oh write!

Since it's snowing outside...

2012-02-03T15:51:00.005-07:00

...I figured today would be a good day to finish posting about our Christmas. Yup, it's February. I actually do have a few fun Valentine's things to share, but that will have to wait just a bit longer.

We drove to Michigan for Christmas. With two kids. From Colorado. It could not have gone any better. Thankfully, we acquired a minivan last fall, which made for a much smoother cross-country voyage. Our first day in the car we drove for 11 hours with just one stop. It was nothing short of a Christmas miracle. Maren and Truett were traveling champs and kept each other occupied.

We were thrilled to spend almost two weeks with my family in Michigan. Christmas is my favorite holiday, and it was sweet to spend it at 'home' this year. The last time we spent Christmas in Michigan we were all struck with a terrible flu. I'm so thankful we all remained healthy this time around.

One of my brothers and his family now live in Grand Rapids, so we got to attend their church on Christmas Eve. It was such a special service, and we loved seeing where their family worships now. Here we are dressed in our Christmas best...

My mom and dad with the kids...even with miles and miles between us, my kids know and love their Grams and Grandpa!

After church on Christmas Eve we returned to Ben and Allison's house for a delicious dinner and some festivities. Ben dressed up as Santa, and the kids were so enthralled. {Clockwise from top left...me, Ben and Zach...Santa Ben and Allison...the older kids watching Santa leave...cousins Will, Paige, Annie, Maren and Truett}

Maren was so excited for Christmas this year, and I fully expected her to be up before 6:00 am. Surprisingly, Truett woke up first and so Brett, Truett, and I were sitting awake waiting for Maren. I think she slept until almost 7...must have been the excitement of Christmas Eve wore her out!

Christmas through the eyes of our kids...Maren got her chicken bag {sometime I'll share that story!} and Truett mostly just rolled around on the floor and sucked on anything he could get his hands on!

The rest of our vacation was filled with more time with family. Maren, Paige and Will played so well together. Shockingly, we only had a tiny bit of snow for one day. Maren did love tubing down the hill in my parents' backyard while the snow lasted. The weather was unseasonably warm, so my dad and Brett took the kids to the park one afternoon. We also spent a good deal of time lounging around. I love the picture of Zach {my other brother} and Brett both sitting with their phones. That picture aside, we managed to remain relatively 'unplugged' for the duration of our trip. It was such a nice break!

We made several attempts at capturing a decent picture of the five cousins together...this is my favorite. These five {4 years and under} kept us on our toes all week!
I'm already looking forward to our next trip to Michigan...it's hard to live so far from 'home', but I'm thankful for these memorable times we spend there. So, one last time...until December...Merry Christmas!

Colorado Family Christmas

2012-01-21T16:29:00.003-07:00

We spent Christmas in Michigan this year, but before we left we enjoyed an early celebration with Brett's family.

It was hard to tell if Truett liked the car or the box better!

Aunt Tiffany got Maren her very own microphone, which was a huge hit! We're still enjoying concerts and performances on a daily basis.

Maren loves spending time with Aunt Tiffany, Papa and Gigi. We missed having Brett's brother's family with us this year. {Hi Derick and Shannon!}

Truett was his usual happy self!
We are blessed to have some of our family close to home. Our Colorado Christmas was a great way to start our week of celebrations!

Truett at seven months

2012-01-13T13:53:00.005-07:00

Truett is seven months old! According to our visit to the cardiologist last week, his little heart is functioning normally, and we won't be needing to return for an entire year. I felt like skipping out of the office, and I might have had I not been carrying a growing baby in a car seat and holding the hand of one wiggly 3-year-old. *wink* While we waited for the elevator, I couldn't help but think of a very different feeling I had while leaving the office just about 6 months ago. I was sobbing, holding tightly to my tiny baby boy while Brett held his arm around us both. I have learned a great deal about the Lord's mercy and grace in these past 6 months. I rejoice in God's presence on that difficult day when we first learned of Truett's heart condition, and I rejoice in God's presence while I carried my 'fixed' baby away from the heart-testing machines, doctor and technicians last week. I pray that I remember the consistency and goodness of my God in the days and months to come, whatever they may bring.

Truett is a content, active, curious growing boy! He is gobbling up his doses of solid food...sweet potatoes, carrots, and pears are his early favorites. Occasionally he gets to experience puffs and a sippy-cup of water, and he thoroughly enjoys both. He's recently learned to army crawl, and is beginning to figure out 'regular' crawling, too. He can sit up unassisted now, but he prefers to be on his tummy. I expect this next month will come with many adjustments as we make way for our mobile boy. It's not uncommon now for him to make his way across an entire room in a matter of minutes. Oye...my life is about to get significantly more interesting! Maren has taken well to Truett's recent growth, and has begun to gently wrestle with him. I am thankful he is such an easy-going kid, because his big sister has some big plans for how he is to spend his time. I just love that they get along so well, and love each other so dearly.

Judging by the amount of drool he is producing, we expect to see Truett's first tooth any time now.

I'm pretty much in love with this boy and his sweet smiles. Time to go read some books and soak up some afternoon post-nap-snuggles with my kids!

Everybody's doing it...the tacky sweater Christmas party

2012-01-13T12:01:00.003-07:00

It does seem like tacky sweater parties are all the rage right now, doesn't it? Apparently there are people making lots of money selling tacky Christmas sweaters on Ebay...who would've thought!? Brett and I hosted our first one way back in 2005. I like to think we were on the cutting edge of the trend. If you know us in real life, you might find this humorous, since we're rarely on the cutting edge of anything. We actually hosted our first tacky sweater party before we ever had internet access in our home, if that tells you anything.

But, on to the fun! Our friends did not disappoint this year...they showed up adorned in their festive holiday ware. We ate some great food, swapped tacky white-elephant gifts, and played Christmas minute-to-win-it games.

Our tacky party continues to be one of my favorite traditions of the season. We're blessed to have such fun friends!

Meeting Santa in 2011

2012-01-09T17:12:00.003-07:00

I told you I was going to do some Christmas posting...

We enjoyed seeing Santa at the bank (where Brett works) again this year. This Santa is the real deal...the beard isn't even fake, as Truett quickly found out.

Maren was very interested in telling Santa about her one wish (a chicken bag...I'll explain later), but she didn't want to get much closer than this. And she definitely wasn't going to sit on his lap. {Do you like her shirt? I made it, and she finally likes to wear it. Thank goodness!}

Our boy, Truett, is very tactile, and so he made quick friends of our white-haired Santa man. Thankfully, Santa was kind enough to endure a few tugs and twists of his very real beard.

August made it into the picture again this year...Santa brought her a new outfit for Christmas, which was thoughtful of him, seeing as how she lost one set of clothes during the great debacle of 2011.
Tomorrow I'll share more about Maren's chicken bag. You won't want to miss it, trust me.

Working on it...Monday morning thoughts

2012-01-09T07:48:00.003-07:00

Good morning!

I've obviously been missing around here for quite some time. Something happens to me during the Christmas season. And, I don't think it's all bad. I tend to abandon my time on the computer in favor of soaking up every last minute of holiday cheer. Our family took a 2-week vacation to Michigan, and I only opened my computer once. It was wonderful. I may just make a yearly tradition of taking the last 2 weeks of December 'off'. It really was great to be unplugged for a while. Truthfully, I didn't miss much, either!

I do have a few holiday things to blog about, so you can either participate in my holiday reminiscing, or you can just ignore those posts and wait another week to hear something new from me. *wink*

I have put together a bit of a plan for my blogging this year, which I've never done before. I like the concept of being more intentional with what I write about. My hope is that I'll have some more meaningful and thoughtful posts tucked in with the usual family updates, funny stories, and crafty projects. You'll find out a little more about what I have planned in early-February. Stay tuned!

a love story

2011-12-22T06:30:00.000-07:00

Today my husband and I will celebrate 9 years of marriage. I can hardly believe I am old enough to have been married that long. I am blessed beyond measure to call Brett my husband. I love him dearly and could think of no better companion to share my life with. In honor of these years together, I wanted to share a little bit about our story. Since we'll be celebrating 10 years {!!!} together in 2012, I plan to write a little more each month on the 22nd. I look forward to reminiscing about these past years, and to sharing our story with you.

My husband wrote in a journal every single day of his college life. When I met him, I loved that about him. I like to write, and I found it so surprising that he wrote every. single. day. Wow. We started dating in late-November of 2000. That Christmas, while he was home for Christmas Break, he picked up a very special journal with a very special purpose. Unbeknownst to me, he began to write a journal to me just weeks after we had started dating. {So cool to look back and realize how serious he was about me even in those early days of dating. I often wondered about so many unsaid thoughts and feelings, and I love 'knowing' more of what he was thinking!}

Fast-forward a year and a half to a lovely April evening in 2002. Brett was teaching, and I was about to complete my senior year of college. We lived 45 minutes apart, so I only saw him on weekends. He called about 15 minutes before he was supposed to pick me up and said that he'd gotten an additional paycheck for some extra-curricular activities he'd helped out with at school and wanted to splurge on a nice dinner. I was game, and we decided to go back to the steakhouse where we'd gone on our very first date. While we were waiting to be seated, he suggested that we walk across the street to a jewelry store and look at rings. I was ecstatic...it was the first mention of ring-shopping from Brett. After casually browsing some lovely, expensive rings {the jewelry store was a Tiffany's of all places!} we enjoyed a tasty meal.

