tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70737454445791747512024-09-13T08:44:14.311-05:00*Brand*New*Day* Making it one day at a time by a lot of grace and through a little bit of faith. Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02926094008797679757noreply@blogger.comBlogger716125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7073745444579174751.post-26872830922972848122018-12-14T15:14:00.000-06:002018-12-14T17:24:27.916-06:00

My sweet Olli, How are you 2?! Where did this second year go?! You are changing and learning and doing SO much.  I can’t fathom that you aren’t my little baby anymore.  You were a surprise addition to our family, and we absolutely can’t imagine life without you.  I tell Daddy often how I’m so thankful for our “oops baby” 💙💙💙 Your smile and laugh are infectious.&

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02926094008797679757noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7073745444579174751.post-36906840938767848362018-12-11T15:05:00.002-06:002018-12-11T15:05:33.179-06:00

Every year on this date, I plan on doing the same interview with my oldest. I’m sure I’ll add a few questions as he grows. And boy is he growing! In wisdom and in stature. I pray those words over him often. I watched the interviews from previous years, and this momma-heart squeezed with how much he’s matured and how his little voice has changed.  He still loves to “work” with Daddy, and

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02926094008797679757noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7073745444579174751.post-24059431441617153392018-06-29T20:24:00.000-05:002018-06-29T20:24:31.277-05:00

Ella Hope. You are 4!  You have grown leaps and bounds this year, literally and figuratively.  You are mere inches shorter than Jack, and I think you might weigh more, because you are solid and all muscle!  You are beautiful and have the best smile around! You keep a tan better than any other member of our family.  You love your brothers, but you are partial to Jack.

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02926094008797679757noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7073745444579174751.post-11912683396498826172018-06-11T20:35:00.001-05:002018-06-11T20:51:32.747-05:00

Oh Buddy! How you’ve grown! One Two Three Four Five!  Sweet oldest boy!  How are you already 5 years old?!  Where have the years gone?  You are so adventurous.  You are so smart.  You are so kind.  And you are so good at testing the limits.  And you are so wild.  And you are so silly.  You are so many, many things.&

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02926094008797679757noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7073745444579174751.post-61735817107403136322017-12-30T12:18:00.001-06:002017-12-30T12:31:51.710-06:00

Yesterday, Ella turned 3 1/2.  My cough has been pretty terrible, and attempting asking a bunch of questions to a toddler sounded less than fun.  So, I didn't. But I didn't want it to get too far away and me forget, so I decided to do it right after breakfast today.  This is last year's interview.  What a HUGE difference! I miss her tiny voice, but I love how verbal she is

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02926094008797679757noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7073745444579174751.post-56289311170050723982017-12-25T19:44:00.000-06:002017-12-25T19:44:51.908-06:00

This was our second year of doing what is basically a minimalist Christmas. Our kids are young enough to have no idea what the “norm” is for most kids. They don’t expect a lot, and they haven’t really reached the age where they ask for things (mostly because they don’t watch commercials and have no idea what they “should want”). We started the morning with stockings in their beds, a tradition

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02926094008797679757noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7073745444579174751.post-34094877056313371732017-12-16T15:56:00.000-06:002017-12-16T15:56:34.059-06:00

We celebrated Oliver today with a little family gathering. I made cupcakes, my parents brought over veggies, and we picked up some pizza.  It was simple and nice, and he was loved on lots. 

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02926094008797679757noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7073745444579174751.post-81787552752223384042017-12-14T21:19:00.000-06:002017-12-14T21:19:52.674-06:00

Oh, sweet Oliver Flynn. What a delightful year it’s been with you.  You are sweet and snuggly and adorable. You’re a fantastic nurser and are doing well with trying out whatever I put on your tray to nibble on. Your favorites are greek yogurt, cottage cheese, apple sauce, mashed bananas, chunks of cheese, Cheerios, and black beans.  You squeal and babble and say “Dada” all day

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02926094008797679757noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7073745444579174751.post-90244425124744417322017-12-11T16:08:00.002-06:002017-12-11T16:10:01.221-06:00

