A Stay-at-Home Summer

We have been having a beautiful summer - once June came to a close with all of the chilly, rainy, and flooding weather.  Thankfully, our house was okay.  We did not have any flood damage.  Praise God!  We are very blessed...just a little bit of water in our basement, but that is normal.

The summer is flying by, as usual.  It has been a perfect July, spending lots of time outdoors, enjoying our beautiful Lake Superior and riding bikes/running around in the parking lot next to our home.  We also have been getting lots of sun at the Park Point beach and at one of the many playgrounds we have in Duluth.  It is so much fun to meet up with friends at the park, in the summer.  Gotta take advantage of this weather while we have it, before we are locked indoors for 7-8 months.

God is teaching me so much about enjoying all of the moments I get with these sweet, little girls.  It probably has been the most challenging time with Maddie and Norah, the last 2 months.  There have been many more tantrums, fights with stubbornness and strong wills, difficult bedtimes (with it staying light so long in the evening), and most recently, no more naps.  :(  That has been a hard one for me to give up.  While I dearly love my children and do not want to always be looking forward to nap time, I am finding that I miss that quiet hour or two I would get each day, to be refreshed and recharged, as a mom.  But while it has been a more trying time, as a parent, God is continually reminding me of how quickly this time will pass and how I need to be using these moments to shape my character, to become more like Him.  I am definitely trying to learn how to be patient (not only with my children, but also with this house selling business...almost a year now!)  I am working on staying calm when they are starting to push my buttons.  I am learning to be more consistent in my discipline.  And most importantly, God is teaching me to be discipling these little ones, while they are so anxious to learn and talk to me about what is going on in their minds.  This time does fly by!  I can hardly believe Maddie will be heading off to kindergarten in a year.  My little girls are growing up so quickly, and I long to be the kind of mom they need, in order that they will grow up to be strong, godly, young ladies, who long to serve God in all that they do.

Speaking of growing up, our little Elise just turned 9 months old last week!  She has been such a joy to us; such a smiley little girl.  She is a great sleeper and eater.  We always know just what she wants.  Her older sisters adore her.  Elise is getting ready to crawl, any day now.  I haven't been encouraging it too much, but I know it's inevitable and she will be even more happy when she can get places by herself.

Also, Norah celebrated her 3rd birthday at the end of June.  She had a fun birthday party at Lester Park, with a few friends and family.  Norah is a fun-loving, sweet girl, who can be very stubborn at times.  She is our strong-willed one, but hopefully in the future, it will serve her well!  

I sure am thankful to my rock-star husband, who encouraged me to go and hang out at a coffee shop tonight.  It was much needed, after a few long, busy weeks.  It has also gotten me excited about getting this blog going again!  (And to my little girls, who I hope will read this one day:  You need to find a husband like your daddy.  He is the absolute best - such a gift to me.  I have never been more happy in marriage and life, thanks to God and the blessing He has given me in your amazing daddy.)

There's a New Hall in the House!

It's official!  Elise Faith Hall joined our family, early in the morning on Wednesday, October 19th, at 1:30 a.m.  After a very long night of labor, we met our beautiful little girl, at 8 lbs, 2 oz., 19.9 inches.  She is absolutely perfect and we couldn't ask God for any greater blessings!  We feel so honored and blessed to be her mommy & daddy.

My labor started early Tuesday morning....I was having contractions already at 4 a.m. - bad enough that I couldn't sleep.  Unfortunately, I kept having them all day long, about 20 minutes apart.  They weren't horrific/terrible feeling contractions - but they were enough to be annoying.  :)  I went to my 40 week doctor's appt.  where my doctor scraped my membranes...hoping to get things moving along.  My mom was in town, watching the girls for my appt, and suggested that Brandon and I go to the new movie, Courageous, which may I say is a really awesome, inspiring, God-filled movie!!  I highly recommend it.  Anyways....it was probably the most uncomfortable movie I've ever sat through, as my contractions were getting much more intense and closer together.  By the end of the movie, they were about 5 minutes apart.  My mom ended up taking the girls to her house for the night, since we figured we would be going into the hospital soon.  We went to the hospital at about 8:30 p.m..  I had an epidural. - which was heavenly, as I was having terribly close contractions and horrible back labor.  Ouch!  During the epidural, Brandon fainted...almost falling on me, when I was supposed to be holding really still, so the anesthesiologist could insert the needle in my spine!!!  YIKES!  It was scary!  Praising God that it wasn't a worse situation.  Could have been!!