After dinner, Brett suggested that we go for a little walk in the same town where we enjoyed a coffee after our first date. {I can't believe I was still so clueless about what was going on at this point! He was re-creating our first date. :)} When we got to our destination, he pulled a blanket out of the trunk and we started off on a nice little walk along the river. At one point, there's a little dock that extends out over the water. We walked to the end of the dock, and he instructed me to be quiet as he stealth-ly pulled three roses and a leather-bound book from in the folds of the blanket. {Sneaky!} At this point I finally figured out what was happening. He handed me a white rose, and told me about the things he was thankful about from our past...then a pink rose, and he talked about our present, and lastly, he read the final pages of the book, which was a proposal, and handed me a red rose with a ring tied to it...signifying our future together. The book was filled with stories from our entire courtship. Brett had kept a journal to me during our entire year-and-a-half of dating. {There is a silence for a few months while we were broken up.} It was such a treat to read through so many of Brett's thoughts and feelings. I love having a chronicle of most of our dates and memories shared. I loved reading about when Brett first thought that he loved me...long before the words ever came out of his mouth. Nine years later, that journal is my favorite earthly possession. There are so many things that I would've long-ago forgotten about had they not been recorded in that book. I still fall more in love with Brett every time I read through the pages of the journal...it was an incredible gift.

Here we are on the evening of our engagement...

Here's our 'formal' engagement picture...

Our Christmas wedding with lots of lights...

Can you believe those flowers? I loved them so much!

We held our reception in a beautiful indoor botanical garden. Christmas trees from around the world decorated the entire venue. It was quite spectacular.

Since we were married so close to Christmas, we spent a couple of evenings in a fancy hotel, and returned to my parents house for Christmas. On the 26th we caught a flight to Mexico. I'm so glad we chose to stick around to celebrate our first Christmas with family in snowy Michigan!

I love you, Brett, and I'm so glad the Lord chose to bring us together. You are an incredible husband and father. Thank you for loving me so well!

*We did get married back in the era of film cameras...so these are pictures of my original pictures. And my wedding video is VHS...ha! I think we'll get that converted to DVD next year sometime.

Shouting Hello

2011-12-13T10:00:00.002-07:00

I wanted to take a moment to say hello this morning. We've been busy enjoying all the delights of the season. I can't believe Christmas is less than two weeks away! We have lots of fun parties and celebrations this week, so that's why the posting has slowed down. Here are a couple recent favorite pictures of the kids. They both seem to end up with wide open mouths in pictures. I like to think it's a display of their overall exuberance towards daily life in our home.

Happy Tuesday!

Our Handmade Advent

2011-12-07T15:29:00.004-07:00

We're a week into December and I'm finally sharing our Advent calendar with you. Better late than never...and thanks to Pinterest, you can file this little idea away for next year. *wink* In order to make this little tree you'll need 25 empty toilet paper rolls. You might want to start saving them in June if you plan to make your own tree next year!

Maren has really gotten into crafting with me lately, which I love. She was a big help in putting together our little toilet-paper-roll-Christmas-tree-advent-calendar.

We started by cutting paper to fit around the rolls. Maren applied glue to the edges of the paper, and I rolled the paper around the empty paper rolls.

1. We rolled paper around all but 3 or 4 tubes, and we used those on the inside of the tree.
2. I used my Cricut to make 25 1.25 inch circles. I wrote the numbers on the circles, and hole-punched each one.
3. I made a little template for how we'd arrange our rolls to make a tree.

4. To make the trunk of the tree, hot-glue 4 tubes together.
5. Next we glued each row together before assembling them to make the tree.
6. Use yarn, string, twine, etc. to attach the tags to the inside of the rolls.
7. I flipped the tree upside-down to glue the tags inside the rolls.

Here's our finished Advent tree!

The paper rolls are a perfect place to hide a piece of candy, scripture verse, or other small treat.
This year we're doing "Truth in the Tinsel". We're not making all the ornaments this year, so we'll probably do the same thing next year to fill in the rest of the ornaments. We have found the readings to be simple and meaningful for our young family. I would encourage you to check it out!

What are some ways you make the Christmas season meaningful for your kids? Do share!

Books we love...Christmas edition

2011-12-04T10:24:00.003-07:00

Several of you have asked for a list of Christmas books we enjoy in our home. I'm happy to share some of our favorites with you. We've started a tradition in our family of giving our children a new Christmas book at the beginning of the holiday season. I've tried to find books that support the message of Christ's birth as the central event to be celebrated.

Mortimer's Christmas Manger by Jane Chapman and Karma Wilson

The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado

Song of the Stars by Sally Lloyd-Jones

When Christmas Came by Eileen Spinelli

The Legend of the Candy Cane by Lori Walburg

Do you have a favorite Christmas book? Please share...we're always looking for new additions to our collection! Merry Christmas!

Cyber Monday

2011-11-28T06:00:00.002-07:00

Happy Monday! Are you busy shopping online today? It is "Cyber Monday", you know!? I've got lots of fun things in my shop that would make great gifts for teachers, friends, sisters, daughters, etc. Come by and take a look!

Head over to Mique's for some more great deals today!

Christmaspalooza!

2011-11-27T19:58:00.004-07:00

Saturday was our first annual Christmaspalooza. We stole the idea from my favorite cousin, Jodi. {Hi Jodi!} I loved the tradition her family started in Michigan, and with a few modifications, we've made the tradition our own.

Our day started by decking the house on the inside and out. Maren and I worked on the tree...

...and Brett worked on the lights. We added lights to the roof-line this year...way up there.

After her nap, Maren came downstairs to a few special presents under the tree. She opened a new Christmas book {I'll share my list of favorite Christmas books later in the week!}, a Christmas movie {Veggie Tales Little Drummer Boy...so cute!}, and new Christmas pajamas. I love the idea of giving the kids their Christmas pajamas early in the season so they can wear them all through December.

The house was still in disarray when we started making our dinner, as evidenced by the counter-top in the background. This day was more about fun than accomplishment, though. The decorating will get done sometime this week, right? We made homemade pizzas for dinner. Maren actually did most of the work on her own pizza.

Shortly after we rolled out the dough, Maren discovered a heart-shaped cookie cutter in one of the drawers. Sure...why not have a heart pizza?! It is, after all, Christmaspalooza. *wink*

Is there anything better than busy little kid hands?

Truett mostly bounced around here while we were cooking away. No pizza for him this year...but he did enjoy some sweet potato puree.

We ended the day with new jammies and a family viewing of The Little Drummer Boy {Veggie Tales style}. It was a perfect day, welcoming in my favorite season with my favorite people.
Do you have any favorite family traditions to help bring in the Christmas season? Do tell!

Thanksgiving

2011-11-25T13:43:00.004-07:00

I'm back! I think that I've figured out my little computer issue, and I should be back to blogging more regularly now...just in time for the Christmas season! Before launching full-fledged into the Christmas spirit, I wanted to share a few favorite pictures from our Thanksgiving.

I am increasingly thankful for these two.

I cannot get enough of their sweet sister/brother antics. I can't wait for Truett to be old enough to interact more with Maren. She loves him so much and desperately wants to play with him. Pretty much all day long. I am thankful that Maren is such a fantastic big sister. Last week she told me she wants 5 more babies in our family. I told her she'd better start praying, because that would take more than one miracle.

We loved introducing Truett to his first Turkey. Meanwhile, Maren and August kept a close eye on the day's activities.

Maren's papa smoked a turkey this year. It was deeee-licious! Aunt Tiffany also made her 'famous' roasted turkey. Truett and his Gigi had some quality snuggle time before dinner.

I have to admit that I'm one of those people who sort of wishes Thanksgiving away in favor of Christmas. I do love to cook, and enjoyed making stuffing, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, and {3!} pies this year. I love the time with family, and I enjoy the sense of tradition. But what I really love is seeing the first Christmas lights of the season while driving home, and anticipating what's to come...Christmas!

That being said, I do enter this Christmas season with an especially thankful heart. I never could've imagined all the lessons God had laid out for me this year. I never imagined I could grow so close to my husband in the midst of a trying time for our family. I never imagined I could experience so much peace and grace from the Lord in the midst of an agonizing diagnosis for my sweet boy. I never imagined the love and compassion that would be showered on us by family and friends surrounding Truett's surgery. I never imagined the immensely sweet talks I would have with my sweet girl. I never imagined how incredibly blessed I could feel to be sharing my days with Brett, Maren and Truett.

As I enter this, my favorite time of the year, I hope to remain grounded in the truths the Lord has made vastly evident to me this year. He is a good God, who has a plan laid out for each of our lives. He lovingly showers us with unmerited gifts...gifts of possession, friendship, family, health. He upholds us and walks with us through times of great happiness and times of despair...all the while offering a miraculous joy and the grace necessary to remain faithful. For all this, I am thankful.

My Inaugural InstaFriday

2011-11-18T10:38:00.003-07:00

I'm excited to finally jump on the InstaFriday bandwagon. Here's a few pictures from my phone, via Instagram. Enjoy!

August was missing for a day this week. We finally found her sleeping soundly in the dresser on the pants shelf.

Maren and I made turkey crowns one afternoon. I'll share more about this soon!

I went to a craft fair last Saturday, and I came home with Dublin Dr. Pepper. I know, strange. It's so good...if you've never tried it, you must.

This guy gets more fun by the day. Plus he takes 4 hour naps, which is pretty awesome.

I might be missing...

2011-11-10T20:53:00.001-07:00

It seems as though my computer has entered into it's final days. Really, though, it can't do that quite yet. So...I'm hoping that someone smarter than me is able to give it another go at life. We'll see. Meanwhile, I'm afraid this turn of technological events doesn't bode well for my little goal to blog every day this month.

