brothers.

Sweet, sweet, sweet!

How cute are these babies? Same jammies, same play-mat...same stinkin' cuteness. You can tell who is who right?
There are some photos where they look so alike...and others where you see their differences plain as day. :)

We had a good weekend...a visit from Uncle B, walks out side, projects completed and others started. Aaron has slept 8+ hour stretches at night for the last two nights!

We didn't actually celebrate Mother's Day this weekend...we are going to celebrate it in a couple of weeks...if you want to know why you can email me. :)

I hope your Monday is off to a good start. Mine is...I am feeling more and more like my old self again. :)

xo

10 things.

I am feeling more peaceful already. Thanks to all the wonderful feedback from all of you lovelies. It blesses me that even though we don't "know" each other in the traditional sense you still care enough to pray and encourage. Who knew the internet could be so lovely?
I know for certain what I need to do. And something that one of you said rang like a loud clear bell to me...basically the statement was "You know what you need to do...it's just accepting the consequence that you have to deal with". True. So very true. Just what I needed to hear. Thank you. I am seriously more peaceful already and working on what I know I need to do now. Won't be easy but must be done.

I am also trying to refocus...face in the direction of Jesus and really study the details of his work in my life...now that the fog is lifting and I can see more clearly. I thought I would start with a list...ten things I am thankful for. And I challenge you to do the same before you leave here...surely we could all use a little refocus?

1. My patient and wonderful husband.
2. The sun shine today!
3. my morning coffee.
4. Aaron sleeping for a 8 1/2 hour stretch last night.
(may have been longer if I hadn't checked on him).
5. My sweet Moses.
6. A new book to read (Crazy Love).
7. MOPS
8. Vacation in one month!
9. friends everywhere!
10. Clarity...even if it hurts.

How about you? Can you list ten things right now? I would love to see them

xo

for his i-pop.

Yes, my 2 1/2 year old has an i-pod...or i-pop as he calls it. It's actually mine...but he loves it a lot and has kind of claimed it. He carries it everywhere and loves to push the buttons. Just today i put the headphones in for him and he sat in the same place for 20 minutes listening to music.

It gets dropped a lot...so I made him a cozy for it. May be the simplest thing I have ever made but I have never had a more satisfied customer.

When I gave it to him and explained what it was he said "Ooooooohhhhh....daaaaayyyy doooooo". Which means "Oh, thank you". : ) It's like he was amazed that I could come up with such a thing.

And he knew it was a robot on the front without me telling him.
That made me happy. I needed some happy.
I needed to make my favorite 2 year old happy...it's good for my soul.

Thanks for all your words and emails...I feel like clarity is settling down on me...slowly but some how I feel like the slower it comes...the more confidence I can have in my decision.
If you emailed me...I will get back to you as soon as I can.

xo

feeling the mess.

I have felt like a complete and utter mess lately.
I lay awake at night thinking about it.
Thinking about how to fix it.
If it can be fixed.
If I need to lay it all out and walk away.
See what happens.
When do you know when it is time for that?
When are you allowed to say "no more...that is enough of that"?
When are you allowed to say "You won't hurt me anymore"?
I feel like I am there.
I don't have it in me to do it any more.
I have already pulled from the reserve.
Again and again.
Now it is starting to cost my kids and my husband.
And that is not fair.
Not to mention the cost to me.
I feel stifled and stuck until I deal with it.
It's one thing to deal with your own mess.
Quite another to deal with someone else's.
So that is where I am today.
Hoping and praying that the weekend will bring some clarity.
And some inspiration.

xo

birthday boy.

today is doug's birthday.
he is just the best.
THE best of so many things.
a wonderful husband.
an amazing father.
a faithful friend.
a thoughtful son.

a lover of Jesus.
a hard worker.
smart.
handsome.

funny and fun.

he's a good brother.
a loyal blog reader. :)
(he reads ONE of your blogs regularly...can you guess whose?)

i love him.
i am spoiled by him.
i am doted on by him.
i rarely feel like i deserve him.
he is THE best.

happy birthday honey!
xo

help me smother him with lots of birthday wishes! :)

crafting therapy.

lunch bag.

drink coasters.

baby quilt.

an hour or two at the sewing machine is much cheaper than therapy.

the kids are great. my husband is wonderful. i am dealing with "other".
maybe i'll get a lot done while i am sorting it all out.
praying for wisdom and patience with each stitch.

xo

a peek. a visit. a baby.

here's a peek at something new for the shop...

...it was super fun to make...I plan on doing more...look for it in the shop soon!

Doug's mom, dad, grandma and grandpa came to visit us this weekend. I have the best in-laws. We all had the best time...one of the best moments was when Doug's mom asked Moses if he was going to grow up to be a foot doctor...he said "No, I be Dr.Phil".

And thanks for all your church info...believe me...if dropping the fussy baby off in the nursery was an option...I would do it. Our church is still very small and we aren't really set up to have nursery workers. It's basically self-care nursery...thus part of my issue. I know this is a phase that will pass...but it helps to know that it is not unique to me. We have started to listen to sermons from our old church in Radford...this helps. :) I also am sure to keep up with devotionals and such. Maybe eventually we could take turns going but for me...being there as a family is part of what is so fulfilling and Aaron is exclusively breastfed...sigh...it's a work in progress.

Can anyone recommend any good Sunday school type sites that would have Moses age lessons?

Hope your start to the week is good!
xoxo

i have a secret.

We haven't been to church since Aaron was born. Actually since before Aaron was born. And I feel tremendous guilt about it. Like a lot. Not because I really think that I am doing something "wrong" but that others do. I feel guilty because I want my boys to grow up going to church...I didn't and feel like I have had to do a lot of "make-up work" in my spiritual journey. And it's not like we don't LOVE our church because we do. And even though we haven't been going we have been working on relationships with other believers...which I feel are just as important.

