It's the Holiday Season...

It is only a few days before Christmas!! I recently discovered pinterest, and I got to say.....I'm obsessed. This could seriously be dangerous for numerous reasons. The first it is easy to spend 2 hours looking at it without even realizing it. Second there are ALL kinds of yummy recipes on there-some specifically "low cal" but my eye seems to pick up on all the gooey mouth watering desserts.

I made my first yesterday....a cinnamon roll cake. And I have to say it tastes as wonderful as it looks!
After the holidays we are turning our guest bedroom into Gabby's new room. And thanks to pinterest I have ALL kinds of ideas to make it absolutely perfect for her. I can't wait to get started!

So my baby will be a year and a half on Thursday! Where has the time gone?! I found a video of her this time last year that almost broke my heart. She was SO little and just starting to sit up for as long as she wanted with no support.

And now she is totally miss independent. She is starting to repeat almost anything you ask her to say. She recognizes familiar people and now it's a game to get on facebook and name people in the pictures. I'm afraid we are starting the terrible twos early. Discipline has become a regular daily routine in our house.  But I think my favorite thing that she does is sing to songs and dance to music. Thanks to Gnomeo and Juliet we have learned a new little jig. With Tangled it was spinning around in circles and tip toeing in circles. Now we like to shake our hips and our booty, twist all the way down and shimmy our shoulders. NO I did not teach her this, but wow. It is hilarious to watch!

Lastly, we finally had our first family picture of the 4 of us!! And I am EXCITED to say Gabby is going to have a baby sister! I got to say going into the sonogram I was a little anxious about everything. Dave and I have already decided 2 is our number...I totally used to be that teenager that said, "Oh, I want at least 4 kids--maybe 5" Um. Not so much. I am so thankful that it has been effortless for David and I to conceive, but 2 is plenty for me. I don't think I want to go through 1st trimester ever again. So with that I was excited if it were a boy because we are the last to be able to carry on the Holland name. And I LOVED our boy name. It would have been Cohen in honor of my family since our family name unfortunately stopped with my sisters and I.  On the other hand, I grew up with sisters and so wanted Gabby to have that. Sure you can have girlfriends, but there is nothing like having a sister. They always have your back and they are your constant best friend. Sure you fight, are sometimes a little too honest with each other, argue about stupid things, say hateful things that you don't actually mean, but I would not trade either one of my sisters for anything in this world.
I desperately wanted Gabby to have a sister deep down, and not to mention we have everything girl! And Gabby's clothes will be the same season! CAN'T WAIT to reuse all of her clothes and some that didn't even get worn.

With having two girls, there is one thing I simply cannot afford. Hair bows! AH! They are my weakness. So hear me now blogspot, I am vowing to "try" and make my own. Maybe I won't sell them, but I want to start making them because I really don't think they are as difficult as some look. So that is one little craft I am looking forward to learning.

With that Merry Christmas everyone!! Enjoy your family, but most of all let's celebrate Jesus' birthday!! We are baking a birthday cake for Jesus- this was a tradition my mom always did with us girls and I can't wait to start this with my girls.

3 years in and a lifetime to go

So today David and I are celebrating 3 years of marriage. It has been such a journey, and we've only just begun! Today I am reminded of just how good God is to me. I am so glad we chose to be married in December because I can't help but get excited about Christmas and I received the best Christmas present five years ago...David, my promise :) he had come to Kansas over his Christmas break to visit "Josh". I'm still convinced he came to secretly spend time with me ;)
In that few days we talked a lot about Jesus, and a lot about how we want to serve the Lord in whatever capacity he would have us. It was the first time I felt like someone understood me and saw me not as someone who plays music or a piano player or singer, but he saw me as a worshipper. And the Lord spoke very clearly to me that David was going to be my husband. You may say yeah, yeah. How could you possibly know that. Believe me I thought I was making up thoughts in my head and then got super insecure and thought how could he possibly see me in that way. I was only 18 and he was 4 years older than me, I hardly even knew him. I told my mom and sisters and they kind of laughed at me. But what we didn't know was that God had been speaking the exact thing to David and he was sharing it with Josh. Well he left gave me a hug and I felt more love in that hug than anything I had ever felt. That night was our Christmas eve service, and on the way he called me and told me that he didn't know what the Lord ha spoken to me, but he wanted a chance to love me and that he was going to wait for me. And I knew that he was my promise from the Lord. I had just gotten out of a serious relationship that the Lord asked me to give up and I really struggled with it, but knew in my heart I couldn't just marry anyone, I needed a ministry partner who not only understood my calling but completed me. I could not have picked a better person for myself than David. He is everything I've ever wanted in a husband and even more. And from there our story began, and this day is a constant reminder that God is a man of his word. If He says it, he WILL do it.

