Sweet as Pie.

This little girl. I love her so much.

Two is such a fun age because so much personality comes out...and boy, does this girl have it! Our Adoration, she is sweet as pie and the friendliest little person. She's always walking up to people, both children and adults, saying "hi!" and chatting them up.  Shy, she is not. She is extremely affectionate, generous with her hugs and kisses. She will usually want to hug a "fwiend" she just met, or walk around holding their hands. She just turned two June16th, but she has the vocabulary and verbal skills of a three year old. She speaks in complete sentences, paragraphs, and entire stories! She uses words like beautiful, delicious, and frustrated. She is quite the ham ( like her daddy) always being silly and eating up the attention of the masses. She is also extremely gentle and is sensitive to the needs and emotions of those around her.

We say that she is a "go-go" girl because she is not much of a homebody. She is pretty good at entertaining herself and is very imaginative, but she prefers to always be on the go, seeing new things, going new places, doing interactive activities, and being around people. I try really hard to make sure our days meet her need for such high levels of stimulation and interaction. Its getting harder as my pregnancy progresses and I'm nervous how it will go with a new baby. But I'm sure we will find our groove. I'll probably be exhausted, but we will find it. ;)

Adoration's favorite things right now:

*mum-mum and daddy. (She recently has started calling me mum-mum instead of mama. It's like she's combining mama and mommy. I'll take it.)
*"fwiends," which she considers to be everybody. But the ones she frequently mentions by name (Hrissy (a bulgarian name,) Mar-row, and Lee-ya (Ailiyah).
* snuggling.
* her monkey.
* tea parties
* the tunnel slide
* the pool and swimming in the waves in the ocean. "Here come the wapes!!"
* painting. She prefers watercolors.
* books, books, books and the library.
* singing, dancing, and twirling.
* talking
* helping mama cook.
* Curious George.


Dear Adoration,

 I so treasure being your mama that sometimes I don't think my heart can contain the gratefulness.

Me and your daddy, we love you so much and are always so proud of you. Nothing can change that. And we just know that you are going to be the best big sister!

Love,
your Mama.

A Progression, an Update, a Name.

A self-portrait progression of the pregnancy. I started these when I just started showing and meant to take one every week (ahem.) Well, the every week thing has been a little spotty. Mostly cause I feel so cheesy taking pictures of myself in the mirror and you know, I'm busy. 

I've felt pretty good this pregnancy. Not just physically, but mentally I think, especially when it comes to body image. It's hard for a girl (or me) watching that scale go up every week. My weight gain hasn't been all that different from my last pregnancy. I think I've gained a couple of less pounds, but then I also started off a couple of pounds lighter. Apparently those couple of pounds make a big difference on someone who is 5'5 because clothes fit sooo much differently this time around. I can wear pants now that I couldn't fit into around this time last pregnancy. Also I think the weight is distributed differently, less all over, and more belly.(I still gain all over some. I will never be one of those girls with the super skinny arms and legs and the cute basketball in the front. c'est la vie.)  Either way, I feel better about myself and physically (no swelling this time.)  Ironically, I have exercised like NONE this pregnancy. When I was pregnant with Adoration, I was walking 3+ miles, swimming lots and lots of laps, and doing yoga. Apparently taking care of a two year old is a full body work out because I feel like she takes up all my possible time and energy. 

Hmm...other pregnancy updates (umm...do people even care about this stuff?) 

This baby is starting to keep me up at night.

I feel like I'm useless unless I take at least 30 min. nap in the middle of the day.

I crave peaches, like whoa.

And that's all I can think of right now. 

Oh and this baby boy? You want to know his name?

Asa Trust.   

"Asa" means healer (and is one of the OT Kings over Judah.)  

"Trust" because we feel like that is our season as a family, and that this baby will carry trust and with that, peace. 

And no, we did not name both our babies "A" names on purpose. We actually wanted to avoid that, but then that was the name we liked for baby boy. But if we have a third at some point, they will most assuredly have a name starting with a different letter. ;) 

Out on a limb.

via Pinterest.  couldn't find it's origin, to credit. :( If you know, tell me!

The weeks are winding down until Baby Boy is due to arrive. Entering into my third trimester, I had a breakdown of sorts. He is almost HERE. Two years ago, the anticipation of Adoration's arrival was quite different. We lived in Charlotte, surrounded by friends and community. There were plenty of people to squeal in excitement with over my pregnancy, to join in my joyful anticipation, and to bring us meals after the baby was born. There were four showers thrown  by friends and family. We didn't have to cook for a month after baby was born. We were so very surrounded by love throughout the entire process...and we were blessed. 

This time around, things have been quite different. We are JUST starting to find community here after a year of living in South Florida, so as of now...there will be no showers or masses of people rushing to our door to bring us meals. I've never been very close to my own family, but things have pretty much fallen apart on that front so I feel even more estranged from them. Emotions are too raw and complex towards both my parents for me to feel like they are much of a support in this time.  And though this may sound like a pity party.....I promise, it's not. I've been mostly optimistic and hopeful. I have so very, very much that I am thankful and that is what I mostly choose to focus on.

Despite my effort towards optimism, I crossed that bridge into the third trimester and that little bit of a breakdown hit. I missed friends. I missed community. And I wanted people around me to celebrate this baby with me. And it made me really, really sad that was lacking. A year feels like a long time to not be able to truly have a deep conversation with a friend (in person) or to laugh until our belly's ache and tears are streaming down our faces. My sweet husband (and very best friend) saw that my relational little heart could use some refreshing and was already secretly planning for me to take a        trip to Charlotte. Before he could even carry out his plans, I finally broke down and cried/begged for a trip to Charlotte. I knew that after this baby came I wouldn't really have a chance for awhile. So we bought the plane ticket and made the      plans for me to visit for a couple of days.    

I recently returned that trip and I feel so very refreshed.  I got to spend time with some dear friends that make everything     around them beautiful with their love, kindness, and creativity. And they are real and not afraid to be vulnerable. They are   generous and hilarious.. They are best kinds of people. I got to spend time in a city I love, around the rolling hills, wooded       scenery, southern accents and hospitality that feels like home.  The last night of the trip, I thought I was on my way to a    girl's night which turned out be a surprise baby shower. Really just getting to spend time with these friends was enough for    me, I had no expectations. It's not like we really needed a shower as we have most of our stuff from Adoration. But I got    so touched by the shower, even more than I would've expected. It wasn't even about the stuff for me (which was great!) but  it was just knowing that this baby was being celebrated. And that meant everything to me.                                                    

I don't regret our move to South Florida. Despite some of the difficulties on the surface, I know this has been a time of growth for me on the inside, and for us as a family.  My husband was able to step up for his company(which we love) in this region in a time where they needed it. We have found an amazing church where we are starting to be refreshed and      challenged so very much, in the best possible ways. It is common for us to hit up the beach at least once a week. Our   daughter is loving being surrounded by warm weather and water all the time.  There have been many blessings.          

Right now we aren't sure whether we will be here short or long term but I'm trying (and often failing) at being content with where the Lord has us.

xoxo,
Kristina