It comes in threes

First the flat screen tv broke.

Then the interior door handle on my car broke.

Then our internet router broke!

Of course, Brian was out of town, because that's just how things go. He came home and fixed the tv, order the $10 part for my car, and a new router is in the mail (thanks Thompsons!!).

So while I have the hubs home (and he brought home his laptop with its own dial-up internet connection!!), I can update the blog really quick. :)



Good things are happening, too. We get to go on another fun vacation because of my superstar hubby!!! I am so glad he is being rewarded for all his hard work - and he does work hard!

We are having a fabulous summer and feel so happy and blessed. The pool - basically in our backyard - well, I just can't imagine our summer without it. We are there almost every day!

Zachariah loves vbs. One day last week, I arrived early to pick him up, and there he was in the front row singing and dancing. SO CUTE!!

And Selah Grace is just precious. We fall over ourselves to make her smile and laugh.

Brian and I are in a terrible awful habit of eating ice cream on our balcony after the kids go to bed. Him: Mint Chocolate. Me: Everything But The. (Katy - I could kill you for introducing me to that!!) But I love every second with that guy. I'd sit out there and eat just about anything to spend time with him. ;) He's my love!!

A little family of doves made a nest on our balcony, too. One minute, Zachariah will be talking so sweet to them. "Hi doves. I'm your neighbor" (seriously. he says things like that) Then the next minute, he'll have his nerf gun pointed at the window, pretending to shoot them.

Selah Grace got her first baby doll this past week. She bites her baby doll's face. So, we're working on that.

We discovered books-on-tape this summer. Actually, books-on-CD. He seems to enjoy the Magic Tree House series, so we have a ton of the CDs for him to read along with. He has also been drawing the funniest things lately. I need to put them up here. :)

He told me the other day he learned to "accept God's gift of forgiveness" which was so incredibly precious, and just what I needed to hear!! I love seeing the Lord work in my child's heart.

I am SO excited about a slumber party with some friends of mine. It's not until October - but what a FUN idea!!! It's at a bed and breakfast!!! I am already so excited! :) And I totally need some super cute jammies. Usually the fall is just not my time, since it's hunting season and all. My hubs is the best.
:)

That's all. I keep typing about my amazing wonderful husband since he's waiting for me to get off the computer, trying to buy more time. It's not working.

Happy Monday!

30,000

We are hitting 30,000.

I feel like I should do something special like offer an embroidered dress or something. But I can't think of anything great to giveaway, so oh well!

Instead, I'll bore you with our week so far. It's SO HOT. We are trying to stay indoors or in a pool. That about sums it up.

We are in a reading program again this summer, but I stink at keeping up with it. This one requires a weekly parent signature and that's just a lot to ask while I'm sunbathing and swimming my summer away. Zac's picture is in the library from last summer. I am weird enough to snap a photo of that picture, and you will probably see it on our blog sometime soon. Anyways, this new program also offers prizes each week. But we already missed the prize that I wanted (theater tickets) and this week is circus tickets - which doesn't particularly interest me. Sad, since it's not really my contest. :)

Zac is at vbs again this week. He just loves it. He loves having somewhere to go each day - confirming my fear that on the first day of Kindergarten, he will run into school and not even say goodbye. While I sob at the Cheers and Tears room for the basketcase mothers. I tease him that I'm not letting him go to Kinder. He begs to go. After all, they go to P.E.. And they also have lunch, snack, and recess. He thinks it's all one big party and he cannot wait for the first day.

Selah Grace has a new stage now. The I'm-Afraid-Of-Strangers phase. I feel so bad for the many people who feel like they have made her burst into tears. If she isn't being held by one of us - or worse - she can't SEE one of us - and someone else tries to talk to her, she just bursts into tears. And I mean a big old burst of big alligator tears. But I don't feel as bad for her as I do other people. No one wants to make a baby cry. Silly Selah Gracie. Hopefully this will pass, soon.



Oh - and here are some Zachariah funnies before I forget to document them. (this is such a random post...)

Zac: I know why they call it a SADDLE. Because SAT. Like you SAT somewhere. Like you SAT in a SADDLE!

Zac: Is that your razor? Is it called that because it is like an E-razor? Like it erazes the hair?


And a really funny one... Zac overheard someone saying I should tutor and then he says, "No, my dad is the tooter!"

Happy 30,000 posts y'all!! Happy Wednesday!!

