Turning the Corner of September

Chug, chug, chugging through 2013… I know, I'm behind. No news here!

Let's do this…

September was fantastic! A real change of seasons for me. It was finally the end of Summer and the Fall schedule was kickin' in… this means much needed regularity to my weeks. 

Every Tuesday and Thursday I take the kids to our church for a woman's bible study and mom's group.  They play in the classroom and I have a slice of "me time".

As a stay at home Mommy, I need and crave that time with other girls who are in the same stage of life and… yup, that healthy time away from my kiddos too!

I am grateful to God that I am able to stay at home with my babies. I didn't always want to (another story for another time), but I am blessed to the depths of my being that God changed my heart to do so. 

It's hard. Sometimes I want to go back to work (of just throw my kids out the window… either one will do on some days…), but I have no regrets {especially since I have yet to chuck a child out the window}. And sadly, I think I would have some regrets if I had gone to work during these early, impressionable years. 

HOWEVER! Dependency is something I have to work on. Dependency of my husband, dependency of my friends, and…. my kid's dependency of me! I need breaks… and I need some "me time" so I can continue to give all of me. Cause yeah, it can be super draining!

But I struggle with who I trust my kids with. And this is where I can breathe easy...

I have been beyond pleased with the Little Steps program at Lakeside Church. One Christ follower especially, Miss Sheri, has been excellent with our sweet and energetic Ethan boy. I have literally thanked God for her for 2 years now. It puts my heart at rest knowing that my kids are encouraged and treated with grace-filled love while I am getting fed what I'm lacking in my day to day. 

This has also been a great source of socialization for my kids while they are still home with me.

They're socialized. I'm socialized. Win-Win.

So! September brought this much needed regularity to my life as I was more than happy to slam the door shut on Summer. 

We took the longest vacation since Mark started his practice - 1.5 weeks! - and drove down to southern California for a whirlwind, kid centered vacation. 

We did it all: Legoland, San Diego Zoo, aquariums, Sea World, beaches, and capped it all off with Disneyland. 

I don't recommend such an action packed week. The San Diego Zoo by itself deserves it's own zip code and we were totally deflated at the end of the day having only scratched the surface!

I could have used a little more beach time to be honest, but I am so grateful for the time away and the focus on family!

Here are some pictures of our September…

Our sweet Gracie Girl turned 3 Months…

I'm not sure if this is mean or not, but I saw a striking similarity to our daughter and her Great-Grandpa Chan… maybe because she's bald and happy?

Her 3 Month Pictures by the one and only, Jen Jarvis Photography!

She discovered her tongue during this shoot...

The many faces of Ethan Mark this September

September Fun… and Creative Solutions

Ugh. Expensive Fail.

I was so mad at myself!

Ethan: "It's okay, Mommy. We'll go back and get you a new one."

"Waygo Wand!"

We spent a week with my parents in the San Diego Area.

We were all blessed with the time together!

Water Fun!

Aquarium

Nixon Presidential Museum.

Reunited with some of our favorite friends from Boston, the Davenports.

San Diego Zoo!

Dinner @ Jake's

Behind the scenes...

Back at the Hotel!

Ethan has some kind of Grandpa to let him jump off his head into the pool!…

Over and over and over again...

Bummin' it!

Sea World!

Shamu Splash!

More Sea World

San Diego's Little Italy…

Ethan was all "pictured out".

Mark worked some magic...

This place was honestly worth the entire trip!

I love food but I loooove my sweets!

Extradorinary Desserts was exceptional!

Best Hazelnut Latte I've ever tasted…

To the inner dessert foodie in me, you're welcome!

PS - If I had 1 week to live, I might consider flying back here just for dessert.

Maybe...

We dropped my parents off at the San Diego Airport and then headed to Disneyland.

Disneyland is actually a place where can relax as a family.

I know this is not the case for (many) others, but it is for us.

Our kid is action packed, all the time! 

And Disneyland is a place where that is acceptable and… even encouraged!

We've found that our family vacations are pretty much limited to the beach or parks for kids.

THIS is our favorite park!

Each year since Ethan was 18 months, we've bought season passes. Up until this trip, Ethan had been free!

Then it's just the price of food, gas, and hotel (unless we use our timeshare points!).

AND Mark and I really love the road trip to talk… about anything!… for hours.

This September, however, we experienced Disney with Ethan's cousins!

Titus turned 5 and we were happy to celebrate with everyone!

Ethan was in Disney Heaven, that's for sure!!

Character Dinner

Young Boys being young boys.

Such fun!

My mom and I were noticing that when Ethan walks, he has a confidence about him.

She calls it "swagger"… minus the arrogance.

He's just a happy, healthy, joyful, light.

I guess that makes you puff your chest out a bit when you walk :)

My Super (cute) Boys

Love making her bows!

She rocked the princess set ;)

So that was September!

We turned the corner with the help of Fall…

and some pixie dust ;)

August Surprise *weepy* Baby Shower!

Do you ever get weepy?

I am having a seriously weepy week! 

It's a bit ridiculous, really.

Ethan and I youtubed Disney's Frozen to watch a few of his favorite scenes/songs.

