thrifted

favorite finds last week:

3 kids records from the '80s that we'll most likely use as art in the girls' room and one little white owl

On our walk tonight, Merit asked if she could bring her "bible". She brought along my book (that I wasn't the biggest fan of, by the way), "The Happiest Toddler on the Block" and read to August for a lot of our walk. We had a really great Sunday.

Tonight we joined the Harrisons downtown to eat some yummy pizza and watch our favorite Beatles cover band, SixtyFour. They had a fun little photobooth...

August started taking real steps this week. She took her first two in a row on Tuesday and has worked up to her current record of seven. :) Not sure I'm ready for this, but the cute little stinker pot didn't want to wait around for me to be ready.

Way to go, August Rose!

best friends forever

My dear friend Penny made these shirts for me last summer as a baby gift. I wasn't able to get the best picture of the shirts because the girls were too busy, well, being best friends. :)

my babies' daddy and my daddy after church on Father's Day

also today - Merit's first recital! (full post coming soon...)

catching fireflies with PaPa before bed

We went to see Tangled at our little downtown's newly renovated theater. August slept through most of her first movie. :)

swimming in the backyard with Nina and PaPa

Thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers as Merit underwent her testing. She did SO well with everything, and thought it was great that we got to see inside her belly. Seeing her in this little hospital gown was one of the cutest and saddest things I've ever seen!

We haven't heard any results yet. Thanks again for caring about our girl!

prayers for my girl

Over the past couple of months, sweet Merit has had two urinary tract infections back to back. It hasn't been fun.

Because of this, we have to go to the hospital tomorrow afternoon for some testing to be sure that she doesn't have any reflux in her bladder. It will involve a catheter, an ultrasound, and a very nervous mama. Although I am thankful for her doctor who cares about her, and for the technology to check these types of things out, I am not all that excited about it.

I really think Merit will do just fine (most likely better than I will) as she is a pretty tough little girl, and she absolutely loves doctor visits. This will be a visit unlike any that she has had thus far though, so prayers for her little heart are welcome. And of course, prayers that everything looks okay and that there is an easy fix so that her "pee pee won't hurt" anymore. :)

I am aware and in awe of the many parents who have gone through medical issues much, much worse than this with their precious babies. I am thankful every second for my two healthy girls. Thanks in advance for your thoughts and prayers for all of us tomorrow! Much love...

thrifted

My finds yesterday at the thrift store...

 two embroidered yarn pictures and one super sweet vintage baby boy romper

Yes, I realize I don't have any baby boys, but this is cute enough to hold onto just in case. (No, I'm not pregnant.) (I told you I might be a hoarder.)

Today Merit brought this dress to me and asked if she could wear it. It had long sleeves, so I told her it was probably too hot. She asked if we could cut the sleeves out, and since they were "faux sleeves", if you will, I said we could do that. She then asked if she could wear the sleeves as leggings. Such a creative fashionista. She let me take some pics of her cute outfit and did this pose all on her own. Love this girl.

In other news, Happy 10 months to this precious baby cakes. Love her, too.

Merit had dress rehearsal today. Here's a sneak peek at what is to come Sunday at her first recital. She talks nonstop about how she and the other "baby angels" will be dancing on the stage. She can't wait and neither can I!

pics of the day

For the two of you who may be interested, I just updated some of our pics of the day. You can scroll back through the blog, or go HERE to see the new ones. :)

baby bed head

Both girls are loving the backyard pool, but August thinks it is just about the greatest thing she's ever experienced.

growing up is hard to do

Last night we had about an hour drive home, and it was just me and the girls in the car. About ten minutes into the drive, August started crying and was worked into a full screaming cry not long after. I realized I had left the paci at home, but when August is that mad, she usually just spits it out anyway. Merit and I were handing over everything we could think of to calm her down...toys, books, Kevan's sunglasses, my wallet...all to no avail. After August had been crying for almost 30 minutes, Merit said, "Mama, you should sing her a lullaby." 

Frustrated and trying to concentrate on the construction that had backed up traffic, I said, "Merit, that's not going to work. I'm sorry, I just can't do that right now." 

More minutes passed with poor August in hysterics. 

"Okay. Sing with me, Merit." 

We started to sing "Tender Shepherd", a song my mama had sung to me and one I now sing to my babies. We sang it over and over maybe fifteen times.

"Tender Shepherd. Tender Shepherd. Watches over His sheep at night..."

August slowly went from a screaming cry to a whimper. I heard Merit from the back seat. 

"Mama! It's working!" 

I told her what a great idea she had, and then I started singing other lullabies, in the same order that I used to sing through them when I would rock Merit as a baby: "Jesus Loves Me", "You Are My Sunshine", "Merit is a Pretty Little Girl", "Tender Shepherd", and "Bicycle Built for Two." As I sang, I still heard some crying, although I thought August had gone to sleep miles ago. I stopped to discover that it was Merit who was crying. 

"Merit, what's the matter? Why are you crying?"

"Those songs make me cry, Mama." 

"Why do they make you cry?"

"I don't know, but will you keep singing?"

So, through my own tears I kept singing until we pulled into our driveway.

It was as though she knew there was an emotional attachment to those songs, but her three-year-old self couldn't quite comprehend why they were affecting her like that. What a sweet heart that girl has. Her baby days are gone, and I think we both know that although it is a very good thing to grow up (and indeed, to add new little loves to our family), we do miss those days. 

Just me and her in the rocking chair.

February 2009

August's first swim! In this one day of swimming, Merit went from clinging to me or the steps to swimming around by herself (with her floaties). Fun!

Kevan cleans our church on occasion, and today we went up there with him while he worked. The girls and I played (and dressed up!) in Merit's classroom and August LOVED crawling up and down the hallway.

Merit dancing with Jake at storytime this morning

Merit and Audrey encompassing all that is great about friendship and summertime

I found this vintage pillowcase at a thrift store the other day for 99 cents. Today I used THIS tutorial to turn it into a cute little dress for Merit.

I'll have to share some of my other thrift store finds soon. I'm becoming a little obsessed. Don't be shocked when I show up on the next season of Hoarders.

Merit Fey looking cute.