In Seventh Heaven!

The other day we had the privilege of caring for our next door neighbor's six month old Callie for a couple hours. It just so happened to be during Chloe's nap time, so Emma had this gem of time all to herself with a baby! To say she was on cloud nine the whole time is an understatement! First, she got to feed Callie a bottle all by herself, she couldn't wipe the grin off her face. Then we surrounded her with pillows for some floor play, such fun! Emma couldn't stop talking about how she's going to have her very own baby brother very soon for the rest of the day. Poor Chloe, I think she's going to have the hardest time with the adjustment. When she woke up from her nap, at first she was thrilled to see Callie and play with her. But the novelty wore off pretty quickly and then it was, "holdju ME! mommy!" (Sigh) We'll get through this, the Lord is my strength!

Zucchini!

Remember that garden I told you about that went in around mothers day? Well let's just say, we are having a bountiful harvest of zucchini! We also have hundreds of cherry tomatoes, still green, but I'm expecting the same kind of harvest with them. So that brings me to a ploy for your creativity. I've got two loaves of zucchini bread in the oven this morning, and I plan to make several more before the day is over. But I'm needing some more ideas! What else can I make with Zucchini? So far, we've had fried zucchini, raw zucchini dipped in Ranch dressing, and steamed zucchini. Surely there is more to be made with this hardy, aggressive veggie!

Showered and Blessed!

I can't even begin to tell you how humbling and special this past Saturday was for me! My sweet friend Jenn threw me a wonderful baby shower to celebrate Sawyer and get him all stocked up on little boy things. So many wonderful friends and family showed up, coming from near and far bearing beautiful gifts! Not only that, but presents have been coming in the mail for the past week! You are all peaches is all I have to say, sweet, suculant peaches! Consider this post a great big kiss on each of your cheeks. I feel so blessed and loved and just plain lucky to have so many wonderful people in my life! I only hope I make you feel as blessed.

Love, Sarah

Emma's Fourth Birthday!

Sorry it's taken me a couple weeks to get this slide show up. It's been a busy summer to say the least and it's only getting busier! We had so much fun celebrating Emma's fourth birthday at Chuck E. Cheese this year. It sure has changed a lot since it was Show Biz when Travis and I were kids, but the atmosphere is pretty much the same, a kid's paradise!

Belated Anniversary Post

Okay, this post is nearly two months overdue! But better late than never right! Travis and I celebrated five years of marriage on June 7th. The following weekend, we went out to dinner at the Melting Pot as our official celebration, and what a treat it was! We figured an overnight away wasn't the best idea right now since sleeping well in my own bed is challenge enough these days. But we both LOVE good food, so this was a perfect fit this year. I had some great pictures of the evening, but can't seem to find them in my folders. I think I may have erased them from my memory card before I had saved them on my computer, thinking I had already saved them! It makes me ill really, but deep breath, life goes on, and the memories are in my heart and mind right. It's really hard for us to believe it's been five years already, so much life has happened in those five years, moving, moving again, having children, buying our first home, new jobs, new church, the list goes on. But through it all, I can't imagine going through any of it without my very best friend and companion! I love you Travis, more today than yesterday. Thank you for your grace, your forgiveness, for choosing to the see the best in me. Thank you for making me laugh, for holding me when I need to cry, and for being everything I could ever hope for in a husband. I am so proud of you, so lucky to be your girl! Here's to the rest of our lives together!

Coming Together!

I just have to give you a sneak peek at Sawyer's nursery! I'll give a full tour once I have things hung on the walls and all those finishing touches, but I know some of you have been anxious to see the painting we did in there too. Thank you to Mom and Granny for the bedding set and mobile, I'm just giddy about them! I'll give you a tour of the girl's room soon.

32 weeks, Is There REALLY More Room?!

