One month

I can't believe how time has flown by!

I have been working on my unfinished projects that I keep saying I will show you.  Here is one of those projects, I started this chevron quilt a few months ago.  I would have finished it before he was born but I couldn't find a backing material that I liked.  Finally a few weeks ago I found this cute whale material and thought it was sweet, plus the colors were just what I wanted.  This was my very first quilt, there are tons of imperfections but I still love the way it turned out:)  I used this pattern here.

I was inspired by this chevron quilt I found on Pinterest a few months ago.

(Source)

We are getting back into a schedule now that the kids have started school.  We have five in school this year, 5th, 4th 2nd, 1st and Kindergarten with two at home with me.  They are all getting so big!

We celebrated Avery's 8th birthday on Friday.  I have also been working on our adoption paperwork for court.  If I am being realistic I don't think we will be taking our second trip until the beginning of the new year.  We just had to have our homestudy updated because it was going to expire, so we had our social worker over last Thursday to get that done.  We are waiting on our FBI background checks because those expired as well.  We also found out last week that Russia is now requiring 80 hours more of adoption education, I am trying to figure out where we are going to find the time to figure that all out.  I just don't see us getting that all done before December, which for that whole month Russia pretty much shuts down so I don't want to get stuck over there during the holidays.  We are getting very close to hitting the two year mark of our adoption process, what a journey it has all been.

Reflection

I'm sitting here late in to the night nursing the sweetest baby boy and recapping the days events.  My birthday has officially come and gone again, already past midnight I'm thinking how quickly time passes.  And it makes me snuggle Radley a little closer.  I want to soak it all up, memorize everything about this moment.  His sweet breath, his little grunts and squeals, and his soft baby cheeks that are getting chubbier by the day.  Already he is ten days old, it just goes so fast.  I told my husband the other day that in two years we will have a teenager, wasn't it just yesterday that Prestin was in my arms and now he is almost up to my chin.  I wish I could make time stop, or to at least slow down.

I bought this book a few weeks ago, and I am probably one of the last people to have read it.  But that's okay it has come into my life at the perfect time.  She writes like a poet, a modern day C.S. Lewis if you will, and the words seem to come so effortlessly for her.  She talks about slowing down and seeing all the Lord has to offer, all the gifts He bestows on us daily.  And in those moments of seeing His grace having thanksgiving in our hearts.  She started acknowledging all these gifts by writing each and every gift, no matter how small, into a journal.  And that is what I have started to do as well.  I can't stop time, but I can at least savor in the moments and reflect back as I read over them and truly see how much the Lord does bless us with on a daily basis.  How much He loves us and wants so much for us, if only we would take the time to slow down and pay attention.

I don't want to miss a thing!  I don't want my life to be a blur, I don't want to get so wrapped up in the piles of dishes and mountains of laundry that I miss out on the little lives that are right in front of me now.  So this is where I'm starting, to be more thankful and more joy filled.  I'm excited to have my eyes wide opened!

And just because I wouldn't want to disappoint you all:)  Here is Radley dressed in his Sunday best for his first time to church.

Also be forewarned that I am going to be that annoying mama who shows off her baby whenever I get the chance:)  Goodnight!

One week old

A gift from above

Radley La Mountain Ryan Farley

was born on August 16, 2012 at 6:30 a.m.

He weighed 9 lbs. 2 oz. and was 19.5 inches long.

We feel truly blessed that he is healthy but also because our oldest son Prestin was given a very special gift this day as well.  My husband said it best, " How do I know we serve a God who loves...In ways we cannot fathom?  Our son has prayed for over five years for a baby brother...two baby sisters later, five total, He answers.  Though He has heard every word, every whisper, He waits...But He does not just listen and answer.  No He does what we cannot plan for and gives Prestin a living, breathing "I love you my child, I have heard your every prayer" and does so on his 11th birthday.

It was a great celebration of our two sons, we are still waiting on a third and would like to wish our little guy a very Happy 4th Birthday today!  Our cup runneth over:)

Savoring the moments.

I've been working on some projects that I hope to show you soon, unfortunately as my due date draws nearer my motivation has been slowing down a bit and I'm not getting things done as fast as I would like.

 Baby boy is doing really well and growing...a lot!  Hopefully we'll be meeting him sooner rather than later, only nine more days until my due date.  I am trying to savor these last moments, although uncomfortable, of pregnancy.  Feeling him move inside me, thinking of what he'll look like, how much hair will he have and what color?...Will he look like me or Ash?  Taking in the last moments of preparation before he arrives.  It's an amazing thing to have a baby, such an incredible blessing to all of a sudden be holding this beautiful, fully formed human in your arms.

 Completely a miracle from God.   And oh, the automatic love you feel, it's indescribable!  We honestly can't wait and are jonesing to hold our little guy!  Until then I'm steadily working away at the rest of the projects that I want to get finished before he arrives and will post them as soon as they are done!  So keep checking back:)

Burp Cloths

These were really fun to make!  They were super easy and instantly gratifying as you start to see the stack of happy fabrics pile up.  Here is the tutorial if you'd like to make your own, again another Pinterest find:)  Love that Pinterest!

Sweet Dreams Banner

Yesterday I thought for sure was "Baby Day", we woke up for church and were getting ready and I had four really strong contractions less than a minute a part.  I thought ohmygoodness here we go!  But alas they stopped and baby boy is still warm and snug in my belly.  Hopefully he comes out soon and is not thinking of settling down for a long winter.  I only have one pair of shoes that I can fit right now and they are flip flops:)  

I have been busy with little projects here and there to keep my mind off the waiting and made these sweet little banners for my older girl's room.  I recently painted their room and am adding some vintagey goodness here and there.  I have forever adored the beautiful banners from Cookie Monday's and thought I might try my hand at making my own.  Now let me just stop right here and say how much respect I have gained for her banner making skills because burlap is not the easiest material to work with and is super messy!  Mine do not compare to hers but I think I got the look I was going for:)  Sorry if the pictures are kind of dark, someday I will learn how to use my camera.  The colors are actually really bright and cheery, I can't wait until the whole room finally comes together! Project 2 down, 437 to go:)