I just don't want to forget

These days are long.

But short...so very short.

Every day that goes by I realize more and more that we have these sweet babies in our care for such a short time!

That makes me a little a whole heck of a lot sad.

But man am I thankful for them.

Yesterday...Noah and Brad made breakfast in bed for the three of us. Sweet Abbs was still sleeping.  (Noah has recently taken to waking up at 5:30 am since we started potty training)

Anyways..while we were eating breakfast, Noah plops himself into my lap, gave me a kiss, and looks at Brad and says "Hey Daddy, I love you"

Just out of nowhere...completely unprompted.

The kid is just amazing.  He is so sweet, so tenderhearted, a total maniac, a crazy little destructor that I absolutely adore.

And Abby...sweet Abby.  She is getting so FUN! She's adorable, super happy, loves her brother, perks up and gets super chipper the second her daddy walks in the room, wants mama often and always if she is sad.  She likes her some music. She gets a huge smile and dances when there is music on.

I just adore them.

Just so many memories.

Sometimes though...I forget to cherish the small moments.  I'm working on it, actively.  I'm working on keeping the phone upstairs during the day so I'm not wasting precious time with them. We've done fewer social things lately - partly because of weather, partly because we just needed some quality time. I'm working on making memories with the kids, putting down my to-do list and just stopping to cuddle when the kiddos need it.

But somewhere in the 5:30 wake up calls, the baby deciding she wants to be held rather than nap, the toddler who throws silly fits for no reason, the colds that won't quit, the random fevers, the poopy diapers, the being peed on constantly while potty training..I just forget the joy.

I forget that God has given me the priceless gift of raising these sweet ones with Brad.

I forget to enjoy all the amazingness of these children.

I want to remember these moments.

I want to remember that we have the best privilege of our life in raising these children. We get to teach them, love them, pray for them, show them Jesus' love.  I'm just so thankful.

That's it...I just want not to wish away these days.

New Year...Back to the blog!

Oh my good gracious.  I haven't blogged since Abby was 4 months old.  BREAK MY HEART.

I'm a terrible scrapbooker..so this is where I keep memories to go back and fill things out.

But, it turns out....being a mama of two makes blogging a bit more difficult.  I have written many...but not finished them...so here we are 5 months later.

Since I last posted...

Abby turned 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 months old.  She's perfect.  She has a sweet little mellow personality.  She knows where she is comfortable..and makes it known.  She is EVERYWHERE.  I feel we'll have to baby proof more thoroughly this time around.  Noah was curious...but wanted to hang with me. He never was one to get into cabinets or anything.  Abby on the other hand...if it's just us at home...she's quite the little wanderer.  I find her everywhere...silently investigating everything she can get her hands on.  This smells like trouble...but the best kind.

Noah is almost 3.  THREE! Are you kidding me?  We have entered into a bit of a difficult stage as he has QUITE the opinions of so many things...but also..he's perfect. So crazy and loud, but also sweet and tender. He makes us laugh all the time. He is feisty and smart.  He loves his baby sister like I had hoped he would. I just love it!

We bought a house. We love it.  It's a home.  We're SLOWLY making it ours.  I say slowly because we have many an unfinished project around here.  But not due to laziness. I'm slow with decisions...so poor Brad doesn't know where to start.  On the books for the upcoming weeks/months: finish insulating the garage, paint the rest of the downstairs, hang curtains/blinds, pictures actually on the walls, maybe a patio out back, and begin the finishing of the basement.  But we love this little place we call home.

First Thanksgiving and Christmas as a family of four.  Perfection.

First Christmas in our new house.  Just exactly what we hoped it would be.

First house guests.  We've had Mom and Dad, Carl and Rosemary, the Peterson fam, Sarah and Phil and the girls, the Mehaffie fam, and the Sunnenberg fam.  I feel like I'm forgetting someone but what it comes down to is we love to have people stay with us.

In 2014 we are planning to head back to Austin in May, I can't even tell you how excited I am to go. I still miss Austin so much..and the people we love there..so I'm super excited for May! No babies on the horizon for us this year. Just loving these two we have and still figuring out being a family of four.  Hopefully we'll make lots of fun memories this year!

That's it for tonight! Easing back into the blog world.  Have a great night!

My joy.

So last night the boys went out and had a daddy-son date night and Abby and I stayed in and had a girls night.  Ours was short lived because it turns out my date likes to go to bed at 7:30 at night. :)

Anywyas...after doing this we definitely realized we need to do this more often, taking the kiddos out for one-on-one time.

It was the best thing ever, seeing Noah come home and be so stinking adorable. He had the best time with Brad.  The joy in his face, and the joy for me knowing that my boys were spending some serious quality time together. Be. Still. My. Heart.

He seriously was so precious.  They went to watch the monster truck show at the fair, which though Noah is OBSESSED with monster trucks he was not a fan of their noise.  I guess they left the show for a bit and walked around the fair, then gave them another try.  So cute.  After the fair they got ice cream on their way home.  Noah was so proud because his had m&m's in it.

