we got "Flocked" by NCCC

Well, we are out to make a good impression on our neighborhood. We awoke this rainy morning to a lovely array of cheap pink flamingos in our lawn. Just feeling the love from our funny church and it's youth group's efforts to go on a mission trip. They came up with a way to raise money and it's working very well. Pay 20 $ and you can have the youth "flock" another family of the church. They show up on your lawn, you leave a note of the next family you want to get and they come and remove them and take them the next night to another family. Take a picture to leave in the foyer of church and we all get a good laugh. It's funny, and it's working. Needless to say the Bit got a kick out of finding them today...sorry we couldn't keep them but Mommy said they had to go.

not much longer now!

Well I need to seriously be journaling some of the crazy emotions and planning surrounding around our family home these days. Thing are so drastically about to change (as if this year hasn't changed us enough) we've saved the best change for last. As mommy's 'dary' large belly is displaying so proudly these days Miss Chloe bird is coming...and soon! Er go I'm up post taking of sleeping aid with excitement and thoughts that I want to put down soon before she spits out and I'm too busy to blog again for a while. The fam is ready for the arrival of our latest addition. Most of all , I think I can safely say that Abigail Grace is beyond ready for her baby sister to arrive. She speaks of her non stop, she shuffles past me and pats my belly as she holds her orange juice/coffee in the other and utters "sweet baby Cwhowee" and keeps on walking. She's been an enormous support to her hormonal and slow mommy. Daddy has been our tower of strength as we ride the ups and downs of my moods and needs through it all. He's ready to meet this wild thing #2 and see what she brings to the family table. For the record we are 37 and 2 days pregnant, just over 2 months into our new home, pooped from hours of mutual overtime spent on both mine and Brian's jobs to prepare for sed baby on the way and one 3 yr old keeping us all grounded w/ priorities of the simple joys of just getting here and getting into what's coming. A changing family life, a new addition is a wonderful joyous thing and we are all ready to focus on her now. We've not been able to focus like we would have liked this year full of so many trials. From hey baby we're having another baby to, oh we'll need to treat that whole brain tumor thing first, to we really need to get the house sold before the baby comes to moving around 7 mo pregnant and oh by the way Aunti Dee is taking the wedding vows in the middle of it all too. Now....as Abigail loves to declare with her arms outstretched in her princess fashion...."it's Octooooober now mommy". As if to say we got here mommy, you said we would. Now can we focus on the coolest thing of all, another life, another family member, you promised it would be in Octoooober!! We couldn't be anymore excited for it to finally be October. And what a beautiful one it's been. Our leaves look beautiful outside our new windows. We had corn chowder on the stove and hot spiced up apple cider simmering all afternoon. The temperatures tell us each day, this trying long hot summer is finally ending for this pooped out family and a new season is opening up for us all. Some much needed family time, some rest. Some long dinners and bring out the blankets to snuggle together on the couch together w/ popcorn and watch them make cakes on food network. We are anticipating that this little bird will show herself soon. Not too soon, but when she's ready. Her nursery may not have all her red polka dots finished yet. But all we really need is a mommy's arms and a good milk supply, a daddy to keep the rest going while we remember how to schedule and listen to the demands of the newest opinion to the group. Some family to stop in and remind a tired Bit that she too is still special amidst a lot of changes. And a realization that God has done it once again. He's grown His kingdom and what an awesome priviledge and joy to be a part of. Brian and I accept the challange with a team spirit and deep love for what we have started and will finish. Just on the heels of our 7 yr wedding anniversary we know from experience, hard times test us on so many levels, children bless us on so many other levels, and amidst it all I still adore the man I chose to do this with and he's pretty ok w/ being my partner through it all too. :) We pray together that as these events unfold over the next weeks that God's will be done. I want Abigail to visit me in the hospital, we WILL get her past security guards with the help of our beloved 007 Aunti Dee and her knowledge of the inner structures of the hospital. I will put the safety of Chloe, the Bit and me first before I get worked up at what it means to have a baby during a pandemic. In the grand scheme of things I just want my family safe happy and home as soon as possible. God is so good cause He's worked out the details already for us. I can sleep on that truth. He "knows the plans he has for us".. doesn't He!? Such an amazing time in the life of our family. I'm glad we're on this end not back in January when it all seemed so terrifying and uncertain. God got us through, he got us over so many obsticals. Pretty much Brian's and my life have been some pretty good obsticals. Like my favorite quote from a wise and Godly woman Beth Moore once said, "after all, He's not interested in our comfort, only our calling". To some it's comfort, for us it's been a calling. But there's so much joy in the rest after the storm and the roads he leads us down. Praise God for his faithfullness, pray to God for his conitnued faithfullness. We have a long way to go yet. We're excited to start the next chapter with this new life right now though. Wonder what she'll be like, who she'll take after, and if she has a clue how ready her sister, mother and father are ready to love her as she is. We can't wait to meet her. We love her already!!! Bring it on Chloe Brianne, we're ready when you are!

