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Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Springtime


Spring again! Unfortunately, we had a not-so-snowy Winter this year. I love the snow! It was a diappointment. We had one snowstorm where the girls were able to sled and get their cheeks rosy with cold but it was much too brief.

Although I missed having a Winter wonderland, I am ready for Spring. The trees are blooming and the temps are just about perfect for me. If I never saw temperatures over 70 degrees I would be elated.

I have been spending the past few weeks doing a much needed and desired purging and cleaning of my bedroom. We have a large family and although I try to minimize the things that we accumulate, it is a ongoing process. Much of the time when I clean the house, the "stuff" that has no place to go ends up in my bedroom amidst clutter of my own and my husband's.


Purple Heart allows some states to make online appointments for donations. It is so convenient and easy to schedule a pickup date of your choosing and then they send an email reminder the day before. Great! I made two appointments over the past two weeks.

On the first haul, I purged clothing and blankets, a box full of books, and some toys, stuffed animals, etc. After the first pickup, I realized I had much more that I could donate. I immediately scheduled an appointment for the following week which put pressure on me to find another 1-3 boxes/bags of things to go! More books, a semi-destash of my fabric and felt, and some things that I have been holding on to for future potential yard sales. I figured if someone can use the things I have cluttering up my room and closet now, it was best to let them go.

I realized that even after 4 boxes and about 3 bags worth of donations, I still have more to tackle. My goal for several years has been to minimize and organize our home. I feel that these past two weeks have been major progress for me.

It has been a long time since my husband and I have been able to actually "walk" into our walk-in closet and yesterday was the first time I could see the floor and move freely without tripping over boxes and other "stuff". Joy!

Like I mentioned before, this is an ongoing process and one I am sure will never quite have an end.

My overall goal is to minimize items in our home that do not contribute to our family as a whole. I feel that I am spending too much time cleaning, organizing, and getting stressed over clutter of inanimate objects in our home that I do not need, want or care for.

I would much rather be spending that time with family. It's a win-win situation.

Tell me, have you starting your Spring Cleaning yet?


Friday, March 9, 2012

Almost One


This amazing girl is turning ONE in less than 10 days. Is that even possible? I can still hear the birds singing outside my living room window when I shuffled downstairs with labor contractions that early morning. Just me and Evangeline shifting inside my belly. Everyone else still asleep and cozy in their beds.  Our last moments together, quiet and anxiously waiting to meet each other.


She arrived at 12:22 in the afternoon that day. We all sang "Happy Birthday" to her and ate birthday cake. I lounged in bed watching Eva pass between many pairs of arms, welcoming her to the world.

She is our beautiful rose that bloomed just one day before Spring.


Just after her 10th month, she began to walk. I love watching the development of babies over the course of their first year. It is so amazing how determined they are to progress. Once she took her first steps, there was no stopping her! It became her preferred method of transport.

Just recently, we taught her baby sign language to express "more". Today she independently used the hand signal when she wanted more yogurt for lunch! I was impressed that she picked up on it so quickly. Her sisters were shrieking that "she DID it"!

She has also been saying words using more than one sound. Instead of saying, "Dada", she has said "Daddy". She also said "Baby" when referring to her newest cousin, Shane!



Mike has nicknamed her our "happiest baby". She smiled on her very first day! She must have felt the immense love pulsating in the bedroom when she arrived.

The love that continues to follow her each and every day. 
Our blossoming Evangeline Primrose.


Happy Weekend, Friends! 
Keep Smiling!