Moving

Every rotund inch of me is sore.

I hate to say it, rolling my eyes at even myself, 

but,

I think I just might be old.

And definitely have secured the pregnancy waddle at this point in time.

But.

While boxes may still be scattered,

and I'm not quite sure where the majority of my possessions are positioned at this moment in time,

(and, yes, I'm blogging instead of locating them.)

we are moved.

Proof?

1. In the last few days we've dined on Chick-Fil-A, Pizza Hut, Chipotle and McDonalds. (Thus the rotundness of my every inch.)

2. My husband has already painted. (It is physically impossible for my husband not to paint in a new home. In our last, he painted the entirety of the interior a total of three different times in three years. Including all baseboards and trim.)

3. Safety gates for the stairs are ordered and installed. Taking no less than 2 hours for the installation of one. However, I am not complaining because I was elevating my feet at the time. (This pregnancy waddle is no joke.)

4. Our bedroom floor is currently carpeted by drill bits, tape measures, trash bags, a lawn blower box, a shoebox full of baseball hats, an empty book cover, and several sconces. (Just to list the first few things I see over my shoulder here.)

5. The children have offically run through every room of the house screaming. Just because they could. (And because Grandma and Grandpa gave El a bug catching kit to wear around her neck and use in her new backyard. "Buuuggss....Buuugggsss....Where you are?!" has been the loudest call around here...)

6. El has officially thanked God for her "new house and my old house." (Precious.)

 The truest statement of them all. 

This

Because of this...

(sold our home this week, signed for our new one today and moving in a just a few days)

I only have pictures like this...

(straight from the camera phone, but lucky I'm still catchin' the everyday around here)

To capture moments like this...

(our little man just a toddlin' around, a wild man on the loose)

But it's all because of this...

(God is good.)

P.S. 

Don't forget about this...

(Learn about it here.)

Winner

Winner, winner....

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Snippets

Snippets of life through the handy camera phone...

...BUT...

Don't forget to enter our giveaway (valued at $50 and announced soon) here.

And special photography specials for summer here.

Beautiful

Our life is full of transition around here.
More that I’ll share later when things finalize and slip into normalcy again...
If a life can ever be considered normal, that is...
In fact, maybe it’s the abruptions, the hiccups, the unexpecteds that seem to create the most vibrant of memories, the most beautiful of moments.

Like today...

A rare chance to slip away for the morning, enjoy warm waffles, orange juice and coloring time with friends...

Just sitting,

catching up

with our baby bumps and beautiful lives.

And, this post is dedicated to the beautiful.
With a special giveaway from a personal line of beautiful, hand-creations.
Polka Daisy.

LOVE them!
Subtle, intricate, personal shinies, wearable in the everyday or on the special days!
Perfect for fast-approaching Mother’s Day, perfect for fast-approaching summer tanks, barbecues and twinkle nights, just perfect.

I picked this one out for myself.

A beautiful reminder that I am.

Learn more about Michelle and her art here and today, we’re sharing the opportunity to win a piece of her work by participating in today’s GIVEAWAY!

The key to happiness. 

To be entered:
Become a follower of this blog here.
Then, leave a comment about your key to happiness...

Perhaps it’s finding the special piece of fancy from Polka Daisy added to your cart today...

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Blooms

While the little man snoozed after Sunday School this morn,

the little miss stepped out to breathe in the outdoors,

dance,

peek through the fence,

greet the gardening neighbor (a huge feat for a little on who airs on the shy side),

and was rewarded with pastel spring blooms...

Which were immediately named mommy flower, daddy flower and Ellie flower.

Pippy was just as content with fingertip kisses.

So here's to the blooms of the everyday.

Seasons

Walking the fullness of a season these days,

soaking in the green when we can,

between diaper runs and grocery trips and busy phone calls and spilled laundry detergent...

Life's just a bit of a little fuller season these days.

Full with anticipation,

full with what might come, what is to come.

And meanwhile, trying, really really trying,

To breathe deeply,

find music and dance in the everyday.

Because it's a beautiful season.

Photography: Summer Session Specials

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Reveal

On one of the most beautiful evenings we've had this year tonight....

Family gathered,

and played,

(My sweetest niece, Addie)

(Kisses for Ellie's GREAT Papa)

and loved.

The table was spread,

the stories were told,

and finally,

the gender reveals were made.

I'll share just our own announcement for this evening...

See, my sister ordered chocolate cupcakes with her baby announcement color inside,

I ordered vanilla to share all around.

She took mine,

I took hers.

And what do I have to announce?

A healthy, healthy beautiful.......

baby BLUE!

A testosterone tie breaker in this very, very lucky home!

T is already practicing his fastball, his wrestling moves, his big brother smack downs.

Girl, you and me gonna have to stick together.

And just one last little thing,

See, my birthday is August 20th, my hubby's the 22nd...

Our due date?

Officially, confirmed projected as

August 21st.

Baby boy, now we just count down to your birthday sandwich.

One

Oh my son, tomorrow you’re one.

And you’ve won the totality of our hearts.

You’re contagious and catching and charming,

our visions, our dreams, you’re you, and they are already so true.

We knew you would be strong, we’ve prayed , we pray this for you each day.

And still, you amaze us with your wild, your you.

You’re just one, our son,

but we dream for you,

to fulfill nothing less than what you were designed, formed,

intricately purposed for from the time began.

There’s a place for you, son, no, not just a place,

but a divine niche carefully etched out for you, that you’ll meet and fit and be meant for.

Perhaps it will be a smooth journey, a direction clear and illuminated by great domino successes.

But, more likely, perhaps,

as it seems many men with great dreams must endeavor through,

your pilgrimage will be full of competing, illusive decisions, darkened corners that you must wait in, seemingly stagnant, for seasons.

And so, my son, you’ll wait, and you’ll wrestle, desiring more, needing more, craving more than, at times, at that moment, this life has to offer.

May Greater Strength carry you then.

The strength we have prayed for since we knew of you.

The strength of great inventors, untamed adventurers, persevering scholars, dedicated visionaries.

The strength of loyal men, faithful husbands, sacrificing fathers.

Wise men who face failures and defeat but continue in strength.

Fulfilled by nothing less than the One alone who gives this strength.

Tristan Michael, you are strong, you are joy, you are wild,

you are one.