Simply Sara

Life has a way of never turning out like I expect it to. I have great expectations, plans of things coming together just-so, but in the end, life is complicated and hard, beautiful and simple. Take this blog for example, long ago I had visions of creating a blog that hundreds of women would read every day. A blog that would reach stay at home moms like myself who need a little encouragement and joy every day. Lofty aspirations that have been knocked down by the reality of life. Finding time to "blog" during the craziness of my daily routine is near impossible - same as finding time to take a shower, brush my hair and put on makeup daily. Today I'm working on being more flexible. An attitude my dear husband is naturally gifted with, but one that is a constant struggle for me. I had hoped to take the kids to the library for story time today, thinking it would be good for all of us to get out of our pjs and go somewhere. Good intentions, right? But instead, I'm making a ...

Wyatt Thomas was born Saturday August 7!!! Weighing in at 8 pounds 1 ounce! Our baby boy is absolutely amazing! He's beautiful, perfect, snuggly, a great eater, happy and laid back! Matt and I are totally in love with him! Pictures are coming soon!

Yesterday was quite the exciting day! After taking Ava to her two year check up and hearing yet again how wonderful she is (I have to brag!), I went to see the OB/Gyn. At 38 weeks, I was anxious to get some good news! And I did! I measured 4 centimeters! Hooray! After lots of tears and prayers and advice from my doctor, Matt and I have decided to schedule an augmentation for tomorrow morning. In case you don't know what that means, (I didn't until my sister Melanie told me today), an augmentation is when labor stalls and medication is given to keep it going. You see, last night I had contractions for 5 hours, but then they stalled. Today has been much of the same - contractions that won't organize. I think my body needs a little assistance. So say a prayer for me, as we are about to meet our baby boy! We will post his name and pictures just as soon as we can!!! By the way, Ava weighs 30 pounds (85%), is 34 inches tall (55%) and continues to have a big head (92%). Her commun...

We celebrated Ava's birthday tonight. Yes, we are one day late, but she doesn't know that. :) Matt and I made a quick trip to Greenville last night to look and almost buy a mini-van. After selling Matt's truck last week, we are in a mad hunt for an affordable, reliable van; my car can't safely hold three carseats in the back. So that's why we partied tonight! Ava enjoyed opening up her birthday cards. Thanks to everyone who so thoughtfully sent her a card. It's not too often that baby girl gets any mail. Oh, in case you're wondering, I'm not sure what is up with her socks either! We're gonna have to work on her sense of fashion! After this shot, the camera battery died. Ava (and Lucas) had a blast playing with her baby doll toys - bathtub, high chair and crib. She also got an adorable 31 bag and some bubbles. Earlier in the day, we had a bit of a crisis situation. We three were playing outside when Ava stepped on a roof nail which went thru her flipf...

Our baby girl, Ava Grace, is two years old today!!! Matt and I prayed with joy every night for our precious daughter during the pregnancy. The Lord impressed upon my heart early on to pray that she would be strong. She came into the world at 2:04p.m. weighing 7 pounds and 8 ounces. She looked just like her brother did - neither one had much hair! Little did we know that our tiny daughter would blossom into an extraordinary, passionate, friendly girl who never meets a stranger and embraces life with full joy! Ava loves people! I know with all my heart that the Lord has great things in store for this little girl! Our prayer is that she will know the Lord at a young age and that she will follow Him the rest of her life. Happy Birthday Ava! Mommy and Daddy love you so much! You are such a special, important part of our family! We are so thankful and humbled that God chose us to be your parents! We love you sweetheart - more than you will ever know!

I have to be honest and admit that my attitude during this pregnancy has been less than pleasant. I've felt every ache and pain, and made sure everyone around me heard about it. I gripped about the morning sickness that felt like it would never end. I wished each day would go faster as my tummy grew and I felt more and more discomfort. Each new stretch marked was noticed and complained about. The lack of energy, swollen feet and aching back all gave me ammunition to be a grumpy-gus. I'm not exactly proud of my attitude. My poor family has put up with a lot. My doctor even reminded me a few appointments back to savor this pregnancy instead of wishing it would go by faster. So with all this complaining and wishing the negative thoughts away, I had the strangest feelings of sadness today. It's almost over. In 16 days or less, I will no longer be pregnant. Never again will I feel a tiny life growing, wiggling, and kicking inside of me. I have had the privilege of being a part o...