To my love, and best friend...thank you for being my encourager. You saw me at my worst and loved me. I really can't imagine sharing this life with any other person on this planet. You challenge me, love me so well, provide for our family even when I know you're not passionate about selling VZW cell phones ;), but most of all you make me want to be like Jesus. God has grown you so much these past 3 years and it is only the beginning. He gave us each other for a purpose and even though we can't see it right this second I know he is only preparing us for something great! Thank you for giving me our daughter. She is the greatest blessing, and I know this little miracle growing in me will be as well. Thank you for praying over our children and me. Thank you for being the priest in our home and leading us so well. I love you today and forever.

Pregnant ramblings....

I always get on here and wonder why I don't have the time to blog more often, and then I think about what I want to write about and remember that's right I have a 2 foot midget that demands all of my attention :) I can't believe it is almost Thanksgiving!!! And I am excited to say that I will be strong in second trimester so those 12 pounds I lost first trimester will be no problem to gain back ;)

I can't believe how fast my little girl is growing up. I think back to this time last year when we were putting up our christmas tree and decorating the house, she was tiny sitting away perfectly content in her little bouncy seat watching the grinch with her right leg kicking as always. This year I have a feeling things may be a little different ;) I can only imagine her reaction to the flashing christmas lights....instead of ooing and ahing she will probably try to climb up the tree and grab them.

But I am getting way too ahead of myself. I wanted to blog about Gabby's halloween this year. She dressed up as Rapunzel of course. Although she wanted nothing to do with her wig that I got her. I couldn't even keep it on for a second to get a picture. What can I say she has a mind of her own, and when she says No, she means it.

***I wonder why I don't have the time to write these things and as I'm writing this I hear bars crashing and brooms hitting the floor. I run upstairs to find Gabby had gotten into the pantry climbed to the second shelf and had crackers and barbeque potato chips. Awesome :)***

back to her costume. So for the past 3 months or so Gabby has been obsessed with the movie Tangled. I got to say I am quite pleased with this choice. For the longest time it was Cloudy with a chance of meatballs, then we moved on to Planet 51, and then Toy Story 3 and now Tangled. Finally a princess girly movie--maybe now we can move on to Beauty and the Beast, The little mermaid and all of those other classics. So now it is our morning routine. She wakes up gives me a kiss, gives Dave a kiss and asks him for "Ju" and then she comes over to me and says "Nungle? Yeah!"

I wish I could blog all of her stories...She is such a funny little girl and I never want to forget them. She just has so much personality and truly understands exactly what she is doing. Sometimes it's so hard to discipline her, because I catch myself just cracking up at what she does. And other times like yesterday she simply melts my heart. I was crying for some reason yesterday (not hard to believe...pregnant women cry often ;)) but Gabby climbs up in my lap and just hugs me forever. She looks at me and says "Ma ma" Muuahhh! And gives me the biggest kiss and I felt the whole world lift off my shoulders in a single moment. She is such a blessing. I cannot wait to see her continue to grow and I can't wait to see the day when she meets the Lord. She already has the joy of the Lord in her. It's not hard to see even to strangers.

Ok next blog I promise I will get better with pictures and videos. Hopefully I can upload some on here soon. And possibly post a belly pic....I feel completely different second time around. I was so excited and proud of my little pooch the first time around and now I just feel huge because those hips I received at the end of my first pregnancy are now still here this pregnancy. So I have these massive mom hips and this little baby pooch if you can even call it that. I really wish I could read people's minds as I walk through the grocery store with Gabby on my hip. I am willing to bet every person that looks at me is thinking, wow she really needs to get rid of that baby weight. Well after the holidays hopefully I will look like a pregnant woman no question :)

Wow this was simply a blog of ramblings. I really need to work on specific reasons why I blog...Sorry for wasting a few minutes of your time ;)

Ch ch ch changes....

