Raising Arrows

So about 25 minutes ago I got a response to a email message I had sent about dates we wanted to visit Germany. And the reply was nothing but great news!!! The dates we chose work out with the church and pastoral staff we will be visiting with. :) It's an answer to prayers!! And it's funny what can go thru your head in just a short half hour of time … We have to book flights … and to get the price we saw, it better be fast! I need to apply for my passport and yours, Milo. We need photos for our passports. Does our credit card have that big of a limit on it to place our flights on it till all our money comes in? We need to start our support/prayer letter and get it sent out!! How do you start a letter like this? 10 days is a long time to leave you, Milo Man … (then you disobey me as I think this, then I think maybe it'd be a good, short vacation …) Theo, oh boy I pray Theo will do alright on that long of a flight! Wait, we will have ne...

So I finally start prep for your bday party … it's so unlike me to wait this long to start any planning, but I knew that we didn't have much money this year to put into a big, elaborate shindig and I kinda wanted to keep it simple, yet fun for you! So we decided to just invite the family that's here, and some close friends of yours (and ours) from church. I'm still working on finding the right person/place to do the cake – I want that to be the main thing. I have the picture in my head, I just don't know who and if it can be done... no worries it's nothing BIG or over the top, just taylored to you! And what you LOVE so much. :) But the funnest and biggest part of throwing this fun, simple party is the invites!!! So the other day we took you outside on a nice cool, sunny morning and took your “2 year” photo shoot (even tho it's a bit early). And to make them a bit more fun for you and sentimental to me and dad – we had Georgie join you. You lo...

Okay so I could NOT be more excited to announce this, but will let the photos speak first. (because they are just so incredibly good! Thanks Melissa!!) (And a side note … a big thank you to you Milo man for being SO good for them! And so incredibly cute for them too!! All your faces and reactions were real … you really had no idea what was going on, but in the photos you look so sincere in finding out with us! Melts this momma's heart!!!!) My incredible boss of Gregersen Photography , Melissa Gregersen, took some amazing photos and captured the look of our friends and family as they found out that we are adding another little BOY to the family!!! Oh Milo man, you're gonna LOVE having a brother – I just know it! And can already tell you guys are gonna have some fun together. I can only imagine the trouble too. Haha And looking at his profile from the u/s – he looks a lot like you. It's funny to say this early, but really your guys' profiles look SO simi...

So the other day while talking with my mom about some of my recent struggles in mothering I was reminded that every stage in life is so short. It so quickly passes. We happened to start talking about how Sept. was right around the corner and how I'd soon have a 2 year old to worry about. And I asked her “Where did all that time go?? I thought it was going to last forever, but now I don't even remember some of it!” It was a sad realization but a great reminder … All those sleepless nights, feedings, and tiny clothes … all those pass too quickly. Much Too Quickly!! I can't believe we are already pass that all; into real meals, rest at night (for the majority of the time), and clothes you get dirty, holey, and stained! We've made it past the coo's and crawls and are into the words and races! Unbelievable! So as we finished our conversation she added that this “phase” goes just as fast. All those days you beg and “please” me for bubbles, block time, and just snugg...

22 months … that's how old you'll be this week! I can't believe it!! A reminder that in just 2 short months we will have a 2 year old on our hands. WOWZERS! Just seems plain crazy that you can be that old already. Where did the time go??!!? And altho you're getting a jump start on the “terrible twos”, you still have those heart melting moments that make up for it and help ease the tension of a “bad” day. The other day you feel asleep rocking with me while we read your new bible together. It was just so precious! And then two nights ago you wanted Momma to rock you asleep; something we don't do nearly as much as we use to. It was nice to know that even tho you grow more and more independent by the day (or moment) you still need your Mom Time and snuggles. :) And as far as your Daddy goes... you are his little man; his shadow when he's home. When he's working you always ask about him or pretend to talk to him on your play phones and on the weekends you wa...

We had the wonderful privilege of meeting up with missionaries Rich & Julia Rudolph and their cute son Justus this weekend. They took time out of the busy schedule to share with us and answer some questions we've had. They were sharing their missionary story and leading with our church this weekend and we hosted them Saturday evening so they'd be close by & cuz all the hotels in town were booked due to the drag races (which we got quit the laugh from! haha). But thank goodness because we had a great time getting to know one another and how God is working in our lives. As most of you know, Tim & I were planning an exploratory short term mission trip to Germany for this fall. But due to our amazing Christmas gift this year, I won't be able to travel in October due to being large. :) haha But large for all the great reasons!!! So we both agreed we'd still go, we'd just have to re-plan the trip for the late winter/early spring 2013. And our new plan is star...

Seems like I can never keep this thing completely caught up ... but i guess having no internet at home makes that kinda hard. haha But even with internet i had a hard time - oh well. I'll try my best today - so this may be a long post. But don't feel bad if you just look at the pics ... most of the time, it's what i do anyways. :o)  So at the end of June, we got a nice long visit from your New Jersey cousins. It was SO fun for all of us!! You LOVED spending time with "mall", "ugaboo", and "ahhh" - you're version of Small, Bugaboo, & T. :) It was fun to hear you actually call to them and to watch you all interact and play together. You loved watching Alex - no matter what he was doing. But loved to watch him play video games ...  You also loved to play with Danica, and she loved playing with you. You'd follow her around and hollar at her if she went to fair. Very cute.  And you and T did pretty well together too - for ...