Happy Valentines Day!

I've long been a fan of Valentines Day, and not just for the expectation of chocolate and flowers and romantic perfection. I don't really consider myself much of a "romantic." However, a day to give sweet cards and treats to those you love - how can you resist? This year, Natalie was all on board too, which has just increased my love for this day.

We started last week by making these Valentines for her cousins and church friends (not to fear, cousins, you will receive them soon). We started small, but she LOVED this first attempt of making her own Valentines. Let me just say she was queen of that glue stick.

The thing I love is that Natalie knew exactly what she wanted for Valentine's - a red heart balloon and green flowers. I'm really not sure why green, but her daddy did not disappoint. (We had a little trouble keeping the balloon still long enough to get it and the flowers in the same picture).

Brielle was not left out of the festivities either.

Here she is again with her Valentine shoes and my beautiful flowers in the background - I love my husband. He has a lot of girls to please these days and he's done quite well!

Happy Valentine's Day! If you need some treats, come here! We have plenty to share :)

Quick Update

It's been awhile. These girls are keeping me on my toes. Natalie had decided that she only needs to nap about half the time - silly girl. I tried to remind her that she's only two and a half, but she doesn't seem to think it matters. Really, she's been doing quite well on days that she doesn't nap, so I guess I will embrace it. The beauty of it is that it almost always means an earlier, easy bedtime. Brielle is a little cat napper right now, so the two of them combined means that I've been getting 10 - 15 minutes max of downtime in the afternoon. So here's a quick blog/picture update. Then I'm moving on to my new addiction "Downton Abbey". If you haven't watched this show, you must. Sunday nights at 9 on PBS. You can also catch the first season on Netflix :)

Natalie is such a little ham. She loves showing off for her daddy and I. I'm sad that not everyone gets to see this side of her because she tends to be shy when we are away.

Natalie is becoming such a great big sister. She loves to hold Brielle, pick out clothes for her, run to her when she cries, get her toys, and make her laugh and smile!

Brielle is five months old already! I can't believe it. She's enjoying her exersaucer more these days. She rolled over a few times around Christmas, but won't do it again. She is quick to smile. She adores her big sister. She is a beauty!

Gifts

Ok folks, here it is. My 2012 goal.... ok, one of them. The fun one that I'm hoping will challenge my perspective and help me move outside of my "this is all there is" box of despair. I love what I do, but let's be honest, it's not everday, every moment fulfilling. It's not designed to be. So, here's my project. Everyday, I'm already a week late I know, I plan to snap a photograph of a gift, something that brings me joy, deepens my perspective, lightens my load, whatever it may be - a word, an object, a person. I'll do my best to post these pictures at the end of every week. I'm not a photographer, do not pretend to be, not sure I even desire to be, so bear with me. The pictures aren't being taken as an art form but as a reminder, a perspective gainer. More to come....

My date with Natalie and Amirah

Natalie and her cousin, Amirah are two of a kind! I love these girls so much, but they also tend to be a handful together :) They love each other intensely and sometimes fight intensely as well. Today, I took the two of them on a little date because we miss having Amirah around everyday and I thought Natalie might benefit from some time without her baby sister. We had a great time!

Natalie wanted to take Amirah to the library to play with the puzzles. We stopped at Dunkin' Donuts first for a little treat. Here are some pictures of my sweet girls.

Miss Brielle

Brielle is three .... and a half months old! I don't know where the last two weeks have gone! I've been wanting to take some pictures and blog about her but it just hasn't happened until now. She is laying beside me watching her little fists move in front of her face. I could just eat her up!

We are loving this little girl. She is full of smiles these days. My mom bought her one of those floor play mats as an early Christmas present and she loves it. She will kick and move her little hands around and make all kinds of adorable baby noises contently under it for a long time. She's not so impressed with the bumbo. She holds herself up pretty well, but it seems she would much rather be laying down.

She loves Natalie. She will strain her little neck to get a glimpse of her whenever she hears her voice. Natalie loves her too. It's so fun to watch this bond grow. Natalie's favorite thing right now is to sing "Jesus loves me" to her and she loves to talk to her. If I interrupt she will say, "I'm talking to Brielle." Please, don't let me intrude :)

She's packing on the pounds too. I don't think she's far behind anymore, maybe not behind at all. I love my chubby cheek babies! What a little miracle - I love this girl.

Sweet Escape

We went away this weekend with some friends from Lancaster. Her parents own a cabin that they graciously let us stay at. This was our fourth time going there. The first time I was just pregnant with Natalie. It is kind of a fun reminder to think back to each time we've been there and see all the changes in our family.

Shaun and Holly were such a blessing to us in Lancaster. Hans worked with Shaun and we attended the same church and eventually were involved in a small group with them. Three years after we've moved back to Chambersburg they are still a blessing to us and we are able to pick up where we left off each time.

I was a little nervous about going overnight with both girls, but it was a fun, relaxing weekend. The girls did great - I think there is something about that cabin that encourages sleep! Natalie went to bed by her request at 7:00 Saturday night and she took a nap on the couch Sunday morning - this is the girl that's been fighting bedtime and naptime for months. I'm a little embarrassed to mention that Hans and I also fell asleep in the living room around 9:00 Saturday night - sorry Shaun and Holly, it was just too relaxing!

Anyway, here are some pictures from the weekend.

To those of you that know Natalie very well - this amazed us! She was so excited to ride this four wheeler, as well as a bigger one, and a dirt bike with her Daddy!

Me with both of my girls sleeping on the couch on a Sunday morning - I love, love, love getting away!

A Mess

I'm sitting here holding sweet baby girl as she sleeps and marveling at the grace and beauty of God. Not much more to say other than every time I find myself becoming overwhelmed by all that's required of me at this stage, I can't help but to see His hand at work. My life's a mess. I don't say that because things are really so hard or bad in my life right now, but because I see these glimpses of who I am outside of who God is and it's not pretty. My prayer this morning was quick and simple, but sometimes with the demands of mothering I overlook this truth. "God, I need you more than these girls need me. Invade my space today." So thankful for a God that sees beyond the mess.