Starting two years ago, I have interviewed Jack using the same questions each year. That first year he wasn’t very verbal. Fast forward one year and then two years, and oh. my. goodness.  He talks our ears off and has opinions about EVERYTHING. I was actually a little bit worried about what he might say in this interview, but I went into it promising myself I wouldn't edit or stop even

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02926094008797679757noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7073745444579174751.post-41524370496476504882017-11-14T20:26:00.000-06:002017-11-15T19:25:54.088-06:00

Edit - he weighs 18 pounds and is 26 1/2 inches long. Oliver is 11 months old today! I know I say this every time, but he is the most delightful baby. He’s happy 99% of the time.  He’s crawling all over the place and pulling up onto his knees a lot.  He has two bottom teeth and four coming in right now. He looks ridiculously adorable when those gums and chompers are on display!

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02926094008797679757noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7073745444579174751.post-7662712784337453382017-10-25T14:53:00.001-05:002017-10-25T14:53:31.339-05:00

Do you ever come across a phrase you've never heard before and then start to hear it over and over? Is it that you never heard it or that you never listened for it? I don't know the answer to that, but I do know that I have had a phrase shared with me in different settings three times in the last three weeks, and I know without a doubt that God is speaking to me. He is speaking directly to my

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02926094008797679757noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7073745444579174751.post-19423211795494323442017-10-14T18:46:00.000-05:002017-10-14T18:46:23.664-05:00

Oliver is 10 months old today! He still has the sweetest disposition. He gives open-mouth kisses willingly and often.  He says “mama,” “dada,” and “buhbuh” but doesn’t really direct them at anyone in particular.  He scoots but doesn’t crawl yet. He’s so close though. He tries to pull up on us but not on anything else. Thankfully!   He has two teeth.  His eyes are

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02926094008797679757noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7073745444579174751.post-36772313063709994222017-09-15T10:13:00.000-05:002017-09-15T10:13:06.151-05:00

This is a day late. Because I'm having to type this on my phone, and yesterday was a rough day here with 3/5 of us being sick.  Anywho, onto this handsome fella  Oliver Flynn, you are 9 months and one day old today.  You are a rolling machine, and we find you under chairs all of the time.  You sit up like a champ, and you're trying to crawl.  You say "buh,"

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02926094008797679757noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7073745444579174751.post-28884625769513958022017-08-20T16:18:00.000-05:002017-08-20T16:51:32.489-05:00

This is not a shaming post. I feel like I have to say that. It seems that we mommies get offended or offend others so easily, and that's not my intention. It's not a "We do this parenting thing better than you" post. This is simply how we've chosen to do life around here. We have three kids.  A 4-year-old son, a 3-year-old daughter, and an 8-month-old baby boy. And, not one of them has

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02926094008797679757noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7073745444579174751.post-26593228553019224332017-08-14T20:48:00.000-05:002017-08-14T20:50:08.776-05:00

Olli is 8 months old today, and I cannot BELIEVE he will be a year old in 4 months. I just don't know where these months with him have gone! He is snuggle and sweet as all get-out. He's curious with his hands, but he has no initiative when it comes to getting anywhere on his own.  He's a great napper, and he typically sleeps at least 2 1/2 hours in the morning, another 1 1/2 to 2 hours

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02926094008797679757noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7073745444579174751.post-11967331727072440632017-08-13T17:22:00.000-05:002017-08-14T06:23:26.546-05:00

I've seen a few FB posts recently regarding grandparents and their lack of engaging in playtime with their grandkids. Here are my thoughts on the subject as it pertains to my children:  I won't ever expect you to "play" with my kids. Even if you are their grandparent, their uncle, their aunt, their neighbor. If you found freedom in what you just read, good! Please don't ever feel

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02926094008797679757noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7073745444579174751.post-87263306533172129542017-08-06T22:28:00.000-05:002017-08-06T22:29:07.281-05:00

