Hope, Longing, Life

7 Months...I have such a CRUSH!

2012-01-31T08:42:00.001-06:00

My little man is growing so fast! He is now 7 months old and changing everyday. I can't even put it into words how happy and sweet he is! He will always greet you with a HUGE smile and a slobbery embrace if you will let him.

Development over the last month: His two front teeth are fully in, he loves all solid foods we have introduced (apples, bananas, prunes, avocado, sweet potato), he sits up unassisted, says "Momma and Dadda" (sometimes on command), sleeps in his crib in HIS room all night. He has battled eczema and skin infections, but it seems to be improving. He is 18 pounds and growing. He has already passed what Mia weighed at 1 year!

His current loves (besides his Momma of course) include Mia, Daddy, any toy that makes noise when slammed against something, his paci, swinging outside, rolling a ball, watching Praise Baby, going anywhere in the car, and his jumperoo.

These two couldn't stay out of brothers photo shoot. So cute for being impromptu!

Tripp, we love you and your sweet heart so much. I know God is going to do amazing things with your sweet disposition. I pray you will be a gentle warrior for Him! Happy 7 months little man!
Love, Mommy

New Contributor at Dallas Moms Blog!

2012-01-30T06:00:00.000-06:00

I am posting over at Dallas Mom Blog today and will be on the 1st and 3rd Monday of every month!

The contributors at Dallas Moms Blog are passionate about being moms and connecting moms and I am excited to join the team! Dallas is such a big city, it can be easy to get lost in the crowd. The hope is that this blog is a way moms can connect online, and take those connections off line by making new friends at the Playgroups and Mom’s Night Outs. You can find great tips on parenting, nursery tours, local events, giveaways...great stuff for Moms!

If you are new to Dallas, are a new mom, or just looking for a good read, Dallas Moms Blog is a great resource for you!

I am posting about keeping your master bedroom the relaxing retreat it was intended to be. I Come check it out. You can also like their facebook page here.

Not from Dallas? Check out these other city sites...

Scottsdale Moms Blog (launched March 2010)
Dallas Moms Blog (launched April 2011)
Peach State Moms Blog (launched July 2011)
Quad Cities Moms Blog (launched July 2011)
Austin Moms Blog (launched October 2011)

In keeping with my own advice...we have officially moved Tripp to his room and I have my room back! That means I can take naps in there, BLOW DRY MY HAIR, and put away laundry when I want to. Although I will miss those sweet blue eyes smiling at me first thing in the morning, I am so thrilled to have my room back! I will post pics this week so stay tuned.

The Prima "Basserina"

2012-01-25T15:33:00.001-06:00

Mia recently started "Baby Ballet" at our local recreation center. It is far from serious, but she is so thrilled to go each week. In her cute toddlerease, she asks me to practice our "basserina moves" daily. These are such precious moments with my sweet girly girl!

Little man just tags along and flirts with the mommas and grandmas. Can't wait to do some rough and tumble things with him. I know I have so much to learn!

Living Room Reveal!

2012-01-23T06:00:00.000-06:00

The Living Room is complete! We are really happy with how it turned out. It is a great story of repurposing existing pieces to give them a more updated look and also shows that a few new accents can make a whole new room.

**Resource list is at the end of the post""

New Living Room

Living Room Before

Old Media Unit

Repurposed Items:

Mirror above fireplace - was behind the sofa. Went from brown iron to gold with Rustoleum Gold Metallic spray paint.

Candle jars on mantle - were brown wood, now silver with Rustoleum Silver Metallic spray paint

Mirror behind sofa - was above the fireplace. Went from maroon and gold to glossy white.

End table - stayed in the same spot, but got a paint treatment. (Details to come...)

Tray on coffee table - explained it here.

Repeated Items:

Sofa - Haverty's 2008

Green Leather Chairs - Homegoods 2009

Rug - The Dump 2008

Coffee Table - Haverty's 2008

Green Urns - Garden Ridge

New Items:

Media Console - Home Decorators

Woven Side Table - Target

Gold Lamp - Kirklands

Sofa Table - Kirklands

Sofa Table Lamps - A steal from a random closeout store (Homegood shades)

Subway Art - gift from a boutique in New Mexico

Cut out Photo frame - Organic Bloom - ordered through our photographer

Light Fixture - Bellacor

Red box for Remotes - West Elm

Sheepskins - Ikea

Driftwood Sculpture - Homegoods

Drapery - Ninni Rund - Ikea - On back order in most places. I actually found my on craigslist from Ohio!

Pillows: Multi colored ikat - Kravet Litka - I had mine made, but you can order similar here.

Gray and White pillows - ElemenOpillows on etsy

Red and Gray Geometric - West Elm

Solid Red - West Elm

White sequin - TJ Maxx

Paint Colors:

Wall Color - Collonade Gray - Sherwin Williams

Trim Color - Shoji White - Sherwin Williams

In love with Ballard Designs!

2012-01-19T14:17:00.001-06:00

Did anyone else get the new catalog this week? It has become one of my favorite things to receive in the mail! Their new looks are fresh, clean, and affordable...can't beat it! Here are some of my favorites!

Quilted Garden Seat - So cute and looks like Chanel! Perfect next to an accent chair.

Benedetta Console - Comes in brown and white. Would look great in an entry or even in a game room with some barstools.

Bellesol Mirror - Love it!!! Above a bed, sofa, in an entry way. A great powder room mirror too. Love the gold accent!

Asha Pewter Fabric - Cute right? You can put this on any of their upholstered pieces or order by the yard. Great drapery fabric.

Mariestad Chandelier - Perfect rustic light! Entry or Dining Room would look so good.

So if you weren't in love with Ballard before...are you now. I sound like a commercial, but I really just have a crush on them. Did I miss anything that anyone else really loves from Ballard?

I have the best job!

2012-01-16T09:39:00.001-06:00

I have the best job on the planet because I get to play with this sweet face all day.

And this one!

All because of this amazing man that works so hard for all of us! Truly counting my blessings today!

Herringbone Tray DIY project

2012-01-11T09:50:00.003-06:00

While my sister was here for Christmas, she helped me make over an old tray I had. She recently did the same treatment in her entry way and it is AMAZING!!! Actually her whole house is amazing. I plan on doing a home tour for everyone when I go visit her next month...stay tuned!

Anyway...back to the tray. We used this Tutorial to make it. The taping off is a labor of love, but after that, the project went really quickly. One time saving tip, we used gray primer to start the project. That primer served as the base color for the pattern. We also gave the tray several coats of poly to make sure that it is durable because this tray sits on our coffee table and will get used A LOT! So...what do you think???

From Paci to "Sassy"!

2012-01-09T11:24:00.000-06:00

She did it!!! Mia finally gave up her best friend, soul mate, comforter, her everything....Paci! With a little prompting, she wrapped them up and presented them to Baby Ava. In exchange she got to bring home a new toy, Sassy. You could say he "fills" the void that paci left, because he is HUGE! We are so proud of our girl and the way she handled this very difficult milestone.

And it was all worth it....because Sassy came home with us!

Mia presents her gift to Ava.

Aunt Chelsi and I were both crying because she was so brave and kind!

Pretty New Goodies!

2012-01-05T13:36:00.000-06:00

I must have been a good girl this year, because I was spoiled by everyone this Christmas! My living room is almost complete with the last few additions in place.

My Mom gave me an early birthday present this week...A NEW CAMERA LENS! I have a Canon Rebel XTi. It came with a 58 mm lens that was just not cutting it to photograph the kids and my design projects well. My new lens is a 50 mm and it is perfect! I landed on that one because of my friend Sherry's advice and also Centsational Girl, a blog I follow. It will let in a lot more light and does a good job of focusing on one object and blurring the rest. YEAH!!! I used it to take the below pictures of my new goodies...still learning though!

Full living room reveal to come very soon! I have ordered the light fixture and have a few DIY's to finish up. Stay tuned!

Our 12 Crazy Days of Christmas!

2012-01-03T16:16:00.002-06:00

On the first day of Christmas, the Thomas family....went to a playgroup Christmas Pajama Party!

On the Second Day of Christmas, the Thomas Family put up the outdoor Christmas lights.

On the Third Day of Christmas, the Thomas family had fun with friends at Northpark Mall.

On the Fourth Day of Christmas, the Thomas family had fun making cookies with Ya-Ya

On the Fifth day of Christmas, the Thomas family WELCOMED BABY COUSIN AVA!

On the Sixth Day of Christmas, the Thomas Family made smores in the fireplace!

On the Seventh Day of Christmas, the Thomas family....finally had a night out!

On the Eighth Day of Christmas, the Thomas family played dress up, dress up, and more dress-up!

On the 9th day of Christmas, the Thomas Family went to the Christmas Eve Service at Watermark.

On the 10th day of Christmas, the Thomas family enjoyed a special Christmas morning!

On the Eleventh Day of Christmas, the Thomas Family had WAY TOO MUCH FUN with the cousins! (Really 7 whole days!)

On the 12th day of Christmas, the Thomas family celebrated NYE with Michelle and Beau! Thanks Ya-Ya for watching ALL of the kids!

Whew!!! What an amazing Holiday Season we had. That really should have been 12 separate posts, but I am not that patient and I wanted to start the year from scratch, not behind! Thanks for those of you who actually made it to the end of the post! I hope everyone had a great Christmas as well. Happy New Year from our family to yours! 2012 is going to be great!

