Brothers

Sparing partners and best friends…I love seeing them together and pray they will always be close!

My Second Treasure

My three and a half year old who loves every bit as hard as he plays! 

My Beautiful Family

Special thanks to our dear friend and photographer, Jenn of Ruby Hill Photography!

Pottery Barn Kids Inspired Transportation Art

photo credit

When I saw these the other cute painted canvases the other day (for $39 each – yikes!), I decided to make my own version for free using fabric and frames that I had on hand.   

Darling Little Redhead chose the truck.  And we together chose the boat for El Principito.  I was thankful that’s how it worked out because the airplane looked the most complicated! 

These will go above each boy’s bed.  I hope to make a small coordinating pillow too.  I’m not sure if that comes before or after painting their bed frames but hopefully it will all be done before too much longer!

Have a wonderful day everyone!!  May the joy of the Lord be your strength! 

I Love Being a Mother

 

Darling Little Redhead and El Principito,

I’m so blessed to be your mother!  Thank you for all the joy, laughter, hugs, kisses, creativity, fun and LOVE you bring to my every day!  I love you! 

Mom  

True Beauty Does

Double beep marks the arrival of his message and heart warms fast with love as I read.   

“When I saw you in the rear view mirror…

I was reminded again of how beautiful you are.” 

Smile broadens and head tips back with a laugh.  I’m so blessed by his thoughtful love. 

Fingers quick, tap out reply. 

“Thanks, honey!  Now if only beauty would calm a grouchy baby!”

It’s been a rough day, this.  Nothing seems to soothe the little one. 

I’ve barely pressed send when another message arrives.  This time, it’s not words on screen but voice in heart.   

“Oh, Shilo…but it does!  True beauty does.”

I know this voice and I know it can only speak truth.  My brain strains to understand what He means; to remember how He defines true beauty.  Desperate to comprehend, I go to the Words of Life.

“That is the way the holy women made themselves beautiful.  They trusted God.”  I Peter 3:5 NLT

True beauty is trusting God.  This is His message to me.  It’s powerful in it’s simplicity.   

Piercing conviction and wild hope converge in my heart and words spill out,

“Father, forgive me for not looking to You for wisdom about how to comfort and console my little one today!  I depended on my own intuition and it failed me miserably. 

I believe you spoke to me for a reason!  You want to show me how being truly beautiful…how trusting You makes a difference in all the little situations in my day!  I do trust you.  I wait for your wisdom.”

Heart quiet, I hear His voice again.

“Sit down and play with the child, Shilo.  Just play with him.” 

Tears spill.  I gather toys.  We sit.  Play.  He calms.  Smiles.  Laughs for the first time all day. 

I’m humbled, amazed, and thankful.  And I’m believing with all my heart the message He spoke to me today.  True beauty does, because true beauty is born out of the fierce belief that the all wise, loving God of the universe has the power to change every situation in my life! 

Has Anyone Seen the Baby?

Muscle Man

I had to show off El Principito in his Muscle Man shirt (it seems a bit of an oxymoron to put such a little chub in anything with the word "muscle" on it)!  He's 7  months now and wearing 12-18 months clothing.  I'm so happy to have a HEALTHY baby boy!  :)  

Coming Back Down to Earth

Well, I'm slowly coming back down to earth again after our amazing date!  We thoroughly enjoyed being spoiled!  Thanks so much to our generous friends for sending us away!  

This was our room...very warm and relaxing!
    

It turned out that El Principito came with us since the little man wouldn't take a bottle no matter what we tried.  He was no trouble though and entertained himself for a long time in the mirror!  Grandma was disappointed she didn't get to keep him though!  

The hotel, originally built in 1914, underwent a 38 million dollar renovation in 2000.  The woodwork is fabulous.  This is the Hall of the Doges (dough'jez) which actually predates the hotel by 10 years.  It was a local ballroom that they lifted in by crane during the renovation.  I didn't know they could do that!  

Another favorite room of mine was the Marie Antoinette Ballroom, whose three original chandeliers were purchased for $10,000 each during a time when the average American's house cost $8,000.  Yikes!

And here's the proof that we were actually there!  Too bad Neil didn't happen to be visiting (he's listed amongst the famous guests, along with almost every president of the 20th century).

Photos: thedavenporthotel.com

The Screaming Banshee Meets Baby's First Christmas

Darling Little Redhead with the Screaming Banshee. "What?", you ask. The.Screaming.Banshee. Which is an overpriced plastic car-eating tractor. Who doesn't eat any old car. Who only eats CARS cars (which are also overpriced). Yeah. Rockin' present, right? Obviously DLR thought so! :) And that's all that matters to this mama!


And here's the sweetest present of all! El Principito on his first Christmas.

El Principito (Or Should I Say "Moose"?)

El Principito will be 4 months old at the end of December. I can't believe he's weighing in at almost 20 pounds! My mom has started calling him "Moose" so I had to get a picture of him in this cute little outfit.


My Moose Valuable Player!


And here he is with his cousin who was born exactly one week before he was. I just love his little hand on his head!

Like Father, Like Son

This Thanksgiving picture really doesn't need a caption. Just read El Principito's shirt and you'll see what I mean! :)

Success!!

I couldn't be happier with how the kids' portraits turned out today! It was so hard to choose but here are a few of my favorites!


Darling Little Redhead isn't so little anymore! Three years old!


Big Brother and Lil' Brother


El Principito is two months old already!

All Smiles

El Principito is all smiles these days and so sweet!

Nothing Makes My Heart Go Squeeze...

...like seeing him love on my boys! I know the rest of you moms out there know EXACTLY what I'm talking about!


Honey with El Principito at 5 weeks (can you believe he's rolling over already???)

Vanity, Thy Name is Mommy

I couldn't help myself yesterday when I saw this little onesie on clearance at Target! I felt a little vain purchasing it for myself...seems like the kind of thing your sister or best friend should buy for you rather than you buy for yourself (on that note, I did buy one for my niece in darling girl colors)! :) And, I get extra vanity points for actually purchasing it in two sizes!


I LOVE MOMMY!!!!!!!!! 12 days old (Sorry............I KNOW this picture is sideways! I can't figure out why it flipped so you'll just have to crane your neck around to look!)

Announcing "El Principito" (Little Prince)

Honey and I are proud to present "El Principito", our little prince, born August 31st, 2008 at 10:01 P.M., weighing 8 pounds 15 ounces and measuring 21 1/2 inches long.




With Daddy at the hospital


With Mom at 1 day



Napping at home


With Grammy on one of her daily stops for a baby fix!