Wow, it has been almost TWO and a half months since I last blogged. Most likely it has been the incredible, fast-paced, holy-crap-I-can't-catch-my-breath whirlwind that we have found ourselves in. Foggy eyes, "hums" and "uh huhs", yawns and more of the like have been our mode of conversation. Articulation has been far removed. Yes, it is obvious that we are parents to a young child on the move.

Said young child has been taking a few curious steps, has refused to eat table food whenever the whim occurs, still wakes up 5,683 times a night, makes us laugh until our sides hurt and stretches us to the point so that we are more likely to gray early.

As I blog Ezra is in the crib "crying-it-out." This has been one thing as parents that we were completely opposed to. We still are, but we do want to help E and us sleep better. Parenting and sleep training in general challenges and stretches you more than you could ever know. Coffee is a divine gift from above.

Derek is loving his job and I am loving that he loves it. We are so thankful to be a part of an amazing company that cares about their employees. Derek gets off early on Mondays to have an evening at home with the family. He gets pumpkin pie for breakfast just because and he regularly gets free food, daily free gourmet coffee and lattes and free product. Pretty sweet, right?

We moved back to Camano Island. No more moves are planned in the near future. We are settling in and finally unpacking the last few boxes. We are FINALLY making a home! We are investing in relationships that will be permanent! These are words that have been foreign to us thus far. We LOVE our church and the family that we have joined through it. Derek recently joined the worship team and is leading this Sunday. It has only been a few months since we left OSLC, so it is nice to get back into the swing of seeing Derek/Daddy lead worship.

Anlee is loving MOPS this year. Such encouraging women to be around each week. So excited for Ezra to have play-dates. Derek says his favorite day of the week is Tuesday because I always come home from MOPS so encouraged and strengthened.

Ezra is turning ONE is less than a month!!!! Where did the last year go? His Nana, Granddaddy and Papa are all flying up for his Dino-mite party! He is even going to have his great-grandparents (Fekkes side) and his great-grandmother (Lori's mom) join the fun, too! This is one lucky kid. Now if we can just charter a plane to get the rest of his Georgia aunts, uncles, godmom, Midland friends and others here for the party.

Disclaimer: Because I don't want to use my blog to "bragg" about how amazing life is, I just want to say that the past 2.5 months have been the hardest of our life. But, so thankful that through this time God has drawn us closer together as a family. Learning how to struggle together as husband and wife has been a process. Learning how to love Ezra but also create structure has been trying and at times discouraging. Learning how to rely on God, to ask hard questions and to be okay with silent answers has been difficult but rewarding.

Lastly, if you guys want us to continue this blog, please let us know. If you don't we are going to stop. I'm getting weary of putting too much of our life out there on the internet. And, I'm just going to tell you, if you want us to continue, this blog is going to get "real." Yes, there will still be cute baby pictures, but also hardcore struggles.

peace, Derek and Anlee

A New Season

We are in a new season... and in this season this is my prayer -

Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. 

We are now Washingtonians! Hard to believe for me seeing as my home is still so. far. away., but we are settling in. Most of our things are in storage thanks to the 24 ft truck that we rented to move. Here is a glimpse of how our move went:

While packing Ezra learned how to scoot across the width of the apartment. (GREAT). Things were thrown into boxes at the last minute to prepare for "loading the truck day." We decided to load the truck on Wednesday to make sure everything would fit. D had originally reserved a 20 ft truck with a trailer to tow one of our cars. Well, we pull up to pick the truck up and guess what. I laughed out loud. NO WAY would all of our things fit in this truck. Maybe half! So, we scramble. We begin calling around to all the Uhaul places in town and NO ONE has a 24 ft truck. The closet truck is at least 45 minutes away. Countdown to all of our friends coming over to load the truck, t-4 hours. Boxes left to pack before friends arrive = countless! After calling places for over an hour, we find a 24 footer in Odessa that could be ready for pick up by 2 pm. We have to settle for a diesel truck ($$$) and a trailer and thank God for our good fortune!

Maneuvering the truck into our parking lot took finesse and the slight collision with a tree trunk...oops.

We make it back home at 3:45 and begin hurling things in boxes. The kitchen goes unpacked. Our friends arrive and begin carrying our life in boxes out to the truck where Derek packs them in like Tetras pieces.

Two-and-a-half hours later, the truck is loaded down, so we have some time to show Dad around Midland. We visited the homestead of George W. Bush and took a drive through "Money Lane" where they grown million dollar mansions like we grow corn.

