The Party

Levi turned four last week.

 The Saturday before, my parents threw him a wonderful party full of everything he had asked for...trains, a hayride, brick oven pizzas, and roasted marshmallows.

My mom made the cake...

Levi blew out the candles...



and opened a few presents (to Sophia's amusement and delight).

Stephan's mom, Mimi to the kids, got to join in the fun!

A hayride topped it all off perfectly...

It was a beautiful way to celebrate 4 years. Thanks, Mom and Dad, for putting it all together!

Everyday Blessings

This first trimester is kicking my rear, but I am grateful for so many things...

: : My parents threw Levi a family birthday party the Saturday before his birthday. It was wonderful! I am beyond grateful that they took over and created such a wonderful day for him!

: : For the two weeks leading up to Levi's birthday party, morning sickness became progressively worse. I barely left the house. The poor kids were going stir crazy. And, it got to the point where the only thing I could eat was jello....not exactly the most nutritionally dense 'food' out there. It finally dawned on me that it was likely the prenatal vitamins. With Levi they made me so sick that I lost 8 lbs. With Sophia I refused to take them in the first trimester. I decided to give vitamins another shot with this pregnancy. Since I've stopped I've felt so much better. I still have morning any time of the day sickness, but it is way better. And, I can eat...even leafy green vegetables! Also, being able to leave the house on occasion is a nice luxury.

: : Although Stephan's mother came to visit for sad reasons (her father passed away last week), we were glad to be able to spend time with her while she was here. My kids have been blessed with good grandparents.

: : I am blessed with the best husband in the entire world. He's been cooking and cleaning and changing dirty diapers and bringing me tea and going for late night runs to the store. He is patient with our children even though they sometimes get grouchy when mama is down for so long. He is patient with me even though I get grouchy when I'm tired and feeling perpetually carsick. He's all around wonderful, and he makes the first trimester more bearable.

: : In the mornings, the kid who wakes up first climbs over us to wake up the other one. They grin big and snuggle with each other. My heart melts every single time.

: : I am thrilled that Sophia is no longer sensitive to what I eat. Nursing and being pregnant equal major egg cravings for me...a food that was once on the no list. It's so nice that she can nurse happily, and I can eat happily.

: : Last but not least, Sophia has been passing out the kisses in liberal doses lately. Big mama grin. :)

Hope y'all have a very blessed week!

Sunday

 “Where, O death, is your victory?
   Where, O death, is your sting?”
 ~1 Corinthians 15:55

In memory of Stephan's grandfather who passed away last Monday. May his soul rest in peace.