I am Head Over Heels for this Guy

A man who loves the Word of God and loves the Lord with all his heart and all his soul and all his mind. He would love his wife like Christ loves the Church. He would love his family UNCONDITIONAllY and would "...not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." Ephesians 6:4

A special Happy Father's Day shout out to my husband, Dan. I am incredibly blessed to have Dan as my best friend and the Daddy of our girls. I could not love a human being more than I love Dan. He is the best man there is. Dan has been given so many gifts and talents that he continues to grow in everyday. He is an incredible teacher, friend, servant, worker, creator, leader, inventor, manager, singer, guitar player, dreamer, son, HUSBAND, and FATHER. AND he loves JESUS! He teaches me more more about Jesus everyday through his words, actions, and love. I am proud of him and honored beyond all words to live, love and serve beside him.

We love you Baby and I fall more and more in love with you everyday. You are the best Daddy to our girls.

That is one handsome Daddy!!




We were given an incredible gift this past Tuesday...Rebekah Joy!

I walked in Halle's room last night after feeding Rebekah to see how Dan was doing putting Halle to bed and this is what I found. I have to be honest and tell you I was kind a jealous.

HALLE adores her DADDY!

"The righteous who walks in his integrity-- blessed are his children after him!" Proverbs 20:7

playing "I-an get you"....

38 weeks and about to bust

I haven't posted at all yet on the new baby and second pregnancy yet. Shame on me. So now that I am at the end here some tid bits from the pregnancy. A funny thing is, there is a couple in the church who we are great friends with who got married the same exact day, year, and time that Dan and I did. That same couple is having their first child due the very same day ours is due to arrive, June 13th!!! It has been so cool to share this with her. She is an incredible lady and friend. We also have the same doctor and are still measuring right on together. So funny! We are always joking with one another that we may be there side by side rooting each other on. As time is winding down this is becoming more of a possibility. Love sharing this special time with these special people.

• How far along: 38 weeks and 4 days
• Total weight gain/loss: I'm not sure, haven't been keeping track...not really wanting to this time around! But I know that I haven't gained anymore in the past few weeks.
• Stretch marks: none thus far, fingers are crossed!
• Best moment this week: spending some quality time with Halle before baby comes
• Food cravings:First trimester was pickles and dairy, like milk and ice cream. This whole pregnancy I have craved citrus fruit. I have ate tons of grape fruit! These last couple of weeks chomping on ice and drinking lots of water to cool me off has been a definite favorite. I take a glass with me wherever I go.
• Gender: Baby girl!
• Labor signs: Some BH contractions. Alot of crazy pressure on the cervix. I have been dilated at 2 for 3 weeks two and half weeks now and 50 percent effaced. I feel like the baby has dropped alot.
• Belly button in or out: Doesn't even seem like there is one there but still in.
• Current mood: Super tired. Not getting much sleep at night, tossing and turning...and snoring Dan says. I feel like I can't breath. I have had crazy heartburn this pregnancy, but thankfully it has let up some the past couple of weeks. I was eating tums like they were candy. It has been super hard lately to keep up with Halle, especially going anywhere alone with her. I feel bigger and bigger everyday. We are super excited to see our new little girl. I can't wait to meet her. I am a little anxious for Halle's sake and how she will feel and how she will do with a new baby in the house. Halle has been super clingy to me lately, more than ever. And anxious about being a mom to two and loving the new baby girl as much as I do Halle. I can't imagine loving another so much.
• What I am looking forward to: Deciding on a name for our new baby girl. Saying goodbye to heartburn and sleepless nights....oh yeah, nevermind that. I think that is the way God prepares you for those sleepless nights ahead. I'm looking forward to holding our new baby girl and seeing what color hair she has...ha! I can't wait to kiss her and squeeze her.
• Milestones: the huge one is fast approaching

Fun in the Sun

Halle loves to be outside. She will gab her shoes every morning and run to the back door. She'll tell me "outside?"...short pause then say, "Kay!" LIke I said yes or something. But who can resist. So we have been soaking up alot of sun and overly getting our daily doses of vitamin D in the back yard. She loves to play in the water hose and her kiddie pool. Then follow it up with ice cream.

We've recently been visiting our friends Katrina and Zion at their backyard pool and sprinkler! They have a slide on their pool...lots of fun!

Here's Z and Halle dancing.
Yum....ice cream sandwiches!

So Halle likes to eat ice just like her mommy. Yes this may scare alot of you. But she does really well with it. She had dropped some of her ice on the ground here and got some dirt on it which Halle has always proved to be a girlie girl. She does not like the dirt on her food, hands, or feet.

cute!