I can't even begin to explain the sweetness of my two guys hanging together.  For real.

Abby girl and I had a great time too, but it was a little less eventful. :) But awesome.  Here are some pics! I'm beginning to regret not blogging more often as this helps me remember all the sweet times.  Think it's time to kick it in gear.

4 Months!!

Oh sweet Abby....already 4 months old.  

I can't even handle it. 

Really.  

But despite all my efforts...she keeps getting older.  

So here's where we are.  

13lb 12oz (54th percentile)

24 in (42nd Percentile)

Seriously, the percentages were that detailed. 

And yes, it has definitely been a month since I last posted...but well it's hard to post more that that with two kiddos.  FOR REAL.  :) 

Anyways...here's what she's been up to lately:

She is such a very happy baby.  I am in love with her perfect little personality

She shows it more and more each day.  

She's extremely happy in the morning...once she's up..she just smiles and coos all morning until her morning nap.  She very rarely cries...which is so nice.  

LOVES Noah. Still.  Finds him and smiles at him all the time.  Tracks him when he's close to her. 

The bumbo is her new favorite place. She sits with us at dinner every night, and Noah wants her to sit with him at breakfast every morning.  

She has a giggle that is just adorable.  Makes my day.

Rolls from tummy to back..and side to side.  She is SO close to back to tummy I think.

Loves when we dance.  She will smile so big when we dance together. (Been having dance parties lately because Noah is very into dancing currently)

Loves water.  Baths/swimming pools she's not picky.

Still a grazer when it comes to eating. She's so petite compared to Noah.  Like 3 1/2 pounds less than he was at this age.  

A wonderful napper..which is fabulous.  It took Noah and I a LONG time to figure nap time out when he was first born.  She takes a solid two naps and sometimes one in between the two.  But mama gets quiet time most afternoons as they both go down right after lunch time.  Thankful for that. 

But bedtime sleep is a different thing.  Don't get me wrong.  She's super easy to get to sleep, ready and down by 830 every night.  But she still wakes up once or twice a night.  I really count it as once.  She wakes up around 2-3 am.  Then wakes again around 5:30-6.  But after the 5:30-6 feeding she goes back down until 7-8.  I don't count that second feeding because I feel like that's practically morning.  Maybe I'm just in denial haha. I think bedtime sleep will improve when she's in her own room. ONE MORE MONTH. 

Blue eyed little lady. Who might be blonde? 

Holds her paci in her hand.

Loves to hold her toes. 

She is just a perfect little addition to our fam.  Seriously. We're in love with her.  

3 months old!!

She's three months old.

I feel like last night I went in to be admitted.  

Wonder if that will ever change? 

Time could just slow down..that would just be fabulous.

But she's three months..and she is so stinking amazing.

I feel like we really hit our stride this month. 

She is such a happy little baby.

Don't get me wrong..she's got some opinions...but in general this little thing is SO happy. 

Very into sitting up right now.  The bumbo is her new favorite place.  If she wants to be sitting up she will have nothing to do with the swing or the bouncy seat...but if you put her in the bumbo..she's happy as a clam. 

An easy little thing to get to sleep these days.  Literally lay her down on her tummy, put the blanket on her cheek, and she's out. So awesome.

Goes to bed right around 7:30/8 every night.  Sleeps until 2:30-3, then back to sleep until about 7.  I feel like she might drop that 2:30 feeding soon because she's barely eating at that time...but I'm not pushing it until she's in her own room.  One time a night is just nothing.  And she instantly goes back to sleep.  

Tracks us wherever we are. 

Really seems to be attached to Noah. When he comes around she smiles at him and follows him.  A couple of times I've heard her almost giggle at him.

She coos and jabbers.  Not quite as much as Noah...but oh man I love it when she does.  When I try to get a video though she totally stops.  

(Art by her brother)

Does not dig tummy time.  Girlfriend LOVES to sleep on her belly..but otherwise gets MAD.  I keep thinking she'll roll over any day..but we'll see. 

She scoots every where when she sleeps.  She did a 180 yesterday.  Little wiggle worm.

She's pretty go with the flow.  Which is good..because life is a little chaotic for us right now and poor girl has been nursed everywhere, be out late, slept on couches, other's beds, the carseat...I mean just a 

little bit of everywhere..and she handles it. 

(Loves to be outside)

She's so great. I'm so thankful for this sweet blessing in our life.  

Summer is here!

Summer has F-I-N-A-L-L-Y made it's way to us up here in Indiana.

When I say finally...that is not an exaggeration.  It was a mild winter, but it kinda felt like it lasted forever.  

But we're here.  And we're loving it!  

I'm so thankful for some new friendships here in Allison-land.  It has helped us feel settled.  We have been aching for fellowship here, and we are really starting to feel it and we couldn't be more grateful!

