Annabelle Is The Real One

With all of the different celebrations we had with various friends and family, the boys were quite confused as to which day she actually turned one. So, for the entire month of June the boys would wish Annabelle happy birthday multiple times a day! Better be on the safe side, they figured!

On her actual birthday they were so thrilled that she was 'really' one! They could not have been more excited about celebrating their sister! They kept saying "You're the REAL one today!" And to this day they are still telling everyone, she is the 'real one'. People are quite confused.

All done being zero!

The balloons from her birthday party found their way into the boys' room. They were thrilled. They finally got knocked down a few days ago during a sword fight.

Chocolate cake for breakfast! (Don't ever tell me I don't let my kids live a little :)) She did not waste a crumb.

Then it was off to our last trip to pick blueberries. Look at that view! I still can't believe how gorgeous God's creation is, and that we get to live here AND that heaven is going to be WAY more gorgeous than this. Blows my mind.

Enjoying the fruits of her labor!

Daddy took off the afternoon for his special birthday girl and we went to the lake to swim. Then it was out for Chinese food and then it was finally home for dessert.

The boys had been waiting all day for the lamb pops and the time couldn't come soon enough!


Needed her pacifier to keep her calm. It was past her bedtime and the wait for dessert was just too long. She lives a rough life.


Annalamb, meet your Lamb pop.

Now eat your lamb pop.

It was a long wait, but it was sure worth it. Looks at these adorable faces. Pure joy.


Now it's time to dig in.

Almost forgot her birthday bib! Then she was back to wanting Daddy to hold it.

It's been an amazing year with our little girl. We are so blessed to have been given this time with her and pray for many many more!

A Year With Our Lamb

Sheep Cake Pops

Since before her birth, we have called Annabelle, Lamb. So, when I found these, I knew right away that they would be incorporated into the celebration of our Lamb!




I just made five for our family but since there was so much leftover cake and frosting, I made some plain ones to give to others.

They were perfect! They were just the right size, and so fun to make. I'm positive more cake pops are in our future.

60 Years Young

I have met very few people in this world as wonderful as my mother-in-law. Words cannot describe the blessing she is to everyone she knows. So, for her 60th birthday we wanted to make her feel as special as she is. She did not want a party with lots of people, so it was just us. But, that sure didn't limit the fun. She loves playing games, but rarely has any takers when she mentions the idea. So, for her day, we wanted to set aside a whole night for games. She was thrilled.


She loves chocolate chip cookies.

Brunch on her actual birthday, and Father's Day.

And while we were all together, we celebrated Annabelle's 1st birthday. She got a Sophie Giraffe from Aunt Julie that she's obsessed with. Now she's just like the cool kids!

The birthday girls

Me and my birthday girl

It was such a great weekend filled with lots of celebrating.

Milk and Motherhood

Annabelle used her newest pearly whites to bite me while nursing about 3 weeks ago. I screamed. She of course cried. She has completely refused to nurse since then. She always implied she wanted to, but when it came time, she would resist and cry. It was so sad. I talked to multiple people about what to do and NO ONE had ever heard of such a thing. Never had a kid completely refused to nurse after that. I was on my own to figure out a solution.

So, I tried and pumped my milk and took some supplements to keep my supply up while she went through this season and tried to not make a big deal out of it, but continued to offer her milk occasionally. If I put it in a cup she was ecstatic. She would get so excited when she had it, but just would not nurse. We hoped that she would get over the trauma and resume nursing. But, after about a week, my supply dried up completely with no signs of her interested in nursing. Here she is drinking my milk for the very last time.



I'm in shock at how abrupt it all was. And how quickly that first year flew. I don't think I would be so in shock if this wasn't our last biological child, but chances are, she might just be.

She did however crawl up to me the other day while we were both in the tent together camping, and wanted to nurse, so I let her try, she gave me a big kiss and crawled right away. I have to say that was a pretty precious last nursing memory.

I will always cherish the amazing moments I was given being able to grow these children in my womb, birth them, and to nurse them through their first year of life. Each one of those minutes pouring into my children in their infancy has built the foundation of a bond between us that I pray will continue to strengthen as they grow.

I have messed up parenting, royally at times. But, I feel so blessed to have been given this opportunity to know my heavenly Father in a deeper way by having children of my own. I have learned forgiveness like never before. In my opinion, nothing destroys pride (if you let it) more than parenting. With each one of these children, I have been given the chance to become more like Christ.

I was made to be a mother, just like I was made to be a daughter of the King.