It's a God thing.

God is moving in mysterious ways over here. Details? As you know, I quit my job in January to stay home with my girls. And I love it. But it means we are surviving on one income. Every Sunday during the invocation, our pastor asks if anyone needs prayer for revival in their lives or with their finances etc.  J and I both raised our hands a few weeks ago. Because we need revival financially. Literally, the next day, checks were coming in for his business. We had money in our account and in his business account. Then, a real estate agent that J works with had been showing a couple some houses and they hadn't found anything they liked. Jake knew that J had talked about selling our house, and he told them about ours. They wanted to see it. They came last Friday and took a lot of pictures, and they wanted to come back on Monday. They did and stayed for over an hour. Jake called Justin with their verbal offer. J told them what we would take, and they said ok. Our house is now under contract, without it ever being on the market. I am not excited about moving, and I will miss my house that I love. But before they came back this past Monday, I prayed about it and I put it in His hands, so I truly believe this is His will for our lives.  We don't know where we are going, but He does.  He has plans for us! The sale of our house is going to help us financially as well, so this is a God thing. That should make anyone a believer! So that's where we are. If everything goes well, we close on June 15th. Keep this family in your prayers! God is working over here, believe it. I do. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.." (Philippians 4:6)

 Precious Carson, 5 months old.

 My beautiful Harper. She was picking flowers outside one evening, and she asked me to come take pictures of her.

 Harper, almost 4! (ohemgee.)

My heart is so full with these precious girls. Even though some days are extremely tough, and I threaten Carson with giving her back when she doesn't let me sleep (ha. but seriously.), I am so blessed to be able to be with them.

staying home

I was never a person who wanted to be a stay-at-home mommy, until Harper was born. Pretty sure I asked J to let me stay home once a week for 3 years. Sometimes more than that... moving on. When Carson was born, I was hoping that I wouldn't have to go back this time, and on January 5th, I turned in my notice! I love(d) my job and the people I worked with, but I love my girls more.

I have missed Harper for 3 1/2 years. She is now staying home with me and only going to preschool 2 days a week. I am loving it! Most days are pretty relaxed. We have days where we stay in our pj's all day. And somehow, I feel like I do more laundry than I did before I stayed home. I hardly wear makeup and never knew a shower would be so hard to come by! But I wouldn't trade it for the world. I get leisurely mornings with both of my smiling girls and don't have to rush to get anywhere. Thank you, darling J, for making my wish come true!

My loves on the couch one morning

 How she spends most of her days - in a princess dress. One of the 7 she has.  So cute I can hardly stand it.  

She constantly has to be where her baby sister is.  

This sweet girl started ballet this week!  She was so excited about her "costume" that she had to put it on as soon as we got home.  Little love.  

Carson Justine

I guess I took another blogging break.  I was 9 months pregnant, y'all.  And then this:

Wednesday, October 26, 2011.  

My life was forever altered.  Again.  

Our second heartbeat, Carson, was born.  Best. day. ever. #3.  Only behind getting married to J and the birth of her big sister.  Her big sister who adores her.

  

Adores her.  But first, let me eat this brownie, mom.  She's half Creel.  She comes by it naturally.

Holding baby sister with Gigi.  

At first, I thought it would be impossible to love another tiny human as much as I love Harper. God does amazing things, let me tell you. Carson is my reward. My reward, in spite of being worried how I was going to feel about her. That's grace, people. He changed my heart just as He did when Harps was born. And I will never be the same.  

Now for the reasons behind both my girls' names. They both have a name from literature (*cough* nerd *cough*) and a special name. Harper Rebecca - Harper from Harper Lee, the author of To Kill a Mockingbird, one of my favorite books. Rebecca is my mom's name. Carson Justine -  Carson is a name J and I had talked about before we were even married. Harper was this close to being Carson. Until my J flipped a coin on my bed - while I was in labor. True story. So he hung on to Carson. Her middle name is her literature/special name. Ever read The Thornbirds? Justine is the name of one of the characters, and I always loved the name, even before J came into my life. Special because it's daddy's name too.  

Harper's First Day of Preschool

9/1/11

This sleepy-eyed girl had her first day of preschool on Thursday. She was so good-natured about letting me take her picture 15 minutes after she woke up... as long as she could hold 'her' camera!  Such a big girl. Where has the time gone??

I know, I know, she is the cutest. thing. ever.  

She even let me take a picture of her at school.  

My cousin Michael came to stay with us on Friday night.  He was barely in the door, and Harper said, "Michael, come to my room!  I want to make you pretty."  So he let her.  What a good sport.  

B holding her Kelton.  Please keep this little guy in your prayers!