It finally feels like fall :):):) I love the change from summer to fall, i think it might be my favorite. Hoodies, boots, warm coffee drinks, pumpkins, scarves, Bon fires and s'mores, football games, late night walks, the colors, ah I am so excited of change. Speaking of change I am 6 weeks pregnant with baby number 2 and a whirl of emotions are going through me. I am excited, nervous, happy, scared, and everything in between. Last pregnancy was not fun and I'm praying and believing this one to be different and enjoyable! Dave and I have so many fun things planned this month and I'm flying out to Seattle to see my sis at the end of this
month and I simply don't have the time to be sick 24/7. If you think about it pray for me ;)
Another change is my clothes are getting snug already?!?! Moms is this a second pregnancy thing to start showing sooner than the first?? Either that or I'm just fat...simple as that.

So as I have said before, I am leading worship again. As I've been spending time playing again in my basement, the Lord inspired a song in me for the first time in a long time! It's the small steps and changes that I am excited about getting back to who I am and who God has called me to be. I have this urgency and desperation for Jesus to simply come and meet me that this is what came out :)

Spirit reign inside this place
Come awaken the calloused heart
Let your presence fill this room
Even though You're here, God come

Jesus come
Jesus come
Jesus come
Jesus come

Let your light shine through my life
Let Your spirit come alive
And even though You're here, God come

Spend some time in His presence and worship Him not because the lights are dim, or because 100s of people have gathered to worship Him. worship Him when no one is looking. It would change our lives if we simply exhorted Him more when we are alone then when we are in public or when it is "expected" out of us.

Life does not stand still

Wow. I can't believe how much I have slacked on this thing! Ok maybe I can. Life simply does not stand still, and I think each day keeps getting faster and faster.
Quick life update: we stepped down as youth pastors in may, gabby turned 1, and I am working now!!!
Stepping down from youth minitry was the biggest bitter sweet moment. We hated that we weren't going to be involved with our students like we were, but knew our season was over and that God was going to do more through us stepping down. It has been the most amazing, difficult, exciting, and nerve racking 3 months. There is so much fruit in our life through friendships, our marriage, and ministry that I am confident God knows what he is doing. Just being totally honest, I came to a breaking point where God had to intervene or I would have been miserable. I have struggled so much with the call of worship and the call of being a mother I don't think many people fully understand the weight and pull it has been in my life. I recentl started leading worship for out prayer group/revelation class on Wednesday's and it has been so refreshing and life giving just to be in his presence an join with a group of people worshipping Him. I know that this season in my life is preparation for where te Lord wants to take Dave and I in ministry. It's pruning season and it's been so good for me and for my husband.

Umm my daughter is one!! Hello?!?!?!? How in the world did that happen. I really have no clue. She acts like she is two and is talking! Her favorite phrase is "what is that" and she is starting to make animal noises-moo and meow are definitely her favorites ;)

Lastly I am a working mom now, I am currently nannying 2 little boys 2 days a week (4 this week...) and I have decided I am done after 2 kids. And I am praying my next one is a girl. It is amazing how different boys and girls are. I I am excites they will toughen up gabby, but she constantly pounds it now and I catch her body slamming the boys on occasion.

Life is so sweet now and I am so blessed. I can't wait to see what the rest of year will bring!

Can it really almost be a year later?

Wow so much has happened since my last post. Gabby is 11 months and I'm three weeks away from planning her first birthday party. I can't decide if I want just family to come or invite a few of her little friends. We'll see.

Time has simply flown by. And I gotta say I am really enjoying this new season of life. Dave and I stepped down as youth pastors and although we miss our students like crazy, I'm excited for new things for them and new things for my family. God has really been stirring our hearts in a direction I'm not quite ready to share yet, but He is orchestrating the right people together and it's going to be awesome!