I love these times Halle and I get to spend together. She's my girl!

"WEEEEEEEEEEE!"

We were so excited to get outside and play after the snow melted. Halle has discovered the parks this year. It has been so FUN! The only thing is ,is she wants to go ALL the time! All she talks about is "going weeeeee," "slide," and "swing." Don't ever mention it unless you are actually planning on going or you have one upset little girl. We have been trying every park around town. And we have found that Halle is fearless. She will RUN up the stairs and the jungle gym and always wants to go to the highest slide. And she wants to do this all by herself. She does really well. She sits and scoots to the slide...whew...thank goodness. I still can't breath whenever she is up there. We of course love to go with our friends Denver and Ashley too. Halle also loves the wagon rides.

Denver is so excited!! Love this face!

Halle could really swing for an hour and just talk and talk and talk away.
Daddy has fun too!

Here's a short video of Halle RUNNING to the top slide as Dad tries to keep up with her.

We look forward to a summer full of playgrounds.

Easter

I realize that it is now June but I never got to post on Easter. I don't want to pass these sweet moments up to share with you. I will never forget this past Easter Sunday morning. We were doing a painting during the Sunday morning service. I had the paint buckets filled in the room to the side of the stage. Halle of course was right on my heels the whole time we were getting everything ready. I ran into the room with the paint for a split second and then turned and saw almost as if in slow motion Halle taking a fall right into the black paint...new Easter dress and all. It scared her sooo bad, poor thing! But luckily it was just her arm. So the sleeve of her sweater was the only thing ruined. Unfortunately I was so frustrated at the moment that I didn't snap a picture of this memorable moment. But it will always be remembered.

Our church puts on a community Easter egg hunt each year. It is always a huge hit. This year we had over 500 people come through the doors. It went so great. We had over 20,000 eggs stuffed with candy and door prizes. We gave away 6 bikes and TONS of TOYS. Halle of course loved picking up the Easter eggs once she realized there was candy in each one.

Daddy of course jumped in and helped as well.

This was Halle's first year dying Easter eggs.

I think the stickers were her favorite part.

Jesus is good!

"Wawee, SWIM...YAY!!!"

We are so happy swimming season is coming. Halle really liked and enjoyed being in the water last year. Just recently we have introduced her to the indoor pool again after months of not having her in the water. We want to try and get her ready for The Falls when it opens in June. The Falls is this really nice water park facility they have here in Cedar Falls. It has a LARGE wonderful kids area.

Halle has been talking and understanding more and more everyday. It is truly amazing to see her personality unfold all the more. She is precious. So, with her understanding more we also have to be careful what we say. She doesn't quite understand the words "tomorrow" or "later." So if we know we are taking her to the park or taking her swimming later we refrain from saying so earlier than that very moment of leaving and actually going. If we do not wait, Halle runs and gets her shoes and says "play," "weeeee," "slide," "swing," "swim," or "Waweee" (aka:water) FOREVER!!!!!! And gets pretty angry when it doesn't happen. When we are heading to the pool she of course is sooooooo excited! She talks about it the whole way there. "Mommy, mommy, mommy?" (me) "Yes Halle?" "Wawee, Wawee and Daddy in Wawee.....jibberresh that we don't quite understand....swim, Daddy, swim in the wawee!" (me) "Yes Halle Water, we're going to swim in the water" Halle then always says, "Kay, Kay" and then repeats everything. Really cute but also REALLY repetitive! Although I have to say her excitement is pretty contagious and puts BIG smiles on our faces.

Dan has been working with Halle on her holding her breath under water. She has recently learned how to and it has truly amazed us. She will actually hold her breath long enough to reach down and grab a toy at the bottom of the pool. So we want to share these special videos with you. Dan is an amazing teacher with Halle. He really knows "HOW" to teach her things well. I have alot of learning to do from him. Halle is also a very quick learner and a determined little girl. Here they are. Please enjoy.

Happy Mother's Day

I am blessed with an amazing husband. There is really no better, He is the best! And we have been blessed with the most precious little girl, Halle! It's hard to imagine loving another one like I love these. A women's heart grows and stretches with her belly. I keep learning a deeper and deeper love. Thank you Jesus for the joys you have entrusted and given to me. You are the giver of the best gifts.

Dan and Halle came home yesterday with these beautiful flowers. Halle looked so excited to give them to me, sooo sweet! She kept stressing over and over to me that they needed water.

Then Dan slaved for over an hour in the kitchen on this awesome meal. It was sooooooo good! Yummy!

You two are the best!! Thank you for such a memorable day! I love you!