Through the years...

On Saturday, my baby turns 4.  Seems crazy!
Here is my sweetie through the years, visiting the pumpkin patch:
11 month old
2 years old
3 years old
almost 4 years old

pumpkin patch 2

The girls and I went to another pumpkin patch last week with the homeschool group at our church.  The girls had a blast and I got some really cute pictures of them. :)

Big sis was tickling baby sis to make her laugh.

My beauties!  

My heart is full, I am SO blessed with these 2! 

Mama's girl

When big sis was born, we quickly noticed some things about her.. She has always been super social!  She is the opposite of shy. lol And she always went w/ both mommy and daddy, now that she's 4, she is definetly a daddy's girl.  There are times that only mommy will do, but her daddy is super special. :)

And then came baby sister.  It's hard to explain how equal but how different I love both of them.  She is my special girl and is such a mama's girl!  I love it! :)  She never wants to go with anyone else, though now she is warming up to daddy.  Lately she cries anytime I leave her or put her down.. lol  I guess she has separation anxiety.  We'll work on it...

Mama's girl :)

 crying b/c mommy put her down... 

Our trip to the pumpkin patch

Last week we went to the pumpkin patch.  The girls got to wear their outfits I made them, they looked SO cute!
Daddy picked out a big pumpkin for the family and then each girl got her own little pumpkin.  They had so much fun picking out pumpkins...

Walking to the pumpkin patch

 Baby sis taking it all in...

 sisters :)

 I love how this one came out.  She's so beautiful!  I have a similar picture of her sister at this age, and she looks so much like her.

 She's been asking for a pumpkin for weeks and was so excited to finally get one.

 Our family!

 Sweet sisters! 

super dad

I don't brag on my husband enough... He is so AMAZING!  He works well over 40 hours every week, still comes home with a smile and ready to play with his girls.  Earlier this week the girls and I came home from ballet and he had just gotten home from work.. The weather was so nice outside, he cleaned up our playground (our yard has a slight spider webs infestation) and we all played for a bit before going inside.  Big sis and daddy love playing pretend and chasing each other. lol
I LOVE watching my husband play with his girls.  And oh how they love their daddy!  Baby sis is a BIG mama's girl, but she definitely has a spot for her daddy :)

Shopping with mommy

The girls and I don't get out much.  For many reasons... I am a hermit, I hate going out. lol  I do enjoy shopping from time to time.  On Tuesday we went shopping, the 3 of us, for some baby shower and birthday gifts.  I was extremely thankful for our double stroller :)  We went to several stores, and ended at Target.  By that point, baby sis was not happy and cried hysterically for most of the trip.  When we got to the car I realized why, it was 1 pm, we had missed lunch and naptime!  Ooopps. :)
It was so fun to be out and about though, hopefully we'll have some more shopping trips soon!  I am usually scared of taking the girls shopping b/c I don't want to deal w/ crankyness or whatever, but they both did really well and made shopping pretty easy!  Of course, they both got a new toy b/c mommy is a sucker. ;)

My girls got SO many compliments in their ghost outfits made by mommy :) 

 I love the new Target shopping carts! 

 we shopped till they dropped! :)  Big sis, who NEVER naps actually stayed asleep after I brought her inside and took a good 30-40 minute nap on the couch.  

last 15

After having my first daughter, I kept a lingering 15 or so pounds that wouldn't go away.. I tried a few diets, then gave up b/c I knew I'd be getting pregnant again... After baby #2, I lost more weight, but some of it came back recently, I love food too much. lol  BUT 2 weeks ago I changed some things... I gave up drinking anything but water (and coffee, I refuse to give up coffee).  But no more sodas or tea.. I am also cutting back as much carbs as I can.  I'm not going crazy with a "diet" but I am trying to snack less and avoiding the junk foods I love so much. lol  I've lost 4-5 pounds and I'm super excited.  In order to get to my pre children weight, I need to lose 15 pounds.  Hubby would also like to lose 15 lbs so I need to come up with some healthier dinners for us.  Thankfully there are websites like pinterest and such to give me some yummy recipes!

I also need to work out some, but I'm a disaster when it comes to working out. lol

My motivation for losing weight?

taken about 4-5 months before I got pregnant the first time! 

sigh...

Trying to remember that my plans and God's plans don't always (I should say never) match.  I am not a patient person, I HATE waiting!  So I'm really struggling these days w/ waiting on HIS timing. 

Trying to remember in past trials at how angry I have gotten w/ waiting on HIS timing and how in the end, thankfully it all worked out HIS way in HIS time and how perfect it was. :) Waiting is SO hard though, so I'm trying to focus on His word b/c I don't want to lose it!

I've always been encouraged by Psalm 143

Hear my prayer, O Lord,
Give ear to my supplications!
Answer me in Your faithfulness, in Your righteousness!
² And do not enter into judgment with Your servant,
For in Your sight no man living is righteous.
³ For the enemy has persecuted my soul;
He has crushed my life to the ground;
He has made me dwell in dark places, like those who have long been dead.
⁴ Therefore my spirit ^[a]is overwhelmed within me;
My heart is ^[b]appalled within me.

⁵ I remember the days of old;
I meditate on all Your doings;
I muse on the work of Your hands.
⁶ I stretch out my hands to You;
My soul longs for You, as a ^[c]parched land. ^[d]Selah.

⁷ Answer me quickly, O Lord, my spirit fails;
Do not hide Your face from me,
Or I will become like those who go down to the pit.
⁸ Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning;
For I trust in You;
Teach me the way in which I should walk;
For to You I lift up my soul.
⁹ Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies;
^[e]I take refuge in You.

