My little 2 year olds!

Nora: 

You are so smart, a thinker, aren't quick to give affection to people outside your family, a dancer, a lover of all things fast/loud/high, you are pretty much an adrenaline junkie, you love food, the savory the better, you don't really like sweets, except for ice cream and jelly beans, you have a very short fuse, you have been know to throw some pretty epic fits, however I've never seen more pride in any human as I see in you when you can correct your wrong and apologize, you just can't seem to always manage all the big feeings and ideas you have in your tiny little two year old mind, you love your sister, you love TV, you really love mommy and daddy, especially mommy right now, you love your grandparents and all the attention you get from them and you get so excited when you see any of them, you have a soft spot for Mimi and will soften your sometimes touch exterior for a rock with your Mimi, you have awesome rhythm, can jump off frighteningly high areas and stick the landing like a little seasoned gymnast, you love bubble baths, bubbles, playdough, chalk, chick fil a, any Mexican food, really you haven't met a food you don't like, you can count to 15, say your ABCs, and jabber on about most things going on in your little world,  you hate having a poney tail or pigtails, our record is 10 minutes, but you won't leave the house without a bow, you are a morning person and are rarely affected by lack of sleep, you HATE being put down for naps and scream "I wanna play" for a few minutes before the exhaustion takes over and you crash, you have been known to fall asleep standing up mid protest, you have such a strong little will, you must have chocolate milk morning, noon, and night, you don't seem to care that's it's really just regular milk with a teeny splash of chocolate, you love to rock and would let us rock you for hours, you love taking showers, rocking your babies, and singing old McDonald, you are full of spirit and life, you are so inquisitive and you can see it on your face that you are always planning your next move, you have a very methodical personality much like your daddy and mommy often has to really try hard to understand both of you, you are funny and love to put on a show, you have a good heart and I pray God uses ALL of you to create you to be a little person who loves Him and loves others. 

Nora, we think you are just the best little thing in the world. You fill the days with joy and life!! We love you more and more each day! 

Love Mommy & Daddy 

Zoe:

You are so sweet. I think that word personifies you more than any other, you are smart, chatty, funny, such a lover, a huge fan of cookies and cake and pizza, you inherited the sweet tooth, you love your little friends and feel like such a big girl when you step out and play with other kids, you are an includer and are already showing signs of empathy above and beyond your age, you have mastered whining I must say, and I've yet to meet another human who is less of a morning person than you, it's scary, you are passive at times, and a peacemaker, you can count to 15 say your ABCs, quote most simple books we read often and know the lyrics to several songs, you are a sponge, you love TV, your family, you cousins, and mommy and daddy, you love bananas and apple juice and ice water, yes ice water is like the ultimate treat for you, you love your sister and are always looking out for her, you share well and without even being asked most times, you love to rock and sing and would let us hold you all night, you have an amazing vocabulary and can practically carry on a conversation with us, you love "talking" to your sister and putting on little shows to make her laugh, watching the two of you tumble through the house, laughing hysterically is just about the best thing ever, you are often a little timid with some things and can be fearful, except for ducks, you would jump in the pond with them if we would let you, you love rocking your babies, pretending to be a baby and you are obsessed with play dough, you tolerate playing blocks with sissy but really are happy to just be as girly as possible and make tea and pancakes for us all in your little kitchen, you are such a peaceful child, and it's clear that God has given you a soft, sweet, heart, you love to take bubble baths and showers, you love to have your hair done and get lotioned up, you hate getting your diaper changed and when I ask if you need a new diaper you typically respond with "no, I'm fine", which I find so cute, you love the park and the swings, you love slides and spinning toys, you are truly just such a pleasant little lover of a person. Zoe, we pray that you continue to have a heart that flows out with love for others. We pray that you grow to be a person who loves God and is a light in this world. 

Zoe, you have changed our family for the better. Your soft, adorable, sweet spirit makes us smile every day. We love you so much!

Love, 

Mommy & Daddy 

"Sunny days keepin the clouds away".....but not quite.

