A certain pair of wellies...

A little someone around here is in love with a certain pair of pink polka-dotted wellies. I must say I'm quite fond of the word "wellies", it's one of those words that you can say and it will put you in a fun, silly mood instantly. You see I used to call them rain boots but then a while back my friend Segi, who lived in England for a couple of years when she was little, was telling me a story about her wellies and I'm thinking, "what the heck are you talkin' about?" but I didn't want to interrupt her (really I just didn't want to sound dumb) so when she finished I finally asked her and she matter-of-factly enlightened me. And now I call them wellies and smile.

So since these days it's a matter of "pick your battles" with my resident princess, I'm more than happy to give in to the wellies-wearing pouty-lip pleas (I think the wellies have secret powers because they can change a mood in a matter of seconds). So if you live near us and see the little pumpkin at church wearing a Sunday dress and pink wellies you'll know that it was one of THOSE mornings :) Now I definitely understand why a friend let her 3 year old go to a birthday party covered in band-aids though she had no real bo-bos...aah, motherhood!

I needed to try this dress on Grace to ensure fit and she was not happy to be pulled away from hiding dvd's under the rug pad to humor her mama, so I offered the wellies and a very eager almost two year old came running to me :) - time to grab the camera and hope the moment lasts longer than 30 seconds!

Can you see how in awe she is of these wellies?

So happy to have spotted a couple of birdies in a tree Did you see them, mama?!? Giggle, Giggle It's a lellow (yellow) flower!!! I LOVE THIS GIRL! So I am happy to say that of all the things she probably inherited from me, I think it's safe to say Grace is definitely a shoeaholic. Mama's so proud!

Cherishing my daughter...Remembering the SuperPrincess

It was early last June that I stumbled upon Sheye Rosemeyer's blog and first learned of her beautiful daughter Ava and the tragedy that changed her family's life. I remember sobbing while reading Sheye's words and imagining her pain as only a mother could. I remember hugging Grace a little tighter that day, praying extra prayers over her for her safety, and praying comfort for the Rosemeyer's.

In the days and months that have passed since then, I often find myself thinking about Ava, the SuperPrincess and lover of all things pink and sparkly. I am inspired by Sheye's eloquent words and beautiful photography, but most of all by her honesty and transparency in allowing others to get to know Ava through her eyes, memories, and feelings, and her candor in sharing her heart's aches and longings for a daughter that left much too soon. What a beautiful 3 1/2 year old little girl she was, so full of joy and love. I think the words that have stuck with me the most are the ones where Sheye reminisced over how Ava must have known her journey here on earth would be short for she packed as much joy and experiencing as she could in her 3 short years.

Honoring Ava's memory, Grace and I spent the whole day today in her "princess skirt" and new favorite pink wellies, living in the moment and relishing the simple joys of childhood. This is just our small tribute to you Ava, the original SuperPrincess! Yesterday marked the second anniversary of the day Ava went to Heaven. Ava, you will NEVER be forgotten. You have touched so many people in so many ways. A mother's love for her children, is there anything more pure? Sheye, our prayers are with you and your family. May you find comfort in knowing how many people's lives have been changed for the better all because of Ava! God bless you and your family. ~Jessica

Put a little love in your heart...

Remember that Gap campaign years back (Christmas I think) that used that song "put a little love in your heart" - I can't get it out of my head!!! Fitting I guess since valentine's day is just around the corner. I've been thinking up some sweet pink and red inspired projects. First, the treats:

I've never made any of these exact treats, but they're all on my baking list: And my most favorite are these cupcake pops!!! Click here for great instructions and photos from Bakerella. I think I'm going to make these for Grace to take to her MDO valentine party! And then there's these sweet little pink tank from Amy of nanaCompany that just arrived on my doorsteps last week - LOVE IT! Isn't it so simple and cute?! It's inspired me to get out some of the sweet fabrics in my stash and try my hand at some cute applique tees with all kinds of different designs...hmmm, I can picture a sweet little poka dot cupcake with a button for the topping! Now these won't be any kind of designer tees or anything, but just some sweet little tees that Grace can wear to play in. Already have all the stuff needed at home so no excuse not to at least try it :) Maybe if they turn out cute I can even make some for the girlies that will be coming over for Grace's valentine playdate. Maybe even a tee with a crown for the boys!

Have I mentioned I love pink and red and polka dots and fabric and all things girlie?!?!

