4 Months

This blog does still exist.

I know it's been a while, but we are still here...

In the news:

Our darling children are 11-3 and 11-1 now (Little Guy became a big guy...by 2 ounces), and we're about to place an order for amber teething beads, because we're ear-tugging, diaper rash-sporting, slobber-crazy over here right now, and we all know what that means. 

Katharina is working so very hard at rolling over, though we think she might roll from her back to her stomach first. She loves blowing bubbles as big as her nose (which isn't very big) with all this excess slobber, prefers baths warmer than Sebastian's, and likes scooting on her back from one end of the living room to the other. She and I are tied as shoe collectors, and her accessories have taken over the entire house.

Sebastian loves tummy time, only because it is a means of getting to his back, which is where he really prefers to be. He loves being flipped and thrown in the air, reading stories, and swinging his fists at whatever comes in their way. He is equally slobbery and enjoys chewing on a collarbone whenever he's propped on a shoulder. Sing to him and his stare just might melt your heart.

As for the parents, well we're still around. 

We're so excited for Peter's parents to arrive late this week and meet their second and third grandchildren for the first time ever. This may be emotional.

Peter's up to his ears in exams and work and husbanding and fathering, but he somehow manages it all. Today marks his final exam day and the end of his first semester. Praise the Lord, we've made it. He's looking forward to heading home this summer (we're not sure who's more excited- me or him) and rebuilding a Honda cafe racer (similar to this) with my dad and brother while continuing to juggle husbandry and fatherhood and a full-time job. (He'll be a pro at this before long). Do we cram stuff? Yes, probably. But it keeps life so exciting.

And me, well I'm busy not updating this blog and sometimes running around like a headless chicken. My mind often spins with the washing machine (which I have purposed to do better at hanging. ...not the machine, the laundry. Mind.spinning.) and sometimes sleep is short and sweet. I adore motherhood, and my husband even more. 

Sometimes we leave for church 15 minutes late with the breakfast dishes still on the counter (if we've even eaten breakfast at all). Sebastian's socks don't match, and Peter can't find a dry shirt because I forgot to hang the load of darks (just that one time, I promise). We have a lot of walking-home-from-the-grocery-store-and-the-handles-on-the-bags-break kind of days. A lot of days where a baby is naked and you reach for a clean diaper only to find you used the very last one on the other baby. A lot of days where you get to the Morrison's till and unload the full cart only to find your wallet is empty. But we keep going, and this week, I actually laughed out loud at our mistakes (and they were many).

Our life is full. And really difficult, but great. We're so thankful for all it brings our way (which we are thinking is quite a lot).

Since they've already taken over the blog...

...what's one more post about our sweeties?

This week, on top of the new hair bows, hats and mittens, and impressive tricks, Sebastian and Katharina discovered each other.

And oh, how they're fascinated!

New hats and mittens.

We're super duper tickled about these new hats and mittens. Handmade for us and shipped all the way from the United States, we think they're rather cute.

But we can't be the ones to say. What do you think?

3 months

The biggest surprise, the greatest gift, in all of 2011 was these sweet darlings:

Happy 3 months, babies. You fill our lives with joy and happiness, and each and every day we are forever grateful for you. You are treasures.

December 31, 2011 - 2 years

Its been two years since I married this man.

I never knew two years could be so full. I still think we just got married. Seriously. But it's been two years of happiness and joy, struggles and a few fights (or maybe 5 or 6. . .), lots of tears and laughter (oh how he's taught me to laugh!) but more love and kisses, and one crazy, wild ride. 

Two years, and he still makes my toes tingle and my cheeks blush. He still makes my heart beat fast and gives my stomach butterflies. Two years, two children, stress, anxiety and a new home thousands of miles from the old and he keeps me wondering when the honeymoon ends.

He makes me madder than any person ever can, and he knows me better than any person ever will.

We’ve fought battles we didn’t know we could face. We’ve emerged stronger, victorious (sometimes), resolved, thankful. And I’m pretty sure together, we could conquer the world.

I promised to walk beside him for better or worse, and he’s held my hand and led me through better and worse (worst?). Because he is strong, I can walk beside him. I long to grow old with him.

And I don't believe the Lord is finished with us. We have a lifetime to live together. Thank God.

Photo credit: Peter Serven