I did get my new calendar in the mail yesterday, which makes me very happy!

Until next time, whenever that may be!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Somehow I blinked...

2011-11-09T21:01:00.002-07:00

...and it's 9:01 pm. Whew. What a day. We had some friends over this morning for a little play date. I used it as an excuse to cook up some food of the brunch-y variety. Mmmm...I do love a good piece of coffeecake. {Almost as much as I love chatting with a dear friend while hearing multiple little girl voices giggling upstairs.}

This afternoon we had a visit with the pediatrician, who assured us that all is well with the kiddos in light of our recent fender-bender. Praise the Lord.

Our day ended with some fabulous Life Group fellowship. I love the way our church does Life Groups...we spend time praying together and we discuss Sunday's sermon. I have found it to be so beneficial to have a mid-week review of Sunday's teaching. Plus, I really like the people with whom we share these evenings. They're all pretty special. And tonight there was Blue Bell ice-cream. Yes, my day started with coffeecake and ended with Blue Bell. I have no complaints.

Since I don't have much to say, here are a few good reads from others today...

Julie posted about day 3 of her Happy Day Project {a thoughtful approach to giving this season}
Danni shared a collection of really fabulous packaging ideas
Rachel just makes me smile with her writing style...today it's all about therapy

What a wreck

2011-11-08T19:29:00.002-07:00

Last night I had a conversation with my husband about keeping it all together...or not. I was lamenting to him about my inability to do it all...some area of life always seems to be lacking.

If I have a 'super mom day' when Maren and I do 3 inspiring crafts, bake cookies, read 37 books, take a walk to the park and have a heart-to-heart conversation about Jesus, we leave behind a wake of dirty dishes, unfolded laundry, and we inadvertently eat grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner...and Brett's the one making the grilled cheese.

If, at the end of the day, the house is tidy, laundry is folded, floors are mopped, and we eat a tasty meal, I feel as though I often look back only to realize that Maren spent much of the day roaming the house alone, and we made nary a notable memory for the day.

Some days I find myself brimming with creative inspiration...leading to a sizable portion of time wiled away in the craft room. These days often lead to an increase in Etsy sales or a boost in blog readership. Thankfully, Maren loves to spend time with me in the craft room, and she's even got her own little table in the corner. Again, though, with the grilled cheese dinners and piles of laundry. {Have I mentioned that Maren's into changing her clothes about 7 times a day? This doesn't help my pervasive laundry issue!}

For now, regardless of what we do {or don't do}, Truett just happily goes with the flow, for which I am grateful. I know the days of him rolling around on the floor {instead of pulling every pan out of the lower cupboards or unrolling the ribbon and yarn mistakenly left at his level} are numbered. And, I'm actually thankful for that, too. I do look forward to the busy, more mobile days to come.

...that was a tangent...

My point is...I cannot do it all. I have finally decided, at the age of 31, to release any preconceived notion I ever had of being perfect. Once again this morning, I was reminded to invest my time in things that matter.

The kids and I were on our way home from gymnastics. {Maren's hobby...certainly not mine!} We were minding our own business, sitting at a stop light, when a little red car slammed into us from behind. I am so thankful for our recent minivan purchase. Our little accident was fairly mild, and I'm sure that's do, in part, to the fact that we were in the larger vehicle of the two. Both kids instantly screamed, I'm sure out of shock more than pain. After insuring their well-being, I shakily collected all necessary information from the other driver, and we were on our way again. {I do have doctor's appointments scheduled tomorrow for both kids, just to be sure everything is alright!}

I spent the remainder of the day praising God for protecting us, and thinking of what might have been...much in the same way I did this summer when we were facing Truett's heart surgery. The thing is...only the Lord knows how our days here on earth will pan out. The choice given to me is how I will approach each new day I am given. Will I choose to fill up my days with meaningless tasks in an effort to 'keep up appearances'? Or, will I thoughtfully and intentionally spend my days seeking to bring honor and glory to my God?

I have chosen {or, God has chosen to have me meditate upon} Philippians 1:9-11 during the upcoming year. It says...

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God.

I actually do believe that keeping an orderly home is honoring to the Lord. What isn't honoring to Him is turning my home's appearance into an idol. The same can be said for how I approach each aspect of life.

So, I find myself frequently asking the question...

Am I doing this in order to make myself feel good or look good, or am I acting in order to show love and give honor to my God?

I pray that as the days and weeks unfold, I will learn to...

...have love abounding...
...discern what is best...
...remain pure and blameless...
...be filled with the fruit of righteousness...
...and bring glory and praise to God.

In the meantime, I hope to embrace the little 'wrecks' I find around my house...

...and to be thankful for this moment, so graciously given to me by a loving, merciful God.

Just Thankful

2011-11-07T22:13:00.002-07:00

Today I am thankful for...

...a husband who wakes up early every morning with Maren, and the extra minutes or hour of sleep I get as a result.
...a little girl who genuinely loves to spend time with me.
...seemingly unending smiles and giggles from my growing baby boy.
...sweet time with cherished girlfriends.
...a gracious God who so patiently corrects and guides me.

November Gift Guide

2011-11-06T15:14:00.003-07:00

This month's gift guide is inspired by books. I love to read and this season of cooler weather and longer nights always reignites my desire to curl up with a good book. Enjoy!

{for a baby}

{for a girl}

{for a boy}

{for a lady}

{for a gentleman}

{for a friend}

{for the newlyweds}

{another gift I just think is really cool!}

{source}

Short and Sweet Saturday...a Winner!

2011-11-05T21:56:00.005-06:00

Wow...this day just flew by. My sweet husband spent the morning with the kids so I could enjoy a few hours of shopping...alone! It was such a treat to actually browse just for fun, and to carry a small bag instead of a huge diaper bag. I returned home refreshed and with a couple new things to add to my cold-weather wardrobe. It's true that since becoming a mom my wardrobe has become significantly smaller and simpler. Still, I like to put forth a little effort to look nice, especially for my husband who is such an amazing partner on this parenting journey.

I picked up this lovely sweater...

Loft had 50% off all sale prices today {yay!} and I was lucky to find the last of these sweaters in my size.

So...now that you've been entranced by my shopping escapades of the day, how about a little winner announcement?

Shelley! You get to pick out a set of notecards from my shop. Email me with your choice and I'll get them in the mail to you next week.

I hope you're enjoying this autumn weekend!

My babies at 4 months

2011-11-04T07:08:00.001-06:00

I figured I should get a little 4-month post put up about Truett before we get too close to posting his 5-month post! {Confession...I started writing this post much closer to when Truett was 4 months old. Now we are just a week away from him actually being 5 months old. But I still do want to remember these things, so here you have it!} I do not know where the time is going. I really feel like 3 days ago was the first day of October. As I look back on these early months with Truett, it's good for me to remember to savor the days. Sadly, I need the regular reminder to slow down and soak in these days with my kids. They're both so much fun and bring such joy to my life.

I have especially enjoyed watching them interact together this month. Maren is an awesome big sister. She loves Truett so much. Our morning routine now consists of Maren climbing into Truett's crib for some morning snuggle time. She makes him laugh. She sings songs to him and 'reads' her books to him. I love that she already enjoys his company. I was {unnecessarily} nervous that she'd be jealous of him or would be bothered by having a baby around all the time. She actually asked me the other day if we could 'get' another baby. I told her we would wait and see when {and if} God chooses to bless our family with more kids. I'm just thankful that she's adjusted so well to having a baby in the house.

A little side-by-side comparison of both kids...{Maren is on the left}

Here are both kids and their stats at 4 months. I was amazed at how close they were in weight and height. {Truett was almost 2 pounds bigger than Maren at birth!} I'm sure Truett's heart surgery affected his growth somewhat. I'll be anxious to see if they stay this similar in the coming months, or if Truett will surpass Maren at some point. The boy loves to eat!

Truett loves to sleep. He typically goes to bed between 7 and 8 and will often sleep until 9 in the morning. He gets up once or twice in the night still, but he eats quickly and goes right back to bed. I honestly don't mind the quiet snuggle time with him. He's also been sleeping on his tummy ever since he learned to roll over. There's something so sweet about seeing his little bottom sticking up in the air while he sleeps.

He had his first cold this month. I kept a close eye on him...most days I'm able to treat him like a 'normal' baby, but when he gets sick I'm still on high alert and can't help wondering/praying/hoping everything is okay with his little heart. Thankfully, he didn't have a fever this time around. I pray often for protection for his little body as we're rushing into cold and flu season. It's always terrible to have a sick baby, but I admit that it makes me even more nervous considering the traumatic start to life he's had.

Truett is rolling all over the place. I'll often put him down on his quilt while I'm doing something in the kitchen and I'll return to find him several feet away from the quilt...often times he's wedged himself against a chair or a wall. He's also started to play with his toys.

My boy is going to be a finger-sucker. Maren never sucked on her hands. She'd put everything else in her mouth, just not her fingers. Truett always seems to have one or several of his little fingers shoved in his mouth.

We continue to enjoy this season as a new-ish family of four. The colder weather and darker evenings seem to bring with them plenty of cozy family time, for which I am grateful.

12 by '12

2011-11-03T07:00:00.003-06:00

I recently came across a blog that's quickly become a favorite in my reader. Danni at Hello, Friend has some fabulously inspiring and creative posts. If you haven't stumbled upon her blog yet, you really should pay her a little visit. You won't be disappointed! Danni recently posted a list of 12 things to complete before 2012. I am a list-maker, so this little challenge was right up my alley.

