Yummy

On May 2nd Greta got her first bite of "big girl food" (aka rice cereal).  She had been showing signs for about a month that she was ready, but I held her off until the six month mark.  :)  No surprise...Greta loved the rice cereal, took it confidently, and ate all that I had prepared.  She has been an eager and interested eater from the very start.  Here are several pictures of the special event.  And I can't fail to mention how eager and excited Hudson was about all this.  He insisted on feeding her, and still does.  

"I'm ready Mommy, give it to me."  

"This is going to be fun."  

"I like it.  It tastes delicious."  

"Big brother Hudson always wants to help with everything."  

"May I have some more?"  

Greta @ 6 Months

On May Day Greta Alice turned 6 months old.  During the month of April she...

...started rolling everywhere

...practiced sitting up and enjoyed seeing things from a new perspective

...still wakes up anytime between 3:30 and 5:15 for an early morning snack and then returns to sleep

...grew more hair so it no longer sticks straight up

...splashes like crazy in the bathtub

...started doing better at staying settled and asleep at bedtime

...goes to bed between 6:30 and 7:00pm

...discovered her "loud singing voice"  

...continued with the title "the queen of inconsistency" as we never know her schedule

...loves being tickled by Daddy

...takes 3 naps a day

...holds toys, reaches for toys and puts everything in her mouth

...recognizes her name

...started having a bottle of pumped milk at the later afternoon feeding so there would be more milk for her at bedtime 

...loves to eat/suck on her toes

...adores her big brother and always wants to know what he is doing

...started letting Daddy put her down for naps (finally)

...started getting comfortable sitting in her high chair

...made Mommy think (again) she was getting teeth, but wasn't

...enjoyed family walks in the stroller

...prefers to be held and wants you close by

Greta's 6 month picture...

Our sweet baby girl...

This girl LOVES her tummy!  

Its been fun to get out her spring/summer clothes.  There is something about those baby legs that are totally irresistible.  

a TOOL TIME birthday

We had a blast celebrating Hudson's buddy Thomas' 4th birthday...tool style.  It was a fun morning of fixing, drilling, hammering, discovering, gift giving, eating, and celebrating.  

They had this amazing backdrop, which made for some pretty cool pictures.  

The fix it friends...

Even Greta girl joined in on the fun and was a pretty cute addition to the construction crew.    

Sand and tools make for messy work, yet fun work.  Hudson was especially pumped about the safety goggles he got at the party because they are just like the ones Daddy has and wears.    

Pizza, carrots, apple slices, and cupcakes make a yummy lunch for the hungry workers.  

Hudson & Greta

This post is a random collection of pictures I took on my phone during the month of April.  I figured I just as well share them with an audience who may be interested.  :)  No captions are needed to explain the obvious, just a picture board of the special moments with my precious babes, doing our everyday ordinary kinds of things...special visitors, sweet treats, new pajamas, cooking in the kitchen, tummy time, outside adventures, laundry day, selfies, art projects, and playtime).  I love spending my days with these little people.    

The Pledge of Allegiance

Hudson attends BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) on Tuesday mornings, along with Greta and myself.  Its a great opportunity for him to be in a group setting with other kids under the leadership of Christian teachers.  This year we studied the life of Moses and it was exciting to hear Hudson share bits and pieces with me each week of what he learned.  Along with learning Bible stories and verses, they play, sing songs, have a snack, march to music...its very structured, a "mini preschool" really.  Each week they say The Pledge of Allegiance and Roy caught it on video, plus a few other silly things he added on to the end.  Enjoy!  

Happy Mother's Day!

Today is Mother's Day.  I was woken at 6:00am to the sweet babbles of my baby girl in her crib.  She was announcing her waking and her readiness to start the day.  Daddy laid still and sound asleep, so I got up, as I always do, so she won't wake up her brother.  By 7:30 am I had given her breakfast (both milk and rice cereal), snuggled her, read books, played with toys, we wrapped a few graduation gifts, put dishes away, and sent a few emails.  At 8:30 am the house was still quite, both "my boys" were sound asleep and it was nearing time for Greta's morning nap.  Then it hit me.  I started thinking...honestly, this is not the way a mom expects, or at least this mom hopes, to begin Mother's Day.  This was not proving to be "special, lovely, or out of the ordinary."  I quickly found myself thinking that I "deserve" to sleep in, have breakfast made for me and brought to me in bed, have time to get coffee or go for a morning walk all by myself.  Not this year and maybe not next year or even the next.  Sacrifice.  Commitment.  Love.  Sacrifice.  Commitment.  Love.  These are the three words God was putting on my heart.  It is my calling, my command, my desire, as a mother.  Even when it feels routine and lonely He asks me to give of myself and live by grace.  