My baby girl is turning into a little girl and it is seriously breaking my heart. She is EVERYWHERE literally. Who needs a jungle gym when you have a couple sets of stairs. And as of today she is walking!! She's been taking little steps and will walk with me holding her hand, but today was the very first time she walked across the living room. She cracks me up when she sings her little song, Yeah, yeah, yeah....yeah, yeah yeah yeah yeah, yeah. And Nana added a woohoo on the end and she just squeals to mimic. Gaga is a new word--not sure what it means, but it is VERY important to her. She is not a fan of sippy cups and prefers to drink out of glass cups. I think my favorite new "thing" is that instead of saying "num" when she is hungry she will click her tongue. I didn't think I would be so proud of her, but it is seriously so exciting to see all the new little things that she learns and comes up with. Life is so beautiful. I am so blessed with David and Gabby--I can't imagine life without them.

Miss independent. She is not a fan of me feeding or giving her drinks any more. She has to do it all on her own. 

Dave's random song of the day. Don't mind his made up lyrics "She don't like wearing socks, she hates them." I wish I had gotten the whole song on video, because it was pretty great. LOL

A Day at the Zoo

 So David had two days off in a row! We seriously did not know what to do with ourselves. So it was a perfect 70 degree day and we decided to take a little road trip to the Topeka zoo. Great idea! It's a really little zoo, but it is perfect if you want to see lots of animals and not walk very far to get to each of them :) We walked around once in about 15 minutes and looked at each other like that was it?!? So we took a second round and I am so glad that we did because we found the little petting zoo, black bears, fox, sea otters, eagles and all kinds of other little animals that we would have missed out on.

On our way!

 They had a tropical room which had all kinds of animals just roaming around the room. They had these massive redback turtles that Gabby thought were hilarious!

So fascinated by everything around her.

This was right after we saw the hippos. The room was echoing and she tried talking as loud as she could to get their attention :)

Here are some of the flamingos in the tropical room walking on the path with us. 

Ok this gorilla loved Gabby. I don't care what anyone says. He kept looking at her and came right up to the window and they just had a stare down. 

She looks so much like her Daddy...

These bears were awesome! But if I was holding Gabby and she wanted down and fell out of my arms she would be in there with them. I couldn't believe how easy it would be for someone to jump down in there...Seriously the fence came up to your waist and there they were... just 5 feet below.

This poor little sea otter was so bored. He has perfected his back flip though ;)

I can't wait to go back this summer with Tara and P!!! 

10 months going on 2 years...

So I have decided that I am a terrible blogger, and I am just going to have to accept the fact that I don't have the time to get on here every week and update our crazy life. So with that, my baby will be 10 months in 3 days!!!! I cannot believe how fast she is growing up. In the past month she has learned to wave at every person she lays eyes on and clap her hands when she thinks she is doing something awesome (which is usually 98%) of the time.
She has 4 teeth and her hair has gone from bleach blonde, to completely bald, to curly strawberry blonde hair. Where she gets it, I'm not sure. I know I have every color of the rainbow in my hair and David's nephew has red-red hair, so she really could get it from anywhere.
She has Bieber fever....literally. She dances every time "Baby" by Justin Bieber comes on (Thanks to her Aunt Bella's phone).
She thinks she is 2 now thanks to visiting her favorite cousin Preston. They were so adorable together, and I cannot wait till they come home this summer for a whole MONTH!! WOOHOO!!

Life has been crazy these past two years and I really believe God is getting ready to do some amazing things very soon. I feel the stirring in my heart for something new. I have to be honest, I have really struggled with being a mom and being a worshipper. It's really been a rocky road with trying to balance worshipping and playing and writing with feeding, changing diapers, nap times, playing, climbing up stairs, getting into everything. Pastor encouraged me the other day that "children will only enhance your ministry and your life"
For the first time I saw my daughter as that last Wednesday as I was preparing the worship set. I handed her a microphone to "play with" while I was just worshipping and she starts singing in the mic! I mean keep in mind she only sings one note that's not in the key I was playing, but I looked at her and saw not just a baby girl but a worshipper who has the joy of the Lord in her heart. She kept singing and as I looked at her she got the biggest grin and just laughed and continued singing. Her joy is seriously inspiring. I could be having the worst day and I hear her laugh and it completely changes everything. Her smile lights up a room.

Waving at the camera

Playing at Jumping Jacks

She had to do EVERYTHING he did "hence going on 2"

He likes her quite a bit now.

clapping for herself because she is standing all by herself!!! 