Thursday night we packed the kitchen and tried to get some sleep. Ezra wasn't into the sleep idea so he decided to learn how to sit up on his own and play while mommy and daddy slept. Friday morning arrives with bleary eyed parents. The last of our Midland lives is loaded into the truck with the help of our Langhoff family and we are off. Derek and Dad began the three day drive to Washington and I began the 3 minute drive to the Langhoffs with Ezra.

The guys spent the first night of their journey in Farmington, New Mexico, while I spent the day shopping with Nanny Nancy. (Who had it better?) The guys drove through Salt Lake City on day two to spend the night in Twin Falls, Idaho, while I enjoyed one last day in Midland. Sunday, Ezra and I flew our on our first plane trip together. E slept during take-off, played on the window for the flight and slept during landing on our first flight. We walked around the Vegas airport until E was sleepy. He then slept the ENTIRE flight to Seattle. After arriving Cam picked us up for some yummy Korean food before handing us over to Oma (Derek's mom) for a short drive to the Island. A few hours later, Derek and dad arrived in the truck.

...and so the adventure begins in our new season of life...

We unloaded the truck on Monday, went sight-seeing on Tuesday and Wednesday and are taking a day off to rest today. Tomorrow is Derek's big interview so we are praying that we have good news tomorrow afternoon.

I will try to update this more often beginning now!

The little one

 Someone's little muffin is almost EIGHT MONTHS OLD! Just a few days and our babe will be closer to crawling, closer to walking, closer to talking... time flies when you are having fun and when you AREN't sleeping! Life with Ezra is bliss. We love him. We love who we are with him. And soon, we are moving our little love bug to Washington State! This little guy will celebrate one more major monthly milestone in the place of his birth before moving to the everGREEN of Camano Island, WA.

 Our "buds" is active as can be these days. Scooting, twisting, turning, walking (with help), pulling up, banging his head and causing as many laughs and "oh ezzzzzra's" as he possibly can. Major events in Ezra's life: FOOD, travel, moving and getting my first tooth!

 Favorite Foods:

sweet potatoes

carrots (mixed with apples)

apples

bananas (we can mix it with anything he doesn't like)

mango

butternut squash

pears

apricots

prunes!

Not so much favorite food:

peas!! 

 Favorite Activities:

-swimming

-traveling

-hiking a mountain (Georgia)

-riding my toy train

-riding in my stroller

-EATING (definitely a fekkes)

Least Favorite:

-riding in my carseat for 10+hours a day

-SLEEPING

-getting my diaper changed when I'm tired

-SLEEPING!!!

Check out my toothy grin!! 

Major events:

3600 miles in the car

first tooth

lowered crib

met mommy's family

pulled up to standing on my own!

GOT MY VERY OWN BULLDAWG SHIRT!

(I'll blog about our trip later.)

It's the final COUNTDOWN!

Derek's 30th birthday is quickly approaching. (July 23rd) Our lives, however, are in uncertainty, so we are celebrating Derek's birthday with our friends here this coming Sunday. Look to the left to see the invitation I made for the party guests. The theme is "Beer, Birds and Books." What better way to celebrate Derek, right? Guests are bringing Derek a gourmet beer or theological book of their choice.

The plan is to have a build-your-own-sub bar with pasta salad, coleslaw, chips and dip and of course, beer!

Wish you all could attend with us! Someday...

After the party we will be in a mad dash to pack for our trip HOME! Georgia bound next Tuesday! We can't wait. Our plan is to stay overnight in Birmingham to cut the trip up a little bit, enjoy a few days in Nashville, then sweet Georgia Peaches we will be HOME! Ezra is pumped up about being in red and black country, to meet his many aunts and uncles and to enjoy HOME!

Comparison

My nephew Caleb around 5 months and Ezra at 6 months!! Same shirt. Same nose. Same cuteness!! What do you think? Maybe some of my family in this kid after all!

Derek - the blogger

Hi friends and family,

If you haven't subscribed to Derek's blog GODS GLORY, mans joy - I highly recommend it! This week Derek is blogging about "worship." I put it in quotations because Derek foundationally believes that worship is more than the sing and praise portion of our Sunday morning church service. Worship for Derek extends into every thing he does, every thought, every word spoken. He started off the week blogging about "What will you worship today?" Here's an excerpt:

However, as will be clear, worship is something that is meant to be all-life encompassing. But even more than that, worship is something that everyone does by nature, all the time. We are worshiping creatures. We give worth to things. We highly esteem things. We give money, time, and thoughts to certain things or people. We all worship something, all the time.  Food, sex, making money, spending money, comfort, religion, morality, business, respect, family...all around us are voices begging for our worship.

