stories and weaving the chapters together in a way that is for our good and His glory.

I have several links on this blog that I have written regarding all of the above. Many of them are on my sidebar...but here are the quick links for you as well!!! One thing you definitely don't want to miss is Samuel's Story - our adoption journey. The 5 posts are linked over on the right side of this blog in my sidebar. Please take some time and read it (you might need a kleenex though)...I think you will be blessed to see how the loving hand of God led us to our first child!

Other posts that might encourage you...
Infertility and Loss
Our Family Timeline
Our Adoption Story
Rainy Days

Why oh Why

is this where the sippy cups ALWAYS end up??????


But I sure do love those silly girls...even if I do have to pick up the stupid cups 8,532 times a day!!!




And because these are 2 really super cute blogs I designed (if I do say so myself) I'm going to share them here and my design blog!!!






Also, I just finished this cutie patootie first birthday invite for a cutie patootie little girl!!! And of course I also did a little thank you tag for the favors. I don't think her mom will mind me posting these but, Melissa, if you do...holler at me and I'll take them off:)! Of course I changed the address and phone number to something silly.

Lollipop, Lollipop, Oh Lolli Lollipop!!!

We had a SUGAR SWEET day on Saturday when we celebrated Ellie Kate's 3rd birthday! Her real birthday is not until the 23rd but this past weekend just ended up being the best time to celebrate so we did! It was such a fun party and as usual I had a blast planning and decorating and making everything for it. Ellie Kate loves candy and anything sweet, so I went with that and copied different things I saw on the internet. Enjoy the gazillion pictures that follow...

the invitation (with our address "painted" over)

fun decorations...

me and my girl...oh I could just eat her up and I can't believe she is so big!

the coloring tables for the kids...they colored Lollipops of course

picture op of the 3 kiddos....too bad Abigail was giving "the look" for all of the pics I snapped

waiting anxiously for the first guest to arrive...it's Esther!

Neely arrived!!!!! They are seriously obsessed with each other...so sweet!

Abigail and Harwood eyeing each other

we made marshmellow candy and that was big messy fun!

We played "Pin the Stick on the Lollipop" too!

family and friends enjoying the celebration!

Listening to everyone sing "Happy Birthday To You!"

Blowing out the candle

And opening presents! Yay for such a great day!!!

Thanks to everyone who came and helped us celebrate our sugary sweet Ellie Kate!!!

Snow Day

My northern readers will laugh at me, but for us southern folks, yesterday was a great day because we got snow!!!! Unfortunately, it seems that where we live (Tuscaloosa, AL) missed a lot of it for some reason. That seems to be the norm though. We always look with jealousy at the cities around us who always seem to get more that sticks. I don't know what it is about t-town, but it's just not real favorable towards the white stuff. Anyhow, I guess we got around an inch...maybe 2 in some spots. It was really pretty coming down and we enjoyed watching it fall for about 4-5 hours. The kids played out in it for a little while but unfortunately it didn't stick around long and was all melted by about 4 pm. It was really fun while it lasted though!

Valentines

My friend, Carlley and our kids got together yesterday afternoon to make valentine owls to go with my cute little valentine cards! We were so excited about how cute these turned out!!! The kids had fun too although I hate that I am so OCD and only let them do one each and then I do the rest so they can look right. I should work on that:)





All ready to be taken to Ellie Kate's school tomorrow!


And here are some of Samuel's with the birdie valentines. I didn't feel like making 22 owls for his class so we stuck with cheap suckers!

A New Obsession

To add to my already growing list of crafty things I love to do...I have found another fun, cheap, and easy project!!! These types of shirts are all over Etsy for way more than it cost me to make mine. This is a shirt for Abigail that she will wear at EK's bday party coming up. I'm also making one similar for the birthday girl:).

Go HERE for a tutorial!!! I have a feeling I'm going to be making these little suckers a lot in the future!!! Seriously, it is an easy peasy project. I did use Photoshop to make my design, but I think you could do something just as cute in Microsoft Word or Publisher!!!