I have learned so much from being a mom, more than I could ever summarize in a short blog post with the short moments I have now.  But one of the most humbling and eye opening things I have learned in my 4 short years as a mom, is my selfish ways, desires and choices.  Motherhood calls us to sacrifice, to give up our ideals, to give up our desires, and to love others beyond ourselves.  To commit all of who we are to love and serve those whom God has blessed us with.  I pray today, in the quite beginning and sweet moments of this Mother's Day that I, and you too, can embrace the beautiful calling of motherhood.  That we can love beyond measure, we can sacrifice without wanting anything in return, and love, as God has called us to love.   

This picture is one of my current favorites of Hudson and Greta.  I feel it represents what is on my heart this morning.  A few weeks ago, when Greta was waking from her morning nap, Hudson wanted to go upstairs by himself and talk to her while I finished folding the load of laundry.  When I was done, I came upstairs to find this.  Hudson had crawled into Greta's crib, unzipped her swaddle, and was talking to her in his sweet "big brother voice."  This picture warms my heart and makes motherhood "worth it."  Its beautiful, even when my words, actions, and feelings are not always all that beautiful.  Their love for each other is beyond anything I could have ever dreamed of or asked for.  Hudson adores Greta and she is in awe of him, which this picture so beautifully portrays.  Its moments like these that keep me going, that encourage me, and fill my heart with abundant joy.  It makes the sacrifice, commitment, and love worth everything it may have cost along the way.  Its not an easy job, but I can't imagine it being any other way.  I am grateful.    

I thank God for making me a mom.  I thank God for the privilege it is to serve Him in this way.  

Happy Mother's Day!    

An Arkansas Easter (part 2)

This next batch of pictures are from our Easter festivities.  It was a blessed time of celebration and thanksgiving.  What a gift to share in it with dear friends.  

A family picture on Greta's first Easter.  

Our two little blessings...best buddies!  

The beautiful Wurpts family all together and looking at the camera.  Yeah!  

These two boys are filled with fun, joy, and energy.  They will always be buddies (if their mommy's have any say about it).  :)  

Handsome Hudson all ready for church.  

Silly Easter bunny ears...

The boys made chocolate nests for an Easter sweet treat.  Jayden was especially excited about the eggs and he was quick to grab them.  :)    

On Saturday afternoon we had an Easter egg hunt in their backyard for the big boys.  

The daddy's and their baby girls...

Greta chilling out in the dump truck while the big boys were searching for eggs.  

Making resurrection biscuits for Easter lunch....

An Arkansas Easter (part 1)

The first week of April, which also happened to be Easter weekend, we made a road trip to Fayetteville, Arkansas, to visit our dear friends, the Wurpts family.  We had been anticipating this trip for several months and were looking forward to the time away and the time together.  They have twins, who are just about 3.5 months older than Greta, so we had 3 babies and 3 "big boys" between our two families.  It was a full weekend juggling all the kids needs and schedules, yet it was manageable and enjoyable.  What a blessing!  Here are a few of the memorable events from our time together... 

Hudson loved the "pink bath" and was especially excited about "the waterfall" faucet.  

After all the kids were in bed on Thursday night, Emily and I ran out to get a smoothie and made a stop at Target (to get things for the kids of course).  Ha!  Triple treat...best friend, smoothie, Target.  

Silly Hudson...

Even though Greta looks super happy about being in her car seat in this picture, overall it was too long of a car ride for her preferences.  :)  

Hudson playing with the babies...

Emily and I laughed about how we would have never guessed, when we first met during the summer of 2002, that we would remain friends this many years later, and be spending time together as families.  What a blessing!  

Malachi and Jayden checking out the outhouse at the Arkansas Museum.  

On Saturday morning, after Grayson's soccer game, the boys headed over to The Home Depot for "Kids Workshop."  These boys are ready for some serious building.   

Hudson showing off his finished project, a bird house flower pot.  

We had a campfire Saturday evening, complete with s'mores.  

We went on a few walks/stroller rides with the babes.  Greta is on the right and Abram on the left.  

Hudson entertaining the babies again.  He talked to them and played with them.  Greta also learned what great fun an exersaucer is, during our there.  :)  

We played at the park on a beautiful afternoon.  

Grayson is all smiles about the swing.  

They have a blow up bounce house in their basement.  We got it out for the boys to jump around in and burn some energy on a rainy day.   

We went swimming one afternoon and then had pizza and movie night.  

Greta girl watching all the action and showing off her rolling skills.  

And I will close with my favorite.  Yes, this happened...boy in the trash can makes for some rolling backyard fun.