Tonight I am too wired up from consuming a large amount of Milk Duds and diet (caffeine free) Coke to go to bed. So instead, I want to share an entry from my journal that I wrote back in June. Too often lately I have been so focused on the negative and I forget to dwell in the good. This journal entry is a nice reminder of just how blessed I truly am and where my blessings come from. *June 2010* As an early birthday present, I was given an outdoor covered swing. Tonight is my first night to enjoy my gift. It's funny how I came outside to be quiet - to be alone - something I rarely experience in my daily life. But as my mind and body settle into the comforts of the swing, my ears are totally aware that I am far from being alone. Squirrels are in the trees above me. Birds are calling all around. Horns are honking in the distance and the voice of our precious daughter is calling "Mommy!" from the screen door. No I am not alone. Our tiny son has even made his presence known a...

I'm trying so hard to muster up the energy to take the kiddos somewhere this morning, like the water park or the movies, but I can't seem to find the strength to do it. Aside from dinner at a friend's house last night, we haven't left our home since Sunday! The kids are bored, not that I blame them, and nothing I suggest sounds like fun to them. Oh wait, I just saw Lucas take some play dough into the kitchen! Hopefully this will hold their attention for at least 20 minutes! I'm so thankful the kids having formed such a strong friendship between the two of them. They do spend 95% of their time with each other, so it's great they enjoy playing together. Our play dates with friends have dwindled because I simply don't have the energy to go on a play date. (I am happy to send them off to a friend's house for the morning, but that doesn't happen very often!) I pray this slow, lazy summer at home has been more positive than negative for the kids. I want th...

Our lazy, summer morning has gotten off to a great start. Pancakes for breakfast and lots of snuggling on the couch while watching Curious George on PBS. I love George. My two little ones are cozied up beside me while my littlest one is wiggling around in my over-extended belly. It's hard to believe that He will be here soon! I find myself daydreaming all the time about holding him in my arms, nuzzling him, cheek to cheek. Last night I was telling my sister, Melanie, about how I long for those quiet moments in the hospital, long after family has left, when Matt and I unswaddle our new baby and marvel at the miracle before us. Such joy-filled, exhausting moments are coming soon! Please continue to pray for us as we wait in expectation and do our best to prepare to become a family of 5!

We're making the most of the hot, humid days of summer! Lots of indoor, creative play. Too much t.v., trips to the water park and cherished time with friends. Thanks to Meg and Skye for a wonderful baby shower!

Our life is full of inconsistencies. Some days are lazy and slow, others are jammed packed and non-stop. One day the kids are happy, loving and obedient, the next, well, I wonder if they are possessed by the devil. Today I feel good, tomorrow I can barely get out of bed. Yesterday was one of our worst days this summer, while the day before was one of our best. Does anyone else have crazy seasons like this ? Sometimes I miss the boring days of summer....

We're weeks away from baby boy's big arrival and I'm doing exactly what my Momma told I would be doing - marveling (and mourning) at how fast Lucas and Ava are growing up. Amazing how a little perspective shift can give you hyper awareness of your current circumstances. Even as I am wishing that delivery day would come tomorrow, I feel the Holy Spirit reminding me to savor this fleeting time. Our last few weeks as a family of four. The last time I will ever feel a baby move inside of me. The last time I'll be this huge (hooray!). And the last time it will be just Lucas and Ava. I have prayed for a long time that Lucas and Ava would become best friends, and I'm watching this beautiful friendship form right before my eyes. Ever since we pulled Lucas out of preschool, our two little ones have been each other's constant playmate. And now they are sharing a room! It's a love/hate relationship. They wrestle, chase each other, perform dance concerts, jump on the be...

I don't know if it's the culmination of a busy couple weeks or the delayed effects of traveling last weekend to visit family, but today, my body is loudly waving the white flag of defeat. My toes are numb, my fingers are swelling and my back is killing me; and I'm really discouraged about this. I still have a little over a month left in this pregnancy and I'm struggling to see how I'm going to survive. I feel so limited in what I can accomplish around the house and for the family. Matt is heroically handling a lot of the household tasks for me, including caring for the kids when he's home. I haven't had to give a bath in over 3 weeks! Matt spent the better part of today cleaning out the hall closet and guest bedroom. He also is painting the kids' room and doing so much more. I could sink down into a well of self-pity, but instead I'm asking for prayer. I could really use some. Pray for my strength and joy to return. Pray that our family won't go ...

**Yes, I wrote this post a couple months ago, but never got around to posting it!** I think one of the greatest gifts about being as stay at home mom (SAHM) are mornings that start off slowly, no rushing or frantic pace to get out the door to somewhere important. The kids are still in their pajamas enjoying some PBSKids while I sip a cup of coffee and collect my thoughts. This peaceful feeling is something I will miss when the kids are in school, I'm sure. This morning started off in a magical way. I woke up about 10 minutes before Lucas and got to spend a few minutes in the Word. Soon after I heard little feet running to my door and saw a beaming little boy eager to jump in my bed and tell me that "he slept good." We turned on the t.v. and enjoyed sitting side by side until Miss A began to call from the other room. She never appreciates being left out. Soon breakfast was on the table, spoons were passed out and my coffee from the day before reheated. Pinks ...

