A Jaunt to Tiny Pebble

Over the river and through the woods to Little Rock we've gone to visit dear dear friends. My heart rejoices at the memories we made over a long last weekend. We filled our time with delicious meals, Wonder Place playing, hand-holding and cupcakes, to name just a few. Our little wee ones are a year apart we have missed getting together regularly! I think Katie said it best, "I've been waiting for this." (I think that was spoken when our kiddos were simultaneously shrieking with laughter playing peekaboo through a window with the dogs...) Can't wait for their return soon so we can share more shenanigans!

There's a crack in everything... or This one's about grace.

Every time I open my refrigerator door I see these magnets. And it always bothers me how the grace one is cracked and broken the most. I can't bear to throw it away, so its imperfection just glares at me. Originally it was purchased because of our first daughter's name. And it still symbolizes her - in all her precious pink wiggly orneriness. Now more than ever, grace means so much to me, or rather, it really means something to me. Parenthood is full of tough knocks. Most of which include being hard on myself. Having a little person around absolutely confirms that I need God and his grace. As much as I think I don't deserve/need to earn His grace and love, I can't. As many times as that little one does not deserve it, she's already received it. There are so many things in a day/week/month that are full of cracks: my attitude, the list of things I set out to do and did not, my patience, my heart, my priorities...and yet, He loves cracked little broken me and gives me grace. He will never throw me away. I am always His child, and oh, how He loves us.

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There's a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.
Leonard Cohen

My Funny Valentine

Valentine's Day started with cuddling Ellie dog on "the brown chair," and ended with homemade cherry pie a la mode at the folks' house. The best line of the day (and biggest word out of the babe's mouth) was to my parents: "Thank you for your hospitality!" (Mimicking Daddy Carl). It's the simple things!

Girlie Got a Haircut

Gracie got her first official haircut today! Had to crack up when her stylist arrived ten minutes late, was in her 60s, wearing a miniskirt with thigh high stockings AND wanted to cut bangs on our little dear. I'm sure they'd be cute, but I have too many memories still so prevalent about my own bangs as a girl. (Sorry, Mom! I know that was the trend!)

She sat still (without bribery!) and did wonderful! We did give in to having her hair curled...I'm too chicken to go near our wiggle worm with a hot curling iron. She looks darling! But of course I'm biased.

Before:


During:








After!

Back to life..back to reality!

First and foremost...welcome to the world, Hollis Joy Hebert! We are thrilled to have another new niece and cousin. Our hospital pictures aren't terrific, but these glamour shots sure are!

For the months of August and September, I (Sarah) was consumed by a holiday market selling my paper goods & design services! It was a lot of work, and I'm glad I did it. Couldn't have done it without the help and encouragement of so many family and friends!!

For 10 days in October we were in sunny (and warm!) California visiting Carl's dad David & Peggy. We crammed a lot of amazing things into our time there – time with cousins Ellie & Gavin, La Costa Resort, Disneyland (Gracie loved the teacups and Dumbo rides, was a little unsure of meeting Mickey for real!), a pumpkin patch, and beach time (Grace did NOT like the sand, or seaweed, but was mesmerized by the ocean!).

'Round Here

This is what we've been up to (besides potty training):

Outdoor fun with our friends Emmi & Cecily (don't mind our dry grass...more than 50 triple digit degree days will do that to a yard)!

Celebrating Grampy's birthday. Gracie's new favorite thing is to color cards for birthdays!

Hanging out with cousin Evy...giving her fierce hugs!

Celebrating a new cousin to come with sisters in law Sarah & Brooke (expecting Baby Hollis in October)!

In our dear friend Will's absence (to Tiny Pebble for less than a year now), Gracie has affectionately named her favorite baby doll, "Baby Will." (We say it's short for Willena.) She likes to do most everything with her – including eat her breakfast!

Playing dress up...for some reason this elicited a dance and "Man hat, man hat!"

Fun with friends Elliot and Ruby on a walk to our neighborhood playground!

Girls' Night Out (daddy was dove hunting) at Barn'rds...milkshakes were a must!

Potty Training

The lack of blog posting is due in part to the fact that we've been potty training! Phew, it's hard work!

We started a couple of weeks ago. It went a little something like this: One night after dinner, Grace said, "Go poo poo, Momma?" Why yes, of course, my darling child, I would love to whisk you to the potty even though I'm not quite finished with my dinner. I was skeptical, but joyful about this prospect, since she hadn't ever pooped on her own initiative, so this was exciting! Lo and behold, she did it! And it was thrilling! I never thought I could ever be so excited about poop. The next day after breakfast, she wanted to poop again, so we went for it. Two successful dumps in less than 24 hours, and I felt like we were on a roll!

Pottying got a little boring, what with the timer going off every 30 minutes or so, but M&Ms and stickers made the trips bearable. And we made a big deal about big girl panties (just like Mommy)! There have been accidents, and we are on the lookout for the bathroom nearly every place we go, but I think we're on the right track.