EVEY TURNED 4!!!

Eveyanna you're now 4 years old!!! What a year it's been! We now live in Kigali Rwanda and you seem to love it! We got here 5 months ago and you've transitioned perfectly. You've always been a pretty easy kid... somewhat testy, bossy and whiney, but easy as far as traveling and finding comforts in mom and dad instead of in your stuff.

So like I said, you're very bossy. You even tell people "I'm the boss of you!" even mom and dad. You seem to know everything. You are VERY smart. You say you're going to be a ballerina, toothfairy, president of the USA and psychiatrist when you grow up. Way to go kid! You're very interested in heaven right now and what it is. I told you how awesome it is and so now you want to go there soon... but I said please no. You want me to go with you, but I am trying to convince you that God wants us here for now, so lets enjoy it! You love barbies, dolls, movies and tv, candy, popcorn, mangos, dressing PUNKY, hanging out with mama, crafting, dancing, singing and hugging on sissy TOO HARD! You have always been a rough lover, but with sis, you like to step on her legs and hands, push on her tummy, sit on her, pick her up, hit her and more. You are a bit too rough and you remind me of ME as a kid. You are a silly girl and love to rough house and wrestle unless you're losing. You're competitive... and like to always win. You quote every movie so we have to be careful what you watch. You remember little of our past, but are starting to remember stuff now. '

All in all you're an amazing kid. You talk about God and Jesus all the time and love to sing about them! You're gorgeous and dont' want us to cut your princess hair. You love anything pink and princessy. You love mom and dad and sis and you're going to grow up to be one amazing person! Oh and you looooove to read!

HAPPY 4TH BDAY SWEET EVEYANNA! WE LOVE YOU!

Oh and you really miss your uncle gary. He's your favorite. You love to fish with him and gut fish and squish their eyeballs and snowmobile and roastout and camp and do anything outdoors. You miss your auntie and uncle soooo much!

Salome, you're growing up! 7 months old!

Hi Sali. It's mommy. I'm sorry once again for not blogging much... but I do post a lot of pics to facebook... that's something right? Ok, so our life has been just a little crazy. We were literally homeless my whole pregnancy with you, preparing our move to Rwanda. We were going to have you in Rwanda, but in April, my 6th month, we decided to plan to have you stateside. We had you in Idaho with a midwife, can't wait to tell you the amazing story.

By 2.5 months...10 weeks old we were on our way to Rwanda to start our life there. We lived with our friends the Shrecks for a month, found a house and when you were 3.5 months old you were finally getting to use all of sissy's old toys, chairs, clothes etc. I was so happy no to have to hold you all the time... mommy was tired!

You slept with us a lot and in your pack-n-play. After a month of living in our new house you and sis moved into your own room which you shared. You started sleeping through the night in your own room. I was happy, then by 7 months I really started a sleep schedule with you because we FINALLY had a somewhat formal schedule and routine. Your first word of course was Da-da. Then some ma-ma's and lots of ramblings. You really started giggling by 2 months and barrel laughing by 5 months.... and at 7 months you laugh a lot on your own and you absolutely LOVE your big sis Evey. She can always make you laugh. Always. You started army crawling by 6 months... at 7 months you still can't sit alone... you still fall over a lot.. but I think it's coming soon. You are a fast crawler. You sometimes try to stand or pull up, but your'e not there yet. You don't cry much. Everyone says you're such a happy, content, peaceful baby. It's true. Your name means peace. We had a peaceful, yet crazy pregnancy, but you are all around peaceful and I hope you stay this way... especially since your big sis is so bossy and strong willed. Oh, your first 2 teeth came in at 6 months which is pretty early. You LOVE vanilla yogurt. I started solids at 6 months, but you still only like vanilla yogurt. I tried cereals, and some other pureed veggies, but you always gag and puke it up. You make me nervous especially since we live somewhere with NO 911!!!! You have never liked binki's or bottles and when we give them to you you just chew on them... not suck on them. Sometimes I wish you liked binki's 1/2 as much as Evey did who steals the ones we bought you. Eveyone says you're petite. You are... and so cute! You look just like daddy did when he was a baby. Sis looks more like me. You love to suck on your toes. In Rwanda, all the locals think you're a boy, partially because you have little hair and because color doesn't determine sex here. It's funny. Everyone laughs that I carry you in a sling on the front of me... not the back as they do here. Your hair is light brown and red... You're so cute and little and you absolutely love your mommy! You love to nurse and cuddle me. You don't like naps... unless it's on the boob with mom. You love to grab faces and hair and earings. You're exploring everything now. You like to play with sisters barbies.