This is SO Brian!! LOL!

Okay, the Toyota Sienna Swagger Wagon videos are *really* funny. We laughed and laughed.

But when I saw this - THIS is Brian. Oh. My. Goodness.

The phone clip, the dozens of dollars, the goatie (remember when he did that last winter?), the King of the Coals, the Aladdin movie, the horrible dancing, the "fescue" conversation we just had this weekend.... I am CRYING. Oh my.

Dad Life from Church on the Move on Vimeo.

"Petite"

That's what her doctor called her yesterday at her 9 month appointment. Our little bitty baby girl!

Selah Grace is 15 pounds and 1 ounce. Yay for breaking the 15 pound mark!! She's just in the 5th percentile for weight, and the 10th percentile for height.

Girlfriend does like to eat, though. (She can eat 3 pancakes and cataloupe for breakfast - after nursing!) I tell her she definitely has her daddy's metabolism - not mine. ha!

Today she is very sad, with a yucky fever from her shots. And Zac has the beginnings of an ear infection. No swimming for us until everyone gets better. :)

It's a napping day for Selah Grace, a redbox day for Zachariah, and I am wasting lots of time on my new favorite website which shows you how to make furniture. I think this mama needs a miter saw.

Selah Grace says MAMA!!

Yay for Selah Gracie, Naked Baby Extraordinaire!!

And here's another one for fun. It's Peek-A-Boo!!!

She has the funniest laugh - basically just a deep inhale. Kind of sounds like a crow. Kind of.

(Sometimes Zac will imitate her and they will go back and forth, just inhaling really loudly. We are a strange family like that.)

She also has a fake-cough-laugh. Cracks us up!!

Phone Photo Ph-riday!!

Yeehaw!!!

I gotta be quick today because the pool is calling my name.

It's time to get the photos off my phone and satisfy the parents and grandparents who need pictures!



We'll start off with our Date Night. Because Ph-riday Ph-un wouldn't exist without us - the two coolest parents ever.

Even cooler with no kids and a dessert that includes bananas friend in wonton wraps next to coconut-pineapple ice cream and covered in caramel. Oh yes.


This is a night with friends when Brian lost not one, but TWO, ping pong games. Very un-natural for this guy, and has benefited me greatly in my endeavor to get a new house with a pool AND a game room. (ha!)



This is Selah Grace's play area. I couldn't find her one day. Silly girl! I actually think there might be stray cheerios down there. Which makes her a smart girl.



This is when I was switching the laundry and I heard a crash. Yes, she was in the fireplace and knocked the candles out. What you can't see is all the soot on her pjs and on the carpet. Newly mobile babies sure keep you on your toes.

Our new fireplace.

At the playground with friends!! Zac is somewhere playing with a friend.

This is SO Selah Grace. She is quite the climber.

And rarely makes a graceful landing...

Here are my loves after church. Look at the identical smiles!

PIGTAILS!!!!!!!

Zac swimming with his new flippers. He LOVES them!

He loves the snorkel, too. They get daily use!

Popsicles at the pool! Is there anything better?

Zac and his Silly Bandz. He wore them to vbs and felt SO COOL. It's fun to feel cool. :)

This is what Selah Grace wore this week. I totally heart the bow and the skull leg warmers!!!!

Selah Grace got her first sippy cup! Big girl!!

Daddy throws so high, he didn't make it in the picture! LOL!

I was trying to teach them some good cheerleading skillz.

Zac at the library. Those books are what HE picked out. LOL!! And that wasn't all. We had so many, that we barely made it out of the library in one trip. This kid loves his books!

And Selah Grace kept busy eating a bookmark. :)

We had a baby friend over and got out SG's play gym. She was just talking and talking to him and couldn't figure out what he was doing there. :)

This is Zac after getting back from the waterpark. Actually fell asleep trying to get a drink... HA!!! He loves this picture, btw. ;)

SWEET FRIENDS!!!! We simply don't see them enough! These 3 little fishies spent forever swimming and playing. It was adorable. We love y'all!!

Selah Grace doesn't want to wait for me to get out some toys. She just goes and gets them herself now!

Hi Mama! :)

She can also walk along the couch now. Dangerous!!

She wants out. Now.

Here she was this morning. Love my sweet baby girl!!!!

We were early to vbs so we played at the indoor playground for a while. Selah Grace thought it was super!

