Such Beautiful Love.

Family.

My beautiful Wife.

The Third of July.

First Soccer game.

Levi's cousin, Salvador #24

Levi, Uncle Rob and Aunt Erin recapping Salvador's game.

My beautiful Wife.

xoxoxoxo

Learning to love the journey.

Please check out learningtolovethejourney.blogspot.com which is our new family blog that Theresa will be managing. Thanks and don't worry there will still be photos of Levi showing up here:)

I am thankful.

Whether it is the holiday season, or just the season our family is in, I have been trying to focus on all of the great things we have to be thankful for. As some of you know Royce has been laid off since late October which has caused us to really look at what we value and need in our daily lives. My motivation for making note seems like a great way to acknowledge all of the wonderful things we have been blessed with.



My little family of three

Our health

Restored relationships with my family

True friendships

Food on the table and in the pantry

A warm roof over our head

Modern medicine and wisdom of doctors

Cars that start when we need to go somewhere and are safe for levi

Being able to read our Bibles and go to Church with out being persecuted

Side jobs, anonymous gifts, generous family & friends

Winter Wonderland.

Even though Roy and I lived in MN, for 7 years, we are still quite surprised to see this much snow! Levi has been slowly warming up to the idea of spending time in the snow and he no longer cries when we go outside to play in it! He will make his Wisconsin cousins proud of him yet!

Stoney Ridge Farm

 

We spent some time at Stoney Ridge Farm today with our friends, The Andrew Family, enjoying the animals, their nativity display (w/an actual camel!) and some yummy apple pie.  A great way to start the Christmas Season!

Big Day!

Today was a big day. Levi crawled for the first time. Up until this point he has been rolling to and fro, but today in order to knock down a stacking tower I had built he actually went forward. It was a awkward movement because he refused to put his arms into position so they remained tucked under his tummy & his lil face was rubbing against the carpet. Nonetheless he made it to his destination, and we worked our way across the living room in this fashion. Me frantically building, him crawling and knocking down etc... There were tears (mommas), shouts of joy (mommas) and looks of bewilderment (levis). I am overjoyed that the Good Lord has allowed me to stay home with this precious boy, and experience the awe of witnessing the milestones as they happen. Levi also managed to drink out of a straw for the first time today & I can assure you he thinks they are pretty great!

One lil happy family.

Levi would rather roll than crawl, like his Aunt Erin.

So we were rolling around the living room with him.

His lil crane sweater is awesome! I want one for work.

Red hat days.

Momma and Levi

Levi and Mommy.

Hovander.

Our first trip to Hovander Park...

Today was family day.
We packed a picnic and spent the day at Hovander.
Levi had fun making noises at the horses and birds and pigs.

Mother and Son.

Happy Mother's Day!

Dear Mommy,
Thank you for all that you do for me.
Thank you for rescueing me from the crib
after a long restless nap.
Thank you for playing with me all day,
even when you have a kadrillion other things to do.
Thank you for the kisses.
Thank you for the hugs.
and all those great tasting smoothy thingies.
Thank you for cleaning my nose,
even though I cry a little.
Thank you for all those super funny noises you make all day.
Thank you for tickling me.
and washing me
and holding me
and most of all...
for loving me so much!

xoxoLevi

happy birthday

My baby is 3 months old?! Everyone always told me when I was pregnant that time with your babies flies by, but I never took them literally-yikes they were right!

Nothing and Nobody could have ever prepared me for motherhood. No one told me there was a chance you would not be taking your baby home from the hospital until 10 days had passed, no one told me breast feeding doesn't work for everyone, no one told me the first time your baby smiles at you brings a rush of tears down your face, no one told me how many hours a day you spend making goofy faces & noises just to see one more smile and then realize at 4pm you haven't yet showered, but you are totally okay with that, no one told me how much I would love to watch my husband and my son hang out together, and no one could have told me I would be so full of joy & gratitude to be able to stay at home & watch my little one grow.

Yes, there are long sleepless nights, spit-up incidents you would rather forget, and poo in places you wouldn't have thought possible, but they outweigh sleeping in and eating out every time.

In years prior when I imagined my life as a mother nothing even came close to the reality I live each day. It is such a blessing to have Levi in our lives and the fullness he has added to our family was something unexpected.

Happy Birthday Levi~Mama loves you!!