Father-Daughter Valentine's Dance and a Sick Baby

This has been quite a week. Just a lot going on, and my nerves are about shot. Today was such a beautiful, sunny day, and warmer than we've had in months! It was heavenly! I'll share pictures of our fun day later because I'm tired tired tired, but I'm going to post these ones from last night.

I was commenting to Bill a few weeks ago that we've never had the opportunity for him to take Isabelle to a Father-Daughter dance, and wouldn't you know, our elementary school put one on for Valentine's Day. Perfect!

Daddy and his special date

This is her Christmas dress from last year, but we switched out the cranberry colored sash for a light pink one - look at how pretty my baby girl looks! And not my baby girl anymore, either!

I'm not gifted with hair-dos and even less so with make-up, but I think her curls came out so well. They were beautiful. She wore a bit of lipstick and my favorite necklace and dangly earrings- she was most excited about the earrings, ha!

Looking pretty and dapper on the way out the door

I was helping out with decorations earlier in the day...see that ladder back there and all the hearts dangling from the ceiling? Yeah. All me. 

I almost made my friends take a picture of me up on the ladder because most people who know me know that I do not do ladders. At all. Like, even a little bit.

But I did it!

That's love.

We draped garland around lots of doors, set up a background for a photo shoot, and decorated lots of tables and easels. It looked really festive when we were done. I'm sure the girls loved all the sparkle.

And this little guy.

He wasn't quite himself on Monday, but on Tuesday around lunch time, he refused to eat and I noticed that he felt really hot. He wouldn't stop crying, poor baby. When Bill got home and was rocking him, his fever spiked and his eyes started to roll back in his head. It was awful. We called the doctor and got an appointment for that afternoon.
Right after I canceled the vet appointment for the dog and cats.
On Valentine's Day.
#soromantic
Cold virus plus a nasty ear infection. Poor baby.

This was Wednesday, and pretty much all day Thursday and Friday, too. It was rough.

I look like I'm smiling here, but I'm pretty sure I wasn't. ha ha

Not much worse than watching your baby in pain and not being able to make it all better.

Thursday morning we had another delay for snow, so we asked my Mom and Dad to come down for pancakes. This is looking out one of our front windows- the snow is halfway up the front door!

 Upstairs in my room, there are sliding glass doors and a balcony overlooking the backyard (perfect for someone who is afraid of heights, ha ha), and the snow covers more than 3/4 of the railings. Last year at this time, well after we got back from Florida, we had no snow and it was acting like spring- we were all outside on the deck for Levi's baby shower in early March! So funny how things change from year to year.

I'm flipping pancakes in the kitchen and I turn around and see this sight. These guys. Never a dull moment. 

Levi looks a little better here, but believe me, it did not last long. Yikes. Thursday was a horrible day.

I missed this happy face all week long!

Since Levi isn't a great sleeper anyway, I'm sure you can imagine how not great a sleeper sick Levi is. I am exhausted.

But today was such a nice change of pace! I'll share sledding pics and more later.

We're planning on going to the church we visited two weeks ago tomorrow and I'm nervous because the music is loud, too loud for baby ears, and I know he won't go in the nursery. #momlife

Goodnight!

My Loves

linking up with  Andrea  today! 

Happy Valentine's Day!

I know lots of people aren't big fans of this holiday for various reasons. I do love the chance to dote on my favorite people and make them feel extra cared for and loved, but we don't place much importance on buying stuff.

I will also add that this day can be really hard for me personally, as can anniversaries, and even weddings. My husband and I almost didn't make it. We have struggled and faced heartbreaking issues, and there were days when I just didn't know how I/we would get through. That's extremely difficult for me to say, but maybe I can be an encouragement to someone who is struggling.

We will be celebrating twenty years this fall.

I can only point to Jesus here. The Maker of Miracles and Restorer of Brokenness.

Honestly, I still have days that threaten to drag me back to dark places. And that's when I turn to Jesus again. His love has made all the difference.

 Okay, so now I feel like a drama queen, and that wasn't my intention at all. I guess I just wanted anyone who is facing (big) challenges to know that you aren't alone, and there is HOPE!

And here are the people I love most!