So did Big Brother!

Hello my sweet baby boy!!!

Phone Photo Ph-riday always makes me smile and remember how blessed we are to have such a wonderful little life. Hope everyone has a terrific weekend!

Nothing says summer like the waterpark!

SOOOOOO FUNNNNNN!!!!!!!

Our church rents out a local waterpark every Wednesday night during the summer. They play Christian music, the crowds are low, the entry fee is discounted, and we usually see friends while we're there. :)

This year, we decided Zachariah was old enough to run around with his friends by himself. Oh, the fun he had!!! He is still a cautious kid, though, and did come by to check on us at our seats by the wave pool. But, because he was gone the majority of the time, he never made it in any pictures! lol

Selah Grace waited patiently while Mommy and Daddy went on some waterslide rides - including The Torpedo where you are standing in a capsule and the BOTTOM DROPS OUT FROM UNDER YOU!!! Super fun. I did that one twice.

We played with her in the wave pool where she laughed and laughed and splashed. We tubed around the lazy river, where I think she almost fell asleep. We'd pass Zachariah every once in a while. He was always running somewhere. It was super cute. We need a waterproof camera.


This is when we were having her "walk" back and forth between us. She'd squeal and laugh each time she "walked" towards one of us. We think she is just the cutest thing!!


She looks so serious, but I promise she liked it! This is right when we got there, so she is probably a little unsure....

Here's Brian, Selah, our friend Sarah (yes, we are wearing the same black-polka-dot bathing suit because it is AWESOME at hiding that post-baby body!), and her baby girl.

Her baby is 2 months younger than Selah Grace - our little peanut!!

Lots of summer water fun means AWESOME bedtimes around here. Both kids crashed out. We did too! Hoping we can go again soon. :)

Selah Stands!

Forgot to post these last week!! This was from June 1. And they're from my phone, so sorry for the crummy quality.


This is her chair where she eats. And yes - she was hungry! Smart girl!
(btw, this is a really sturdy chair that we have tried to tip over and it won't... I stayed close just in case)

She hears me behind her...

Wondering if she'd rather stop and play with Mommy...

Decides to get back to the plan...

Looking back at me... she's got her feet under her this time...

And she pushes herself up!!

SO PROUD of herself!!

She's beginning to realize that she is stuck...

And while she's stuck, I put a hairbow in her hair. It's just how I roll.

And for fun - here's a video of her doing something we see daily. She climbs under this end table where we keep Zachariah's tv tray, then out through the other side. Every day, she gets stuck. Then she gets mad. Then she figures it out and is so proud of herself. Silly little monkey. She keeps us laughing!! You will also get to her her pathetic fake-cry... it's quite believable and dramatic. But she perseveres! :)

Thoughts on Selah Grace

There are many blog titles like this in my drafts folder. I never finish them.

Maybe I will this time.



One year ago.

We were having a girl! My extra time was spent painting and sewing and hot-gluing. The mural in her room. The onesies with her name embroidered. Her name means A New Beginning. We would say to each other, We are so blessed.

She was born in a whirlwind. A funny morning, really. Zachariah was well taken care of with sweet friends and family. Finally - our roly-poly squishy-squashy BIG baby girl. 9 pounds 10 ounces! I had spent hours sewing her coming-home dress.

Lots of visitors, but none to celebrate. Mostly to study and examine and ask us questions and questions and questions. And to show us that photo. The one depicting her future physical development.

Excitement clouded by worry and confusion.

Flippant disregard by me as I was sure she was fine. My baby was fine.

We had originally chosen not to have visitors because we wanted that time to bond together. Not to spend it sharing her with doctors.



I sent Brian home that first night. He needed sleep. He needed a break. I kept sweet Selah Grace in my room. Her cheeks... so big! Every part of her.. so big! I put bows on her head The shoes I brought for her. White. With bows. Simple and pure. Like her.

I tried them on her feet. They slid on. White satin bows lying across the rash atop her slender feet.

I wished I brought tights.

She slept like that. All dressed up. Lying on my crossed legs. While I researched on the computer for any other explanation.

Give it to me, Lord. Don't touch my child. She isn't Yours. She's mine.



Days later. She slept in my arms. I stood at the window. Tears streaming out of my silent face. The boys in the middle of a soccer game in the backyard. I could barely see them. Zachariah bounds up the stairs. Oblivious. And hungry. Brian and I make eye contact. It will have to wait, though.