¹⁰ Teach me to do Your will,
For You are my God;
Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ^[f]ground.
¹¹ For the sake of Your name, O Lord, revive me.
In Your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble.
¹² And in Your lovingkindness, ^[g]cut off my enemies
And destroy all those who afflict my soul,
For I am Your servant.

Playtime!

sister play time! 

big girl

I am still having a hard time believing that my baby is turning 4.  I'm thankful God has blessed me with these past 4 years and look forward to so many more!  Birthdays are always bittersweet to me b/c time goes by so FAST!  But what an amazing 4 years we've had!
My little girl just continues to amaze me! She LOVES to color and draw, just like her daddy.  She has been fascinated with birds lately.  She loves peacocks, owls, and parrots.  She also really likes pteranodons, in fact that's what she wants to be for halloween.  We'll see.
She LOVES to talk, a lot! lol  She is loving homeschool, she asks for school everyday.  She is loving ballet, and asks daily to go back.  She also recently started cubbies at church on Wednesday nights.  She enjoys it so much.  She loves getting to wear her cubbies vest and memorize verses.  She is super excited to get her first patch tomorrow. :)

taken the first day she wore her vest  :)

update...

Today we went back to the dermatologist for the biopsy results.  It is a benign lesion.  GREAT news and such a relief!  With that comes 2 things that I'm not overly excited about; #1 they can come back in multiples (really praying that we don't have to worry about that anymore) and #2 now we have to choose to either remove it or let it heal in it's own time (no way of telling how long it'd take).  SO we'll be seeing a plastic surgeon for a consult soon.  If we choose to remove it, there will be a scar, on her little chin. :(  SO hubby and I will discuss our options.  I REALLY want it gone, but that would mean a procedure and I will only go through all that if I'm guaranteed no scar.

 My 2 princesses after church on Sunday.  Aren't they precious!?  I can't believe my first baby is almost 4.  AAHH!!!!  So thankful though for 2 healthy blessings! 

Fever

Yep, I caught it.. The sewing fever :)
Hubby gave me a sewing machine 4 years ago, it never really worked properly.  But I used it and had some fun.  BUT earlier this year, I got really excited about sewing again for the girls and my machine was nothing but trouble.  I made them each an Easter dress, it took so long, I had so many issues w/ the machine that I was crying.  SO hubby told me to choose a new machine.  It took several weeks, I read MANY reviews and finally found the one I wanted.  I got it in May, and it stayed in a box for 2 weeks, I was terrified of it, there were so many buttons.  But recently I've been doing a lot w/ it and I am loving  sewing!  It's fun, I feel like I'm learning a lot.  And the girls are getting cute new clothes :)  A few posts ago I shared the cherry dresses I made them.  I was so proud of myself for figuring out a tutorial by myself. :)

SO last week, I sewed every night after the girls went to bed and stayed up till about 1. lol  It took 2 nights to make them each a pair of ruffle pants.  My first time using this pattern.  Then it took 3 days to make their peasant shirts.  It took so long b/c I came up with my own design.


I really am enjoying sewing and wish I had more time to do it.  I don't like to craft when the girls are awake, there are very few times that I will.  If they are both having their playtime, or the baby is napping, I might do a little sewing.  But I prefer to do it at night after they go to bed.
So here is my latest, it literally took me all week to make these, and I cannot wait to see them wearing it :)

BOO! :)

4 years...

In less than 1 month, my sweet firstborn will be 4 years old.  Can you say bittersweet!?  My how time flies!!!  I ALWAYS get emotional w/ her birthdays.  It's so hard to believe how FAST time has gone.  She completely stole my heart and continues to do so on a daily basis. :)
Thinking back to 4 years ago, this is where we were :)

Here I am at 36+ weeks pregnant, anxiously awaiting the arrival of my princess.  I remember that day my sister came over to help me put the finishing touches in the nursery and she insisted we take some pictures. lol 

 My sweet girl looking at me (can you see).  I was 37+ weeks pregnant and my doctor did a quick sono to check my amnio fluids.  He caught this picture of her and all I remember thinking is "wow she's got some cheeks on her".  And she sure did! :)  She is still all cheeks.  My, how I love this girl!

For my few readers (if any) be ready for some updates on my sweet big girl. ;) 

baby sister

This past week has been emotionally draining.  Baby sister had a spot on her chin for the past 2-3 weeks, the pediatrician had no idea what to do, so we were sent to the dermatologist.  She didn't have an answer for us, but did a biopsy.  I had both girls with me.  They swaddled up baby sister and laid her on the table.  It BROKE my heart that I couldn't hold her.  She just screamed and screamed, tears flowed down her very angry and red face.  Big sister got frazzled and scared.  I held her the entire time while trying to contain myself, I was holding back tears.  But I knew if I freaked out, it'd upset big sis.
Right now baby sis has 2 stitches on her chin, and I'm supposed to keep a bandaid on it, which is next to impossible.  We go back on Tuesday for the results and I'm trying not to freak out.  God is in control and I am leaving it all in His hands.

The dermatologist had a concern.  Baby sis was born with blonde eyelashes, eyebrows and sideburn on the left side.  I have always thought it was adorable! :)  In May, we noticed her skin around her left eye/cheek was lighter than the rest of her.  She got tanned for the first time, but not around that area.  SO the derm said she's missing pigmentation on that side.  Then asked me how her vision is.  Lack of pigmentation CAN cause vision problem.  SO I HAVE to leave it to God.  There's nothing I can do about it.  Baby sis will see the optometrist in January (the earliest appt we could get).  I am having a small freak out.  But praying through it and I know God's in control.

I love this picture. lol  But here you can see the difference on her eyes... 

bad cell phone pic, but baby girl sporting her band aid after her biopsy :(