Meeting Friends

Abbs has had quite the social schedule in her short little life!  

She's already met two of her besties. (Yep I used it) 

When I called both Rox and El to tell them I was pregnant this time they told me they too were pregnant.  Such an awesome surprise.  We were just getting ready to move back to the midwest, and come to find out two of my best friends here were pregnant with me.  It was kinda perfect.  El and I have been friends since we were 12, and with Rox since high school.  The three of us were all in each other's weddings.  We all had our first children within a year of each other (Noah and Nora are only a month apart) and this time we were all due within a month of each other.  

AND...we all had baby girls!  Manders also had a baby girl!! Dying to get Abbs and Addy together for pictures since we have them together of Noah and Rhyon.  

So getting the girls together to meet has been so precious to me!  We met Olivia back the first week of April, and then little Elsie came up to hang out last weekend.  We are very bummed because we planned a weekend for all three of us to get together, but I was a punk and bailed on the plans.  (But Abby girl's auntie needs to meet her too!)   Here are some pics of Abby and her friends!

Abby and Elsie (5 weeks apart) 

Abby wasn't real interested in a photo shoot.  

 With their older siblings...note Noah. 

 and their mamas

 Abby and Olivia (3 Months apart) 

 and their mamas!

We didn't get one of Noah and Austin together...too busy those boys.  But here are little man and Nora who are just a month apart.  I LOVE that Noah looks like he's the luckiest guy alive..and then there's Nora...who doesn't look quite as thrilled.  Hahaha. 

I'm thankful for these friendships and all these babies! Love you guys!

House Shopping

We made our first offer on a house here last night. 

Didn't get it. They countered, and we could have countered back but we knew our limit and it just wasn't going to happen on this house.  

I'm bummed.

Yet, thankful.  I've been praying for very clearly opened or closed doors.  Just as we did in Taylor.  I'm so grateful the Lord answered that prayer today.  I LOVED this house.  It had an awesome layout, a full unfinished basement, and it needed some TLC to make it ours. I was super excited though.  But it was at the top of our price range and we knew that we didn't have a lot of wiggle room in the offer. 

Unfortunately...neither did the seller.  

So when we got the counter offer we talked it over and just knew...it wasn't the right decision so we bowed out.  As sad and bummed as I am...I'm also so thankful because it is exactly what I prayed for.  It was a closed door.  We both knew it and we both feel at peace about it.  I am 100% sure that this was the right decision.  

So tonight I'm very thankful because we are on the same page.  YAY.  The right house will come, in His time...not mine.  

Abbs is super smiley these days.  And she coos.  I love it.

Noah man is so cuddly these days.  He is all about hugs and kisses for the three of us.  Randomly during the day he'll come and give me a big hug and kiss.  It's so precious.  And so unexpected with the crazy little man that he is.  We're especially excited because boy loves his Abby.  I know I've said this before...but I mean seriously..he can't get enough of her.  She's the second word out of his mouth most mornings..right after daddy.  He goes to find her first thing...and calls for her when she's sleeping.  He loves to rock her and give her a paci.  Shares his toys with her. She smiles at him even when he's rough with her.  Makes my heart so happy.  I know it won't maybe always be this way..but I sure am loving it right now. 

I go back to work May 16th.  I'm scared/sad/kinda excited all at the same time.

Rox and Jake were here this weekend, and El and Ryan were here two weeks ago.  It has been so amazing!  We LOVE spending time with them and their babies.  

We're going to Florida in two weeks...I'm excited for Abbs to finally meet Sarah and her family.  

That's it for tonight.  Abby girl is asleep on my lap..I'm tempted to not move until she wakes up to eat again.  She's in a bit of a growth spurt I think..she's back to eating every three hours (4-5 on the front end of the night), but we're definitely not sleeping as much at night.  And she's over 10 pounds now..just since we were at the doctor last week.  She all of a sudden feels big to me.  

That temptation to not move is going to lose out to the temptation to eat oreos.  I'm totally going to move because I have to get milk for those.  :)  

Some silly thoughts.

Just because. I haven't just had a random post in awhile.

Here we go:

I love Dancing with the Stars.  I love watching people dance...I wish I could go learn to dance sometime.  Kellie Pickler is my fav this year.  She's adorable. They crack me up.  So I will root for her - don't get me wrong..I'm not a voting fan..just a loving it from afar fan.  

Brad, Rox, and Jake had an over/under bet on how many times I would comment on our house being dirty this weekend while they were here.  I seriously can't handle my house being a mess when people are here.  I feel like this might say something about me, that my friends and love can bet on it.  Rox won.  Hahahaha.  

Then she cleaned my house.  What an awesome friend.

