Spring
- Timothy turned 4 months old
- Mary Kate finished her first year of preschool
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- To say our girl loved preschool is a crazy understatement. She thrived. God sent us the most perfect teacher for her first year, Mary Finney. They fit together like a glove. Considering we had a baby and were blindsided by another baby's challenges, this school became a saving grace for us.
- In May we adjusted to a calmer schedule. I finished my last year of MOPS, another gift in these early years of parenting. I'm sad to not be continuing but it's a new season and I'm just so thankful for those years and those women. May also began my busy season of work and it seems like every week we have the "is it worth it" conversation but for now, we'll keep going. Summer is just super busy and three little humans to feed and put to bed at the same time just works better with two sets of hands. It is not lost on me for one minute how lucky I am to be able to work mostly from home and help support our family in a small way.
- In June we began seeing a new therapist for Thomas. Father Tim's sister is an OT who recommended her friends' facility in Alpharetta. It is a drive and isn't covered by insurance but it is no doubt the best place for Thomas. He is thriving there. I feel like the theme of this year has been God just meeting us where we are, where we need Him to come. I won't lie. It has been hard, oh so hard. Some days I am bowled over by just how hard it is. By the weekend, I am just so ready to escape for awhile, craving time away from the hard.
- Also in June, motivated by a beach trip (yes, vanity bites again), I finally found my exercise groove again. I had been running inconsistently but tried a barre class at the Georgia Dance Conservatory. It is hard and wonderful and was what I needed to catapult myself back into taking care of mommy mode. I still can't resist a daggum drive thru window to save my life but am enjoying starting my days with a good run or barre class. I also turned 34 but can't for the life of me remember what we did?
- July is for celebrating MK! Our girl turned 4 and I am continually amazed at who she is becoming. She deserves her own post
she modeled for our friend's new tutu business and I love this face. It's her "I'm trying to sound like an adult" talk which sounds a lot like jibberish!
I love any picture with me holding my three babies, but especially one with matching outfits. KRYPTONITE.
MK's 4th birthday with her family at the pool
This family deserves their own post. They are the biggest gift of this neighborhood to us. They had us over on MK's actual 4th birthday, had a new belle dress up outfit and cupcakes. Madison babysits for us and is so special to all of us. Can't even describe how sweet the Ernstes family is!
- At 4 Mary Kate changes clothes 454 times a day, loves loves princesses, dress up outfits, playdates (she is 150% extrovert like her daddy), her grandparents, any sweets (150% like her mama here), mommy or daddy and mary kate dates, playing at the park, swimming, and school. She still naps 4 days a week or so but can manage without one (until 6 pm when she's melting into a puddle). She is helpful, kind, oh so compassionate, thoughtful, creative, stubborn, outgoing, smart and joyous. More than anything, she is a gift from God.
- July also brought our long awaited MRI for Thomas. Words can't describe how hard it was to watch our son be poked over and over at an unsuccessful attempt at finding a vein, then later watching him be sedated, and then wondering if there was a tumor on his brain. There's no point in trying to convey it on this blog so we'll get to the point. His MRI was normal and we absolutely rejoiced. I will confess that I still battle with "okay, well what the bleep is creating these developmental delays" but that brings me to our biggest day of August.
- I took the kids to the vigil Mass for the feast of the assumption. I have taken them to daily Mass alone before, but never to a full out, hour long Mass. It was as hellish as one can imagine. As we walked to the narthex, I put Thomas down in complete exasperation. I asked him if he wanted to walk and he gave us his now characteristic "yeah!" His therapist has said he is taking steps in PT but I had not seen it yet. Sure enough, on a feast celebrating the woman for whose intercession I've prayed and prayed, he took 8 big ole steps. Our guy is definitely on his way. It's never fast enough for impatient mommy and I'm ashamed that each miracle gives way to more begging for the next miracle. But I know the Lord understands my heart and more importantly so, He has a great and perfect plan for Thomas.
- Late August brought the first day of pre-k for MK and Thomas's first day also. MK absolutely loves school and it just brings out the best in her. Her teacher, Sis Eastland, has been at FPC for 30 years and her expertise shows. Thomas is slow on the uptake, but no one is surprised by that. His teacher is my new mentor mom, Leigh Ann Rapp. She is beautiful, faith-filled, energetic, in amazing shape and so incredibly kind. My heart bursts at God's provision for our kids and our family.
- So here we are, with a very hot end of the summer. Timothy has just begun sitting up which gives my brain a break from its obsession over developmental milestones. Thomas is taking steps each day, renewing my hope for our guy. And Mary Kate is basically 22, reminding me to cherish, treasure, and cherish some more. Ross continues to lead our family with an unworldly amount of patience, optimism, and unconditional love. He loves me well and absolutely delights in our children. He enjoys mountain biking and tennis on the weekend and sweetly does morning duty 4-5 days a week so I can run. My fall includes training for a 10 mile race to benefit AIDS orphans, praying about and readying up to help begin a teen mom's group at a local high school, and with Ross, starting a small group at church for young couples. My greatest desire is that we raise our children to know Jesus and trust in His love and provision for them and then, in whatever spare time I have, help others feel His love as well.
We are excited for fall. We will celebrate Thomas's 2nd birthday after a whirlwind of a year of worrying and praying and worrying and praying more over this boy. We will celebrate 5 years of marriage in September and hope to fit in a little getaway. This man, this life, it's more than I ever dreamed, even on the very hard days. I am so incredibly grateful.