I like to think that life is like a big game of king of the hill. There are many things vying to be the object of our worship, many things trying to become the king of our lives. We worship food one day, but eventually the high wears off (we get bloated or sick) and we turn to our job or family or religion or image to assume the throne. But there is only one true King of the Hill, only one thing that rightfully deserves our utmost time, treasures, and thoughts. And that is God.

I've discovered that I worship being a mom. What does this mean exactly? Well, I worry ALL.THE.TIME. about how I'm doing, am I doing this right, are E's needs met? Is he hitting milestones? Does he laugh enough? Did I make the right decision to delay vaccines? Is my body making enough milk? Did I enjoy him enough today? yada yada yada...

This endless cycle of ????'s leaves me tired and distracted and completely unfocused on where my identity should come from - my heavenly Father. So, today, as I raced around town trying to find homeopathic first aid solutions for my first aid kit (dye free, gluten free, essential oil heavy, natural healing ointments, etc) I'm now realizing that I'm driving myself HUNGRY for time spent enjoying my Father! If I'm not full of him then I have nothing to give my husband and son. I will fail miserably at this mom thing, but on the day I stand before the Lord he isn't going to judge me as a mom, he's going to love me as His child.

Father & Son

 This past weekend we celebrated six sweet months with our precious little one and Derek's first father's day! Sunday's are not usually fundays when you work in full-time ministry, but we had a great day together as a family. Here are some shots from our daddy/son photo shoot.

 Our blue-eyed beauty refused to take a nap all day, but still managed this smile even though it was 100 degrees outside!!

 In case you are wondering, Ezra has one stingy patch of eczema left on his left temple. We've mostly cured his skin completely by doing an intestinal cleanse for formula #1 & #2 from www.herbdoc.com
We are so thankful that Ezra is almost over this season of itchy skin. Seriously, we believe in herbal medicine! None of us have had any medicine in months now!!

 He loves to sit up!

 I know everyone calls E mini-D, but E looks an awful lot like my nephew Caleb!!

We have our first tooth people!!

One family shot. I'm working hard to lose my baby weight. It is a process...

Post Audition Update

So - just wanted to send out an update on the weekend with the new guy. Short story: no decision has been made to hire "newbie" or not.  Long story - newbie and his fiance came into town on Thursday. It was a weird week. We weren't included in anything. I guess we've always felt "inside" of the elders group, but we were definitely "outside" of the weekend festivities. We were a bit anxious knowing that all of O.U.R. elders were bumping elbows with our replacement. We love these people so it is hard to think we might not have these close relationships much longer. So anyway, newbie came and led rehearsal Thursday evening. I have no idea what else he did because for the FIRST time since we moved here, for the FIRST time since Ezra was born, DEREK WENT TO CHURCH WITH US!!! That means that my husband and the father of the most beautiful babe woke up WITH US on Sunday morning. We had breakfast. I made a delicious dessert for potluck. I had HELP carrying said potluck and Ezra with all of his belongings to the car and we drove to church together. A normal Sunday morning involves a lot of timing finesse and stress on my part. Showering with a deadline is near impossible with a six-month-old! Anyway, I digress....for the first time our little family worshipped together. I - MOM - was able to raise my hands in worship instead of holding my sweet boy because DADDY WAS BESIDE ME! If anything comes from this experience, worshipping next to my husband and son was soooo worth it!

Newbie did a good job, but he made D and I feel our age. 22 seems a vast span on time away from our rounding the bases to 30! 22 seems eager and on-top-of-the-world! The Elders have decided they want to fly in another candidate to audition before making their decision so we are back to our waiting game. We are waiting, waiting, waiting on decisions to be made, doors to open and close and a moving date to be set! Anxiously waiting/dreading/hoping that this past weekend would deliver this much anticipated date had us packing a box "just in case." But, back to waiting. Dr. Seuss calls this the waiting place...as I remember he is not very fond of this place and strongly encourages us to move on, get up and go to "oh all the places you will go."