Ok, that's it for now. I love you sweet pea Sali. Oh, and I think you have my butt... it's a chubby big bottom..... and I love to pinch it! It makes you laugh. You're so ticklish especially your ribs, chin and tummy! I love you Salome!

I'm so sorry Salome.

Well this is one of my pains. The guilt I feel when i think about the fact that I've not kept up on preserving of history with my kids... oh the guilt! I'm so sorry Sali. Yes, I did good with Evey, but you, life just got the best of us. We planned a move, moved and settled... still settling... and baby, I'm so terribly sorry, I have not posted even 1 time about you! I will. This is on my list for the week. To do something ... just to put your sweet little milestones in digital print, so that we can all go back and see. And one day... I might, I just might, put it in ink... print.... a real baby book for you. At least I take pictures right? No, not as many as I did with Evey, but it's true what they say, it really is, life is so much busier with 2 kids!

Ok, I love you equally as much as I do Evey. I promise.

your loving mommy.

ps. I waited until you were 6 months old to post this. DOUBLE SORRY!

Evey's getting OLD!

Pretty braids!

Here she is! So cute and growing into such a lovely little girl! We had a mommy-daughter beauty day and got our hair washed and cut and went to have our nails did! She had a blast and I know she felt very special! I love spending time with her! Oh and one day she let me do french braids in her hair which looks oh so cute! Love this girly!

we did her hair in curlers at home!

Trimmed hair!

nails done!

love the hair!

30 weeks: baby shower!

I'm officially 30 weeks already! 10 more weeks to go! Today we were supposed to go have baby bump pics taken with our friend Melissa, but her son is sicky, so we rescheduled for next week. BUT tonight my girlfriends are throwing me and the mini-bean a baby shower! Can't wait!

I want these.

Again, like I've said before, I cannot wait to get to Rwanda and get settled so that I can start crafting again! Love these speech bubbles! They're made out of wood, but I think we could make them out of construction paper.... one day maybe! We'll make some really fun photos fo sho!

oh how I love all the cool ideas you can find on etsy!!!

Baby Alex!

Our friends Brandy and Dylan recently had a gorgeous baby girl named Alex. We were spoiled enough to get to go visit them at their house a few times and Evey was honored to be able to hold the little 5.5 pound angel! She's excited to soon be a big sister and we just know she's going to be a big help!

Here she is holding sweet baby Alex!

Happy Mothers Day to me!

me and my silly bean!

I had another fabulous mothers day. I woke up to a fancy breakfast that my Rusty made me! Mmmmm good! Then we went to church at Quail which was awesome, then went to Faith Bible Church with our friend Marsha who wanted us to meet some people there. It was a full morning, with a few hicups from Evey, but good. Then we went to lunch with Marsha and home for much needed naps!

After napping we headed out to small group with some of our great friends from Quail. All in all it was a great day with my lil' family! I am so blessed!

My morning breakfast!

Cheese!

a lovely lunch with our friend Marsha! We love her!

a grumpy girl ready for her nap!

She's too cool!

Crafty idea!

Ok, since we left our house in October, I have had very few "creative outlets" and I'm itchin' to get it all out!!! I came across this recently and I WANT TO MAKE IT FOR EVEY!!! So cute! It could be a side stand or shelf! Too cute and CHEAP!!! Ok, once we get to Rwanda... I'm so making it!