I vacuumed today and it made me happy.  I'm that girl.

I feel 150% (LITERALLY) better about life when it's sunny and warm.  We've been outside every chance we get when it's nice and I am LOVING it. 

I think I'm documenting all of Abby's life in iphone pictures.  I HAVE to get that camera out more often.  Poor second child.  We can't only document her life on a phone.

I don't do baby books.  I do baby calendars...they're adorable..but I wish I could do baby books.  This isn't like I don't plan on ever doing them..it's just they don't get done.  But I do blog so one day I can look back in case I forget to write any details down in their little calendars.

Texas made me a wimp.  I used to wear t-shirts when it was 40-50 degrees in the spring.  Now I want a winter coat. 

Speaking of Texas...two of our favorite people have birthdays this week...and we miss them.  I cried on Saturday.

But it's Rox's birthday today..and this is the first time in 5 years we were able to kinda celebrate that together so YAY for that!

Brad took the crib apart today to convert it to the toddler bed..only for me to confess that I can't find the hardware to do so.  That is our life right now.

Due to this...Noah will just keep on climbing out of his crib.  Last night we found him sleeping on the ground.  First time for that.  Usually he climbs out and knocks on the door.  :)

Noah, Abby, and I are going with Grammy to Florida to see Sarah, Phil, and the ladies in two weeks.  I AM SO EXCITED! Finally Abby will have met her auntie.  

I rock out to Glee on Pandora all the time.  I make Noah dance with me.  

We had to make a little person "look" like Noah for his school last week.  I was terrified.  I'm the least artistic  person in the world. It turned out not terrible...but I fear school age years.  

That's it.  Bedtime.  Abby girl is knocked out..hopefully for awhile..so I'm going too!  

1 Month!

 

Our sweet Abby girl turned one month old a week ago today! I've been meaning to write this for a week.  A little harder to stay on schedule but at least she had her picture taken on time. :)

She is a precious joy, and this time is going so stinking fast!

 

One month stats:

Weight: 9lb 10oz (60th Percentile)

Height: 23 inches (90th Percentile)

She's a petite little thing.  So cute and tiny.

As for development...she's doing awesome.  So far:

She smiles.  It's beautiful.  The absolute best thing.  I am so grateful...I think I had some postpartum blues for a few weeks. I think we've come out of it now...I for sure wouldn't call it depression...it was just I felt a little disconnected for awhile.  Abbs had some hard nights with lots of tears..so mama did too.  Then she smiled..and I realized we're doing great.  She and I have a bond just like Noah and I do.  I just needed to remember it.

 

Pretty strong head control

A good little napper

 

Quite the little cuddle bug...she and her mama have some SERIOUS cuddle sessions!

 

LOVES to be held laying on her tummy (almost a football hold) she can be crying crying...and almost as soon as I get her into that position she'll stop.  She also loves to lay on her tummy on my lap.  That settles her too.  Sometimes it traps us to the couch/bed, but totally worth it.

 

 

Goes to sleep better for daddy than mommy.  Unless I'm holding her.  Then it's me.  :)  But if we're talking laying her down and getting her to go to sleep..daddy has the golden touch.

 

She still is a grazer with eating. Getting better about it, but she eats quickly and feels like not nearly as much or as interested as Noah was.  Our doctor wasn't concerned at all..so me either.

Is SOO loved by her brother.  We have to watch him so closely because the boy can't get enough of his baby sis.  He's pretty agressive with his affection...I watch him closely but I hate to restrain that joy too much because I want for him to have joy with his sister.

 

 

 

Singing to sweet Abby. 

 

Has had 5-6 hour stretches the last few nights.  I'm loving it.  Whatever time her last night time feeding is she'll go for 5 or 6 hours, then from there it's back to every three.  But I'm feeling much more rested now just having that long stretch at night.

 

Now loves her swing and her bouncy seat.  I'm thankful for that.

Likes the sunshine..she'll cry and when we get outside she'll stop.  :)

Baths are super soothing for her.

 

Overall...she's amazing.  I love this whole newborn stage again...I feel like we're getting into our groove here now.  Brad and I are able to go to bed at the same time now, Noah is adjusting well, and Abbs is fitting right in.  Thankful for the blessing those three are to me!

 

Have a great week!

Life.

We're in the process of house hunting.

This was fun...5 years ago when we were looking for our first house.

But last year when we were looking...not so fun.  And here we go again.

See here's the thing about me...I become extremely focused on this task.  I have the real estate market memorized..and it's frustrating when no new houses come up..and we don't like any of the houses on the market.

It's tough.

