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!!!