T is 6 months old!

2011-12-29T21:08:00.000-06:00

Our sweet boy is 6 months old! I truly can't believe how fast the last few months have gone. He is fully a part of our family now and I don't remember life without him. He has the sweetest disposition! Happy. Smiley. Cuddly. Adorable! A little drooly thanks to his first tooth.

Tripp weighs 17 pounds and sleeps 9 hours at night. He gets a combination of breast milk and formula and does great either way. We tried rice cereal today in honor of his 6 months and we got a horrible face and a shudder from him...hopefully it will grow on him. He consistently rolls from his tummy to his back, so I can't force tummy time anymore. He is working on sitting up, but his large head seems to be an obstacle.

T's favorite things include: Mia, Daddy, exersaucer, paci, swing (I know...way to old/big for it!), riding in the car, and sophie the giraffe.

We are excited about the next 6 months and all that he will learn in that time. We hope to raise him in to a humble leader that seeks after God and pray that God shows us the way to do that. Tripp, we love you so much and are enamored with your sweet, happy disposition! Happy 6 months!

Love,

Mom, Dad, and Mia

7th Annual Christmas Dinner with our Besties!

2011-12-23T16:11:00.000-06:00

We recently had our annual Christmas Dinner with our best friends, Sherry and Trey. We have been doing it for seven years, and each year gets more yummy and more special! This year we were wise and put the kids down to bed first. Then everyone had a hand in making a part of the meal. We had good music, good wine, great food and lots of fun!

Our menu included:
Maytag Blue Cheese Potato Chips
Chorizo Stuffed Poblano Peppers
Arugula and Gouda Risotto
Maytag Blue Cheese topped Filets - Webers Cookbook
Snickerdoodle Layer Cake with Cinnamon Buttercream Frosting

Drooling yet???

Richard chopping onions. Trey's Kryponite he claims!

Sherry and Richard. Love both of the faces they are making!

Trey made the Blue Cheese Butter for the steaks. It was so perfect on a salty/peppery grilled steak!

Sherry's Maytag Blue Cheese Potato Chips. They introduced us to these at Jasper's in Plano. I never liked blue cheese until I had these and now I love it! You must make these immediately! We used store bought chips instead of making our own and they did fine.

Don't scrimp on the blue cheese...go Maytag for sure!

Chorizo stuffed Poblano peppers. Holy Spicy!!!! They were really good, but go easy on the additional spice added because the peppers bring their own heat.

Trey stirring the Risotto

Richard bringing in the steaks. He is looking manly with the floral oven mitt on, huh? He can really make some great steaks though!

This is me stirring the Risotto. Notice the new haircut???

The meal once plated.

Table Setting

Snickerdoodle cake. A labor of love, but well worth it!

Thanks for a great night guys! We had so much fun! What's on the menu for next year????

Christmas Cards!

2011-12-22T15:53:00.001-06:00

I LOVE CHRISTMAS CARDS!!! Nothing makes me happier than checking the mail everyday in December. I love to hear about everyone's exciting updates, see pictures of adorable kids and how they have grown, and read the messages of hopes and well wishes.

We also do something special with our Christmas cards. Once the holiday is over, we save the cards and draw one out each week to have a "prayer family" of the week. It is a great reminder to us to be praying for our friends and family and hopefully offers encouragement at the perfect time to a family that may need it. If you sent us a card, I will let you know when we are praying!

I decided to try a new way to display them this year and put my new driftwood sculpture to work. A little twine and clothes pins and we have a fun display of all of the beautiful cards!

2011 Christmas cards

Here are some photos from our Christmas cards pics from this year. We used my good friend Whitney for the third year in a row. She captured our family so well and designed a great card for us too. Check out her website!

Merry Christmas from my family to yours!

Santa Success!

2011-12-20T08:27:00.002-06:00

We had our third annual trip to see Santa at Northpark. I am so surprised every year that Mia does not get really upset when she sees him. She was a little star struck this year and unable to talk to him, but overall did great. Tripp was champ through the whole process. Does anyone else out there worry that Santa has to bee so germy!?!? Oh the things we will do for a photo! Here are my cuties...

Here is a little flash back too. This is Mia when she was Tripp's age. They look pretty similar, huh?

I pray everyone is having a wonderful holiday season!

"Pinteresting" Volume II

2011-12-15T07:00:00.000-06:00

Well...my Pinterest addiction has not improved. I am just so in love with this sight! Richard is going crazy because I start every sentence with "someone pinned...." I hope you are all on it and as addicted as I am. Come find me so we can share our pins! Here are some of my latest...

I found this great dress, only I don't want to wear it, I want to turn it into pillows. LOVE Ikat patterns!

Great pillow from Etsy. Need two of them for my leather chairs. My birthday is soon hint hint...:).

Pasta Fagioli soup. Made this and it was so yummy!

Snickersnaps. Snickerdoodle Gingersnap cookies. Great texture, but they still tasted like gingersnaps, and I am not a fan.

Salted Caramel Thumbprint Cookies. Perfection!

Cinnamon biscuit buns. Really yummy too! Easier than monkey bread which is a family favorite.

I think this will be my new haircut as of Saturday. It is time to cut it!

Tried this activity to entertain Mia. BIG BUST! Maybe your kids will like it more than she did.

I just had to pin this guy. He was too cute! I hope Tripp can pull off this look next year.

In the words of the nice Pinterest people that email you notifications..."Happy Pinning!"

"Thanksmas"

2011-12-14T16:00:00.000-06:00

We recently celebrated "Thanksmas" with Richard's family. They were so gracious to be flexible with us since we were not ready to travel with Tripp. We had a great weekend packed full of fun activities!

Family Picture with "Grancy and Pops" and Aunt Mandy and Uncle Sam

Mia is very excited to dive into all of the presents piled up behind her!

Here is one of my favorite gifts. A cute diaper bag that Richard's Mom MADE! She is super talented.

Mia's amazing dress up box! It has disney princesses, Dorothy, a flapper, clown, cowgirl, aggie cheerleader...So many great things to play in!

Tripp's favorite gift...a giant floor pillow/pouf! Right now he thinks it is really comfy, but I am sure it will be a trampoline and landing pad soon enough!

Sweet boy enjoying his first Christmas

We went to the North Pole Express. It was super cute!

Mia sporting one of her new outfits and a paci because she was WORN OUT from all of the fun!

Thank you guys for a great weekend and all of the amazing gifts!

North Pole Breakfast

2011-12-08T07:00:00.000-06:00

We did our first ever North Pole Breakfast this year. Our new elf brought breakfast and surprises!

Snowballs

Santa Hats (Sort of....)

"Elfie" our creatively named Elf. When we were trying to think of a name, the practical Mia said "Why we not just call him Elf." Direct Quote. So we settled on Elfie.

He brought Mia and Tripp a nativity scene to show that he knows what the true meaning of Christmas is.

She was one excited kid! Elfie has brought a gift in the advent calendar each day and has also found some mischief along the way. We are all having fun with it!

Merry Christmas to me!

2011-12-07T15:57:00.001-06:00

Christmas has come early at my house! I received an early present from Richard's parents and it looks right at home in my living room!

New Console Table! It is from Kirklands and works so well behind my sofa. I am so impressed with the pretty wood top and overall durability. Great value, go get you one! I added some tall red baskets for the oodles of toy storage we need and now it is so functional. A place to set my coffee, store toys, and looks good...can't beat it!

The lamps are the find of the century. They were from a random close out store that I happened upon while searching for a thrift store. Are you ready for this...I paid $6.99 each for them. Crazy! Threw on some shades from Homegoods and tahdah! All in they each cost $17. I am not finished with the lamp shades yet. I think they need a little DIY love. What do you think of the below picture?

This shade was inspired by one from Anthropologie. Would that be cute, or too much?

I had to throw in a picture of our Japanese maple. It is so red right now! We have black thumbs, but this tree continues to do well in spite of us. You can see straight out to it when you open our front door.
The living room is coming along. I am still looking for the perfect small accent table (and by that I mean cute and cheap). I also have a tray DIY project to tackle and need a few new throw pillows. So close!

Christmas Home Tour

2011-12-02T07:00:00.000-06:00

I love the holidays!!! The amateur decorator in me loves any excuse to change the decor around, even if only for one month. Pulling the boxes down each year is so exciting. I love seeing the good 'ole special items and maybe the few that I didn't remember bringing home last year. It has been so fun to see the joy in Mia's eyes too as she discovers each Christmas item in our home. She was a huge help in picking out and decorating our tree this year too! Here is a little tour of our home at Christmas.

The Mantel. Simple this year with our Restoration Hardware Advent as the star. It was a special gift several years ago and one of my favorite Christmas decorations!

Fireplace...Mia's stocking is missing in this picture, but it will be in place soon. The small trees are covered in picture frame ornaments.

Fireplace at night. We don't really need fireplaces here to warm up the house, but I just love how it makes the room feel!

Mia hanging up ornaments on the tree.

A REAL Tree! This is the first time we have ever had a real tree and I love it! It is a Frazier Fir and smells amazing! It is petite, but perfect for its little window spot in the dining room. We did make the mistake of buying LED lights that are "cool" instead of "warm." It looks a little like a spaceship at night. Lesson learned!

We did silver and gold ornaments with a burlap bow.

