Deep questions...

After school today, Alli hit me with this question...

Mom, sometimes do you think, "are we really alive, or is it all just a dream?"

Excuse me?  Is my five-year-old waxing philosophical?

Alli Alli bo balli banana fana fo falli

I have to give credit to my talented sister-in-law for this picture of Alli... but I painted the backdrop for her. 

link

Check out these pictures from my parents' visit last week on their website!
Grandma and Grandpa Ohio brought Alli and Ruby some twirly-ribbon-things that they had lots of fun with.  Thanks!

June

This little one is smiling more and more.  My tiny sunshine.  She melts my heart.  She has delicious chubby cheeks that I nibble-kiss a hundred times a day.  She can coo now... and we have very deep conversations regularly.  She is a champion belcher.  Though her burps are terrifyingly loud, they are generally dry and harmless.  I love to breathe her in... she has that heavenly baby scent (except for when she doesn't).  She has a thing for fashion, sometimes demanding a wardrobe change mid-day.  She requires loads of extra laundry... and I comply... though my favorite look for her is the one she arrived in (with a diaper for safety).

Oh I love this baby!

talents of the third kid

Apparently June can sleep through anything.

blessed

Every time I attend a baby blessing, I am reminded of years ago when we had miscarriages instead of babies.  That was a hard time (major understatement).  It was nearly impossible then to imagine having one baby... let alone the three cuties that we now have.  Baby blessings reminded me then that my arms were empty, and I didn't understand why.  And it hurt.

I still don't understand why we had two late-first-trimester miscarriages before we had Alli, but now with 20/20 hindsight I am thankful for the experiences we had.  Andy and I learned much.  And we grew.  And when I think back to those dark days, I give my babies an extra squeeze.  I am so thankful for my babies... big, medium, and small.  If only I could have known six years ago how full my arms would be!

Yesterday was June's blessing day at church.  My parents and brother Ben came for the occasion.  Andy's parents came too.  Andy's mom made a beautiful dress for June.  It was a beautiful blessing and a beautiful day.  My heart was full.  I have been blessed with a wonderful husband and three beautiful daughters.

Being a mom isn't easy.  This is not a job for the faint of heart.  But I love being a mom.  There is no better work than this.
 
PS- June didn't cry during the blessing.  She didn't spit up or poop on her dress.  Success!

five pounds of cuteness

Here is my newest nephew.  Taylor Michael Mars. 
He arrived a little bit early, but all was well.  We got to meet him in Idaho last week.  Alli and Ruby adored their tiny cousin.  We kept June away because she was sick.  June and Taylor are one month apart.  On the weekend that they met, there were 15 pounds between the two of them.

This little guy fits in a stocking cap.

He has awesome hair... all over his tiny, wrinkly body.  Newborn fuzz is pretty cute though.
Congratulations Chris and LaTrisha!  Taylor is darling.