Berry Picking

First thing Saturday morning Andy and I took the boys berry picking. The strawberries were almost completely gone, but they had cherries to pick this week.



This is the boys showing Annabelle the train that was driving by! They don't leave her out of a single thing.

38 Weeks!

I often compare birth to the second coming of Christ... it's such a mystery when it will be. We need to keep watch because we do not know the day or the hour.

At least now I'm completely ready for her to come... I finished her birthday crown today:

But as I've said before, now that I'm ready for her, she won't come for at least 3 weeks. Isn't that how it always works?!

As excited as I am to meet her and as ready as I feel, there still are a million things I could do before she comes, so I'm not quite yet begging for it to be any day. Either way you look at it, I have no control... I'll just keep watch, because I don't know the day or the hour!

Many Parts, One Body

I've said it before, but I'm just not super obsessed with little girl clothes. But, there is one brand that I'm just in LOVE with. I haven't found a single item that they sell that I do not like! It's called Tea Collection.

A dear friend gave these two outfits to me for Annabelle. Could they get any cuter?!


My friend apologized as she was giving them to me that she wasn't able to hand make her something since she knows how much I like handmade stuff.

It really got me thinking... I love handmade stuff, but that's because I love to make it. I know that others are gifted in various different ways and hand making gifts is not for everyone. I've never wanted to give the impression that handmade gifts are superior to other gifts at all and when she said that, it was quite convicting. I must have given her that impression.

It reminded me of the passage in 1 Corinthians 12:14-20

Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

This friend is such an amazing woman with so many talents that I could never dream of possessing. God has gifted her in so many ways that are far superior to my simple sewing abilities.

With those outfits that she gave, she felt as though she wasn't giving a 'great' gift, but little did she know that I have always wanted to buy an outfit from that line for Annabelle, but we just could never afford it. She was able to bless our family in a way that we never could. Her act of kindness and thoughtfulness was, to her small, but to me spoke volumes.

I've gotten comments like that before about how a woman wishes she could sew, or something else that I like to do and sometimes it just baffles me. Because the same woman that will say something like that is so gifted in an area that is beyond my comprehension and I wish I could do what she does! I get so critical of myself at times and wish I was better at X, Y or Z, or looked like another woman I know.

So, I guess all of that to say... Women, cherish your gifts and use them to serve the Lord and others. Don't wish you were someone else with other talents. God designed you exactly how He wanted to and He is so pleased with you... you are a daugther of the KING!

Baby Kangaroo

Both boys have always been stuffed animal kids, but recently they have been super obsessed with them. Particularly, Samuel with Baby Kangaroo. He brings him everywhere with him. Here they are making some pancakes:

I'm going to have to get some video of them with their animals. Stay tuned.

Annabelle's Room

If you were to have taken a walk around our home just 2 days ago we would have had to do some serious convincing that there is a baby girl on her way. But look at what a day will do...

A friend came by this morning and helped me set up her crib (which was Andy's when he was a baby) and then another friend stopped by and dropped off the changing table. I cleared out all of the other junk in her room, got all of the diapers out and put her clothes away.

There are still a few things I'd like to do, who knows if they'll ever get done, but as of right now I feel totally content with her coming. Such a far cry from what I was saying a couple days ago.

I was in so much pain a couple days ago I was seriously worried I wouldn't make it much longer. But with several different methods of treatment, Annabelle is now laying with her head where it needs to be and my pain is now bareable. (She was head down, but her head was sitting on my right pelvic bone and making my sciatic nerve go crazy). Now, all I have is the typical lower back pain, which is nothing compared to the previous pain.

Things I'd like to do in her room:
* Paint the FREE dresser and nightstand... not sure what color.
* Lower her mobile.
* Make a girly valance for the window.
* Have my mom do a painting for the left side of her window.
* Paint/glue fabric on 3 tiny bird houses I got that are girly.
* Get new crib sheets.
* Find our old crib dust ruffle and put it on.

I know it's not very girly, but I love it!

In other news:
* The birth pool and birth ball are blown up.
* I have all of my Bible verses, music and motivating pictures ready for the labor.
* I picked out her first outfit.
* All of the birthing supplies are together and ready to be used!

Wow, 17 days before her due date. You know that now it's all done, she'll be late :)

147 Million Orphans

Last October when our family traveled to Tennessee to attend an adoption conference we were heavily impacted specifically by the orphans of Uganda.

There was a booth there called 147 Million Orphans. I found myself in a conversation with a woman who was waiting for the green light to head over to Uganda to pick up her newest additions, a little boy and a little girl.

Before this conversation we were not even aware that Uganda was a country that was open for international adoptions.

God made it very clear to us the needs of this country and put in our hearts a desire to make a different for the children of Uganda. We are still praying through what that is going to look like for our family. And what makes it so easy to remember to pray for these children is a necklace I wear almost on a daily basis. I got the necklace at the conference from the 147 Million Orphans table.

Here is a little about them:

We are proud to partner with Katie Davis and the wonderful women of the Karamojong tribe to offer you these beautiful necklaces created by hand and from re-cycled magazines … Our goal is to help these women maintain sustainable income for their families … We will be purchasing these necklaces from them and also sending 50%+ of the proceeds back to a feeding program run by Amazima Ministries. It is a beautiful full circle story of the body of Christ.