While we wait we will watch Ezra play, explore and grow. This week has proven that our little guy will not stay little for long. He is sitting up and playing with toys for longer time spans, content to just be in his own little world. When he is ready to snuggle he will lift his hands up in the air and whine like a little puppy. In our little Ezra world, waiting is turning out to not be so bad!  More updates to come...thank you so much for covering us in prayer. And thanks to my amazing grandparents for their ever present encouragement via email and calls. The puppy (baby) is now whining and waving his arms :)

Just little update

Hi friends and family,

Well, today is a big day...it marks the beginning of "the new guy" auditioning for Derek's job and the possibility of a new season on the way for the Fekkes Family. In a few short days we will know whether or not Derek has a job still or... well, I don't actually know what "or" could be. Because we use this blog to update our loved ones on our lives, I'm not going to succumb to the pressure to censor how we are feeling. IT SUCKS! This waiting, anxious feeling of looming unemployment combined with a "God is surely in control - who are we to TELL him how to work in our lives" mindset - SUCKS. A part of me just wants to scream, "LET THIS BE OVER!" But I know that this is a teachable moment, a moment of great growth as a family and great faith as a believer in Christ. As I type I look over at smiling Ezra and know how blessed we truly are. So, if you want some prayer points for us, here goes:

Faith, wisdom and discernment

Employment!! 

Contentment

Financial provision   

We'll keep you posted on how things go this week! ON the upside, Derek actually gets to worship with his wife and son this Sunday! First time EVER!

Five Fabulous Flirty Fotos!

 We are on a battle right now to conquer ECZEMA! I'm excited to say, We are FINALLY WINNING!  Thanks to a very knowledgable friend, we are learning all about homeopathy. Ezra is currently undergoing an intestinal detox (www.herbdoc.com) and it is repairing his guy and flushing out all the toxins that sadly have already found a home in our little guy. Eczema tends to flare the worst during the 6 to 9 month stretch and we are only days away from entering the race.

 In other news, E is such a happy baby. I don't think D and I have had that "look" of harassed parents, yet. Even though we aren't sleeping through the night consistently, we are still so overwhelmed by the unconditional love from the little guy that we have smiles on our faces. Even in the midst of complete uncertainty about Derek's job search, the churches replacement search and our eventual/have-no-clue-when move to Washington State, we are so aware of the blessing of Ezra, of a God that walks AHEAD of his children and prepares their way, of a strong marriage and of family and friends that have loved us through it all.

 VACATION is just around the corner! We are taking our little guy on a monumental road trip. We are also praying that the road trip does not end up being a monumental catastrophe! E continues his hate-hate relationship with his car seat. I'm anxious just thinking about the long drive! But, I can't WAIT to sit on my parents back porch and just BE.AT.HOME! I can't wait until the lake weekend with all my homies from college. I seriously am looking forward to being in Nashville with Derek's college dudes, wives and chillin'! To celebrating the Fourth of July, backyard BBQ's, ATHENS!!!, Ashley's wedding and the absolutely beauty and peace of sharing Ezra with family and friends!

I hope the video below works for you guys. Our cutie is a camera ham! 

Five months of CUTENESS!

December 14, 2012

January 11, 2013

February 11, 2013

March 11, 2013

April 11, 2013

May 11, 2013

The words do not really need detailed captions. They are priceless to E's daddy and I. This little guy is such a beautiful reminder of God's power, majesty and beauty. EVEN when your child goes through a growth spurt where they forget what it means to sleep! (RIGHT NOW!) Ezra has grown and changed so much over the past few months. But, looking back at those first few days, D and I can see the personality in his face. Our kid is one fun ball of laughs. He's also one sigh away from pulling their hair out of our heads! (YESTERDAY - when he refused to take a nap!) But, we've managed to form a routine around here to deal with the rough patches and savor the sweet ones. I have so many pictures I want to share, but our computer is on the outs and has a hard time uploading. More to come soonish.

Stank EYE - That picture that you wish your mother didn't have

YES, this is the best picture ever! All Ya'll homies beware! Ezra-of-the-stank-eye is coming for you! (Ezra, some day you will find this picture as humorous as we do, but until then, it's okay to have a sense of humor.)

Our little guy is hilarious, folks. He has discovered his "appendage" recently and cracks us up whenever he is on the changing table. He's laughing and loving it. This kid LOVES to laugh! However, don't laugh too hard back at him. He get's upset and scared when other's laugh back at him.

 Rolling over. Step 1: Pushing off

Step 2: Falling         

Step 3: Safe Landing

Step 4: Sigh of Relief

 Sometimes, this is what it takes to get to a smile! 

Putting the old away

I can't believe that Ezra is almost 5 months old! I can't believe that just yesterday I packed away ALL of his three month old clothes. Is this really happening? Why does he have to grow so fast?? I blink and there he goes, growing, growing. Slow down sweet boy. Mommy and Daddy aren't ready yet!

