Great Grandparents

My kids have been blessed with some fabulous Great Grandparents. I have had so much fun watching my Grandparents enjoy my kids...



Papa George and MorMor with Caitlyn



Grandpa Mel and Caitlyn





Mama Pita and Caitlyn



Grandma Postma came to town just before Caitlyn got here. She played trains with Isaac, prayed for Caitlyn and Mama and loved on us all.

A hat... no small thing...

This hat is no small thing. I must not loose it. I pray I never have to face that! I cannot misplace it. I cannot give it away and I must never, ever, put my daughter to bed without it.

You see, with this hat on her head (Mind you it is size 12 -18 months) my daughter will sleep 4 hours a night. But without it, she won't sleep more than 2 hours at a time. I must not loose this hat!

Thank you JESUS for this hat! I have no idea where it came from, but please, please, please, bless the people who gave it to me! I LOVE THEM!

30 days, 1 month, Praise Jesus!

30 days ago we were settling into our room at the hospital. We were getting ready to go to bed, you, me and your daddy! It was a busy day, lots of people came to see you. You were born just after midnight and by 7:00pm we were ready to snuggle in and enjoy you!



Your big brother was the very first person, other than daddy and mama, to hold you. He was so excited! He loved you from the minute he saw you on the screen, at the doctor office.



You slept right next to me, in my bed, I couldn't bare to put you down. I was intoxicated by your sent. I wanted to hold you for as long as I could. I had waited a very long time to see you, kiss you and hold you. And I could not get enough!



In the past 30 days, we have continued to snuggle. We take naps together, I kiss you every chance I get. Ask your big brother, but part of my job as your mama is to smother you with kisses and I have loved doing just that.

You have been blessed by some of the most treasured people. You have been given precious clothes and blankets. People have taken care of your mama, daddy and brother by bringing over food and groceries. The Lord has provided in ways we couldn't have imaged.




Your brother reads stories to you. He sings to you. He kisses you. He LOVES you! You are the most blessed little girl in the world, because you have the BEST big brother!



It has been a wonderful 30 days, 1 month and I can not Praise Jesus enough for the moments we have had as a family. Home cooked meals, afternoon naps, daddy's days off spent relaxing as a family of four. It has been precious. You are precious.

Happy 1 month birthday beautiful, smart, wonderfully made daughter of mine! I love you!

May Jesus bless you beyond measure!

4 Weeks ago...

4 Weeks ago today I met you for the first time. I heard you cry for the very first time and was over come with joy. I saw you as your daddy held you and I was in love. You are my daughter, the daughter of the One and Only King. You were knit together in your mama's womb, my womb, by the hand of the Creator. You are precious in His sight. You are precious to me.

I love you sweet daughter of mine. I have loved our time together over the past 4 weeks. I cannot believe you have been here for so long already. May you love Jesus with everything you have, may you laugh uncontrollably and may you be blessed beyond measure over and over again.

Thank you Jesus for this gift, thank you for the reminder of who you are. Your promises are true and your word is powerful! I love you! Amen

Picture taken by CLB Photography.

Homework

We are now spending time at night doing homework.



It isn't much, just a page or two.



But we pick a marker, take a seat at the table and the homework is done.



It adds something to our nightly routine, it is simple, yet fun.

Notice that Isaac wrote his own name at the top of the page, he didn't need help spelling it either!



I am sure a day will come when homework isn't fun for Isaac or Mama, but for now, I enjoy the time together and I have loved watching Isaac learn!

A look back...

Back in September, Isaac spent a few days with Grandpa and Grandma and they did lots of fun things!



One of the coolest things Grandpa does with both Isaac and Mercedes is he takes them to build things at Lowes. Isaac LOVES the things he builds with Grandpa.



They also spent LOTS of time outside, and there is nothing this little boy loves more than to ride bikes and play outside.



This little boy LOVES hanging out with his Grandpa and Grandma. How blessed is he!

Halloween

This year Isaac went as Spider Man for Halloween. Spider Man has been HUGE in our house, for his birthday he wanted Spider Man toys and a Spider Man costume. And so, Spider Man he was...



We went to Fort Collins to trick or treat with Isaac's cousin Mercedes, you can read her mama's blog by clicking HERE. Mercedes went as Batgirl and later changed her clothes and was a ballerina!



We went trick or treating while it was still light outside, then came in and had some pizza, the kids answered the door for a while and then Aunt Mandy took them out again in the dark!



Grandpa, Grandma, Aunt Carol, Uncle Jim and Aunt Mandy were all there! It was a fun way to trick or treat.



The kids did such a great job ringing the door bell, saying "trick or treat" and "thank you" for the candy. They had a great time, got lots of candy and laughed A LOT!



Halloween just happens to be Mandy's birthday, it was a fun way to get together, spend some time together, watch the kids be kids and celebrate Mandy.

This is what happens...

