Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Currently.

I follow a blog called Jones Design Company. The blogger, Emily, seems to be a sweet gal who loves the Lord, her family, and all things crafty and design-y. She's inspiring.

Anywho. She occasionally will post about what's "currently" going on in her life. Because it has been such a long time since I've blogged, I thought I'd try to catch everyone up with a post like that. So, currently....

LOVING // Making some improvements to our home. I was given some freedom with a particular "home" savings account, and I don't think Andrew realized what he was doing when he waved the green flag for me to dig in! A few of our new improvements/purchases...
- Owen's room painted and complete. We painted a chevron wall where his crib will go.


- A freshly painted headboard for Lima Bean's new {to us} twin bed along with a new mattress and new bedding. The girls are now sharing Lima Bean's room. The second photo gives you an idea of how we squeezed a crib, chest of drawers, and twin bed all on one wall.



- An indoor/outdoor rug for our back porch.


- A rug for our foyer.


- A bench for the front porch.



READING // I have multiple books that I have started, but have yet to complete. Reading is not my current "go to" downtime activity. Sleep usually is. I truly love reading though, and I'm loving the books that I'm reading... "A Hole in Our Holiness" by Kevin DeYoung, "1000 Gifts" by Ann Voskamp, "Parenting by God's Promises" by Joel Beeke, and one that I just finished {which I recommend to EVERY married woman} "What's It Like to Be Married to Me" by Linda Dillow. Whoa. That one will get ya. :)

WAITING FOR // A new phone. Last week I upgraded my iPhone 4 to an iPhone 5. Fun! Well this weekend, after Andrew and I spent 2+ hrs at the urgent care (where we were both diagnosed with strep - {pity} party at the Jones' house!), Firecracker decided that it would be fun to toss my brand new phone into their water table outside. So today I'm stuck at the house waiting for my replacement phone to come in exchange for my two-day-old-but-water-logged iPhone.

Andrew in not-so-great of shape at the urgent care.

EXCITED ABOUT // Auntie Rach arriving from GA today! I think the fam felt pretty sorry for us this weekend, so Rachel decided to push up her visit (originally arriving Aug 1) so she could help this sad puppy of a mom out.

TRYING TO //  Find joy and contentment in my Savior. Quite frankly, I'm on the fence about being ready for O-dog to be here. (Of course I am, really!). But this has been a very difficult season for me (just ask Andrew... poor guy has to listen to me whine and complain every day). The year 2014 is quickly going down in the books as one of my harder years, right behind 2013. Parenting isn't easy. Sometimes I wonder if I was really cut out for parenting, because I have to work really hard to be joyful in it. There are days when I wake up, and dread the day. Between exhaustion (3 yrs of pregnancy and/or nursing has taken it out of me), occasional loneliness, and heat (hello (90+ degree weather!), I find that I am physically and emotionally weary. My joyful spirit just isn't where it needs to be. I acknowledge that this is a problem and I'm trying to work on it. A lot of it boils down to feeling sorry for myself. (The truth comes out!!) I'm not ready for three children under three. Who's idea was that, anyway?! The thought just frightens me! But in all seriousness, I'm resting in a verse that my mom put in the front page of a delightful Bible study she gave me intended to be read during the first month after your baby is born... Psalm 61.

Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer;
from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint.
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, 
for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy.
Let me dwell in your tent forever!
Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings!


WORKING ON // Three projects: 1) Painting the kids' bathroom, 2) Making a stocking for OGJ. (didn't I just have to make a Christmas stocking for a new addition last year??), and 3) a "Taggie." I made a taggie for both Lima Bean and Firecracker, too. It's just a small, square blanket with a bunch of ribbons sewn around the edges for holding. Lima Bean can't go to sleep without it. Firecracker hasn't taken to it quite like LB. I don't mind. She's still my feisty Firecracker.

ENJOYING // Summer with my hubs and kiddos. Summertime = more available team members at CFA = more time with AJ. Woohoo! I love that he's been able to be home more often. This summer certainly looks different from last summer when he was putting in 80-100 hrs a week at the store! Thank goodness. Also, I'm enjoying all summer fruits right now. I'm craving watermelon and peaches. Yum!



