Unfailing Love: Happy Mother's Day 2013!!

Vincent Gerard

This is my hubby. Also known as Vinny, Dowey, Dowebally, and (as of last night) Pickle Juice. (You may learn that I have an affinity for nicknames, comes from my daddy!) Unbelievably, the hubs and I have been married for 9 years! I can't believe it! Seems like just yesterday I was a freshman in college and my friend introduced me to this hunky senior with a hot red car! Vince is working hard to support our family and traveling here and there. Vince is a WONDERFUL father and his girls (all of us) are the most important things to him!

Barclay Kathryn

What to say? I'm Barclay, usually known as Barclay (not much you can do with Barclay). I was an elementary teacher for fours years until I had Bella. Now I am doing the job I have wanted to do ALL of my life, being a mom. I love these two girls more than I can possibly express and it is my joy and privilege to be able to spend each day with them. I recently entered the blog frontier, and although my blog followers will probably be able to be counted on one hand, I thought it would be exciting to be a part of something so neat. I love that there are many other moms out there facing the same joys, hardships, questions, surprises, and challenges that I am. I also hope to be a sort of medium to spread awareness for others that need prayers, help, or just someone to walk through life with!

Isabella Kathryn

Usually referred to as Bella. As well as Bells, Bellie, Belly Boo, Bellsie Bubs, Bubs, Bubba, Bells and Whistles.... Bella is our first born daughter. She is 6. Bella enjoys school, reading, riding her training-wheel free bike, she could color and write for hours, she loves singing to the Momma Mia soundtrack, anything princess or pink, having bows in her hair, playing dress up, and her little sisters! God blessed us with Bella a month early but she was perfectly healthy. In six years she has become such a bright, outgoing, sensitive, and fearless little girl. Bella really is the sweetest girl you will ever meet. She is eager to please. If she hurts or disappoints someone it literally crushes her to tears. This last year she asked Jesus to be her Lord and Savior and we could not be more proud!! Love this sweet, blonde, blue eyed beauty!

Bryanna Karina

Usually known as Brynn. As well as Brynnie, Miley, Miley Moo, Geegs, Geegers, Brynnie Boo, and many more. Ten days before Bella turned 2 years old we were blessed with another beautiful, healthy girl by planned c-section. This time I was able to see my baby right after birth, watch her get weighed, bathed, etc. I couldn't wait for Bella to meet her. Brynn is now 4 and keeps me laughing all day long. Brynn, since she was about 2 months old has been the smiliest baby I have ever met. All you need to do is look at her and she will flash you a world class smile. Brynn is smiley, more shy and reserved about things than her big sis, can be quite the clown when she feels safe or gets in a silly mood, amazingly brilliant, she's been speaking full sentences since she was 19 months and continues to amaze us with what comes out of her mouth. She loves doing whatever her big sister is doing, dressing up, looking at books, her blankie, being held, twirling in her dresses, singing, and dancing whenever she hears music! Brynn is my compassionate baby, she hates to see people hurting. We just love this sweet, shy, snuggly, smiling little girl!

Brooklyn Blythe

Also known as Brookie, Brookie Cookie, Cookie Lu, Lulu B just to name a few. Sweet, sweet Brooklyn is our family's latest addition! We welcomed Brookie into our family on August 23rd 2010 at 12:23pm by planned c-section. I was nervous she would be a bit high maintenance since she came out screaming bloody murder and continued to wail anytime anyone touched her- get her footprints, take her temperature, etc. Amazingly, she would instantly stop the moment the Hubs touched her or began talking to her. And since her birthday, we have barely heard a peep out of her..... And fast forward 18 months, she definitely makes plenty of peeps now! :) We are full blown in the the terrible twos (which IMO last from 18-36 months) I believe. To make matters worse she's also cutting her 4 molars. She definitely knows what she wants but can't quite articulate it, so gets frustrated. Eating is also a hit or miss these days which is very foreign to me. Mixed with the crabby days though is the funniest personality ever. She is a riot! She LOVES chasing after her big sisters or having them chase and imitate her. She also has this adorable chubby face and will peek out of the corner of her eyes and just melt your heart! She is definitely shy at first but if you can get through to her she will keep you in stitches with her antics. We love you little BB and couldn't ask for a sweeter addition to our family!

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Happy Mother's Day 2013!!

First things first,

I must wish a happy Mother's Day to the two mommies in my life!!

(and of course my awesome grandmas in heaven)

Thankful the hubs' mom brought me a partner for life and thankful to my mom for giving me life and being one of my best friends!

The hubs planned the most perfect Mother's Day ever!

As much as I love my family and spending time with them,

all I really ask for on Mother's Day is to be alone. :)

I know terrible right?

I spend most of every day being needed in some way. And I am definitely a people person but occasionally I crave a day of not talking to anyone. And I like to use Mother's Day as this day. Every now and then the hubs with take a kid or two out for a little bit (and usually just the older girls if he takes 2) but it doesn't happen very often. He does better staying in with them, so I rarely have a quiet house. This Mother's Day they let me sleep in and then I received breakfast in bed along with many homemade presents (and also a nice charm bracelet from the hubs). Then the best part, the hubs took ALL 3 of the kids OUT of the house. It was SO nice. The crew left about 10:30. I sat around, watched a movie (The Impossible- about the Tsunami- SO good), relaxed. After a while I thought I'd get out (thinking the hubs was going to be back soon- turns out they didn't get back until 4!). I grabbed lunch, alone. Sat quietly, didn't have to share or serve anyone else. Then I leisurely walked around the mall for hours. :) Did a little shopping for myself. Went to Babies R Us and drooled over all the baby things I'd love to have. Then walked around Target and grabbed a couple essentials for the next day's dinner. I grabbed one of my favorites for dinner, Buffalos, on the way home and get home about 6. A perfectly lovely day on my own. :)

After dinner the girls were begging me to do something with them. They said they wanted to do something WITH me on Mother's Day. Ha. So we played a board game together before heading up for baths and bedtime.

Couldn't have asked for a nicer Mother's Day. So thankful for my hubs and the 3 beautiful girls (and one in heaven) that make it possible for me to be called Mommy, a life long dream.

Something else I like on Mother's Day is for the hubs to get some pics of me with my girls. Since I take most of our day to day pics, I am rarely in them. I also wanted a few maternity pics before I get too humongous (Blakely will be here in SIX WEEKS. ;)

So here are a couple of my favs that the hubby quickly took.