New Home, New Life

We've been in NC for about a month now. We are slowly getting used to this new life, our new normal. I'm learning again how to live in a small town. Things move a little more slowly, people actually talk and have conversation with you, and when I say people, I mean perfect strangers. Neighbors just pop in. A 10 minute drive is actually a 10 minute drive, not 20-30 minutes. You go somewhere twice and they remember you from the first time, remember that your having a 3rd boy and just moved from Virginia. Small town life is definitely different than living in a city, I like it, though. It's how I grew up, and I love that we're giving our boys this life. They play in our front yard every day and are content with dirt and sticks and rocks as their toys. One of their favorite things to do is stand at the window and watch the wildlife in our yard. They're slowly learning what it's like to be country, or at least as country as they can living in a neighborhood. 

We're getting used to the new house, learning the quirks, learning how to take care of 2 boys in this house. Judah is slowly learning what he can and cannot do. I love most things about the new house, although there are a few things that are taking getting used to, like having the laundry in the basement, and the boys room right beside ours. But for the most part, I love it. I love that it's a little smaller, I love having a basement for most of our storage so we're not still surrounded by boxes. I love having a yard the boys can play in on a quiet street where I don't have to worry about cars racing past. I love the pond in the back. I don't get to enjoy it quite as much as I would like, but that will come as the boys get older.

We're adjusting to civilian life as well. Isaac is home for breakfast every morning and dinner/bath/bedtime every night unless he's travelling. He's home on weekends.We get to go to church together. He's not exhausted constantly. It's been a nice change.

The boys and I are doing pretty well too. Jacob is growing right on target. I'll be 35 weeks this weekend and am just hoping to make it to mid July so he's full term. I'm trying to take time to rest during the day to keep him in as long as possible, but it's hard with so much still to do around the house. His room is no where close to being ready, and it won't be when he comes. I'm trying not to let that drive me crazy, although we do have a good space for him in our room, so he does have a place to sleep. 

I'm getting used to the stay-at-home mom thing again. We have a routine. I've learned that's the only way I can keep some sort of saneness to our day. And making sure they have their naptime, so I can get some rest/work time in. We play with friends, go to the library, go explore the town, run errands. And the boys always have their outside time. I'm learning that I don't have to be their entertainer, they do just fine without me and I just don't have the energy. I'm also learning that when Jacob makes it so that I can't keep my eyes open, putting on a movie is just fine, so I can rest a bit.

All in all, it's been a pretty good start to a new life. I'm looking forward to what the next few weeks have in store with when Jacob makes his arrival.

Judah's in his dirt pile, his happy place, he could play every day here and never get bored

 Curtis is mastering the tricycle and loved it. This is his happy place, driving up and down the driveway

 I'm loving the blackberry bushes left by the previous owners. I've been getting fresh blackberries almost daily. I'm having to restrain myself and freeze them so I can actually do sometime with them other than immediately eat them

 This is my favorite spot. Isaac and I like sitting out here, although since it's pretty far  away from the boys room and the monitor doesn't reach, we don't get to do it often.

 Baxter is loving the new life too, always new things to check out, squirrels and rabbits to chase

Mother's Day 2017

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!! It's not an easy job, this motherhood thing. As I ease back into my role as stay-at-home mom/homemaker from working mom, I am daily reminded of how not easy it is to be a mom. But, I wouldn't trade it for anything. The vomiting and loss of appetite, the extreme fatigue, the heartburn, the not being able to move like a normal person, the anticipation of labor, the epidural, the labor, delivery and recovery, the post partum depression, the sleepless nights, the crying and screaming, I wouldn't take back any of it because it means that I have 2 of the most amazing little boys and about to have a 3rd. I am in awe some days that God has entrusted me to help raise up 3 boys in the next generation of men who will know Him, love Him, serve Him and by serving Him, will serve the world around them. I love watching these littles grow up, watching their curiosity, answering their questions, watching as they learn compassion and kindness and slowly are learning that they are not the center of the universe but that other people matter too. I am so thankful each day to get to take care of them, make meals for them, teach them. The days are hard, some are tedious, some are frustrating, but if I'm seeking God, he shows me Himself in these difficult days and how he is working through me and through my boys. I am so thankful to have this wonderful job of being a mom. 

