My posts are going to be a collection of random photos and thoughts as I just can't keep up with my blog! But I am trying my best to remember details so here goes...

Amara is still the happiest little girl in the world! She is literally my little doll and I am having so much fun with her! She LOVES her bath time... sorry for the nudity in the shot, but she just finished her bath and was so excited! She loves her swing and she is so good traveling in the car.

Birthday's once in school become quite the ordeal! You HAVE to bring cupcakes because they celebrate the child in their class, which is very special, but more work. Especially when I decide last minute to make my cake batter and icing from scratch. We had a little cake decorating class at MOPS (mothers of preschoolers) so I went and bought a little kit at walmart for beginners and went to work. My oh my... it was a whole day ordeal and by the end I wasn't a happy momma. So I learned my lesson, I will buy boxed cake mix, but would probably still do the icing by hand because it holds its form so well and everything stayed good for a week! Anyways Danika was very happy with her cupcakes and the kids in class LOVED them!
The next day when it was her actual birthday and party, I made the cake from scratch and icing, but let Danika go ahead and decorate herself, she fully enjoyed herself. 

For Danikas party we rented the Duncan Gymnastics place. This was Danika's first time doing gymnastics and she loved every moment! I was laughing so hard watching both Danika and Adessa as they tumbled along and disappeared into the foam pit. And Adessa kept up with the 6 and 7 year olds... the girl doesn't miss a beat!
I have loved this year with Danika and 7 years old seems so old to me! There has been a lot of tough times, but also a lot of good. It has been so amazing to watch Danika catch onto reading, and these past couple of months watching her breeze through her little home reading books. She loves her baby sister with all her heart and loves to cuddle her on the couch and make Amara smile.

Amara is now 4 months old and I just took her in for her vaccinations. So heart wrenching to hear this little girl cry, since she rarely ever does! I am loving every moment with this little beauty, I wish there were more moments of just being able to sit and stare and kiss.

Here is a little comparison chart of our girls weights and heights... just for fun!

                                 Birth                        2 months                       4 months 

Amara      weight     6 lbs 14 oz                10 lbs  4 oz                     13 lbs

                 height      19.29 inches              21.02 inches                    23.15 inches

Adessa      weight   7 lbs 13 oz                 11 lbs 11 oz                     13 lbs 14 oz

                  height    21 inches                                                            23.75 inches

Danika       weight    4 lbs 9 oz                  9 lbs 2 oz                           12 lbs 2 oz

                  height    17 inches                   21 inches                             24 inches 

Adessa is keeping me as busy as ever. Her latest thing she loves are her "Lonely baths," She always asks for them. I think it is because her big sister is starting to enjoy showering by herself for some quiet time, so Adessa apparently prefers her lonely baths. 

For Steve's 30th birthday we had a bunch of people out to our friends farm. It was a beautiful evening. Everyone brought Steve beer... I guess what else do you get a guy?!? So we are stocked up for the summer! Also a good buddy got Steve some Duck Dynasty attire, a favorite show around here! It was a really nice evening filled with lots of laughs, some firecrackers and good friends. We feel so blessed by the wonderful friendships we have!
For my birthday my hubby surprised me by arranging childcare for my girls then having me go to a day spa in Duncan for a facial and massage. It was so wonderful to be shut into a dark room for 2 hours... I didn't want to leave! I felt very loved on my day and was spoiled by many awesome presents and in the evening was taken out on an adventure by a good friend! I got a new beautiful watch and my first pair of birkenstock sandals, which I LOVE. I also got some money for a shopping spree I will have to go on soon... I can't wait!
I have also started playing soccer on Monday nights with some ladies in Duncan. It feels so good to be out on the field again. And I love exercising when you don't feel like you are, because it is so much fun! But it is really encouraging me to get back in shape. I am almost down to my pre-pregnancy weight, but definitely want to start working out and feeling better! There just isn't any time in the day!

Well that is the end of my random post... stay tuned for many more that will probably be similiar! ;) 

Time Flies

I wish I could stop time and stay in this moment forever. 

It is crazy how quickly you move on and forget what each stage is like, because I look at my Danika who is about to turn 7 and I wonder how we got here, when it was yesterday that she was 4 pounds in an incubator in the hospital. And how Adessa is almost 4 years old and makes me laugh every day with her crazy abundance of energy. And now my third precious child is almost 4 months old and has gone from sleeping ALL day to smiling, laughing and grabbing onto all sorts of things. She no longer wants to be held tight against my chest where I can deeply breathe in her sweet baby scent, for its as if she will miss what her big sisters are doing. So much has changed in these few short months and I wish I could freeze time so I don't miss anything. 

Amara has officially moved out of size 1 diapers and is now in size 2. She is standing in her jolly jumper and sitting in the bumbo and is focusing so hard on objects placed in front of her. She smiles if you talk to her, even mid cry, she will look up and give you the greatest smile. She has officially moved out of our room and is all alone in her new big room. The first morning Danika went in to talk to her and told me that as soon as Amara saw her she giggled, because she finally felt love in her empty room! 

As crazy hectic life is at the moment, I do truly love it. I love the busyness, I love how the girls love their little sister and each time they pass her they yell out a big "HI AMARA" in the tone only they each can produce. I love that every time they yell it, it is quickly followed by a "Oh, she smiled at me!" 

Amara is continuing on her awesome sleep schedule of going to sleep around 8 pm, waking once around 4 am to eat, fall back asleep and sleep in until 7 or 8 am. She has been such a blessing, and I can truly say I have enjoyed every moment with this sweet little girl who I am so in love with. I can't imagine our lives without her. Her tiny little toes and fingers, her sweet chubby cheeks and silky soft hair. Everyone who meets her still comments on her beautiful head of hair and how beautiful she is. I feel weird writing it out, because I don't want to feel like I am bragging, but she truly is a beautiful little girl with such a sweet demeanor. 

I took the girls for a walk the other day after school. With Amara on my ergo carrier, Adessa in the stroller, Meeko on the leash and Danika riding her bike. It probably looked a little crazy as a few people commented that I sure had my hands full. But I loved every moment. I love when I get to the beach that has become our new walking path, where I can just sit and take in the girls endlessly exploring. The girls fight a lot, but they also play very well together. I love watching their friendship grow and the way they imagine together. 

Danika is still very bossy, something we are working on, and Adessa continues to not be told what to do, which can make for some loud screaming matches. But they are becoming less and less. (Thank God!) 

Steve continues to be busy and we have only God to thank for that! He has several jobs on the go and has hired several men to work for him. I am so proud of him though, he is really loving the new role of being a contractor and no longer working on the tools. But he does find himself on the phone all day and driving in his truck. 

This time around with the third child, we both just seem to be so relaxed now. I mean I still have my insane moments where I can't handle the mess and chaos around me, but I truly have loosened the reins as I physically can't keep up with my home anymore. For the first time since we have been married, the laundry sits clean in the laundry basket without being folded for a long time, the floor collects dust bunnies and dog fur blows across my floor. The bathrooms go uncleaned and there are fingerprints on literally everything! Oh and who has time for dusting!?! It has been a process in my heart that I do continually struggle with everyday, because I like everything just so- but God is teaching me how very valuable my time is and how if I don't sit down and play or cuddle you blink and they grow up. 

Our birthday week is coming up and my Danika will be 7, I will be 26 and my hubby will be the big 3-0! 

The MASSIVE shop Steve is building. 4200 sq ft. It is beautiful!