We comfort family and friends. We assure them we are okay. We lie.


We kiss her rash.


I do not pray. I am tough. I am angry. If you hurt me, I will shut you out. God - you hurt me!


I am so selfish. And that comforts me.

I feel complicated.


Others pray for our baby girl. People we know. People we don't know. Meals come. Gifts given. Parties attended.

Always prayers. Always hope. From others. Not from me. I appear strong. I feel defeated.



Brian gives in first.

On his knees. Having it out with God, he finally gives her over. To His will. Brian lets go. He feels peace. He is renewed. Still hurting, but renewed.

I don't.

My only prayer time is with Zachariah. Who I gave over to Him years ago. In another hopeless life. I trust God with Zachariah. He has been faithful. He has redeemed. He has encouraged. So I pray 5-year-old prayers with my boy. Not with my girl.


We go on. Making appointments. Family history. Insurance payments. Doctor bills. Always undressing her. I start to look away. She cries. Brian cries. I had never seen him cry before her birth. It's unnerving and scary. Especially the deep cries in my arms. It's unnatural. And it makes me mad.


This goes on. For months.


Until the day that prayers were answered. The phone call comes and goes. It doesn't last one minute. Yet it affects her for a lifetime.

I act excited. And I am. But I am angry, too. Why?


I feel surrounded by a thousand eyes. I dream of it. I don't know what to do.


"Thank you for your prayers!" I exclaim.

I don't know what else to say. I didn't pray for this. The guilt is overwhelming. I feign disbelief and amazement and awe. I feel so confused. And numb. I deserve suffering.


Deciding her story should be told, I tell many. But my words are fumbled and disjointed. The story sounds a little crazy. The rash was probably nothing I am told. And I am angry all over again. Furious and spiteful. Yes it was, I say in my mind. Instead, I smile and shrug. I begin to hate defending it. I stop telling her story. People don't deserve to hear it.


I revert back to years ago. Only trusting a small handful of people who really knew me. Years ago. Feeling lost and forsaken. I disappeared inside myself. Safe.



Months pass. It's been five months now.

We got a letter from the geneticist yesterday. She wants to see Selah Grace. The note is next to my keyboard as I type. Reminding me to call. We need to make our next Scottish Rite appointment. They want to see Selah Grace.

Just in case, they say. Just to doublecheck.



And I still can't wrap my feelings in a box. They are everywhere. Like dust. So many thoughts. Cluttering my mind.

Normal questions... Why did all of this happen? Why was she healed? How is that possible?

Why was I so devastated? Was I looking for a perfect child? Why couldn't I give this to God? Why did he heal the child with the selfish mother? Why not the child with the devoted mother? I am horribly diseased inside. A liar. A martyr. Ugly.

Why didn't I pray for her healing? Why didn't I trust in a miracle? Why did we get one when I am such a terrible example of a Christian?

I surely can't tell people all of this. How can I give glory to Him in this - when I didn't even give it to Him to begin with? I have a hard enough time defending all of it already. Now I've screwed it up so much that I can't even use it for Him.

How can I give one child to Him and keep one for myself? How can I rely solely on Him for years and years of torment, yet in this situation - I resist? Why am I so broken?

My heart aches for a purpose. For forgiveness.


This morning, I prayed for Brian. Oh, how I prayed for him. The love of my life. My rock. The most amazing head of a household - I almost can't contain my tears of thankfulness.

I prayed for Zachariah. Fervently. Bless his little heart - I can only trust in our great Lord with his life, his purity, his protection, his purpose. He's got my little boy and I claim that child in Jesus' name. My journals and books have his name written all over.

Yet I struggle with Selah Grace. And another prayer time goes by. No words for my baby girl. Knowing God knows my heart. Ugly and yucky and messy, somehow He can decipher it. I know I don't deserve it.

My Savior, how do You love me?

I feel almost ready. To give her over. To release my baby girl. I struggle with what-if.


Her smile melts me. Her eyes captivate me.


I still compare her leg length.


I feel like I've made a mess of it all. Even writing this all out. It makes no sense. It is hard. It's embarrassing. It's probably dumb. It's just where I'm at, I guess.

I wish I could end this in some prophetic bible verse that makes all of this make some sense. But I guess that just how life is sometimes. And that's how God is sometimes.