I can't forget about my amazing husband this Mother's Day. He never ceases to make me feel special, not just today, but everyday. He has such a servant's heart, especially during these difficult months of pregnancy. I am so thankful God blessed me with him to walk through this life with!

Judah Turns 2!!

Judahbug. Bug-a-boo. Little bit.  Stinker butt. Sourpatch kid. Baby Brother.

These are all the names this little one goes by. And all fit so perfectly. Judah brightens our day, sometimes makes it a little harder, gives us tons of laughs and keeps us on our toes. He is fearless, compassionate, loud, eats most things put in front of him, seems to need very little sleep and could spend his entire life outside playing in the dirt. He is so excited to be a big brother and loves to pat Baby Jacob, snuggle him and give him a kiss. He loves his big brother, wants to be just like him, loves to copy what he does and follow him around. He also loves to antagonize him every chance he gets. He loves to do something naughty, then immediately turn around and be incredibly sweet giving you a hug and kiss, hence then sourpatch kid nickname. And today, he turned 2. Two years ago, right now, we were getting ready to move to post-partum. I'd had 15 hours of labor, and got to enjoy my golden hour of skin to skin, I was able to nurse him and then get a little rest myself while they bathed him. It was such a crazy time in our life, and it hasn't really settled down yet, but I wouldn't trade this life for anything. God blessed us immensely when he decided to give us Judah. Him and Curtis are best friends, play so well together most of the time and make my life interesting. I can't wait to see how his little personality develops and what God will do in all our lives over the next year. 

Here's a few highlights from our day:

He's saying Happy Birthday to himself

 Enjoying our birthday breakfast of pancakes and bacon

 We went to Bergy's Breadbasket for a morning of birthday fun and the best ice-cream in Hampton Roads. Judah had fun petting the baby goats.

 I was pretty shocked when both the boys were brave enough to feed the goats

 Both the boys enjoying their ice-cream

 Enjoying his birthday cupcake

 Not too easy to get a picture of both of them these days

Saying Good-bye

In less than a month, we leave the home that we've known for the past 5 1/2 years to start a new adventure in Lincolnton, NC. There's a lot of things I will miss about Hampton Roads, Va. One of the things I will miss most is being apart of  The Keim Center.

When I first moved here, I was looking for a job and found out through a lady at my church that The Keim Center had literally just filled their new RN position, but that they were always looking for volunteers. I didn't really know what that would look like, had never worked in OB, pediatrics, labor and delivery or anything closely related to pregnant women. I had never worked in a ministry or been a part of the pro-life movement. But I did have a deep desire to help women in need, and felt a strong conviction for the sanctity of life, so I began volunteering. I quickly found a home and a family with this wonderful ministry. I can't even begin to describe how God has used this ministry to mold and shape me into who I am today. I can't even begin to describe how the women I've worked with and the patients I've seen and the stories I've heard have impacted my life. 

I have heard stories that break my heart, and make me stand in awe at the strength some women have to go through every day. I've heard stories that make me angry for these women and what has happened to them. I've heard stories that make me rejoice when a women has tried for years to get pregnant and she's finally able to carry a pregnancy to term. God has taught me compassion, empathy, boldness and fearlessness through this ministry. He's given me words to speak to hurting women when, on my own, I would have had nothing to say. He's allowed me to speak truth and light into some of the darkest places I've ever heard talked about. He's let me go toe to toe with Satan, and I've seen him defeated time and again through women who choose life despite the incredibly difficult circumstances of their lives. He's also taught me that I can't save everyone. He's let me learn through discouragement and disappointed and death that He is doing something bigger, even when I can't see it. He's let me see that it really has nothing to do with me at all, but everything in this ministry is His work and He will accomplish what He wants through it.

I am so very thankful for the opportunity I've had to work at the Keim Center. The ladies I've worked with have become some of my most favorite people. It's truly refreshing, after working with women since I began working a decade ago, to be somewhere that everyone is friends, there's no gossip, no cattiness, no back biting, very little complaining but at the same time, everyone is real, no one hides the difficult stuff in their life and we get to do life together, praying for each other, listening to each other, loving on each other. I've never worked in a place like this, a place that I truly look forward to going in to work every day. The friendships God has given me here are going to be so hard to say good-bye to. I am thankful for every person I've worked with and will not be leaving this city the same person in large part because of my relationships built here. 

