Birds Chirping

 

Ahhh, spring! To wake up in the morning to birds chirping. 

Tulips are coming up through our flower beds, which is a welcome sign of spring and knowledge our new home has tulips!! Hooray! Our grass is beginning to grow from the rain, sunshine is lingering longer through the evening, and I am opening windows in our home every chance it warms up just enough.

I just booked a lovely cottage on the beach of Anna Marie Island, with it's own private beach. Longing for the intense sunshine of Florida, the smell of the ocean, the roar of the waves, and day's basking in the sun with my husband, is pretty magical.

Last year was the best year of my life. It was also a very busy year with a lot of moving parts, house hunting, selling and buying homes, our wedding, and moving into a new home. This year... we are in our groove and look forward to lounging at our pool, biking, pickleball, jaunting off on spontaneous getaways, and a year of more relaxation.  

Winter was just the rest we needed; however, spring has arrived, and we are ready to play!!

Custom-designed Dining Room Table

 

For our new home, we custom-designed our dining room table. It is a one of a kind! 

I knew my vision and pouring through books upon books of fabrics and wood color selections, we chose the wood type, the stain color, the fabric and the fabric color. I wanted three different types of chairs around the table and enhanced with special requests, such as slightly larger, rounded captain chairs with tufted backs. 

We have wondered since we created this last August what the finished product would look like.

Six months later, my vision came to fruition and it's PERFECT!! Amish built, quality made.

We LOVE it!!

It's a GIRL! Brooke + Josh

 

We both have a Brooke and we say, "my Brooke" or "your Brooke" Otherwise, it begs the question, "which Brooke?" Our Brooke's are the same age, too. 

This is my stepdaughter, David's Brooke. Brooke + Josh. I absolutely adore them both!! 

David and I have two more grandbabies arriving in August and September of 2023. This means three of our daughters were pregnant together. My Brooke, his Brooke, and Taylour. 

Gender reveals are so much fun!! Those smoke & confetti cannons go off and there were screams of joy!

I love this photo of Brooke. That wonderful moment where you know what the baby inside you is. 

Family gatherings are large and enjoyable. In-laws from all sides, including son-in-law's, everyone coming together. Everyone genuinely liking one another and happy to see one another. Kelly, David's ex-wife, and her family are some of my favorite people. I genuinely like both my son-in-law's parents. Events are large. How blessed my stepdaughters are to have healthy and functional families! 

Come September 2023 we will have 8 grandbabies!!!!!!!!

Intermittent Fasting

 

January 22nd, I began intermittent fasting. Starting at 16/8 the first couple of days, let's be honest, I thought I was going to eat my shoe! It was the 3rd day I was busy at work and slipped into and 18/6 hour fast by accident and I realized I was okay. Thus, began my 18/6 fasting.

Within one month I lost I think it was 8 lbs. and 1-1/2" around my waist. What I found interesting as I read about the endless benefits of fasting, I found another amazing result is my allergies cleared up!!

I always thought I had seasonal allergies, that turned into year-round allergies. I now know I have food related allergies with fasting and eating clean (very little starches or sugar) completely clears me up. 

Now, if I eat heavy starches or sweets, my body reacts pretty strongly. 

I feel great!! David and I do this together, which makes me more successful. I have the Zero app that tracks my fasting times, because I like the daily green check mark when I've successfully completed a fast daily. It tracks my daily success rates, too.

Here's the thing, when I cannot go 18/6 and fall short at 16/8, I'm still doing fantastic and far better than a regular eating schedule. Out of the last 2 months, there are only 7 days I fell short. I won't beat myself up about that. 

Intermittent fasting also strengthens your immune system. David has been really sick with a fever for a 3-days and extreme multi-symptoms for over a week. I never got sick at all. I had a slight sore throat for a couple days, but that fact that I didn't get sick is nothing short of a miracle. 

I am seeing and feeling the benefits and super grateful for our healthy lifestyle. 

Curly Hair & Blue Eyes

 

Our sweet, little Amelia is almost 2 months old! Her hair is growing, and we are all delighted she has her daddy's curls. Blue eyes from both her grandpa's, she is her daddy over with her eyes open and totally her momma with her eyes closed. I don't think I've ever seen such different looks in a baby.

