Let Freedom Ring

My family got together at my brothers house to celebrate Independence Day and my mom's birthday which was on the 7th. (My dad's birthday is the 6th so it's a busy week for us!) I put the kids in their red white and blue and we headed over for a day fun in the sun.



I swear she was happier than she looks!

My brother had a giant blow up water slide that all the cousins were playing on, but Ellie was absolutely terrified to go down the big slide and wanted nothing to do with it. I told Mike to just make her go down, and she reeeally didn't like it after that. There was a spray gun attached to it and she had no problem shooting other people with it, but ran away yelling " No no don't get me" any time anyone aimed it at her. Typical.

After lunch and a non existent nap Ellie played outside with her little cousin and we played with some sparklers and made some s'mores on the bonfire. I had Michael in the Ergo, managed one s'more and high tailed it inside at the first sign of mosquitos.

 

Over all we had a good day and had fun celebrating my mom and the fourth. I had such a good time spending the day with family and Ellie always loves getting together to play with her cousins. It will be so fun next year to see Michael running around and playing with all the other kids.

And what day would be complete without a mini photo shoot at Aunties house??

 

 

 

 

Meeting Michael

 

When I was pregnant we didn't tell anyone until pretty late in the pregnancy. We kept it a secret and only told immediate family until we had already found out we were having a boy. After the miscarriage I was nervous that everything would be ok so we waited extra long to share the news. We waited just as long to tell Ellie because we didn't want her running around saying "Mommy has a baby in her belly!!" When we told her we tried our best to make sure that Ellie understood what was happening. We would tell her that she was going to be a big sister and that baby Michael was in my belly. We prayed for him every night that he would grow big and strong and that he would be healthy. She would talk about him and she heard his heartbeat when she went to a few of my midwife appointments with me. I really didn't know how much she actually grasped and wondered how much it would rock her world when he actually arrived.

 

When I went into labor Ellie stayed with my brother and sister-in-law Andrea while we were at the hospital. Andrea sent us lots of pictures of Ellie having fun while she stayed at their house. We couldn't believe how big she looked now that we had another little baby in our family.

Doesn't she look so big!!

We had told her that I was going to have baby Michael and she was going to be a big sister. The day after Michael was born they came up for her to meet him and I was so curious how she would react. I am so thankful to Andrea for capturing these first moments of us as a family of four! Ellie was excited to see her daddy and I and knew right away that this was baby Michael.

I told her that baby Michael was here and wasn't in mommy's belly anymore. She kept saying "aww he's so cuuuute." and "he's so liiiiiittle." She knew that this was baby Michael and this was her little brother. It was so sweet and warmed my mama heart to see her loving her little brother so much.

 

She was so gentle and sweet with him I couldn't believe it. After a little while my brother and SIL held Michael while Ellie and her little cousin entertained themselves playing in the hospital room. It was such a sweet time and I was so glad that Ellie was able to come up and meet her little brother.

 

 

Since we have been home she hasn't asked if there is a baby in my belly and she absolutely adores Michael. She looks for him first thing in the morning, she always strokes his head and says he's so cuuute, when I burp him she pats his back and says "he's such a good baby", and she covers him with a blanket; and not his head either. She will just put it over his legs and say "there ya go". She tells me she loves him and is just so sweet.

 

She seems to have adjusted so well and hasn't had really any behavioral changes or jealousy outbursts. She has never tried to hit him, or ask when he's going back to the hospital. She was in heaven after he was born because Mike took some time off work and she got to play with daddy all day. I love her sweet spirit and am so thankful that it was a pretty smooth transition for her. I am so excited to watch them grow up together and I pray the become the best of friends in the years to come!

 

 

 

 

Maternity Photo Shoot

My sister(in-law) is an AMAZING photographer. When I was around 32 weeks she took our maternity pictures for us and they turned out perfectly! I LOVE  them! I was a little nervous (not that the pictures wouldn't be good, but because I am always really hard about how I look in pictures and nit-pick every little thing, but I am SO happy with these!!)My other Sister(in-law) did my hair and make-up for the shoot and it was so nice to have my own little team of stylists. It was so nice to feel beautiful and have a day all about our little family. 