I had gotten super excited about a particular house.  I mean...it was THE house in my head. I had all sorts of plans. Craft room, laundry room.  I looked back over all my pinterest boards to see what I could use from my pins.  Then Brad saw it.  It will not be our house.  It's not supposed to be.  Our realtor agreed.  It's just hard.

I'm ready to feel settled. I feel like we've been unsettled for almost two yeas and I'm ready to be in a home that is our home.  I want to not have to carry the kiddos up stairs anymore.  A garage that is attached.

But this weekend...and this is by no means coincidental..I was at home in Lafayette, and Pastor Whipple spoke a message that just spoke directly to the war in my heart right now.

This place, this time, this life..it's temporary.

Why am I so concerned about having a house?  I don't think it's a sin, or that it's wrong, to have a desire to make a home for my family.  I know that's ok.

But here's the thing...it gets me so down and so discouraged to not be finding one.  I have definitely had the thought of "Life will be so much better when we just have a house..." or "I'll feel less frustrated with all this when I just have a house..." or "I feel like I'll be a better mom/wife when we have a house."

It's embarrassing to write out here...or to admit to...but just trying to be truthful.

Anyways...so we had this message at church on Sunday...and it truly meant so much to me.  I called Brad on my way back from Lafayette last night and talked all about how I don't want this to drive me.  How I want to spend my time looking towards eternity with God...and how my life here on earth can prepare for that.  I want to spend my time pointing others to Jesus...not wishing for ways to make this world feel more like home.

I was so encouraged.

And then tonight...we go look at houses..and I cried the whole way home.  It's frustrating how easily I can fail.  Ugly heart I have.

I'm thankful tomorrow is a new day.  I'm going to try again.  Start over.  Remember that this earth is temporary..and any home we purchase...it's God's house first.  He'll bring the right house in the right time.  It's not my job to make all the plans.

Those are the thoughts for the night.  Soon to come...our precious baby turned 1 month old TODAY! :) We have her appointment on Wednesday so I'll post her monthly post then.

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

O Lord, you have searched me and known me!

You know when I sit down and when I rise up;

you discern my thoughts from afar.

You search out my path and my lying down

and are acquainted with all my ways.

Even before a word is on my tongue,

behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.

You hem me in, behind and before,

and lay your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;

it is high; I cannot attain it.

Where shall I go from your Spirit?

Or where shall I flee from your presence?

If I ascend to heaven, you are there!

If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!

If I take the wings of the morning

and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

even there your hand shall lead me,

and your right hand shall hold me.

If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,

and the light about me be night,”

even the darkness is not dark to you;

the night is bright as the day,

for darkness is as light with you.

For you formed my inward parts;

you knitted me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Wonderful are your works;

my soul knows it very well.

My frame was not hidden from you,

when I was being made in secret,

intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes saw my unformed substance;

in your book were written, every one of them,

the days that were formed for me,

when as yet there was none of them.

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!

How vast is the sum of them!

If I would count them, they are more than the sand.

I awake, and I am still with you.

Psalm 139:1-18

I love these verses. I love the God we serve. I am so thankful for these babies he has created and given to us to love and raise. 

Wow.

Just time for a quick post.  

Let's talk reality for a second. 

Week three...a little rougher than the first 2 weeks. 

Could be my emotions are catching up with me being tired?  

I have broken down in many tears this week.  

Don't worry...I can look at those tears and see at most times they are completely irrational.  It's almost comical.  

Today has been full of them.  

I called Brad and told him I'm failing. 

Then I cried because as I was on the phone with Brad I looked out in the kitchen to find Noah climbing on the kitchen table to get an orange. 

Then Noah, as he was bolting down the stairs...in the correct way on his belly like I asked him...got too excited and rolled down our stairs.  So I cried again because I thought he was hurt.  He wasn't. 

Then he ran into the street.  I had to leave Abby's carseat in the middle of the front yard..and run out to get him.  (At this point..I'm pretty sure our neighbor thought I was a crazy woman because she saw that whole scene and came over to help with Abby) Surprisingly, I didn't cry at this point.

After this...I called Sarah.  Told her I feel like I'm failing.  Cried some more.  

Got to Target..decided to a healthy and wholesome lunch at Target because it took me until 11:30 to get all three of us out of the house.  Lunch was great and I thought..."YES!!  We're doing it!!"

