Interruptions of Gratitude: Time with Grandparents

I've been having a lot of anxiety lately, particularly about loosing the ones I love. The kids will talk about their grandparents and how much they like them and have fun with them, it makes me so happy but those happy thoughts are always tainted with the fear that something might happen to them and they won't get to see them anymore. It's a fear that's weird and unfounded but it's there and I'm trying to fight it. I'm trying to fight it with interruptions of gratitude. 

The last two days the kids and I have spent with Matt's parents and it's been really special. They live in Albuquerque but with all of our busy schedules it's sometimes hard to see them. 

Gramps joined us at ballet yesterday to watch Addy dance and took us to lunch afterwards. Today, Granmarie went plant shopping with us, bought us lunch and took Addy on a little shopping spree at the dollar store. 

We've not only been blessed with food in our tummies, but the Lord has also blessed us with sweet time together in the midst of my anxiety and I'm grateful.

#interruptionsofgratitude 

Sunday is Coming

I woke up this morning feeling anxious about the day ahead, frustrated with pregnancy and life in general and upset about the state of my heart these past 14 weeks.

We might not have had the perfect day but we spent it all at home, which has been unusual for us. And somewhere in the midst of Matt coming home early and making some delicious homemade raspberry limeade, I started seeing glimpses of God's grace towards me. It was in answered prayers of kiddos not being as sick as I thought and a lovely spring evening spent outside. We didn't make it to church for the Good Friday service tonight, but that's ok because…. 

Sunday is coming! 

I'm so thankful for grace and Christ on the cross. 

#interruptionsofgrattitude

Yesterday....

Yesterday, Addy woke up from her first night spent in a big girl bed. She did great until Mom went in to wake her up, scared her and she fell off the bed onto her butt.

Yesterday we enjoyed a hot, sunny afternoon at the pool with Gran, Granmarie and Gramps. Addy, who's always a happy girl in the water, was just giddy to have so many of her favorite people in the pool with her.

Yesterday, only hours after leaving the pool, we watched the rain pour down in our backyard. It was such a nice evening, with the windows open, watching the lightning and listening to the thunder. What a blessing the rain will be to this dry New Mexico desert!

Yesterday marked 39 weeks with Baby D still in the tum tum. I honestly didn't think I would be pregnant this long. Thankfully, God is in control and I am learning to trust in his timing.

Yesterday, we went to bed with hearts full from a relaxing, rejuvenating weekend. Waiting on a baby can be somewhat consuming and Matt and I both enjoyed the time we had together, and with family.

Yesterday was a good day.

July 4th in Photos

Swimming, friends, sparklers, Popsicles and fireworks, you can't get much more American that.

Hope you all had a great holiday!

The Pout Pout Fish

On a recent trip to the library, Addy and I checked out The Pout Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen. I had read online that it was a good book for toddlers so we gave it a shot.

The book ended up being one of our favorites. We've since returned it but based on the number of times we read it, I could probably quote every line.

It's about a fish with a pouty face who is encouraged by all his ocean friends not to be so down cast all the time. He responds to each one saying that all though he'd like to be different, he simply can't help it.

"I'm a pout pout fish

with a pout pout face

so I spread the dreary wearies

all over the place.

Blub...

Bluuubbb...

Bluuuubbbbbb."

I'm afraid I've become the Pout Pout Fish.

I haven't kept it secret that pregnancy number two has been a little harder than the first one was. I've done a lot of grumbling and complaining the last couple of months. Matt and Addy have probably gotten the brunt of it but I haven't hesitated to tell anyone else who asks exactly how I feel. I figured everyone probably wants to hear about how I had a cold for two weeks or how just walking is a struggle and my hands hurt when I wake up in the morning. After all, I am pregnant and don't I deserve a little whining time? Blub, bluuubb, bluuuubbb!

Ugh! I hate to think about how ungrateful I have been this pregnancy, all the while trying to encourage my two year old to have a joyful heart. I should have been preaching to myself!

At the end of the book, a shinny silver fish comes along and plants a kiss on the fish's pouty face and suddenly he realizes that he'd had it wrong all along.

"I'm a kiss kiss fish

with a kiss kiss face

for spreading cheery cheeries

all over the place!"

So, yesterday, after whining on the phone to my Mom once again, when I really didn't feel that bad, I decided that I'm done being the Pout Pout Fish. No more spreading the dreary wearies, I'm going to be all about the cheery cherries! 

"Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thess. 5:16-18

What better day to have a change of attitude than the 4th of July when we get to celebrate America's independence with swimming, hot dogs, watermelon and fudgeciscles? 

Happy 4th friends! Thanks for putting up with my grumpiness. Hopefully, it won't be a theme around here anymore.  

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." 

Romans 12:12

Filled With Joy

"The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with joy." Psalm 126:3

Matt kept asking me this morning and last night if I had a good Mother's Day. I had a great day and a great weekend being spoiled by my sweet little family. I kept reading these words written on our chalkboard and thinking how true it is.

How could I not have a good Mother's Day? 

I love being this little lady's Momma and I feel so privileged to get to do it all over again with Baby #2.

  

The Lord has done many many great things in my life and I am filled with joy.

The Story of My Life

I'm taking the Blog Every Day in May challenge purely for my own amusement, because I like to write and these prompts will give me something besides toddlers and pregnancy to think about. There's no way I'll post everyday but I'm going to have fun writing when I can because soon there will be another little one who needs my attention and blogging time might be slim.

You can join in on the fun too. Click here for details.

