Nina News

• still loves reading. Her favorite books right now are "I'm a Big Sister" and "Baby Talk."
• repeats EVERYTHING. The last word of the sentence tends to be the word of choice.
• makes hard consonant sounds at the end of her words. for example "booK" and "milK" are very clear now.
• latest discoveries are airplanes, butterflies, and knees.
• favorite words this week are "elbow, Elmo, apple, and cup"
• growing more and more obsessed with Elmo. She will spend an hour on the ipad playing the Elmo app if you let her.
• runs in to help her brother when he cries "baby? baby? passy? passy?" she cries.
• loves to run around wearing a bright red hat or kitty cat ears
• She likes to vigorously shake Brother's hand and say "hi, hi"
• climbing more and more. found her standing on top of an ottoman yesterday and stretched across the air with her feet on the couch and her hands on the coffee table

Lamentations 3

22 Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail.

23 They are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

24 I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion;

therefore I will wait for him.”

thanking God for small (but wonderful) mercies such as naps/rest and for large ones such as grace. praying that i will be faithful in waiting for Him.

Mother of Two

Being a mom of two seems to be an ongoing dance of euphoria, disaster, and exhaustion. Thankfully euphoria is the main chorus and disaster only appears for a brief moment during a verse or two, and exhaustion... well I think exhaustion is the consistent rhythm and beat of the song. =)

All in all i LOVE it. And I am SO thankful for every moment. Including the ones where i'm sitting on the wooden floor in the doorway, 3 1/2 weeks after a c-section, holding two crying babies at the same time. But like I said, these moments are brief. And the happy times of watching Nina run about the house, repeating every word she hears, pretending to put a diaper on her bunny, and having me read the "I'm a Big Sister" book for the 50th time while brother eats or sleeps is the norm. And it's a fabulous norm.

Touched through Toes

My dear friend offered to give me a pedicure this week. At 9 months pregnant this gesture was more than much appreciated. She soaked them and scrubbed them and painted them a shiny red. =) I have never felt more blessed by a friend. Now when I go to the hospital this week and have lots of visitors, I won't be embarrassed of my feet! Thank you, thank you Bojana!

With this ring I thee wed...

Lately my fingers have been swelling up (along with my right foot and ankle). I never take off my wedding ring so I have been sliding it on my pinky when my fingers get all fat and puffy.

Well yesterday 2 girlfriends of mine invited me out to the dollar movies. Half way through Water for Elephants I realize there is no ring on any of my fingers! When the movie was over we started searching by cell phone light and found it in the bottom of my purse! All that buttery popcorn greased my pinky right up and it must have slipped off while rummaging through my bag. SOOO thankful we found it. I really thought I was going to have to go home and tell David the sad news.

Sunshine + Watermelons + Family = 4th of July

We got to spend the 4th with family this year! It felt so perfect to sweat in the brutal July sun while eating watermelons, jumping through sprinklers, and touring the sites of Chattanooga with Andy, Jess, and the girls. Nina Kate is missing her two cousins and has been repeatedly asking for "Besy, Besy."

Day 1 Went swimming. Had a cookout and ate homemade ice cream thanks to our kind & sharing neighbors.

Day 2 We went to the children's museum. Followed by free treats and water sprinklers. Ate at Lupi's pizza pies. Naptime & Chinese takeout.

Day 3 we played in the water fountains at coolidge park. Ate Good Dog hotdogs and fries. Walked the bridge and drove up Lookout Mountain and checked out Point Park.

Day 4 Donuts and Bye Bye

Day 3 playing in the water fountains at Coolidge

Day 2 cooling off in a sprinkler in front of the museum eating free cake, ice cream, and watermelon
Day 2 Betsy sliding in the children's museum
Day 2 Mollie and Nina Kate playing in the water zone at the museum.

July 14th or Sooner??

Went to the doc today. Everything looks good and baby boy should be here by around 8am on July 14th... or before! Just one more full week, just one more doc visit, just one more Friday night...