Playing with her shoe that she never wants to wear lol

Random: So I think that every city, town, county, should have a fake police man. It took us 6 times to drive past this dude to realize he was a mannequin lol.

Spring Photoshoot

I LOVE Spring! It is literally my favorite time of year. I love the newness of life it symbolizes-that everything was dead but comes alive again. I love when the trees bud and the birds chirp--Hold that--most birds minus the most annoying red cardinal that lives in our neighborhood that has convinced himself that he can fly through our windows? I'm not sure but he runs into our windows every morning, sometimes I think just to spite me.

I was hoping the spring forward time change would be great since the sun comes up an hour later I thought maybe Gabs and I could sleep in an extra hour...nope. She decided to wake up an hour before she normally wakes up which means it's two hours before she would normally wake up without the time change?! We'll work on that one. I don't think it's right to be up before the sun.

Gabby and I had a little photo shoot on a beautiful 70 degree day!! (Yet it's snowing today?! Seriously.)

I don't know why, but I love watching her sit up from behind her. She's so cute!!

When she discovered there are leaves on the ground.

She thought it was funny that it would crackle in her hands :)

Of course everything in the mouth!

Right before bedtime with Daddy. Instead of "winding her down for the night" He gets her all rowelled up!!  

We are a week away from being 9 months!!!! I love this age! She is soo much fun discovering the world, recognizing people and knowing who they are (and sometimes don't know who they are) Crawling everywhere--she's drawn lines for herself. She won't crawl on the hardwood floors--I'm dreading the day that line will be crossed. She has decided she has to have a bite of whatever I am eating--makes me want to watch my diet. Her favorite movie is still Cloudy with a chance of meatballs, but she likes a new show!! Ni hao kai lan--it's about a little chinese girl. So cute! Until next time!! T-Minus 15 days till our girls trip to Seattle to see Tara and P!!!!!!!!!!!! I CANNOT WAIT to get out there! :)

Gabby Crawling!!!

I really need to work on this whole blogging thing. I can't believe it has already been almost a month since my last post!

Well Gabby is officially crawling! And I thought she was everywhere when she rolled across the room....To think she is just going to get faster and eventually find the stairs..Lord help me :)

Just to give you an idea she no longer lays still for diaper changes...

She would rather show off her new skills...

Especially when Daddy is changing us...He is a tad bit dramatic when it comes to changing poopy diapers LOL I have a video, but it's being dumb and won't upload. 

Needless to say my sweet little baby girl is turning into a little ham! Don't believe me? Check this face out!

Here is my little super star showing off her motor skills. 

I've been having to swat her little hand lately(breaks my heart, but she usually just laughs at me)....Her new favorite toy is air vents and electrical cords.
That is all for today. It's been a lazy stay at home Monday due to a double ear infection and wicked cough. Praying we get over this fast!

The Hope of Glory

As I was sitting here putting my daughter to sleep I was reading Colossians 1 and something really struck me that I think is worth sharing. Read the entire chapter it's so good. 

1:26-27

"the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints.

To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."

The mystery is simply Christ IN us. To many of us think that WE are sharing Christ with OUR lives when, it's simply Christ revealing Himself through us. It's time for us believers to allow Him to do that. He's coming back for a purified bride, and I'm sad to say that most of us are not ready for Him. 

If you do not believe in God or pronounce yourself a "Christian" I just want to say I am sorry if you have gotten a distorted and twisted view of Christians--people who say they are something, but act completely different. It's not about being a "good" person. It's simply admitting to God that we are wicked, sinful, and lost with out Him, and we need Him in us so that we can be seen as righteous before the Almighty God on judgement day. However, Jesus Christ is GOOD and if His spirit is truly in us we will talk like he talks, act like he acts, and live like he lives. 

To my fellow believers. Either be for Christ or don't be. Please don't ruin my witness and testimony with your wishy-washy life. God cannot stand a lukewarm believer--in fact He would actually rather you be against Him than sometimes for Him/somtimes against Him. God CANNOT be mocked. Just like a farmer reaps what he sows, you will reap what you sow with your life. 

Revelation 3:15-16 "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth."

Galations 6:7 "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows."

