Just so it's official: we are having another baby!

I am 8 weeks along, not 10 like I had originally thought and baby #4 is due March 11. What a GREAT month, lots of good friends and family have birthdays right around the 11, so maybe baby McKay will share a birthday with someone else we love. Secretely, I am hoping for another boy (we already have the name!), but of course, another girl will be equally loved (no name yet).

I'm feeling good, a bit yucky on and off most days, just like with the other pregnancies, but this one seems to be the "best" so far. I'll be honest and say I'm not super excited about how this is already affecting my body; it's something I'm really battling. I've never really gotten back in shape since Maggie's birth 4 1/2 years ago, so I'm starting off the heaviest and already looking very preggo. I'm slowly starting back to exercise (walking, swimming, light weights), but there is a ways to go for me to be comfortable in my own and skin, and bottom line, I'm pregnant, so my body is just going to change over the next 9 months whether I like it or not. I'm grateful for what the body is capable of, growing a little person and birthing him/her into this world, it's quit miraculous and I'm trying to focus on this, be easy on myself and not get too down. It's been a bit of a battle most days, truthfully. Something I'm having to surrender to the Lord many times a day.

Kate Evangeline: Month 11

Kate turned 11 months last month, but with all the transition, I have yet to post her pic. And I can't believe that in 2 days she will be 1!

What a SWEET girl, she is. She will eat almost anything, loves to make silly faces and make silly noises and is now an official WALKER. She took her first steps last week and daily, she is on her feet more and more, including climbing onto the couch! Crazy girl.

LOVE her.

We are still here!

A month since my last post, almost a month since we have moved into our apartment in Dallas, and a month to the day that we found out we are having baby #4!

A lot has changed in 30 days.

Isn't it interesting how some months the days D.R.A.G by and you look and most every day of your week is left? Some days are so mundane you feel you could pull your hair out or punch yourself in the face? Ok, maybe that's just me. Sometime I enjoy mundane, many times, I do not.

And then, there are months filled with changes or trips or playmates or parties or fill-in-the-blank and time races by and the next thing you know, a new month has arrived? For me, the later has been true--the month of July has been a vapor, come and gone and brought a new season of time for us.

In July, we unpacked our life and set up shop in a 2-bedroom apartment, took Curren to the emergency room on the first night we were here because we were pretty sure he had swallowed a bolt for the bunk bed (he didn't), gave away a ton of stuff that didn't fit (and I was glad to, I am loving more and more the idea of living simply), saw one of my oldest friends, Elicia, and her sweet family, gone blueberry picking at Blueberry Hill Farms about 80 miles east of Dallas, met new friends, saw old friends, figured out how to survive in almost 30 days of over-100 degree heat (stay indoors, or go out early and play), navigated old stomping grounds rather successfully, visited a few churches, had our first ultrasound, and in general, are just figuring out what it looks like to do life in Dallas. Again.

I'm reading 2 fantastic books: One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp, a book about finding true joy of the Lord through a life-lived in gratitude and Give Them Grace by Elise Fitzpatrick, a parenting book that is changing how I parent and has had me in tears more than once.

I've had bouts of loneliness, settling back into life here and missing friends and family in California, but ultimately, I know God has called us to finish school and do so here in Dallas. In many ways, coming back has been a good thing as it's a familiar place and there are familiar faces. If one is going to move across country, what better place than a place that was once "home?"

Taking time in the midst of change

We move to Texas in less than 4 days. It's been a whirlwind last 2 1/2 weeks since we figured out what was next for us. There is packing to do. People to see. Places to go. In the midst of all these things, it's still important for me to find time to connect with my kids. And I'll be honest, I have found it tough on certain days, as I try to pack and get things ready to leave. If you've ever moved, you know what I'm talking about.

I've tried to step away and focus on them and of course, when I have, it's rewarding.

Some last snuggles with Pops



Water play in the backyard

Mags and I put together a quick nature table of items we found in the backyard (Maggie took the 2nd pic)

Allora Handmade Love

Oh my, I love my Allora necklace! I bought it at The Queen Bee Market in May. And I wore it every day. And then I lost it. I wish I knew what happend. I think Curren might have acutally thrown it away!?

To make me feel better Mags drew me a new one! LOVE her.

san diego botanical gardens

Last week, a few friends and I took our kiddos down to this fantastic local garden north of san diego. This is the same place Aron sent me for my birthday back in November of last year for a day of renewed life vision and reflection. We spent most of our time in the Hamilton Children's Garden, where the kids could climb an amazing treehouse, play music, build, play in sand, draw on giant chalkboards, see butterflies, float boats in water (Curren jumped off rocks and laid in the water and LOVED this part best), and run around with friends.

Love time like this with my kiddos! If you live in the area, I *highly* recommend this place!

last disneyland night...for now

One thing we have put to good use this year is our Disneyland passes. Our last day to use them before many weeks of blackout dates this summer was on Tuesday night, so we took M and C and had a blast.

The weather was perfect, the crowds were not. However, the kids held up well. We started the night by waiting in line for 45 minutes for the new Ariel ride at California Adventure. Maggie was talking about it all day so of course, we had to do this first. Curren and I are pictured above in the clam shell seat waiting to see the story unfold before us. Next, we headed to a super fun area I hadn't realized existed--a fabulous play area for the kids, complete with slides, nets to climb, wobbly bridges, tunnels, caves, a tire swing. They could have spent all night there!

We ended our time at the "Bug's Life" section, doing bumper cars (Curren drove ours! and riding the caterpillar train. On the way out of the park, we stopped for ice-cream. And it's really good ice-cream. The kind that is worth the $4.50 you pay. Trust me.

And for the first time, we said "yes" to a sprinkled waffle cone for Maggie. Isn't it such a wonderful feeling when you throw caution to the wind and say "yes" to your kids? Sometimes we all need to break free from the rules and systems we have in place for our family (which are needed and good things) and just say "yes" more. Very freeing and a memory Maggie will keep for a long time.

preschool ends+pretend city+starbucks

Last Friday marked the end-of-year field trip for Maggie's preschool class and we visited a local children's museum called Pretend City, where kids can use their imagination to become a fisherman, doctor, dentist, checker, gardener, builder, actor, and firefighter to name a few. Maggie spent the majority of her time in the grocery store, garden, and doctors's offices.

My mother-in-law watched my two little kiddos and it was *absolutely* fantastic to just focus on Maggie for over 4 hours. We first met some school friends at Corner Bakery for a special breakfast, then enjoyed the morning at Pretend City. Maggie had a ball and still can't stop talking about our time. A special way to end the first year of preschool to be sure.

Kate Evangeline: Month 10

What to say??! Kate's sweet smiles and joyful antics bring such joy to our family. She is fast learning many signs in sign langaage: more, all done, milk. She waves, just blew her first kiss tonight, plays peek-a-boo with a blanket, sticks her tongue out when you do, and loves to do "so big" with her arms.

What a great gift of God's marvelous grace she is. Truly.

what we've been up to

Dog watching
Popcorn eating
Smoothie drinking
Lounging
Teeth losing
Starbucks treat sharing
Water coloring