This is our modern day baby book! It is our prayer that years from now, Zeke and Adalynn will look back at the details of this blog and understand just how much we looked forward to meeting them and love them!







Sunday, May 15, 2016

Waiting on Lily Faith to BLOOM!!


Full Term

Well, I've officially reached and passed my due date of May 14, 2016!  That's a first for us, but we trust in God's perfect timing!  We know His ways are higher than ours, so we wait and trust!!

I wanted to share a few pictures of what we've been doing while we wait.  Gregg is officially on "baby leave," which is an answered prayer for him.  He asked God to allow her to be born while he was not working so he wouldn't have to rush home from a shift or have the extra stress of trying to find someone to fill in for him!

Zeke, my little photographer, caught me walking away!


I was having regular contractions last Saturday, the 7th, so the Cherians came and took the kids with them to our friend, Michelle's, birthday party.  The kids had a BLAST riding the all terrain vehicle below, playing Frisbee, and Zeke eating vanilla ice cream!!





They spent the night that night, but contractions stopped, so we had a quiet Mother's Day at our house as a family of 4 (and a half!).  We watched a livestream of church and just waited.  We realized she wasn't going to come, so we have continued to carry on!


Gifts

Our neighbor, Mrs. Farnsworth, made Lily Faith a gorgeous quilt.  She also brought Zeke and Adalynn gifts (bubbles, coloring books, Legos, etc.).  It was so incredibly thoughtful!!


Aunt Debbie sent some wonderful goodies to Zeke and Adalynn too!  She sent Zeke a handmade camo bag with all kinds of items she'd collected over the years in creeks.  There were sharks teeth, an arrowhead, beads, and more.  She sent Adalynn a beautiful baby doll with a handmade bag, blanket, and pillow.  They have been having such a great time with these thoughtful gifts!


Checkers

Zeke bought a Checker's game with his own money and we've really enjoyed playing.  I have to admit I had to look it up online to remember how to play!



Lunches Out

We've enjoyed several trips downtown for lunch.  I've been trying to remain busy and we really enjoy eating lunch together.  I realize I won't be able to do this for a while after Lily Faith arrives, so it has been a special treat!

Ready to head out for lunch
Silly smiles!

Downtown Americus

Shopping downtown (she's calling it "her pink piano!")


Lunch at The Bistro

All dressed and ready!

Heading out on another day

Butterflies

My mom gifted the kids with a Butterfly garden.  It came with a voucher to order caterpillars.  We ordered them and began the process of watching the life cycle of a butterfly.  The caterpillars turned into crysallides, then we placed them into the butterfly garden and waited for them to emerge as beautiful pink lady butterflies.  They finally did and it was very exciting for us all.  We thought they might not emerge before Lily Faith was born, but they did!!





Kite Flying

We bought a kite at Walmart (only $4 and works great!).  Zeke chose a butterfly since we were waiting on our butterflies at the time.  We've had such a fun time flying it!


Swimming

We did get to swim once, but then a part in our pool malfunctioned and we've been trying to get it back in balance since.  Hopefully it will be back in running order by tomorrow.  I can't remember if I already posted this, so here it is again if I did!



In Closing

I'll close with a few pictures from this morning before church.  The next time I post, it will be of our newborn Lily Faith!  We truly appreciate your continued prayers for a smooth, quick, healthy delivery!







Friday, May 6, 2016

Lily Faith is almost here!!



We were so incredibly blessed to have our sweet friend, Nikita, take maternity photos for us.  As you look through the photos, you'll be amazed because Nikita is not only self taught, but is 17 years old!!

The Cherian family has blessed us in so many ways, most importantly, by mentoring us and helping us grow in our faith and our call to, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations" just as Jesus called us in Matthew 28.  They have loved us like family and are our brothers and sisters in Christ!!

I wish you could see how Zeke and Adalynn light up every time they are with them.  I know they see Christ in Cherian, Sheeba, Joshua, and Nikita!!  I was trying to find some photos of them, but we are not good about getting pictures when we're together.  Here are a few, so you can see their sweet faces!!

This was last year when Adalynn was playing with Nikita and Doodle at their house!
One day a few months ago with Sheeba after church!
Dinner with the Cherians in November when my parents were visiting!
With Nikita in May 2015 at a local coffee shop
Joshua and Nikita right after they returned home from the mission trip in Cambodia last June
An oldie at the Plains Peanut Festival in 2014

Another oldie, but goodie of Zeke and Joshua in 2014 after church!
At Zeke's 5th birthday dinner

And one of my all time favorites of Adalynn with Cherian and Sheeba!!

At the Hall Home

We began the day with some photos of Gregg and me in our front yard.  The lighting and weather was perfect.  He was making me laugh, of course!




I love this one because he was being his silly self and making me laugh!


Next, we added the kids into the mix...



I love this of Gregg.  His girls are so blessed to have a Daddy to show them love!

Our little superheroes!

Around Americus

Then, we headed out to take some pictures around Americus.  First we stopped at the train tracks...







This captures her so well!




In color!
Next, we headed over to the Council House, a Historic home in Americus...



By this time, the kids (and maybe Gregg!) were tired and ready for lunch, so we went home to take a break.

Nursery Photos

Gregg had to go to work, so the kids and I changed clothes and did some photos in Lily Faith's nursery, then finished up on our driveway...


He does this about 5 times/day.  He loves his little sisters so much!








Zeke was really reading to us.  It was a precious story!

We had to capture frog and lamb!

BUMP!!





We moved her crib out of the way...it will be below her name



Chalk Time







We are so incredibly blessed and thankful to be welcoming our third child into the world very soon!  I'm due May 14th, but we'll see when God decides to bring her into the world!  It feels like it could be any day now.  Thank you for all of your continued prayers!

Nursery

I'll close with some photos of her nursery.  These were taken with my phone...not nearly as special as the photos above!!

It has gone from Adalynn's room to Lily Faith's nursery.  Adalynn and Zeke are sharing a room, as I've mentioned before, and doing great.  I'll include a few photos of their room too, although it's still a work in progress!







My old doll, Chelsea!


Cloth diapers are ready to go!


Blessings hanger Sheeba made for my shower

You can see where I hung it!

 Zeke and Adalynn's Room



Scripture art given to us at my baby shower! (Romans 15:13, Philippians 4:8 and 2 Timothy 1:7)  I picked these verses very intentionally!

We'll either paint the book shelf white or find something else for that spot



Handmade art (and curtains) by Wynna!  The Z and A are buttons glued on muslin!