Emma Victoria: 3 years old

 

I can't believe our precious girl is three years old.  Just three years ago, I was awakened in the middle of the night with a phone call saying that Emma's birth mother was at the hospital!  I was in Minnesota visiting my grandma and my sister.  I quickly took a shower, packed up all my things, and shook my grandma awake to tell her that the baby was on the way!  My sister and brother-in-law drove me to Missouri where we met this precious baby girl later that morning.    

Dave had a bit of a longer drive from Texas than we did from Minnesota, so he arrived a few hours after we did.  We have been in love with our girl ever since!  

At 3 years old, Emma loves....

~her brother

~her babies

~helping, cleaning, and scrubbing...with a wipe in her hand, she can't be stopped.  She will wipe down anything and everything!  (We met Dave for lunch today at Chick Fil A for Emma's birthday, and we gave her a wipe to clean her hands before we ate.  Soon, she was wiping down the walls by the booth.) :)

~snuggling, especially when she wakes up in the morning and after her nap each day

~going to Bible Study Fellowship on Wednesdays

~being independent: "I do it myself"

~cooking and baking in the kitchen

I started interviewing Isaac on his third birthday, and we continued the tradition with Emma.  

1.  What is your favorite color?  pink

2.  What is your favorite toy?  babies

3.  What is your favorite fruit?   I don't know.

4.  What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?  eating cupcakes 

5.  What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch?  eat dinner

6.  What is your favorite thing to eat for supper?  cupcakes

(yes, this girl LOVES sweets)

7.  What is your favorite thing to drink?  water

8.  What is your favorite snack?  ??

9.  What is your favorite show?  a tiger show (Daniel Tiger)

10.  What are your favorite clothes to wear?   wear clothes to church

11. What is your favorite animal?  Lambie

12.  What is your favorite song?  "Jesus Loves Me"

13.  What is your favorite book?   It's in my room.  (I'm pretty sure it's The Wheels on the Bus)

14. What is your favorite thing to do with Daddy? do wrestling 

15.  What is your favorite thing to do with Mommy?  dishes

16.  What is your favorite thing to do outside?  I don't play outside.

17.  What is your favorite holiday?  ??

18.  What is your favorite thing to take to bed with you each night? the one baby

19.  Where is your favorite place to go?  go on a drive

20.  What do you want to be when you grow up?  like you (pointing at me....so I think she wants to be a mommy!  I don't think there's anything she would love more.)  

And, since this blog is my scrapbook, here are a few more things I don't ever want to forget about Emma at this age.

ti-ti--Emma's word for "tutu"

shortcut--Emma's word for a haircut (and, considering I trimmed her hair a little too short last week, I think it's an appropriate term)

fridger--Emma's word for the refrigerator

cape--Emma's word for an apron

tangle--Emma's word for hair binders

Emma does not like being called anything but her name.  If I call her "princess," she says, "I am not a princess.  I Emma."  I asked if I could call her "Princess Emma," and she said, "No.  I Emma."

Emma is also in an adorable stage where she mixes up her prepositions, especially "to" and "for."  I remember when Isaac did this, and I thought it was the cutest thing.  For example, she'll say, "Isaac, give the baby for me."

A few days ago, I parked in someone's driveway, & I couldn't get the Tahoe out of park when it was time to leave.  I tried over and over and then called Dave.  He talked me through a few things to do, but I still couldn't get out of park.  Emma and I entertained ourselves in the car for a half hour while we waited for Dave to come and help us.  Of course, Dave got the Tahoe out of park on his first try.  :)  When we were driving away, Emma said, "He's a good daddy.  He's a prince!  He saved us."

Whenever Emma looks at my belly bump, she says, "The baby is hiding deep down inside you."  :)

  

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When Isaac was just over a year old, we knew God was leading our family to adopt again.  We were matched with a birth mother expecting a baby boy in North Carolina, and we were also working on a private adoption for a baby girl who was due in the same month as the baby boy.  We ended up losing both adoptions within a week of each other.  Then, we didn't have any leads or matches for 9 months.  While 9 months isn't too long of a time, it felt like a very long time as my heart was broken.  Friends all around me were having babies, and we so longed for Isaac to have a sibling.  Some moments during those months were even harder for me than my initial infertility journey.

All of a sudden, God surprised us with a call on Valentine's Day 2012 that a birth mother in Missouri had chosen us for her daughter who was due very soon.  Emma Victoria was in our arms just six days later.  

We couldn't love this adorable three year old any more, and we are so thankful that both God and her birth family have entrusted her to us.  

"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life."