I said I would write every weekend, and I haven't followed through.  I was supposed to be using my social-media free time (hahahahahahahaha, I have three kids, so free time is a fun phrase that I don't use often) to write. And I haven't been doing that. Instead, I've been taking care of kids and The Husband and this house.  We finally finished their room upstairs (except for odds and

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02926094008797679757noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7073745444579174751.post-3381294782592638432017-07-23T22:00:00.001-05:002017-07-23T22:15:28.463-05:00

Here we are. We watched our wedding video with the kids yesterday, and it felt like we were just there, kid-less and affectionate and full of such joy and excitement.  Six years, four pregnancies, and three kids later, we still drive each other crazy (not in the good way most days, unfortunately), but there's a lot of love there holding us together, too. Happy anniversary, Babe ❤️ This

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02926094008797679757noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7073745444579174751.post-60643213224417108432017-07-16T19:49:00.000-05:002017-07-16T19:49:40.741-05:00

I told a sweet friend recently that I'd like to eventually write about our daily routine for me to look back on.  That day appears to be today since I had nothing else of value to write about. I'm sure it won't be super exciting for anyone to read, but here goes! (This is our routine every day; although Sunday is just a little different in the mornings due to church).      

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02926094008797679757noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7073745444579174751.post-28153827591528727422017-07-14T21:10:00.000-05:002017-07-14T21:10:17.442-05:00

Oliver is still the dream baby. Our whole family kind of adores him. 💙 He has zero teeth, and other than a whole lot of gnawing/sucking on his hands, he shows no signs of anything happening in there.  He stills requires assistance to sit, but he's getting there.  He has no desire to roll over. None. He's the laziest, most easy-going baby and will lie on the blanket and bat at his

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02926094008797679757noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7073745444579174751.post-64532889982205140592017-06-29T21:16:00.000-05:002017-06-29T21:16:50.807-05:00

Happy birthday, Ella Hope! We celebrated with mugcake and fruit for breakfast at your request.  We had lunch with two of your favorite people and had a laid-back afternoon of watching The Lorax (which you throughly enjoyed) and playing outside (which you also enjoyed).   You and I stayed up later than the boys reading book after book. "One more book, Mommy" is your mantra

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02926094008797679757noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7073745444579174751.post-7573645036138348942017-06-14T14:49:00.000-05:002017-06-14T15:14:35.995-05:00

Olli is 6 months old today, and we can't believe he's been with us only half a year! It feels like he's been a part of our family always and forever. He's growing and changing in all the best ways.  He's got the sweetest personality, always smiling and squealing.   He's a great sleeper for his three daily naps, and he rests well at night (from 7pm-ish to 7am-ish) with me waking

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02926094008797679757noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7073745444579174751.post-17826290072667248622017-06-11T20:15:00.000-05:002017-06-11T20:15:31.350-05:00

Crazy, sweet, often-disobedient, loving Jack, you are 4 years old today.  You greet each day with silliness and laughter and loudness with your sister.  You test the boundaries and break all of the rules.  You have made tremendous strides in your speech this year and now talk our ears off all.  day.  long.  You love your people, and your people love you.&

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02926094008797679757noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7073745444579174751.post-63871964102701703502017-05-14T22:33:00.000-05:002017-05-14T22:50:08.868-05:00

  This little dude turned 5 months old today, and it snuck up on me! Time flies when you're falling in love, and we have all fallen head over heals for this guy. Oliver smiles and coos and squeals so often that when he does cry, it almost breaks our hearts.  He has zero interest in rolling. He will stay on his belly for a little while without fussing, but he mostly loves being

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02926094008797679757noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7073745444579174751.post-11394328373233045032017-05-11T17:41:00.000-05:002017-05-11T17:41:54.487-05:00

Two weeks ago, I had an ARD meeting about Jack's progress with speech. He's been going twice a week for thirty minutes since September. He loves his sweet teacher, and he has made so much progress that he no longer qualifies for assistance. Here he is with his teacher last September.    And, here they are today. He hasn't been back in a couple of weeks, but we wanted to take her a

Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02926094008797679757noreply@blogger.com1