Clean up duty! Start 'em early right??? She loves vacuuming and I am okay with that!!!

Latest DIY project - A snowflake wreath. It was one of the Lowe's creative ideas projects in the store. Richard completed it in less than an hour. It is made from 12 36" square dowels and some good math!

Dining Room Chandy with some ornament embellishments.

Dining Room Christmas Table Setting.

I used a white tablecloth, red square charger, silver round charger. The star plates are from Ikea and the dessert plates are from Kohl's.

Dining Room Buffet.

These vases are on either side of the TV. A little Santa flair to show that we don't take things too seriously!

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you all have a beautiful holiday season celebrating Christ's birth! I can't think of a better reason to celebrate!

Mia's Half Birthday

2011-12-01T07:00:00.000-06:00

Tripp is 5 months!

2011-11-29T07:00:00.000-06:00

My sweet boy is 5 months old and when I say sweet, I really mean it!!! He has the happiest disposition of any baby I have ever been around. He loves to smile and laugh and never takes life to seriously. His happiness is so infectious and really good for the soul. He has discovered how to bat at his toys and does so with some gumption! He sleeps pretty good and doesn't really get upset when he hasn't gotten enough sleep. We have not tried any solids foods yet, 1 more month due to some suspected food allergies. He is filling out, but not tipping the scales yet. His favorite things are beat boxing with Daddy or being tickled by Mommy. He things Mia is pretty great too!

Happy 5 months little guy! You bless us beyond what we can put into words! Love ya!

Getting a bottle from "Sissy." She loves to help out and he tolerates it well

Cuddle time with "Sissy". I think they were watching Dora.

Why yes, those are pearl buttons on this outfit!

A play-mat session. Arm is ready to take a swing at some toys!

Photo shoot on a mirror. He thought the baby in the mirror was pretty fun to play with.

Thanksgiving Brunch

2011-11-28T09:37:00.001-06:00

We had a quiet, but really nice Thanksgiving this year! Because of the A&M Football game (which I don't want to talk about!) we decided to stay put for Thanksgiving. We started the morning with a brunch which was a nice change from the traditional Thanksgiving. We made Pumpkin spiced cream cheese rolls so YUMMY and Cracker Barrel Hash Browns also SO good! I made pumpkin spice lattes and mimosas too. We had one failed attempt at bacon egg cups. My muffin tins will never be the same!!!

Here is the brunch table setting. Burlap runner and iron candle sticks. Simple and warm.

Place setting

We had planned to have my sister and her husband over and also our best friends, The Clemens, over that morning. Plans didn't work out that way because their little girl woke up with a tummy bug that morning! They had to go to the hospital instead! BUMMER! She recovered quickly though and we celebrated with them on Friday evening. Richard went to the football game on Thursday, got home at 2:30 am, my alarm went off at 3:30 for Black Friday shopping. Tag! Our shopping was awesome! Most of the stores were so empty, but good deals were everywhere! I finished the kids Christmas and found a few things for myself!

It was overall a very nice holiday. We had Richard home for 5 days and really enjoyed some family time. I hope you all got the same. I am so excited for Christmas this year and want to pack it full of fun activities for us. I'll keep you posted!

Lilly's 4th Birthday

2011-11-13T21:27:00.001-06:00

Big gulp and a sigh...my baby girl should be 4 years old. I wish I was blowing up balloons and wrapping presents right now. Or writing a blog posts about her favorite things and latest accomplishments. I can't believe it has been four years since her birth. It went so quickly, but seems like a lifetime ago. We really are in such a good place right now. I feel abundantly blessed everyday. Mia and Tripp are such a joy and really make our lived complete. But there is not a ~~day~~ hour that goes by that I don't think about Lilly. I honestly hope that never changes. I want her memory to always be at the forefront of my thoughts.

Her life, while short, was not wasted. She was sent her by God for a purpose and while it took me some time to figure out what that was, I am now very clear on it. God gave us an amazing gift of a sweet baby girl. We loved her so much, but we also loved our careers, our things, and ourselves a lot. I hate to admit it, but we put all of those things ahead of what is most important...Jesus! We were not protecting our marriage and building into each other as we are called to do either. I believe with all of my heart that He called her home to draw me closer to Him than I had ever been, closer to each other, and to share our story to draw others to Him. I know that He grieved with us and still does, just as any parent does when then they discipline their children. I also know it was done in love.

I am not at all today who I was four years ago, and I am grateful for it! Richard is forever changed as well. Mia and Tripp are our biggest priority. We have so much to teach them, but the most important thing is that they have a father in Heaven who loves them even more than we do. So much, that he gave up His son, so that we can all be together in eternity.

He wants nothing but the best for me and I had to have a big wake up call to get that message. God's plan really is perfect for his glory and happiness comes when we let go and surrender to that plan. He has great things in store for all of us! If you know Him, praise Him. If you don't know Him, let someone tell you more. He is a good God!

Happy Birthday precious Lilly! I love you so much and miss those beautiful blue eyes. Forever our angel!

We interrupt the regularly scheduled renovation....

2011-11-10T16:26:00.001-06:00

Well...our plans had to take a slight re-direction. Our washer and dryer of 10 years decided to stop working, AND right in the middle of my living room re-do! I brought home this shiny new red pair and will just have to slow down on the living room. They have been great so far, they even play a sweet little tune when it is time to move clothes to the dryer or to fold. I think it is supposed to make you excited to do laundry (bless their hearts for trying!) Another dilemma though...now that I have these pretty red ones, I feel like my whole utility room needs an update. I have some inspiration pictures below, a girl can dream right?

Here they are...Red! Yes, I know what you are thinking. Too much red, I just can't help myself. My obsession started in college with my bright red room and even trickled into my wedding 8 years ago and then into our home.

Looks so clean and organized. That countertop might inspire me to fold.

I like the pops of color and built in feeling.

I could close them in cabinets, but then I wouldn't see them anymore.:(

Anyone just love their laundry room???

American Girl Fun!

2011-11-08T16:08:00.001-06:00

My sister came to Dallas last week with her two adorable children. Since Bennett turns 4 in the next couple weeks, we thought we should celebrate while she was here....and it gave us a great excuse to take the girls to American Girl! The girls had a blast and let's admit it...so did the mommas! Here are some pics of our fun time.

Mia and Bennett ready to go.

The ladies: Mia, Ya-ya, Haley, Michelle, Bennett, Chloe, and Sherry

Chloe and her baby

Mia and I with Baby. That is her name by the way...

They actually served lemonade in tea cups to the babies!

Chloe's sweet face when she got to give her baby a drink.

Michelle and Bennett

The decorations are adorable. These are pendants that hang over the tables.

Adorable seating and place settings. I LOVE that vinyl seat fabric!

Center Ceiling fixture. So cute! If only ceiling fans could look like this...ooh, that may be an idea!

My sweet girl!

Bennett opening gifts

Such a sweet face, she seems to be contemplating what turning 4 means.

The girls exiting with their loot. We laughed so much at this because we all look like our little girls. It was like seeing ourselves walk out of Nordstrom.

Sweet girls!

Happy Birthday Bennett! We are so glad we got to be a part of it!

Halloween 2011

2011-11-06T09:19:00.000-06:00

We had such a fun October this year! We made some fun crafts, baked so many pumpkin things, and had fun with Halloween. It so great to see things your children's eyes! The little things in life bring them so much joy!

Mia and Tripp in their Halloween party clothes.

Annual Playgroup Halloween Party at our house.

Mia and I had fun getting ready for this party. She helped me make everything! We made a bat tree for our centerpiece.

"Witch Hat" cookies.

Spider ring fruit skewers

Pumpkin Pie Dip

Vege Skeleton

Spooky Cheese and Crackers

The party crew! We made pumpkin shakers and played pumpkin bowling outside.

Halloween night, headed out in the stroller.

The princess, frog prince and Daddy.

Headed out!

The pretty princesses

The whole crew. We go trick or treating with some friends and neighbors and it is such a fun night!

We hope everyone else had a great Halloween too! Now we can focus on Thanksgiving...I have to take it one holiday at a time!!!

Big Boy Room Design Board

2011-10-31T13:30:00.000-05:00

I recently completed a design board for a dear friend of mine. She expecting her second son very soon and wanted to create a space that both boys could share and grow in to. The design is fun, but masculine which suits this adorable family perfectly!

Room Layout:

Room Design:

#3 Fabric is intended for drapery panels. The deer head will go above each bed. #14 will be the duvet fabric.

This is an alternative fabric to the chevron curtain panels. They are trying to decide. Which would you choose?

Email me if you would like to know sources on anything or would like your own design board!

Tripp is 4 months old!!!

2011-10-29T20:53:00.000-05:00

PRAISE GOD!!!!!!!!! Our baby boy is 4 months old. To us, this is a HUGE milestone! He has passed Lilly in age and we can now breath a little easier that the risk factors for SIDS will just go down from here. Tripp has been wearing a heart monitor since he came home from the hospital, and I think were are almost ready to give it back. He may now take a nap or two in his crib and enjoy a much more lighthearted household. God really is so good!

Tripp is such a special little guy. He has Lilly's eyes and Mia's lips. He has a smile for anyone, and a chuckle if he really likes you. His temperament is pretty laid back and flexible as long as he is with the people he loves. He is discovering toys and how to hold them, loves music and lights, and thinks pat-a-cake is the funniest nursery rhyme ever! I am still nursing him, but he also gets some formula each day. Next milestone is rice cereal. Oh the joys of projectile baby food!

