Ella+Max+Joey | Growing Up
Five Minutes in a Worm Hunt
Max has been asking Brian to show him some big worms that he had recently found in a bag of top soil, and today was the day. Max happily dug in the mud, and played with his “little buddiesâ€, while Ella and I looked for some plants. She has been learning about the leaves, stems, and root systems in plants, so she needed some hands on discovery…and we even found an edible plant to examine. She said that the sorrel we found tastes a lot like lemongrass!
…and here was five minutes in their worm hunt.
Five Minutes in the Rain
I have been REALLY bad about posting personal goings on here on the blog…and I need to get better at it!
So, I have decided to do a 5 minute challenge once a week. These images will be from my crazy life as I see it at home, here, there, and everywhere…all documented within a 5 minute timeframe!
For the first one, it started to pour just as Ella needed a brain break between History and Science. Max tested the waters first…and approved the fun pretty instantaneously….and here was the next 5 minutes…
Aaaaand we’re back!!
Well that was a long break! Approximately 6 months ago I announced my pregnancy with this sweet baby boy, and that I had been placed on bed rest. What a crazy ride that was! During that time, we moved, began renovations on our new home, and on January 13th, 2016 welcomed Joseph Liam Fantasma into our family. We had opted to not find out his gender ahead of time…but that wasn’t the only surprise, as he was two weeks early and weighed nearly a whole pound more than my other two overdue babies!
Anyway…I’m so excited to be back at it, telling your stories and saving your memories! I will be starting up slowly, as my snuggle time with this sweet babe is at the top of my list for now, but I will have some availability starting in April!
Thank you all for your encouragement, support, and for holding out for me! I am absolutely humbled by how many of you faithful clients and friends have waited to be photographed by me! You guys are the best! Here’s to another beautiful year!
And then there were three…
“God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! †– Ephesians 3:20 (MSG)
We started out on a journey to adoption last year as God stirred in our hearts that our family was not yet complete. We have always had a desire to adopt, so that was a no brainer for us, especially after two very difficult pregnancies and initially being told that, due to my diagnosed hormone deficiency, I would not be able to conceive or carry a child on my own. God had shown his power and plan with our two beautiful biological kiddos before, but we had closed the door to the thought that it would ever happen again. With that knowledge and acceptance of this journey solidly set in our minds, we completed our home study and obtained a certification for adoption. We were excitedly waiting and praying for our future baby, whom we expected would join us through a birth mother who had chosen a new life for her baby!
In our waiting process we had our hopes brought up several times, but I still heard in the back of my head and heart “Just waitâ€â€¦as if God was smiling as I adjusted and readjusted my plans to bring another child into our family…as if I was the one in control…yeah, right!!
In May, we were shocked to find out that I had become pregnant without the assistance of hormones, and for the first time had begun a completely healthy and normal pregnancy.
A few things, right out of the gate…
This does not change our heart for adoption! We still desire to build our family through adoption…our timeline is just a little different now!
Also, I know you are fighting the urge to say, “That’s what happens when you try to adopt!â€â€¦I disagree!
When we fully trust God, amazing things will happen that reveal how glorifying His plan can be…after we get out of the way. Our child did not come about because we had made our minds up about something else…it’s not a magic formula. God creates little people in HIS timing and in the womb of the mama he desires. They are fearfully and wonderfully made, and every single one has a story and a future. It pains me to see so many who throw away the lives of these intentionally created little beings, when each one shows the glory and power of God at work in them…and they don’t even know it! It’s also disheartening to hear folks who flippantly acknowledge the creation of a new person as a lucky break.
There are many who struggle with infertility that will never be able to conceive on their own, and that absolutely does not make them faithless, nor does it mean that they aren’t trusting God! Ultimately, He knows our hearts, futures, and desires better than we do. As much of a miracle as we feel this pregnancy is, I have met countless families who were brought together through adoption, whose stories are nothing short of a mighty move of God’s hand. All that to say…God makes babies and families. We don’t.Â
While baby and I are still healthy and not requiring hormonal help (which is crazy!!), I am now on modified bed rest due to early contractions. You won’t see me around town nearly as much, but nearly at the halfway mark of this pregnancy we are still rejoicing over this little one and the plans that God had laid for us before we even knew what we wanted.
We are expecting this miracle baby to join our family in January 2016! Thank you all for your encouragement, prayers, and support! Needless to say, this means that I will not be taking any more clients for this year, as I care for myself and our baby. I hope to see you all back at it in the Spring!
“He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.” – Job 5:9 (NIV)