My bonus kids.

Here are my step-kids. My incredibly smart, sweet, and kind step-kids. We love them and miss them when they're not with us. Walking into an already formed family can sometimes not be an easy thing, but thru prayer and God's grace we have all come a long way. And most importantly, we all love each other. They may not have come from me, but I love them like they did. They are so special to me.

It's the little things that matter.

Oh my goodness....I could cry. I have been brainstorming ideas for Adilynn's 1st birthday. The choices are endless. She doesn't like any certain disney character or TV character (probably because I don't put her in front of the TV unless it's Sesame Street) and even though she'd probably like it- I'm not going to do an Elmo theme! She's a girly-girl so I think I'll go with a flower theme. Or a tea party theme. Tune in later to find out which one I go with.

So anyways...back to the crying part. I know I say this all the time, but I honestly can't believe so much time has passed already. Will every year pass this quickly?! It seems just like yesterday I was fat and waddling everywhere, unable to wear my wedding ring, and craving crushed ice. It seems just like yesterday I was hearing her heartbeat for the first time in the doctors office. It seems just like yesterday I was asking for an epidural (HA! natural childbirth is NOT for me) and then 14 hours later being wheeled away for a C-section. And it seems just like yesterday that we brought her home, and she was sleeping in a bassinet next to our bed. But...the reality is this: this little one is growing so quickly that I don't want to miss a second of it. I am so blessed to be able to stay home with her, and I am so thankful that Orrin works hard to make it happen. I definitely have my moments of "man, if I was working, we'd have that. Or we'd be able to go here. Or get a bigger house. Or do this." But none of those things matter compared to staying home with Adilynn. I don't think there's a bigger or better role than being a mommy. (and...I was just telling Orrin this morning that I'd like to try for another little one next summer. The more the merrier!)

Oh yeah, and we'll be able to cart all those little ones around because we just got a honda pilot last weekend. It's black, seats 8, leather seats, the works. It even has a DVD player. (It's not something we asked for, just something that came with it) My car was paid off, so it's going to be different to have a car payment again. But that's okay.....everything happens for a reason and we will just work hard to pay it off!

Okay, so back to the birthday party. I'll have to narrow down a theme, plan the food, and order the cake. Although I'm not sure about the cake.....I can't stand store bought cake!!!! I like homemade cakes much better!

As for now....my little cupcake is snuggled up warm and cozy in her bed taking a nap. When she wakes up, I'll go thru the same routine we do twice a day after each nap. Hugs and kisses, pull back her curtain, turn on her radio (she starts pointing to her radio as soon as I walk in the room!) and we'll "talk" as she plays and dances in her crib. Ahh....it's the little things in life that matter.

And I can't post a blog without posting a picture....so here it is. She was two days old in this picture and sawing logs!!!!!

Our little lady....

......turned ten months on saturday. I was looking thru pictures recently and found this one from when she was four months old. Where does the time go?!? Look at those sweet, little innocent hands!!! Those hands now hold onto furniture while cruising around, find every piece of lint or fuzz on the floor, bang kitchen pots and pans and softly hold onto my hair as she's falling asleep. And oh yes, those hands have also recently discovered how to open up kitchen cabinets and drawers! Thank goodness for safety locks! What a sweet little angel....God is good!

LIFE GROUP!

Orrin and I have wanted to get involved with a Life Group at James River for quite some time now. We wanted to do it last year, but with Adilynn on the way we just didn't feel it was the right time. Last night we went to the Group Link meeting at church where we met with several other couples and several group leaders who host the groups in their home. You had to walk around and meet all the leaders and then decide which ones you wanted to go with. It was a little intimidating at first, and we felt a bit like we were speed dating. However, we met an awesome couple and we signed up right away with their group. We start this sunday night (I think!) and we are really excited!



On Tuesday Orrin and I celebrated our two year anniversary. He is a wonderful husband and there are many days when I feel I don't deserve him. We went to eat and also went shopping for an SUV. (how romantic, huh?) :) I am so glad that he is here with me and that God protected him two and a half weeks ago in the car accident. We continue to pray for the family that lost a loved one, and that somehow God is glorified thru all of this. So as you can see by the picture....we have to find a new vehicle. We are looking at Honda Pilots and Nissan Pathfinders. Our car was paid off, so we aren't looking forward to having a car payment again, but oh well. Now that we've been car shopping it's fun to think about getting something new.