And if He can be patient with me, I guess I should be patient with Him.

Simple Sunday

We went to church on Saturday night this weekend, hoping for some relief for Selah Grace - who doesn't do so well on Sunday mornings. We typically get called out. So last night, we were delighted to enjoy the service without our beeper going off.

We got to the nursery, and she looked right at us and burst into tears. If it wasn't so cute, it would have been sad!

She's a fabulous cryer, though. She can really really sound like she means it with deep inhales, and even tears. It's quite a talent and probably alarms strangers. I am actually very aware that her cry can alarm strangers, and small dogs, because I take her on walks, and if I forget a snack, we don't make it home without her alarming everyone within hearing distance that she would prefer to go ahead and turn around.

Well anyways, her teachers said they had been trying to page us, but our beeper wasn't working. Poor Selah Grace!! Bless her little heart. I wish she liked church. I also wished she liked long walks, mommy talking on the phone, and making her own food. We can all dream.

Regardless, we do feel led to the Saturday night service, and will miss our Sunday School friends so much! But it is just a better time for our family right now.

It also gives us all day Sunday to relax as a family. We have a Pool BBQ we are hosting this afternoon, and we feel refreshed and energized rather than rushed. :)


Yesterday, we got Zac a new snorkel mask (his had been leaking) and it came with flippers. He is going to be THRILLED! (dallas peeps - they are at Aldi for $6.99!) We also found some Zany Bandz or Silly Bandz or whatever they are called on the way home from church last night at Walgreens. I have ordered some online, but they haven't come in yet.

Anyways, tonight we are going to have a scavenger hunt for Zachariah to get his surprises. I love making scavenger hunts and frequently tormented my family growing up with them. Now I have my own family to torment with them!! Yay!!! I already wrote out the rhyming clues and it's going to be super fun. Except for the one that was supposed to rhyme with couch. I just didn't bother.


I also have lots of pics and videos to share, but no time.

Selah Grace has become quite a little monkey and likes to climb over/under/through obstacles rather than around them.

Plus I put her hair in pigtails, which is ADORABLE. And even though we had our first mother-daughter tiff while doing her hair - to which I tell her Girlfriend, check with your Aunt Katy on this. I will win. - we compromised and I got the pigtails in, but she won with NO ribbons. How are we going to end up on Toddlers and Tiaras if she won't let me do these things?

Brian ended up being very happy that she does not have enough hair to make this a regular thing.

And Zachariah is SO tan now. We swim every day after vacation bible school. We are loving this whole pool-in-the-backyard thing!! I can't imagine not having it now. I am going to have pool withdrawals when/if we ever leave here. Zac and I have lots of fun and silly games that we play in the pool. Selah Grace doesn't hate it. And it feels AWESOME in this heat.

Speaking of Vacation Bible School. I had this awesome plan to enroll Zac in several vbs programs. Because:

5-year-old-boy
+ stuck in an apartment all day
_______________________
= TORTURE


He loves being with other kids. It keeps him busy from 9-12 every day. I signed him up to be with friends at each one. He's learning about Jesus. It's the perfect time b/c they are right during SG's naps and I can work out in peace. And it was going to aleviate me from hearing "I'm bored" and "I'm hungry" all day.

Oh, and they are cheap and/or FREE!

But, it hasn't gone all that well. By Thursday of last week, he was done and didn't want to go anymore. Oh no!! I'm hoping this next week will go better. It's at our church and he will know several people in his class.



I also made a dorky meal schedule for our summer. Some days I feel like I'm constantly in the kitchen making something for someone or cleaning up after someone. And answering "What's for breakfast?" and "What's for lunch?" and "What can I have for a snack?" So Zac and I actually made a menu together of what was for breakfast/lunch each day. It's also helpful because now I know what to buy at the store for the next week.

Although I might change French Toast Friday. Because I worked really hard on those and didn't get enough recognition.

Mommy needs a pat on the back sometimes people. Or you're looking at defrosted pancakes.

As far as Brian and I - we are great! We got a date night last weekend, which was AWESOME. He was gone most of the week this week, but he actually slept in our bed each night, so that was nice! Right now, he is the proud owner of brand new blue-tooth. And he has promised not to leave it in his pocket and send it through the wash. Not that he has done that before or anything.