Yesterday at church Ezra was the BIG KID! Three babies were present in the congregation. One younger by 8 days, the other only 3 weeks old. EZRA was the BIG KID! And the loud one, apparently. While the others sweetly napped, Ezra could be heard throughout the church cooing, moaning and making other cute, but loud, noises. I LOVE THIS! There is nothing that warms my heart greater than hearing a baby in church, crying or not! As my husband prayerfully considers what planting a church will look like, I beg him to always allow WHOLE-HEARTEDLY babies in the service with their parents. Mark Driscoll loves to have children in the service as a sign of life and blessing! I couldn't agree more! What better statement to those mommies and daddies lovingly sheparding their children than a welcome - for all - into the church, where ALL can be fed! Now, if we can only free the mommies up to nurse while in their church. I'm blessed to have a church that provides a cry room with the service being mic'ed in. My wish for all mommies!!!

Life Update

Isaiah 55:8-9

English Standard Version (ESV)

⁸ For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
⁹ For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.

This verse is fitting for where we, as a family, are at right now. We are adjusting to a major shift in calling. I italicize this word because it is hard to define, hard to understand and hard to accept.  Being called -

There is a difference between a called individual and someone who fills a hole," says Pastor Chris.  (Click quote for more info)

Jesus called the 12 disciples. They were purposed for very finite reasons to come alongside Christ, be trained by him and then sent out.

Derek and I know without doubt that we were called to this church, this ministry, this city, to come alongside, be in community, be trained and now, we believe, to be sent out.

Over the past year, Derek has felt a change in his heart, brought about by God. This change has renovated his passions in ministry. Where he once felt on fire to serve in worship and youth, that fire has dimmed. We firmly believe that Derek's giftedness in music has been from God and meant to serve his church and his people. That type of gift should always be used to bring glory to God and will not end. God has over the past year built in Derek a desire to teach and preach. Part of his calling to ministry here at our church, I believe, was to train Derek up, expose him to the pulpit, and give him opportunity to learn about leadership in a church. After being giving many opportunities by our Pastor to teach Sunday school and preach Sunday mornings, Derek has felt this stirring in his heart became a thundering beat that can't be tuned out.

For months we have prayed about whether or not we should even entertain this change going on inside of Derek. We asked questions - is this something YOU want or GOD wants, has our calling changed, what does this M.E.A.N? The answers haven't always been very clear so we took time away completely from thinking about this. AND we had a baby - great distraction.

Derek returned to his hometown back in January for a week for a RE:train class. While there he was able to articulate better this calling in his heart.

Derek feels called to minister, teach and preach

to his hometown community of Stanwood, Washington

by way of planting a church.

Sounds crazy, right? That's what I thought, too. But after much prayer - and frankly - questioning both God and my husband, I'm on board. I believe this is what God is calling us to. Is it comfortable? N.O. Is it certain -  not nearly. So, what is it? It IS a huge step in faith to go, to leave our comfortable, loving, community-rich, God-loving church here in Texas, to become members of a church we hope to plant someday. Will God bring about his good and perfect will this way - unknown. Do we believe God wants us to be in Washington? Yes. Is this a hard decision for us? Yes. Why? The reasons are many and I'm sure will be a part of a blog post at some point. We know that for one side of our family, there will be joy and smiles and for another there will be sadness and tears at the growing distance. For some friends, we are moving closer, for some we are moving a country a part. For friends here that have become family, we are leaving unsure how often we will see each other again. The many faces that have been familiar to our son will no longer be seen. But as God promised Moses, He has already gone before us and made a way.

I'm sure a lot of this is confusing for those of you reading it. This is a blog for family and friends to stay connected to what's going on in our life. So, feel free to call us and ask questions.  Here is a final bit of information that might explain where we are a bit better. 

Derek has received the blessing by our Pastor and Elders to seek out opportunities to live out this calling in Standwood. That means they have given Derek permission to look for employment opportunities or ministry openings that would enable us to start the process of assessing whether or not we will plant a church. It also means that Derek is now the interim worship leader at our church and his job has been posted online. In less than a week, more than 10 applicants have applied and one is scheduled to come out and "audition" for Derek's job. This is moving WAY.TOO.FAST for my comfort, but it is moving. We have no idea about the timing of this transition. We ask that you guys pray for us, for discernment, wisdom, unity, peace, provision and thankful hearts!  Also, please pray for our church here, that the new worship leader will be the perfect fit for the congregation and God's desire for their worship. 

