Right now...

I'm running the risk of sounding so cliche and cheesy. But I don't think I care enough not to post it. 

I just love being a mommy. I'm posting right now from my sweet Nora's glider at midnight. She woke up screaming for no apparent reason and when I came in she calmed right down, grabbed her blankie and lovie and crawled into my arms. Like it was exactly where she belonged. And it was!

I know the day will come where I can't fix everything with a song and a snuggle. I know the late night rocking with my little babes curled up on my lap or nighttime movies with a warm little jammied munchkin nuzzled on my lap are numbered. I know the "mama hold you" days with little fat arms reaching up to me to be held are short.

I don't want to forget any of it.

Not the snuggles and laughs. Tantrums and black beans all over the floor. The fat babies sprinting to jump into my lap or running to the door to see Daddy. I want to remember every mispronounced word and cute jumbled sentence. Every outing where I had to search for missing water cups & diapers. Every sweet sister hug and hilarious over the top fight. Every smile & big eyed expression. 

I don't want to forget my two tiny girls who feel so pretty when I get them dressed and do their hair, pointing out their pink shoes to everyone they see. The girls who love to rock their babies so sweetly and in the next breath are throwing toys and dumping out everything in site! 

I don't want to forget how much love my heart feels every time they succeed and how hard and helpless I feel when I just can't figure out what to do. I don't want to forget how humbling it feels to do it wrong so many times, but how great it feels when I get something right. 

I don't want to forget this season with Lance. There is so much joy within our walls it almost doesn't seem fair. There is lots of stress, never enough money and my cute clothes only debut about twice a week, but we are in a season of JOY! I don't want to forget. 

So I may post things like this from time to time because even in my short (yes SHORT) 29 years, I've learned that there are seasons of good and bad, hard and easy. This season is so good and so hard and my heart really just feels so full. 

That's all. :)

Oh Christmas Tree

I'm pretty sure there is nothing more soothing than sitting in a room with just Christmas tree lights on! I seriously love a good Christmas tree! 

My plan this year was to do a totally kid friendly tree and decorate the whole thing with candy canes & red ribbon. I thought since we have a white tree this would be perf! However, the impulsive side of me wanted a tree up now & nothing had been purchased. So we have our same breakable tree up! 

Wish it luck! 🎄

My favorite view from the couch that I get to enjoy for the next month! 

This age, 18 months, is so far the most exhausting and equally the best age yet. I don't have time for a long post but will quickly update. 

At their 18m check:

Nora was in the 92% across the board. She lost 2 pounds since her last check up and I can only assume it's because she has one speed and that's running! Nora is keeping us on our toes. She's hilarious and so full of personality. She's an individual that's for sure, and continues to march to the beat of her own drum. She can be a handful with her strong will, but I also don't think a person has ever loved or needed me more than my sweet Nora. She can get quite worked up over things, but loves to rock and rock and rock. Every night she says "mama wanna rock" and it is so sweet. Our favorite nighttime activity is letting her lay on her back on my legs while we rock and I massage her little head with lavender oil. She LOVES it! She's smart, expressive, hyper, dramatic, sweet a crazy dancer and such a joy!! We love you Nora Beth!!

Zoe Rose was in the 92% for weight, 89% for head and 100% for height. So a little more varied than sissy! She also lost 2 pounds and I assume it's for the same reason. She is on the go! It's funny to speak in terms of "lost" with her because she still seems so chubby! Zoe is so so so sweet. I can't say it enough. There isn't a mean or confrontational bone in her little body. Her sweet hugs and kisses make you wanna cry they are so sweet. She loves to share and always wants to make sure Nora has what she has. She loves to take her sissy snacks and toys and her lovies. She is a TALKER and rarely stops talking. Literally. Sometimes, as much as I adore her, the constant chatter right off the bat in the morning is a bit much. But she is such a smart girl and I love hearing her thoughts in words now. She's smart, loud, sweet, also dramatic and loves her family. Zoe Rose we can't imagine life without you! 

And third baby girl. We know nothing about you. We don't know your age or what is happening in your little life right now. It's not easy for Mommy. But we are praying for our paths to cross very soon! We love you so much already too. We truly do!

Happy half way through the week everyone! 

Twins!?

The most recent picture I've taken of my children REALLY just really proves they do NOT look like twins! Really, not even siblings. Zoe is getting more and more fair, eyes couldn't be more blue and hair couldn't be more blonde! Nora is getting more of an olive tone to her skin everyday, that dark brown hair is here to stay and her amazing eyes are so dark brown. A brown I've only seen in one other person. Her daddy. 

I told Lance it looks like two little best friends that asked their moms to dress them alike. 

Both perfect in their own blonde and brunette kinda ways! Love it. 

Saturday

Nesting!? Maybe!? 

Just kidding of course. Can you be adoption nesting!? I'll make myself feel better by saying this urge to clean is a sign of an impending referral. But really I have been dying to confine the girls things to ONE spot, or at least give it a good home base that it can return to every evening! So tonight that was my mission!

