A Letter to Myself

My friend Suzanne did this on her blog, and her letter turned out so well, I decided to borrow the idea! :) I know I was 17, only 10 years ago, but a lot has happened in ten years, and there's a lot I would tell my 17 year old self if I had the chance....

 (Here I am, 17 years old)

Dear Seventeen Year Old Brittany-

Ten years has gone by and you've been through a lot. There has been sorrow, fear, love, joy, and so many more emotions! 

You're an amazing young woman, you don't think you are, but you are. You are insecure, you're unsure, and you're worried. You like to smile, when you're really not happy, and you've yet to truly find who you are. You are intelligent, and you have drive. You know what you want in life, but you aren't sure how to get there. You are funny and witty. You are special. Believe it.

You are going to do great things, in the next ten years. Sometimes you find yourself second guessing yourself... don't. God has a plan for you. Sometimes the plan isn't clear, and sometimes you feel anxious... don't. Follow God's plan. Follow God.

In a few years, you're going to get sick. Really sick. Don't ignore it! Go to the doctor...sooner than later... They'll tell you that you will need surgery, have it. Don't be afraid. Life will be GOOD after the surgery. You're going to have an amazing little boy, ALL because of that surgery.

Here are some random things you should know:

1) Don't bother with Myspace. Get a Facebook instead.

2) Get a cellphone that has a QWERTY board. You won't regret it, I promise.

3) You are NOT going to love Counting Crows forever. I know. Sad day.

4) You will name a child After Adam.... I know. Happy day.

5) People are going to preach the Gospel to you... listen... don't be stubborn.

6) Hug those you don't hug often. You are going to lose some important people in your life. Love them.

7) Little boys really are just as amazing as little girls... just remember that.

8) Times get rough, really rough. You are strong enough! You can do it!

9) You like Public Relations. You don't want to be a doctor or a teacher... I know... I know... You think you want to do both of those things, right now, but it doesn't seem to be in the plan.

10) Music, ten years later, is still really important to you. Rock on. Go to concerts. HAVE FUN! :)

Brittany, life is hard. It really is. No one ever said it was going to be easy. You can do it though! You will be an amazing mother, a good wife, and a loving friend. Sometimes, even ten years later, you doubt yourself. Don't. You can do it!

Love-

Me

One Month Chloe

One month! Already! I can't believe my baby is already a month old. Time flies when you're losing sleep having fun! :) Here's what I've learned, in one month:

1) Girls really do just wanna have fun!

2) Pink/purple are becoming some of my favorite colors...

3) There are more rolls, down there, when wiping up poopy... I mean, really... I use far more fresh wipes on Chloe than I ever did on the boys!

4) There really ARE nicknames for the name Chloe: I tend to call her Chlo', while her cousin calls her Baby 'Lo.

5) My children have amazingly strong necks. They've all head their heads up "early". Chloe has been holding her head up for about two weeks. Maybe it's because she's all head and very little neck??

6) I *can* handle three kids.

7) Breastfeeding is HARD but not impossible with two other kids running around and demanding attention.

8) My girl LOVES to be held. It's quite hard to put her down without a fight. We are working on this.

9) Dressing her up daily is amazingly fun! I love it, really.

10) I can't wait for the years to come! :)

Blogger's Block....

So, I really have nothing to post about....

I could post about the 100 poopy diapers I change a day (all Chloe... how can one little thing poop SO much?!).

I could post about how I want out of the house SO badly, but can't go anywhere, really, because it's too cold to take a newborn outside right now! (Who said it would be a good idea to be 0 outside, anyway?)

I could write a little ditty about how I actually WANT my classes to start back up. Mama needs something else to do, apparently?

I could write about how I am all of the sudden OBSESSED liking HGTV, and all of those "sell your house, buy a new house" shows. Maybe I am just really ready to sell our house and get a new one?!

Oh... speaking of... we are ready...well almost ready to put the house up, FINALLY! The rooms are all painted, the garage is clean (I know... I can't believe it either!), and the house is kinda organized....kinda....

