Pickin' Wildflowers

One of the things I have enjoyed the most about living out here is the creative things my kids come up with to have fun. What once was a crazy busy day filled with play dates and Mother's Day Out is now filled with sitting on the porch, looking at this:

A few weeks ago my aunt gave SB this wheelbarrow and told her it was to use in the garden. Once tomato season ended, she used it to roll through the field in front of the house and fill with wildflowers she picked.

We've had the privlelege of spending this week with Uncle Gabe, Aunt Cheryl and their kids Iassac, Julia, and Caleb. Iassac and SB are two peas in a pod. Although they are 4 years apart, they play very well together and often run off and spend the day together. It is so sweet to watch SB with her cousins. She hasn't said much, but I know it must be tough on a 3 year old to not have many friends in a new place. Since we have lived here for 10 months, she has not had ONE friend come over to play. This week she has been on cloud nine and I have been just as thrilled to watch her laugh and play for hours every day. She loves people and having a house full of them this week has been such a treat for all of us.

Slow and Steady

This business stuff is a lot harder than I expected and waaaaay more work than I was ready for! I am still enjoying it, just at a slower speed. I have thrown away a lot of "learning" projects over the past few weeks, but I am not giving up. I finally finished a dress my daughter has been begging for and I have been reluctant to make. Check out my Etsy shop and let me know what you think!

Small Town Girls

I finally have my business site up and semi-running. I still have some holes to fill but it is and probably always will be a work in progress.  I have started sewing little clothes to help save some money so we can eventually move to town :)  I don't have a ton of stuff in my shop yet but I am adding stuff weekly.  I will have boy stuff too.  Check out my new page and be a follower!

A Boy in The House

There's no denying that a little boy lives among us.  Nathan has made his mark in this family as the cutest, most mischievous little boy!  I do love him to pieces but raising him is going to be NOTHING like raising his sister.  Evidence:

Somewhere there is a Barbie who's going nowhere

Stealing toys from sis's backpack

Sneaking on top of great granma's table

My children are a joy, but also a handful. They have adjusted so well to our move and are starting to feel like this is their home.  I am another story, for another time :) 

Humble Beginings

Everyone has to start somewhere.  I have been spending the past few months trying to figure out how all this is going to work. I kept going back and forth about Etsy, blog, website, Facebook...and just became completely overwhelmed.  I finally had to just take a step back and realize that this is not Macy's.  I am not some kind of big time seamstress with a stack of orders.  I'm just a girl who likes to sew clothes for my kid and thought others might like for me to one day sew something for their kid too. 

So here I am. With a little bit of confidence in one pocket and some anxiety in the other,  I finally listed 2 things in my Etsy shop.  Again, everyone has to start somewhere, right? I am hoping to be able to add a few items per week to get some inventory and some sales.  I don't have huge expectations right now and I am super excited about just having 2 things available!  There is so much more worked involved in this than I anticipated but I am looking forward to what is to come.  

My plans for this blog are to keep people updated on new listings on Etsy, what I'm working on, possibly some sewing tutorials or fun stuff I've found.  I have met a ton of people in the small world of sewing that I may ask to do some guest posts too.  I want this to be a place for people to not only be able to see my finished projects but to also see the process and some of the mishaps...and there have been some pretty funny ones so far!  

I'd love to have you keep up with me here at Small Town Girls by subscribing to this blog.  Just enter your email address on the left or you can follow along with Google Reader, or maybe you just want to leave a comment here...everyone has to start somewhere. :)

What is going on?

I have no idea what happened in the past 2 months...really.  You would think living on this farm and as slow as life is, I would have all the time in the world to keep this blog going.  The truth is...there's really nothing that exciting going on!

I spent the first weekend in March in Dallas with my grandmother, aunt and cousin.  We had a great time catching up and visiting and my aunt got me started on this whole new health kick I've been on.  My grandmother passed away at the end of March so Matt and I spent a few days in Longview and Jacksonville with family.