Brookie is such a good momma, knows her sweet baby and is calm and patient. Amelia keeps a close eye on where her momma is, too.

Me, I'm always smelling her. I do the same with Sofia, Rowan and Claire. There is something about your baby's babies that makes them your own. I think about them, miss them, and pray for them constantly. 

Sofia is so smart and funny like her momma. Rowan in his raspy little voice is still such a snuggle bug and a boy through and through. Little Claire with her icy blue eyes, blond hair and full little lips is in my arms most every time I am with her. She is unapologetically direct and owns up to any shenanigan directly. 

Each of my grandbaby's are wonderfully unique. I am so blessed. 

 

Welcome Sweet Little Amelia

 

Welcome to the world, my sweet, little Amelia Marie! She arrived on Wednesday, January 25th at a healthy 8 lbs. 1 oz. and 18-1/2" long. 

A headful of dark hair, nestled into her mama doing skin-to-skin, is how I met her and fell in love. 

I will always say, King Solomon said it best, "Grandchildren are the crown of the aged." They certainly are! 

Brooke did fantastic and Alex is a rockstar tending to both Brookie and Amelia. 

Her warm little body wrapped in soft blankets, her sweet baby scent, her little stretches, smiles, and baby noises are a joy to watch! I've enjoyed hours of snuggle time with her and kissing her little face softly. 

Brooke is healing after a c-section and Alex has stepped up in all capacities, we are grateful he is home with her for a few weeks. They are equipped and well-prepared for her arrival and her bedroom is so beautiful. Alex has never held a tiny baby. You'd never know! We love him and appreciate him so much for all he is to Brooke and now Amelia. 

Unexpected moments for me... Brooke was anxious and nervous inside at the hospital leading up to the c-section, but she displayed grace, class, calm, and politeness to everyone. I enjoyed her look of peacefulness with her baby in her arms and her graciousness sharing her little one as family couldn't wait to come in and meet her.

Mariah meeting Amelia was beautiful. She was breathless and emotional, waiting for this moment she dreamed of since middle school. I was grateful to be present, video-capture the moment and spend time with the three of us together + Amelia laughing and talking.

My heart burst in love when we FaceTimed Sofia, Rowan, and Claire from the hospital room as Mariah introduced them to Amelia. They were quiet as if they were in the room and didn't want to scare here. Looking at her quietly for several minutes, little Rowan leaned over and kissed the phone. My grandbabies seeing each other the first time was so precious. 

So much love and so many prayers, we are blessed Amelia is here. 

Excellent job, Brooke & Alex! We are so proud of you both!

The Wait...

This is Brooke, over one month ago. Add several inches, and you have my daughter who has tried pretty much every trick to induce labor... and still waiting. 

We all are. 

Me, I've been attached to my phone for a month now. Good morning calls hoping to hear she is contracting and ready for this grandmomma to meet them at the hospital. I thought about calling her and letting her know I was going out of town this weekend. We all know if I were to be out of town, she would most definitely go in labor. Perhaps the thought of it all would do something? No need to add stress to an already worn out Brookie. So, the wait continues. 

Did I share both our Brooke's are pregnant? Brooke & Alex due any day now, Brooke & Josh due August 13th. 

It's a quiet, winter January Sunday + little David + a pretty snowfall + no need to leave the comforts of home. It's a perfect day to stay in comfy clothes, make healthy meals, snuggle under a blanket watching our shows with a fire in the fireplace, and play with our new Occulus. 

I believe many of our neighbors are staying in, no tire tracks in driveways. It's so pretty looking out all the windows. My husband just brought me a piece of chocolate protein pie he made this morning with a dollop of whip cream on top. I hit the jackpot with a husband who enjoys cooking for entertainment!!! 

We are intermittent fasting and what we eat the hours we can makes everything actually taste so much better. I am 17 hours on with a 7-hour window to eat. Breaking the fast with a chocolate bone broth protein, collagen, walnuts, chia & flaxseed protein shake, then a light healthy lunch, and a good dinner. He goes 18 hours. 

We are always doing and trying new things. It certainly keeps things fun.

Now, if this sweet granddaughter of mine is just about ready... my grandma instincts to witness her arrival, and to see, hold, smell, kiss, and snuggle her is powerful.