We call him Houdini because he can get out of any swaddle and has even got his arms out of his carseat. I keep trying all kids of experiments to keep him safely wrapped at night, but the score is Tripp 200 - Mom 0 so far! One of his cutest things is his drifting to sleep "song." He makes a soft whimper song that is so sweet. He would choose conversation and cooing over napping any day and would almost always pick snuggle time over eating.

Mia and Tripp are still getting along great. She loves to help me with everything I do for him and he has really warmed up to her too. He never has to worry about having enough, pacifiers, toys, or blankets when she is around!

Tripp, Happy 4 months brother! We love you so much and could not be more thrilled that you are part of our family. We pray everyday that you would grow into a man that seeks after God in all that you do and that you be a Leader in the things that really matter! We can't wait to see what that will look like!

Love,
Mom, Dad, and Mia

Arboretum with Playgroup

2011-10-19T16:42:00.000-05:00

We recently took a trip to the arboretum with our playgroup. It was the most beautiful day and the fall pumpkins were amazing! As is tradition...the kids go in their costumes. Mia was a princess and Tripp was a frog. Our playgroup has been super busy with most families either having new babies or have one on the way. Because of that, not everyone is pictured. Tripp got to take a group picture with his playgroup that we refer to as "Playgroup 2.0." Such a fun crazy life! Enjoy the pics!

"Smelling the roses"

Pretty girls, Mia and Camryn

Yes...Mia is yawning. Obviously underwhelmed by the photo op!

That is better. From the left: Jake, Mia, Hudson, Camryn, and Marshall

I know....yummy right????

Playgroup 2.0. From left: Kate, Landry, Reid, and Tripp

Princess kisses the frog!

Living Room Sneak Peak

2011-10-18T15:11:00.001-05:00

We are making slow steady progress on the living room re-do, so I though I would give everyone a few pictures to tease you with. Renovations are tough with two kiddos and Aggie Football to distract! My handyman (aka Richard) is working hard to meet my requests and it will be completed sooner than later. For now, here is what we have done.

Fire place: It is now white and we painted this old mirror in a gold finish. There are plans for reclaimed wood mantle too.

Sheepskins added to the club chairs to "lighten and enliven" the basic chairs. New fun pillows are also planned.

Paint color. The trim when from a dark khaki to white and the walls are now a "greige color." It is Collonade Gray from Sherwin Williams.

New Media Center! By far, my favorite part. I have not decided on how it will be decorated or if we will mount the TV or not, but this is how it looks for now.

Fall front porch. I am not huge on seasonal decorating, but here is my attempt to make to make it a little festive. Next step is a giant inflatable pumpkin...totally kidding! But no offense if you have a giant inflatable pumpkin. Just not my thing!

"Fair Day"

2011-10-12T11:55:00.001-05:00

Richard and I recently volunteered at Mia's fair day at school. It was western themed and pretty cute. Trying to explain games to two year olds is very entertaining!!!

Miss Mia was a little short for the cowboy photo op, but still pretty cute!

"Fishing" with Daddy. He worked hard to make his booth exciting, but you can see there was not much action:(.

Digging for spiders in the sand. Big hit!

Pin the tail on the donkey.

The kids could also make candy jewelry and play instruments. Being a parent is so much fun!

Pinteresting!

2011-10-04T14:58:00.000-05:00

Anyone else addicted to Pinterest??? The "project enthusiast" in me just can't get enough! I have been using it to get ideas on our living room update, find dinner inspiration, craft projects, party planning, even helping me decide what to wear or buy for fall. I am trying to be a pinterest doer and not just a "pinner" (new word???). Here are some of the fun things I have done from pinterest....

Here is my new fall haircut...if only I had time to blow it dry to look like this! Oh wait, and the professional stylist to go with it!

Buffalo Chicken wraps. Healthy and Amazing!

Outfit I pinned. The red Toms were a must! You know how I love RED!

Mustard for fall...Love it! I found the perfect cardigan inspired by these pics.

Cute little project I did for the hubby.

Button initial art. My version is not as cute, but they were fun to make!

My button version...I gave these as baby gifts.

Are you "pinterested" yet? Come find my boards and the links to these pictures. I would love to know what you are pinning too!

Tripp is 3 months old!

2011-09-29T16:03:00.001-05:00

Our little guy is 3 months old today! Time is going so fast and there are already things I miss about having a newborn baby at home. He is such a sweet boy and always happiest when he can be with the family amongst the chaos! He really only gets sad when he has to be taken away from the fun to go to bed. This is exactly like his Daddy, so I can't help but find it endearing.

His current milestones includes tons of smiles that he gives most freely to his Daddy. He has also started to chuckle which makes you melt! He absolutely loves his playmat, having books read to him (especially in funny voices), being outside, going anywhere in his carseat, and his paci. He has been slower on the weight gain, so now he is getting some formula supplementation and it has made for such a happy baby. I was always so afraid to introduce formula to the girls, but I am older and wiser now and realize it is not that evil... Oh there is so much humility as a parent when you realize that you can be wrong!

Here are some pics of his third month:

Proof that he loves a little chaos...here he is in the middle of a slumber party with Mia, Chloe, and Jack. He loved it!

Still smiling...what a crew!

Playmat fun!

Truly...he can't get enough of it!

I know...adorable right???

Flirty little smile on my blue-eyed boy.

Tripp's favorite napping spot. On the patio in his bouncer chair. Maybe he will be an outdoors kind of guy?

Baby Tripp,
Words can't express how much we love you. You have already enriched our lives so much in the 3 short months you have been here. You have reminded me to let go of my selfish ambitions and trust God daily. You have also reminded us to slow down and soak in the moments in this special time of life for our family. You will be running around before we know it and I will miss you wanting to just snuggle in my lap. God is going to do such great things with your life and we are so blessed to get to be part of the journey!

Love,
Mom, Dad, and Mia

Nursery Design Board

2011-09-23T14:53:00.002-05:00

I recently put together a nursery design board for a good friend of mine. They are expecting a baby girl in December and she gave me full reign to design something girly! Take a look at the design board, let me know what you think. If you want to know the sources of anything, leave me a comment. It is a sweet girly nursery and surprising will not break the bank. I am loving the rug and crib skirt!

Speaking of nurseries...if you are working on one, check out this great website Playful Decor. There are lots of great ideas under the Tuesday's Nursery link party, I have mine linked up. You can even ask questions too.

Best. Day. Ever!

2011-09-22T15:31:00.002-05:00

Richard and I celebrated 8 years of marriage on Tuesday and we were blessed with the most amazing family day. He surprised us by taking the day off first of all, SO sweet! Then he gave me Northpark Gold and the new HGTV magazine. Such a dream boat :)! We walked to the neighborhood donut shop as a family. (No pictures though...have a I mentioned that we go to donuts in our pajamas???) The weather was absolutely perfect. We came home and Tripp took a nap and Mia played so sweetly. These are rare simultaneous events around here...

After that, we headed out to the Arboretum with a picnic a happy crew. Here are some pictures of the fun times had there.

Mia and Dora enjoying the picnic.

Mia checks out Cinderella's village of pumpkins.

Cinderella's carriage. She has perfected the Miss America wave. Elbow Elbow wrist wrist...right?

Mia and Mommy

Petting Zoo

Pumpkin "tunnel" with Daddy

Mia and Daddy

Where was Tripp all this time you say? Being perfect, on our perfect day. He slept peacefully the whole time! Totally not normal for this little guy!

After the Arboretum, everyone came home and took naps of course on the perfect day. After naps we headed out to dinner on the patio at Mattitos. One of my favorites! The kids way exceeded expectations yet again! Oh...what a blissful day. It these special moments you have to hang onto and really remember on the crazy days. Thank you Lord for blessing us with such a great day. Thank you Richard for planning it all!

We still have a date night planned, but I thought it was so sweet that he planned a day we could all enjoy! Here is to many many more!

Dangerous time killer!

2011-09-16T10:17:00.000-05:00

Okay, I have had too much fun this week with the Roomspiration blog hop and link party. You get to see so many great rooms and even better...great blogs to follow! I may never stop nursing Tripp because how else would I find design blog time! I highly suggest finding some downtime this weekend and enjoy some blog hopping. I posted our bathroom at the party today. Check it out at Homemaker on a Dime

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

My Favorite Room!

2011-09-15T15:39:00.000-05:00

My Bathroom! It is my most favorite room in our house!

Three years ago we got rid of the 1960's "master bath" that was shared between two bedrooms and made a master suite. You could call it "sledge hammer therapy." The bathroom is full of little luxuries like an air jet tub with light and scent therapy and a tankless hot water heater so you can fill it as full and as hot as you like! It also has tons of storage, a television, and soft close toilet seat (a marriage saver)! I hope enjoy the tour of my favorite space.

Air tub and shower. The floors and surround are travertine.

TV! The components are hidden a cabinet in the "water closet." The capiz chandelier hung in Lilly's room, so it holds a special place in my heart. It makes me smile with it jingles.

Frameless glass shower enclosure, rain shower head, and hand held sprayer too. There is a little seat to the right.

