Where have the last 3 months gone...

It doesn't seem that long ago that we were bringing Lilly home. Now, she's 3 months old! Lots has happened since then, so here are some highlights and updates!

Lance and I have been looking to buy a house for the past 4-5 months. The house we are in, we have been renting for the past 4 years. We found out in January that the landlords wanted to put it on the market in the spring. Thus, started the house hunt. It was a long process, but we have finally found a home!! We are super excited. The closing date is set for July 26th.

Norah is enjoying being a big sister. She is a big help to me, and every day I see more and more how grown up she is. She loves reading to herself right now...she spends lots of time during the day 'reading' stories. I love listening to her version of the story. She is constantly asking us questions, and remembers everything we tell her!!

Lilly has become a pretty content baby. Though, she won't take a bottle or a nuk, she is pretty content to just sit and watch whatever is happening in the house! She found her voice recently...it's so fun to talk to her and have her try to talk to us! She recently rolled from tummy to back, and holds her head up high when she's on her tummy!

In the middle of May, Lance started a new job. We are so thankful how the Lord provided a new opportunity!

Lance and I just celebrated 7 years of marriage! I am so very thankful for him and this life we share! We were able to get out for a few hours and just enjoy each other!

Today, I sat and watched Norah play and Lilly in her swing and thought to myself...I love being a mommy! :) Of course there are hard days, but I am trying to take it all in and enjoy these days with my babies at home! I know the time goes so fast, and before I know it they're going to be big girls! I am thankful every day that I can be home with them!

I probably won't get the blog updated again until after we are moved in!

Meet Lillian Mabel

So, I am very late in getting our blog updated. Lillian (Lilly) Mabel arrived March 18th, at 10:42 am. She was 7 lbs. 8 oz., 20 1/2 inches long. Here are some pictures from the hospital. Norah was very excited to meet her, and wanted to hold her right away!

We came home on the 20th. We were greeted by Norah and my mom. We were very thankful Mom came to stay here with Norah, so Norah didn't have to leave and go somewhere else. They had lots of fun. Here are some pics of coming home, around the house, and a visit from Great Grandma Mabel!

And here are a few more cute photos. Lilly is 3 1/2 weeks old now. We are still adjusting. But love having two girls! So thankful for how God has blessed us.

Waiting...hoping...trusting

We are so anxious to meet our baby girl! We've been waiting 38 weeks, hoping for a healthy pregnancy, and trusting the Lord to work His will in our lives throughout this pregnancy! Norah was born at 37 1/2 weeks, so I'm already past the point I was with her.

Here are some pics that Lance's cousin took for us a couple weeks ago. I was just over 35 weeks in these pictured. Thanks, Kaylin!

I am hoping to deliver soon! But, again, we are trusting that God is in control, and He knows when this baby will come. Waiting is sometimes hard, but I am trying to make the most of this time with Norah. She has a cold right now, and had a bit of a traumatic experience yesterday, so she's been really lovey and 'huggy' as she told me today! Yesterday, she fell off a chair as she was trying to climb up by herself. I'm pretty sure one of her bottom teeth cut right through, just underneath her bottom lip. She hasn't complained much about it, but it doesn't look good.

Wanted to get another belly picture, just in case I would deliver soon! This is today, 38 weeks! Baby seems to be very healthy, and is very active! It's pretty amazing to think that there is a full-term baby inside me right now! Maybe the next time I blog, we will have a baby!!

Getting close

We are getting excited to meet our new little girl. I am 34 weeks right now...so, realistically, baby could come at any time! Norah affectionately refers to her little sister as Baby Cookie! The nickname has stuck with all of us. We don't quite have Baby Cookie's room ready yet, but we're working on it! Norah seems excited, though I'm sure it'll be a big transition for all of us.

Here is a quick recap of the past few months.

Lance, Norah, and I had a great week in Ogema, celebrating with lots of family during Christmas. Here are some pics of her and her grandparents (and our family Christmas picture).

Norah loves to get outside. But, unfortunately, Mommy doesn't take her out much. So she has to wait for the weekends when Daddy can spend time with her outside!