I will continue to fervently pray for the work being done in this city through the Keim Center. The past few months, God has really been doing something, and I'm excited to see what the outcome will be, but I do hate I'm not going to be apart of it. I know, though, that God has big things in store and will continue to bless this ministry and wonderful hands that work for it long after I'm gone. I'm so thankful I got to be a small part of such a huge thing.

Part of our Chesapeake Team, so thankful to have gotten to be one of the nurse's working at this awesome center!

 Part of the Naughty Norfolk team

 Our attempt at a selfie, so thankful for all these ladies!!

The Boys Have An Announcement...

For those of you who don't know yet, we are adding a new little boy to our family. Jacob Robert will join us around the end of July/beginning of Aug. While this is a very busy, crazy time in our lives, we are overjoyed to be having another baby. The boys are pretty excited to be having another sibling to play with. Curtis is adorable, he likes to hug and kiss my belly and will often tell baby good night. Judah knows and understands about as much as an almost 2 year old can. I think he can sense how much his little world is gonna be rocked in a few months. He still nurses, although we have been actively working on weaning him for a while. I've been telling him for weeks that he will not get first dibs once baby comes. He usually shakes his head and says no at this.

These past months, since we found out, have been a whirlwind. I have hyperemesis gravidarum with my pregnancies, so it was not a surprise when I began throwing up, not being able to eat, and dropped 9lbs. Thankfully, I have a mild case and have not been hospitalized. This pregnancy has been more a struggle than the others, probably because of having 2 to take care of already. God knew exactly what I needed though, and gave us a pregnancy right as Isaac's schedule switched to dayshift. He's been able to help so much more with the boys than what he was able to prior to December and I've been able to get the rest that I've needed. He steps in to cook dinner, does dishes, gets coffee ready since I can't take the smell of the grounds, does laundry when needed and all sorts of other things to ease my jobs around the house when I just haven't been able to do anything. God gave me such a wonderful servant hearted husband, and I'm so incredibly thankful for him.

Thankfully, I began feeling better a few weeks ago and only throw up a few times a week. This is earlier than with the other pregnancies, so I'm hoping to get to enjoy more of pregnancy that what I really could with the older two.

While the last few months have been somewhat miserable, God has definitely been using the sickness to help me at my job. It seems I get several patients a week considering abortion because they are so incredibly sick. About 15% of patients who suffer from HG end up aborting because they can't take the nausea. I've been able to educate them that it's more than just morning sickness and if that's the only thing causing them to think abortion, I've been able to recommend things that help. So while it's been a difficult few months, God is working and it's so cool to see that.

Another huge change coming up in our lives is that Isaac is getting out of the military. Isaac accepted a position in Lincolnton, NC, so we will be moving there the last week in May. Our house is currently on the market and we're looking for houses in NC. We are super excited to start this next chapter of civilian life and to be closer to family and friends. Again, we can't do anything easy. I will be about 8 months pregnant when we move, so it should be an interesting few months packing up the house and then unpacking the new one. 

I can't wait to see what God has in store for us in NC!

Christmas Time at the Norman's

Both the boys absolutely love Christmas. They get so excited every morning to see the Christmas lights. They love reading our Christmas stories. And one of their favorite things to do is take off all the ornaments and put them back on. 

I love pictures of little ones in front of the Christmas tree. I've been taking these pictures every year since Curtis was born. The boys have so much fun every time they get free reign in the room with the Christmas tree. It's fun to capture a little of that joy.

Curtis' Birthday Party

Last week we celebrated Curtis' birthday party. I love that his birthday falls around Halloween so the kids get to wear their Halloween costumes, such a great built in theme :) We had a lot of fun celebrating our sweet boy!

Curtis enjoying his cupcake batter after helping me make his cupcakes

 Curtis loved being The Flash

 Judah loves being T-rex

 Jeremiah is one of Curtis' favorite people. It's a lot of fun watching them play together.

 This is one of Judah's favorite places

 Alice is one of Curtis' other favorite people :)

 Curtis got some Curious George books and immediately started reading them. 

 Curtis got a little sad, this is what made him happy.

 We realized Curtis is definitely ready for a toy gun, he had so much fun playing with Jeremiah's

 A sweet group picture, The closest to them looking, it's kind of hard with 5 kids.

 The one good picture where we were all looking

 The real life picture