And then after lunch...as we were picking up what we needed for Target...Noah threw the tantrum of all tantrums.  He screamed No over and over..and then he tried to hit me.  All while I am trying to keep my cool and discipline him ...and also while trying VERY HARD not to just give in to him and give him the phone which is what he wanted in the first place.  But I KNOW that I have to stand firm...so that means dealing with utter humiliation.  The obvious stares from all the people thinking my toddler is out of control, and the cashier who was ANYTHING but friendly, or really helpful.  I seriously think my face was so red ..I don't even know.  I was so embarrassed.  Seriously...he kept throwing that fit all the way until we stopped at a stoplight and we had a talk and he wanted to hold my hand...and oh how quickly it was all forgiven.  But wow.  

Then there was Austin like traffic on the ONE ROAD we had to take to get home.  So Abby girl started screaming because it was time for her to eat, and I'm begging Noah to stay awake just long enough to get home so we can nap.  

So here's my thought for the day...why on earth did I think today should be my first time to brave Target with the two of them?  

On the upside: 

Noah is sleeping soundly now.

Abbs is too.  

They are precious to me. 

Our double stroller rocks.  (Thank you Mom and Dad)

It's not really that hard to go out with both..just going to have to try again.  

To be fair to our toddler man.  He has been adjusting fabulously since Abby has been here...he really hasn't been throwing tantrums at all.  Last night he woke up screaming after what I can only guess was a bad dream, and then he got up pretty early this morning.  He had also fallen asleep by the time we got to Target today...but there was no way we were getting out and not actually going into target.  So I had to wake him.  So there were reasons for the crazy.  

It's Friday.  So our main man, Brad, will be home with us for the weekend. 

We get to meet El and Ryan's sweet baby Olivia and see sweet Austin this weekend! :)

We're going to look at houses this weekend!

YAY!!

I am so thankful that today is not the end of the world.  And for my family who talk me off the crazy ledge. And for Jesus, who I know walks with me every step of the way. Oh so so thankful!

P.S. I also know I am not failing.  That's irrational Rachael speaking! 

Have a great week! 

Two Weeks In.

I'm in love with my little lady.  

Correction: WE (Me, Brad, and Noah) are in LOVE with our little lady.  

She's perfect. 

She's also so different from Noah, already, and I think that's amazing.

So far here's where we're at....

She LOVES to be held.  Noah did too, but he also was totally fine with not being held.  Abbs, on the other hand, has a bit of a strong opinion on being put down.  We're working on it..just so we can get some things done.  She will do a few minutes of tummy time here and there, occasionally she likes the swing, rarely she will sit in her little bouncy seat.  She very much loves the boppy...which is similar to her big brother.

She's a grazer.  That's the only way to describe her eating habits.  Noah came out of the womb ready to eat..and packed on the pounds immediately.  Sweet Abigail seems so little compared to Noah, I think she's just not gaining as fast.  But I'm pretty sure that's totally fine..it's just different than our little man.  She doesn't quite last as long between feedings..because she snacks more than she really eats.  She makes it a solid three hours between most feedings.  At night she has been doing a 4 hour stretch, followed by a 3 hour stretch.  I can handle that! :) 

She makes the most adorable little squeaks and grunts. I love it. 

Noah wants to hold her and love on her all the time.  This afternoon when he got up from his nap I let him watch Cinderella.  He wouldn't let me pick Abby up or take her with me because he wanted to hold her.  He kept saying "baby please, hold please" Then he wants to kiss her and hug her.  It's so precious.  I'm so thankful for his love for her.  We have to be really cautious obviously because the boy has no sense of how strong he is with her...but oh goodness.  It warms my heart.  

This picture..not the most flattering..but on this particular day Noah and I were sitting at the counter and he kept getting tearful and looking at Abby in the swinging and saying "Duey, Duey" Over and over.  He did not stop until I went to get her and brought her to sit with us at the counter.  Then his little world was ok.  :)  Couldn't translate that into a smile for the camera..but still! 

I never knew I could like pink so much.  I truly thought I could never get into the pink thing...but who can say no to a sweet little thing in pink.  Amazing.  

Being a mama of two will challenge my OCD tendencies.  Today I didn't get anything finished that I started.  I did a lot of halfway jobs.  I did not dig that...but I had an awesome time with the two babies..and so I'm just having to accept the fact that it's ok if some days we don't get everything done as I would like.  

I think I'll be be grateful for the two days a week Noah is in school so we on those days Abbs and I can attack the to-do list.  And by Abby and I ...I mean me..when she's sleeping.  :)

Today was our first day alone without daddy or Grammy.  I am so thankful for how today went.  I was so anxious about it.  Noah has been super hyper lately and a little crazy.  :)  Add that to a tired mama, and a newborn little lady...and it could have been a recipe for disaster.  But little man did awesome all day...even though we couldn't get out he obeyed me and he wasn't crazy. I know all days won't be like today..but today it was..and it was exactly what we needed! 

That's it for now.  Have a great week!