{ Preview }

 So it's not much to look at yet but a certain Mr. oh-so-dear-to-my-heart is working all hours to make this house that we bought on June 24th 2011 into a lovely little home for us. 

By the end of August. 

We just found out that we have to be out of our rental by the end of the month.  

It looks a little daunting, I know...but let me assure you, this house + our time crunch, well it's no match for his super powers. You'll see. 

And what an adventure it will be...as long as we remember to look at it as that make the most of it.

The plan is to set up housekeeping upstairs while the downstairs gets finished. It's crazy to think that we will be living here in just a few short weeks. 

the front

kitchen

dining room + built in 

and pretty archway David built

 

 dining room + window seat

living room + fireplace with built in bookshelves

bathroom

stairs ( this was the day David and David " leveled out the floor + stairs )

downstairs bedroom

peek-a-boo through door to downstairs

side view

upstairs landing and smaller bedroom ( with it's first coat of paint )

kids bedroom (upstairs )

I think we might have our work cut out for us.

And boy are we ever excited for the end result. 

But for now, after putting in another long day 

he's come home. 

Annabelle says that root beer floats sound good and I couldn't agree more.

A love song for...

                                                  you. xo

More often than not, he's up by four and out the door to work.

And then after a long hot day at work he goes to work some more, on our work in progress house. 

We just found out today that we have to be out of our rental by the end of this month. 

He so doesn't need all that extra pressure right now. 

But I know he'll make it all happen. 

He carries quite the load on those handsome broad shoulders of him. 

And more than all, I adore him. 

{ these days }

  I have had the best intentions...for days that have turned into weeks, I have meant to get back here and dust off this little corner and start writing again. I really want to get back to blogging more than once every three months but the truth is that I have yet to find an easy daily rhythm + feel on top of things here at home. I wonder how long this is going to take to figure out how to juggle everything again, and I feel guilty that by now, three months later I don't have more of a handle on life. Which is silly because I feel like we've had the easiest possible transition from two to three. I am not even kidding, and some of you are going to hate me when I say this but Lucy has more often than not, slept through the night since the day she was born. I know.
And ( so far ) it's rare for her to go to the trouble of crying about something. She truly is a wonder and very the best thing that could have ever happened to us. I tell her on a daily basis that she really should be too good to be true. She get's that from her Daddy. It's been two and a half months since she graced our family with her sweet little self, and our are hearts currently brim full and then some.  She's has the sweetest disposition and rolls on her thighs.

And she has cheeks that go on for days. And a signature cough since day one, that we all know means she's most politely asking to be fed. Oh and she's worlds best baby to snuggle. She melts right into you. When she's not sleeping or nursing or pooping she's beaming. And yesterday she started sucking her thumb That's our little Lucy Wren. And I could go on gushing about her for hours if I didn't have so many other things to catch up on around here.

  These days I am trying to let it sink in that Annabelle is about to be a kindergartner. That yesterday she rode her bike all around the park without training wheels and read a book to me. That these days I am so proud of her + that she grows only more beautiful to me.
Even especially when she makes a mud puddle with the hose in the back yard and smears her brother and herself from head to toe in it.

  And these days I am more head over heals than ever for my Jack boy. Not that we don't frequently have hard days/nights with him. He is two after all.

  Right now he's in the middle of a serious obsession with all things fireman, that has grown out of his adoration for a certain favorite uncle/person his. He is has the blondest little head you've ever seen. And a tender heart. Two of my favorite things he says right now are..." Mommy love me, right? " + " Mommy nuggle me! " These days it's so hard for me to watch the hot summer sun take a toll on his fair skin, as I pray for his little body and for wisdom on what to do to help keep his eczema from getting out of control.


 These days I am working on the layout and design of another project house (going to post before pics soon, I promise) as David works around the clock to get this most recently purchased old home of ours renovated + move-in-ready by the end of summer.  The house had eleven other offers on it, and they accepted ours so we feel pretty sure it's where God wants us right now. 

  These days I am longing to grow closer to Jesus, to love my family better, to treasure the blur of days that are turning so quickly into years, to embrace change + to stay flexible, to be less selfish, and not forget to thank Him for his countless daily gifts + goodness to me.