It feels like only a week has passed since I was posing for my 28 belly picture! But here we are at 32 weeks and I'm having a hard time believing there is any more room in this abdomen of mine for four plus more pounds of baby! I mean really, I know I've carried all out front with all my babies, but it never ceases to amaze me how big I get in these last months. Only one more monthly picture at 36 weeks, then I'll try to take one each week, in case it's the last, from then on out. Please continue to pray for a healthy baby and pregnancy and for a smooth delivery in the end. I have mixed feelings about the ending of this pregnancy. I hesitate to say definitively that this is our last baby, but that's what we're both feeling at this point, so unless God changes our hearts and minds on the issue at some point, there is a bit of grieving that comes with the end of this pregnancy. The thought of never feeling life move within my womb again is just too much to bear! Every part of bringing new life into the world is so miraculous and wonderful, even amidst the aches and pains. I feel so privileged to have been able to do this three times already, it just never gets old. But more on these thoughts to come I'm sure. For now, enjoy my growing girth and if you'd like a bare belly pic for even more shock and amazement, just let me know and I'll email one to you. I'd also like to give Jenn a big "thank you" in advance for the shower she is throwing for me this coming Saturday! You are one of the most generous, selfless people I know and I am so humbled and honored that you would bless us in this way! I'll be posting some pictures from Emma's birthday party later in the week.

Blessings!

Happy Birthday Peanut!

Four years ago today...

At 12:02am, you were born. It was a surreal moment of slow motion, I was a mother! Something I had always dreamed of and there you were. My love for you was immediate and all-consuming. Little did I know how much that love would grow each day, each moment.

As that first year passed, amidst sleepless nights and countless firsts, your little personality began to emerge. You have always been passionate, vivacious, empathetic, sweet, smart and hilarious! Dull and average are never words anyone would use to describe you. There is a fire in your spirit that shines for all to see. We pray Jesus will capture that flame some day and use you as a mighty torch for His Glory!Your second year was not to be outdone by your first sweetheart! More discoveries, more need for discipline and teaching, more laughs and tickles and snuggles to share. This is the year your vocabulary took off in exceptional ways. You've always been our little chatterbox and we never want to stop listening!

Your sense of humor has always been beyond your years!

One of my favorite places in the world to be is with you laughing in my arms!Our morning showers together in that tiny shower stall (getting more and more crowded each day with your growing baby brother in my tummy!) are among the simple moments treasured my big four year old. For some day, you'll want space and I'll long for more together time. (Picture taken today, July 17th, 2008)

Please Lord, let this next year with my precious Emma linger. Happy birthday Emma Grace! I am so blessed to be your mommy!

Pictures from the 4th!

We had such a fun day on the fourth of July! Our neighborhood had its annual block party and it really was such a blast. For the kids, we had pools and a slip n slide, along with face painting and a bike parade around the block. For the adults, yummy food and drinks, great socializing time, and of course, we ended the day watching the local fireworks, which were only about a mile or two away at our local city park.

Chloe going in for a hug with one of our sweet neighbor girls. She absolutely loves any child who seems even a day younger than her.
Emma after a beautiful face painting job done by the professional face painter we hired for the day.
My goofy peanut getting ready to dive in!

Bringing up the rear of the kids bike parade. Seriously, my belly just cracks me up! It has its very own nose!

The bike parade in full swing.

Daddy testing out our slip n slide before opening it to the neighborhood. His comment was, "man, it's sure not as long as I remember it being as a kid!"

Launch number one, Super Emma!

Super Chloe really flew! She's such a water baby, no fear at all!

All in all, it was a glorious day, everything a summer day in July should be. Next week Emma has VBS (Vacation Bible School) and her birthday, it will be a full week to be sure. I am really in such shock at the way the summer is flying by! It's almost halfway over:(. But I love living in Colorado, because just when you're ready for a change in the weather, a new season begins. I hope you are taking in every sweet breath of your summer and relishing in memories made.

It's Good to Be Alive!

Tomorrow marks the beginning of my 30th year on this earth (to avoid confusion, that means I'm turning 29). While some may bemoan the end of their twenties, counting every wrinkle, feeling "old", I just don't feel that way. Maybe it's because I've always been more of an optimist by nature (or choice), but I'm just feeling pretty darn blessed and lucky to be alive! For twenty nine years, I've seen the beauty of changing seasons. I've fallen in love, been heartbroken, said good-bye to loved ones, welcomed loved ones in. I've cried, I've laughed, struggled, and rested in sweet contentment. I've tried and failed, tried and succeeded. I've carried and felt life move within my womb, I've experienced the miracle of birthing a child. But most importantly, I've been wooed by my Creator into a personal relationship with Him through Jesus Christ, I've been saved by grace! I'm not guaranteed tomorrow, but I have the promise of eternity! So as I sit here, on the eve of my 29th birthday, I am giving much thanks! "Thank you Father for every breath you've given me! May every moment of my life be lived for You and Your glory. Shape me and mold me into all you've called me to be!"

Philipians 1:21: "For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."