God is Good

This week a big relief and answer to prayer has happened. I gave all my boy baby clothes away right before we found out I was pregnant. We were done as far as we were concerned for a while. I never really anticpated to get them back. I also gave the car seat away fully expecting it to expire before we would have the chance to use it again. I was getting to the point of beginning to worry about clothes for Ari. I knew it was going to be expensive to replace all the clothes. Well thankfully the person I loaned them to saved them all and returned them. She also returned ones she had received and was done with. I also got some others from another person. This will fill in the season gap that there was between Eli being born in March and Ari being born in June or July. It was a huge answer to prayer. I never expected it and when I gave them away I never put the stipulation to get them back if possible. I was so grateful. We also will get our car seat too!! God is good! I remember praying three weeks ago that God would supply this. He did times 2. I was actually planning on going to a mom to mom sale this weekend hoping to take care of everything. Now I will save my gas and my money. We still need a minivan but hopefully that will happen next month! God is good!!

So I have gotten all the newborn and 0-3 month clothes sorted, washed, and put away so he can arrive. That is a huge relief off my chest. I also ordered a few more newborn diapers. With Lilliana I found a couple more would not have hurt and knowing how boys are with their wonderful pee everywhere gift I thought it would not hurt to add a couple more to the stash. Then I added 3 more big ones since Lilliana and he will both be in diapers for a bit. I am blessed in that we have a wonderful local place that makes these diapers. The owners are great and one has become a good friend. We have been trading services of photography for diapers. So I will be doing her newborn baby girl photographs in August for diapers. It works well and we both get what we need. After that we will be done buying diapers. I was thinking about it today and man on man I could get rid of everything after Ari fully anticipating being done. I just don't know if I could get rid of the cloth diapers! Seems silly but they have been such a money saver for us. I have enough diapers I can diaper two at one time and can start at newborns doing it. There are diapers in my stash all three kids will have worn!!! I don't know. I know I could resale them and probably recoup a lot of money back but wow I just can't think about that yet. Maybe my wonderful sister Holli will have had more by kids by then and I can pass them on to her:) HINT HINT Holli!!

So between organizing clothes and getting a game plan for moving rooms rearranged what else have we been up to this week?!?.................



Well I started a project on Saturday. I finally was able to finish it today. I took a picture every day of the magnolia blooms on the neighbors magnolia tree opening. I tried taking them the same time every day for the comparison. Some nights were brighter and some were ready for a storm. One thing about natural light is it is not consistant and everyday is different. I do love that but it is noticeable when I do collages. The other thing is there got to be so many blooms I don't know if towards the end I was taking the exact same photo but you get the idea. I also took other photos of the blooms as they were open at different times of the day so those are obviously different depending on the position of the sun etc. I finished last night as we ended up getting a nice little rain and thunder storm and it began losing petals today. I really tried to cut down the pictures but decided I just could not make a collage of them. They were too pretty not to enjoy big so enjoy!!

Collage of blooms one for each day.


Not the best pictures but what the tree looked like from the beginning to the end. Such a transformation and it is so much prettier in real life. It smells divine too!!


Now the blooms...............


This one might be my favorite although I do like each one for a different reason........


These next three were taken right as the storm was to hit us. It added some unique lighting and color to the flowers...........



It has been absolutely amazing for weather. Although I have suffered for it when it comes to swelling. Thankfully Anthony has been able to be home more this week so he has helped a lot. Eli has been very responsible too and helped me with dishes, laundry, picking up, and vacuuming every day. He actually loves to do it so I can't complain. The only thing I can complain about is he has wanted to be outside non stop so it is hard when I need to get stuff done and he is constantly asking.

They have been playing outside so much Lilliana fell asleep way early on Eli's floor one day. She was out too as I changed her diaper and moved her twice without her waking up.



More of my other flowers are blooming.


One day we enjoyed a picnic outside. Anthony had to finish the task as I could not sit on the ground without my legs falling asleep. The kids loved it!!!


Eli has spent his week on his tractor or bike. He loves both.


Lilliana has decided she needs to ride the smart cycle bike too and gets very very upset if she does not get a turn. Little girl has got attitude and it is starting to show!! She bit her brother really really hard this week. Poor kid had such a mark.


Not only has attitude started but she has decided walking is now what she is going to do. She no longer crawls. I think being outside has spurred her to do it more. She still has that funny monkey walk but its cute..............

Oh and her hair is super curly now that we have humidity!! It is cute but I worry about how we will manage it as it grows. Anthony and I always said we wanted a little girl with blue eyes and long curls. It is amazing that God has given that to us. She may have had attitude and been mean to her brother but she has still is so sweet and cuddly it is wonderful!



Since it has been so hot I have had a craving for grilling and fruity drinks. I made strawberry watermelon lemonade this week and it was beyond amazing! Eli sort of liked it. Lilliana could not get enough of it. It was fairly healthy too as most of it was fresh juice from the fruits and water. There was a bit of sugar but that is all. I can thank Pinterest for that.


The beloved toy of the week has been the bubble machine! We had one and it broke. It lasted a while. Well Eli has wanted bubbles for a while. I bought some for a dollar last week. I got home and blew them and it was a pain and not as fun as the bubble machine. Sooo this week they got a bubble machine. Lilliana is in love and Eli wants it on 24/7.


Eli insisted he play with the bubble machine again while I was making dinner. I didn't mind. I needed it to run out because I was not able to get all the solution out. He just loves it.


I let him go out in the rain storm and listen to the thunder.



Eli has been beyond sweet lately. I was working on some pictures and editing. There was a picture of a newborn opened in photoshop. Eli asked who it was. I told him who it was. He says, "I don't want that baby here. I want Ari." He continually asks when he is coming and has said that Ari can sleep in his room but not Lilliana. He must keep forgetting Lilliana and him are sharing until Ari can be in a big bed!

He was looking at my face as I was putting him to bed the other night. He noticed my mole. He then said, "mom what is that." I said, "It is a mole." He said, "I don't want one on my face like you." Silly kid.

His other new thing is "God will take care of us." He says it randomly and during different conversations. Little boy is smart and so right.

The other thing the kids have loved doing is sitting on Lillianas toy box and making faces in the mirror. So we did our Embrace the Camera photos in the mirror this week. Sadly when I joined them for faces they were not as thrilled.



   

Its been a busy week and if you have made it this far I had a lot to say so thanks!! Thankfully it has cooled down a bit and my swelling is back to being almost gone! Have a wonderful weekend!