... when a little boy wants to play in the snow, but his snow clothes are packed...



... when a little boy's mama lets him play in the snow as is, just a boy, a coat, jeans, tennis shoes and a shovel...



...when mama needs to pee, big brother needs help in the bathroom and baby sister needs to eat...



... when baby sister can't stop crying and big brother, fresh from the bath, sings and sings to his sister to help her calm down...

Needless to say, life with two kids has been so fun over the past 14 days!

What a precious time in life!

More birthday parties!

Isaac got to celebrate on his birthday when we came home from the hospital. On Thursday, the day after we got home from the hospital, Isaac figured out that his birthday will come after Caitlyn's next year and that didn't settle too well with him. Needless to say, he was a tiny bit upset. However, at dinner, he prayed for our meal and as I said, Amen, Isaac looked at me told me he needed to talk to Jesus about his birthday coming 2nd. So, we continued to pray and Isaac expressed his opinions to Jesus, then said amen and we ate... it was adorable!

On Sunday, Isaac got to celebrate this past weekend with Papa, Nana, Uncle Tim and Aunt Esther.



CRANKY the Crane came to Papa and Nana's house! Isaac was very EXCITED!



A tomato worm also came to Papa and Nana's house. Isaac loved it, mama... not so much!





This little boy has been blessed. It warms my heart to see him celebrate his birthday in the midst of his baby sister's birth!



This year has been the year of Spider Man. Isaac has found the 1967 Collection of Spider Man and his Amazing Friends on the Wii/Netflix and it is regularly watched in our house. So for this birthday, Spider Man, Thomas the Train, Toy Story and Cars were the big hits!



And... money... Isaac has discovered money. We have been filling a peggy bank for Isaac with change and he now has a savings account at our bank... I tell ya, the kid has got a nice chunk of change in his account and he got more money for his birthday.



Yep... I give you Spider Man! Complete with a web shooter for his hand!



I am sure, Spider Man will spend lots of time at our house!



Soccer is also big hit this year, so a real soccer ball was a must. We are looking to sign him up for soccer next year and the boy loves to practice! I am sure we will spend hours outside with his soccer ball and maybe even dressed as Spider Man!



His birthday was blessed. This boy was blessed. His daddy and mama have been blessed!

Happy Birthday sweet boy! You are smart, you love school, you run around every chance to get. You would rather run than walk. You are hyper, your laugh is contagious and your heart is huge! I love to hear you pray. I adore how helpful you are! You are the best big brother Caitlyn could ever have. You adore her. You have been blessed this year, I pray the blessings pour out over the years! Jesus loves you my son! Mama and Daddy do too!

Isaac's 4th Birthday!!!

The day BEFORE we went to the hospital because mama had gone into labor, Grandpa Marty and Grandma Cheryl had a birthday party for Isaac. It was a lovely Saturday afternoon and we spent time on their back porch with Isaac's Great Grandpa Mel & Grams, Papa George & MorMor, Uncle Jim and Aunt Mandy and his cousin Mercedes.





It was VERY important to Isaac to have a birthday part with his cousin. He LOVES her and they had a great time together. Isaac spent a few days before the party at Grandpa & Grandma's house and they played for hours together!



Isaac and Mercedes laughed as he opened his presents.



Papa George gave Isaac some walkie talkies and he and Mercedes LOVED them!





A back yard birthday party was perfect. The weather was perfect and the birthday boy was in heaven!







It was a great way to celebrate prior to Caitlyn's arrival!

Isaac got to celebrate his birthday 3 times this year! Once before baby sister's arrival, once on his actual birthday and once with his Papa and Nana the weekend after Caitlyn's arrival... more pictures to come!

Blessed

Caitlyn came in the wee hours of the morning on Monday, October 17, 2011. We knew she was gonna be here before her big brother's birthday on Wednesday, October 19, 2011. So, as a mama, I got creative and made her a very special outfit to wear at the hospital on the 19th.



Little did I know, we would be allowed to come home on the 19th! It was a great surprise for Isaac! Caitlyn was prepared with a little present for her brother, Isaac was surprised with balloons and cupcakes, it was the perfect way to celebrate on his actual birthday!

Not only did we come home on his birthday, Isaac was able to go to school and tell everyone about his little sister! He was very excited!



It was important to me to make sure Isaac's birthday didn't just go by. I know he is 4 and doesn't know the days of the week or the date, but as his mama, it was something that was important and my heart was blessed by how special it made him feel!



A very proud big brother on his birthday with his baby sister!



I couldn't help my self, I had to take a picture of how sweet she looked in the car seat on the way home! Our hospital experience was a huge blessing. The C-Section went great, I was blessed in the most simple and yet powerful ways. We only had to stay 2.5 days in the hospital and I did not experience tremendous pain, I just needed Tylenol and Advil for the pain, isn't He good! Praise HIM!



Blessed beyond measure!