Happy (BELATED) Birthday America!

I sort of just today realized while doing other posts, that I never actually finished and published this post.  It has apparently been sitting in my drafts for a few weeks :/  Oh, the life of a mommy!

So yes, Happy Birthday America (two months late)!

I really don't have much to say about this post ~ just a fun day enjoying my very blessed life and precious family.  Doesn't get much better than that!

Warning: Picture overload!!!  Proceed at your own risk :)

The girls with Gamma who

was visiting to help this tired Mommy!

Can we say Daddy's girl?!

Melt my heart!  Could she be any cuter?!

Happy 1st 4th of July sweet Lilah Bear :)

Mommy and L

Our attempt at a precious sister picture.

It's life folks...this is life :)

I think she was tired of the pictures!

 

My cutie patootie!

Tired of photos (again).

"Mommy, come on!"

Yes, I DO still love him ;)

Soph playing with her Papa!

Playtime with Mommy!

And Daddy's turn!

Sweet snuggles with Gamma.

In outfit #2, I might add.  I had to break out Soph's first July 4th outfit after my sweet L puked all over her precious dress.  It was a little big, but she had to be festive!

Wait!  Did we actually manage a decent sister picture?!

Love my babies!

And LOVE my new family of four!

Hope you all had an amazing holiday filled with family, fun and fantastic memories! Thank you to all who serve our country to make this day possible.  You are true heroes and words are insufficient to express how much your sacrifice truly means!  

Welcome Home!

On June 16, 2012, we brought our sweet Lilah Bear home and it just seemed so perfect, just as it should have been, just as the Lord had planned.  Another sweet angel added to our lives to bring us joy, laughter and love for a lifetime!

First car ride ~ sooooo tiny!

I think it's safe to say she enjoys being a big sister :)

First time in her swing (aka entertainment so Mommy can eat)!

Lilah bought Soph a "great big sister" present!

Perhaps this could be referred to as bribery ~ but it's sweet bribery :)

And the cake was AMAZING!

And a few pics from our favorite, very talented "Untle" Joe!

How very blessed I am to have such sweet, precious angels to call my daughters.  I certainly hope one day they will feel even half as blessed to call me their Mom.  

I love you girls.  To the moon and back a million times over ~ always and forever!

"I remember my mother's prayers...

and they have always followed me.  They have clung to me all my life." ~ Abraham Lincoln

For so many reasons this was a special Mother's Day for me.  For starters, I have the most amazing, precious, loving two-year old angel I could ever imagine.  Second of all, I was in my last month of pregnancy with my sweet Lilah Elizabeth, anxiously awaiting her arrival.  And finally, we had the honor of witnessing our best friends dedicate our darling nieces back to the Lord.  I mean how blessed are we?

Some moms do getaways and take a day to themselves.  I totally support that ~ all of us mommies need breaks on a regular basis!  But my perfect Mother's Day is just being with my babies.  I don't need lavish gifts or special dinners...I just need my babies!

Mommy and her girls!

A few weeks later, Lilah was no longer a "bump" ~ 

crazy how this seems like yesterday and yet, so long ago at the same time.

This sweet family means the world to us!  It's not often that you have friends that love you so unconditionally and support you with an undying faith.  At this point, I don't even bother to correct people when they refer to Jaime as my sister.  She is.  Maybe not by blood, but in every other way imaginable.  So what joy we shared with them on this day...a day we had all waited for, prayed for, and anticipated with a faith in our Lord, knowing one day He would provide this amazing couple the desires of their hearts.  And boy did He!  Times two :)

As special as this day is for me, I can only imagine how special it was for my dearest friend.  A long journey this couple endured.  But one in which she showed amazing strength, bravery and most of all love and faith.  Watching these sweet babies be given back to the Lord who gave them to us, was truly one of the most amazing experiences of my life.  My heart truly rejoiced and the presence of the Lord in our lives was obvious. Because how can you look at these precious, chubby, blue-eyed angels and not know that the Lord is good?!

Emeri Faith and Avari Hope ~ You are loved beyond words sweet girls.  Not only by your amazing parents, but by so many others.  And even with all that love, always remember the Lord loves you MORE!  To the moon and back baby girls ~ always and forever!

And of course, we had to do a mini photo shoot afterwards!  We wouldn't be us if we didn't :)

Sweet family!

And add in a Nannie and Nana :)

I say this a lot, but I do wonder what next year's photo will look like :)

Is it even possible to get FOUR girls to look at the camera?!  At the same time????!!!

Cause you see, I can't even get ONE to look at the camera! 

At least Lilah cooperated :)

 And Emi and Avi did too ~ at least this time!  Love these girls :)

So yes, this was clearly a very special Mother's Day.  And I hope one day, my girls will say the same thing that President Lincoln once did...

"I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me.  They have clung to me all my life."