Custom cabinetry. It fits in the space like a glove. The top has glass doors to put pretty stuff and the bottom as deep rollouts which is awesome for storage.

Tempered glass sinks. Love them! They look good and have been so durable. The sink is integrated in, so clean up is so easy. The sinks and mirrors were from the Expo Design Center. Anyone else really mourning the closing of that store. I miss it so much!

Left side cabinet and vanity.

Glass insert detail on the floor. It creates an area rug effect.

Well, there is my favorite room. It is the best place to have a glass of wine (chocolate if I can't have wine), hot bath, and watch HGTV. What is your favorite space in your home? I would love to hear about it!

Prayer for my Children

2011-09-09T09:50:00.000-05:00

Crisp fall air...I love it! It brings a calm, relaxed feeling over me. With relaxation comes reflection. Fall makes me think of Lilly's approaching birthday. I can't believe she was born 4 years ago. In someways it seems like a lifetime ago, in others ways, it seems like only yesterday. I also can't help but think that in 4 weeks from now, Tripp will pass her in his time here on earth. I hate to wish away these months, but am also grateful that they will be gone in a blink. I have a favorite song right now that I thought I would share...it is a prayer that I am holding very tightly to right now. Children are such a blessing and it is so important as a parent that we all remember that our number one job is to teach them the love of Jesus. I can't think of a greater calling in life!

Hold on to Jesus, Erin O'Donnell
You're a little piece of heaven
You're a golden ray of light.
and I wish I could protect you
from the worries of this life.
but if there's one thing i could tell you
it's no matter what you do
hold to Jesus, He's holding onto you

The world will try to tell you
that might is more than right
and beauty's on the outside
and being good's a losing fight
but remember what i've told you
'cause the world will make you choose
hold to Jesus, He's holding onto you

Hold on to Jesus, and cling to his love
rest deep in his mercy, whenever things get rough
and don't recite of his goodness
and don't ever doubt this truth, that when you hold onto
Jesus He's holdin onto you.

Hear me dear Jesus,
rock this little one to sleep
keep him close when he's scared, and
give him grace when he is weak.
I know he'll stumble, but i know he'll make it through
if you hold onto just like you said you do
hold him jesus so he'll hold on tight to you

Grandparent Fun!

2011-09-08T12:55:00.001-05:00

We finally did it! We let Mia go stay at with her grandparents. It has taken a long time to get comfortable with her leaving us, and we still had a really hard time deciding up to the moment she and Ya-Ya drove away. She spent 5 fun filled days in Amarillo with both sets of grandparents. She had a great time and was so excited to get some attention that did not have to be shared with baby brother. I am sure she was spoiled and exhausted, but I am glad she got to have the experience!

Reading with Pops. The little girl on the book looks just like her!

Playing at the Discovery Center.

New Princess outfit to wear to a tea party my Mom threw in her honor. So cute!

My Mom invited her neighborhood friends over. They all dressed up and enjoyed tea. My Mom had Mia enter the room to special music and they all stood and applauded her as she entered. I am sure Mia ate it up!!!

Ya-ya and Mia. My Mom is wearing the dress she wore to my wedding. So funny!!!

Playing at Grancy and Pop's House. I don't know why she has that paci!

Concert with a Dora Microphone.

The reunion! She missed her Daddy, Mommy and Brother so much. We were just heart sick for her too!

Thank you all for showing her such a special time. I know it will always be special to her!

Tripp - 2 Months

2011-08-31T14:00:00.014-05:00

Tripp's Birth Announcement

Our sweet baby boy is two months old already! Life has been crazy since he arrived, but he has cuddled his way into our home and hearts and we wouldn't have it any other way. I thought little boys didn't cuddle, but that is not true with this little guy. He loves to be cuddled and hates to be alone. Both sweet and endearing, but also difficult for napping, playing with a toddler, making dinner...you get the idea. We are seeing gradual progress and relishing these sweet times because they do go quickly.

Tripp at 2 months. Gotta love the infant toothless, no-holding-back, grin!

He loves giving smiles and cooing. He has figured out how to bat at toys and it makes him so excited! He eats great and is growing fast. He is 10.8 lbs and sleeping 7-8 hours at night. Yeah! Tripp loves his pacifier just like his big sister. Speaking of big sister...she has taken to the role so well. She is attentive, loving and helpful. Way beyond my expectations of how she would be when brother came home. It is such a blessing and makes me excited to watch them grow up together.

Richard and I have a much stronger peace about his health and safety than I thought we would. Even so, the next two months will surely bring heightened anxiety. Please pray for health and God's hand of protection for Tripp.

Sweet "Bubbers" (Mia's name for him) we love you so much and our so amazed at how you have changed and enriched our lives. We are excited to watch you grow into a man and pray that you will seek after Him in all that you do.

Love,
Mom and Dad

Mia's First Day of School

2011-08-30T21:20:00.000-05:00

Mia returned to MDO this week. She strutted in with confidence to her same class and same teacher. She loved it! It will be great to get into a fall routine...now we just need to weather to follow suit!

Here she is just a year ago...they grow so fast!!!

Guest Posting at Hyphen Interiors

2011-08-30T08:14:00.000-05:00

I am giving a tour of Tripp's nursery over at Hyphen Interiors today. It is one of my very favorite design sites. Go check out the tour and her fabulous blog!

Lighten Up, Living Room!

2011-08-28T21:44:00.000-05:00

Being home and couped up this summer has made me decide that our living room needs some help. Anyone else feel that way after staring at the walls in this crazy heat! We live in a "boxy" 1960s house so getting light into rooms can be tricky. My first desire would be to sledge hammer down some walls, but that does not seem practical with a new baby and a second story above those walls. So, I will have to be more creative than that.

Here is how the room currently looks. Traditional, warm, cozy. And of course...lots of red!

First Dilemma was picking paint color. Here is my inspiration piece for the color of the room.

And after trying SEVERAL colors...

We finally selected this one. (It is the upper right color above).

Sherwin Williams Collonade Gray

This is going to be a slow redecorating project, but we will get it done eventually. I will keep you posted as we make progress. Here are some things I am dreaming about to add to the room.

Console table behind sofa

Media Cabinet

Dreamy light...really just a dream right now. Isn't she lovely???

Rich linen drapes

Fabric for pillows.

So...what do you think???

Tripp's nursery feature on Ohdeedoh!

2011-08-17T13:36:00.001-05:00

The sweet people at Ohdeedoh ( a children's design website by Apartment Therapy) saw pictures of Tripp's nursery and asked if they could show it on their website. Needless to say...I was super excited! Check it out at the link below. The website also has great ideas for kids and tons of adorable rooms to look at.
http://www.ohdeedoh.com/ohdeedoh/tripps-big-red-in-the-big-dnursery-tour-153901

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Family Photo Shoot

2011-08-08T13:28:00.000-05:00

We gave our best shot at a family photo shoot this weekend. I have heard that getting family pictures with a toddler and new baby is difficult, but impossible might be the better word! Keeping both happy was tricky! We got a few cute ones of the just the kids, we will have to try again for a family shot...

Tripp's First Month

2011-07-30T20:21:00.001-05:00

Tripp is 1 month old already! I can't believe how fast that month has flown by! He got to come home after 9 days in NICU and has been doing really good since then. He is a really sweet boy with a sweet disposition. He loves to be held and snuggled, just like his sisters did. I don't know how we do it, but our babies are snugly! He rarely cries and has quickly acclimated to life with an excited toddler around all of the time.

Mia loves her baby brother and is so helpful! She has done pretty well with the adjustment to big sister. She has become a little more sensitive and has had some sleep issues that she has never had before, but we expected some minor changes like that.

Life with 2 is fun and exciting, and tiring and challenging all at the same time. Everyday gets a little bit better and I can't wait to see what great things this year has for us! Here are some pictures of my sweet family!

Tripp coming home from the hospital. He was pouting about being disturbed from his restful sleep. Such a cute pouty face!

Little man loaded in his car seat. He is already filling it out so much more now! They grow so fast!

First attempt at Tummy Time. He as NOT into it!

Cute picture of my sweet boys! Tripp loves his Daddy so much. Richard feeds him the first night feeding every night and is a master at getting him to go to sleep! Teach me wise one!

Mia and I making in door fun since it has been way too hot to play outside. We were making "S" in the shaving cream. The mess really stressed her out though and our house smelled like man smell!

Pops gets to hold Tripp for the first time.

Sissy plays with Tripp. She really loves him!

Effects of Mia playing with Tripp....OVERSTIMULATED! His eyes are so wide!

Hanging out in his nursery.

After his first bath....He loves taking baths, but hates getting out!

Photo shoot with Mom.

Another go at Tummy Time...much improved!

Sissy and brother. So sweet!

Sweet baby face. He has a lot of really dark hair. We aren't sure yet whether it will turn lighter or not yet. I think his eyes will be blue like Mia's. They are already getting lighter. Aren't those kissable lips???

Mia reads to Tripp. Of course she picked Dora!

I will try and keep the posts regular, but bear with me as I figure out this Mom of 2 thing!

Happy one month Tripp! We love you so much and are so glad that you have joined our family. We pray God's protective hand over you and for us to have wisdom and discernment in raising you to being an amazing little man.

Summer Fun!

2011-07-12T19:59:00.001-05:00

We have been busy enjoying summer while we were waiting for Tripp to arrive. The special times were such a blessing I will treasure forever. Mia is now having to adjust to a new "normal" with a baby in our home. Most of these are iPhone action pics, so please excuse the quality.

