Cereal with Ollie. It was just he and I. Super simple,  special moment. 💛

Have Faith

Okay so I have a story to tell you. My sweet four year old Emerie has been praying fervently for a baby sister for a long, long time. Jared and I decided we would start trying for baby number three a little after our son Oliver turned one in May of 2016. We had no trouble getting pregnant with either of the two we already have, so we didn't figure it would take long at all to conceive again. Well, month after month we kept getting negative tests, or that evil red queen would show up leaving us both feeling sadness, and confusion. We decided we would just keep our journey to ourselves, and just told people that we were satisfied with having two kids and that we probably won't be having anymore. It was too sad to constantly have people asking us when we would have another, and in our hearts not knowing if it would happen or not. So it was easier to just not talk to anyone about it. Emerie had continued to pray that whole year that we would have a sister for her, and Jared and I prayed that we would just be able to conceive. We prepared Emerie that we weren't sure if Jesus had planned for us to have anymore babies, but she had so much faith and hope that she didn't even consider that. Fast forward to the beginning of June this year...Emerie came up to us and told us that Jesus told her that we are allowed to have a baby sister for her now. Jared and I just looked at each other wondering if she had in fact gotten a clear answer from God, or if it was just that four year old imagination running wild again. I asked Emerie what she would name her baby sister if she were to have one, and she told me "Birdie". I actually adored the name, and promised that if we did have a baby girl we would give her that name. We didn't really talk much more about it, just went about our evening. The next day or so we went to Walmart, and they had all of these adorable bird onesies and accessories. Something in my spirit just told me to buy them in case I were to ever be blessed with a sweet girl. I told my Mom it was for a friend, but in my heart I just knew it was for me and my future girl. Not even a week after all of this took place I realized that evil red queen had not made her appearance yet, so I took a test. It was positive!!! I started to cry in the bathroom, I couldn't believe my eyes. Of course I had to take three more tests to be positive, but one after the other they were all showing up two pink lines. I went straight to Jared's work to inform him of our amazing news! He was so excited too. A year of trying had finally paid off. During our year of struggling to conceive, we  learned to be patient, and we also learned to be thankful for the many blessings we already did have. Even if God didn't have a plan for us to have anymore kids, how could we really truly complain? He had already been so faithful in our lives by giving us the gift of two healthy and happy kids, so no matter what life would have been grand. But I can say I am so excited for this little girl, and I am so proud of my Emerie for having more faith at four than I have ever shown in my whole 26 years of life. God is so good. And I am thrilled to be able to put these bird outfits on my little Birdie Rae. 

Why blog?

So I have always been someone who enjoys writing. I like to write down my feelings, thoughts, experiences, travels, poetry, short stories, or whatever it may be. Since having children, I haven't devoted nearly as much time to keeping a journal, or a blog, because well, life....Life with 2 kids is busy. Even though I stay home with them, I am always doing something. Whether it's cleaning, cooking, taking someone potty, changing a diaper, tending to sickness,  more cleaning, there is always something or someone needing my undivided attention. Then when I do decide to blog, I can get discouraged because of my complete lack of subscribers or just readers in general. But then I have to remind myself, that I do this for myself, and if people do happen to read it, that's awesome, and if they don't, that's okay too! I like to be able to go back through the years and see how life was going during different times. Blogging for me, is basically a virtual journal that other people may or may not read. So for today I think I will just post a bit of an update....

So Jared and I had been trying for a little over a year to have our third baby. After a lot of negative pregnancy tests, and lots of tears and frustration, it finally happened and I found out in June! I am 14 weeks pregnant, and so excited to be progressing and out of the first trimester. We find out the gender in 2 weeks or so, we are so excited. It's so adorable because Emerie Rose has been praying fervently for me to get pregnant with a baby sister for her. I think she may be a little bit heart broken if Jesus doesn't give her a sister, but I'm sure she will love a baby boy too. I am hoping for a girl too, but I will be excited for a boy too. I just really want to buy bows and baby dresses again. It's been a minute. So I am soaking in this season we are in, nausea and all. I am a little nervous about going from 2 kiddos to 3, but I'm sure it'll be just as exciting and fun, if not more ;). 

Emerie turned 4 this year! She had a Monster High themed party at the park, and she had such a blast. I cannot believe she is 4. It's crazy. She is such a fun little girl. She talks as if she were 10, she loves to make us all laugh (she is super goofy), being outside and running wild and free is her favorite, she would wear dresses every day if she could (especially poofy "twirly" dresses), she plays with her baby dolls a lot now, and has one named "Birdie" who is her favorite and she takes almost everywhere. She still loves to read books and sing songs. She has recently started sleeping in her own bed on a regular basis, and as sad as it makes me because it's another milestone come and gone, I'm happy because I can actually sleep and move around in my bed! AMEN! She doesn't have night terrors nearly as often anymore, just once in awhile. She loves Jesus and going to Church. She's learning about sin and how it separates us from God. She gets emotional when we talk about it because she wants to stay close to God! She's such a sweetie. She understands and empathizes so much for such a young age. We are getting ready to start her "pre-school" at home experience this coming Monday, she is so excited. When she grows up she wants to be a singer, a ballerina, a mermaid, a princess, and an archaeologist. She has quite the imagination, and I love it. I wouldn't change anything about her. 

Oliver turned 2 this year!! 2 years old!! He had a Finding Dory themed party at our Church, he loved it! He likes to play ball all of the time, and any time we go to the store and he is allowed to pick out a toy, he always goes to the balls! I can't tell you how many we have. He loves them. He also loves super heroes, and his whole room is decked out in comic book characters, and he has a black "bat mobile" bed. He too is super funny, and is constantly cracking us up. He is starting to talk a whole lot more now, I think he was just super shy before. We haven't started potty training yet, but I'm sure that'll come soon enough. He loves clothes and shoes, and hates to be without anything on, unless he is completely naked, then he's fine haha. He loves to play and run outside. Reading books is one of his favorite things to do, that and watch Scooby Doo! He LOVES Scooby!! He has the funniest laugh I have ever heard! It's like super deep and sounds like an "evil laugh", it's so hilarious. He is really attached to his "Uncle Chubby" and loves to be around him and see his motorcycle and truck. Everytime he sees a motorcycle he says "vroom vroom Chubby!". He is a big eater. He would literally eat all day long if we would let him! He's a growing and hungry boy. Haha. 

Jared got promoted at Steeltech and is now a supervisor. He loves it, it's just a whole lot of hard work! But he is the hardest worker I know. He also started pursuing getting his ministry licence. He is taking classes to get it all going. He's had 1 test so far, which he passed, and is taking his second test today! I feel like this year is going pretty good so far!