pumpkin patch

my girl who found the one green pumpkin and would have nothing else







took her a minute to realize the hay ride was a good idea, she was a little scared for a while. :)




waving like little apple trees during the lesson, poor baby... I didn't realize that shirt didn't fit till after we got out there.







We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful expression of God's glory in His creation on this perfect fall day we had last week. The sky and colors were just amazing as we headed out for Abigail's first field trip in her new school. A rough start when mommy didn't read the directions right and we met at the wrong orchard, even showing up 5 minutes early (which I NEVER do!!) only to find no other kids or parents. A sweet (and calm) little Amish lady mentioned that other parents making the same mistake were about to follow a bus in the parking lot to the correct location. So in my sweaty very gestationally advanced state I pulled the Bit across the parking lot to our car, got her.....mostly buckled in and squealed out of the gravel to catch up to the bus. God really does have special angels for me when I get like that. No sleep from a long 13 hour day in labor and delivery and getting in the night before after midnight and I got a little frazzled!! But luckily my good engine and a lot of prayer got us caught up. While Abigail sang w/ innocent delight to her own tune in the back seat "gotta catch the bus, me and mommy need to catch the bus....". I love that she doesn't feel my tizziness sometimes!!! Well, on an empty tank we pulled into the middle of nowhere in the gorgeous country to a rolling farm of apple trees and mountains for the morning. There was a presentation of life in the old days in an incredibly old house dating pre 1800's that taught the kids about chores and play time. We had a hillside lesson on apple growing and picking followed lastly by a hay ride. A little challenging I must say climbing into and bouncing behind a John Deer tractor on hay bails at 9 mo pregnant but we managed and had a great time. I do think the man in the nice business attire beside me was a little afraid that he got stuck sitting by me as I tried to support belly and Bit w/ my two hands. :) The end of the day they led us to a real pumpkin patch and let all the kids pick their own pumpkin. Abigail went straight for the only green one and insisted on taking it home. I love her desire to want the unique in this world. The other little girl had to go back to the field with her grandfather once she saw that 'Abigail got a green one'. We parted ways and headed out w/ some good pictures and smiles to a coffee shop to recharge a very pooped mommy with a nice and festive pumpkin spice latte and a big ole glass of milk for Abigail. We munched on a couple big tasty muffins sitting for more then 30 minutes just enjoying each other's company on a beautiful breezy day. I soaked up every bit of our mommy daughter morning. Another good one for the memory bank for sure!!

a little girl time!

mom, doing her thing.....just being silly and always unable to resist fake and sometimes real props for Kodak moments!

Just to make mom happy, I got one picture w/ full belly so Chloe will be remembered on this trip as well. :)

Well we had a great time this past weekend getting out of town and away from the norm in Williamsburg for a break. It was a great trip for just relaxing, shopping and sight seeing for a few days. We stayed in a beautiful place (thank you mom and dad!) and got some much needed quiet and R&R. It didn't last long enough but we got some good memories and good pictures. Awesome time guys thank you!

School's in for the season!

My big girl! Today's the day!

Such a true Abigail expression of relaying everything she was going to remember to do today. And if you look you can see our funny memory on her right arm. Her father bought what he thought were stickers at the grocery store this weekend only to find out they were tatoos. Not wanting to dissappoint her he stuck that purple teapot tatoo on her. The long sleeves don't quite cover it, but I tried. I'm sure the other kids will love telling about the other little girl with the tatoo! Oh well, between that and the pants that are safety pinned to stay on my no hips little munchkin I'm sure she'll be a big hit. I hope they stay up all day!!!

Love the little dimple in the sunlight!

Our brave little squirt didn't look back!