We are looking forward to a week of playdates, vbs, and a family trip to the waterpark! Woohoo! This time I can actually go down waterslides without people looking at me like I'm crazy. You know, since I'm not pregnant this time and all.

We feel very blessed and happy and tan and relaxed and rested and drama-free. Summer has been good to us so far!!

Lazy Sunday

This has been such a relaxing weekend. Pool, food, pool, friends, pool, drinks, pool, date night (YAYYY!!), sleeping in, family walk, more pool, friends, cookout...

I can't tell you how many times Brian and I have looked at each other this weekend and said, "We love our life!"

Little bitty "Saylee" and complete randomness

Selah (pronounced SAY-lah, like Kayla with an "s") Grace has many little nicknames. I find myself calling her Saylee-Baby a lot. I think it's cute. :)

Anyways, as we approach her 9-month birthday, I thought I'd write a bit about her. Because I'm just not the mom who is on top of it enough to find the time to do these things on a consistent basis!

Stats:
Age: 8 months, 12 days
Size: 3-6 month clothes, newborn or size 1 shoes fit best
Body type: thin neck, thin arms, long torso, small waist, chunky thighs, narrow feet
Teeth: two bottom ones, no other teeth look close to coming in

Selah Grace likes:
*ALL food, including fruits, vegetables, minestrone, pizza, pancakes - you name it!
*Playing with her brother "Bubby"
*Sleeping (she sleeps from 7-7 all night, then naps from 9-11, 1-3, 4:15-5:30)
*Hairbows (well, she doesn't NOT like them!)

Selah Grace dislikes:
*Being cuddled or rocked (isn't this sad?!)
*Baby food
*Having dangerous "toys" taken away
*Sleeping in anyone's arms or car seat (only flat on her belly, pitch black, surrounded with her pacifiers)

Selah Grace understands the words:
mama
dadda
bubby
banana
apple
all done
more
And her favorite phrase:
"do you want to go night-night with your pacis?"

Selah Grace enjoys:
*Running/walking in the stroller
*Coming home (she literally squeals when we walk in the door)
*Taking her medication (this is a miracle!)
*When people are on the floor with her while she plays

Selah Grace is the world's lightest sleeper, next to her father of course. With either of them, if you make the slightest noise, their eyes shoot open and they are wide awake. (It's funny because when Zac's asleep, you can turn the lights on and he won't even flinch..lol) I will never ever ever have a picture of her sleeping I don't think.

But she does love her "room" and her "crib." (really a pack-n-play in the bathroom) I hope this isn't bragging... but sometimes she goes to bed at 5pm and doesn't wake until 7am. It's nuts!

Selah Grace is extremely patient with all my accessorizing. She wears her hairbows and her shoes and her bling pacis and all those things without trying to take them off. And I appreciate that. She does frequently break my jewelry, though.

Selah Grace's eyes are still the same color and it looks like it just might stick around. They sure are beautiful!

Selah Grace has very expressive eyebrows. It's very funny. She has a wrinkly little forehead (I hope she doesn't get all my wrinkles!!) and it makes for some hilarious faces that I need to take pics of.

Selah Grace likes for Mommy to read her a book, but after about 2 pages, she would rather eat it. She loves her Jack-in-the-Box and her cups that stack. She makes a beeline for Bubby's sippy cups and also enjoys playing with empty water bottles.

She's still pretty little. When I think she's grown, I realize she still fits all her same clothes. It's cute - I mean, who wouldn't think a cute little petite baby girl wasn't precious?!

But if you've ever commented on her size and thought about bringing up the conradi hunermann, THANK YOU for not doing that. Yes, we do wonder about that every so often. Worry, even. But the tests were negative. And when we go back to Scottish Rite in the fall, hopefully we will get another wonderful check up.

The conradi hunermann will always be a part of her birth story. I've tried to start writing about it a hundred times, but can't seem to process all my thoughts. I don't want to come across as exaggerating or drama or attention-needy about something so fragile in my heart. Especially when some people put into a box labeled "I guess there was nothing wrong with her from the beginning." It's already a struggle to process it all without having to defend it on top of that.



ANYways! Now for the complete randomness.

I have spent the last week spending time with several ladies who are very clean and clutter-free, so I am on a mission today to take care of some junk around here. I am dying to make one of these for the garage. But first, I need to start buying all the matching tubs and filling them up.

And what to do with all of the baby stuff. Sell it all? Keep it just in case?

