Blessings

I often share ups & downs in Chloe's life but I don't usually take the time to write about Luke & I or our family. So, while my little strawberry-smeared baby is splashing at my feet, I wanted to take a few minutes to write about the blessings and praises in our life right now.

Work Blessings:
     **blessing** The other secretary left plus 2 of the delivery dept guys which obviously affected Luke & I both. He was thrown into a leader position that he didn't feel quite ready for and has seen his share of struggles but is proving to be victorious. Although he doesn't plan to be a "lifer" at Woods, he's gaining important skills that he can eventually carry over into a dream job.

     **blessing** As far as blessings in disguise for me, the first few weeks flying solo in the office were rough. I worked 8 days straight the first week and we hobbled around for the next few weeks until we came to rest on a 6 day work schedule. Crazy? Awful? When will I relax? Truth is, I {love} it! There were often days that we would wake Chloe in a rush to Grammy's house and not get there to pick her up until 7 which officially stopped the clock at 90 minutes of time with my baby girl that was shared with dinner, bath, bottle, and daddy. The new schedule includes going in at noon 2 days a week and only a partial day on Sunday. Last week, I got a letter notifying me of a raise starting this coming pay period!

     **blessing, blessing, blessing and BLESSING** We haven't been to church in more months than I care to share because I went to work at 11 on Sundays,  I get to spend hours each morning of undivided attention with my wee one, and shorter work days mean the crappy days are over muuuuuch sooner! However, the final blessing through all of this: Luke and I have a day off together which is the first time  we've had that in over a year!!!

     **blessing** Luke has officially logged a year in the delivery department at Woods which now means he is offered health insurance. It adds a significant amount to our paycheck monthly which is another hip! hip! hooray to our list :)

Life Blessings:
     **My husband took a logistics class earlier this year and he got his certificate today!! So proud!

     **We've found 2 wonderful babysitters that love our girl.

     **My in-laws have been sooooooo wonderful in working with our schedules to take care of Chloe whenever they can. They've been so accommodating and it's a huge blessing, indeed!

Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who trusts in him.

Psalms 34:8

16 months!

My love bug is 16 months. Walking, talking, sliding, pushing, and smashing keep her quite busy. Let me tell a few of her new things:

-Stringing words together to create itty bitty adorable sentences
-Shutting doors
-Learned 2 new animal sounds: twee tweet (bird) & do do dooo (rooster)
-Dropped all her bottles. Still rocking before bed & nap time
-19 lbs 4oz
-12 teeth
-Biggest words she says: octopus, avocado, and toenails
-Extra clingy to mama right now, which is proving difficult on the poor babysitters
-Starting to throw things when she's upset and slapped me in the face the other day
-Reading is her favorite thing to do
-Drinking Almond milk now -- like her mama
-Requests "bread" and "oatmeal" the most
-Loves to play in the car

 

Our Mimi

 

Today was a sad day. Our dear Mimi went back to her real life.

For the past 7 weeks, my mom has stayed with us. Crazy? Are you serious? Wow. Poor Luke. Yes, I've heard all the above. And if I heard of your mother in law moving in for that long, I just might judge you too. But my sweet daughter has got to live these last couple weeks being doted on by her grandmother that lives 3 states away and I wouldn't trade that for the world, no matter what the whispers say about us.

Thank you. Mimi. 

...For the hours you spent sitting in the car (parked in the garage!) while Chloe played with her car seat buckle

...For the millions of steps you walked to take Chloe Jane to see the owl

...For the aches from "out" you endured on those walks

....For the yards of floss you dispensed

...For the yummy food you labored over

...For the kisses on the skinned knees

...For the crackers that actually made it into Chloe's tummy, instead of yours!

...For the scratches on your nose and the itty bitty fingerprints you cleaned off your glasses

...For the revolving stack of books that you have memorized

...For being the best Mimi that Chloe could ever ask for

We miss you already.

Easter 2014

This Easter was such a delight. Last year was special because it was her first and all this parenting thing was new. Well, this year was soooooo fun. Here's a couple photos of our day watching this girl discover so many new things and indulge in her very first white chocolate ooey gooey goodness.

 

The hunt:

After all the hard work, it's time for rewards!