I did put a fair amount of thought into my 12 things...I wanted to challenge myself but I also want to remain sane during the upcoming holiday season.

Without further ado...I introduce you to my 12 by '12 list...

1. Revise budget for 2012

2. Finish handmade Christmas gifts

3. Write up a calendar of posts for my blog {through mid-January}

4. Set up a 'money system' for Maren

5. Plan and carry-out Christmalooza...{Watch for more on this! We're totally going to steal the idea from my amazing cousin...and it's a good one!} *Hi Jodi!

6. Plan and host a tacky-sweater party

7. Create a list of people to invite over for dinner in the coming months

8. Create or purchase a piece of art with my 2012 verse on it

9. Plan advent festivities to do as a family

10. Have family pictures taken

11. Re-organize the pantry

12. Take Maren on a special mommy-daughter date {we haven't done anything alone since Truett was born!}

I'll be sure to keep you updated on my progress with the list. And, there will be some fun posts to accompany some of these things...I'm sure you can hardly wait to see what happens with the great pantry re-organization. You'll just have to be patient for that one, friends. *wink*

A few things...

2011-11-02T13:23:00.006-06:00

Happy Wednesday! Did you know that November is nablopomo?

No?

Well, it is, and I'm going to do my best to post every.single.day. We'll see how that goes!

Today is a snow day. So far we've worked on letters, built a fort in the family room, played with the neighborhood kids in the snow, made chalk-art...and all before nap-time. I love cozy days at home with my kids!

This little man loves the bouncy seat. We pulled it out of the basement last week, much to his delight!

Why must children's toys be so cumbersome and crazy-looking? Seriously...it looks like Truett could orbit the moon in this contraption, doesn't it?

Yes, Maren is wearing shorts and a t-shirt today. She dressed herself this morning and I guess she's not going to let go of summer without a fight!
And yes, the pictures of Maren are blurry...she was a swiftly moving target this morning. I probably just need to learn how to use my camera a little better.

I made these for Life Group tonight...

{Source: via Pinterest}

They have chocolate chips and pretzels in them, and they are just as delicious as they look. Thank goodness, because the last time I tried a recipe from Pinterest, I was grossly disappointed!

A set of my notecards was featured in a fun hedgehog treasury. If you want to see some sweet little items, go check it out!

So, how about a little snow-day giveaway? Leave a comment with your favorite snow-day activity...and you might just win your choice of a set of notecards from my shop!*

*I'll announce the winner on Saturday morning!*

I may have created a monster {but really, just a butterfly}

2011-11-01T21:06:00.005-06:00

We had a wonderful time getting all dressed up yesterday. I have been fairly creative but simple with Maren's costumes in the past. This year she specifically asked to be a butterfly princess. The princess parts all came from her dress-up box {easy and free!}, but I decided to make the wings. Wow...what an act of love! Maren is already talking about what she wants to be next year, and I'm thinking I just may have set the homemade-costume-creating bar a little higher than I'd prefer. There is something special, though, about watching your kid prance around the house in sheer delight as she tests out the new duds. As for Truett...well, he was impartial this year and got to wear Maren's hand-me-down monkey suit from her first Halloween. I'm pretty sure this will be the first and only time that ever happens, seeing as how Maren is wanting to follow-up her butterfly princess getup with a pink bunny costume next year. While the bunny part may change, I expect the pink part to stick around for another few years. And I'm pretty sure Truett won't be convinced that the pink and purple wings really do bear striking resemblance to a Batman costume.

We shared our evening with the 'cousins', who aren't exactly cousins but some second or third version...we've resorted to just calling them the cousins, though...here's all the kids ready to head out for some trick-or-treating...
...and here's a more accurate glimpse into a photo-session with 3 overly-excited little girls and 2 babies about to head out for some trick-or-treating...
I'm so thankful for my sweet family and these shared memories.
And, I loved coming back to the house early with this little guy to hand out candy. Really...does it get any better than a face like that next to a bowl of chocolate!?

We're ready...

2011-10-30T18:10:00.003-06:00

...are you?

Stop by tomorrow to meet a butterfly princess and the cutest little monkey!

A little autumn dinner party

2011-10-26T08:56:00.005-06:00

I love entertaining in the fall and winter months. There's something so comforting about a cool day spent in the kitchen and an evening of conversation shared with friends...old or new!

We recently had a little dinner party with our dear pastor and his family. It was so wonderful to get to know them a bit better, and to share an evening with this family who so faithfully serves our church body. I was excited to finally feel up for entertaining again...it only took 4 months after Truett was born for me to get motivated to do so!

I try to find balance between keeping things simple, and making things feel just special enough to 'spoil' our company. There are times when friends are invited over for a bowl of soup, and we eat around our kitchen table...complete with paper napkins. Other times I feel inspired to set a lovely table in the dining room. Either way, we feel it's important to welcome others into our home. Brett and I want our kids to be hospitable and generous with others and we have found dinners in our home to be an excellent way to put these values to practice.

I have a couple of tried-and-true menus I like to serve to company. I also have a nice little plan now that turns a potentially stressful day into an enjoyable day at home. I do the cleaning several days beforehand, so all we're doing the day-of is picking up toys and straightening a few things. I've given up the idea that our home must be spotless and fresh whenever we invite people in. Real people do live here, and I have learned to embrace the fact that very few people will ever notice if the piano is a little dusty.

I do as much of the food-prep as possible the evening before after the kids go to bed. Sometimes Brett cooks with me, and it's really fun to share that time with him in the kitchen. The morning of the dinner I set the table. Maren and I typically do any necessary baking together, which is always entertaining. She loves to help me in the kitchen, and she's almost to the age where she actually is helpful. *wink* In the afternoon while the kids are napping I'm able to finish up any of the cooking-prep. All that's left is to get dinner in the oven and to fill the glasses with ice and water before our friends arrive.

Our pastor and his wife have four kids. I wanted to be sure the kids felt a part of the conversation, so I put together a little box with some fun questions we could discuss during dinner. Maren was the youngest and the oldest was a seventh-grader, so I did my best to include topics that anyone could discuss. I passed the box around while we ate, and everyone received a question to answer. It was a fun way to learn more about each other, and the kids were eager to participate.
Do you enjoy hosting others for meals in your home? What are some things you do to make others feel welcome around your table?

Linking up...

I love Erin Condren! {And now you will, too!}

2011-10-24T14:28:00.003-06:00

Happy Monday! I just stumbled across the most amazing deal on Plum District. Have you heard of Erin Condren? I've been drooling over her Life Planner for quite sometime. Well, there's a steal of a deal going on at Plum District right now and you can purchase a $50 credit for only $25! Hop on over there quick so you don't miss out!

I hope your week is off to a lovely start!

Red Door {not the perfume}

2011-10-18T12:21:00.004-06:00

We did something brave a few weeks ago. Actually, my husband did the painting {as usual!} and I instigated the project and bought the paint. That's typically how it goes around here. Brett is my hero-painter and I love him for it. Well, I love him for that and a million other things. Remember when he rescued August? He's such a good man.

I originally found my inspiration on Pinterest. Aren't these red doors fabulous?

{1, 2, 3 via Pinterest}

Believe it or not, this is the only 'before' picture I could find! That's baby Maren with her Gigi when we were first looking at this house. The color we chose is Caliente by Benjamin Moore. It was a recent Pottery Barn color and it really was the perfect red for our door. {Thanks, Mom, for suggesting it!}

Here's our shiny, red door. I love how unexpected it is in this space. I also love the cheerful pop of color it adds to the front rooms in the house. You can actually see the door from the family room and kitchen area, too.

Ah! Please excuse the crooked shade on our dining room light. We really don't like this light. I think it's too small, and those shades are always crooked. I've thought about painting it, but I'm not sure what color. Suggestions are welcome. Please...share your 'bright' ideas. {Sorry...couldn't help myself!}

Have you painted any interior doors in your home an interesting color? If you've thought about it, I say go for it! And let me know if you do...I'd love to see!

Linking up here this week:

My new habitat {pillow}

2011-10-17T16:17:00.003-06:00

A couple months ago, I was lucky enough to take home some fat eighths of Jay McCarroll's Habitat fabric for a little quilt guild challenge. The fabric reminded me of time spent playing in the woods near my parents' cottage. I was inspired to make a funky little pillow cover that now reminds me of playing in the woods, or as we called them, 'the birches'.

I cut random sized strips from my favorite fabrics for the 'branches' on the front. I left the edges raw so the stripes would have a messy, frayed look.

For the back of the pillow I pieced together some bigger strips of the fabric. I snagged a few extra pieces from guild friends who hadn't used all their fabric.

I love the way the pillow turned out, and I love the little reminder of a favorite autumn childhood memory that now sits on my entry bench.

My tiny paper village

2011-10-11T13:57:00.008-06:00

It's Tuesday again, which means that Amanda is hosting another little 'pin-did' party, and I was inspired to try out another one of my many pins.

This time...origami paper houses like these fabulous creations, originally seen on How About Orange.

{source: via Pinterest}

Jessica directs you to this site for the pattern to make these little houses. I was able to figure out the basics, but since the directions were a bit vague, I made a practice house from plain computer paper. For this house, I started with the same size of paper for both the top and bottom of the house. I didn't love how the two pieces fit together, so I decided to make the top piece slightly larger for my future houses.

Maren loved playing with the finished products, and she didn't mind a bit that the top and bottom didn't nest well together.

