The Delights of Anticipation

3 Is The Magic Number

It's hard to believe that it has been 3 whole years since a baby girl with rosebud lips and soft brown curls took her first breath and changed me so completely.  I am continually amazed that God saw me fit to raise these little people and my heart could not be more full.  You little girl are such a bright and signing star.  You have us all wrapped around your little finger and you know it.  We laugh when you laugh and hurt when you hurt.  There is absolutely nothing that we wouldn't do for you and I hope that as you grow you feel how tue that is.

I love you baby girl more than you could ever know.

**We are going to try this 3 year shoot again when someone is feeling a bit more cooperative;)**
  
  

Time

Eight years ago today I entered into this crazy, turbulent, trying, wonderful, fulfilling, amazing world called parenthood and not a day goes by that I don't marvel at God for choosing me for such a big task. 

Eight years ago today I was wheeled into surgery after my 3rd day of induction failed to put me into labor.  My son was pulled out of my womb and my whole world changed. 

Eight years ago today I knew what unconditional, gut-wrenching, all encompassing love felt like and I continue to be amazed by how fierce a mother's love truly is.

Eight years ago today I glimpsed his face and I can't believe the changes that this little face has made since then.  From chubby little cheeks to the stare of a child who is trying to find himself as he grows.  That face has held so many emotions, been stained with tears, stretched with smiles and kissed more times than one could count.

My baby is 8 years old today and I can't believe how time flies.

 

****The Enchanted Garden Collection is now available in my Etsy shop.  www.littlelotticlothing.etsy.com  :)

Meet Jingle

We recently delved into the world of adoption to add a wee one to our family.  Our new addition is small with rosy cheeks, a sly smile and a penchant for hide and seek.  We named him Jingle and he is our Elf On a Shelf.  He'll be leaving us tonight to help santa with all of his Christmas Eve preparations and will then head off on a much needed vacation.  We will be sad to see him go but look forward to his return next year at the holidays.  The children are sad to miss the fun of looking for his new hiding spot everyday but no one is more sad to see him go then me.  What leverage for good behavior will I have when he is gone?! 

It's been fun Jingle.  You will be missed.

 

Snapshots Of A Boy

Yesterday was my son's, otherwise known as Thing 2's, birthday.  I took the opportunity to take him out out for some 6 year old pictures and spend a little time just him and me.  He is such a sweet little thing (when he wants to be) and truly lights up my life.  I can't believe that time has gone by so fast, it seems like just yesterday that I held him in my arms in my hospital room.  I don't know why God thought me suitable to mother these amazing little people but I am forever grateful that He did.

 

This Wednesday's Wordless Ya'll

 
 
 
Just a few shots of the fallish things we have been doing these past few weeks. 

Okay, so I'm not great at the whole "wordless" thing;) 
  
 
  

Autumn Delights

Visiting cider mills, strolling through pumpkin patches and picking bushels of apples are some of the activities that make autumn my favorite season.  This weekend I got a chance to spend some much needed time with my sweet little family of 5.  We visited Westview Orchards on Sunday and had a wonderful, cold day of merriment.  These are some of those moments that I was talking about last post and I will cherish them always.

  

Manic Monday

Another week begins and another to-do list a mile long looms in front of me.  I have been caught up in a flurry of activity since school started and I am hoping to soon hit my stride with it all.  Last week was a comedy of errors that I am hoping to not repeat.  We started the week with all 3 kids sick and at home, Tuesday Thing 1 returned to school while Thing 2 stayed home with a low grade fever.  Now, does it make sense to you to have a kid home sick that does not act sick at all?  Shouldn't sick children lie around fatigued and quiet?  that's what I thought but that is not what I got.  Wednesday, Thing 2 goes back to school and promptly runs into a tree causing the office ladies to call me in to decide whether his scrapped up eye needs medical attention.  Luckily the scrapes and cuts were all around his eye and not inside so no doctor appointment was needed.  Never the less, home he came.  We successfully got through Thursday and Friday so I thought that I would treat the kids with a trip to a little cider mill after school for a cup of cider and a donut.  Wouldn't you know, that was a bad idea.  As we sat enjoying our treat baby girl flipped over the top of her chair onto the stone patio and put her tooth through her lip.  Our week wrapped up with a trip to urgent care where we were assured that she would be okay.  I am exhausted all over again just reliving all of that here for you all.  Whew!

I am praying for a much calmer week this week and the opportunity to get back to work.  I have new designs to roll out for a mother/daughter event later in the month and some practice time with my trusty camera.  Wish me luck!

Wishing you all the happiest of Monday's:)

Tis' The Season

After a bit of a blogging funk I had big plans to come back this morning and dazzle you all with my witty prose, gorgeous photos and  stuff you just really needed to know, but alas, life happens.  I woke up this morning to three sick kids so any big plans that I had for the day are scrapped.  How is it fair that I have kids home from school just weeks after it has started?  Tis' the season right?  It is but a matter of time before the germ pool that is elementary school infects it's tiny inhabitants with some virus or another, and it just happened to be my kids' turn.  Each seems to be suffering from something different too so I am really in for it here.  Wish me luck as I spend my day knee deep in Kleenex, coughs and fever medicine.  I'm going to need it.

Just Dance

Today was one of those days where dreams come true and hopes are fulfilled.  You see, today was my baby girl's first day of dance class.  I danced as a child and on into college and had hopes that one day I would have a daughter that would long to move as well.  Now please know, I have no intention of forcing anyone to do anything that they don't want to, so you must imagine my delight in that fact that she absolutely adored it!  I seriously doubt that there is anything quite as cute as little bitty ones in tutus so you will excuse me the number of photos you are about to be shown.

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sigh..............:)

Nostalgia

The challenge this week over at I Heart Faces is to take or find a photo of yours that fits the category of nostalgia.  Now I had all kinds of ideas of photos that I could take with vintage items but when I came across this picture that I took of the boys this summer I knew that it was perfect for this.  This photo of them is quintessentialy them, when they are not in the throws of a fight that is, and I know that years from now when they are older and have left the nest I will look back at this picture and remember summers when my children were young and joy came so easily to them.