Summer of Awesome- Still Awesome...

H-man is getting so big.  

He started crawling over the past few weeks.  Eight months old.  I can't even wrap my mind around it!

He is so cute and funny.  A mouth full of teeth and the worst napper on the planet...not cool.

His big brother spoils him rotten and is turning him into a spoiled monster who thinks he has to be held around the clock.

But that face though...

Little Miss Thing is into everything.  Why do they call it the Terrible-twos?  It should be the into everything and too much energy Threes.  She's so funny though, and might be the friendliest child ever.  I hope she stays that way forever.

Those eyes...

Love her...

Why is he wearing this vest?  It's like 100 degrees outside.  So strange.

I took this girl for ice cream the other night and it basically took her like an hour to eat a bowl of ice cream that was about half the size of mine.  I asked her why it was taking so long and she told me she wanted to savor every bite.  It's like she's her father in a female, younger, smaller body- bizarre.

He just crawls around making messes the whole way.

Summer of Awesome is turning out pretty awesome.

However, I'm not actually getting any of the things I originally set out to do done.

We finally got certified to Foster and we've had three babies all under three weeks old in our home over the last few weeks since summer started.

Right now we have a sweet baby girl.  Please pray for us as we walk this path God has brought us to.

Pray that:

-We will be the family she needs right now and love her the way God has called us to love.

-Her family will receive the help that they need, and that hopefully we can love on and encourage them in the process.

-For her to continue to be healthy.

-For our own children to embrace her and to love her without any holding back.

-Most importantly- For God's will to be done and for us to obey and trust that His plan is always best no matter what.

So obviously Summer of Awesome has taken on a different look than I originally planned- Less reading and sewing and more diaper changes and bottle feedings.  But ultimately I hoped that this summer would be Summer of Sharing the Gospel.  What a better platform to open conversation with tons of people- than when they look at me like I'm crazy for having two babies under the age of one and three others for a total of five kids.

"Hey person- it's a God thing.  Let me tell you how awesome He is."

Blessings,

Our Life In Collages...

Hello there!

As usual I said that I would be trying to post each week, and as usual- I've not done that...oops.  Sorry.

So this post is going to be a catch up of all things life related- with pictures- so Yay!

To make it easy- I'm going to start at the top left of each collage and work my way clockwise...

Here we go...

1.  We got some BIG news!  We are expecting baby #4!!!

2.  We may need a bigger bed.  On Saturday mornings it's getting a little tight when everyone piles in...including the dog.

3.  Baby #4 will be due around Halloween 2015.  This picture is the picture we used to announce his/her's soon to be arrival.  (Thanks Pinterest)

4.  Baby's first ultrasound

You might not remember but in my last post I announced that we are going through the required steps to get certified to become a fostering family.  I did not know that I was pregnant when I wrote that post.  We are still 100% planning on continuing on that path.  We actually finished up our 10 week certification classes just last night.  We still have some other things until we are completely certified, but we are closer each day. Really the only thing that will change is that there will have to be a window of a few months when we have baby #4 where we do not take in a child. We want to make sure that we don't throw too much change on our kiddos (and ourselves) at once.  We want to make sure we adjust and allow time to bond and get used to baby #4 before we add a baby #5 (I wrote the number 5 with my head between my knees!  Holy cow!)

1.  I'm headed on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic in July!  My passport finally came in and I couldn't be more excited!!!  What a wonderful opportunity to share the gospel and the wonderful hope and joy that come from the truth that is our my Savior Jesus Christ!  And on top of that- first passport ever- Woohoo!

2, 3, and 4.  The wonderful group I am going on the mission trip with is in full swing having lots of fundraisers for our trip to the D.R.  I took these pictures in our churches fellowship hall while we were getting our Spaghetti Dinner prep on.

I know what some of you may be thinking... She's pregnant!  How could she possibly be going on a mission trip?!  (your doing the math in your head right now to figure out how far along I'll be- I'll help you out- I'll be 26 months along- right at the end of my second trimester.)  