Anyways, I started pushing at about 12:15 a.m.  It was definitely much more difficult pushing this time than previously, with Norah, which was surprising to me.  I pushed until 1:30 a.m., when she joined our family!  Couldn't be more excited!  :)  God is good.  She is a beautiful, healthy, little girl.  We are praising God for a healthy pregnancy and perfect little baby.  

The girls meeting their sister for the first time!

2 happy Big sisters

Thanks for all the prayers, everyone!  I can be in the hospital until Friday....looking forward to some good rest tonight, as I only had 1 hour of sleep last night.  If you think of it - please pray as we adjust at home.  I'm a little nervous as to how Norah will deal with the new addition....thankfully she adores her older sister and likes to mimic everything Maddie does.  So hopefully, both girls will adjust nicely to having to share mom.  Welcome to our new addition!

A beautiful summer in Duluth

We have been experiencing one of the most perfect summers in Duluth!  The weather has been fantastic - and when it rains, it usually rains at night, and then is gorgeous by the morning.  I am thankful for this great summer and am not really ready for the cold winter, that is quickly approaching.  (Way faster than normal, it seems!!)

Me @ 32 weeks - baby is getting large!!

I've definitely reached that "nesting" stage, getting ready for baby.  I guess that never goes away, no matter how many pregnancies you have.  It has taken me longer to get there than I feel like it did for the other two, especially with Maddie.  I think preparations started right at the beginning with her!!  :)  But that's just how it goes, and is kinda expected, because you already have a lot of the baby items.  (and if this is another girl, I am really prepared with clothes!)  Baby is almost 33 weeks!  Crazy to think only about 8 weeks to go.  Can't wait to meet this baby!

So we've been getting the room ready - since we might have to have three children in that one room, we bought bunk beds.  Maddie and Norah love them.  I've never been a huge fan of bunk beds, but I'm really happy with these.  Norah has been sleeping on her big girl bed now!  I almost got kinda emotional giving her a kiss good-night in her big bed.  She's growing up so fast - my little baby, who won't be my little baby much longer!

We had a great week of family vacation a couple of weeks ago.  We stayed at Grandview resort, in Nisswa, MN, along with all of mom's side of the family.  Here's a picture of the group!  It certainly is growing and continues to grow!  I'll include some other pictures of our great week of vacationing.

Maddie loving on her sweet cousin, 6 month old, Raina

Enjoying the beach at the resort

Hope you all are enjoying your summers.  Labor day is next weekend, which is the start of fall activities again - which I am looking forward to on one hand, but not on the other.  It has been a busy summer and I'm ready for some routine, but I will be sad to see the gorgeous weather disappear!  We have much to look forward to - with baby on her way to meet us!

Norah turns Two!

Yesterday was Norah's 2nd birthday!  Crazy how fast 2 years flies by.  We had a special friend's party, in the park, in the rain unfortunately, on Monday morning.  Kids don't care about the rain though!  They were a mess when we were done, but they had fun, and that's the most important thing.  :)

patiently waiting for cupcakes 

We also celebrated Norah's birthday on the day, the 28th....she had pancakes and strawberries for breakfast and then we had a family party in the evening for dinner.  It was a fun day!  I think she was partied out though, because she has been awfully crabby/tired today.  

My sweet Norah - she is lots of laughs, such a chatterbox, a lover and copycat of her big sis, a cuddler, a reader, and can be quite stubborn at times.  She loves baby dolls and cooking up food in her little kitchen.  She is such a joy.  I look forward to many more birthdays with her and watching her grow and develop into a lovely, young woman.  (I just hope she slows down that growing just a bit.....I don't want her to stop wanting to sit with me!)  Happy 2nd Birthday, Norah!  May God bless you!