Adilynn had a doctor's check up a couple of weeks ago and all is well with her! She's 23 pounds and 31 inches tall. She continues to be off the charts in length and is in the 95th percentile for weight. This is the first time she's been ON the charts for weight! She turns 10 months on saturday.....which means I have two months to plan her year birthday party. Ugh....I am so NOT a party planner so this should be interesting. She is FINALLY GETTING HAIR!!! It's taken ten months, but it's really starting to come in now. And it has a bit of a wave to it, which isn't a suprise because I have natural wave in my hair.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Thursday!

Please pray for us....

We have had an incredibly trying week. Some of you know what happened, so Orrin and I would appreciate all the prayers possible. We found out additional information tonight that has me really down, and I am worried for Orrin. I don't understand why some things happen, or why God allows certain things to take place. I guess all we can do right now is trust in Him.

I thought weekends were supposed to be relaxing.

Whew....what a busy weekend. On Friday we had Orrin's family in and out of the house, and then Friday evening my parents came in town. Here are just a few of the "adventures" we had.

1. Friday night: said goodbye to baby Kathryn because Liz and Tony came back in town. :( We miss her already!!!

2. Saturday morning: Orrin stepped on a nail when he was sweeping out the garage. Ended up in urgent care to get a tetnus shot.

3. Saturday morning: packed away some of Adilynn's baby clothes that don't fit her anymore.

4. Saturday afternoon: discovered cucumber water. A glass of water with slices of cucumber....it's so good!!!

5. Saturday evening: dinner at Logan's Roadhouse.

6. Saturday evening: went to my in-laws to say goodbye to Liz and Tony. They live in Ohio and we want to go visit next year. We are praying there will be a baby on the way soon for them!!!

7. Saturday night: started the book "The Power of a Praying Wife." I love it so far! One of things I've taken from the 20 pages I've read is to "do right instead of be right."

8. Sunday morning: early church service at 8:30. We love the 8:30 service so much better. The 10:00 service was falling right in the middle of Adilynn's eating time and naptime, so I was missing all of the sermons to be with her! SIDENOTE: I am so grateful to Pastor Lindell for something he said while preaching about a month ago. He said that it's so important to take your children to church and to give them every opportunity possible to grow with God and to get to know Him. Not to mention the importance of your children building relationships and friendships with christian kids their age. I am so glad that Orrin and I take Adilynn every Sunday and Tiffany and Christian when we have them. It's so important to us that they grow up in church...and like the saying says "you make time for what's important to you."

9. Sunday morning: asked about the Life Groups this morning at church. We are so excited to join a group in September.

10. Sunday evening: Adilynn was bathed and fed and in bed by 8:07 pm. Ahhh...quaility time with my hubby!!!!

So that's the weekend in a nutshell.

Tomorrow Tiffany and Christian start school. I love carefree summers, but I am also looking forward to being back on a routine. I am so going to miss having them around, making them breakfast, listening to them play throughout the day and spending summer evenings taking a walk and reading stories.

Here are some of the clothes I packed away for Adilynn. She is just growing soooo quickly!!!!!!!

Here is Adilynn this morning before church. Her new thing is tilting her head to the side. She also says "papa" now, can drink thru a straw and loves Cheerios.

Well, I guess that's it. We are so blessed. Hope everyone has a great week!

A mommy of two...

I'm a mommy of two this week. Orrin and I are keeping our niece Kathryn for the week while his sister Liz and husband Tony are in Jamaica. With the exception of a few fights over toys, things have been going well. This has been good practice for me to see what it's like with two little ones around!!

In the top photo, you can see that they are having a very important conversation. And although Orrin and I have no clue what their baby talk is all about, it's cute to hear.

They are still lost in conversation in this photo. After all....they are girls. They have lots to say!

Anyways- mad props to all you moms out there to more than one child. It's a lot of work, but a lot of fun!