I just was so moved by this one thing that I have known and read so many times--but see that people are simply missing it--I had to share. 

On a lighter note, Gabby is growing soo fast!! She will be 8 months in 11 days...I cannot believe it. To catch you up she is saying Da da, MA MA YEAHHHH :), Na Na, Pa Pa, La La (I think this is Bella--we've been rehearsing names and this is what came out when we said her name) Tara is still Da da lol--so is Josh and P. 

She ate lasagna for the first time Wednesday night and acts like she is eating something sour like a lemon. Her face is seriously priceless.

She's still crawling backwards and rolling to places-but she is everywhere!! Her favorite movie is "Cloudy with a chance of meatballs" I seriously watch this movie between 3-5 DAILY. I know every word and have seen every hidden humorous moment.

She is already in 12 mo. clothes. And those are actually 18 mo--crazy. I know.

7 months and counting

So I created this blog so I will remember all of the little things that Gabby does and when, and I haven't been doing a very good job.

Just to catch you up she has two teeth now on her bottom gums.

There they are!! LOL She is so cute I can't take it sometimes :) 

We're not crawling yet, but she can roll anywhere and everywhere she wants to. She gets up on her knees and will rock back and forth and then bites the dust, but hey--she'll get it.

She says 3 words now--Da da, Ba ba, and Pa Pa. I only have "Da Da" on video right now--enjoy :)

As you can see she tries very hard to sit straight up, and if she has a pillow to grab on to she will. 

She is obsessed with her Jumper. Thank goodness that creative people invented those for moms like me. I greatly appreciate it :) 

Now for the biggest news! As I was cleaning my kitchen and vacuuming my stairs I hear Gabby crying and just whining because she wants my attention and in the middle of her sweet little cry she says "Ma Ma" followed by more crying. So glad I'm the only one she says my name while crying Haha!! Well at least she said it :) 

I cannot believe my little lady is 7 months old already!! She is growing way too fast for me! I think it's time to start baby proofing the house! 

Home Sweet Home

I can't believe our family trip is already over...Time is going to go way to fast when we all get together. I can't wait to go back and see Washington during a pretty season though ;)

I hope you enjoy this! Preston and Gabby seeing each other when we first got there. Preston kept wanting to kiss her. He would pull her head in and kiss her! So cute!!

Pres and Poppa went swimming in the hotel one of the nights. He loved it!! He kept blowing bubbles and then he wanted to get in the big bubble bath aka the hot tub! 

We went to Seattle on...one of the days--I can't remember lol. But we went to the very first original starbucks. SO AWESOME. It was such a rustic eclectic little place. There were musicians everywhere you walked--I loved it!!

Sister pic!! How I have missed these so much!!

My smiley happy little girl. As always! :) Low and behold she cut her very first tooth on this trip--bottom right :) Not sure what this means for nursing anymore--that thing is sharp!

Inside the starbucks--the wood was so old on the counters and the floor. 

Ok. This seriously was the best cup of starbucks I have ever had. And I am not just saying that because it is the original.

We also went to hard rock cafe for lunch. Pres and Gabby kept dancing to all the rock songs being played. 

Bath time!!!! Ok so these two are totally going to hate me when they get older, but I just couldn't resist!! They are so dang cute and Gabby has never seen so many bath toys in her life she was going nuts!

One of the many mornings playing on the bed watching cartoons together :) 

Preston was absolutely adorable with Gabby!! He kept saying things like "hold her" "yay down, yie down" "Hi Gabby girl" "Come on Gabby" I don't ever want to forget these moments! They would watch cartoons every morning together and one morning in the hotel he was saying "Oh toodles......oh toodles.......oh toodles. Where's he at.......I don't know?" LOL 

Gabby on the plane ride home. Poppa some how managed to score an open seat next to him. 

What a fabulous trip. I seriously do not know what I would do without my family. I love them so much! Miles can never separate us--thank goodness for blogs, facebook, cell phones, and skype. They truly are a blessing to me at least :) 

That's all for today. Now to tackle my massive mound of laundry and make dinner for my husband at yes 9:45 at night. Gotta love retail. By the way if anyone needs a cell phone from verizon go see Dave at 119th and metcalf ;)