merry christmas!

Come and Worship

I was going to write about my recent shopping excursion to Hy-Vee. How I took Viggo with me and left a sick two year old with his grandma. How upon getting there I got stressed out and overwhelmed about the fact that this was 'unfamiliar' ground. And how I came to the conclusion that I'm a Fareway girl at heart.

I could write about how my little boy got croup again on Monday night and how I was really impressed with myself because I wasn't spending the evening before he went to bed totally wiggin' out about the possibility of him getting it...and when he did wake up at 12:45 am calling out for me, and when I went in his room and my suspicions had been confirmed, how I didn't get sick to my stomach in fear he was going to DIE from it. Because this is the third time he's gotten it and I've come to the realization that he's probably just going to be one of those kids who gets it often.

I could write about how Viggo reached a big-time milestone and rolled over for the first time a couple days ago. But you can just check it out here. And while your at it, here's Roman singing his abc's.

I could write about how I've been 'meaning' to put away clean, used-to-be-folded laundry, or that I haven't had a good night's sleep in a while...and every time I go to lay down for a nap, either I can't fall asleep or just as I get comfortable Viggo stirs.

But I'm not going to. Instead, this morning as I turned on Pandora and my 'Bebo Norman Holiday' station came on, so did an amazing song. I can say, without a doubt, the way I worship the best is through music. It reaches my soul in a way nothing else does.

I've been feeling a lack of connection, if you will, this Advent season. I usually cannot wait to get the tree up, decorations out and placed in their temporary homes for the remainder of the year, holiday music playing loud and often. In years past, I've put up our tree before Thanksgiving...that's right...BEFORE. But for whatever reason this year I've had to force myself to do things that have normally been second nature.

So back to the song.

It's funny how God works because seeing this video and hearing this song has changed the meaning of Christmas for me, forever. Maybe it's because I'm a mama and I know how deeply I love my children and what lengths I would go to for them. I just can't stop thinking about what it would be like to be the mama of oh, I don't know, the Savior of the WORLD! To all you mama's out there, really take a minute and replace your child with Jesus. Just think about that. What would that have been like.

I've had it all wrong all these years. It sounds so cheesy, like I should have gotten this years ago. But Christmas is not about decorating the house in festive attire to the tune of Jingle Bells, or finding the perfect gift for the ones on your list, or anything that takes away from the fact that it's a birthday. It's the birthday. And birthdays are kind of a big deal in this house. In fifteen days it is Jesus' birthday. In fifteen days, some two thousand plus years ago, the one who saved us was born. I don't know about you, but I'm pretty excited about that.

So, without further ado, here is the video and song that has changed my life. Come and worship with me! (scroll all the way down to turn off the music first)

The look on the third wise man's face says it all, if you ask me.

viggo baby

I can't believe it's been four months since this. It has been incredible learning about this little boy. Here's the latest on our wee little.

~smiles like you wouldn't believe. he is ALWAYS smiling and is so interactive now

~does this hilarious high pitched squeal all the time...he's a real chatty kathy
~prefers to look at you, rather than a toy or something other than you
~was sleeping through the night for a while, then got a stuffy nose, stopped and hasn't since. bummer.
~does not tolerate dairy. at.all.
~is this close to rolling over

~is really, really ticklish 

~drools like no body's business. He's working on his first tooth. Seems crazy to me because Roman's first one came in at seven point five months.

~comfortably fits into 6-12 month clothing and some 12 month onesies...depending on the brand
~loves loves loves his brother! he watches every move Roman makes.
~packing on 18 pounds and is 24 (?) inches long. these are approximates because I haven't taken him to the doctor since his two week check up.
~has dark brown hair growing in

~gettin' suuuper strong

~rocking a sweet winter hat

~loves being serenaded by Dad and Roman

Who's your daddy?

I know, right?

two.

It seems like I was just planning his first birthday. His legs are long and skinny now. He can count to ten and sing the alphabet. He speaks in complete sentences...well, some of the time. He's my sweet two year old. Here's how we celebrated his big day.

We started the night before. We baked his cake and the batter was big enough to get 12 cupcakes out of it too.

The next day was his day. I wanted him to feel so special because you should feel special when it's your birthday. What better way to start the day than with chocolate chip pancakes.

Viggo was our little cheerleader with all his high pitched squeals he gives off now. Love.It.

 mmmm...so good!

After breakfast it was time to make the frosting for the cake. A basic butter cream frosting. It turned out perfect. I was a bit nervous because I've never made it before but it was delish! We added blue food coloring to give it the 'water' appearance.

Jeff frosted it because I was too chicken. I was sure I would mess it up. He did such a good job! For the 'island' I just crushed up some graham crackers. I'm so happy with the way it turned out.

We put the birthday boy down for his nap and I headed over to my mom's to clean and get everything set up. When Roman arrived it was obvious Jeff gave him a major pep talk because he was so jazzed and full of energy! We got him in the pirate mood with some stickers and a bandana.

And friends and family started showing up

I thought it would be fun for the kids to color treasure maps...negative. They were all hyped up on just playing with the balloons.

 And we sang. He was totally loving it. Even today he goes around singing 'happy to you, happy to you.'

Then we opened gifts!