A Prayer Request

Update on Baby Bennett (through my friend Michelle): Bennett is struggling from pulmonary hypertension. Baby's have a whole in each lung that allow them to breathe in the womb. Bennett's did not close as they were supposed to when he was born. He was breathing as if he was still in the womb. The Arkansas Children's team placed him in an ECMO machine which simulates the womb allowing him to breath that way. Ben (Bennett's dad) reports that his blood oxygen level is now at 99%, that he is doing much better and that his coloring is now pink. He is being cared for by his own private nurse and own ECMO tech. They estimate that Bennett will be there for 6 - 8 weeks, then possibly return to the NICU at the hospital he was born, then return home. Statistically, with his condition there is a 70% survival rate. Katye will be discharged today and will go with her parents to Little Rock to join Ben, his dad and her new baby. They will be able to visit with the baby 24 hours a day and are hoping to be able to stay at the Ronald McDonald house next to the hospital. Please continue to pray for Baby Bennett!

A friend of mine, Katye, just had her baby boy Bennett this Friday. He's a little chunky monkey at 8 lb. 14 oz. even though he was born early at just 35 wks. Baby Bennett had to be airlifted to a specialty Children's Hospital due to Pulmonary Hypertension and is in critical condition, although the doctors just updated him to "stable but critical" this evening. I remember how scary it was to have Grace early (35wks) and my heart just aches for Katye and her family having to go through all this with little Baby Bennett. I know God is taking care of Bennett and comforting his scared parents. Please, please if you read this, take a moment to say a prayer for Baby Bannett, his mom, dad, sister, and the entire family.

THANK YOU!
~Jessica

E-I-E-I-O

What do these things have in common, you ask? Cupcake by Kooky Culinary Give up yet??????

Answer: My recent conversation with Grace!

Goes like this:

Mama: "Grace, you're going to be 2 really, really soon! What kind of birthday party do you want to have, pumpkin?"
Grace: "Old McDonald Elmo birthday party with pumpkins!!!!!!!!!!!"
Mama: "Okie dokie, pumpkin, your birthday is in March, how about 2 out of 3?"

So knowing how much Grace loves animals we were able to scope out a local farm that could accomodate our birthday request. We went out to check it out a couple of weeks back and Grace got SO excited - she talked about it for days, "And there was a duck, and a pig, and a joey (yes, they even have a baby kangaroo!), and an ELEPHANT!! (not sure where this came from - no elephant, although they do have a zebra and a camel???)". They even have a cow print mini choo-choo for the kids to take a little ride through the farm and will let the kids feed and pet some of the baby animals - can't wait to see Grace's reaction!

So there it is, we're having an Old McDonald Barnyard Bash Birthday Party (and I'm sure we can squeeze in some cupcakes of her beloved furry red friend somewhere in there :)!

Lifesavers Candy

I've got Spring on the brain...and all thanks to my mom!

I volunteer in a Paired Reading program with first graders at one of our local schools and an unexpected glitch in scheduling left me with 1 1/2 hours of free time this morning before I needed to pick up the little pumpkin at MDO.

I immediately called my mom since I remembered she was headed to Ann Taylor Loft in search of some spring pieces and asked if she minded a tag-along. So off we went. Me with the intention of only helping her shop...after all, we're in the middle of putting together Grace's big girl room and Hudson's nursery.

Of course, my no-shopping rule was short lived :) She did find some fabulous pieces and somehow I came home with two candy-colored tops and a little lilac cami I can't wait to wear. The first was a great steal, one of those shopping moments when the clouds part and sunshine just streams in as you realize that you've just found a great deal (can't you just picture Stacy and Clinton from What Not to Wear in the background - ha, ha). It's hard to tell from the pic but it's a canary yellow and white tweedy jacket that just makes me think SPRING! Never mind that I can't button it right now and that the belly makes it even more cropped than it's intended, it made me smile, esp. when the sales girl told me it was $30 from $129! I may even have to work out a whole Easter outfit around it :)

The second was this tangerine shrunken cardigan that I paired with a ruffly lilac cami - so fun! The colors make me think of lifesavers :) I think I'm going to wear it with my favorite chunky turquoise bangle and some not-recommended-to-wear-while pregnant stacked sandals that I just love. Thank goodness, we didn't hit a shoe shop! Hurry up Spring, I'm ready!

POP! goes the belly

Don't know if it's because we've been reading lots of Dr. Seuss books lately, but everytime we read Oh, the places you'll go, I immediately think of Hudson and the size of my belly, as in oh, the size you will grow!

Here's a pic back in December a couple of days before Christmas

And here's a pic from this week - definitely lots pointier! At my last OB visit (15 wks.) I was telling my doc how huge I felt compared to when I was pregnant with Grace. She politely told me that I had only gained 3 lbs. since my first visit. Not possible, I thought. Well, I'm sure that's all bound to change at my visit next week since this week I've been HUNGRY!

Now that the nausea seems to be gone for the most part (happy dance, happy dance), I'm starting to enjoy food again :) Blueberries, Totino's canadian bacon pizza (fake pizza as I like to call it), Fuji apples, Country Time lemonade (powder mix not the ready-to-drink kind), Krispy Kreme donuts, and Coke icees - bad I know. Now if I could only get rid of these headaches...