April was filled with lots of doctors appointments for all of us and a few trips to Little Rock.  Matt was offered a job (finally) in Texarkana and we gladly accepted!  We came here with the hopes of eventually moving to LR but once we were settled, the thought of moving to another new city and starting over was exhausting.  I am thankful we are still here, although I would love to not be living with my mother in law still.  I guess I should be glad we have a place to stay while we save.

In other news the kids are growing up like crazy.  Nathan is walking and into EVERYTHING!  I can't turn my head without him climbing on or getting into something.  Sarabeth is growing up into such a little girl. She's just not a baby anymore.  We sit together on the couch and have big girl conversations...it just kills me.

We found a church we love and moved our letter on Sunday.  It was such a bittersweet moment for our family.  Matt and I started our lives again at Champion Forest Baptist Church in Houston almost 5 years ago.  Both of our kids started out in the nursery there and have grown to love that place just like a second home.  Our hearts were torn when we knew God was moving us to a new beginning.  After visiting for a few months, we knew Beech Street would be our new home.  We are excited about what's in store for our church and how we will play a part.  I'm anxious to get involved and watch God work through us. 

Easter weekend Nathan started feeling bad so we took him in to the pedi on Monday and they admitted him to the hospital for observation.  He ended up with bronchitis so he and I spent the next 2 days at St. Michaels.  He was a trooper and did well...even through the tornado sirens and being moved to the hallway for an hour.  That night we both just decided to stay awake until dawn!  Everyone except me ended up getting sick that week.  It looks like everyone is on the mend now and things are back to normal.

I am looking forward to getting my hair cut tomorrow, it's the little things.  I also think I will treat myself to a pair of Yellowbox Flip Flops for Mother's Day, I think Sarabeth and Nathan would agree.

*I promise pictures to come (in case our family members were wondering) 

Three.Six.Five

365 days ago I held my baby boy for the first time.  I never would have guessed how different it would be to love a son. There is no way to explain the heart to heart connection, it's all in the experience and nothing could compare.

My sweet Nathaniel,
You have captured my heart in a way that just can't be put into words.  Today you are one.  One silly little boy with one little crazy smile and one cute belly laugh that melts my insides.  You are so aware of how much you are loved by us all, but deep down I wonder if you really know how much I love you.  I can only hope that by my actions, I can show you love the way God teaches us so that one day you will love like that in return to the ones you love (including your wife...boo hoo!) 

Some of the things that I love right now is how you wrinkle your nose every time you laugh.  How you get so excited that you just open your mouth and scream until nothing is left!  How you jump up and down and squeal when I come into your room in the morning and anytime I pick you up from the church nursery.  A few nights ago you let me rock you to sleep in my arms.  You still love to be held and rocked and I will savor every moment of that.  You still aren't walking but I'm not worried.  You are a racing machine on all fours, I can barely keep up with you now.

You adore everything about your sister and you two are becoming such great friends.  I can't wait to see how this year will bring you closer together.

I love you son and pray that God will pursue you so that you may know Him and follow after Him in all that you do.  Happy Birthday Nathan Paul.  You had my heart before you were ever born.

11 Months

 

Sweet Nathan,

Man what a handful you have become!  You are into everything, everywhere, all the time and quicker than I can keep up with.  You are the stinker!  You love the fireplace, the media cabinet, under the sink cabinet, and your new favorite-the toilet!  You have enough toys to keep you busy all day but you would rather play with anything else.

You just got over ear infection #8 and you are scheduled for tubes in your ears on Tuesday.  Finally, maybe you will eat.  At 22 pounds, I don't think you are starving but lately you have been spitting out anything I feed you besides Puffs!  You sleep through the night most of the time but I think your ears just keep you from sleeping soundly.