This weekend was the girls second birthday! It was great. However, it did not go as planned. The forecast was back and forth all week, changing every few hours as Houston weather loves to do! But after some debate we just decided to keep our Sesame Street party at the PARK a go! Then Saturday morning at about 7:30am I laid in bed and listened to the thunder and then a gigantic burst of thunder struck and the monsoon began. I mean really, it was almost funny how.hard.it.was.raining!! So I called my sister who lives around the block and begged her to let us use her sunroom. She ever so kindly said yes, even though I know getting a call that 30 people would be arriving unexpected in 2 hours wasn't her exact plan for her Saturday morning. But she's nice like that! So the whole family shot into high gear to pretty much plan a birthday party that would now be inside!! But it was great. It was a taaad steamy having so many people in one sun room, some kids may have been freaking out about the Thunder and most of us were drenched. But, now I'll never forget my precious little angels turning two. And they had a blast! They got to have all their favorite foods (veggies, fruit, cupcakes and popcorn), play with their cute little friends and have grandparents obsessing over them. Pretty good day for them, even if we were wet! 

I will write a post soon about what these two are up to now that they are big two year olds. But that is for another day when I have LOTS of time! 

We love you girls a crazy amount! I don't know what we would do without you filling our lives with more joy and love and laugher than you will ever know!! 

Sesame Street central compete with an insane amount of fruits and veggies to create Oscar, Elmo, big bird (his banana nose was missing), and Cookie Monster. 

Family photo time 

High point of the party! Whipped cream mouthfuls! 

Yummy! 

This is the look of two munchkins having fun!! 

Cute little last minute cupcakes. Thanks you funfetti for just coming out with a delish gluten free box cake option! 

Gigantic big bird"ie" soaring above the party!!

Joined by his gigantic friend Elmo! He room SO much abuse by the little boys! But he is still lurking around the house! 

Yummy!! She came straight in an begged for a cupcake. She was covered in icing before the party even began! 

At home in their new clothes, princess crowns and  magna doodles! 

Running wild way past bedtime with giant 5 foot balloons crashing through the house! 😄😄

Joy

I just wanted to post a quick post praising God for giving us joy in the midst of this wait! The wait for our little baby girl is painful. It's so so so hard. The process is seriously tough and I've yet to see the glimmer at the end of the tunnel. But I have been praying that God give us joy in this wait and have also been praying that he give me a perspective that allows me to be in the NOW with the family that I have now. Because NOW won't ever be given back and I don't want to waste these precious months stressing and wishing them away. So I continue to pray hard for this distant babe of mine. Like, hard hard hard. My floors are extra sticky lately because naptime is now prayer time and not mopping time these days! And bedtime is prayer time and car time and, well you get the idea. And I cry. Everyday. Usually in my time with God, but sometimes in the middle of the grocery store. But I'm trying to only pray and not stress. Always a work in progress. Enjoy a snapshot of the joyful, blessed life our amazing God is allowing us to live. I am thankful for a fresh perspective in such a trying time! 

30

This week we celebrated my 30th bday! It was tons of fun & the perfect little get away from "real life" for a sec. I love my full life, but sometimes a good ol fashion slumber party is just what you need. Especially when you are turning THIRTY....eeeek!! My sister, the fellow birthday girl, pretty much planned the whole weekend and I did what I was told in terms of party prep! But it was perfection! 

We went to chuys for dinner Friday and then came back to Bethos house for a painting party. It was SO much fun and so relaxing. Filled with lots of great conversation, wine and yummy snacks! 

After we created our masterpieces we sat around and ate and ate and ate and talked until after 3am!! 

The next morning we spent the day at the spa and relaxed some more and continued another fun day of great company with amazing friends!! 

So here's to being 30! Ok honestly, I still cringe a little. I liked how 29 sounded much much better. I tried to pretend it doesn't sound old, but it kinda does. However, I don't think I could ask for a better life. I am so blessed. My heart is just so full! And I have a heck of a lot more kids than I ever thought I'd have by 30! Ha! 

Alisha taking her peacock feather very seriously!! 

All of our amazing works of art together! 

A little break for a photo op.

Working hard! 

Sleepy heads! 

Mine was the worst one. For real! 

All of us! 

Ahhhh just post facial and massage!!

So refreshed! 

We did some damage on the cheese and wine trays!

The next day, reunited with my little preshlings! 

And just because. This was today at a play date at the church gym. Nora insisted on laying in all the baby toys, pretending to cry, and zoe "rocking" her and saying, "shhhh baby". Oh heavens! They are just too much and the perfect combo! 

So heres to a new chapter! And even though I feel old, I'm pretty sure it will be the best one yet! ❤️

THE Call!! Our referral.....

Friday night, February 13 at about 10pm we finally, after three years of waiting, got THE call! The call we have been waiting for, hoping for, dreaming about and praying for for so so long! The call setting us on our way to becoming the family of 5 we have been waiting to become! Adding that last, perfect little addition to our lives. 

So here is the story. 