Mia and Daddy wash the car. She loves to help with chores and now drives her cozy coup through the sprinklers to wash her car like Daddy's.

Pool time fun with Mommy and Mia. I am so happy to retire the maternity swimsuit!!!

Mia at the splash park. This was one of our favorite activities. I had to play with her, it was too hot to just sit with the other moms!

Jack C's pancake party. She is sporting Dora pj's, fruit loop necklace, and a smile!

Princess tea party. She loves dress up with lots of jewelry and her princess clothes. Such special moments for mommies and daughters.

Backyard fun! We slide into our baby pool. It Is lots of fun, but I still dream of the day when we will slide into something deeper than 18 inches!!! Please, please, please Richard????

Playdate with sweet friend Piper. They always have such a good time together!

Cute girls Chloe and Mia. This was after Fathers day brunch at Tillmans. SO yummy!

Important life skill mastered! Drinking the milk when your cereal is gone. We are so proud!

Family date night to see Cars 2 at Studio movie grill. The food was great, but the movie was a bit wild for our taste. Just not as cute as the first one...

Mia and daddy on Father's day. She is wearing one of my necklaces so we could both be "pretty princesses."

Mia and mommy on fathers day. I was really pregnant by this point!

Adorable pic of Chloe and Mia from the fourth of July. She played with friends while we ran back and forth from the NICU to visit Tripp.

Best moment of the whole summer! She loves her baby brother and is so nurturing with him. She has had to cope with so much. My 5 day stay in the hospital, another 3 days of us being back and forth constantly, and then another 3 days of us staying with Tripp at the hospital. Thanks to everyone who stepped into help!

We are all under one roof again and feeling so blessed!

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Tripp's Nursery Reveal

2011-07-07T18:36:00.000-05:00

Well, we are now able to room in with Mr. Tripp. He is doing great and cruising through his milestones for discharge. We don't expect it to be too much longer now. Since we are staying with him and he sleeps most of the day, I thought it was a perfect time to reveal his nursery. We had so much fun putting this room together for him. Richard put up crown moulding and painted the wainscoting and walls. I envisioned the room with "pops" of red, but I love the color so much that is kind of "popped everywhere." Enjoy the pictures. Little baby Tripp will be enjoying his room in no time!

View from the front door looking in. We did floor to ceiling faux panels in indoor/outdoor fabric. Perfect for little boy durability! The dresser is from Ikea, but has been dressed up with vintage faucet valves. The glider has been recycled from all of our kids and worked great in here too. It is accented with an organic quilt made by Richard's Mom and a furry pillow from Homegoods. Wall color is misty gray from Sherwin Williams.

I had the lamp stand, but recently added the burlap drumshade from Target.

Here are knobs close-up. They were a great etsy find. at $1.25 each. I was lusting after $8 knobs from Anthropoligie, but could not justify that cost with needing 12 total. The shop is called scrapyardgirl...go find her!

Red painted crib. This was Mia's old sleigh crib from Pottery Barn. Yes, it has the drop rails...those have been fixed. The crib skirt is Glenna Jean Cooper fabric. The red paint is fire engine from Sherwin Williams. Above the crib are embroidery hoops filled with fabrics from the room and also some fun ones that Richard picked out. Including baseball, underdog, and camo.

The Letters!!! These are my favorite part. I would love to say that I made them, but I can't take credit. If you have a lot of time and don't have a toddler or a huge pregnant belly, these could be a fun DIY project. I ordered mine from "A work in Progress" on Etsy.

Daybed and Letter wall. I have put a daybed in all of the nurseries and it works out so well. It is a great place to sleep on those rougher nights or an extra place for guests. My favorite part about it is that the room is ready to go once the child outgrows the nursery and needs it to be toddler friendly. Just remove the crib and glider, bring in an art table, and VOILA...room converted! The daybed is an old army issue bed from Craigslist also painted the same red of the crib. The back pillows are from Ikea. The rest are custom made by Richard's Mom.

The red shag rug is from Ikea. We are going to have a lot of fun playing on this super plush rug. Mia loves it already! The book shelf and zigzag shelves are from Ikea. The plaque is from a craft mall that I just happened upon. It could also be a DIY project with wood and stencils. Mr Tripp already loves his paci, so I am glad to have a whole jar ready to go for him!

View from the glider to the door.

Close up of the shelves. My original vision was to have red and white chevron curtains that would mirror these fun shelves, but that search came up empty. I have seen where you can take a stripe fabric and make it into a chevron, but my seamstress did not deserve that headache!

Tada! That is Tripp's room. Better late than never. If you want more specifics on anything in the room, let me know.

Tripp Ryan Thomas, 6/29/2011, 7 lbs 13 oz...

2011-07-02T19:21:00.001-05:00

Baby Tripp made his entrance into this world a little earlier than planned. We had to do the c-section for several reasons including his large size, lots of amniotic fluid, lots of contractions, and risk of uterine rupture with 2 previous csections. He was born Wednesday night at 8:34. He came out screaming, music to our ears! We went to recovery and I got to cuddle with him, then things started to change. The nurse heard a gurgle in his breathing and he was wished away from us...

Tripp ended up in the NICU for having residual fluid in his lungs. The next 24 hours were really a blur. Richard came back and forth between the baby and I giving me updates and trying to make sure we were both doing okay. Tripp had a pretty steady decline in the beginning. they started with oxygen and by Thursday afternoon he was on a cpap machine to help him breathe and antibiotics to ward off infection. He has now stabilized and we are anxiously awaiting the upswing toward healing.

We have let go of expectations of him joining us in our room or going home when we do. We are both just clinging to the hope that he is going to fully recover from this and we will be a normal sleepless new baby family before too long!

God is in control and no one knows that better than Richard and I. Please pray for healing for baby Tripp and patience for Richard and as we embark on this long journey to get him healthy and home and incorporated into our family. Enjoy the pictures, he is a cutey!

-

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Mia's Big Girl Room

2011-06-17T17:34:00.001-05:00

In preparation for baby brother, we converted Mia's room to her "big girl room." She gave up her crib to her brother and has absolutely loved sleeping in the big bed. She only got up once or twice the first week, but will now stay put until we come get her. I also have included pictures of my latest organization project. Richard thinks I have lost my mind, but I think it will work out nicely!

Mia's big bed. We are still using a bed rail for safety, but I don't think she will need it much longer. The bed and rugs are from Ikea...my favorite place for kid stuff. The Euro shams are too, but have a custom applique to match them to the quilt made by Richard's Mom. Behind her name, we painted the wall the green of the lower half of the room and framed it in with an ornate frame from Hobby Lobby. It was above the crib before, but work here too.

New storage shelf and table and chairs. All from...you guessed it, Ikea! The bins are from Target's Itso line which just happens to fit the Ikea shelving perfectly!

The bins are labeled with chalk board labels so they an be easily changed.

This side of the room has not changed from the nursery. Flower decals along the bottom of the closets have lasted!

Her table has been great! We do arts and crafts, school, and tea parties all from this spot. It wipes clean so easily!

New organization project! I can't take credit for the idea. I found it on someone's blog, but I can't remember where. This is a hanging canvas shoe holder that is now on the back of my laundry room door. It is my solution to the four junk drawers we had in the utility room and 2 growing in the kitchen. I even have empty pockets left, so if you have any ideas of what to include, let me know!

It hold Richard's tools for the house on the top rows. "Launch pad" essentials for me in the middle, including sunglasses, bug spray, sun screen, hand sanitizer, diapers, and wipes. I think the bottom rows will be for Mia and little man. Maybe some "to go" snacks or things they like to take in the car.

I labeled the pockets using my label maker (yes I own a label maker....crazy I know). You could do something much cuter though. Custom printed labels, clear labels or even pictures would be fun.
One more nesting project done!

San Antonio Family Vacation

2011-06-02T05:50:00.001-05:00

We recently took a family vacation to San Antonio. It was our first trip with just the three of us and we had a great time! Mia loved vacation and did great. She stayed up late and slept in late. None of us minded afternoon naps either! Here are the picture of our fun times.

Starting our road trip right! We stopped at The Original Pancake House for Chocolate Chip pancakes. Yum!

We made the drive down Interstate 35 and stopped for lunch in Georgetown. There were so many signs for the "Monument Cafe" so we decided it must be good! It did not disappoint at all!

Mia and Richard at the resort pool. We stayed at Wild Oaks Ranch, one of the Hyatt Resorts. It was set-up apartment style with a large kitchen, living room, and amazing master suite. It worked great for having miss M with us. The pool was perfectly toddler friendly with a walk in ramp, water slide and only 3 feet deep!

Here are Richard and Mia coming down the slide. She loved it!

The swimsuit model running out of the pool. Yes she is holding a naked baby doll. I could not find a little swim suit for her.

Richard and Mia on the River Walk. Aren't they cute???

Mia and I on the the River Boat Cruise. It was 30 minutes long and she was entertained for about 5 minutes of that. No need for the boat ride if you take your kids to the River Walk!

Sweet Mia at Dinner on the River Walk. We ate a Casa Rio. It was pretty "touristy" and not the great Mexican food you would expect from San Antonio. The birds were crazy! They had no problem landing on our table and trying to eat our chips!