We are still waiting for more teeth, you still only have 2 on the bottom and that is it.  You have been super fussy the past few weeks and I keep thinking that new teeth are coming in any day but still no sign.

You have been waving bye bye for quite a few months now.  You love to babble and say da- da for everything.  You definitely have an attitude when it comes to getting what you want, especially went it comes to your sister.  You want what she has no matter what it is and will let everyone know if you are not happy.

I love your sweet spirit-you are a lot like your sister in that way.  I love coming into your room in the morning and after nap time to see your smiling face greet me.  You giggle when you see me come in the room and squeal with happiness.  I still rock you when I can but you prefer daddy to do that.  No one can put you to sleep like he can.

You still are a little scared to walk.  You are ready physically but as soon as you realize you are standing alone, you sit down and crawl-very fast too!  I guess you realize you can get there quicker that way right now.

The ladies at BSF just adore you.  I didn't take you this week because it was so cold and you had just gotten over a cold.  The ladies were so sad!  You are just a joy to be around all the time.  I love you baby boy and cannot believe you will be 1 in just a few weeks!

Who's That Girl?

Sarabeth,
You have grown up so fast, some times I wonder just who are you??  You LOVE to laugh and make others laugh-especially Nathan.  You have adjusted amazingly to having a little brother around.  It melts my heart to see you reach over in the car and hold his hand, or calm him when he is upset.  You are certainly the little mother.

This week we have started a Chore Chart for you and you have responded ok.  It has made you more aware of the few things we'd like to see you do on your own, which was our intention as well as to add in some positive reinforcement to your day.  You thrive on structure and I have struggled with providing that lately, however you are such a well adjusted child that you do well either way.  You have gotten up every morning this week and brushed your teeth and dressed yourself without prompting or help.  Last night you even went to bed without a word-that's a first!! 

Your strong will has made for some fierce battles-including EVERYTHING!  I only hope I can help you to use that as strong point and not a hindrance in your life.  I stand my ground on issues that matter and chose not to tackle the things that don't. So far that's worked and you've learned that I am the boss and you will not win-ever.  I love you enough to teach you to be respectful and loving.

Some of the things you say just crack me up.  I love the way you ask for a "kissue" (tissue) when your nose is runny.  I always just give you a kiss on the nose and you say "no mommy, a kissue FOR my nose, not on my nose".

We have started some preschool curriculum here at home and you have enjoyed it so far. I think you just love the one on one we get together, especially since little man is always into everything around you!

Sweet, sweet girl I love you more than I can say.  I pray for you daily that you would grow up knowing the God that created you and longing to glorify him in all that you do.  I pray for your husband one day and that he will be the God-fearing loving man that God intended him to be.  Those days are so much more near than I even know.  I am so thankful for this time I have to teach you the things of God's word and not the things of God's world.  I love you much.

Mommy

Farm Life

Things are starting to feel a little less like a long vacation and more like...well not quite normal yet but we're working on that.  Last weekend we made our last trip to Houston to get a few things from Matt's work storage.  Sarabeth and Nathan had a chance to visit with a few friends on Saturday before we headed back.

Addy, SB, Ellie, Solly and Latham

The weather here is still pretty chilly so we have been spending a lot of time inside.  Our days consist of staying in our PJ's for way too long, playing with lots of play-do, lunch, nap, computer time, more playing with toys, dinner, bath, bedtime and then Matt and his mom and I stay up playing dominoes.  I can play a mean game of Moon now!

This week the sun has been peeking out so we have taken a couple of walks in the woods and ventured out to the swing set a few times.  This land is beautiful and full of opportunities for adventures for Sarabeth and Nathan soon enough!