So, if you have a heart for orphans or just simply want to get an awesome necklace, please purchase some of these necklaces. They are awesome gifts! I am asked almost every time I'm out about mine. It's an incredible way to spread the awareness of the needs of these orphans.

If you're interested in helping out in another tangible way, please consider sewing or donating funds to help build our supply of blankets to send over to an orphanage in Uganda.

I cannot wait to share with you some recent quilts that have been finished. God is moving and I am so excited to be a part of what he's doing! Will you join me?

It Takes a Village

I am just blown away at the generosity of our family and friends gathering around us to help us prepare for Annabelle's arrival. Whether it's making meals, watching the boys, or helping us cross things off of our to-do list, people have been constantly showering us with their love.

This pregnancy has brought with it lots of physical pain during the last few weeks making it very difficult for me to sustain my usual routine, much less add all of the additional preparations needed for birth, especially a home birth.

So, this weekend, Andy's mom and step dad came down to help us out. They were quite a working team! From taking care of the boys to literally cutting my mile long to-do list in half, they served us so selflessly.

Ever since we got our deep freezer from Andy's dad and step mom I have been dreaming about the day we could go berry picking and pick until our hearts content. We picked about 20 lbs and I'm sending Andy back next weekend with Samuel to pick some more. Andy was gone in Lynchburg for the USMC for most of the weekend. I am so thrilled we have the space to store fresh fruit so we can enjoy it the whole year through.

I can't say strawberry picking at 37 weeks pregnant is super comfortable, but boy were lots of memories made.


A trick for berry picking: wear red shirts - they don't show the stains as easily.

The boys were able to learn their first major lesson in hospitality. They let Gigi and GranRan sleep in their beds when they came to visit and they slept in their old room. We kept their cribs still up so they could sleep in those, but as you can see, they chose the floor. I thought it would be an utter disaster getting them to calm down, go to sleep and sleep well with them laying next to each other like this, but it turned out to be no problem at all.

When they came, they brought us the family cradle that has been in the family for over 100 years! It gets passed around throughout the family as someone welcomes a new baby. Andy and Julie used it and we had it for Samuel as well. Now, we're getting it back for Annabelle.

Robbie surprised me and bought me new bedding and a mattress for it since the other bedding was gender neutral and not very 'pretty' and the mattress was just getting old. Andy's Aunt Weezie always makes a monogrammed headboard for each child that uses it too. Look at this, isn't it amazing?! I am so thrilled to be able to use it again.

But, when they brought it in for us it was completely filled with gifts. She said this was her sprinkling for Annabelle :) She got all of her essentials, in pink, of course! Bath towels, wash clothes, burp clothes, pacifiers, nursing pads, boppy cover, car seat snugly, a stuffed bear that makes sounds from in the womb, the softest blanket ever made and some diaper covers!




When all is said and done, I could care less how adorable Annabelle's clothes were, or how perfectly her accessories matched, but what I am most concerned about is her heart and how she will respond to the gospel of Jesus Christ. And that sure takes a village. She will not only be learning about the love of Christ from us, but it will be and already is being demonstrated to her by all of you. So, thank you! Thank you to all of you who have blessed us during this season in our lives! We know the Lord is using each one of you for kingdom purposes, not just meeting the temporary needs of a growing family. You are lightening our loads so that we can better focus on the most important things in life.

Big Boy Beds

The boys slept in their big boy beds for the first time Tuesday for their naps. They did a great job. We had tried to transition them into sleeping in beds by taking off their outside rails on their cribs for a week or so and then moving them into the beds. So far no one has fallen out. Mommy cried, but other than that, it's been a successful transition :)

During their naps:



And after their naps:


We've got lots to still do in their room, but have come so far!

Thanks A MILLION to Oma who came and painted the room for us. We would have never been able to get it done without your help. Thanks Oma!!!

Just one step closer to being ready for Annabelle's arrival :)

Papa Bear Turns 60!

This past weekend we broke in the van by taking it on our first family trip to Williamsburg to celebrate Papa Bear turning 60!

The boys had a fabulous time! I had all the best intentions of taking pictures of them and their grandparents while we were there since I'm so bad at it when we're out of our normal routine and our camera ran out of batteries. Ugg.

Andy's sister took lots so hopefully we'll have some to share soon. But, I did get a few.




Now that the fun is over, it's time to get back on track and keep plugging away at our mile long list of things to get done before Annabelle arrives in about 4 weeks (give or take 2)! Lots of fun progress to share soon.

Happy Birthday, Poppy!

Poppy,

We hope you have a fantastic birthday. We wish we could be there with you to celebrate. We love you so much.

Love,
Samuel, Joseph and Annabelle

4 Generations

My mom was here from Saturday to Wednesday and while she was here (among a million other things) she threw me a *Blessingway. My grandmother and aunt drove down from New York to attend. I had several friends from Charlottesville here as well. It was wonderful. My cup is so full!

This was only the second time we have had the 4 generations together. I just love these pictures. I know they will mean so much to Annabelle when she is grown since she is named after them. (Annabelle gets her 'Anna' from my mom, JoAnna, and her middle name, Jane, from my grandmother. The Belle comes from my grandmother's mom, who's maiden name was 'Bell').

I just love these women!!!


* A Blessingway is a time where family and friends of an expecting mom gather around her and celebrate this new life then encourage her with verses and prayers.