Real Life

After my last blog I felt like I should do a follow up of what grace really looks like in my life.  I never got around to it. I was talking with some friends last night about life and realized I needed to write that update See, grace is not me sitting in my spotless house while my angelic children sleep peacefully and awake with charming personalities to a mother who is always gracious and loving :)  Grace is not perfection.  On the morning I wrote that blog it looked more like this.  I got upset with my husband when he did not meet my expectations.  I raised my voice at one of my girls when she did not want the breakfast I prepared.  I was impatient with children that needed me while I was overwhelmed with a too big to do list.  And yet, over all of that was this sense of grace.  This knowing that God is not disappointed in my imperfection.  The thought that He is big enough to cover it.  Grace happens in real life.  Thank goodness, because there is a lot of real life going on around here, and I'm guessing that happens at your house too.  I'm learning not to be afraid of that.  Realizing that God has me covered while I grow and learn. Knowing that my kids can be just as happy with uncombed hair and toys strewn across that house, and maybe even more importantly realizing I can be happy in the midst of all of that too.  Gotta love real life!

Undone by Grace

Sitting in a quiet house this morning thinking about grace.  How much I need it, how much I need to extend it.  These past two months have been a whirlwind.  Bringing a third child into this family has definitely stretched us.  I feel like our marriage has weathered this transition better than we did with either of the girls (yay to God's grace!), but at the end of the day we are still left feeling pretty well exhausted and slightly overwhelmed.  Most days I feel undone by what it takes to love and nurture and guide three littles.  So blessed, but undone.  So, here I am, just picturing God's grace washing over me. God's grace covering all those mistakes and imperfections in my parenting.  God's grace overwhelming my exhaustion from a sweet, sweet baby that just can't seem to sleep all that well.  And I am just amazed that there is enough to cover it all.  There are no gaps.  I am undone.  But not by exhaustion, or stress, or fear.  Undone by grace.

This song has been speaking to my soul this week. 

Here is our little sweetie.  Two months already!  We are loving him, despite the exhaustion.  He offers the best smiles and is seriously just so much sweetness in a little package! He was 11 lbs 3 oz at his two month appointment on Monday and doing great.

Birthday Girl

This little sweetie pie turns 2 today. Oh, Brielle, what a difference you have made in our lives.  She has brought so much laughter and joy to our house.  She is a little fireball and a little snuggle bug all rolled up into one beautiful package.  

She loves...

- to jump and run and dance

- her big sister, Natalie

- looking at books

- playing with blocks and puzzles

- coloring

- tickle time with Daddy

- snuggling on the couch with books and Mommy

- giving baby Ryder kisses and tickling his toes

We love you, Brielle and are so thankful God gave you to us!

Ryder Elisha

Our little man is a week and a half old, so I figured I should blog about him. By blogging I mean I will add a bunch of pictures and a few details in between.  I am, after all, exhausted and on a bit of a time restraint :)

I was scheduled to have a c-section on July 29th, three days past my due date,  if I didn't go into labor before that.  I really wanted to have another vbac, so I was getting a bit antsy for this guy to come (that and the week of 90 degree weather we had been having!)

I woke up around 5 Monday morning thinking another night had gone by without this baby coming (I had been really uncomfortable and showing signs of labor for a week).  My next thought was I think that was a contraction!  Sure enough.  Luckily I knew enough to have Hans call my mom right away while I called the doctor.  We made it into the hospital around 5:50 and two hours later I had delivered this beautiful baby boy.

 Ryder Elisha Lehman born on July 22 at 7:50 AM , 6 lbs, 6.9 oz and 20 3/4 inches

His daddy is so proud of him and I am so blessed to have this guy father my children and labor with me!

My mom had our girls for two days while we had to wait in the hospital.  She is such a blessing.  And it was so nice my dad was able to come in first thing to see Ryder before he had to head back out on his truck.  

The girls were really excited to see Ryder and it has been so fun to watch them love on their baby brother since.  

Finally! He was worth the wait.  

Heading home from the hospital

Sweet little sleeper - He seems like a pretty content baby so far

A Ballerina Tea Party

We had such a special time celebrating Natalie's 4th birthday yesterday afternoon.  Natalie is so blessed by all the special ladies in her life and it was fun to celebrate with a few of them.  

This was our tea room, with special thanks to my mom for the room, the beautiful flowers and the tea cups and dishes.  

Cupcakes!

  I saw a picture of these little cake toppers online and thought they would be the perfect addition.  They were simple to make too!

 My little mousling ballerina!

The fun craft project we did

I was so happy with how it turned out!

 Natalie just loves these two sweet girls. It's so fun to watch them grow up together

Some fun with the ribbon wands

Waiting...

Feeling tired and emotional this evening... waiting for babies is hard work and I'm still two weeks from my due date :)  Brielle ruined me by coming five weeks early!  I've been trying to keep the house in order this week and stay caught up on cleaning/laundry etc.  Meanwhile the flower beds and garden are full of weeds - there is always something, isn't there?

We are having a ballerina tea party on Sunday for Natalie's birthday. I can't believe she's turning 4! I've had so much fun planning the party - I think she will love it.  I'll be sure to post some pics later. Since her birthday is one day before my due date, we thought we would get the party in early.  So I guess I'll just be thankful this baby boy is still happy and healthy in my belly.  After all, that's what all those shots and doctors appointments were for.

Here are my two giggly girls that are keeping me busy as I wait for their brother.  So thankful for them and for their daddy that's entertaining them this evening as I take a little breather.

Confidence

This chick was my date tonight

After dinner I told her to go upstairs and get ready.  I was just curious to see what she would do.  She, of course, changed her clothes.  She came down and announced to Hans and me, "I look pretty awesome!" With that confidence the girl was ready to go in my opinion. 

 Now I just wish I could say she gets that confidence because that's how I always talk to myself in the mirror - always something to be reminded of.  These days I'm feeling (and looking) quite pregnant, but that doesn't change my pretty awesomeness, right :)