Shelves will be coming tomorrow and our guest room/playroom is now only a playroom! Yay! We've also made the guest bathroom their bathroom again and moved any of their big items out of all common areas! 

I love those little munchkins more than anything but in spite of my best efforts they were truly taking over our house and it feels so good to not see toys everywhere you look now! 

And slightly unrelated, but how is it 11:30pm on Saturday night already!? The weekends just fly by at lightening speed! We try to relax and just enjoy our family time, but there really is just so much to do sometimes, there's really no choice but to work work work in between twin toddler fun! :) 

 

We did enjoy some chilly fun at a great park this morning with the cousins, I was able to finish multiple cups of coffee while still hot and I got in a nice long bath so the day was definitely a success even if we were busy! 

Enjoy some pics of the kiddos at the park. No one would really cooperate but they are still cute! 

Zoe relaxing in the giant handicap swing 

Sissy chillin 

Fun with daddy! Nora has been in such a mommy phase lately and I'm so glad she decided her fun daddy was her friend again! Poor dad! 

My super cheeser! She loves a good photo op!

Posting up on some stumps.

All The kids rocking the rocker house. I'm guessing Betho is saying "No Levi, no more coffee!" 

So much drama is such a small person! Heaven forbid we ask her to stop for 2 sec. :) 

Enjoying the cold breeze. Bethany's hat/scarf get up KILLS me! I'm still laughing as I type this. No shame. 

NOT that I look any better! 4/4 adults rolled out of bed and headed to the park!

Sweet big big. Not sure what I'm doing in Nora's hat in the bottom of this pic!? 

Nora catching some rays! 

Before. Does this not make you anxious!? 

After! Can't wait to get shelves tomorrow and finish this up!! 

Enjoy the rest of your weekend friends! And please continue to keep our family in your prayers. We are still waiting and praying for Gods perfect plan regarding some of our adoption road bumps. I recently was listening to a very familiar song about waiting on the Lord and the verse "I will move ahead bold and confident, taking every step in obedience" stuck out to me. We don't know how we are going to accomplish this but we are going to move ahead, bold and confident, taking every step in obedience. God will bless what He has called us to do, I just know it. :) 

It is well

My cousin called me today to share this song. I downloaded it and have been playing it all day. I think these words can speak to all of us in different ways and for different reasons. Such a great song! 

http://youtu.be/Txg5nOIZYO8

Really fun day

Today was such a fun day. Exactly what I needed to take my mind off some of the stressful adoption stuff! 

Ever since I can remember I've said "I can't wait to have a daughter and take her to the American Girl Doll store someday!" Kinda strange I guess but I just loved my Molly doll so much and felt so special when I got her and always wanted to have little girls and do the same! Well the other day at my aunts house my mom saw first hand how much the girls LOVE and I mean LOVE realistic looking babies. They will play with them, feed them, rock them and even crawl around on the floor "crying" with them for a looooong time! So we decided a little

Christmas scouting trip was order! "Mommy clause" isn't likely getting them an American Girl doll quite yet, but "Mimi clause" just may. I'll hold out and get them Kirstin and Molly later! :) 

But the girls were in heaven. Dolls are where they are definitely showing an interest right now and their little minds were blown. They had a blast and got their little dolls all set up in a stroller and cruised around like they owned the place. When we told Zoe it was time to go she got her doll out and tucked her under her arm all ready to go with her new best friend! Thankfully telling her the baby had to go "night night" did the trick. 

After that we headed to the awesome indoor toddler at area at this mall and then finished our fun morning off at California Pizza kitchen. This was our first time here with the girls so we had to do our soy/nut/wheat/egg investigation. But after sending the waiter back to the kitchen about three times we deemed it a safe place and the girls and Mimi and I devoured some yummy hummus and gluten free cheese pizza. Yummy!! And PTL for the gluten free options everywhere now! People like us are SO thankful! 

After naps my mom came back over to bring the girls some warm Jammie's. Can we say nicest person ever!? And then she offered to drive us all to Starbucks. I'm pretty sure she could sense that I have been struggling a bit and I must say this day was SO good for my soul!!!!! Nothing like great company all day and someone loving on your kiddos! Seriously, most refreshing thing ever. 

Looking very forward to having THREE girlfriends to take on outings like this soon! I mean, SO excited!!!!

Enjoy some pics of the girliest girls around! :)

Nora wore her raincoat all night until we forced it off for the bath. Hood & all! 

Our newest game. The girls ask me "mommy snow!?" And we throw cotton balls all over the house. Ha! Lance walked in from work thrilled to see another blizzard had blown through. ;)

My sweet Zoe waiting for lunch.

Big girls!

The pictures don't do it justice but the play place at this mall was amazing!!

Nora found a little hole perfect for her!

Zoe in her happy place!

Nora too.

She grabbed every doll she saw and started hugging it and was pulling everything off the shelves faster than we could put them back!

Little mama.

Zoe loving her baby! 

New best friend! Hopefully she's good so Santa will come! 😃