Sickness Shmickness

Zoe

You wouldn't know from the looks of her but my normally happy girl has been so grumpy this past week. All three of the girls have. Tried to get a picture of grumpy Aris & she really wouldn't cooperate. I'm ready for these germs to go and find someone else to bother. We've mostly been watching PBS Kids in the morning, followed by a tiny lunch & a long nap. Then it's to bed early for all the girls. Even Sloan. I however am having a harder time sleeping these days. Most nights I'm up several times through the night to go potty. Sorry to share but it's the truth. When I wake up I start to obsess about all the things I need to do the next day, the unfinished list of art projects, house hunting, and last but not least my failures as a mom from the day before. Ugh! Dean snores too. So add that to the mix & it takes me a while to fall back into a deep sleep. That's okay. I should probably enjoy it while I can. Pretty soon I'll be up in the middle of the night for different reasons.

I haven't mentioned it yet but we are looking for a larger home. Our little home has been wonderful. It's just too small for us now. No really, 740 square feet can only hold so many people. We joke that if we don't find something soon the baby will be sleeping in a dresser drawer. All joking aside this process is taking a little longer than we thought. It will be totally worth it when we do get a new house & can make it our home. I'm praying that we will be guided in our decision. We really would like to find the best home for our family & one that will be a good investment also. I'll keep you posted on our home hunting journey. It is soooo very exciting ;)

Off to work on the newest card for Simply Sweet Marriage. Hope you all have had a lovely weekend!

P.S. Sharon, Zoe loves the doll you sent her. She sleeps with it always and loves to play with it. Many thanks for your thoughtful giveaway last year. It's a daily reminder of the kindness of fellow bloggers :)

25 Weeks

25 Weeks down, 15 to go

::Just to clarify::

(This is a view looking down at my belly & my feet are barely showing)

I can hardly wait! I'm feeling so much better. Just a little more exhausted with this pregnancy than with the others. We have the midwife completely paid in full & that is a huge stress off our minds. I go in for another appointment on Wednesday. This little guy is really moving around now. I'm trying to enjoy every kick & movement. There is a bittersweet feeling of knowing this is our last little one. Bitter because it is a reminder of how quickly the years pass, I'm no longer a spring chicken :) Pregnancies are hard on me. Sweet because I feel a calmness that our family will be complete. It is strange to look a little down the road and realize that this little caboose will be the last to leave our home. 18 years will pass faster than I want it to. I'm sure of it.

We are fighting a nasty case of the yuckies here. Aris started it & I finally woke up this morning feeling like a pile o' poo. No wonder my girlies have been so grumpy. I'm grateful that Dean has been spared. When a hubby is sick it is the total pits ;) I'm hoping that in the next few days we all can start feeling better.

Hope to post the newest card for Simply Sweet Marriage early in the week. Hard to believe it's already March. Take care and hope you all are well. Hugs to you all.

Snow Crazy

I'm not even kidding here folks!

Sloanie Snowbunny

Aris Snowbunny

Little Zoe Snowbunny

I can't believe how wild the weather has been this winter. I hear a lot of grumbling but I can't help but enjoy it. I think growing up in sunny Florida has given me a strange love for crazy amounts of snow. Can you blame me? I am thankful for all this moisture. It means spring & summer hopefully won't be filled with so much drought this year. Only time will tell. My little snow bunnies are enjoying the snow even though they don't have matching snow gear. However this snowy winter weather does make me a little more drowsy. When the days are grey & cold I find myself hibernating a little more than I should. It's just too tempting to snuggle up sleeping munchkins. I am also feeling very tired with this pregnancy. All my energy is just zapped. I have a list a mile long of things to do & no energy to even start. It will all get done eventually, just wish I didn't feel like such a turtle these days. Well I am off to take care of two sick chickens. Aris started with a yucky cough & fever on Monday morning and Zoe has decided to join the party. Guess that list will have to wait a little longer, it's time to go and snuggle up my little ones. Hope you are all having a lovely day.

::One last thing::

Go and check out Design Moms birth stories this week. The first one will have you rolling on the floor with laughter, the second is so tender & beautiful. I just cried through the whole post. Make sure you have a tissue handy. I love this series that Gabrielle is hosting on her blog. Be sure to check out her other posts. She is one of my favorite blogs to read.

Sometimes

Sometimes all it takes is a little bubble wrap to keep these little hands busy. It always amazes me how little they need to be happy. When Sloan was little I thought she needed tons of toys to keep her happy. Many hours of her young life were spent in front of the television, thinking that would keep her happy. I really didn't know how to be a parent back then. Looking back I feel so sad that I missed out on so much with her. Since having Zoe & Aris I have tried to do things differently. Although I am not a perfect parent by any means, I am way more comfortable being a mom now than I used to be. I feel more at ease allowing my kids to pop bubble wrap or make animals with their food. I understand the importance of playing in dirt & exploring. I don't mind if they want to play mermaid in the tub for two hours. I realize that most stains will come out with a little spray-n-wash. If they don't oh well. I relish the fact that my kids would much rather me play with them for even a short time than to get a new fancy toy or watch a television program. I wish I could turn back the clock & do things over with Sloan. Better. I guess these are the regrets we earn as parents. After all none of my kids have come with instructions yet. All I can do is keep praying that tomorrow I'm a better mother to my girls than I was today. Maybe, just maybe, I can look back when I am old and grey & not feel those pangs in my heart. The pain of, "If I had just done this or that, I missed out on so much!" I hope I never feel that way. So until then I plan on soaking it all up, even the moments of popping bubble wrap.

Brown Paper Packages

Tied up with string.

These are a few of my favorite things.

I received the painting I won from artist Susan Najarian. Indie Icing was hosting the giveaway & I was lucky enough to win. It came all wrapped up like a special parcel from a far away land. I could hardly wait to open it. I love the texture of this painting. Susan you have me hankering to learn this lovely art technique. Thanks again to both Indie Icing & Susan for my lovely new painting.