I love messy little kid hands!

For my 'designer' houses, I used scrapbook paper in different patterns. It is very important to use thin paper...no card stock for this project! I started by cutting my bottom squares to 7.5 in. square, and my top pieces to 8 in. square. These dimensions will make a finished house with a 2.5 in. square base.

Since the directions for both pieces tell you to fold the paper in thirds, I drew quick pencil marks on the backs of the paper.

The directions for the top and bottom are pretty self explanatory. Here's one of my little house bottoms...

A cute little village of paper houses...

I love that the tops and bottoms are interchangeable. I suppose you could always add some glue if you wanted to make things a bit more secure. I'm hoping to have Brett hang a shelf in my powder bath where I will make a little house display.

Have you ever tried your hand at origami? I found it to be a nice simple craft with a fun outcome. To see what other's are 'pin-doing', be sure to visit The Modern Marigold!

Quilt blocks

2011-10-10T12:04:00.003-06:00

I finally got around to taking some pictures of my first three blocks for our FRMQG monthly swap. It's been so fun to make some different things, and to get inspired for my own future projects.

August {Kristen}

September {Melissa}

October {Traci}

Sweet Saturday

2011-10-08T17:15:00.003-06:00

Things that I'm loving today...{in no particular order}

1. Truett bouncing around in his Johnny Jump Up

2. Truett smiling at himself in the mirror {and the fact that he's wearing snuggly fleecy pj's}

3. Waking up to snow {OH MY GOODNESS!}

4. Listening to one Christmas CD in honor of the first snow, even though the pumpkins are still fresh on the front step

5. My favorite blue-eyed girl all bundled up and ready to play in the snow

6. Building the first snowman of the year with neighbor friends {Maren was so thrilled at the prospect of playing in the snow!}

7. Getting lucky at Old Navy...I just ran in to pick up a hat for Truett, and came out with summer wardrobes for both kids...30% off already marked-down clearance plus a $5 off coupon!

8. My favorite outfit...I love preppy little-boy clothes!

9. The best part...
What made your Saturday sweet?

A quiet day and catching a picture of '3'

2011-10-07T13:40:00.005-06:00

I hope you're all having a lovely Friday! I'm enjoying a quieter day at home...Maren is spending some time with her Gigi (grandma), so it's just me and Truett today. Truett is the most laid-back, content little guy, so it's easy to get things done when it's just the two of us. He loves to roll around on the floor and watch me operate. He also takes 3-hour naps, which means I'm getting some rare alone time, too. I'm hoping to have a few finished projects to share with you all next week. I'm also working on some Christmas things. I can hardly believe it's time for that, but it will creep up on me if I don't start now!

I'll leave you with a little photo montage of my beautiful girl. It's next to impossible to catch a nice, smiling picture of her these days, so I've resolved to capture her in whatever mood she presents. This is who she is right now...a spunky, independent, funny 3-year-old who refuses to smile for a picture. These are the types of pictures we'll love to look at some day, right?
Maren entertains us so much. The other night, she was refusing to try something I'd served for dinner. We have a rule at our house that it's okay to not like every food, but we all have to at least try a few bites of what's being served. In effort to get Maren to try a bite, Brett was recalling the classic Dr. Seuss story of Green Eggs and Ham. He reminded us of how at the end of the book, when he finally decides to try some green eggs and ham, he actually ends up liking it. Maren's swift reply was, "Well, he didn't like them with a fox, though."

Try as we may, Brett and I are rarely able to maintain composure during moments like these. They are times when we're reminded what a delight it is to have small minds in our midst.

Happy weekend!

pin-did week 1: a tiny bird's nest and chocolate-banana-fail

2011-10-04T13:09:00.006-06:00

I had so much fun picking out a couple of my Pinterest projects to try this week. I had one great success and one near-fail.

I loved these sweet bird's nests from the first time I saw them...

{source: via Pinterest}

...so, one evening last week I pulled out my boxes of small treasures and set to work on making my own little nests.

The wire I had on hand wasn't quite what Sarah originally recommended, so I have one chunky nest and one very petite nest. I used wire to make loops for the chain instead of using jump rings. I love how sweet and whimsical these little nests turned out. This project went together very quickly, and I think these would make lovely gifts for friends. If I get motivated enough I might make them for our youth group girls this Christmas.

My second attempt at a Pinterest recreation was not so impressive. Doesn't this look great?

{source: via Pinterest}

The instructions were simple enough: Freeze a banana, then combine with 2 tbsp cocoa powder and blend until smooth and creamy. I did exactly as instructed, with less-than-favorable results...{sorry for the disgusting photo...just keeping it real!}
I have to admit, this did taste quite delicious. I found it to be a little too cocoa-y, so I'll probably just use 1 T. of cocoa next time. I tried to use my Magic Bullet, and things didn't blend up well at all. I might attempt this again in my real blender. The problem is, with just one banana, there really isn't much substance to blend up. My sweet {nursing} boy has an aversion to dairy, so I had high hopes of this concoction being a satisfactory substitution for ice-cream. While it was yummy, it just wasn't quite as appetizing-looking as that picture I pinned.

So, there you have it! I actually get to check off 2 things from my ever-growing lists of Pinterest projects to try.

A tiny little blogging tip...

2011-10-03T12:42:00.003-06:00

Hi friends!

I hope you all are enjoying this lovely Monday. My kids are napping [at the same time!!! Yay!} and I'm just catching up on some emails while cookies are baking in the oven.

So, I have a little request/tip for you. I love reading each and every one of the comments you leave for me, and I do my best to respond to them all. All of the comments left on my blog get emailed to me, and I'm able to respond to you personally through email, which is such a fun way to get to know you better and to thank you for stopping by! Sadly, I'm unable to respond to you if your account is set up to be 'no-reply'. If you'd like to hear back from me {or from any other bloggers you leave comments for}, follow these simple steps...

1. Go to blogger.com
2. Click Edit Profile
3. Under Privacy, check the box next to 'Show my email address'
4. If you don't have an email address displayed, just enter your email under Identity where it says 'Email address'
5. Scroll to the bottom of the screen and select 'Save Profile'

Simple, right?

Happy Monday!

October Gift Guide

2011-10-03T04:00:00.000-06:00

{for a baby}

{for a little boy}

{for a little girl}

{for a gentleman}

{for a lady}

{for a friend}

{for the newlyweds}

source

Happy shopping!

Pin-Did!

2011-09-30T04:11:00.000-06:00

I love Pinterest. It's like having the most amazing craft, decorating, diy, style, and food magazine ever...all on your computer. And it's never-ending. Seriously, so much fun. If you're not familiar with Pinterest, it basically acts as a virtual bulletin board where you can 'pin' just about anything you'd like...decorating ideas, diy project ideas, style inspiration, funny sayings, recipes, etc.

Naturally, you can understand my excitement when I read about Amanda's little Pinterest Challenge. I admit to having a multitude of projects I'd love to try, but have not yet found the time to get around to them. Amanda's challenge is to actually attempt something you've 'pinned'. It could be a recipe, a craft, a decorating project, anything! I'm thrilled to have found some motivation to actually execute one of the many ideas I've collected over the past several months.

If you've been bitten by the Pinterest bug, join Amanda {and me!} in checking some of those projects off your 'to do' list. I'll be sharing my project next Tuesday!

Nine weeks later...

2011-09-29T16:24:00.003-06:00

It has been nine weeks since Truett had his big surgery. I cannot believe how quickly time passes, especially when children are involved. I know I will blink again and we'll be celebrating my little man's first birthday. For now, I'm treasuring each snuggle and giggle that comes from this boy. I love being his mom so much, and wouldn't change anything about the first 4 months of his life. Obviously, I could have done without the whole heart surgery situation, but I have learned to rejoice even in the difficult things God allows into our lives. I learned so much about prayer, trust in God, love, and the body of Christ through that ordeal. And really, looking back, I wouldn't trade those lessons for anything. They are part of Truett's story and part of our family's story, and we have all grown closer to each other and closer to the Lord as a result.

We've had about half a day of autumn-like weather here, and I am so ready for the crisp, cooler days! Hopefully they will arrive soon so I can dress Truett up in more hats like this...

Yesterday, the kids and I took a little trip to the Pediatric Cardiologist. Truett received rave reviews on the condition of his heart, and we were told to discontinue his final heart medication. In the doctor's words, he's a 'perfect baby'. I couldn't agree more! Here's my little wiggle-worm smiling and squirming for the tech.

Truett had his blood pressure checked for the final time in 2011. {Lord willing!} We don't have to return to the cardiologist until January. Woohoo!
Once again, thank you so much for the kind comments and emails you've shared during this journey. I will forever remember the love and encouragement that's been showered on us during these early months of Truett's life.

Revisiting some old favorites

2011-09-29T08:49:00.004-06:00

Good morning!

This week Gussy's Inspiration Workshop prompt is Favorite DIY. I've had a great time looking back through my archives at previous projects. I decided to share a few of my all-time favorites with you today.

What I've been up to lately...

2011-09-26T14:15:00.003-06:00

I've been having a great time constructing some new items for the shop. Working on these projects is such a delight for me. With two young children underfoot, it is often challenging to find time and energy to pursue my creative endeavors. But I've recently had a bit of an epiphany. You see, I believe creativity is a gift from God. He has, after all, demonstrated the most amazing creative works in His magnificent creation.