Well it's time. Time to start blogging again. I've been thinking about this moment for over a month now. I met with a dear friend, and with her help and guidance, started dreaming about the "vision" for my blog, along with new templet ideas and traffic generation. But none of it has taken off, obviously. Instead, I'm here today, writing once again, because of the regret I already feel for not documenting this special, challenging time in our lives. As much as I would love for this blog to be a place of encouragement and community and widespread readership, it's original purpose was to be a simple online journal of the amazing journey of motherhood that I'm on. So that's my focus now, the purpose behind this blog. Where do I even begin? I'm entering into the 8th month of my third (and final) pregnancy. I'm exhausted, joyful, emotional, irritable, and nostalgic. Our house is in chaos as we are trying to organize and prepare for our baby boy's...

We are in week 3 or 4 of Lucas not being in preschool anymore, and while the transition has gone well, there have been a few growing pains. As a parent, I want so badly to protect my children from ever feeling confused or insecure. Lucas is a creature of routine, thriving when the day is planned and feeling secure with set boundaries. Seriously, this kid loves to know the rules. If he would always follow them, well then my life would be even easier! So when Matt and I decided to keep Lucas home full time (he was in preschool 5 mornings a week), I knew we were taking away a sense of security for Lucas, and that worried me. One of the reasons behind our decision were comments Lucas kept saying to me, "Mommy, I want to be home with you and Ava" or "Do I have to go to school today?. After the first week of being home full time, I started hearing comments like "when do I get to see my friends again?" and "what day is it? Is it a school day?" Thankfully we ...

showing off Ava's bloomers! Thanks Aunt Melanie! Cutest little bottom I've ever seen! Speaking of bottoms, Ava asked her Daddy to put her on the potty yesterday! Her request caught us off guard, but I recovered quick enough to grab the camera! Check out my little bookworm! I hope she follows in my footsteps and loves to read too!

First, I have to tell you our exciting news! Baby number 3 is on the way! He/she's been turning my world upside down for 12 weeks now! #3 is due in August - yes, I know how hot it is, and no, I wouldn't wish any woman to go thru the hot summer in the South 9 months pregnant! But apparently, this is our time of year to birth babies! I appreciate all of you who still faithfully check back to see if I'm ever going to update my blog again! Below are my thoughts about it: This blog has been such a learning process for me. A journey of sorts. One that has been exciting at times and other times a chore. It's served as an baby update for family, a journal for my private thoughts, and a sharing opportunity of things that interest me. But I am uncertain about the future of my blog. I've been struggling for the past year, feeling discontent with my inability to focus the topic of what I'm writing about. I no longer want to write a "baby" blog. While yes, I'm ...

Since I cook most nights of the week, I'm always looking for yummy and easy meals to put together for my family. I love to watch cooking shows and read magazines, such as Cooking Light, but I most typically find my recipes online. However, tonight I tried a new recipe from January's Cooking Light and it was a hit with the entire family! Fettuccine Alfredo with Bacon 1 (9oz) package refrigerated fresh fettuccine **I think it was worth the extra $ to buy fresh, but it's up to you 2 slices bacon 1 teaspoon minced garlic 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour 1 cup 1% low fat milk 2/3 cup grated Parmigiano-reggiano Cheese **I used the stuff in the green can 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 Tablespoons chopped fresh parsley ** I used dried 1/2 teaspoon black pepper Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain in a colander over a bowl, reserving a 1/4 cup cooking liquid. While pasta cooks, cook bacon over medium high heat until crisp, stirring occasionally. Remove bacon f...

Ava Grace turned 17 months just a few days ago. Can you believe it? Here's a little update on the busy life of Miss A. Language. It's exploding! Ava understands everything we say and we understand just about everything she's trying to say. Through words, gestures and facial expressions, Ava has learned to express her opinion! She always copying us, whether it's calling "Annie! Annie!" and clapping her hands when the dog is outside or saying "A-ba! A-ba!" in a deep growl like her big brother. She says "tank -u" when you hand her something, "I want milk" when she wants her milk, "I want nack or yummy" when she wants to eat. Ava has learned the word "No" and definitely knows how to use it! She's so adaptable, eager to be a part of anything that's going on, and really silly. This girl loves to dance and clap her hands to the beat. Ava finds joy in running away when she knows I'm calling her (especially ...