Pumpkin Patch

Yesterday, we took Tucker and Adelyn to the pumpkin patch. I was SO EXCITED to go! I dreamed about family outings like this for so many years and loved getting to see the pumpkin patch through their eyes! We talked about pumpkins all week and have been reading pumpkins books for awhile. They were a little overwhelmed at first, but loved getting to see the pumpkins, try to pick them up, and run around! They each picked a pumpkin and one for the baby! Love love love our sweet family time and the ones I get to share them with. Our God is SO GOOD!

Group shot

Glad Grammy and Grumpy got to join us!

Loved the pumpkins...not the pictures so much!

Had fun in the cars!

Ady didn't want to get out of the car!

Tucker trying to pick up the pumpkin

Best family pic we got!

My precious girl!

He LOVED the pumpkins!

Such a sweet boy!

"Taste and see that the Lord is good!" Psalms 34:8

Refined by fire

I want to share this scripture with you this morning because it captured my heart and spoke to me on so many ways. I sometimes forget all of the bad that was associated with infertility, all of the grief, trials, tears, disappointments, and loss. I want to forget all of that and dwell in the joy that I am living in now. This spoke to that trial in my life, as I'm sure it can to SO MANY other trials that you may face. Let us not forget. Let us be refined, genuine, and come out praising, glorifying, and honoring our Lord.

"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith- of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire- may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."
1 Peter 1: 6-7

Suffer grief in all kinds of trials
The most significant trial in my life to date was a 6 year battle with infertility. As a 30 year old, I am CONFIDENT that it is not my last battle. I know that there are others out there still suffering and I hope that they can grab on to this scripture, to the fact that God loves them SO MUCH, and know that God has a plan for them. In my darkest days of infertility, I thought that God was punishing me by denying me children. In the verse 9 after this scripture, Peter talks about receiving the "goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls." How was I missing such a huge GOAL that God has planned for me by focusing on my wants and desires for a child. I love my babies, but my salvation??? Nothing is sweeter or better than an eternity with God.

Faith- worth greater than gold
What is greater than gold in our lives today??? Sometimes it's stuff. Sometimes it's people. I am guilty of putting my family ahead of even Jesus or my relationship with him. My faith took a HUGE hit during the years of infertility because I was treating God like a service. I put in prayers, He failed to deliver children. He was mean and I was hurting. Looking back, I am so thankful to have a father who was PATIENT, KIND, LOVING, and took the time to wait on me. To love me in my ugliness. To hold me and comfort me as I cried. To VALUE my salvation over rubies and diamonds, even when I couldn't see it. How amazing is this precious FAITH that has grown leaps and bounds!!!

Refined by fire
Fire burns. It hurts. Trials are not meant to be pleasant. They will hurt. Sometimes a lot. Some trials last a long time. Six years for me was an eternity. I think it's ok to have suffering during trials, otherwise why would the reference to fire be made. I have never hurt so much as I did watching friend after friend, sister and cousin, everyone I knew have babies before me. I hurt. I cried. I ached. My husband's shoulder was wet every night in those years. Yet in all the tears and all the darkness, God was working. He NEVER left my side. He was quietly there refining me. Drawing me closer. Working with me. Through me. It hurt. A LOT. But most work does.

May be proved genuine
God wants to know that we have genuine faith in him. Not superficial. Not the kind that comes and goes. Not the kind that praises when things are good and turns our back when things don't go our way. Genuine faith. The kind that moves mountains. The kind that praises in the storm. The kind that says "God you are in control of my life, my children, and my desires."

May result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed
We are not called to be quiet. We are called to PRAISE! GIVE GLORY and HONOR to our Lord and Savior. I can honestly say that we went through the fire. We went through trials. We were beaten and broken. That is not something to forget. That is not something in the past. That made us who we are today. It brought us closer to the feet of Jesus and to the goal of our faith...salvation. May we never stop praising our Lord for what he has done! Everything little thing that Tucker and Adelyn do and say brings glory to our savior. He is the one who blessed us with the precious loves. May we always praise him, all the days of our lives.

My prayer this morning is that as you walk through trials, whatever they may be, that you allow God to refine your heart and, in turn, give all praise, glory and honor to him. If that trial be infertility, know that I am praying for you each and everyday. And that God is faithful and he will grant you the desires of your heart.