For by him all things were created; things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.
Colossians 1:16

For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods.
In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him.
The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.
Psalm 95:3-5

I love thinking of the Lord as our Great Creator. I can't help but praise him when I think of how he's formed and planned out my life and the lives of my husband and children. I can't help but give glory to his name when I drive around town and see the immensity of the Rocky Mountains spread across the horizon. So, I consider it a great privilege and an act of praise to spread my creative wings, so to speak. It is a gift to create interesting things, and it is a joy to have this be an opportunity for me to contribute something financially to our family.

Now, for the big reveal! These little collages are each so special and unique. I create the original designs, hand-cut all the paper, and stitch each piece together to form a whimsical piece of art. I hope you like them!

Friday hi!

2011-09-23T11:29:00.002-06:00

I just wanted to stop by to say 'hello' on this lovely Friday! My aunt and uncle are visiting from Minneapolis, so we're enjoying company at our house this weekend. Maren is keeping them quite busy with all of her creative antics. I took these pictures of Truett last week [a little late!] to document him at 3 months old. I did the same with Maren, and it's been great fun to compare their pictures each month. Here are a few favorites of my sweet, smiley boy.

Maren wanted to get in on the action, so we goofed around and took a few self-portraits.
I love my days with these two littles...they are such a joy!

Finding August...and Jesus

2011-09-19T15:04:00.006-06:00

It was a joyful afternoon at our home on Friday...for August has returned! Maren was brimming with thankfulness to those kind souls who cleaned August all up and gave her some nice new clothes. We did tell her that this was a 'new' August, as to not be deceptive. My mom even suggested we call this new baby September. But, August she will be...Maren seems certain her exact baby has returned. I am a tad concerned for the welfare of my future grandchildren, though. Maren didn't seem at all put off by the much blonder eyelashes or the two teeth August has grown in her brief time away from us. Maren appears to be lacking in her perception to detail. I can only hope she doesn't leave for the mall play area one day with my blond grandson only to return with a red-haired little girl.

Here is the much-anticipated moment of reunion...

She could hardly contain her excitement...[and, yes, she picked out that well-placed-little-pink-bow all by herself.]

Oh, August, how we've missed you! [But not the old August...she was stinky!]

This morning Maren, August, Truett and I were sitting on the couch reading a book. In this book, a sweet little squirrel mama is happily sharing about her best friend, God. Maren asked me if God was my best friend, and I told her that He is. Seeking to utilize this precious moment of spiritual enlightenment, I went on to share about God's love for us in sending Jesus to pay the penalty for our sins. I explained to Maren that someday Jesus would like to come into her heart and be her best friend, too. Maren proceeded to ask if Jesus was in my heart. Yes. Is Jesus in Daddy's heart? Yes.

She pondered these things for a moment and said, "Okay, let's do it right now." My delight at her comprehension turned to astonishment when she leaned down in front of my chest and exclaimed, "Hey Jesus! Come on in!" I have to believe such words spoken by a 3-year-old girl were music to the ears of the Lord.

For now, I will refrain from referring to this as Maren's conversion experience. I will, however, look forward to more conversations about Jesus with my dear children.

How to freeze peaches

2011-09-16T13:20:00.007-06:00

Having grown up in Michigan, I have fond memories of delicious summer produce. We'd stop by roadside stands on our way to the lake to pick up blueberries, sweet corn, and whatever else was being harvested at the time. When we moved to Colorado I quickly noticed a difference in the produce available. While Colorado has many wonderful attributes, an ideal climate for growing fruits and vegetables isn't one of them. That being said, I have discovered the Palisade peaches of Colorado are unrivaled in tastiness. I look forward to ordering a bunch of peaches each August to prepare for freezing. [We do, of course, enjoy plenty of the peaches while they're fresh!] With a well-stocked freezer of peaches, we're able to enjoy pies, coffee cakes, cobblers, desserts, etc. all through the winter months.

If you'd like to freeze some peaches of your own, here's how we do it!

You'll need:

Peaches
quart-sized freezer bags
lime juice
sugar

1. Freezing peaches is a messy business. Might I suggest some great music to accompany your work? I listened to O Sister 2 and Appalachian Hymns.

2. Begin by making a simple sugar syrup. I start by heating 9 cups of water on the stove. I slowly add 3 cups of sugar until it dissolves, then I remove the pan from the heat. There's no need to boil this, just be sure the sugar has all dissolved. I was able to use this amount to freeze approximately 30 or 35 peaches.

3. Fill a large stockpot with water and bring it to a boil.

4. While the water is coming to a boil, prepare an ice-bath for the peaches. I fill my largest bowl with ice-water.

5. When the bowl is filled with ice-water, I submerge a large colander right in the ice. I have found this to be an easy way to get the peaches into an ice-bath without having to fish them out from the actual ice.

6. When the water has come to a boil, place 5 or 6 peaches into the water for 30 seconds.

7. After 30 seconds, use a slotted spoon to remove the peaches from the boiling water.

8. Place the peaches directly into the ice-bath.

9. After the peaches have sat in the ice-bath for a minute or so, the skin should peal right off, leaving nice and slippery peaches ready for freezing!

10. Slice up the peaches and sprinkle them with a bit of lemon juice.

11. I like to line a 2-cup pyrex measuring cup with a quart-sized freezer bag. Using a measuring cup, I scoop 2 cups of peaches into the bag. I've found that many of my peach recipes call for either 2 or 4 cups of peaches. This makes it easy to thaw out the exact amount I need at any given time.

12. Ladle the sugar water over the peaches, just covering them in the liquid.

13. This is about how much liquid I put in each bag. When I squeeze the air out of the bag, the liquid ends up covering the peach slices completely.

14. Label each bag with the amount and the date. You might think you'll never forget what's in each bag, but I always do!

15. Just for fun...have you ever seen the inside of a peach pit? Now you have!

I'd love to know if you have any favorite peach recipes. I'm taking a risk tonight and making a new cobbler recipe for company. [Yikes!] If it doesn't turn out, I've got homemade chocolate chip cookies and ice-cream on hand. *wink*

Enjoy your weekend. We've heard word that August 2 is en route. Maybe she'll arrive sometime this weekend!

The too-short life of August the doll

2011-09-14T16:46:00.005-06:00

Yesterday tragedy befell our home. Before I reveal all the horrific details of the demise of August the doll, let's take a little stroll down memory lane.

We welcomed August into our family on Maren's second birthday. Maren affectionately bestowed her new baby with the name 'August', surely as an homage to her birthday month.

August spent her early days taking long walks with her caring mother.

She even managed to sneak into the official Christmas cousins picture of 2010.

Maren and August asked Santa for a pony. They were able to comfort each other when they awoke to discover this forgotten request on Christmas morning.

August enjoyed her Sunday afternoon naps with the rest of the family, although her choice of sleeping positions was typically bewildering.

Maren was happy to allow her great grandpa to spend a moment with August on Mother's Day. We enjoyed a lovely brunch in celebration.

August loved to pose for pictures, particularly when sharing the spotlight with such a fashion-forward lady as Maren.

Just another afternoon around here...

August could frequently be found motoring about in Maren's rumble seat. On this particular day they were inspecting Brett's work on the removal of our disgusting carpet.

Here ends the rainbows and unicorns portion of August's life. It was a good life. She made many fond memories with her doting caretaker, Maren. Then one fateful evening she took an after-dinner walk to the neighborhood park. It's possible she enjoyed a bicycle ride as well, but we can't be sure. Maren was so overtaken by the joy of playing with her friends at the park, that somehow August was left behind.

The next day, Maren discovered August was missing. Phone calls were made, steps were retraced, and August was nowhere to be found. In effort to be the knight in shining armor of this tale, Maren's dad took a late night walk to the park with flashlight in hand. He searched high and low, only to discover August in the most unlikely of places. A dark and horrible place. A place where no human should ever venture. Likely at the hand of some neighborhood hooligans, August had found her way into the porta-potty. My dear sister-in-law suggested that we place August in the freezer to kill the germs. I had to clarify to her that August was not merely within the walls of the portable bathroom, but had actually been placed down into the depths of the toilet itself. A brief stay in the freezer was not going to take care of her problems.

Being the loving dad that he is, Brett did manage to fish August out of the blue water. She does, after-all, float. Gross. Anyhow, she received a heavy hosing-off in the backyard, followed by a steaming hot, bleachy spin in the washing machine. Nope. There's just no way August will be welcomed back into our family. The damage was done. August had to go. Thankfully, Maren awoke to good news the following morning. It turns out August has a twin sister, also named August, who happens to be in need of a loving family. She is scheduled to arrive at our home in 7 to 10 business days. Maren will take a few classes on being a responsible parent, and we'll hope to never have a repeat of this devastating experience.

The end.

A good night at quilt guild

2011-09-13T14:18:00.004-06:00

I have thoroughly enjoyed being a member of the Front Range Modern Quilt Guild. I am learning so much, have made some lovely new friends, and appreciate having a fun evening out every month. Last night's meeting was particularly great. It started on a pleasant note when I was able to leave Truett home with Brett and Maren. It's so nice that he's to the point where I can leave him for for a few hours. I do love having him around, but a little break is welcomed every now and again. I'm so blessed to have a husband who enjoys his alone time with the kids. It is a gift!

My friends in the guild presented me with a lovely quilt in celebration of Truett's arrival. Each participant made a brightly colored 9 patch and I think it turned out so fun!