My weekly outing has been to BSF, however today we went into Texarkana to look around for a few shops I have had my eye on.  One is a little sewing shop so I can get my fix when I need it!  I also stopped by the cutest little kids consignment boutique as well.  I ran into a girl I met at BSF last week, she is expecting her first baby in a few months, a little boy.  It was so funny to run into someone I had just met but it made me feel good, kind of like I fit in even though I don't!  The girl that owns the the little store obviously knew her and the other girl that walked in was friends with them too...just a tight little group of gals around here.  Seems the only other place in town to shop for cute kids clothes is a place called Peas and Carrots.  The deal is, all the fancy moms by their kids clothes there and then when they outgrow them, they take them to 2Sprouts and consign them. Score for me.

Other than that, we are just trying to adjust to life on the farm.  I am (against everything in me) trying to find some good things about living out here.  So far I have come up with this:

No need to get dressed in a hurry, no one is coming by
No need to dress fancy when I do get dressed since there isn't anywhere to go
A trip to town is both entertaining and worth the drive every time especially when I get in the line to check out and hear 2 middle aged country ladies talking about how so-in-so wears too much make-up and really needs to take a lesson in "blue is not a trendy eye shadow color"
No loud kids outside keeping you up at night-just coyotes
You can hog hunt, squirrel hunt, and deer hunt right off your back patio-that is only a plus if I actually did that

All joking aside (as if to suggest that the previous was even funny) I do enjoy the quietness of this place.  My walks are always so beautiful and peaceful.  If I ever wanted to be alone with God, this is the place.  I am working hard on being forgiving-daily, even hourly.  God is peeling back a few layers at a time and revealing to me my selfishness and self-righteous ways.  I don't always look forward to the refining sessions I have with Him, but the outcome is something beautiful.

What we've been up to

Silly Face Contest with Mommy

"Not really sure how that snowball got in your face."

Chillin' (literally)

Frosty, Sarabeth was very concerned that we did not have a corn cob pipe for him

The past few weeks have certainly been an adjustment for our family.  I am just now realizing how different life is going to be from now on.  We have been enjoying the snow and Matt being home with us.  He goes for his 2nd interview on Tuesday in Little Rock and we are all hopeful he gets the job and can start soon.

The kids are having a blast, although Sarabeth asks about her friends and her "house" frequently.  I know it is just a matter of time before she makes this her home.  I am trying to help with that but I know I must make that choice for our family before she is going to buy into it.

Life has defintely taken on a slower speed for us.  We spend a lot of time at home, especially since the snow last week.  Matt's mom took me and the kids into town yesterday to Lewisville which is about 20 minutes away.  She showed us around the town square and then took us to meet her friends at Cafe 29-the only place to eat in town.  There was only 1 thing on the menu-that's whats for lunch!  It was kind of like going to someones house to eat!  The place was full of regulars, the EMS team, local police from three surrounding towns, hunters, and the old ladies who about squeezed Nathan's cheeks off!

I am missing my friends the most and the luxury of being able to hop in the car and go "play" when we get cabin fever.  One of the adjustments has been to be creative in finding ways to pass the time.  Sarabeth and I have done lots of puzzles, read books, made a tent for her and Nathan, play-do time and we even started a little craft time each morning with a Bible lesson.

We are hoping to go to church on Sunday.  Last week was too icy so we just watched it on TV instead.  We are super excited about our friends coming to visit this weekend.  This was supposed to be Matt's annual duck hunting weekend but with little water in the swamp, I think it will just be a fun weekend to hang out with friends and eat!

I am looking forward to what God has in store for us this season but it isn't going to be easy.  My flesh is my biggest enemy and I know the only way I can adapt to this season and do it joyfully is to call upon the power of the Holy Spirit daily. I cannot do this alone.  My daily prayer is that God would search my heart and make me obviously aware of the things I need to purge and that I would be stripped of all the things that would make me dependent on anyone or anything but Him.  I want to live my life this year in a way where when I look back I would see a clear picture of God's perfect intervention and timing in all things.  I want to be faced with the opportunities to only have the option to rely on God, and nothing else. "My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth." Psalm 121:2. How awesome to do life with Him who made heaven and earth.