We've been spending time with a couple from our church, and a couple from Brad's work.  Both have been such great friends so us...they are so thoughtful and genuine.  We have so much fun!  

What a wonderful God we have that sets up friendships no matter where we go.  

So we've been spending lots of time outside, and lots of time away from home.  It's awesome to feel like we have a social life again.  

We're still on the hunt for a house.  No go as of yet.  But we're on the same team.  And that's a victory, and I'm thankful, and I know that when we are meant to have a home we will.  And if we don't find one..there is a reason.  It's a daily battle in my heart, but I feel like most days we do ok.  

I'm doing a women's Bible study this summer and I am so excited!  We are having a play date at the splash pad next week with two mom's who are very connected in the church.  What an amazing blessing to my soul it was when they wanted to set something up right away. I have wanted to badly to get involved with the women in the church. 

Along with that...I'm going to be a table group leader at Mom2Mom next year.  I am beyond excited.  I have prayed for a way to get in and serve...and here it is.  So pumped!  Anxious. but pumped! 

It's been a great couple of weeks.  Brad's loving his job.  We've had some more quality family time. Noah and Abby are just A-mazing.  And I'm thankful. So so very thankful for this sweet family the Lord has given me.  :) That's where I'm at today.  Here are some pictures.  

Abby girl LOVES to be outside.

 Noah grimaces when he says cheese.  Someday he'll smile again for pictures. :)

 Getting some cuddles in with Mimi

 And with señor Papa. 

And Nana...girl loves her some snuggles 

 Day 1 of potty training. Which was surprisingly successful, but we aren't there yet.  We need a solid week to dedicate to being home...and it just hasn't been possible yet. But I think we'll be able to make it happen here soon. 

 He loves to go "nigh night" with blankets. 

 LOVE. 

 Love to be outside. 

 Sweet babies of ours. 

 She is just perfect. I'm biased. But still. She's awesome. 

How it is already June.

I just wish time could slow down.  

But I guess they say time flies when you're having fun...and we've been having some fun so yay! :) 

We've been gone from home though..hence the lack of blogs...so it will be really nice to have a couple of weeks at home as a family.  

I don't have much to update.  We're house hunting.  We've put in two offers...so far no go.  One didn't get accepted and we walked away after counter.  The other we walked away after inspection unfortunately.  We L-O-V-E-D that house and everything about it (layout, location, size, yard, price - beautiful) but there were some issues with the basement..and we just knew we had to walk away.  It was a little bit heartbreaking for me.  I was already at that emotionally attached stage.  

But, I have to tell you, I have been praying hard about being content.  This is a battle in my soul lately.  I've written and not posted many blogs about the state of my heart...but basically they all come down to I have not been content.  But right about the time we found this house...I felt myself coming out of the pit.  And by that I mean...I feel the Lord physically dragging me out of the pit.  I've felt beat down and just a mess...but my God is so good and so faithful. And despite my ridiculously bad attitude..he continues to show me grace.  

All that to say...I started to feel like I was really coming out of this ick I've been hanging out in..but then  we walked away from the house, and I was so bummed.  But I am so at peace.  We both are..but thankfully Brad hasn't been struggling with contentment as I have.  But I know it was the right decision, I know the Lord will bring the right house at the right time..and I feel ready to trust His timing and plan.  And that's exciting!  :)  (This may seem kinda obvious..but if you had seen me the last few months...you'd know this is huge!)

So back to square one on the house front.

Our babies are growing! 

I'm attempting potty training with sweet Noah man.  We went 4/6 on potty and 2/3 on poopy today. That was day one.  So I was pretty happy about it.  I gave up after the last poopy if we're being honest. Last night was not a night of much sleep....I went to bed around midnight - Abby was up at 2, 4:30, and 5:30..then Noah was up for the day by 6:45.  So...not a whole lot of rest...so the last poopy did me in. Hahaha.  We'll see how all of this goes.  I'm giving it a solid try..if he's not ready we'll try again in a month.

I found two twin beds for Noah's toddler room.  We're going to paint them red.  I'm pretty pumped about it. 

Noah's been in the toddler bed for just under a month now.  He does great.  It has been a surprisingly easy transition.  He doesn't get up out of bed at all when we lay him down at night (usually) and at nap..sometimes I have to go in a couple of times and sometimes not..but he still naps.  The hardest part has just been that he's not sleeping as long or as late as he did...but that's ok.  And FOR REAL the sun is up at 5:30 here so it's not surprising he's up early.  Seriously sun - 5:30?!?!

Abby has become SUCH a smiley baby.  I'm i love.  I can't wait to hear her giggle.  She currently is sleeping in her car seat at night because she hasn't been feeling great.  Poor sweet thing.  She isn't sleeping very well at night so she's sleeping a ton during the day.  (a little discouraging since we were making some progress on sleeping through the night..but I think we'll get back to it!)

That's it..talk about a boring post.  Every member of my family has been in bed since before 9pm.  

I think it's time to join.