I also managed to win a fabulous giveaway thoughtfully put together by Randi. Each month the winner of this basket gets to keep all the goodies inside. Now it's my job to fill the basket with some fun things for next month's winner. I do have to say that I was lucky to win this month...it was filled with some perfect items for a new quilter.
I was also fortunate enough to snag those yellow and aqua fat quarters. See why it was such a good night? By the way, if you've never tried that toffee sea salt chocolate bar from Whole Foods you are missing out...YUM!

This Monday

2011-09-12T21:52:00.003-06:00

Today was lovely.

I picked these off our very own apple tree...

Maren and I made stylish new necklaces...

I froze a whole bunch of these...
Later in the week I'll share my sweet little technique for freezing peaches. It makes for some pretty delicious peach coffee cake on a cold winter morning. Happy Monday, friends!

Weekend Love

2011-09-11T21:28:00.004-06:00

We've had a nice weekend around our house. Brett left early yesterday morning to fly to Michigan to pick up our new minivan! I couldn't be more thrilled. Yes, there was a time when a younger, hipper version of myself vowed I'd never own one. Now me and my kids, stroller, groceries, craigslist purchases, packages of bulk toilet paper and Brett are going to rock the mini with pride! We took our first little drive this afternoon, and it's every bit as wonderful as I'd imagined!

This is how Truett woke up this morning. I think he was excited to be 3 months old!

While we were eating breakfast I asked Maren if she wanted to do her hair in buns today. Later, while I was brushing her hair, she asked if we were going to do hamburgers in her hair. She was on the right track...even after I told her they were buns, she insisted on saying that she had one hamburger and one bun. My sweet Maren...
This afternoon I found M sitting outside on her quilts 'reading' her Bible. This is a sight that makes a mom's heart sing! She told me that Sokie and Beboke wanted to hear about Abraham. Sokie and Beboke are Maren's imaginary friends. They've been part of our family for quite a while now, and show up in the unlikeliest of places. Maren made up their names...creative, right?

In other news, my parents celebrated 35 years of marriage today. I'm so thankful for what that means to our family. My mom and dad love each other so much, still spend most of their free time together, and have both been incredible examples to me in so many different ways through the years. I love you mom and dad!

On a day when our country remembers a great tragedy, I am reminded of the rich ways in which I have been blessed and the fleeting nature of life on this planet. I don't want a day to pass when honor isn't given to my great God and when thanks and praise don't flow freely from my lips for each of these people he's so lovingly placed in my life.

September Gift Guide

2011-09-07T03:00:00.000-06:00

Hello there! I've decided to put together a little monthly gift guide to share with you all. I've been trying to be more creative with my gift-giving lately, which inevitably takes more time and thought. I'll share some of my favorite finds each month in hopes of inspiring you to think outside the box in your own gift-giving! I'll include a variety of handmade and manufactured items. Just click on the item for purchasing information!

{FOR THE NEW BABY}

{FOR A FIRST BIRTHDAY}

{FOR A LITTLE GIRL}

{FOR A LITTLE BOY}

{FOR THE NEWLYWEDS}

{FOR A FRIEND}

{FOR A LADY}

{FOR A GENTLEMAN}

*I didn't receive any compensation for putting together this little list...these are simply items I discovered and found to be charming!

The Little Gymnast

2011-09-06T14:00:00.003-06:00

Maren loves gymnastics. And fashion. Here's what happens when the two worlds collide...

And yes, she actually left the house looking just like this. I love this girl to bits!

Labor Day Weekend 2011

2011-09-05T20:45:00.004-06:00

As I was driving home from Target this afternoon, I was thinking how ironic it would be for someone to go into labor on Labor Day. This is what happens when I'm left alone in the car...I think brilliant thoughts. Seriously, I am so grateful for a husband who works so intently to provide for our family. It is because of him that I am privileged to spend my days home with our little ones and that I have the time to pursue my creative endeavors. He is our champion!

We've had a lovely weekend. Can you guess what Brett did for me?

The kids enjoyed time in the pool and bath, respectively.

On Sunday evening we joined some friends downtown for the 'balloon glow'. The weather was just brisk enough to hint that autumn is on it's way. Maren spent the evening in a dancing, rolling frenzy with her dear friend, Abby. Brett commented tonight that these girls play like brothers. They were wrestling and rolling all around the ground. It does a mother's heart good to see her little girl enjoying a sweet friendship. And yes, Maren wears that pink tutu nearly everyday. I love the contrast offered by her distinct feminine fashion preferences and her willingness to play rough and tumble. There's something quite endearing about a little girl wrestling about in a flouncy pink skirt!
We also enjoyed some time with Brett's parents and plenty of hours of outdoor play with neighborhood friends. As far as weekends go, this one couldn't have gotten much better. Happy Labor Day!

A quilted pink runner

2011-09-03T17:26:00.004-06:00

Since I am a glutton for punishment, I decided to whip up a table runner for Maren's Pink Party. It actually was a pretty quick project...I just wish I would have decided to make it more than 4 days before the party. *wink*

I had all the materials on hand, which is what made me decide to tackle the project in the first place. I cut the fabric to random widths, sewed them together, quilted on either side of the seams, and added a funky black and white binding.

See those cake balls? They were almost my undoing. When it comes to things in the kitchen, I'm not great at following directions. Those poor balls of delicousness suffered the consequences. Dear Bakerella, next time I promise to read through your entire book before I begin to make up a batch of cake balls. I did use an amazing chocolate cake recipe from my neighbor. It has zucchini in it, and I promise to share it with you soon. You'll thank me.
Happy Saturday!

Vintage tells a story

2011-09-01T22:51:00.001-06:00

Each room in my house is infused with a hint of vintage flair. I love the conversationalism [I just made up that word!] offered by a great vintage piece. Visitors often ask me about the quirky hat on the shelf in the guest bath, the great box purse on my mantle, or the various collections of vintage toys and books scattered throughout my home. Nobody ever comments on the lovely Pottery Barn clock sitting in our family room. I'm quite certain it's because the clock doesn't yet have a story to tell.

The hat was my grandmother's. I like to imagine which occasion might have inspired it's purchase.

My mantle is home to another of grandma's hats. There's also an old tin discovered at a flea market by a twenty-something version of my mom. I love thinking of what her life was like when she was a young mother. The marbles were my dad's when he was a boy and the milk bottle came from the dairy where one of my grandmas was raised. My parents actually brought me home from the hospital to that same old dairy house, and my mom rescued the glass bottle from the farm before it was leveled and the land sold for town-homes. The dairy farm is long gone, but a few treasures remain to tell it's story.

My grandma's box purse...again, I wonder what sorts of things she carried with her in this purse and where she might have gone with it in her hand.

A shelf in Maren's room is home to other favorite items. My mom's glass baby bottle holds more of dad's marbles. [My poor dad...he's lost all his marbles!] I can't imagine carrying around a glass baby bottle! A charming copy of Peter Rabbit was a gift from one of my aunts and the other books came from my mom's childhood library. I'm sure that many chilly Minnesota afternoons were spent curled up in a chair reading these books.
I do love having bits of the past scattered about our home. My family has been blessed with a rich Godly heritage, and I am grateful for these reminders of the generations who have remained faithful in order that we might be here in this place, clinging to the truths that serve as our anchor today.

Each week Gussy hosts an Inspiration Workshop. I recently started reading her blog, and I have discovered plenty of creative inspiration within her pages. If you have a spare moment, you should go see for yourself!

How to make a pinata

2011-09-01T20:49:00.005-06:00

I first found inspiration to build a pinata for Maren's 3rd party via Pinterest. Oh Happy Day has a great tutorial on building a number pinata. I modified Jordan's technique a bit, and this is what I came up with!

I started by free-handing a number 3 on a large moving box.

I used a serrated knife to cut through 2 layers of cardboard at the same time. This ensured that the numbers were exactly the same size for each side of the pinata.

Next I cut out long strips for the sides. Mine were about 6 in. wide. I used packing tape to connect all the parts.

Near the top of the '3' I left a flap open to fill the pinata with candy. I just closed it up with a few strips of tape when the entire thing was done. Since I used wide packing tape to connect the parts, I ended up puncturing the tape near the bottom in several places so it would break open more easily. The pinata stood up to several hits from each kid at our party. We actually invited one of the adults to give it a few whacks in order to break it open.

I only ended up using 1 package of tissue paper for the entire pinata. I started by using a glue stick to cover the surface with a layer of tissue.

Next I covered large sections of the '3' with Mod Podge.

I tore up random chunks of tissue...

...and scrunched them up a bit...

...then I just stuck them to the pinata.

This was a relatively quick and simple way of adding texture. I decided to only add the layer of 'scrunch' to the front and back of the '3'. I did one side in the evening, allowed it to dry overnight, and finished the other side the next morning.

Maren and her '3'.

This ended up to be a more time-consuming project that I had originally anticipated. I'm so glad I stuck with it, because the pinata was the 'hit' of the party. [Please excuse the lame pun...I can't seem to help myself, especially when I'm writing past 9 pm!] It really was a great way to add some fun to the party without spending much money. If you can find a free box, the tissue only costs a couple dollars and most people have some sort of glue on hand. We filled the pinata with packages of suckers, Jolly Ranchers and Tootsie Rolls. I'm sure everyone agrees that birthday parties are the perfect time to see that children are getting adequate amounts of sugar into their systems, right? If so, I did my part! *wink*

September Inspiration

2011-09-01T17:03:00.002-06:00

{all images via Pinterest}

A Sparkly Monogram

2011-08-29T19:27:00.003-06:00

This week I'm excited to share some of the projects I put together for Maren's pink party. I opted for something a little different than the traditional balloons to welcome our guests at the front door...a sparkly 'M' for Maren.