My husband, Bill, who makes me laugh until tears are flowing and our sides are aching, who works so hard for our family, and who is super smart, encouraging, and loving.
Our three oldest boys are 14, almost 16, and 17. Of course we have our issues, but they are the best, they really are. Our beautiful daughter was adopted at 18 months, and she is sweet and sometimes a little too sassy, but we're working on it. Our hearts were stirred to adopt again a few years later, but sadly it didn't happen. I may never know why we endured four years of closed doors, but last year we welcomed our fourth son into the mix, an absolute miracle!

(I've written all about adoption and Levi's pregnancy/birth - look in the labels if you want to read more)

I'm looking forward to the next twenty years!

 Just sharing this favorite picture of my little guys.

Aren't they the sweetest!?!

 It feels like a lifetime ago that they were this small, and navigating high school and upcoming college years can be a little daunting and overwhelming. #somanyemotions (!!!)

 This is my absolute favorite picture of Isabelle and me, still trying to complete her adoption while living in Guatemala. It's quite the story. It was a difficult time but we accomplished so much, and I treasure those times.

 My gorgeous bunch...look at that itty bitty Levi!

This was the first time we brought him to church, and we had only been at this new house a couple of months. I joke that I will forever have a claw for a hand because of all the trim painting going on here. Wish I was kidding! ha ha

We have lots of extended family that we love and get to see often, and others we don't see as much as we'd like. We've been blessed for sure.

Okay, little one is not a happy camper upstairs...have a great rest of your day!

Ten on Ten // February 2017

 

Yesterday was the tenth so I captured the highlights of our day.

This week was a wild one, for sure - we only had school on Monday and yesterday, and part of Wednesday, because of snow and ice storms. Crazy! It's snowing out right now, and there is a major storm coming our way for tomorrow night, up to 18 inches we've heard!

Our nights have been bad bad bad this week - SuperBowl night was our only good night. Coincidence? I think not. ;) We're beyond exhausted, and Isabelle had her basketball championship game this eeeeeaaaarrrrly this morning. Coach Dad said the roads are pretty awful but the girls played great. They lost by four points but they played their hearts out and we're very proud of them. Levi and I cheered them on in spirit in our pajamas and from the warmth of our house. #badmom

Here is a look at February 10th:

 The sun was actually making an appearance! This has been one of the darkest winters I can remember, and it's tough!

Lovely yellow snow right there, too, right? Thanks, Ryder.

Since we are making some big changes in the coming days, I really wanted to have some decent photographs of how things are right now, with Levi still in our room, so I can look back and remember. So yesterday morning was the perfect time to take some, especially since the sun popped out. 

See all that ugly brown trim? Well, it's getting less and less! And I just may have a claw for a hand for the rest of my life. :/

cute little monkey :)

I will share some house pics this week!

Since I've been on break from Rose & Ruffle, I've been trying to get some house projects finished. One of them was to lengthen some curtains...it was pretty easy so I'll post a tutorial soon!

Those cheeks!

Getting in a little morning nap...

While Levi dozed, I cleaned up and got some things ready for a visit with my friend, Kim, and her little girl, Lilee Ann. I wish I'd taken a pic of her because she is the sweetest thing...but we Mamas were too busy chatting away. Such a nice visit!

I find it incredibly hard to balance making time for friends and fun when I'm also trying to get so much done (painting, ugh) around the house. Can anyone else relate?

I turn my back for a second and...find him in here. 

Emptying all the things, as usual. He is getting fast!

Cookie Friday!

And the sun was still shining. Amen!

Boys. ha ha ha ha

He's eating a cracker here, but someone maaaay have given him a bite of cookie too

Future NBA star in the making!

Caleb went to his best friend's house for a sleepover, so it was quieter than normal. After dinner (burger + fries, every Friday night...yes, I think we have a food thing for every day of the week now!), we hung out in the family room, reading- we decided that Isabelle is ready to read Harry Potter, so she is already on the second book, and I am reading The Girl on the Train and now I'm hooked. I need to know how this is going to get resolved!