Bird Watching Fun with my Men

May 5, 2013' 

 My baby Pumpkin and handsome husband and I went bird watching at our local nature preserve this past Saturday. We spent a very VERY enjoyable time together spotting some new species that we had not seen before. I got a glimpse of an Oriole and a solitary sandpiper.

The handsome boy continues to grow so quickly. I had no idea how much he has grown until I saw a newborn this past weekend at church. Ezra was the BIG KID!

 Baby Binoculars are next on our list of must have baby toys!

Absolute favorite time of the day with these two guys are early morning snuggles. Ezra LOVES to snuggle in the morning. He is perfectly fine staying in bed, slowly waking up and smiling up at mommy and daddy!

Dear baby elf,

As cute as you are playing with your toes, sucking your thumb, spitting, wiggling and laughing All. At. The. Same. Time. It is time to go to sleep! Your dad has managed to snooze his way through your 3am monster time. Mommy, however, has not. The alarm is set for 6:40! Go to sleep!!

P. S. you are adorable at 3am!

Love,
Mom

Have you every had one of those days when you just have to cry out/scream/rejoice in the hope that someday all suffering will end, all injustice will be made glorious, all the baggage and burdens will fall off like leaves from a tree...

Okay, we are having one of those "days" that has become months! We long for our Savior who we KNOW longs for the day when every knee will bow before him! So, today while you are in prayer, pray for the Fekkes family! Pray that we can let go of our critical nature, that we can embrace and love the unlovely, that we can REJOICE in all things, that we can celebrate the Lord and HIS timing, that we will heave ears to hear his call and we will have hearts that overflow with desire to share his love with others!!!!

handsome boy alert!!

4 months, 2 weeks old

A Very Happy Birthday

My first birthday as a mom was absolutely WONDERFUL! 

My handsome men gave me a very special lazy morning in bed. Daddy made chilled peach soup with raspberry garnish. We had this soup at a B&B in Bozeman, Montana once. It was so nice to be treated to sweetly and to have Derek remember a special memory we've shared together. 

Next up, Daddy and son time so mommy could be pampered with a pedicure and manicure. I relaxed for near 2 hours having myself primped. 

That two hours was the first time I have been away from my babe for any reason other than work...and I didn't feel guilty! Time to myself was needed and so deeply appreciated! 

My men took me out for lunch to finish the day off. Daddy and E gave me a cute bubble necklace - so I can finally participate in this new trend - before Daddy had to go off to work. Derek decided to host youth group at Starbucks, and thanks to the Nash's who gave me a birthday gift card, I met up with the youth to have a coffee to top off the night. 

Hello 27! You look much different than 17 or 7. I think I kind of like the 2 before you. I like where I'm at, I LOVE that I get to LOVE these two wonderful men and I'm thankful for the friends and family that have journeyed with me along the way! So, this year was a Very. Happy. Birthday. 

Due Date

April 9th, 1986 - Anlee's Due Date

Just like Ezra I arrived fashionably late...32 or 36 minutes, I forget. Unlike Ezra, I gave grace to my mother and arrived quickly. LIKE Ezra, we were both 19 inches long!

Tomorrow, I will be 27. 27 seems like a boring, counting down/up to 30 age. You can rent a car already. You've passed the quarter century mark and then some to 26...what next?

26 was an amazing year. We found out we were pregnant (technically at 25), had our beautiful son, traveled quite a bit, lived a FULL YEAR in one place, the USA, and for the first time in more years than I can count didn't go on an international trip.

27...what is going to be the highlight for you?

How about this, we are going to go ALL organic in meat. (Anything cooked at home.) We are also going to be fully organic in all fruits and veggies, maybe even grains! Haven't made that commitment, yet. Year 27 is going to be about informing myself about healthy food practices for me and my family. Thank you Food Inc. for such an informative documentary...my husband, however, does not thank you.

I'm also going to spend the year simplifying and downsizing. I have no idea where we will be when the next birthday comes around, so I'm going to spend the year sorting out the necessities from the clutter. With my very active 4 month old it will take me the entire year!

Lastly, I want to work on being content exactly where I am and thankful for exactly what I have.

But, let's dream a little - Here is my birthday wish list this year (so different from years past!)

Check out Sophie On Amazon 

Check out Fisher Price Rainforest Jumperoo on Walmart

Newborn Photo shoot!!

...you can tell I'm a new mom, hugh?...