Ice Cream! Isn't vacation the best. Mia and Daddy were sampling each others.

Happy Ice Cream Face!

Vacation Day 2: Starting the day at Shipleys Donuts.

We then headed to a wildlife preserve. We got to drive through and feed the animals. Mia totally loved it!

Mia looking out the window. I drove and poor Richard had to endure being climbed all over. She was too excited to sit still!

Some sort of bull with crazy horns!

Buffalo. Pretty sure he thinks San Antonio is way too hot!

Gazelle.

Zebras! The signs say to drop the food on the ground because the Zebras will bite. We were a little reluctant because of that.

They were right! This guy ran out of food and then tried to stick his head in the window. I panicked and rolled it up and he started biting the rear view mirror. Crazy Zebras!!!

The llama.

The place had a petting zoo with mini goats. Here is Miss Mia brushing a real sweet little guy.

This little guy would not take no for an answer. He was rubbing on my leg to get me to pet him like a puppy. Too cute!

Mia souvenier and last stop at the giraffes. She now says "Zebra, watch out!" When she sees a zebra picture.

We wanted to try one of the nice resort restaurants so Richard made a reservation at Antlers Lodge. We were nervouse to take Mia, but she did great. She loved being waited on like that. They even brought her a set of mini Wedgewood silverware. She loved trying all of the different foods too. She had gourmet chicken strips, but really like my filet and Richards mozzarella on his salad and his scallops. She even made it through dessert. It was such a nice evening and we were so proud of her! I don't know that her baby brother will make it through something like that.

We ended our trip by going to Houston for John and Tara's wedding. Richard was a groomsmen and we had a great time there too!

Richard, thank you for spoiling us on such a great family vacation. I will never forget the laugther and love. It was such a joy to see the excitement in Mia's eyes as she experienced new things. I look forward to many more family trips! Baby brother will be here soon. 4 more weeks at the most, but if he is like Mia, it could be much sooner. We will keep you all posted.

Guest Room Makeover

2011-05-28T21:19:00.001-05:00

With baby boy on the way, we are down to one guest room, so I wanted to give it a little TLC so our guests feel welcome. I didn't take before pictures, but trust me when I say it was bad. Diaper yellow walls, mismatched furniture, dusty old drapes that were there when we moved in. Now it is lighter and brighter. It was done on a low budget, so it is far from perfect, but I think it is a happy room to stay in.

The back wall is sweatshirt gray and the other three are navajo white from Sherman Williams. The bedding is from Anna's linens. That store is hit or miss, but I saw this in their circular and went to grab it. Bench is from TJ Maxx, rug from Ikea. Curtain and throw are from Ikea. The art is a home made project done with a stencil and some layered paints. The sun mirror is Homegoods. I didn't get a good picture of it, but the light is a two tired drum shade with a damask print from Lowes. The hotel is ready for guests!

Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Cowgirl Party!

2011-05-26T22:45:00.000-05:00

The cowgirl party was a great success. We had it at a local farm that does a petting zoo and hay ride for the kiddos. They also have lots of other fun animals to look at. We set the tone with a fun country music mix and served BBQ. Mia loved it and that was my main goal! I hope you enjoy the pictures! The invites were great too. I don't have an electronic, but they had a picture of Mia in her cowgirl outfit and a single close up of her boots on the back. Here is what they said:

These Boots are Made for Walking, and that's just what they'll.

So come on out and celebrate, 'cause Mia's turning TWO!

Spring Creek Farms. Here is a picture of the Gazebo where the party was set up.

Happy Birthday Sign. Made from cowgirl scrapbook paper, twine, clothes pins, and cut out letters.

Scrapbook triangles also surrounded the gazebo.

Food Table. Menu included BBQ brisket sandwiches, roughage (veggies), watermelon, chips, and trail-mix.

Fixin's

Table center pieces. Made of scrap fabric and mason jars filled with babies breath.

It was really windy that day, so we got creative and put the jars inside party cowboy hats to hold them.

Cupcakes and cowgirl picture of Mia. Cupcakes are topped with chocolate moulds in the shape of hats and boots.

Drinks and cowgirl napkins on the dessert table. The water was "moonshine: and the juice boxes were "bug juice"

Stick pony party favors made by Richard's Mom.

She spend so much time, love, and care on the horses. My Mom helped her too. I think they were a hit!

Pictures of Mia, Richard, and I.

Doesn't he make a cute cowboy!

Party guest pictures

Aunt Mandy and Uncle Sam

Family Gitls

Mia and Grancy

Cute Scheffler Family on the hay ride

"City slicker" Aunt Cyndi has a run in with a longhorn. We tried to warn her!

Cute Chloe!

Jude gives Mia a birthday hug...we need to talk about this Heather!

Mia and her special pony with Grancy.

Mia as the train engineer.

Mini pony.

Boys at the party. Marshall, Jake, and Sawyer

My and my new bestie. They were the friendliest goats!

Aunt Chelsi and Uncle Brant

Grancy and Pop

Caleb

Jake

Mia and my belly!

The crazy goats!

Nick and Lainey

Mia and Ya-Ya

Wyatt. All of the kids got to take a cowboy hat home.

Caleb and Jake with mommas.

Emma.

The Cousins say hello! Chelsi and Brant are having a baby in December. So fun!

Our princess is two!

2011-05-15T07:41:00.002-05:00

Miss Mia,
This week you turned two years old. I get so emotional just thinking about it! It is hard to put into words the amazing joy you bring to our lives. Children are an amazing gift from God, but we think you are an extra special little angel that he blessed us with.

Everyday with you is a blessing and an adventure. We have loved watching you grow from a baby into a little girl this year. Your verbal skills continue to astound us. We basically carry on full conversations throughout the day. You know what you want and how to ask for it! We are working on using manners and polite words instead of making demands. That will probably be a work in progress for a long while to come. You love art so much. You did not get that from your Dad or I, but we love watching your creative side. You are definitely fully left handed which is also unique from us. We paint, use sidewalk chalk, color, bake, pretend daycare...non-stop fun!

Your babies are still so important to you. It is so sweet to watch you care for them so tenderly. You kiss on them and sing the lullabies that I sing to you. I can't wait to see how you will be with your little brother. I think you are going to be an amazing big sister. You don't play with toys too much. You would much rather be doing what I am doing or playing outside with your dogs. You will spend lots of time in your room by yourself, but you mainly read and play with dolls.

There are so many milestones that I worry about before you hit them, but you never cease to amaze us on how well you will take to the change. Two recent ones are sleeping in a big girl bed and drinking from a cup with no lid. I thought both would be so rough, and you did them amazingly. You love your big girl room and tell us daily how happy it makes you.

Your smile and zest for life are contagious. We pray that God continues to shape that special heart because we know he has amazing plans for you. Thank you for your unconditional and constant affection. You really are and will always be our little princess. Happy Birthday Sweet Mia!

Love,
Momma and Daddy

I will post pictures of the "big girl room" and her cowgirl party very soon.

April update

2011-05-03T13:43:00.002-05:00

Birthday parties, Easter egg hunts, and an airplane ride. What a fun month! Enjoy the pictures!

Dinosaur party for Egan. It was cute with an outdoor campfire, craft projects, and dinosaur shaped sandwiches.

Mia and Richard enjoying cheese puffs and dinosaur nuggets.

Egan's car party. It was set in a cute park. The kids made license plates and colored with care shaped crayons. Mia got to take home her own box car, but she would not be photographed int it!

Mia and Egan stroll in the Wagon at the car party.

Richard's birthday dinner at Benihana.

Mia enjoying a Sugar Queen cupcake. They are really good!

Group shot minus Mandy and Sam who had to sneak out a little early. The kids loved the cooking show. Quotes from Mia: as we were going to our table she shouts "It's party time!" and when the chef was flipping shrimp in his hat "I love it, I love it!". She is really enjoying birthday party season. Richard and Mia went on a date recently and when dessert arrived, she would not eat it until they sang Happy Birthday. Maybe we have overdone it! Her birthday is still two weeks away!

Church Easter Egg hunt. It was a rainy day, but we made do in doors. She is wearing a dress made by her Grancy. She is a very talented seamstress!

Mia and Piper enjoying their findings.

Playgroup shot at the Easter Egg Party.

Long awaited trip to Indianapolis to see my sister and her family. They have lived there for 4 months and it has been so hard to be so far away. They have moved into a beautiful home that my sister is making into their dream home and have settled into their new church and community. I saw my BIL lead worship for the first time and it made me cry. We are so proud of you Beau! Here is Mia and Bennett swinging at the neighborhood park.

Great family shot. This is just down the street from them...just beautiful!

Easter morning. Cason and Mia play at the train table.

Sweet cousins!

Mia and Mommy on Easter morning.

Bennett and Cason

We went to the amazing Children's museum there and they had an entire Dora exhibit. It was Mia's first celebrity sighting and she was elated! Boots and Dora both got multiple hugs and she ended with a group hug. Her little besties!

Diego and baby Jaguar were there too. Bennett actually laid a big kiss right on Diego. We think he gave her a respiratory virus! That is why we don't kiss boys Bennett!

Michelle and Cason on the carousel.

Richard and Mia.

I have to show off my latest organization project. With our growing family, we were in need a family calendar and I found this great one on Etsy. It just a decal that you stick to the back of the glass of a picture frame. We will be so organized now. I also have a random "green" cleaning tip. Wipe down your glass shower with a used dryer cloth, then squeagy. It removes all of the hard water spots. Amazing...no chemicals and recycling. Got to love it!

