Such a busy, busy couple of weeks we have had...and it's only going to get busier with Thanksgiving, my birthday, upcoming trip and Christmas just around the bend! I'm usually quite depressed coming home from visiting with my family (missing them and all that). This time it's helped having so much to look forward too. Couldn't have planned that out better.

Speaking of the FW trip...

I have come to the realization that traveling with a 15 month old isn't much fun. I can travel with a 6 week old, and even an 8 month old was doable, but 15 months is SO much harder. I have also figured out that it's easier to fly and then drive 3.5 hours then the other way around. Driving for over 3 hours and then waiting at the airport for 1.5 hours and then flying for another hour was too much for the little man to handle (especially when said little man decided to empty out his little tummy upon arriving at the rental garage in Chicago on our way home - thank goodness we had time to spare).



The traveling and sleeping at night in the same room with a very light sleeper baby aside, all in all our trip went really well. We were able to do most of the things we wanted to do - it was amazing how busy we were. Every day we had something to look forward to. Friends to see, family to visit with and a certain local restaurant to frequent...quite often. Yum.

My friends, Carissa and Andrea drove in from Knoxville for a couple of days. It was wonderful seeing them again...and finally being able to introduce them to my little boy. We also were able to visit with Dan and Kathryn, Nathan L. and his lovely wife, Sheri and of course my brother Nate and his friend Carita. Friday night was definitely a highlight of the week - hanging out with Carissa, Andrea, Nate, Carita, Nathan and Peter. We shopped at Jefferson Pointe, ate at Fazzoli's and headed over to Nate's place where we played Apples to Apples, and watched an elephant give birth on youtube. Yes, it was quite the random night. We finished off our evening at Munchies with much laughter and good eats.




One of the best things about the trip, was watching my family with Simon. It makes me sad that they can't see him whenever they want. Every day they were with him was a gift. Mikayla was very much still the little mother to him and Hannah laughed at every little thing he did. It was fun for Simon to have a backyard to play in. He enjoyed walking up and down the long and narrow back yard and swinging in the baby swing. The weather was especially GORGEOUS the whole entire time we were there - 60's and 70's.



The women in my family are extremely talented and showed off their skills by making Simon little gifts. Mikayla (10)knit Simon a little green vest and also a little bunny rabbit. Hannah (9) knit him a sweet little snowman. My mom went all out of knit him a holiday hat complete with bells and also knit him his first official Christmas stocking. I was blown away by the sweet gifts. Simon is a lucky little man.


Now that we're back home, I've been busy with unpacking, cleaning and organizing. I am currently working on going through my clothes and sorting through them for Turnstyle/Clothes Mentor or Hidden Treasures. I'm quite proud of myself for getting rid of so much. I really do enjoy getting "new" clothes and so I'm trying to figure out if there's a way to do this more often (getting clothes, wearing them until I'm bored with them and then consigning them, trading them in for newer stuff). I think I could do that...

I have also been busy with my Etsy business. I've sold 3 creatures in the past 2 weeks!


...I'm busy with making more for the holidays. I just need to get organized and take pictures and add them to my site. In honor of my birthday and Christmas, December is going to be a good time to buy with discounted prices on both the items and shipping. Keep an eye out!

Now that the baby is sleeping, I can sit down and eat my spicy pumpkin soup in peace, while I wait for the laundry to finish up. I hope you all have a wonderful and fabulous Monday. ♥

I've had this song in my head for a few days now. I love Kim Walkers voice and the passion that she portrays in this song. McMillan did a wonderful job in writing this song, the lyrics are so profound and encouraging and...different (the "sloppy wet kiss" part makes me smile). I especially love the first part of this song...

He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.



He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

And oh, how He loves us so,
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all

Yeah, He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves.
Yeah, He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Oh, how He loves.

We are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.
So Heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss,
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,
I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about, the way…

He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.
Yeah, He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves.

Well, I thought about You the day Stephen died,
And You met me between my breaking.
I know that I still love You, God, despite the agony.
...They want to tell me You're cruel,
But if Stephen could sing, he'd say it's not true, cause...

Cause He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us.
Whoa! how He loves us.
Whoa! how He loves.
Yeah, He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves.

"There is nothing quite like the sinking feeling one gets as their child screams bloody murder in the middle of a crowded restaurant and all your efforts to pacify and restrain them are met with louder and angrier screams. You never think that it will be you in that situation, until it is and then it's like, 'oh crap, it is me.' So much for a relaxing dinner with the wife and kid. - Peter." What Peter didn't mention was how embarrassing it was when he threw a spoon at our server...not to mention pulling out ABC food from his mouth and throwing it on the floor - over and over again.

Simon's energy level went through the roof this weekend. A weekend where Peter and I were looking forward to a quiet and calming 3 days of being together. Simon also learned how to throw tantrums this weekend, oh joy. He is also very good at whining - Peter once likened Simon's whining (it's the worst in the car) to the "dragging of your eardrums on a cheese grater". To say the least, I'm exhausted and selfishly wishing that I could turn the clock back about a year, when Simon was a cuddly, little newborn and only needed a couple of things to make him happy. I felt like I got more sleep and rest when he was a newborn then I did this past weekend(the stress of a one year old makes it difficult for me to sleep well).

We cut back on our chiropractic care to twice a month rather then once a week. My body isn't dealing with the change very well. Stiff neck, sore back...headaches, insane hormonal levels. Yeah, not fun. I'm sure that the bending and lifting of a 22 lb baby isn't helping much either (not to mention constantly cleaning up after him...).

Simon had his 12 month checkup on Friday. All good news this time. Gaining weight, growing taller (no surprise there...he's so big now!). I was glad for the good news and the fact that he's back on track with his height and weight. Thank you, Jesus.

Simon surprises me at how smart he can be. We learned this weekend that he knows where his dirty diapers go. I had changed his wet diaper in the living room and before I knew it Simon had taken it in his hand and had climbed up the two stairs, walked down the hallway and into his bedroom where he promptly opened the lid to his diaper pail and dumped it in.

September is already on it's second week...Fall is almost upon us, and then the dreaded MN. winter ((whimper)). We've had a glorious couple of weeks of weather. God has been good. Last Thursday Peter and I went to the State Fair...alone. Smart move. Next year we'll take our little two-year-old. Wow...two!! MOMS starts up next Tuesday and I'm seriously thinking about not going this year. I wasn't too impressed with the downtown campus and it doesn't look like I'll be able to attend North. Sadness. Next year, maybe.

And life goes on. I'm looking forward to getting back into Future Grace with our Small Group this evening...and seeing everyone together again! I've missed all of my SG buddies. Not to mention seeing the two newest additions to our group - Jackson and Jude...the two little boys that make Simon look like a giant. Haha. It's quite amazing what a year can do to a baby.


Simon at 13 months

...........................................................

So Spirit, come, put strength in ev’ry stride,
Give grace for ev’ry hurdle,
That we may run with faith to win the prize
Of a servant good and faithful.
As saints of old still line the way,
Retelling triumphs of His grace,
We hear their calls and hunger for the day
When, with Christ, we stand in glory.