I know it may seem crazy- but just because I'm pregnant doesn't change the fact that I feel a huge burden to go on this trip.  I felt that way before I was pregnant and I continue to after the fact.  I've spoken with my doctor and have been given the green light.  I know that things happen sometimes.  I am well aware of the dangers and concerns, but the truth still remains that I have prayed diligently about this trip and the fact that I'm pregnant hasn't changed how I feel.  The truth is I would rather be in God's will in the Dominican Republic and something go bad than to be at home disobeying his call.  I know that may sound crazy and maybe even irresponsible to some, but as Christians we are called to go, to proclaim the gospel, to disciple, and I am so excited at this opportunity.  

I hope that you will commit to praying for not only me, but our team as we prepare our hearts, our bodies, and our supplies for this trip. Pray for our safe travel there and back.  Pray that we will do the work and run the race that God has prepared for us in advance.  Please pray for the people of the D.R. that their hearts and minds will be open to hearing the good news that is our Savior Jesus Christ.

1.  Little Man placed in the top 6 at the Sonata Festival (piano)!  He went up against over 18 other kids some of which have been playing for a year or more than him.

2.  Spring is here!  The weather has been so amazing and the kids are having the best time playing outside.  Little miss loves to take her book and climb this tree in our back yard.

3.  We walked down to our local Square the other day and while we were there I let the kids climb the big awesome tree in the middle of the square.  It was really awesome right up until a city worker came and chased them down.  Oops!

4.  This girl is funny.

5.  We invited anyone and everyone over to our house back in February to celebrate Fat Tuesday with us.  I prepared over 400 beignets for us to eat...it was crazy town!

1.  Wedding photo booth with the brother and sister-in-law.

2.  The girls were Flower Girls in the same wedding.

3.  The wedding was back home and while we were there we took the kids to the trampoline gym.  Ellie had a blast!

4.  My sister went home the same week we did and brought her kids.  Little Miss and her cousin got their pedicure on.

5.  Funny Faces with cousin Landry.

1.  Before it gets unbearably hot and the mosquitoes start carrying off my children we have been trying to get in as much park time as possible.

2.  While working in the kitchen one day I turned around to find the smelly dog like this.  So like any normal person I took out my camera and took a picture.  Duh.

3.  I'm still running.  Around 3 miles 3 days a week.  I'm starting to feel the extra weight though.  My goal is to run up until the mission trip.  We'll see though.

4.  Little man is a reading machine.  Right now he's working on "The Hobbit" and "The Incredible Journey".

We've been in full swing soccer mode around here.

1.  Ellie and I have made the most of it.  We're quite the cheerleaders.

2.  Little man is doing great!  We are hoping to get him onto a competitive travel team in the fall.  Soccer really is his sport.

3.  Little Miss is worn out after every game.  She hasn't scored a goal yet, but we have one more game and we're hopeful.

4.  She keeps on smiling though!

5.  Team Helder- dad's the coach..What a team!

There you have it.  There's of course been some other things going on around here that I didn't have any pictures of.  Nolan preached this last Sunday.  His sermon was wonderful and so convicting.  I am so blessed and amazed to see the way that God is working in his life.  The kids are doing awesome in school- reading and learning like all-star pros.

Hope everyone has a blessed and fun day!  Until next year!  (haha- just kidding...I hope.)

This Week In Instagrammy Goodness



Once again I'm linking up with Life Rearranged for her Insta-Friday Link Party!

 

 

Woo-hoo!  I'm a party pooper ANIMAL!

 

Let the Party begin...

 

Middle Picture:  Baby Girl is 2 months old!  She's getting so big, and she's awake so much more (which means my naps are getting harder to come by).

Starting in the top left corner going around clockwise:

1)  The Smelly Beast loves her some Rice Krispies cereal- licked that bowl dry.

2)  Little Man is such a deep thinker.

3)  Why is it that you never lose both socks?  It's always, ALWAYS,  just one.  And where does the other one go?  It's like there's this black hole that they fall into and now they're all living in this alternate universe alone.

Who's the deep thinker now?...

4)  Fat baby cheeks?  Yes, please.