These days I am singing this song as a prayer.

These days, I am blessed, and I know it.

{ Ours }

As every prayer prayed for us was so beautifully answered

Lucy Wren

Arrived ever so sweetly at home, on April 14th, at 6:40 am

8 lbs. 14 oz. + 21 inches long

The timing couldn't have been more precious as Jack + Annabelle woke up Thursday morning to her very first cries.

Annabelle is flying high, with a baby sister to hold, sing to and dote on. She climbed into bed with us this morning looking for Lucy with a sleepy: " Mom, we just adore her, don't we?!"

As you can see Jack is pretty tickled with her.

He calls her baby or just "whaaa.." for short.

Him with her.

Melts me hardcore.

She's really, really sweet and soft and she smells like heaven and at three days old we've hardly heard her cry. And when she does it's sounds more like a chirp.

We fight a little over who gets to hold her next...as we soak up + drink in her newness and the pure miracle of love, of joy, of life. Of the gift that she is to us, straight from the heart of Jesus.

{ Date Due }

That day has come and gone. 

And little Lucy girl of mine, I just want you to know that I have been waking up every morning for the last three weeks, with my heart skipping a beat, wondering if this is the day we'll finally get to meet you...of course I would be lying if I said that by the end of the day I am not fighting off a little tug of disappointment or that I don't ache a little harder for you to be here
Is there any way to tempt you out of that quiet, safe and snug little cocoon that you have called home for the last 9 months? I get that life out here is loud and crazy and sometimes full of hurt. But it's every bit as beautiful and worth it as it is those other things. And baby girl, if you only knew how loved you are..If you only knew how many people are praying for and excited about you. Some day you will. 

Also, if only you knew that we are quite literally going insane beside ourselves in anticipation of you. While praying for patience, and attempting to give thanks and trust in the middle of the mess and the tears and hormones gone wild, even though I am doing such a bad job of it, that Jesus knows what's best for you and when and where and how.

Take a look at all the pretty things that have been made with so much love and so many,

just especially for you:  

 

 by her

 and her and her

 and her again

 and her.

 

Only one thing is missing from your sweet little corner and our very arms right now...

and we know all too well baby doll, just who that might be.

And just for the record...you are worth the wait...times ten,  little one.

{ bliss filled days }

               { source }

  I apologize for vanishing like that after typing up my last post, giveaway and all. We do infact have a winnner. ( see the end of this post for the details on that )

  March, even though we are only two weeks into it has turned out to be sweeter than I ever imagined possible. Baby Lucy doll and I were spoiled beyond words + so overwhelmed by the love made visible of a dear, dear group of amazing + gifted friends . It was truly the loveliest baby shower of all time. The atttention paid to every single pretty detail, made me feel so treasured + loved.

  Then somehow magically ( due in great part to our loving, giving, super wonderful husbands ) this past weekend we were able to pull off, in true March tradition, for the third year in a row..a weekend visit from this oh so adored lady. Darn it that she caught me, I almost booked her to stay until May.  

 And now the question remains...as we wait with baited breath to see if March will include getting to glimpse and cuddle this sweet baby girl that we have fallen so in love with. 

And now back to the giveaway results. The ever lovely Jessica at Living the Swell Life was the lucky winner of One Thousand Gifts...Keep an eye out for it in mail as it is shortly on it's way to you dearie.

It is my sincere wish + hope that March has been and will continue to be oh so good to you, my friend. xo

March is for...

March is for reading beautiful books + counting gifts. And for giveaways. To enter your own copy of Ann Voskamp's book, One Thousand Gifts leave a comment with a book recommendation or current good read of your own. Check back on Friday to see if you won. I am so very excited to start our study of this book with dear friends on Thursday morning.  

" Thanksgiving creates abundance; and the miracle of multiplying happens when I give thanks - take the just one loaf, say it is enough, and give thanks - and He miraculously makes it more than enough. I have beheld suds in sun, and I have known miracles like that. "

March is for cheerful primroses to brighten up the gray, snow-melting days.