After gifts were opened and friends said good-bye it was time for Roman to enjoy all his new toys. He loves every toy he received. T-Rex, Mr. Potato Head, Hiro the train (from Thomas the Tank Engine), Veggie Tales videos, his penguin pillow pet. He scored to say the least.

He was so worn out from all the fun that he slept in until 9:45 the next morning. Say what?! Yep, that's right. 9:45 suckas, and still took a three hour nap later that day. I didn't know what to do with myself all morning. All in all it was a huge success! 

on the night you were born

On the night you were born,

the moon smiled with such wonder

that the stars peeked in to see you 

and the night wind whispered,

"Life will never be the same."

Because there had never been anyone like you...

ever in the world.

So enchanted with you were the wind and the rain

that they whispered the sound of your wonderful name.

The sound of your name is a magical one.

Let's say it out loud before we go on.

It sailed through the farmland

high on the breeze...

Over the ocean...

And through the trees...

Until everyone heard it

and everyone knew

of the one and only ever you.

Not once had there been such eyes,

such a nose,

such silly, wiggly, wonderful toes

In fact, I think I'll count to three 

so you can wiggle your toes for me.

When the polar bears heard,

they danced until dawn.

From far away places,

the geese few home.

The moon stayed up until

morning next day.

And none of the ladybugs flew away.

So whenever you doubt just how special you are

and you wonder who loves you, how much and how far,

listen for geese honking high in th sky. 

(They're singing a song to remember you by.)

Or notice the bears asleep at the zoo.

(It's because they've been dancing all night for you!)

Or drift off to sleep to the sound of the wind.

(Listen closely...it's whispering your name again!)

If the moon stays up until morning one day,

or a ladybug lands and decides to stay,

or a little bird sits at your window awhile,

it's because they're all hoping to see you smile... 

For never before in story or rhyme

(not even once upon a time)

has the world ever known a you, my friend,

and it never will, not ever again.

Heaven blew every trumpet 

and played every horn

on the wonderful, marvelous 

night you were born. 

My baby's two...more on his big day tomorrow!

25 and still alive

Well, I made it to 25. Woot! I was looking back at the last five years, slightly impressed with where God has me now. Married for four and a half years with TWO babies? Not many ladies can say that. I am exactly where I wanted to be. It's been a crazy five years, but I wouldn't trade if for anything.

Anyway.

I woke up Monday morning to go get Roman. There was a giant sign on his door that read '25! So old, so loved. Happy birthday, beautiful! Love, Jeff' 

Jeff came home from work with cupcakes, donuts, and my beautiful necklace. Click here for your custom necklace.

We spent the whole day together just lounging around with the boys. It was fantastic. And later in the evening we went to The Cafe for dinner. Now, normally I don't choose this place to dine because each time I have been somewhat disappointed with my food....maybe it's just too fancy for this girl...but we heard that their spaghetti and meatballs and their new hot dog were amazing, so Jeff got the dog, and I chose the pasta. All I can say, and I speak for both of us in this is, meh. Neither were amazing, and in fact I've decided the only yummy pasta out there as far as noodle goes, is Quinoa. It's just better.

I'd love to give you a wordy, adjective-filled post on how loved I felt, how blessed I am, how much I love my husband and children and new necklace that screams how proud I am to be a wife and mama, but my brain is too tired and I don't want to. Just rest assured this twenty-fifth year is going to be a great one.

little of this, little of that

It's flippin' freezing out there today. The wind is thrashing, the air is spitting, and it is gray. Coffee is brewing, there is talk of warming ourselves by a fire tonight...indoors of course, and I have nothing planned but movies for my littles. Maybe some game playing will happen, but mostly, I want to veg out. In my jammies. With my babies. And do...nothing. It's a perfect day for nothing.

This morning my mom and I took the boys up to Ellsworth to pick up a chair I bought at a consignment store about a month ago.

The plan is to reupholster it. Wish me luck, 'cause I'm gonna attempt to do it myself, with my mom, and we're going to need it.

My craft list is getting very long. I have a lot of fabric piling up and should probably get to it. I'm going to be making a book sling, leg warmers for V, and a blanket. I also want to look into learning to crochet. Can't wait to get started. Now if only the boys would nap at the same time, all the time, so I could attempt all this craftiness.

In other news, a couple weeks ago we had Danny Vasquez take our photos...again. There is no other photographer I will EVER use. And this is why.

 (I love how you can see the glop of drool between the skull and crossbones on his outfit...he is amazingly drooly!)

Swoon.

On a random note, I am so thankful that I've been blessed with a high metabolism. I know that sounds weird, but I can't stop eating Nutella. It's all I've been eating, really. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack. I think I'm a little behind on this discovery, and shame on you who have known the pure blissfulness of this food and have never opened my world to it. And at 200 calories a tablespoon with the way I eat it...lets just say that's a lot of calories I'm poundin' in. But whatev. Love it. And if you're reading this and haven't tried it, march your butt to the store and get yourself a little piece of heaven.

The next couple of weeks are gonna get crazy. I've been planning a very pirate-y birthday party for a boy that's now really into Toy Story 3...well, he was once into pirates. More on that later.

For now, I'm peacin' out. A book and another cup of decaf are calling my name.