Proverbs 13:12

JBF Fort Worth tips & gift card giveaway

Just Between Friends (JBF) is my favorite place to buy clothes, shoes, books, and even toys for my kids.  The majority of what my kids wear is from JBF.  Each JBF sale location throughout America has two sales each year--spring and fall.  This post is sponsored by JBF Fort Worth, which is the largest JBF sale in the nation and is coming up soon!  Since attending JBF sales for the last five years, I've figured out a few tips that make my shopping experience even better.  

Here are my top tips for shopping at JBF:

1. Search through your child's clothes ahead of time & make a list so you know exactly what you need

JBF Fort Worth is huge!  

It's held at the Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum in downtown Fort Worth.  Being able to attend a sale this huge is a good thing, since there's a lot of selection.  But, it can also be overwhelming.  My very best tip is to go through all your child's clothes and shoes for the upcoming season before the sale and see what you really need.  You may think you'll remember, but it really helps to make a list.  Since sizing varies so much between brands, I have even measured the waistlines of pants or the outline of a shoe before going to the sale.  Then, I can use my measurements to check items at the sale to make sure they'll work.  

2.  Plan ahead to have childcare

You'll be able to shop much more efficiently if you don't have your child with you.  When my son was two years old, I took him to the sale in a wagon.  It took much longer since he needed snacks and was interested in all the toys.  :)  Trust me--you'll get more done and enjoy yourself much more if you are alone.  

3. Bring cash

Since there are so many items at a JBF sale (tutus! DVDs! costumes! books! toys!), you'll focus on your most-needed items if you bring and only spend cash.  There have been some sales where I've been so excited by all the deals that I've bought too much.  Not only do I not need more unnecessary stuff in my home, it's also not a blessing to my family if I overspend.  

Another benefit to bringing cash is that you may be able to get through the checkout line more quickly--sometimes there is one register open just for cash-paying customers.  That's usually the fastest-moving register!

4.  Bring snacks and water

Maybe this is one of my top tips because I'm 8 months pregnant, but it really does help to have some snacks and bottled water with you as you shop.  You're likely to be at a JBF sale for at least a few hours, and shopping when you're hungry or thirsty isn't much fun.  

5.  Bring a wagon, stroller, or rolling laundry basket

You'll need somewhere to stash all your great finds!  I have found that a wagon or a stroller works best for hauling all my items around the sale until I check out.  Since all the clothes are on hangars, I like to place the hangars on the stroller handle as I shop.  

There's also a secure area where you can check larger items (potty chairs, pack & plays, large toys) at the sale so you don't also have to carry those around the entire time you shop.

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The JBF Fort Worth sale is open to the public Thursday, March 5 through Monday, March 9th, 2015.  See the full schedule here.  But, if you are a first-time parent or grandparent, you can register to shop before the sale opens to the public.  Even if you're not a first-time parent or grandparent, you can still get in early by volunteering or consigning (more details here).

If you are interested in a $15 JBF Fort Worth gift card, comment on this blog post by answering this question:  "What's at the top of your list for the JBF sale?" and then login to Rafflecopter below so that your entry is counted.  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

(Giveaway details:  You may enter by commenting one time.  The contest will close at midnight on February 22, 2015.  The winner will be announced on February 23, 2015.  The winner must pick up the gift card at the JBF Fort Worth sale at time of shopping trip.  The winner may not be another JBF blogger and can only win once per sale.)  

Also, here's a coupon to get in free to the sale on Saturday, March 7, 2015.  You are welcome to print this as many times as you need--print for yourself, grandparents, and friends!

Happy Shopping!

32 weeks

32 weeks!  

Part of me feels like I have been pregnant with this baby for a looooonnnng time, and the other part of me absolutely can't believe that it's less than two months until delivery! 

I have so enjoyed being completely up and off of bedrest!  It has been so much fun dropping my kids off and picking them up at their preschool each Tuesday.  I've enjoyed getting to know their classmates and teachers a bit more as I unpack their backpacks and watch them settle into their classrooms in the morning. When I picked up Emma a few weeks ago for the first time, she wriggled out of her teacher's hand and started running for our Tahoe.  "That's my mom!!!!" she screamed at the top of her lungs!  It was definitely one of my favorite moments ever.

Isaac talks to the baby a lot.  As we were getting shoes on for church yesterday morning, Isaac put his head up to my belly and said, "Baby, you're going to church this morning where you're going to learn all about Jesus."  Yesterday, he also said, "If you're a boy, I'm going to be fine.  If you're a girl, I'm going to be fine."  About a month ago, Isaac cried--with tears running down his face--for a brother.  "Mommy, I just need a brother so bad.  I need a wrestler!"  Since then, we have emphasized over and over that God is going to send us the right baby for our family, and only He knows if this baby is a boy or girl.