Ethan is working his first all day Saturday at his new job today, we're going to my father in law's birthday party, and then he has two club soccer games tonight, so I'm hoping he gets the chance to drive over to see us and get something to eat before having to head back into town for soccer. Life with active teenagers is not for the weary, ha!
Have a nice Saturday!


ps- in case you missed it, here is a post dedicated to yummy cookies... enjoy!

 

Little Levi is Ten Months Old!

So close to one year old I can hardly believe it!

This boy is pure joy!

We're discovering that Levi is quite funny, which cracks us up to no end because everywhere we go, he stares at the strangers. He has an incredible game face, too! People still comment on how serious he is, how he stares right through them. He doesn't even blink! But at home... silly boy

Last month he began to favor his right hand, and it seems that's still the trend. He can pick up small pieces of food to feed himself, though sometimes he fights us when we're trying to give him something - he'll hold his left wrist up to his mouth and push us away with a little fist. Exasperating at times, but so cute too. Then, we finally get him to eat whatever it is, and he's like, Oh this is so yummy, what took you so long? Funny boy!

His favorites are toast with peanut butter, homemade applesauce, squash, YoBaby yogurt, chicken, hamburger, and scrambled eggs. He does not care for strawberries, blueberries, or bananas, which most babies love, ha. He refuses any and all pureed or baby foods, except for oatmeal with apple juice or orange juice, and it has to be warmed up just right. He prefers to drink from a glass instead of a sippy cup and does a great job. I've long since given up hope of him taking a bottle, and don't really see the point of bothering to try again at this point. He's such a big boy!

Here he's holding his "1" and "0" blocks, though I think it's pretty obvious what he's most interested in doing: dropping them over the edge! Look at that face! Guilty guilty

Levi has become very vocal this month, too. He babbles lots and we're all pretty sure he is saying Hi, Mama, Dada, and No, ha ha ha

Just last night, he shook his head no and muttered "uh-uh" - I don't know how to spell that! The opposite of uh-huh - so smart!

He loves it when we hide something and make it reappear for him, and I think he is beginning to get the concept enough to start hiding things himself. I haven't played peek-a-boo with him in a long time, but I'd bet he'd really enjoy that now. #badmom

Last week in the nursery, he saw his friend, who is about a month older, crawling and standing up, AND a little girl who was born in June who was beginning to crawl, and I think he got jealous! That very afternoon, he began to drag himself around all over the hardwood floors, and he's fast! Nothing like a little peer pressure to motivate you! Yesterday we visited a new church, but Levi desperately needed to sleep, so he stayed home with Daddy.

This month, Levi also began to sit still and read books with us. He gets excited when he sees The Mitten, The Barnyard Dance, and a couple of his Jesus storybooks, and he settles right in when we're reading to him. He likes to touch the pictures and help turn the pages. :)

He still loves it when I sing The Wheels on the Bus, Peace Like a River, and Amazing Grace- those are his favorites! He adores playing Itsy Bitsy Spider and Patty Cake. Our little goodnight song has always been The B-I-B-L-E song, and I think he notices if I don't sing it right away because he really settles into my arms when he's nursing before bed as soon as he hears it.

I'm certain no one will be forgetting your ten month birthday any time soon since it happened to coincide with last night's big win! #gopats 

And oddly enough, after nearly an entire week of being awake and fussing most of the night, last night you slept from 6:45 straight through until nearly 5 am! I think you cried out for a second around midnight or maybe 2, but I hardly woke up to hear it. Your Daddy and I are exhausted after this past week! I was downstairs reading and working when I heard you this morning, so I came up to get you and hold you for a few minutes, and we rocked and I fed you. I think you missed me! You seemed so happy to see me. Thankfully you were still sleepy so I put you in your favorite place- nestled in between my pillows in the middle of the bed.  Everyone will be anxious to see you in a little while, though sometimes you're still asleep when everyone but Caleb heads off to school. 

We are beginning to transition you from our bedroom into your own nursery, and while I know it's for the best, I have such mixed feelings about it. I know I will miss you.

I've also begun planning your big First Birthday party and it's going to be great!

What joy you have brought us these past ten months! Oh how we love you!

+++++++

here are a couple shots from yesterday before the big game ...

gotta work off the calories about to be consumed!

These were my contribution to the game day feast. Bill made everything else, and it was yummy!

 almost time to start...nervous energy all around!