5)  How weird do my lips look in this picture.  Weird- right?!.

6)  Who wants to read at the totally awesome library when there's a computer?.

7)  Five strand braid by yours truly.  Thank you very much.

8)  I had to take this picture of myself to commemerate the fact that I had on makeup.  These days it doesn't happen too often.  Sad, but true.


Head on over to Life Rearranged and Link up your Instagram Goodness!

It won't be a party without you!

The Many Faces Of Baby Girl

It's been so fun watching Baby Girl grow each day.

She's such a happy baby.

Of course- much like her mama- she has her moments.

I blame mine on hormones.

I don't know what her excuses are.

I love it when she's alert and happy...

But sometimes a girl just has to let people know what's up...

And then there are times when confusion sets in and a girl just has no clue what's going on...

And then there are those times when you have a slightly herniated belly button and your mama writes a smiley face on your tummy and uses your belly button as the nose...

But lately there have been a lot of these moments...

As Baby Girls mama- I'm super thankful for these times. 

All of them.

Picture Fun

My kiddos got this super funny wig from their Nana at Halloween, and Little Miss decided she wanted to dress up and wear it the other day.  Little Man decided it looked like so much fun that he had to test it out too.

 

I mean what kid doesn't like to dress up right?. 

 

 

 

With the wig on they look just alike don't they?

Crazy!

And of course I couldn't pass up a chance to take this little ones picture...

She's eight weeks old and still having a little trouble keeping those eyes straight and focusing with them.  The older two think it's pretty funny when she goes cross eyed!

Look at those cheeks!

She was 6 lbs 6 oz. at birth and she's already 10 lbs. 

She's like her mama and she enjoys her meals!

I want to pinch her sweet, chubby cheeks!

By the time we got to the group shot- Baby Girl was OVER IT!

How gorgeous is this quilt that my wonderful mother made for Baby Girl!

Little Miss is sick right now.  Baby Girl got RSV and managed to give a cold to me and Little Miss.  She's running a low fever, coughing, and CRANKY!

We start spring break this weekend so of course someone's sick (thick with sarcasm).

I'm ready for her to start feeling better so I can see this sweet smile again...

Little Man started soccer this week.  He's pretty stinkin' good at it and super fun to watch!

We went to his Parent/Teacher Conference this week and his teacher told us that he's reading at the sixth grade level!  Crazy Town!  He's only a second grader!!!  He's so his father's child!  He's handsome like his Daddy too!

I think I hear the Laundry calling my name.  I've ignored it as long as I can.

Have a great night!

One Month Later...Valentine's Day

So having a baby makes things crazy.

 

I've had all of these really great intentions of posting, yet here I am a whole month later and I'm just now getting around to it.

 

Sad. 

 

I know.

 

Anyhoo- Little Man is a mess.  His daddy told him that if he got a perfect weekly report from school he'd get a treat...

 

A basketball hoop for his bedroom door.

 

I'm happy to report that he's not just The Little Man, but he's the The Man!

 

He had a big time helping his daddy put it together...

 

 

 

 

 

I honestly can't get over how nice it is!  It looks like a real goal- only smaller.  Crazytown!

He's been driving me bonkers with the loud sounds of dunking and with the entire house rattling and shaking ever since.  However, if it means he's being a rockstar at school...

 

I'll take it.





 

Here's the sweet card the Hubster made me for Valentine's day.  So cute and sweet.

We made cookies.  Apparently I lost my heart shape cookie cutter so instead I had to use my biscuit cutter.  It worked.

They were decorated lovingly and beautifully...

The weather has been going from super cold to super wonderful.  So we took advantage of a super nice day and headed to the park.  Some of our sweet friends joined us...

What a bunch of goobers!

 

And of course no playground experience is the same without some fairy wings.

 

What a sweet little fairy!  I love her!

 

 

So I took the baby to the doctor today and she has RSV.  It stands for "Really Stressful Virus".  She can hardly breath and she keeps coughing and she has all this nasty mucous stuff.  My heart is breaking for her.

 

I'm off to change a diaper and suck some snot. 

 

Have a Super Day!