USING // The "notes" app on my phone a whole lot these days. My brain is officially fried. Anything important better be typed in to a note otherwise the chance of me remembering is slim to none.

WEARING // As little as possible within the confines of being appropriate. Did I mention I'm 34 weeks pregnant? Yeah, I'm super hormonal and SUPER hot. Lots of shorts and tank tops.

Lima Bean + 34 week old O-dog

PLANNING // For a lot of guests. I LOVE that the calendar is filled with family and friends visiting over the next few months.

NEEDING // Patience and kindness when interacting with my delightful girls. Yes, they make me want to run into a wall sometimes, but I bet I do the same to them too. ;)  Oh yeah, and to potty train. Don't ask. I have confidence LB will not be 10 and in diapers. (Right?!)



LEARNING // To rest in God's good timing for all things. Also, how to decorate a little more. Thanks to my mom and sister, plus a new neighbor friend, my house is starting to look a little more complete. Fun!

DOING // Meal planning. I've been in a cooking rut lately; partly because I'm tired, partly because I'm lazy. Andrew and I had a heart to heart and we've come together to create a meal plan, including a variety of new recipes. Here's to a month of successful cooking and creating new dishes!

DREAMING OF // Holding the little squirmer in my tummy. I can't wait to meet him. As much as I covet my {quasi} solid sleep at night, the thought of having him in my arms excites me... even if it means sleepless nights for a couple of months.

So there it is folks! Be looking out for a photo dump soon too. :)



Thursday, May 1, 2014

Oh Boy!

Well, it looks like Andrew won't be quite so outnumbered after all... that's right folks, we're having a BOY!!! We are totally thrilled about it too.

Owen Grady Jones will be joining us, tentatively, on September 2. :)

I had the privilege of seeing our lil peanut via ultrasound yesterday, and I have to say, ultrasounds never get old. It is so amazing to see a baby form inside a womb.  I was given a CD of photos, so of course I have to share some of them with you all. Enjoy seeing our sweet baby boy, Owen Grady.









Friday, April 11, 2014

April amusement.

I know I'm partial because my girls are, well, my girls, but I have to say... they crack me up!

It's easy for me to be a complainer. That's just the truth. But these girls... oh man, these girls... they bring so much joy to my life. I praise God for the goodness in His gift to me.



 "wut up, mama?"

A little grass sitting


She decided to collect some sticks... and limbs.

"nom nom nom... rocks and dirt"

Voodoo doughnuts from downtown Denver. Yum! We ordered their big variety box and tasted every single one. Yep, every single one had bites taken out of it, but not a single one was finished (don't judge us for being gluttonous and/or wasteful).



Yogurt face!

I guess my workout is over...

Sorry if this inappropriate, but I couldn't help but post it... we have a streaker on the loose!

This is the life!

Fun at Mimi and Pops back in February 


Oldest and youngest babes.

My sous chef for the evening. 


Steak and Shake. Always a good one for laughs.

Sometimes you get funny stares in Lowes bc you have a kid in a princess dressed and rain boots stuffed under the buggie like a superhero, another kid in the main basket area eating paint swatches, AND a preggo belly. Yeah, I'm used to the stares by now. 


Happy birthday to Lima Bean ME! The pancake we ordered for LB from my birthday brunch. Of course, she only wanted to eat my breakfast burrito, so I inevitably had to eat my burrito AND the pancake. The tough things you do as a parent...

Oh and I just happened to get some diamond earrings for my bday celebration. Definite brownie points for the hubs!!

This is what greeted us the first day of spring. Today it was a toasty 75. Oh CO weather, you are so bi-polar!


My special Lima Bean




"May I help you, mom?"








Lima Bean is on her first round of antibiotics for an ear infection. Poor girl.

In other news, maybe she has an ear ache because she lost this much hair? She got a hold of a hand held fan while I was working out. This was the end result. Oh bother.

Truly becoming the best of friends.


THIS GIRL WILL BE ONE IN A WEEK!


Happy, slobbery baby. Sleeping toddler... on the floor... in undies... on top of a diaper. We're getting there.




This is NOT as cool as you think it is Firecracker!