I was playing with Emma the other day and called her "my baby girl," and she immediately said, "I'm not a baby.  The baby is in your tummy!"  (And, she's right--she turns 3 this month and isn't really a baby at all anymore!) 

Dave and I are halfway done with our Birth Boot Camp class which we take one night each week.  We've had a lot of fun going to class together, because it has doubled as a weekly date night since we usually eat dinner together downtown by the hospital.  As of now, baby is still breech.  Baby's head has been tucked under my right ribcage for as long as we've known.  I've done a bit of reading and research on how to get baby to turn, which led me to this position earlier this weekend.  :)  I've also started going to a chiropractor who is trained in the Webster Technique to help baby to turn.  As much as we'd love for baby to turn, our primary prayer is for a healthy delivery, mom, and baby--C-section or not.     

And, baby also is a perfect little (actually, not little at all) shelf for "our" bedtime snacks.

One of my favorite things is when Isaac shares his name ideas.  

So far, here are his options:

girl:  Jenny, Landrie, Harper, Shari, Larsen, Flower, Slover Clover, Elsa

boy:  Ashton, Nolan, Buffalo, Cowboy

And, Emma has only had one idea so far: Emma :)

Our pastor started a new series based on Abraham and Sarah, and yesterday he spoke about their infertility.  As part of his message, our pastor shared a few stories of people in our church who have struggled with infertility.  One example that he shared involved an infertile woman coming to acceptance with her infertility as she realized that God was powerful enough to give her a baby, but also powerful enough to not give her a baby.  There have been countless times that I have been so thankful that God didn't answer my plans for a pregnancy on my timetable, because I absolutely can't imagine life without Isaac and Emma.  They have given David and me more joy than I ever could have imagined on my darkest days of longing for a baby.  I'm so thankful that God held back a pregnancy during that entire time so that Isaac and Emma could be in my arms.  I'm humbled and overjoyed to now share this pregnancy with them!  Praise God for His perfect plans!

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways," declares the Lord."As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts."  Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV)

December and January Pics & Sayings

Blogging has definitely taken a back-seat lately, especially now that I'm off of bedrest!  But, I don't want to forget the stories and sayings of my kids from the past few months.

Isaac:  Do you know King Nebuchadnezzar?

Mom-o:  Yes

Isaac:  He was very evil.  He destroyed King Solomon's temple….and, he didn't ever brush his teeth.

Isaac and I ran into Aldi one afternoon to grab just a few things.  Because we weren't buying very much, we didn't have a cart and were carrying our items.  A man in line let us go to the head of the line.  I later told Isaac that the man let us do that because he was kind and knew I was pregnant.  Isaac said, "How did he know you were pregnant?  You could just be a big-bellied woman!"

Isaac usually stays at school until 2pm, but twice in the past school year he has stayed later for "after care."  Isaac loves after care, because he enjoys playing with some of the elementary age students who are there too.  One day, when my mom went to pick him up at 2pm, he really, really didn't want to leave.  He asked my mom, "Why can't I stay for after care?  That's when the learning ends and the fun begins."  

One afternoon in December while Emma was napping, Isaac wanted to make her a present.  Before I realized what he had done, he had found an empty gift bag, stuffed it with Emma's princess pull-ups, and stuffed tissue paper all around the pull-ups.  He even drew her a card.  

Isaac was so excited to read the card to Emma and show her her present!  What little sister doesn't want (her own) pull-ups as a gift?!

making cards for Aunt Erika

Isaac received this crane for Christmas, but Emma likes it just as much as Isaac does.  One morning, Dave found her in Isaac's room at 6:30am sitting on the floor and holding the controller.  (Isaac was still asleep.)  Another afternoon, I couldn't find Emma anywhere.  Sure enough, she was again in Isaac's room playing with the crane.

New Year's Day!

While I was still on bedrest, Isaac & I spent many afternoons building Legos on my bed while Emma napped.  I am pretty sure I had as much fun as he did.

baking muffins

Sumo wrestling with Uncle Mike & Daddy--they tucked pillows under their shirts and had a lot of fun wrestling with Isaac

I loved how Emma fell asleep holding her baby's arm

My cousin, Anna, was visiting from Minnesota when I was released from bedrest.  She watched my kids for a morning while I made a "quick" run to Target.  I hadn't been to a store for four months, so my quick trip to Target turned into two glorious hours of wandering the aisles, running into Keystone friends, and sipping Starbucks.  Thank you, Anna, for being so sweet and playing with my kiddos!

Emma dressed herself one morning!

Dave's 36th birthday!

another favorite picture of Emma sleeping & snuggling with her baby

my little artist... 