A couple weeks ago, Lance was in a wedding for a high school and college friend. Norah was with us for part of the time, and really enjoyed the dance floor.

And here are some baby bump pics. 

I have been so thankful for the recent Bible study we went through at our Thursday morning Women's study (at our church). God has been teaching me so much, about waiting on His timing, being still before Him, being desperate for Him, and the importance of being in His Word daily. I have really been hungering more for His Word, and spending time with Him. We have talked about the fact that we WILL face trials in our Christian walk, but the Bible says, "In this world you will have trouble. But take courage, I have overcome the world" John 16:33. What a comfort to know that God has it all under control. Nothing that happens in our life is by chance. He knows it all, way before we know it's coming. One of my life verses is this... Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." I am so thankful for my Heavenly Father, and the fact that I don't need to worry, because He's got my back!

Just an update

This is a fun, and busy time of year for us! Lance took the week of Thanksgiving off, so we went to visit our families and Lance hunted. We hopped from one house to the next, and enjoyed some wonderful time with our families! We have so very much to be thankful for! It seems fitting that I read this verse yesterday, just to remind me...Psalm 118:1 - Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. We are so blessed! Thanksgiving is a time to remember/celebrate that, but truly, we need to be thankful all year long! This is something I am trying to dwell on more often than I do...even the 'little' blessings like when Norah takes a long nap, or when Lance gets home from work early! :) There are so many 'little' blessings every day, and focussing on those, rather than the negatives of the day, makes for a much happier mommy and wife!

Here are a few pics from the past couple of months. I haven't done well with pictures, or blogging. I'm just not a great blogger. But...to catch you up... I am 23 weeks. We found out at the beginning of November, that Norah will have a baby sister! She affectionately calls her baby sister 'Cookie'. Not sure where that came from, but it's cute, and we're sticking with it! We are working with her to try and remind her of how to treat babies, that we're bringing a baby home with us in a little while, and that she's going to be a big sister! I don't know how much she understands, but she seems to get it at least a little!

Norah keeps us laughing and smiling most days! She continues to surprise us with the hilarious things she says! The other day I was telling her I loved her soooooo much, and she replied...grandma loves me to pieces (my mom often tells her this)! She has a very funny sense of humor and brings us so much joy! She loves her puzzles, babies, and recently has gotten interested in play-doh and cutting paper! She sings all the time...it's amazing how many songs she picks up from Sunday school or Puggles! Here are some silly pictures from the past few weeks...

Tomorrow we go to get our Christmas tree. Norah is excited, and we are too! Both Lance and I love having the house decorated, and enjoying the lights!

Fall is here

The last couple of weeks have been busy for us. We  celebrated Norah's birthday a couple weeks ago (I barely got any pictures that day, but the pictures we have on here are what my mom took of the cake time)! We had a fun afternoon with our family, and Norah really enjoyed her 'Bob cake'! :) I had asked her quite awhile before her birthday if she wanted a Veggie Tale party, and she clearly responded that she wanted a Bob cake! So, that's what we did...a Bob cake, and Bob cake pops!

 Norah got her first haircut last weekend! She had a bit of a baby mullet, and I was ready to get rid of it. Though we can't get cute pig-tails in very easily anymore, she looks like a big girl with her hair all one length! Now we are ready for it to start growing!!

We have tried to get outside with the beautiful fall weather we've had. My mom came for a visit last week and we had fun doing this photo shoot with Norah. She did a great job smiling for us!

Today we went downtown to the Harvest Fest. It was a very chilly day, but it was nice to get out. Norah enjoyed the swings and slide the most...but she also seemed to like the animals and pumpkin patch.

That's a quick update on our lives for the past couple of weeks. We are really enjoying this stage with Norah. She is lots of fun...and so interactive and talkative!

She's 2

Two years ago today, our precious little girl came into our lives! We can't believe two years have gone by. She has grown up so much, and has brought us so much joy. We praise the Lord for His goodness, and blessing us with this busy, fun, energetic, silly, and tender little girl. Happy Birthday Norah! We love you.