They haven't had a chance to bond yet but this is her sweet teacher Ms Amy

Yeah, I can't believe we're here but our beloved (she is to me anyway) Bit has started preschool for the year. We are so excited! We've picked a great program for her that Brian and I feel really good about. A good balance of academics, play time with a certified PE teacher and a Bible based focus to it all. Abigail is ready to hit the ground running to this whole school process. We'll see if it lasts, :) She did sound like Brian had beat her into 'good morning time' when he went in to get her up this morning. She screamed like she was in physical pain to have to wake up, so our kid! I just wish I could help her out with a strong cup of coffee! But she came around once we let her lay there a few minutes to welcome the day. We got there early (again, we'll see if that lasts) and she let go of my hand as soon as we hit the class room doors and didn't look back. I was so proud! It was so cute to hear other mothers preaching the same song and dance that Abigail and I had all morning of..."cover your mouth if you cough", "let Miss Amy know if you need to pee, don't wait too long or you'll pee your pants in front of your classmates", and "be sure to obey your teachers with respect and lots of please and thank you's right?!". I felt better to have my big lensed Nikon out when other mom's came up the stairs w/ video cameras. You can tell who's not done this yet, we kind of stuck out. Of course I didn't think I was apprehensive about it but I was sweating like a pregant pig up there greeting the other parents. Oh well, it's been that kind of summer. Anyway, she did great. She looked absolutely adorable and her face was beaming with pride as she felt like such the big girl that she so wants to be. I called Brian to relay all the little details that he's always so sweet to listen to. He's proud of his big girl too. And now.....I'm off to Barnes and Noble!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so stinkin excited!!!! I'm going to get a pumpkin spice latte and browse....with out having to visit the 'choo choo' in the back of the store! Hooray!! God Bless the children, and God Bless them growing up!! In all truth and honesty, I hope she doesn't do it too fast, I'm loving each day of this :)

One crazy month!!

See, it's looking a little lived in now with our bowl of grits and juice out each day!

Even my geraniums love the new place!

ya know you're a slacker when you won't even pick up the mess to blog into memory the new pictures of the rooms. Ahhh, the mess should be a part of the memories if their going to be accurate! Right!? Give me another month or so and I'll get it picked up to post pretty ones.

I had to capture these sweet little signs Abigail helped me make for the move. We had signs everywhere to direct but her's and Chloe's were made with a little more personality for their doors.

Some other folks are loving the new place! Stella and Tuggs are incredibly happy and obnoxiously talkative and snuggly since the move. Tuggle, shown here has taken to enjoying our new king size bed....under my covers!! I've had this crazy cat 12 yrs and she's all of a sudden constantly purring under my covers, guess I'm not tucking my sheets in tight enough when I make my bed, and yes, I do make my bed!

sleepy head is loving her new big girl bed since we moved. Brian and I are loving her shuffling in dragging her blankets each morning.

Well I am fightfully behind in logging and blogging this family's events over the past 30 days. Sometimes you just have to put the camera down and work though. :) That has been us this past month. We are getting settled in our new house just wonderfully. Our darling families have all pitched in and plus some true saints from church and we got the job done....well mostly. Now's the fun part of unpacking and seeing where I want to put it all. This is the part I like though, it just takes me a while. We are already feeling like this is home, it's a surprise really how quickly this place just felt so comfortable and homey. It's the first time I've ever moved somewhere and felt so at home so fast it's been a blessing. I finally have some pictures on our walls and a flag blowing out front (not the 'only flag worth flying' American flag probably to Brian's dismay....I won that one!!), it's my pumpkin flag. I'm so ready to get fall started this year, for oh so many reasons. One is, I'm getting huge and Chloe is coming!! I can't stop sweating so a forcast for a solid 7 days of sunny , dry and 70's sounds delicious to me!! Our neighborhood is so nice, we've met a few of our neighbors bearing gifts of fruit and working lawnmowers. We took a nice after dinner walk as a family last night to Abigail's favorite park that is now in walking distance to here. We still have a lot to do. I'm sure I always will be able to say that. But w/ 7 mo pregnancy, Brian working his skinny little fanny off at his job with their new multi million dollar development opening up for business this fall and his 7 day a week schedule now, and trying to unpack I may not be able to promise a lot of blogging for the next several weeks either. But, one promising peice of information, the Bit started preschool today! So that will give me 8 wks of mommy time before numero dos get's here. Maybe I'll get my ducks in a row on these mornings. :) I doubt it but I can hope.