golf lessons

bye bye butterflies

In case you have been wondering what happened to our caterpillars, here is the update. All of them transformed into cocoons. We transferred the cocoons into the butterfly pavilion and patiently waited for them to change.

Finally, butterflies began to break out of their shells. We watched them closely - hoping to catch a glimpse of it happening but no luck. It seemed to happen every time we would walk away. Finally, ten butterflies were living our our butterfly pavillion. Each day, Addelyn would check her butterflies and then we would feed them. This included flowers or shredded kleenex with sugar water and orange slices. We would watch their little tongues come out and eat. It was a very cool process for Addelyn to watch and was a great learning tool for her.

Time to say goodbye! Butterflies live for around 10-14 days. We decided today was a great day to say goodbye. It is nice out and we decided we would much rather say goodbye this way than to wake up one morning and to find dead butterflies.



I would definitely suggest getting a butterfly pavilion and growing some butterflies! It was fun and interesting for Addelyn- it was really a great age to do this.

Mommas

Check out these Mommas! This is my small group of women- aren't they beautiful? All of us have been pregnant at the same time this past year at some point. Notice one of the babies has been birthed (sweet little Tobias on the end). Now the rest of us will be delivering (anytime from the upcoming days to week- I can only hope!) through September, when the last little baby will be born. We have a variety of boys and girls too....from the left to the right we go- Boy, Girl, Boy, Girl, Boy! We didn't even try to line that one up.
Gotta love it, how life can change in a matter of one year! YEAH for babies!!!

SURPRISE!

Addelyn and I were coloring at the island in our kitchen. (Okay, Addelyn was coloring and I was working on my "to do before baby list.") She said, "Mommy, I have a surprise for you."
She got down from her chair and went under our island. I was expecting her to come out with a pretty picture or maybe she would show me that she found some piece of old food under the counter. In a minute or so she jumped back up into her chair- completely naked! "Surprise!" she said, "I'm coloring naked!"

piece of work!

Tonight Mark was in the living room and he made a loud, funny comment that I responded to with a lecturing sounding, "Mark!" (basically meaning don't make comments like that in front of Addelyn).

Addelyn was sitting at the island in our kitchen, having a snack. She looked at me and smiled and said, "Oh Daddy, you are a piece of work."

letters to my babies....

A letter to each of you before life REALLY changes.................(Someday you will hopefully read and understand these moments and thoughts.)

Dear Baby Boy,

Hard to believe that you will be coming soon! We are counting down the days! I'm so excited to meet you and to see who you are. I can't wait to see what you look like and what your personality is like. Will you look like Addelyn when she was born? Will you weight LOTS more than her because your momma is growing bigger by the minute!? I am craving the moment where I get to hold you in my arms. Your dad and sister and I are all excited to add a little boy to our house and to get to know you!

We know you will change the whole dynamic of the way things roll at our house but I think it will be a great change- one we are ready for! We have prayed for you before you were even made and I love that you will be fufilling a spot in our family that has been waiting to be filled by only you.

Okay, Baby Boy, we love you already!!! Come out to see us soon!

Love, Your Momma

Dear Addelyn,

Well, Sweetie, life is about to change for us. We will go from having you as our only little one to having another kiddo around the house. You have had our centered attention for the last three and a half years so I know this will be a life change for you. I know you will do great though. You are one of the most caring, nurturing little girls I know. You will be an amazing big sister.

The last three years, you have taught us so much. Through your life, I have seen a miracle- not just a random accident. Through your life, I have learned thankfulness. I have learned to change my priorities. I have learned more about your Daddy- what an amazing guy and father he is. I have learned patience. I have learned more about myself in so many ways! Thanks for all you have taught me. Oh and all you have yet to teach me!

Even though you won't be our only child anymore, you will always have a special place in my heart, my first little one. You will always be my baby girl. I'm sad to say goodbye to this time of life- this season- but excited because I know your brother will bring so much joy to our family and especially to you.

We love you Addelyn. You are very special.

Love you, Your Mommy

wow.

I cannot help but laugh at the things that come from my daughter's mouth.

"Wow" is one I hear often these days. "Wow, Mom. Wow," she'll say about anything that she is surprised or interested in.

The other day she was playing with her baby (surprise, surprise!) and let me tell you, listening to her talk to her baby is the best! She has quite the imagination. Her and baby have great conversations.
"Are you kidding me, Baby?" she said. "I cannot believe you pooped! It smells terrible. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?"