Summer is here

As I type, the girls are upstairs, and I am listening to Maddie read to Norah.  I love it!  She is asking Norah, "Where is the flower?  Where is the boat?"  She is teaching her little sister!  It's great!

We are finally beginning to experience a little bit of summer in Duluth.  Feels great - I am loving it.  It was a long winter!  Just wanted to update you all on what's going on with us....it has been a long time.

We have been really busy trying to get our house all ready to get on the market....probably any day now.  It has been a lot of work, but we are enjoying seeing the new cleaned-up look!  It will almost make it harder to leave, if we are able to sell it.  We are just trusting that God's will be done.  We don't have to be out of here by the time baby #3 arrives in October, but it would be helpful to have a little more room.  (did I say I was expecting??)  :)   So - if you know of anyone who wants to buy a house in Chester Park area - 2 bedrooms - send them our way!

Like I said, I am expecting.  Maddie is pretty excited that we are having another baby, and I think she is beginning to think baby will NEVER come!  But the girls came with us to our 20 week ultrasound, which they thought was pretty fun.  It looks like we are having another girl!  We are thrilled of course - all we ask for is a healthy baby.  Here is a picture of me at 20 weeks.  I feel like this summer is going to fly and this baby is going to be here really soon!  (I'm due on October 17th.)

As the summer goes on, we are looking forward to being done with all the house projects we have been so busy on since April.  Hopefully we will enjoy some good family time and fun in the sun!  That's my hope!  The girls are growing up quickly.  In 2 weeks, it will be Norah's second birthday.  The girls are great pals and can usually be found together playing or reading books together.  They love any chance they can get to be outside and/or be at a playground with friends.  I love summer....so much more to do!

That's about all I have to update you on now!  Hopefully I'll be a little more consistent....

Happy Father's day this weekend, to my wonderful husband!  Our girls really look up to him & love helping him, no matter what the project!  He's such a great dad.  :)  

I'm an Auntie!

I am thrilled....I am an auntie to a sweet, baby girl!  Kelly & Brian had their first, Raina Eileen Finstrom.  She is as sweet and beautiful as can be.  I love that girl....I never realized how connected  you would feel, being an aunt.  I miss her....and am so thankful we were able to go and meet her this weekend, while they were still in the hospital.  At first, it didn't look like that was going to happen...I was heading my way, out of town on Friday morning, when Norah started throwing up in the van...all over the place.  YUCK.  I was so sad...both Maddie and I were crying, we were so disappointed.  I felt like my heart was being ripped to shreds, I wanted to be there so badly!  BUT - God worked it all out for the better.  We got to go down on Saturday afternoon, AND Brandon got to come with.  We had a wonderful time and got to spend some quality time with Kelly, Brian, and of course, cuddling with Raina.  Here are some pictures!

Happy Uncle & Aunt and cousins!  It's their first cousin too!

I love my sis!

Sweet sweet baby Raina - 7 lbs. 13 oz., 20 inches long

The happy parents

Maddie - just glowing!

A few firsts for Maddie

Maddie has had a few firsts lately....here they are!

Going to the dentist!  I've heard many times from my mom and dad, about how SCARED I was of going to the dentist for the first time.  Well, that definitely isn't the case for my little Madeline.  She was actually EXCITED to go to the dentist....six months leading up to her first check-up.  :)  She did an awesome job and would seriously go back today if she could....unlike me, who had a cavity filled today and isn't enjoying the sensitive sensations I'm getting every few minutes.  ouch....

She got to wear cute sunglasses, to keep the bright light out of her eyes.

Very excited for a new toothbrush and cool ring!

Another first for Maddie was attending the Father/Daughter ball with her daddy on Saturday, January 29th, at the DECC.  She was so excited that she got to be like a princess, going to the ball, with her prince charming....and that truly is her daddy!  He is a wonderful, loving daddy to our girls....and I am so thankful for the example of a strong, loving, and godly man that they have in their lives.  They will never be satisfied with a man - unless he is like their daddy.  That is my prayer, anyways!  They had a blast at the dance...and I know Norah will be looking forward to the first time she gets to go as well.

All ready for the ball - all dressed up like a little princess!