Sometimes I go to someone's super clean house and I'm like - where do they keep their things? Their files? Their books? Why don't they have a junk drawer? Why do I have two?


My other mission is to work on getting some pictures of my children. I am horrified to state that we have no pictures of sweet Selah Grace in a frame in this house! That will change soon, I promise.


That is all. Brian's been gone all week and I'm counting down the minutes until his plane lands this afternoon. I miss my better half!!

Phone Photo Ph-riday!

It's Ph-riday, y'all!!

Did you know that for the first 10 years I lived here, I spelled it ya'll?

I had no idea there was a right/wrong way to spell it. Until some kind native told me that I was wrong. And it does make sense, if you are combining YOU with ALL, to put the apostrophe before the ALL.

Frankly, it's probably not even a real word, so maybe this doesn't even matter.

And, when did I lose the "you guys" that I grew up with? And the "your guy's" and all that? I still throw it out there every once in a while. Keepin it real and all.

ANYways. Just a little tidbit I think about when I type it.

Onto the photos, y'all!!!


Had to take this photo. We met Brian for dinner by the airport when he flew in. Applebees has a great $20 dinner deal and kids eat free on Tuesdays. :)

Anyways, while we are eating, Zachariah randomly reaches over and starts massaging Brian's neck. ROFL! It's such a Zachariah thing to do. He's SO "physical touch" (love language thing). He'll make one heck of a husband some day.

Zachariah used to be able to paint like this.....

...... but we had to move him to the table pretty quickly!

Silly Selah Gracie!
She loves to play with her toys. And she will sit for a while with her toys and just play. It's so flippin adorable.

Zac has several shorts that have really tight button-holes. Seriously, I have even had trouble buttoning them, so he just stopped wearing them.


So, I found these clips and sewed them on. Now it's much easier for him to do it himself and they still look buttoned from the front. :)

This is me at the doctor AGAIN. Dude. This past year has sent me here more often than I feel like I've ever been! Oh yeah, and it's my new toenail color. Kind of a purple/gray. Thoughts?

Lookie what I found on Hulu! Zachariah gets a kick out of my old cartoons. :)

omg.... is this outfit not the CUTEST?!!! A little bubble romper - love it!!!

The day after the dr, I end up with hives again from another allergic reaction. Thankfully not on my face this time! Just my trunk and legs.

We bought a microwave "cover" to put over plates and try to keep the microwave clean from food splatters. And it melted. hmmmmm.

The hives added a medication nightmare for me. Zac on allergy meds, Selah on her 2/day antibiotics, and me on 3 meds now. One to be taken in the morning with no other meds or food one hour before or after. One twice a day with food but no milk products and no other meds 6 hours before or 2 hours after. One that is 2 pills 2/day for 3 days and 1 pill 2/day for 2 days with a full glass of water and empty stomach. PHEW!! It took forever to figure all that out and my phone alarm is my life saver right now.

Hope that doesn't sound too dramatic. It's really not a big deal and I'm totally fine. Just itchy - haha! And it's my blog to document our life, so there. ;)





Another adorable outfit - with matching shoes!!! Love it!!

Selah Grace loves her friends! They "talked" to each other and it was SO cute. (can you believe her friend is 2 months younger?! look at that hair!!)

We are still playing with easter eggs around here. Everytime Zac wants to play "hide the easter egg" (it's really not my favorite game), I tell myself that someday he will be driving off with his friends and I will miss him like crazy!

So, we play another round.

The kids are so stinkin cute when they "play" together. In this pic, Zac was tickling her and she was pulling his hair. She loves to pull his hair and he thinks it's hilarious. I love when they play together. It makes me smile. And gives me a sec to check email and stuff. :)

Here's a shot of how much her hair is growing. :) It's kind of an old-bald-man-ring, but we love it. Funny thing is that there is a long patch on the left side that I keep threatening to put in a side ponytail....haha! This is right after bathtime. We have probably only given her like 10 baths in her whole life. Is that bad?

Zachariah is famous! Here he is in the local parks and rec catalog. My baby boy!

Here is little note between me and ZZ. I love love love writing back and forth with him. He was asking if starwars.com was spelled correctly. I wrote that he was so smart. He wrote that he loved me. I asked if he would still love me when I had to give him a haircut later. He wrote sure. (SURE! How cute is that?!)

There's our week courtesy of my phone. I love our life. <3