OH- or I could show you pictures of my cute kids?! Cause I know that's why you really come to my blog! Right?!

Such as these:

Hmmm...Hey, LOOK! I did have something to post about! Imagine that!! :)

Hope you're all enjoying winter! It's CRAZY cold here in Ohio, hope you're staying warm!! :) (Carolyn, I don't want to hear about the heat wave in Aussie.... Don't want to hear about it at ALL!)

2 Weeks Already!!

• I can't believe my little princess is already 2 weeks old!
• We haven't even made it to her "actual due date"
•  I could technically still be pregnant!
• We have been so blessed by her!
• We are actually adjusting VERY well, to having a third baby. It's not been nearly as difficult as when we added Matty to our family. 
• I'm SO in love with my daughter. She is the perfect addition to our family. :) 
  

2009- A Year of Ups and Downs

2009 has been a crazy year, for our family. We've had so much happen. So much to encourage us. So much happiness. Sorrows. Scary times. Times when we've had to lean on God, each other, and friends/family. Here's a review of our year:

1) The year started out with Ashley leaving for college. It was exciting for her, for our family. It was also sad- because I was losing my "baby" sister, but gaining an "adult" sister!

2) February and March were quiet. Andy and I were able to get away, on a romantic V-day weekend, I turned 26, and life was chugging along.

3) I spent the winter/spring going along in school. Taking full-semesters and working my tail off!

4) In April we decided to send the kids away on a long weekend, with Nonnie and Pa., so that we could start step-one of getting the house ready to sell: clean the garage. Little did we know, we'd also end up creating a little something else.....

5) May 11th, we found out we were pregnant with Miss Chloe! (hence the little creation from the garage cleaning....oops?!)

6) In May, Ashley moved in with us, for her summer break. I spent the summer puking my guts out, and having the worst morning sickness EVER.

7) At the end of June, Emily (another sister!) and I headed the Phill, PA. for my very first missions trip- to Urban Hope. This was a life changing experience for me... something I cannot wait to do again... something I cannot wait to involve my kids in.... and something that created a passion for missions, in my heart.

8) In July, Matty turned 2!

9) July 12th, we lost Grammie. I miss her dearly. I wish she could have met her first great-granddaughter; she would be so in love!

10) August and September were quiet. I was grumpy. Sick. Pregnant. But then we found out we were having a girl! A GIRL! We were of course thrilled, and started picking out all of our pink for the nursery!

**Adam started pre-school!**

11) We started working hardcore on the house renovations. We really wanted to have the house ready to sell by October. That didn't happen.

12) In October Matthew spent a weekend in the ICU, and we almost lost him. Asthma has now become a large part of our lives, and we are still learning how to deal with his illness. Thankfully, with the help of excellent doctors, we know his triggers and are treating him. He was recently deemed at "under control." God is GOOD.

13) In November Adam had swine flu and turned 4. Adam healed quickly, and no one else got sick. GOD is GOOD!

14) November 20th, Andy's sister had our nephew, Benjamin. He's so handsome! God is GOOD!

15) I spent 6 weeks, from November, to December 20th VERY ill. I had severe vomiting and other odd symptoms. Pregnancy was not my friend. I spent weeks getting tests, being on bed rest and being miserable.

16) December 20th, Chloe Danielle was born! She is beautiful, and the greatest gift! GOD is SO good!

........

and now, it's 2010. Twenty-Ten. Two thousand and ten. CRAZY. What does this year hold? What will be the ups? What will be the downs?

Here's what I pray will happen:

1) We will sell our home, and find a new one!
2) I will graduate. YES- this is THE YEAR! Thank the Lord!
3) Andy will continue to excel at work, and continue to pursue his masters degree.
4) The kids will stay healthy!
5) We will find balance with three children.
6) We will follow God's Will and pursue His plans for us.
7) 2010 will be an amazing year of Family and Friendships!!! :)
8) That we will always remember that GOD IS GOOD! :)