I am blessed.

I'm so in love! What an amazing experience to be able to feel the birth of a baby. She's just perfect and we are so blessed.

So as I anxiously await the arrival of Baby Madison, I am finding joy in my days enjoying my two adorable boys. Tonight I actually cooked and we sat together as a family and ate dinner. Brayden told us to close our eyes and hold his hands. Then he prayed "Dear Jesus, Thank you for this food. Amen"

The second thing I am finding joy in is sitting in Maddie's room enjoying all the FLORAL! I've kept all floral patterns out of our house for 6 years (not Eric's favorite) but a baby girl demands flowers and all shades of pink! I'm loving it. I sit in her room in the glider and enjoy all things girly and pink!!

I found myself consumed this week moment by moment with wanting the baby to come NOW -- I was DONE being pregnant. But yesterday for some reason, I was struck with how life is going to change and how it will never be the same -- my time with Brady Boo. He is so fun and tender and full of precious life and full of love.

So my resolution is to everyday, focus on something in the moment, that day, that I find joy in and cherish it. Today it's Mr. Brady. I taught him how to turn the camera on, push the automatic 10 sec. button, then press the big button to take a photo and we did a fun litle photo shoot together. He flashed a few different fun expressions.

Brady put this setup together in front of the TV...a chair sitting at a little piano Eric won for him.

Brady has two favorite things in the whole world...his lovey and his passey.

All you gotta do is ask for his cheesy smile and this is what you get.

One more birthday photo with the aftermath of the cupcake... We went to our first soccer game for Sydney this weekend. She's got her mommy's skill...
Brady was playing in his room so quietly...
What's a day without putting on the frog boots...

This is little B at the END of the day.... But back to the beginning...

We have a 2 year old! What a fun day we had celebrating our little Brady Boo! A sunny day at the beach (along with the entire town of Santa Barbara). I guess that's life having a birthday on a holiday.

A Lesson in Passion Fruit Juice Making. I'm sure you've been dying to know!

We've recently had about 15 Passion Fruit fall off our plant so I attempted to make some fruit juice. Interesting process when each fruit contains 30-40 seeds. It is so amazing to me that this absolutely gorgeous flower turns into a peice of fruit with that many seeds. It's kind of like the caterpillar-butterfly thing.

After much straining, I got a small amount of concentrate, then added water and sugar and I think there is about 4 small glasses worth of juice. BUT WELL worth it. It took me back to my days in Hawaii!

So, if you are looking for a good vine to cover a trellis, plant a passion fruit. It grows very quickly, produces beautiful flowers and yummy juice!

We came home from our trip and Brayden got a much needed haircut. We also picked these huge tomatoes from our garden. Fun to come home to fresh produce.


This morning Heather came over and brought some muffins. I took Heather and Chloe in the back to show them something and when we came back out, we found Brady with all the muffins, out of their container, lined up, with a bite out of each one!!!

We love our time with the Postmas. They spoil us rotten with fun, fun, fun and a little relaxation. We got to go to a fair where Brady got to drive a tractor and see so many animals up close he has never seen before, we saw 6 hour old golden retriever puppies, we picked blackberries and I made my first blackberry pie, we swam in the pond, we shot guns, took long walks, picked fresh vegetables from their garden, at elk burgers, and of course Brady got some good snuggle time (and of course kisses) from his girlfriend baby kate. :) Can't beat a good trip to Sherwood!

We just got back from 10 days in Seattle visiting friends and family and 2 days in Oregon visiting the Postmas. Eric's dad turned 60 so we did some celebrating with him and Brady got to play with his Grandpa at the park for a super long time. It doesn't get dark there til after 9. Happy Birthday Grandpa Bob!

Brady swinging at the park in Buellton. It was 90 degrees outside.
Trying to smile at the 90 Degree Park. :/
Finding Brady after his first taste of Diet Coke...
After I took the diet coke away. :/

July has been quite the cloudy month in SB but we have still ventured out and done some hikes, insect watching (see potato bug in first photo), swinging (just learned to swing like a big boy) and mud digging (Thanks to big cousin who taught him dirt and water make MUD!).

We are trying to get ready for Baby and tell Brady about what's coming. When he sees little babies now he talks about how mommy has a baby in her belly too. I think he's getting it.