March update

2011-04-11T22:06:00.001-05:00

Okay...I have way too many pictures from last month! We had a wonderful month and the pictures prove it!

Dora ballet adventure premiere party.

Angel food cupcakes we made for the party

Chloe and Mia with their Dora gear

Mia enjoying her cupcake. This kid lives for sweets!

Chilly trip to the zoo with our church group.

Girl trip to Amarillo. We were spoiled and had so much fun with Pops and Ya-ya! Here is a funny video of Mia singing her own praises at the park.

YouTube Video

Mia and Pops at the park.

Playing dress up with Ya-ya.

Ya-ya and Mia at the zoo.

Me and baby bump at the zoo. I am 26 weeks along now. It is really going fast this time!

Mia posing at the zoo.

30th birthday trip with my gal pals. I met all of these girls in college and they such dear lifetime friends. We had a great time of girl talk, pedicures, and being silly! Can't wait for our 40th trip!

Birthday party season is here! This party is for Lily K. It was pump it up and the kids had a blast!

Mia and were spoiled by Richard for being supportive during his busy time at work. I got a manicure and pedicure and he gave us both money to buy new dresses for dinner. He prepared a special dinner of "filet Oscar" which is steak topped with crab meat. Amazing!!! Mia had never liked red meat until she tried this.

Playgroup trip to the arboretum. She looks like such a diva in this picture!

Both of us in Ariel's castle. We love the arboretum in the spring!

Another diva shot. She was enjoying the beautiful day a lot!

Mia will be 2 next month, and I can hardly believe it. I love very stage of being a Mom and I know that won't change! She makes us laugh constantly with the funny things she says and is so loving and affectionate to us both. I know she will be an amazing big sister. She already tells him that she loves him. Speaking of brother...he is doing great too. Getting bigger everyday I think! We have started to do a few things to get ready, but we just don't have the same urgency we had before. I think that is the way it goes for #3!

I am getting set for Mia's party next month. While I can't match what we did last year (for Richard's sake), we are still doing a special party for her...cowgirl themed! I will post lots of pics and give a more detailed Mia update next month. God has blessed us so tremendously...the pictures just prove it!

February update

2011-03-08T20:13:00.002-06:00

Wow...where did February go??? It was a busy month for us, but as always...lots of fun! We found out that Mia is for sure have a BROTHER! AGHHH! We are excited, but freaking out a little bit because of the major change it will be for us. We are open to name suggestions, because so far, we can't agree. The pregnancy is flying by too. I am going on 22 weeks and feeling really good so far. I pray it stays that way!

Mia is doing great too. She is really getting excited about becoming a big sister. I think she will be so nurturing and loving with her brother. My prayer is that she wants me to be the same way with him and does not feel competitive. Her verbal skills still keep us laughing everyday. The most recent is "Oh yeah!" When you ask her a question. It is not like "oh yeah, I forgot." It is more like "OOOH yeah, that is best idea you have ever had." She has discovered disney music and loves to hear "Cereal" (Ariel) over and over again. She will be two in just a few months, so birthday plans are already under way. She is having a vintage cowgirl party. It will be a little smaller scale than her last party, but I still want it to be really special.

Last week marked the third anniversary of Lilly going to be with Jesus. The day had some bittersweet moments, but overall it was okay. God's perfect plan is just so amazingly clear to us now that we can't dwell on that time. We want to always remember the clear perspective that time gave us and move forward in His will. Thank you for the many well wishes and prayers that we received.

Enjoy the pics from our fun month!

Mia and I putting her Dora Valentines together. We had a playgroup party and one with college friends too. So fun!

Special valentine treats I made. I am not a baker, but I enjoyed the fondant process and playing with flavors here. They are vanilla almond cake with a chocolate hazelnut glaze. Pretty yummy!

Playgroup valentine party. They all sat still for a picture, unbelievable! Maybe by next year they will all look at the camera! Our playgroup has been such a blessing the past few years. Over half of the families are expecting babies too, so the fun will continue!

Making our valentine sacks.

Elmo Valentine party hosted by Sawyer and Holly. Here is cute Sawyer and Mia. It was such a cute party!

Playgroup trip to the aquarium. The kids loved it and got to walk by themselves for most of it. They were so tired by the end, but Mia still talks about seeing Nemo.

2nd haircut with the fabulous Marc. This time she had 2.5 inches cut off into a cute little bob. She got to sit up on cushions, where a smock, watch Dora, and eat M&M's. She loved it, but I had to remind her that reality is not so "diva".

Chloe, one of Mia's dearest friends, and our "almost" niece turned 3! She had an adorable princess party with a REAL princess. My friend Sherry did a great job of putting together a great party! Here is the birthday girl.

Princess sweet treats table. See the pink M&M's...they were within Mia's reach, so if we could not find her, we knew she was there. Silly girl!

Cinderella and some of the little princesses. Mia borrowed her outfit from Chloe...princess clothes don't quite come in her size, but she didn't seem to mind.

Family pic at the party.

Playgroup trip to Mockingbird station via the dart train. The kids loved it! Mia and I chanted "where are we going? To the the choo-choo" all day long. I think we will have to do that again. It was a $2 well spent!

Egan and Jack with their Mommas on the train.

Mia, Zane, new baby Kate, with Mommas.

Jake, Camryn, and Caleb with Mommas. This was on the way home, so the kiddos were fading quickly!

Fun times! I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the newness and blessings of Spring!

Mia months 20 and 21

2011-02-06T13:08:00.008-06:00

Oh my goodness, what fun we have been having in 2011! Mia is growing and changing everyday. She is becoming a little girl instead of a baby. I have still loved every age so far. It is so amazing to watch her learn and grow everyday.

Her favorites things right now our her Bitty Baby, sliding in the backyard, painting or coloring, going through all of my shoes, chocolate and Dora fruit snacks, family dance parties, Veggie tales Sunday morning songs cd, and she is still in love with all things Dora.

Funny thing she does now...she says "um" before she answers a question. If you ask her what she wants, she says "how about...." while putting her finger on her cheek. Her dance moves are great both her ballet and pop moves. She gives me one purple fruit snack out of every pack because she knows it is my favorite. So SWEET! She is now putting words to sing words with all of the songs she hears. Yesterday, Richard was singing Chris Tomlin "where you go" and Mia just joined in. It is amazing to me what they pick up and a great reminder to be mindful of what she is exposed to, because she is paying attention.

Things we are working on...less whining, a giving heart, a helpful attitude, and always an understanding of the love of Christ and how special she is. I am using "Wise Words for Moms" to help prepare me to discuss problems with her and provide appropriate correction. It really helps me stay calm and feel purposeful when I have to correct her. You should check it out!

Enjoy the pics from our fun times!

Recent snow day fun. She really loved it and did not seem effected by the cold at all. It was Richard and I that didn't last to long.

Painting time, making the most of our snow days. She is wearing her Dora artist smock.

I was cooking in the kitchen and I heard Dora playing from the living room. The little turkey had found the ipad, climbed up on the couch, and started to watch Dora. Really??? This technology stuff is crazy!

Family fun day at the arboretum.

Mia and I entertaining ourselves at the doctors office. She was not feeling well, but luckily it was only a cold.

Mia got an enormous lady bug heart cookie from my friend, Meme. She was totally elated! Don't worry, I didn't let her eat the whole thing!

She has developed that silly toddler smile when she sees a camera. "CHEESE!"

Pictures of fun times out with my girlfriends and their sweet daughters. The first is Mia and Emerson. The second is Jamie and Lainey with Mia and I. Great fun!

And.....She has some news for everyone!

We are expecting a baby in early July. We are very excited and so is she. Everything is going great and the baby seems really healthy. The doctor predicted at an early sono that he thinks it is a boy...we will know for sure in the next couple weeks. A son, what a blessing, but what a change of pace!

Miss Mia,

We love you so much. Thank you for all of the joy that you bring to our lives. We know you will be an amazing big sister full of love and kindness. We pray that this transition goes well for all of us and praise God for the many blessings we have!

Love,
Jennifer and Richard

I am 30!!!

2011-01-16T21:00:00.001-06:00

Well, my youth is gone. I am a full adult now! I have always felt old beyond my years, so 30 fits me. I know my 30's are going to be wonderful and full of blessings and growth. Richard threw an amazing party with close friends and kiddos at Mattitos, my favorite mexican restaurant. We had a private building so the kids got to run wild. So much fun! Enjoy the pics...

The cake deserves first recognition. Caramel cake from celebrity bakery. It was as amazing as it looks!

Richard with his parents and sister.p

My two favorite people!

Mia with some of her be sties....Lainey and Bennett.

My college roommates and dearest friends and our girls.

Our best family friends. Sherry, Trey, and Chloe. Baby Jack skipped the party.

The wish for a great and Christ centered next 30 years! I know luck has nothing to do with it!

Cute Mia. Don't you just want to squeeze her in this picture. She is just so precious inside and out! She kept singing "happy to you, happy to you Mama" all week long. So sweet!

My sister and person...Michelle with Beau and Bennett. They have moved to Indiana the day after this picture. We miss them already, but our excited for them too.

Richard, thank you for a special evening. I love you!!!!