So grateful.

I am still flying high for my friend Leslie and her sweet new boy babe, Cade Nicholas who arrived most perfectly on Oct 14 and has quite thoroughly stolen the hearts of all those who are blessed to know him. He is my most special ever birthday bud. Still thanking Jesus so much for all those answered prayers and continuing to pray for your recovery Leslie.

I wanted to thank you for all your happy congratulations on our baby news. We are overjoyed at the prospect of this new little person joining our life and family in the spring. New baby is due on my Mom's birthday, May 7 th, which I think is so sweet. The first trimester is almost over now. And I am so thankful that after our first appointment last week...that we had a good report and were able to hear a strong and quick little heartbeat. Annabelle was just entranced by it all, and she was able to hold a model baby the represents the size of our baby now. Oh so small and sweet. I am starting to let myself get really excited. Ever since we lost our first baby, I have been guarded about allowing myself to get too excited too soon...but Annabelle's enthusiasm is so contagious. She gets giddy every time we talk about the baby. And of course she wants to tickle my belly button and kiss it and pat it. She'll ask me during the day, " Mommy how's your baby?" All these things melt my heart. I am loving experiencing this from a whole new perspective this time around...and being able to share this baby joy with our resident sweet and eager big sister in the making.

With all the uncertainty in the great big world around us, with the economy in such upheaval and the political front so heated, I really, especially appreciate the view I have through the eyes of my two and a half year old. She sees and takes pleasure in the little things, like a picking a pretty leaf off the ground or learning new Bible stories, having tea parties, playing dress up, and pretending the day away with her little collection of dollies and animals.

We are enjoying the beautiful colors and weather outside, taking daily walks and excursions into the back yard to jump in the leaves. I made pumpkin bread for the first time a few days ago. So much about these autumn days makes me want to cook soup and fresh breads and serve steaming cups of chai tea. So many things on my list that I want to try between now and Thanksgiving. Like this and this using these as my inspiration and I would love come up with something like this or this or this to decorate my home for Thanksgiving, which we are so looking forward to hosting again this year.

The sun is shining and there is a pile of leaves in the back yard just waiting to be raked up and jumped in...so off we go. Pictures to follow.