March is for baby showers, thrown by amazingly artistic + precious friends.

Is that not the sweetest little invitation you have ever seen? It's been hanging on my refrigerator and making me smile all week long.

March is for...wearing cute hats.

 March is for...enjoying the swirl of pretty colors in Annabelle's birthday fish in their vintage green mason jar "fish bowl."

March is for homemade waffles on the weekends

March is for stacks of pretty fabric + sewing up quilts.


What is March for to you friend?

{ Interview with the Birthday Girl }

Last year we started a couple new birthday traditions. This one and the following, the birthday interview.

What is your name? Annabelle

What are some of your nicknames? Anniebelles, Sugar Plum Fairy ( that's what Daddy calls me ), Twinkletoes, Lovie + Sugs ( that's  what Mommy calls me )

How old are you? Five

Where do you live? by Audrey's house

What are your favorite things to do? Go to the park, go to parades, smell flowers, dance, color + paint, pick bouquets of flowers, play dress up

What are your favorite foods? bacon, rice, shrimp, sushi, strawberries, birthday cake

What do you want to be when you grow up? a ballerina

What do you do on your birthday?  go on treasure hunts, play with balloons, open presents, blow out candles 

What are your favorite colors? red, purple, pink, green + blue

What is your favorite thing to wear? dresses with tights

What would be the best thing someone could give you? ballerina slippers

What do you do all day? play with Jack and my stuffed animals

What is your favorite toy? Winnie the Pooh

Who loves you the most? Jesus, Daddy, Mommy, Jack + baby

What is your favorite book? Twig

What is your favorite song? There's Something in the Water   

Where is your favorite place to go? to the toy shop and the pet shop

What makes you happy? surprises, kisses, dancing

What makes you sad? hitting, when I hurt myself 

What was your favorite thing about your 5th birthday? Getting two pet goldfish with Poppy + Nana...one is mine and one is Jack's. I named my orange goldfish Petunia. Jack named his white goldfish, Big Tool.

What's something that you want to do this year that you've never done before? Go to the circus.

What are you most looking forward to about being five? doing bigger things, my baby sister being born, starting ballet

What do you think is the most important thing in the whole world? for God to rescue us

{ 5 }

{ Her to a t }

" Some people are so much sunshine to the square inch. "    - Walt Whitman




Happy last day to be four. 
Happy almost five years old. 
Happy you. For you find delight in all things great + small. Especially the small. 
Happy us. That you are ours. 
Happy all the way around.

{ my little craft room }

Who doesn't dream of a pretty room to call their very own?

A room for the express and sole + purpose of creating...

For years I have been wishing for a craft room...

and with this remodel those dreams came true,

thanks to a certain Mr. Dream Come True Maker of mine...

And here it is, complete with lettuce green walls, scallop-trimmed work  table+ vintage sheet stash:

{ goings on }

Life this month, has been super sweet albeit a little a lot on the crazy side for us. But if you look at our track record, that is nothing new.


  We are giddy over this sweet up and coming girl-baby of ours. Take your pick on what you'd like to call her for now anyway. She has multiple nick-names: Tulip ( started by the P's ) Paprika ( what her uncles call her) or Buttercup ( circa Auntie Roo ) and she is going to be here and will be needing a proper name before we know it...and we are beside ourselves with anticipation.  

  Oh and our house sold. Just like that. We are still sort of reeling over that one. The first couple to walk through, obviously fell for it and made an offer the next day. And I win " the bet " as I had been telling David for months..." I really wouldn't be surprised if the first people to look at it, buy it babe. " I have had many mixed feelings over all of it. At the time I promised David that it was okay with me to go ahead and list the house for sale, I was in a rather energetic stage in my pregnancy...that of course came to a screeching halt, just as soon as we'd signed the papers for the sale of our home sweet home and I have since then quickly transitioned into the highly emotionalwreck/nesting phase, also known as the third trimester. But as always, God has met us with all the grace we could possibly need, and His love has pulled us through...on my dark doubting days, on my how is it ever all going to work out days...as we face the coming months of change. He has blessed us with such a beautiful community of family + friends who pray us through, who refrain from calling us insane ( to our faces anyway ) and who love us and take our children and offer to help in any way we might possibly need. And we are feeling humbled and overwhlemed once again by His daily goodness and blessings.   