Our reasons are generally schedule related...or lack of a schedule. While Aaron's night schedule is pretty predictable...his daytime nap schedule is still working itself out. And he doesn't nap well "on the go"...meaning crying cranky baby. We take each Sunday as it comes...reevaluating the situation one week at a time. At this moment I still feel like it's not a good idea...but yet an opportunity for disaster. I just don't feel ready. I miss it...but don't feel up for the stress of it with a baby who will be miserable. Miserable baby = miserable parents.

So my question to all you Jesus loving mom's of two or more...Is this normal? This is just a phase of life right? And my boys aren't going to suffer spiritual damage because of it...right?

Or not?

I could really use your input...and encouragement.

xo

i am so thankful.

moses has an ear infection.
and it reminds me to be thankful.
weird? maybe.
or not so much.

we had to take him into the doctors yesterday. it was only the third time he has ever had to go for a non-well baby visit.
only the third time.
ever.
i am thankful for that. so thankful.
how many children have to go three times a week?
or to multiple doctors a day?
my boys have always been healthy and huge.
i don't think Moses has ever dipped below the 80th percentiles for height and weight.
at Aaron's 2 month check up this week he was 98th for height and 90th for weight.
i am SO thankful for that.
i am thankful for my healthy babies.
Moses having an ear infection reminds me that there are mommies who deal with so much more and if they can handle that...we can handle an ear infection and all it brings.
i love how God uses our "rough patch" to bring me to a place of thankfulness.
All for the Glory of God.
makes sense to me today.

happy friday to you!
xo

gotcha...

Someone found his hands recently...

I love the way that they are a completely new surprise and treat when he finds them again and again...

...and the way he seems to be like "Ah ha!...Gotcha!" when he finally gets them to his mouth! It's the little victories we should be thankful for. :)

A new item in the shop...

Plastic bag holders. Nothing "new" like I made it up or anything...but after a friend requested one I searched Etsy for them...and found some. But. They were....hmmmm...how do I say this nicely...Let's say they lack the funk to make them a little bit funky.

So I fixed that. :) Done and done.

I also made another dress...or at least turned a cute shirt into a cute dress. I am positive that someone has to have done this somewhere before but I haven't seen it. The closest I have come is Julie's tu-tu shirts. I wish I was half as cool as she is. :)

It was easy and simple...I made it up as I went. I love how it turned out. :)

Love!

My other dress is available in the shop as well...made to order with some fun fabric choices to choose from. :)

Happy almost Friday!
xo

dear april.

Dear April,
(the month, not the fab lady. :))
We thought it would be nice to introduce you to a couple of things. Since you are April and infamously known here in Virginia to be cold, windy, dreary and sometimes snowy we thought that there may be a few things that you have no knowledge of since you have gone through a huge transformation and alteration of character.

For starters, meet the sun. Yep...no dreary cold April here. No gray clouds or yuck weather. Mr. Sun is out in all his glory. You two will like each other. You should be sure to get together again next time you are around...only earlier.

Also, here is my nearly naked toddler in all his nearly naked glory. It was hot enough to let him be this naked without guilt or worry of what other mothers would think of me. Don't look directly at all of his paste-y whiteness.

Here he is introducing you to a Popsicle. We eat these when the weather gets over the 90's or so. They're great for cooling down. I can not remember needing to cool down in April before now.

Take a moment now, April, and say hello Mr.Pool. I am sure that I have no recollection of needing Mr.Pool in April. Ever. It is awesome. Much better then having to stare at ugly gray skies. You have met flip-flops before...as you know I wear them nearly year round.

Now that you are aware of all the fun and fabulous things we get to use and enjoy because you have decided to play nice, we hope you keep it up. And do an encore next year. Only earlier.

Love, Virgina

xo

the best use of 4 ingredients.

otherwise known as...
Dump Cake
you need:
1 can crushed pineapple
1 can cherry pie filling
1 box of cake mix
1 1/2sticks of butter

dump in the pineapple and cherry.

sprinkle on the cake mix evenly.
cover with pats of butter.

bake at 350 for 40-45m

yummy yummy. a little bit of heaven for your kitchen. or for my Bible study girls.

I used to make this all the time but completely forgot about this little goody...thanks for the reminder Michelle.
xo

my first dress...

Happy Monday to you! Here's a beautiful face to start your day off right! :)
This weekend I completed my very first dress!! :) Back when I started sewing I just knew that I could never make clothes...at least nothing beyond a simple skirt but I did it!! :) And I LOVE it!
I started out with a pattern I got on Etsy...only to be very disappointed in it...so I took off and made it my own...I made it reversible and added a sweet initial! :)

I love the simple sweetness of it...

I just may offer them in my shop...I love them that much. :)

Hope your week is starting off right...I am trying really hard to make sure mine does. :) We have a busy week ahead...Bible study, MOPS and my lovely in-laws are coming in for the weekend! :)

Thanks for all your input on the leggings...I still love them...and you, if you sided with my husband! :O)

xo

a debate.

There is a small debate in my house. It's small to me because either way I will do what I want. :)

My husband thinks these cute little baby leggings are just for girls.

I say that baby boys can wear them too.

And look darn cute in them.

Doug thinks it makes him look ready for Jazzercize.

I love to see his little sausage legs in them.

Especially this part right here.

So what do you think? Please chime in on our domestic squabble. Are these cute leggings made just for girls? Or can Aaron wear them proudly? I'll still love you if you disagree with me. And I will still do what I want.
xo