Sunday, July 10, 2016

baby iris turns one


Our baby is one, and we had the sweetest time celebrating her with family. We have hit such a sweet spot with her lately; she is fun, funny, cuddly, and full of love for her big sisters! She loves to climb anything, jump in her crib, eat peas, pb, & bananas, laugh at her sisters, and carry baby dolls all over the house. She (finally) sleeps well, eats well, and is healthy and thriving. She has 6 teeth, no hair, blue eyes, and is 21lbs of cuteness. 

The Lord has been so kind to give me the experience of a low risk pregnancy, a natural birth I had long hoped for, and a healthy infancy in baby Iris. I am so so thankful for the lives of my twins, but I had a lot of dark days with a medically complicated pregnancy/birth/infancy, and I wondered often what it was like with a healthy baby. I did not deserve a different/positive baby experience because I had such a dark one with the twins, but the Lord gave it to me out of His fatherly goodness because of Jesus, and for no other reason. I am so so grateful for the way I was able to enjoy infancy this go around. Praise God from whom all blessings flow for this sweet baby and what a gift she has been to me and our family.





 A couple days before Iris's birthday, Mimi's house got "flocked" by 30+ flamingos (for some church fundraiser), and so we obviously had no choice but to put on pink party hats and eat sprinkle cones with the flamingos.





Thanks for helping us celebrate, sweet cousins!! We miss you already.

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

dance and twirl if you're a birthday girl

I just realized I have not done a blog post here in 10 months because…three kids. Phew. It's a hustle, all day, erryday. I have had to let alot go (ie. phone calls, thank you cards, blog posts, …showering) but what I haven't let go of is, celebrating them with a birthday party! It's a fun little hobby for me.

The big girls turned four. I have to say I don't really feel sad about it. I am so thankful to Jesus for them and very proud of them. I am really enjoying them right now too. They are smart and fun and funny and kind. They are healthy, both. Evangeline got a Tonsillectomy at the end of February because of Sleep Apnea and has already gained 2.5lbs (without the tonsils in her way all the time she can eat, sleep, and talk more easily). She had gained confidence, and I can tell she just feels better. She loves problem solving, painting, being silly, praying, Audrey, all things yellow, and Cheetos. Audrey is doing great. She is healthy and happy and sweet. She loves bike riding, Palace Pets, all things pink, gymnastics, cupcakes, and Iris. They both have loved school this year, and thrived with their new friends and teachers there. Over Christmas my mom took them to see the Degas exhibit at the St Louis Art Museum, and they got to see "The Little Dancer" (and came home with necklaces of her, of course!). This was the initial impetus behind my ballerina party idea, although their love for pink tutus played no small role. They said they wanted everything at their party to be pink, sparkly, girly & twirly, and so that's what we did, and I loved it as much as they did! Love my girly girls!