may extras

may has been a whirlwind of taking care of babies...but amidst it all, i've managed to snap a few pictures all that makes up this crazy, chaotic, beautiful little sliver of our lives

we had a special visit from great grandma and grandpa

and enjoyed ONE afternoon when the temperatures actually made it up into the 90s...running int he sprinkler and hanging out in diapers was a must

sparkle got loved up somethin' serious by the kids at daddy's school and momma's

movies on the deck and hunting for crayfish were highlights

as well as late night baths in the sink :)

peach finished up her spring session of gymnastics

and we had plenty of sister snuggles while winding down for nap time

a sleep-deprived month for sure, but looking back on all the fun we had, i won't complain...

:)

i missed it

this post makes me sad...

it was the first of her firsts that i missed.

i was there when she first crawled and took her first step

i watched her take her first bottle and go on her first trip to the zoo

i witnessed her first haircut and shared her first camping experience

i helped her zip her coat and write her name for the first time

but her first time fishing....well, i missed it

with the addition of baby number three to our house, i'm having to let go a little...

realizing that i can't be everywhere all the time...

understanding that it is better to have one parent totally present at activities like these than two who are scattered

so, i entrusted J with the camera and made him promise to take lots of pictures

and i stayed at home with the littles while he took Peach and her bucket o' worms out to the dock

they caught three fish and J reported that she was so happy to be fishing, she didn't even want to come home to go potty - just promised that she'd keep holding it until they got one more fish :)

he said that she hugged the fish and wanted so badly to bring them home as pets

but, he convinced her that they'd be happier in the lake (thank goodness!  like i need a pet fish right now!)

the whole while they were gone, i was feeling sorry for myself that i was missing such fun

and feeling sorry for her that once again, she has to share me...and my time and my energy

but i kept telling myself that i'll need to get used to it.
this is just the beginning of j heading one direction and me going elsewhere as we chase these kids in sports and activities throughout their time with us

and that's a good thing...being able to tag-team this parenting gig

she came home bubbling over with stories of their time spent fishing.
and maybe that is part of the gift of letting go...

the comical re-telling of a 4-year old's experience is always worth a laugh

at the end of the day, as we tucked each of them into bed, i was thinking of the sacrifices we are all making right now:

sleep

time

patience

free time

energy

lap space

(just to name a few)

but as i listened to her and Tulip giggling and talking until they drifted off, i decided that you just can't argue with the gift of a sibling

i hope that when its all said and done, she'll be glad that we gave her these friends to share our home with

even if that means sharing me with them.

playin' in the dirt

warm days this spring have been sparse to say the least

but, we did manage to get out to plant our garden on one of the only hot days we've had

it started with Peach doing what she does best...hunting for worms

j roughed up the dirt and she was in her happy place searchin' for her slimy little friends

she probably found several dozen and collected them in this pail

j eventually convinced her that we needed to leave a few in the garden for the benefit of our plants

finally, it was time to let the planting begin...

this year we're giving carrots, peas, beans, red kale, and cherry tomatoes a try - yum!

we've had all the rain we need - now some sunshine to help our little lovelies grow, please!

this really happened

i promise you...this actually happened

it was so sweet, i wish steven spielberg had been here to film it

just the other day, i was laying in bed with my buttercups, readin' stories

i noticed that it had gotten strangely quiet, so i peeked to each side and saw all three of them peacefully snoozing

it was one of those moments in life when you feel like you belong in a movie...because it just couldn't be that perfect unless someone had scripted it

the garbage needed to be taken out

a load of laundry sat waiting to be folded

there were bills to pay and bathrooms to be scrubbed

but i slipped out of bed, took a few pictures and then snuck back in

most of my life these days seems chaotic and hectic and like i'm pulled in 18 directions at once.

but God is so good to afford me these moments when i look around and realize that nothing is perfect, but everything is right

there are toys everywhere, clothes strewn about the floor, dishes piled in the sink and the vacuum hasn't been run in two weeks

but i've got three sisters snuggled into bed and i can smell rain and grass through the open window

and everything is blissfully, wonderfully right

its moments like these when there are no words to tell God just how grateful I am...

How great is Your goodness which You have stored up for those who fear You - Psalm 31:19

life lately

life at our house lately has consisted of....

stories and snuggles...

sunshine and swings...

tummy time and new hair-dos...

a constant flow of visitors....

big smiles 

and expanding hearts...

cousin bonding...

and derby cheers...

i guess you could say we've been stockpiling love :)

to sparkle, with love

dear sparkle,

i'm taking a little time while you're snoozing today to write you a letter that's been on my heart.

i want...no, i NEED to take the time to tell you how very much we want you.

let me explain.

since the very night you were born, well-meaning friends, family, nurses, co-workers and doctors have been asking us the question that we knew was coming:

3 girls, huh?  Are you going to try for a boy?

i try not to get offended at statements and questions like these.

i decided a while ago that i was going to be the type of person who didn't get offended.

and i know that people mean well.

but, let me just state, for the record...we are not disappointed

how could we be?

and i will forever remind you that your daddy and i wanted CHILDREN

not necessarily girls...

or boys...

just children to love

and we have been blessed over and over and over

i do mean blessed.

sometimes i get the feeling that these people consider us unlucky

and while i know that boys are undeniable, wonderful gifts

your daddy and i are in agreement that a trio of sisters is truly unique and heavenly in its own way

if the question were asked, "will you have more children?"

the answer would be:  maybe

i need a little while to get the hang of three and a few nights of solid sleep before i make a decision like that

however, IF we have more children, i want you to KNOW that it is not because our hearts are not satisfied with you and your sisters

you three girls are our priceless gift

if we have more children, it will be because we feel that we have space in our home and hearts for more children

not certain types of children

just children....be they boys OR girls

and if we choose to share this life with more children, we would WELCOME another girl...with glad hearts

we live in a time and place where there is nothing you can do with a boy that you can't do with a girl

we will teach you girls about gymnastics and dance and fishing and pigtails and french braids and skirts and playing in the mud and trucks and hunting and dolls

we will have tea parties while talking about tractors

we will color pictures of princesses and take you to baseball games

we will paint our toenails in the morning and teach you to throw a football in the afternoon

maybe everyone who thinks we should keep "trying" for a boy doesn't understand just what a treasure it is to watch your sisters gently stroke your hair and kiss your face

but i know

and i want you to know.....you are wanted, treasured, adored

God knew exactly what he was doing, placing you in this family

The Lord knows that if there is a man out there who can raise three girls and have fun doing it...its your daddy

and though i never, ever pictured my life brimming with girly toys and clothes everywhere i look, i am pleasantly surprised at how much i'm enjoying it

you are so very welcome here, sparkle

with love,

momma