D. Family Coffee Break

It's been awhile. I'm 24 weeks into Baby D 2.0 and our entire household is preparing to welcome a fourth family member.  Clothes are being organized, donating toys to make room for a crib in Buggy's room, and taking in as much time with Buggy before she turns into a big sister.   Speaking of Buggy... 4.5 years old should really be "wannabe 14 years old."  There are so many changes (good and challenging) and we flip flop from one emotion to the next that sometimes I feel like I'm with a teenager.  This phase of Bug's life has given us a real glimpse into her teenage years.  One second she's profound, loving, thoughtful, and balanced.  The next second, she's in tears because the hallway lights turned off.  Truly, it's that simple.  So each day is a hit or miss.  Most days are good- really good.  However, the days that aren't... really aren't.  The picture below is from our most recent park day.  She was unhappy wi...

After patiently (and sometimes not-so-patiently) waiting and lots of praying, we are beyond thrilled to announce that we are having baby #2!  Many of you have probably been walking in this journey with us for baby#2 since day one and we are so appreciative of your thoughts, prayers, and support in the process.  We owe a very special thanks to our little prayer warrior, soon-to-be big sister Ella, who has spent months praying for a baby brother/sister.  God is so good and his timing is unbelievably perfect.  I don’t know why we ever doubted it.  It’s so hard to live out your faith, but thanks to the community of people that surround us, we’re are motivated each day to believe, to have faith, and to always keep in mind that God knows best.  And he sure does!  Baby #2 will be arriving in July 2016, on cousin Harlowe’s 3 rd birthday.  (Maybe baby will show up earlier so he/she can make it to her birthday party.)  As we continue this journey...

What a full month we had in August!  Let’s get right to the updates! Someone turned 4 years old.  4!  I say it every year- I cannot believe how quickly time is going by.  Buggy is turning out to be one heck of a kid- so thoughtful, empathetic, and witty.  For her birthday this year we decided that instead of doing a big bash, we were going to go to Disneyland.  Grandma was able to fly down to join in on the fun, along with Uncle Scott, Dave, Grandma 2, Ninang, Ninong, and Lo!  And thanks to Nana and Tata who visited a week earlier, Buggy was able to go to Disneyland in style, as her new favorite princess.  These days it seems like our baby is truly non-existent.  She is now such a big girl- full of brilliant ideas and thought-provoking questions.  If only I could be so insightful.  She carries a conversation and responds to different s...

At the end of June we went on an extended family vacation to Colorado!  Yes, this city gal and her city kid went with the country dad to...the country.  We did a ton of outdoor things we usually wouldn't do like hiking.  Imagine it (I know it's tough)- my kid and I went hiking.  I still can't believe it.  The first few days were spent without Dad.  He came a few days into the trip.  So he missed the whining about rocks and dirt (from the kid, not me!).  Seriously.  She kept asking me why I would bring her to a place with "so much rocks and dirt!"  (You get the picture.)  Anyway, by the time Dad got to Colorado, a little Miss Bug was all about the rocks and dirt and even boasted to Dad how good she was at hiking.  She didn't disappoint and she hiked herself down the mountain, then up, then down again without complaints.  I'm sure his heart was happy because his eyes were beaming at how proud he was of his city girl.  ...