I had everything on hand for this little project. The 'M' was originally for something I was going to do in Maren's room. That project never made it past the yellow paint!

Since I didn't have pink paint I utilized my elementary art skills and mixed red and white together.

And just like that...a pink 'M'!

I used two colors of glitter to create on ombre effect...

...while the paint was still wet I applied the darker color heavily to the bottom and thinner towards the middle. Next I went over the middle with the lighter color and finished near the top with just a faint dusting of the lighter color. The glitter also managed to sneak into all other areas of my craft room. It has a tendency to do that!

I finished off by tying three thin scraps [rescued from the trash!] to one side of the M.

I glued a pink ribbon to the back so I could hang the 'M' from the wreath hook. I haven't decided if I'm brave enough to allow this glittery masterpiece to grace the peg rack in Maren's room. If I do, it will supply her wardrobe with a nice amount of sparkly for the foreseeable future!

Find more Monday inspiration here:

A Pink Party to Celebrate '3'

2011-08-28T15:51:00.006-06:00

I'm not entirely sure how we've arrived at this milestone, but our sweet girl is 3! She was rather insistent on having a pink party, so on Saturday evening we did just that. With the exception of a few paper products, balloons and a bunch of fifty-cent tin pails, I was able to use things we had around the house for the decorations. We invited some close friends, grilled burgers, and enjoyed a lovely Colorado evening in our backyard!

We took a little self-portrait before the festivities. Miraculously, Truett went to sleep ten minutes before the guests arrived and didn't wake up until we had started to clean up. Have I mentioned what a sweet baby he is?

We borrowed the tent and a couple tables...if only we knew of someone with a pink tent!

I tend to put way too much pressure on myself in the food arena for these types of events. This time we kept it simple, and it was perfect! We grilled burgers, and had watermelon and a couple different kinds of chips. Dessert was cupcakes and cake-pops with ice-cream. We served pink lemonade in canning jars with pink straws. [Of course!]

I wonder why beverages taste so much better when served in cute vessels?

We hung balloons from the ceiling. I borrowed the idea from Lindsey. [If you ever need some brilliant party inspiration, check out her blog. She does some amazing things!] I made the streamers with paper I had on hand.

All the kids made foot-print butterflies. The girls made pink ones, and I had blue paint on had for the lucky gentlemen in attendance!

Maren and her guests...

Gauging on the popularity of the pinata this time around, I'm likely to include one in all subsequent parties. The kids LOVED it, which made it well-worth the work. I'll share more about my pinata project later this week.

Sometimes I wish I could freeze Maren right here in time. She is so full of joy, is a wonderful friend and hostess, and appreciates life to the fullest. We asked people not to bring gifts this year, as Maren has no need for any more toys. She didn't mind it one bit...a few bags of candy in a cardboard '3' was enough of a treat to last the entire evening. Seriously...look at that face!

Maren's face was priceless while we were singing to her before she blew out the candles. She was beaming from ear to ear with a hint of bashfulness thrown in for good measure. Clearly I was paying more attention to the plate of flaming cupcake than I was to the state of Maren's attire. This is the last time she'll ever be allowed to display that much skin at a party! *wink*

Is there anything better than birthday (cup)cake and ice-cream?

I have grand plans to actually pay a professional to take a good family picture of us...but that won't happen until later this fall. For now, this will have to do. Truett made an appearance for the last few minutes of the party...just in time to garner a few ooh's and ahh's from the ladies before they headed home for the evening. He's quite the little charmer!

Around here...

2011-08-26T13:43:00.004-06:00

...little man has been doing a lot of this...

...and Maren's been playing here...[courtesy of our new washing machine...our old one decided to up and quit last weekend. Always such great timing with these things, right? Clearly the home appliances didn't get the memo about the revised medical-bill-paying budget we're on. The saddest thing is that we're pretty sure the dishwasher won't make it through Thanksgiving. I told Brett I'd manage to wash dishes by hand for a while if need be. I was not, however, willing to extend the offer for clothing belonging to an infant and a 3 year old. *wink*]

We're getting ready for a 'Pink Party' tomorrow evening. Maren's been quite persistent with her request, and initially I wasn't thrilled with the idea. She first began petitioning for a pink party in March, so I've had plenty of time for the ideas to roll around in my mind. I have to say I'm tickled pink with how things have come together. I crack myself up sometimes. [Seriously, I just laughed out loud...I need to get out more!]

We do love hosting a good party around here, and this pink one is no exception. I think next week will be 'Pink Week' here at the blog. I've got quite a few fun little things to share from this party, so check back in to see what's had me blushing lately! Get it?..blushing...pink...okay, it's time to say goodbye!

An interview with Maren

2011-08-23T19:05:00.003-06:00

A while back I found a fabulous little book for Maren called Your Birthday Book: A Keepsake Journal by Amy K. Apart from being a simply darling book, it's a great way to document changes brought about by each new year in a child's life. There are interview questions for each year, and we captured Maren's interview on video as well. Some of her answers surprised me, some made me laugh, and some made me want to grab her and give her a giant hug. If you've got a couple of minutes to spare, here's a little peek into the world of Maren!

Guess who?

2011-08-15T19:54:00.003-06:00

We've been having a lot of fun lately comparing pictures of Maren and Truett. It's uncanny how much they look alike, especially in pictures where they're not wearing any clothes. Can you tell who's who?

*The first picture in all three sets is Maren.

Do you know Sarah?

2011-08-13T07:00:00.000-06:00

I've recently discovered the joy of watching my favorite HGTV shows online! This was a thrilling discovery for this non-cable-subscribing girl. One of my favorite shows is Sarah's House. Have you seen it? Sarah Richardson makes charming work of fixing up homes, aided by her clever assistant, Tommy. While my mom was here, we spent our evenings watching Sarah's Summer House. We both agree that Sarah's work is never disappointing. Here are some of my favorite transformations from what she calls her 'cottage'.

master bath

kid's bedroom

kitchen

sitting area

There's not a single room in this series that I didn't like. The kitchen is by far my favorite. Sarah added so many interesting and whimsical touches, making the space unique and welcoming. It's likely I will never have her design budget, but I sure do enjoy finding some inspiration from within her walls!

A little fun and a lotta sad

2011-08-11T12:45:00.000-06:00

My mom left this morning, and my eyes are all tired now from crying. I dislike 'good-byes' very much. Before all the craziness with Truett's heart surgery, we had planned a nice long vacation to the family cottage in Michigan. We were supposed to leave today. So, I'm double-sad...sad that my mom isn't enjoying an afternoon cup of coffee with me, and sad that an entire summer is passing without a glimpse of my favorite summer destination.

I spent a few minutes perusing bhg.com this afternoon and came across this fun little organizing quiz.
I am a 'Schoolteacher'...orderly but not rigid. After you find out your organizing personality you have the option to read up on some organizational ideas for your type. It's a fun little way to spend a few minutes between loads of laundry. *wink*

Happy weekend!

A few good days

2011-08-10T13:21:00.005-06:00

We've been home from the hospital for a little more than a week and it's been pretty great. We were not sad to bid adieu to room 902 at Children's with it's slanty couch-bed and beeping machines. I think Truett's been significantly more content as well.

Administering meds quickly became the bane of my existence. There were so many specific doses and times to remember, not to mention the hassle of getting Truett to take them. I'm still not sure if it was worse for him or for me. His little rainbow of drugs was made up of tylenol, zantac, lasix (a diuretic), oxycodone (for pain), and propranolol (for high blood pressure). Within a couple days of being home he was off the oxycodone. Last week the cardiologist reduced his doses of lasix and propranolol by 1/2. This morning we were able to cut back even more on the lasix and say goodbye to the propranolol entirely. Yay! Our little guy is on the mend.

Maren thought it was Christmas with all the goodies that came home from the hospital in Truett's tub. Since we paid for all this stuff, I figured we might as well make use of it! She's become quite the little doctor around our house, treating ailments of all sorts.

This is pretty much how Truett spent his first couple of days home. He'd take occasional eating and potty breaks, but then it was right back to being cozy.

I have loved having my mom here. We share a really special relationship, and it's so hard to have her living on the other side of the country. We only get to spend time together a few times a year, so when she's around I soak up every minute! She also happens to be an organizer extraordinaire, so we've tackled most of the closets in my house. Someday I'll have to share some of the fun things we've accomplished this week. Here she is snuggling with Truett.

I cannot tell you how amazing Maren has been this week. She's had a few meltdowns here and there, but for the most part she's been a trooper. She loves to help with Truett, and since she's become such a seasoned doctor, would love to get her hands on one of those medicinal syringes of her brother's. We've resorted to having her hold him. I'd say she's plenty happy with that job for now.

I wish I'd taken a picture of Truett's not-so-little war wound earlier, but here it is in all it's scarring glory. Since Truett is a boy, and boys seem to like scars, he'll probably be disappointed with how amazingly the surgeon closed him up. We were told that it would likely not be visible in another year or two. The steri-strips are covering the opening from his chest tube. From the looks of it, that might end up being more of a scar than the actual incision sight!

Truett has really been a different baby since he's had his little heart fixed. In the 2 weeks leading up to his surgery, we'd noticed our sweet boy becoming fussier and more lethargic. I am happy to report that he's sleeping wonderfully, smiles all the time, and only cries if he's tired or wanting his diaper changed.

I still can't believe that 2 short weeks ago we were spending our Wednesday at Children's Hospital getting Truett's myriad of tests done before his big surgery.
What a difference...praise the Lord!