wordless Wednesday.

....of the "big rainbow"  (or the St. Louis Arch, if you are older than 3) variety! 

in Olivia's words.

Carter had just spilled my glass of water and Olivia returned with a towel to help clean up.
O: "Come here, Carter, let me dry your leg.  It's okay, its just water.  Accidents happen and mommy isn't mad.  We clean them up. It's okay.  I got you all dry."
----is she going to be 3 next week or 16?!  Seriously, she makes me laugh!


O: "Mommy look at your new curtains!  They are soooo beautiful!"  (we put new curtains in our bedroom)

Olivia's thoughts on love.....
 Me: "I love you, Olivia.  You are my special girl."
O: "I love you too!  You are my special mommy!"

Andy:  "No, I don't want to jump on the trampoline right now."
O: "Buttttt, Daddy, I love you."
Andy: "And I love you, Olivia."
O: "Daddy, that means we love each other and we should jump!"


We were talking about the difference between telling the truth and telling a lie after she lied to me about hitting her brother in the face.
Me: "You can tell me anything. Even if you didn't make a good choice, you still tell Mommy the truth.  I will always love you."
O: "I won't tell a lie.  I will tell the truth because it makes God happy!"  (LOVE that she made that realization on her own!)


When Andy was leaving to go back to work after lunch one day....
O: "Daddy where are you going?"
Andy: "I am going to work,"
O:  "Againnn?  You were just there!"


In a stinky restaurant bathroom during our travels last week....I was using the bathroom and she was in the stall with me. Very loudly, she says.... 
O: "Mom it is stinky!  Is that you?  Are you stinky?  Your bottom is stinky!"
I couldn't even respond to her because I was laughing so hard!  haha.  And, for the record, the bathroom was stinky when we arrived!

wordless Wednesday.

Carter's first time in the shopping cart!
He drove us around the store like he was a Nascar driver in training!

putting her to work!

Carter's baptism.

Oh these two make my heart happy!

Mandy and Jared are Carter's Godparents.
We were so excited to share the weekend with them!

someday we will get a good family picture...!!

with Grandma Allen.
We were so happy she was there to celebrate with us!

Our military friends are like family to us!  They came out to support
Carter and stand in for so many of my family that couldn't come.

a great mother's day.

Mother's Day began with an early morning nursing session with our sweet boy. How can I ever begrudge the early morning wake-up call when he looks at me like that?!  Being a mommy is seriously the greatest joy I've ever known. 

The day then ended with his baptism.  Such a blessed day!

sleeping girl.

We often can't see Olivia on the monitor so we do a check before we go to bed to see what she is up to and/or where she fell asleep.  Last night we found her sprawled out in the rocking chair with her Bible by her side!  Love this little girl and her heart for Jesus!

p.s. Yes, it is May and our daughter has on santa jammies.  Who can argue with a nearly-three year old who shows up proudly saying "Mommy, I got my jammies on all by myself"!

p.s.s. We have Carter's baptism this weekend and we are so excited!  I will post pictures sometime Monday. 

(almost) wordless Wednesday.

Derby party at the Wests. good times!

reading to brother in the bath!

we needed sweatshirts the other morning!  Far cry
from the 100 degree temps we've been having!

melts my heart.

love this girl!

some days she takes baby with her everywhere!