If I were to tell you the story of my life in 250 words or less, it would go something like this:

I was raised in Southern New Mexico with my younger brother by two loving parents who did things the untraditional way so that we would have the best upbringing possible. They taught us the importance of loving each other, a good education and faith in Christ.

As a mom to a little lady who doesn't like to have her picture taken, I have a new appreciation for these family photos, even if half of my parent's heads are cut off.

In high school, I wasn’t the biggest nerd but I did spend most of my three years on the volleyball team sitting on the bench. I managed to make it through without facing some of the drama most girls go through in a small school and even made some life long friends. 

College was a fun time for me, I met a lot of new people including one blue eyed boy who made me laugh and asked me to be his girlfriend on Valentine's Day. We dated through three years of college, summer projects and internships and finally tied the knot two weeks after I graduated.

After the wedding, we moved up to the big city of Albuquerque. Newly married, we had our share of heartache and stress with job loses and small apartments. But the Lord was faithful in every situation and in March of 2011, our family grew from two to three.

I had big plans to continue working full time while also being a mommy but God had other plans and now I am so thankful to call myself a Full-time Momma to one energetic two year old with another one on the way.

I’ve been so blessed and I love my life in the 505.

A Very Orange Birthday

Last Saturday we got to celebrate Adelyne's 2nd Birthday.

 She was recovering from a nasty little cold, but we were still able to have a fun filled day that was all about her. 

Over breakfast that morning, we asked Addy what she wanted to do that day. Her first request was to play the "Mouse Game" with Grandma and Grandpa.

Mousetrap is one of her Dad's favorites and sometimes the three of us will play a round on a Friday or Saturday night. She often asks to play during the week too so this was a special treat to play first thing in the morning.

 Next on the agenda was to pick out a Birthday gift. Matt had his heart set on getting her a new baby doll that she could dress, feed and do their hair. We came home with a cute little Cabbage Patch Kid named Kimber and a blue and orange football. Addy picked both of them out herself.

Our shopping adventure was followed by lunch at Chic-Fil-A and that evening we had a small family Birthday Party. I made an orange creamsicle cake, chocolate cupcakes with orange frosting and Grandmarie brought over orange ice cream.

Cousin Carter surprised Addy with orange and pink balloons.

Addy's homemade Birthday Dress

My first layered cake! I think I have enough patience to do this once a year.

After we sang to her I asked her what she does next and she said "Eat Cupcakes!" She forgot the make a wish part.

FINALLY time to eat cupcakes!

Sweet little two year old hands all covered in scratches from playing outside.

What a fun way to celebrate two years of life with Addy Grace!

Were so thankful she gets to grow up surrounded by great family and friends.

P.S. Thanks to Addy's Auntie Morgan for capturing our fun day :)

An Announcement

We've been keeping a little secret... kind of. Most of you have probably been in on our little secret for a while and if you follow me on Pinterest, you might already have an idea of what's going on with the Danner family. Well, it's time to make things official (and we all know that nothing is officially official until it's on the blog or Facebook).

We're expecting!

Baby Danner number 2 is due July 21st and we are thrilled. The Lord has been faithful to our little family.

We're almost 16 weeks along and so thankful to be in the 2nd trimester. 

This is how we broke the news to most of our family

Although Addy has no idea how her life will change in about 6 months, she likes the idea of having a baby around and has already picked out where her little brother or sister will sit at the dinner table. And in case you're wondering, little Baby D's gender will be a surprise once again.

Life with an almost 2 year old has been keeping us busy and I imagine life will only get more hectic once we have two, but I intend to keep the blogging up as much as I can. So, be sure to stay tuned for baby updates, belly pics and of course, cute stories and pictures of Miss Adelyne.

Father's Day Weekend

Tonight, I am thankful for yet another great weekend in the 505. 

We started our weekend watching some Curious George, with George of course! Who doesn't love Saturday Morning Cartoons? Addy now points at the TV says, "orge! orge!" and pats the couch where she wants to sit. She also loves Curious George books.

Matt was the ultimate DIY'er this weekend and moved/laid 6 tons of rock in our backyard! Phewy! And it wasn't exactly "cool" here this weekend. So, after Addy and I partied it up at a Birthday Party, we stopped by Blake's to get some much needed fuel for our landscaper.

Matt was back at it nice and early Sunday morning and Addy was right beside him. She's such a good helper.

Happy Father's Day! 

Addy, the shoe fanatic, picked out a pair of flip flops for her Daddy.

Not only is our backyard now landscaped but Addy also has hours of entertainment in the rocks.

Addy is cutting her 3rd molar, which is absolutely no fun. She had a runny nose, fever and a pretty bad attitude most of the weekend, so in between playing with the rocks, we did a lot of snuggling. George got some snuggling action too.

My sweet family!

Hope everyone had a great Father's Day and a lovely weekend!

The Good Life

Sometimes I feel like my theme song could be "Good Life" by One Republic. I don't know a lot of the lyrics and I might be totally clueless about what the song is really about but when it comes on the radio I always turn it up and sing along (shamelessly at the top of my lungs, poor Addy). 

But in all seriousness, I am blessed beyond what I deserve and that song is stuck in my head today. 

After a great weekend, Addy and I are having one of those days where we hit every green light and instead of screaming when I tried to feed her, she signed "please" for her sweet potatoes. What a welcome change in behavior!

Today is just a good day. 

I keep looking at pictures from this weekend, dying over how cute these two are and wondering when they turned into little kids. Wasn't it just yesterday that they were going for their first swim?

Yep, "this has gotta be the good life!"