  After looking at twenty some houses, and making an offer on one, that wasn't accepted...as much as we hate the thought of moving twice, we've switched gears and decided to rent and were able to find a really sweet little house ( God bless Craigs List ), for a really sweet little deal on which we only had to sign a 4 month lease. That will take off a whole lot of pressure to buy on such a short time-table. We really didn't want to just settle for anything short of something we love for the next little place to call home, and this will get us settled in plenty of time before Tulip/Paprika/Buttercup/ arrives. Oh and here is an interesting sidenote, we close on our house exactly a year to the day we moved in, Feb. 28th. Isn't that wild?

  Upon the sale of said home sweet home a certain very generous/smoking hot husband of mine, has promised me a camera. And not just any camera but one that I can get serious with in pursuing some of my photography dreams...and a get-away to the ocean for a few days on top of that...And yes, for the record I am feeling utterly spoiled and a little guilty about these luxuries.

  I was really longing to go into this year with lots of time for reflection and well just with more intention + focus about so many things...heart + soul sort of things mainly. I really wanted to choose a word for the year. But I am still waiting for one to grab me...and I haven't even had time to think about making resolutions... But as we slip away this weekend, I am looking forward to quiet time, and reading a whole stack of books, and kite-flying...and playing and laughing and resting... for time to listen, to be with Jesus, for sweet time together, for time to just breathe a little. 


  Going to wrap up this way too long post with these two pictures from yesterday afternoon of Annabelle and Jack dressed up as bride and a groom...I couldn't get over how cute they were.   

{ Excerpt }

By the deep + luminous Ann Voskamp .

{ Huge Crush }

Oh Jack-Jack, how many times a day do you make my heart swell in happiness + delight until it feels like it's about to pop.

The way you say " yay " instead of yes...

The way you squeeze me with both hands all way around my neck when you hug me

How you always asks first thing when you wake up in the morning, " Where's Dada? Where's Sister ?"  And how after I tell you, you always says..." oh."

The way you are instantly sorry and try and comfort me, after you've pulled my hair again.
That you always say "muahhh" when you kiss
How your twinkle-blue eyes, blonde widows peak and back of your neck make me coo-coo brained.
How much you loves looking at books and making us laugh
The way you tromps around in the house your overalls,
And the way you love to help.
Your all contagious belly laugh.
The way you say "bo-mp," being half bonk and half bump...when you get an owey.
Your whole miniature boy lingo... " Iwannawa "...( I want a waffle )
With the majority of your vocabulary consisting of truck, tool and food related words.
Oh and how can I forget how you unmistakably whispered into my ear during church last Sunday in the sweetest possible way..." I love you..."

   

Seriously you guys, I am a total goner.

{ House Tour }

For Christmas I made David a book with before + after pictures and a detailed description of our start-to-finish house project. I thought you might like to take a peek. If you ask me, it is beyond dream house material. 

All after pictures taken by the ever amazing Andi Mae Photography. 

And I just shot off an email to Country Living. I would be so happy to honor some of the very dearest people in my life, in at least attempting to get our little house into a magazine. I know, I know I dream big. But there's no harm in trying.  

1. so had to try this...., 2. Pom-pom garland, 3. Vintage Bottles, 4. Untitled, 5. candy shop, 6. merry and bright, 7. G I V E , 8. Wood hanging, 9. Sleigh Ride, 10. Untitled, 11. the lady of the house, 12. Holiday Lights, 13. Untitled14. Not available15. Not available16. Not available

{ source }

Today... 


I love the smell of:the piney perfume of our Christmas tree, floating upstairs.


I love the sound of: this beautiful Christmas Carol


I  love the taste of: baby oranges

I love this thought: " We need to think of ourselves as gifts to be given and to think of others as gifts offered to us.  -John Powell 


I love the sight of: my littles splashing together in the bathtub


I love the feel of: this baby girl tumbling around inside of me

{ source }