If only we would have been able to get more pictures with Ellie, but what are ya gonna do?! You can only bribe a 2 year old with cookies for so long. 

What's Been Goin On

Monday I went over to my SILs house to take some pictures of little Miss E. I guess these would technically be her 18 month pics. 

EIGHTEEN MONTHS.

1.5 YEARS.

WHAT?!?

I still can't believe how this happened but she cracks me up every day. I love her little personality.

And even her strong will!

She took a little tumble off the stairs and hit her head and was telling me all about it. 

It's definitely very interesting trying to get an 18 month old to sit where you want her to sit and do what you want her to do during pictures-or any time for that matter. Or maybe that's just my 18 month old!!

I was FINALLY able to get all the crap off my stove this week. I had tried actual oven cleaner when we first moved in, but that didn't even work so I figured it was caked on forever from the A-holes that lived here before us!

Beware, it was terrible before. But don't judge me we just moved in. 3 years ago. 

I feel like we got a new stove. I am so proud of myself. I keep asking Mike "Did you see my stove, look what I did" He asked me if I wanted a cookie and I told him yes, I actually do!!

Elli has become o.b.s.e.s.s.e.d. with this doll. She carries her everywhere, knows to go get her when you say "where's your doll". She carries her around and pats her back, she rocks her, she feeds her, she rocks her in the swing, and she buckles her into the car seat. She is such a little mama, It melts my heart!!

I am planning a bachelorette party for my friend this weekend, any one have any fun ideas? Dinner and the bar(s) have already been picked out, but I just want to make sure this is a night she'll never forget...or never remember!!

Weekend Rewind

Linking up with Tami for



We had a pretty great, relaxing weekend.
Friday my sister and I went grocery shopping (which includes a trip to Aldis, Kroger, and Meijer...phew!!) and decided to surprise the kids and got everything we need to make S'mores.
So after picking up some Pasta Hut for dinner we headed outside and started the fire. Ellie had never had S'mores and she L.O.V.E.D. them! I would turn my heard for a second and she would be sneaking marshmallows out of the bag

Saturday we had a low key day at home and Ellie spent time playing with and feeding her baby. It cracks me up how much she learns just by observing!

Sunday we went to a BBQ for my Step-brother-in-laws 30th birthday. There was a black lab puppy and Ellie was o.b.s.e.s.s.e.d. She followed her around all day. Mike kept trying to convince me that Ellie needs a puppy but I DO NOT agree.

It was like 908 on Sunday so I to the garage sale down the road and bought a new (still in the package) baby pool and after naps the kids loved playing in it. Well except for Ellie, if you dipped her in it she said "no,no,no,no don't". And no one would sit down in it because the water was freezing cold. What are ya gonna do? Maybe the water will actually be warm by the end of the week!

Hope you all enjoyed your weekend!

Don't forget to check out my giveaway to win this gorgeous tutu!!

Delicate Darlings

I'm linking up with Kelly today for SUYL what you make or sell. 

Between my two sisters and I we have 4 girls under 5 and we love dressing them up in girly, frilly, fun outfits and accessories. The three of us love to craft and enjoy making things for our girls and other people so a few months ago my sisters and I started throwing around the idea of starting our own little business and creating all things girly. At first it started as just something fun that we would talk about when we got together, but the more we talked about it the more we wanted to see it happen. 

We've been praying that God would show us if this is something He wants us to do, and we are so excited to see where things go from here. Thanks for stopping by and taking a look at our creations!

Delicate Darlings

One of our specialties is our beautiful tutu-dresses. The tops are 2 crocheted 6 inch bands for total coverage and modesty. 

There are 2 layers of tulle on the skirt for maximum fullness.

We also offer framed hair accessory holders 

that accent any nursery or bedroom. 

This is a fun way to display and 

 protect your hair accessories

Accessory holders can be made with or with-out fabric. Here is one full of flowers.

Our Etsy site is currently under 

construction but will be up and 

running soon.

www.etsy.com/shop/delicatedarlings

Please contact us for your custom  

order today at 

delicate_darlings@hotmail.com

Follow along to be entered into a 

giveaway that we will be doing on 

my blog in the next few weeks.