...and little mommy-in-training feeding her baby

family night out at The Rainforest Cafe

Emma Victoria in her class at Keystone Church

Isaac and I read Charlotte's Web over the past few weeks, and then last Thursday we went and saw the play at Casa Mañana. 

When the play was over, Isaac said, "Can we just sit here and watch it all again?"  

Instead, we met Daddy downtown at Five Guys for lunch!  It was so fun having a day out with Isaac.

My kids have been waking up so early lately.  Last Friday, after another very early wake-up time, we all went to the Krispy Kreme drive-through in our pajamas for doughnuts. I told Emma to go get shoes on, and she ran downstairs and put on her pink sparkly dress-up shoes over her footed pajamas.  :)  What style!

On another very early morning, we made Valentine necklaces that I found in the Target Dollar Spot.  They were so proud of them--even Isaac--that they wore them to church.  Isaac said he couldn't "wait to show all his guys his necklace"--don't worry, it was very masculine with lots of stars and robots.  

And, another early morning…snuggling in their warm blankets from Shamron!

28 Weeks

I had a sonogram on Monday morning.  Though Dave thought he might be able to meet me, he wasn't able to in the end.  So, it was the first time I've ever gone to a sonogram by myself.  In the past, the idea of going into a sonogram alone made me so nervous.  Now, though, baby is moving so much, which is a great reassurance!  Plus, Joe, the sonographer, knows our case really well.  I've lost track of how many sonograms we've had with Joe during this pregnancy, and we now feel like he's our family friend.  And, he was just about as excited as I was that he couldn't find the pocket of blood!  He looked and looked all around, and then he finally said, "I just don't see it anywhere!"  

In addition to checking out the status of the pocket of blood, I also got to see baby again!  Baby's head is still tucked under my ribs on the right side.  Joe checked baby's heart and stomach.  Baby's heartbeat was steady and strong at 161 beats per minute.   Joe measured baby's tibia bones and confirmed that baby is 2 lbs, 10 ounces.  I asked him twice if he was sure baby was that big!  (I also asked the nurse later, too.)

When I met with my doctor, she said, "Our baby is looking perfect!  I'll see you in three weeks!"  I timidly asked, "What am I supposed to do until then?" and she answered, "Whatever you want!"  I am off of bedrest!  And, I have started nesting like crazy!  (If only you could see the master to-do list I made after my sonogram.)  :) 

While I am so thankful to be up and enjoying my last trimester, I am mostly thankful for God's protection over baby.  There were so many weeks when both my doctor and the sonographer would say, "At this point we just wait…bleeds this big usually go away…but this is big...one day at a time."  I'm so grateful to our Ultimate Healer and His protection over baby, even when the pocket of blood was much, much bigger than baby.

**best moment of this week*

I woke up to feeling hiccups on Sunday morning!  It was precious.  I counted around 12 or 13 rhythmic little hiccups under my right ribs.  It's also sweet knowing exactly where baby's head is.  And, I also know where baby's feet are since baby kicks a lot now!  And, I wouldn't trade those middle-of-the-night kicks for anything.

**food cravings**

NONE!  I haven't craved anything the past few weeks.  I seem to have now have the opposite problem--nothing really sounds good, until it's in front of me.  My brother-in-law offered to bring us take-out from any restaurant we wanted the other night, and I couldn't think of one restaurant that sounded good.  He ended up bringing me my first-trimester favorite, crab wontons from Pei Wei.  Once they were here, I loved them!  :) 

 I have sorted through all our newborn boy and girl clothes.  My favorites are still in our room until I wash them.  Emma loves picking up random pieces of clothing and saying, "I give this to the baby.  The baby love this shirt."  

I knit both Isaac & Emma hats for Christmas, but the sizing on both was wrong.  I was able to fix Isaac's by adding a few more rows.  I put Emma's hat on her head to see if I could somehow modify it, but she took it off and handed it right back to me.  She said, "You can give it to the baby."  Emma always refers to the baby as a "she," while Isaac lets us know that he really needs a brother.  He even cried about it a few weeks ago and said, "But Mommy, I just need a brother, because I need another wrestler to wrestle with Daddy."  While I was sorting the newborn clothes in our room, Isaac sat beside me and said, "I really wish we were having two babies.  But, one is good too."  

Isaac and Emma wanted to give the baby stickers

23 weeks at the doctor's office (December 4, 2014)
baby weighed 1 lb, 3 ounces

24 weeks at the doctor's office (December 11, 2014)
the pocket of blood was significantly smaller at this appointment--only 5 cm long and less than 1 cm  in height

26 weeks on Christmas Eve