18 month and 18 week check-up

I meant for this blog to go out last week, but with the craziness that goes on around here, I'm just thankful to finally be posting! We had two great check-ups in the last few weeks and I'm thankful for healthy 18 month olds (which are actually 19 months now) and a healthy (growing) baby #3!

The twins' 18 month check-up

About 2 weeks ago, we visited the doctor for the twins' 18 month check-up. Overall, it was probably the hardest appointment we have had!!! The twins' were not super pumped to have the doctor check them out, listen to their hearts, check on their eyes, ears, nose, or anything else! There was a lot of crying...even before the shots started! Our doctor assured us that it was normal at this age, but I felt bad for the twins and are wonderful doctor! Thankfully we have two super healthy kiddos with no issues! They are growing and developing right on track and we were able to check off pretty much everything on the 18 month questionnaire which I thought was pretty good! Overall, we are average height with big heads and skinny bodies! Not a bad combo!

Tucker's Stats:

Height- 33 inches (64th percentile)

Weight- 22 lbs 7 oz (23rd percentile)

Head- 19 inches (72nd percentile)

Adelyn's Stats:

Height- 32 inches (50th percentile)

Weight- 20 lb 9.5 oz (20th percentile)

Head- 18.5 inches (68th percentile)

They are both changing and learning things SO FAST these days! Physically, we are getting stronger and more sure on our feet everyday! We have been playing outside tons these days and going to the park once a week. Adelyn has gotten SO MUCH better at climbing, running, going down slides, and adventuring! Tucker RUNS pretty much everywhere and is a great climber! They have also both had an EXPLOSION of words! Each day we are saying new words, trying to put things together, and communicating more. It is SO fun as a mom to see what they do and say each day! They remember SO MUCH and we have started doing hand signs to go along with things we do and they are great! I am LOVING this stage and watching them interact and grow with their world daily! I LOVE LOVE LOVE getting to stay home in the mornings with them! We are blessed!

18 week check-up

Last week we had our first appointment with my new doctor to check on baby #3! We were both a little anxious about having to leave Dr. Sutliff...and more importantly Katy...but we both really liked our new doctor! Everything checked out just fine, but it is SUCH a different experience being pregnant with a single! With the twins, I was at the doctor ALL the time and had sonograms every visit! I was watched like a hawk!!! With this pregnancy, everything is so NORMAL!!! But we are thankful and blessed with our little normal #3! The doctor could not find a heartbeat using the doppler, so we had to go into the sonogram room to make sure everything was ok. Apparently this baby is a WILD CHILD because it was having a PARTY in my belly! It literally did not stop moving the entire time! The doctor was cracking up and called a nurse to come in and "look at this crazy baby!" Even though we are not finding out the sex, the doctor wanted to check for herself...but even that took a good 10 minutes b/c the baby was donkey-kicking like crazy! Needless to say, I had flashbacks to another crazy little one that would never be still during sonograms...my Tucker boy! So as of now, my vote is that it is a boy. But who knows! We have our big 20 week sonogram next week, so I'm anxious to see what craziness this one will be doing then! I am feeling MUCH better at this point than I was the first trimester and hoping that it stays this way for AWHILE!

15 weeks

17 weeks

19 weeks

Where's Jesus?

I have to share the sweetest story of my two that happened today! We were reading books in the hallway outside their room when Tucker stood up and said "Jesus!" I asked him "Where's Jesus???" He immediately ran to the bookshelf, pulled off a bible, said "no", and then pulled another one. He sat down and turned the pages until he got to a certain one, and then brought it to me. I was expecting it to be baby jesus because we always talk about that page and it is Adelyn's favorite. Instead it was the story of Jesus with Mary and Martha. I was so surprised b/c it is not one of our common stories. He handed it to me and goes "there" and then walked away. Adelyn then came over with her pink bible and turned to a different story of Jesus with the little children. She started pointing at Jesus and saying "Jesus" over and over. My heart completely melted and tears filled my eyes. They both knew who Jesus was, without me pointing it out or without looking at the other one. I was one proud mama! I am so blessed with these two and so thankful that they already have a knowledge and love for our savior!!!

PS...sorry all pictures are from my phone this time! I can't seem to get the camera out and get any good pics these days!

"Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
    his greatness no one can fathom.
4 One generation commends your works to another;
    they tell of your mighty acts.
5 They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—
    and I will meditate on your wonderful works.[b]
6 They tell of the power of your awesome works—
    and I will proclaim your great deeds.
7 They celebrate your abundant goodness
    and joyfully sing of your righteousness." Psalms 145:3-7