Cried.

During our small group, we prayed for one another… dry for that… JJ closed the prayer thanking God for our group…

I Cried.

I log onto my blog to post the missing pictures from August Surprise! about Grace's surprise baby shower.

You guessed it….

I Cried.

I've cried randomly so much this week that Mark just looks at me and smiles… knowing what's coming before the first tear squeezes out.

And that, oddly enough!, makes me want to cry!

?????

Anyway, here are pictures of the surprise baby shower my beautiful and loving friends secretly organized, crafted, and plotted together.

Nothing but love in this picture:

I didn't leave out a single photo!

I couldn't possibly forget a single snapshot!

Girly Favors <3

Miss Mindy is quite talented with a sewing machine and making banners.

This burlap and lace GRACIE banner is now in her nursery :)

Headband making station.

Genius!

And, so fitting… it is a rare occasion when Grace is without a bow on her head :)

Something really beautiful about the decor - aside from the shabby chic, burlap & lace! - was all the newborn/family pictures we had taken right when we got Grace.

It really added a personal and *weepy* touch to the shower.

That and the scriptures that really pressed on my heart throughout our adoption journey were typed and framed around the house too.

Our small group "coincidentally" studied the book of Ephesians when we got Grace.

So… there were moles to this operation ;)

I was doomed for kleenex.

Now for the surprise! 

I was told that this was a "Girls Night In".

{My View}

{Their View}

I was super confused at first.

Running off of little sleep… this was a common. 

When it finally clicked… I think that's when the picture was taken above.

"Ooooooh!"

Wondering if Mark knew what was going on… he had already sped off with Ethan in the Truck.

"Was HE in on THIS TOO?" asking as I arrived to the "Girls Night In"

Basket of wine and goodies in one hand...

Baby girl in the other…

Let's eat! And drink sangrias ;)

A benefit to not nursing!

Pass the baby!

She had no idea… this was all because of her.

Some pictures just melt my heart! This is one...

… and this makes me smile! Big :D

Preggo/Nursing drink… punch ;)

Babies!

Showered!

That awkward, talking snapshot…

Thank you, girls. You enrich my life more than you know.

You shine brightly in my treasure box as each one of you holds a piece of my heart!

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

- Matthew 6:21

This man… my greatest treasure.

And with him, my littlest and most precious treasures of all!

Ok, I admit to tearing up as I type this.

This woman.

My heart has been through such depths with her throughout the last 4 years+.

Crises after crises… and also, joy shared between our two families.

I can't even fathom my life in Folsom/EDH without her.

She is as beautiful, kind, gentle, and wonderful as she seems.

She is one of the very best mothers I know.

Her heart is so pure and loving.

Her husband is a very lucky man, indeed!

And so are her 3 precious babies!

Our families are the only 2 surviving "couples" in our small group.

The OG if you will ;)

There is nothing I wouldn't do for her and her family.

Big. Big! jewel in my treasure chest of blessings ;)

She also is a jewel of a photographer {See her Blog here!} and took the pictures scattered around the house. 

She's gifted!

And her gift? 

Made me cry… 

A canvas picture of me holding Grace with the word "Chosen" followed by Ephesians 1:4-6 highlighting the words He chose us, love, adopted, grace, freely given.

It was so beautiful, so professional, I didn't realize it was Grace and me!

I truly thought it was a canvas print with scripture she got at the Family Christian Bookstore, or wherever… something you could find under "Great Gifts for the Adoptive Parent".

When I realized that it was us… that's when the tears flowed. 

Because as beautiful and professional as it was, it was so personalized. 

SO perfect.

That woman.

The picture is in Grace's nursery and we used it as a focal point during her Meet & Greet/Sip & See BBQ. We reused lots of the shower decor, actually ;)

I never used to be this weepy.

In fact, old friends will tell of a different Allie. 

One whose cheeks were always dry.

I'm not sure if I cracked (from the dryness that is!) or if life just weathered me to change seasons, but in general, my eyes are leaky.

Since becoming water works… life is fuller and… better!

Contrary to what I thought in my younger years, vulnerability is strength.

Strength to be who you want to be… and genuinely be it!

Brene Brown says in her book Daring Grately,

"Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage. Truth and courage aren't always comfortable, but they're never weakness."

I know it's not always appropriate to cry… but I just don't care.

You see, I want to have genuine relationships with people and allow them to know me.

If I cry… it means something genuine is happening at that moment.

It's me being vulnerable. 

It's me making a connection and being fully human.

At the risk of sounding vain… It's me being beautiful.

{Unless I ugly cry. Then that's just me… ugly crying ;)}

I'm not sure, but I think this is why Mark smiles at me before I cry. 

Knowing what is about to happen.

He's smiling at my heart… being beautiful… and being brave enough to expose it.

In all it's weepy glory.

"Vulnerability is the birthplace of love, belonging, joy, courage, empathy, and creativity. It is the source of hope, empathy, accountability, and authenticity. If we want great clarity in our purpose or deeper and more meaningful spiritual lives, vulnerability is the path." - Brene Brown