Sooooooo.

I've been MIA.  To say the least.  Updating my blog has taken a serious backseat to my life.  Or lack thereof.  Is anyone going to read this anymore?  Doubtful.  But one can always hope.  So, here's a glimpse what's been going on.

1.  February 18th -  Found out we were pregnant with Sixlet #2!
2.  February 20th - got baptized with my husband at Willow Park Baptist Church.  That's right - after 32 years as a Methodist, I joined a baptist church.  And we LOVE it.
3.  March 4th.  HORRIBLE all day morning sickness started.  And didn't stop until sometime in late April. Awesome.  No, really.  I wore those Sea Bands for my nausea for weeks, 24 hours a day.  I had little scars.  Kinda funny.
4.  Learned that my sister was pregnant again in March.  That's right, we did it again.  And before you ask, "did you plan this?", rest assured we didn't.  You can't plan that.  But somehow, my sister and I did it.  Twice.  Her due date {was} November 6th.  Mine, November 1st.  I'll get into the was part in a bit.
5.  May 8th - My precious girl turned 3.  Hayden and Harper had a Toy Story 3 birthday party at our house May 7th.  Have I mentioned how. much. I LOVE her?  No words.

6.  May 21st - Harper slept in her big girl bed for the first time.  *sniff*  Yes, she slept in a crib until she was 3.  Don't be jealous.  Or hateful.  That quilt?  My mom bought it at an antique store for me when I was little for my first big girl bed.  It's special.  

7.  June 6th - Doris, my beloved caretaker of Harper since she was 12 weeks old, let me know that her last day would be July 8th.  Cried for a couple weeks I'm pretty sure.  Love you, D.  Harper started at a private preschool on July 12th.  I'm happy with our decision, but it was not made easily.  Not an easy decision, trying to decide the right place for your baby.  She still has her mornings where she is hesitant, but overall, she has adjusted extremely well.  Still miss our Doris, though.    

8.  We found out my daddy is in a-fib.  A cardioversion was attempted to shock his heart back into a normal rhythm, but it didn't work.  Another cardioversion will be attempted at a later point, but for now, he is doing good.  And other things have been going on.  Please keep him in your prayers!  

9.  Okay, now for the was part.  My beloved sister (who some may call my other half, and wouldn't be wrong) who was pregnant (yes, was) and due a week after me.  Her water broke 6 weeks ago, when she was 23 weeks and 5 days pregnant.  She was admitted to Baylor All Saints and has been on bed rest.  Until this past Thursday.  Got a message from my sister saying they might be having a baby.  Without going into a ton of detail, B had to have an emergency c-section at 29 weeks and 4 days (here is her caring bridge site so you can go read all about it: www.caringbridge.org/visit/bsmith).  Kelton Creel Smith was born at 11:16 am.  2 pounds, 9 ounces, 14.76 inches long.  I got to see him last night.  I am in love with him.  He is tiny.  He is working hard to breathe.  But God has been watching over him and big things are in store for this little guy.  Please keep Kelton, my sister, David, and Hayden in your prayers.  

My sister and I last weekend at the hospital.  You have NO idea how much fun the 2 of us have when we have a camera.  

So that's where we are.  I'm still pregnant.  It's a blessing.  Even though this heat is unholy.  My feet?  Swollen.  But I'll spare you a picture of those.  Here's my belly.  A few weeks ago.

And here's my girl.  Because you just have to see a couple pictures of Harper.   Beautiful.  

making my dream {almost} a reality.

For the past year  For the past couple of years  Since I can remember, I've wanted to take pictures.  I remember finding an old camera of my grandparent's, the kind that used the flashes that you had to put on top and they spun around, and I wore that thing out.  I got a pink LeClic camera when I was 9 (please, someone, tell me you remember those..!) and went through countless rolls of 110mm film.  I progressed to asking for a 'black' (my word for more professional) camera when I was about 12.  Justin got me my Canon for my birthday 2 years ago, and this is something that has been hanging around in my head since.  No, I didn't go to school for photography.  Yes, I still have a LONG way to go.  But, I have to start somewhere.  I have to start.  Because this is something that I really, really want to do.  And someday, hopefully in the not-so-distant future, I can say that I am a photographer.

So, with that being said, I've had a few practice sessions.  A pregnant belly and a couple of family shoots.  But last week, I had my first paid session! :D  I took pictures of my dear friend Debi, her husband Tim (who I have known since I could breathe), and their precious little boy Layne.  I am in the middle of starting a blog for my photos, but for now, they will be here.  Here are a few of this precious family.  More to come later...

take a guess...

...as to what my favorite color is.  These are just a few things around my house... :)