Lance and I were honestly not having a super awesome night. The girls were truly in rare form. Lance was trying to get something done on the computer that was frustrating him and I was refolding a gigantic pile of laundry the girls had dumped out of my neatly folded basket. Both girls had just fallen asleep about an hour late and the house was trashed. We were just not at the top of our game and spirits were feeling a little defeated on this particular night. 

I had just finished saying "let me work on the computer it is clearly frustrating you" and as I sat down the phone rang. I looked at it and FROZE. Called Lance over and picked up the phone with a shaking hand. It was our case worker. She apologized for the late hour, but said she thought I would want the call right away! She told us that she had a referral and asked us if we wanted to move forward with her info. Duh! So she told us a little, sent a file and we waited, staring at the computer. No file. I called her back and said, "So sorry, I know it's 10:30pm but I see no file and my pinky fingers are going numb." Yes you read that right! I said those words and that was actually happening to me! What!? Odd response to excitement/shock huh!? 

She resent and then the email appeared. We were both still in shock. Is this really happening? Can we even take another kid? The ones we already have about did us in tonight! I joked with Lance before we opened the email and said, "so still want another baby!?" We laughed in a nervous/excited kind of way. Still just reeling in the emotions of the last half hour. 

And then there she was. 

Our daughter. 

No doubt about it.

Anxiety gone.

Fear gone.

Those crazy twins sleeping down the hall. Ah, they will be fine. 

That was her. 

The one we have been waiting for. 

So adorable.

So darling.

So chubby even.

The perfect baby. 

The most out of the box "birthing" experience. But that's what it was. In that moment, my third daughter was looking at me on a computer screen from across the ocean. I was a mommy to three now. I was sure of it. I was sure about her. We both were. In an instant. 

I went into crazy excited mode! Called my mom about 23x but no answer. Then I called my sister and she picked up right away. I told her that we got THE call!! She got her husband on the phone right away and was literally at our house within minutes with her referral pictures printed on card stock and displayed on our mantle. I then called my cousins and one picked up. She answered with, "you got THE call didn't you!?" Ha! It was super late at this point so it was suspicious.

The next day we "surprised" my parents with the news. The word "surprise" being used loosely bc apparently my sister text my mom the night before saying "you are gonna be sooooooooooo sorry you turned off your phone!" So she pretty much knew. But we were able to surprise them none the less and show off her pics for the first time! 

Lance's parents joined the group of "important people unable to be located" and we had to wait almost a full 24 hours to get them! They were in a conference all day and weren't available to talk! But we finally got them via FaceTime Saturday night and they were TRULY shocked!! It was funny because we were rushing to feed the girls dinner while trying to get out of the house for a Valentine's date as the girls clung to my legs because they have what I call "mascara anxiety". No joke, when the makeup comes out they know they are getting left and freak out! So when we popped the news, the chaos of our current life, mixed with the phrase "we got THE call for a beautiful baby girl!!!!" was kinda funny, but ohhhhhhh so exciting!! 

So needless to say we are all thrilled. However, these last few weeks have been the hardest of my life. Having a child across the ocean with no real timeline as to when we will get her home or what she is doing daily is very very hard. It's on my mind CONSTANTLY. I pray a lot. A lot a lot a lot. 

So now we just pray this girl home. That's all we can do. 

Posts to come soon on the process as it unfolds!! 

Thanks for sharing in our excitement!!

Love,

The happy family of 5!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Mimi seeing her 5th grandchild for the first time! 

Girls rockin their new big sister shirts before the big reveal!

Sitting in the car outside Lances office after officially accepting our referral the following Monday afternoon!! 

Valentine's Day date the night after. We were seated in the exact room and spot where our rehearsal dinner was 8 years ago. It was such a great night as we sat there counting our blessings and reflecting on the last 8 years of marriage and the fullness of our lives! 

 A picture I made us take before opening the email and seeing her face. See, don't we look worn out!? 

Mimi and Grandpa seeing her for the first time! 

Yep, I took a picture of the email before we opened it! 

Computer crashed

So I wrote a whole huge, long, totally "deep" post about our referral and the past few weeks of life since the big news! However, it's on my laptop that crashed and I'm working on recovering it. I think the raw emotion and feeling that day when I wrote it would be more true to the emotions of that day, that amazing week! So im going to try my best to get my original post back. 

But know we are so excited, scared, anxious and in awe of our awesome God!! 

I've not followed through on promised posts before (e.g. the girls first birthday, our summer vacation...) but this I WILL follow through on!!

Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow for creating this perfect baby girl!