Celebrating Love.
Love that Valentines day gives us a specific day set aside to celebrate our love for each other! And now that we have children to celebrate and find creative ways to show them our love, it puts Valentines day right up there with Easter, Christmas, and Thanksgiving in my mind! Even though it is the MOST hated holiday in BrettRyan's book, he does a pretty good job humoring me and playing along. And he makes killer pink, heart-shaped pancakes every year too!
Sister loves holding a balloon...
she totally knows she's in control when she's got that string... it's amusing!
Left: Daddy making his traditional pink, heart-shaped pancakes
Right: BrettRyan and I on our first Valentines Day together! Six years ago! We had pink heart shaped pancakes that night... along with heart shaped sausages and orange juice with heart shaped ice cubes! Little did BR know he was starting a tradition when he made me pink pancakes that night! Must be a tradition to wear a pain white T on Valentines day too! :)
Daddy's finished products. Banana oatmeal pancakes...
they are the best with a little schmear of peanut butter!
No butter. No syrup.
Oh my goodness, I never want to forget what the top of her precious little head smells like!
Mmmm, so good!
Celebrating Birthdays.
Maxon turned TWO!
They played so well together!
When did this happen!?!?
And Nannie (Nana Anna has turned into "Nannie" lately) turned 15!
Yummy cheesecake made by Mom B. To. Die. For!
Uncle Jus and Lou-lou cuddling by the fire!
Celebrating Everyday Things.
Breck's hair...
I can't get enough of his hair. I LOVE it grown out!
Her beauty...
She looks so much like Breck in these pictures!
Stellar JCrew window displays...
Warm Broccoli ("Brocky") Soup + Pretzel Rolls + Real Moccasins on a cold day...
Baby peasant tops + peach lacey bows = love...
Breck learning his alphabet! He pointed several letters out on this cup that night...
This face. Self explanatory...
Their love for each other...
Naked baby skin...
Warm weather!
We're having a blast at our favorite park on these warm Spring days...
Baby shirt ruffles... does it get any cuter?! Yeah... the baby. :)
Celebrating Babies.
Two babies and two separate reasons to celebrate. Two of my best girlfriends are pregnant, and we've done some serious "sprinkling" this past week.
Krystal.
I had a small sprinkle for Krystal and Baby Girl Emerson this past week, Wednesday. It was just a handful of ladies, so it was a perfect reason to serve dessert and coffee on my Grandma's china! We had a fun time just girl talking, which usually turns into mama-talking. I think Krystal had a great time and she got so may adorable pink and pretty things! Can't wait to meet Baby Emerson and find out what her Mommy and Daddy have chosen for her name!
(Sidenote: My too-good-to-be-true Mom-in-law knew that I was slightly embarrassed to serve store bought cheesecake, and didn't have the guts to attempt her flawless made-from-scratch cheesecakes. So, two days before the sprinkle, she called me and said "Don't argue with me, I've already started the cheesecake, do you want almonds in your crust or not!?" It was the best cheesecake ever made. Seriously, they look like a picture in a magazine, and they taste like cheesecake that must be from the same batch of cheesecake that is served in Heaven. No joke!)
Krystal with her Mom and Sister...
Brittany.
Oh! Where to begin? I don't even have adequate words to describe how amazing she is and how strong she is living her story. She does a better job describing her story, and you can read it HERE. (Be sure to read newer posts also that follow up to this one!) This is my amazing friend, B. She is twenty three weeks pregnant in these pictures. When she and her husband went in for their twenty week ultrasound anticipating the exciting news of the gender of their baby, instead - they were given the most heart-aching dreaded news soon-to-be parents could receive. They were told that their sweet baby (Jubilee) is sick. They were told that their baby's heart could stop beating any time between now and delivery, or Jubilee could survive birth, and only live a few minutes or hours. They were given the option to terminate the pregnancy, but they chose LIFE for sweet Jubilee! B and her husband are choosing joy with every step as they walk this hard road Jesus has laid out for them. Their testimony is touching so many people and it is humbling to see them holding so tightly to their faith. The next few days and months may be uncertain for them, but they are celebrating every single moment they have with Jubilee. They chose the name Jubilee because it means "Shout for Joy" coming from Psalm 100... and that is exactly how they are living their lives right now.
Last summer, B threw me a "sprinkle" when I was pregnant with Adelaide. (This was just weeks after they miscarried their second child.) And just days before Brittany was told this news, I had sent her an email saying that it was my turn to sprinkle her. I was heart-broken for her when I found out, but it didn't change anything in regards to having that sprinkle. I knew it had to be a special sprinkle and we were going to celebrate her little LIFE in a big way! I prayed that it would feel light, bright, and uplifting for B and not heavy or sad, despite the circumstances. I think the day turned out just how I had hoped it would be for her! The weather was absolutely beautiful, and there was so many smiles and a lot of laughter. I know it was good for B's soul! She's adorable pregnant, and her love for her little ones just radiates. The guests were asked to bring a frozen meal to the shower. B left with a cooler-and-a half full of frozen food ready so that when they need it they will have it! Guests were also invited to bring some type of memento for Brittany and/or Jubilee. Something that B could either use for herself, something small for the family to call the baby's own, or something symbolic of the bond of motherhood. She left with several things from gift cards-upon gift cards to Coldstone, a free highlight, sentimental things for Jubilee, to a cleaning lady! We had a wonderful day celebrating her and her little sweetie, and B got so many nice things!
Because Girlfriend has a thing for Oreos! And because Spring Oreos makes anyone smile!
These were the favors for the guests... They are prayer plaques with Jubilee's name on them so that the guests could take them home, hang them where they would serve as a reminder to pray for the family.
Pray for this sweet family... Each day is filled with the unknown, but pray that Christ's presence and peace of mind would dwell in their hearts and home every single morning. Pray for strength and wisdom. Pray for patience and trust as they face the unknown.
