Finlee Turns Two!

My baby turned two this past week. I remember the day she arrived like it was yesterday. I was so happy for Jaelyn to be a big sister. I was so happy for our family to grow. I was so happy to hold my precious girl in my arms and show her off to the world. And I was so happy that I had been blessed with a snuggly, sweet girl who wasn't as independent as her sister.
 I was happy because she needed me, she wanted me, and we loved her. I have always called Finlee my sweet baby and she is still just as sweet as she was the day she was born. Her sweet, precious smile. Her sweet giggles. Her sweet personality. She is just as sweet as can be! I always joke with Matt, now that she has grown a little, that Finlee is our sour patch kid. First she can be sour, then she's real sweet.
Finlee is also my fearless little girl. Though not so independent, she has no fear of anything. I call her my little monkey.
So what's a better way to celebrate than a sweet, monkey party? We started by inviting family and friends in the area to her party. We had a better turnout than I ever could have imagined. We're so blessed to have a little girl who is loved so much! I just wanted to have a small get-together to celebrate the life of our girl and that we did! With food, cake, and decorations, we got the job done!

Finlee's Party Favors

Banana Candy for a monkey party! Thanks for swinging by!

Buttercream Mints

Finlee's Cupcakes

Cupcake Toppers that I made.

Her sweet monkey invite.

Monkey Balloons

Picture Decor! All of my favorite pictures of Finlee.

Cupcake Table

A Chair for the Birthday Girl.

Finlee's birthday shoes made by Auntie Shelbey.

Our Birthday Girl.

Finlee with her daddy.

Pink Lemonade

Banana Pudding for all of the monkey's at our party.

Food Table

Drink Table

Jaelyn and Finlee

Finlee is TWO!

Papa helped her blow out her candle.

Playing with all her new presents!

Finlee and her cousin, Taydem.

I still cannot believe my baby is two. I look forward to many more years with my sweet, growing girl. Here's to her sister big turning 4 in just a few weeks!

Xoxo,

Tanna

Held

Just this morning I was telling my husband that I feel like I live in doctors offices anymore.
I have three appointments to attend, just this week.

I decided to sit and write today because I never want to forget these emotions and the busyness because as silly as it sounds, I know I will miss it someday. When I'm sitting at home all day, waiting for my kids to come home from school, I will miss it.

And as much as I love my life and know that I am so blessed, sometimes we all need a little down time.

Somedays, I feel so overwhelmed by everything. Being a mom and wife, shuffling around to appointments all week long, celebrating everything I've been given, and trying to balance out everything around me, can be so stressful.

No matter how much I try to hand it over to God and just let it go, I have this thought in the back of my head that is always there. Titer counts, antibodies, meal planning, gum cleanings, grocery shopping, pediatrician check-ups, housework, sonograms, procedures, and the list goes on. I just want it all to go away. But then again if it all went away, the end result wouldn't be as worth it.

When I'm having a bad day, I tend to find my favorite songs on YouTube, turn the volume up, and give myself a good cry. Recently I've become attached to two different songs that make me feel better, even though sad. They don't relate to me exactly, but I love how mellow they are.

I Will Carry You by Selah- My favorite lyrics from this song are this:
"I will praise the one who's chosen me to carry you." No one ever said it would be easy but atleast I've been chosen by God to carry our new little man. That's a big deal to me.

Held by Natalie Grant- And my favorite lyrics from this song:
"This is what it is to be loved and to know that the promise was when everything fell, we'd be held." I feel like when I'm at the lowest of lows and can't take any more of the thought process that comes with this pregnancy, that the God who placed purpose in my life and has everything in His control, is holding me in the palm of His hand.

I know how blessed I am. As I write this, my two precious darlings play behind me and there is no greater blessing than being a mom. And if I am the one that was chosen to carry these beautiful blessings, I will do it with pride, no matter how hard and overwhelming. As I go through this season, I pray for all of the struggling moms out there, no matter their situation because being a mom is hard work, no matter the circumstances! But well worth it, if I may add.

I came across this verse the other day and I wanted to share it:
"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
2 Corinthians 12: 9-10

And with that, I ask for your prayers for our new babe, our precious darlings, and us.
Xoxo,
Tanna

Oh, Jaelyn!

A friend of mine jots down notes everytime her children say something cute. I wanted to start because I know for sure that I will miss the stage of my girls (and little man) saying something cute in their innocent little voices. Jaelyn makes me laugh on a daily basis with what she says.

Here are a few things she has said lately:

I heard her playing in her room the other day by herself. At preschool she has been learning about fire safety and what to do if there is a fire in the house. All of a sudden I heard her say loudly, "There's a fire in the house! There's a fire in the house! Call 1-8-7, there's a fire in the house!" Close, right? 1-8-7? 9-1-1? She'll get there!

Matt and I talk in code when we want to tell each other something that we don't want the girls to hear. One evening I was telling Matt that I wanted a milkshake when the girls went to bed and Jaelyn was standing right beside me so I told Matt, "I think I would like an M-I-L-K shake when the girls go to bed." A few seconds later, I heard Jaelyn talking to Matt. She told him she wanted a "P-O-Y-M drink" later.

One night before supper, Jaelyn was waiting to eat until Matt got to the table so that we could pray before we ate. She was making conversation with me and told me "Grandma doesn't pray before she eats supper." (Which isn't true!) I jokingly told her that Grandma was a sinner and she said back to me, "Don't say that Grandma is a sinner." And then I had to teach her the lesson that everyone is a sinner, we are just loved enough to be forgiven!

Jaelyn and I were carrying on a conversation about her new baby brother as I drove down the street the other day. She asked me what we were going to name him and I said, "Chaseton Matthew". She informed me that she didn't like that name so I asked her what she would like to call him. After thinking for a bit, she told me, "Franklin Allison". I figured she had thought of the name Franklin from the turtle cartoon and her sister's middle name is Allison, so she just put two and two together. When she came home from preschool the other day, I was reading through the class roster that she brought home and she happens to have a girl in her class named "Allison Franklin". Even though it was a cute idea, I'm glad she told me recently that she really likes the name Chaseton. :)

More later, I am sure!

Xoxo,
Tanna

Jaelyn: School Pictures

Jaelyn had school pictures this week at preschool. I was really nervous about how they would turn out because she told me she was going to smile like a mean boy. I made sure to take pictures of her before she left, just in case.

How sweet is she?

Finlee wanted to take a picture with her sissy. She can't ever keep her eyes open. :)

This is Jaelyn's "mean boy" face that she was certain she was going to give the photographer!

Baby Face

She's getting so big! When Matt asked her how she actually smiled for the camera, she flashed him a really sweet smile. Here's to hoping they turned out!

This sweetie turns 2 this coming week:

I love my girls!!

Xoxo,

Tanna

20 Weeks!

I am 20 weeks pregnant this week!

The girls wanted to take a picture with me this week as we were heading out the door!

Pregnancy Highlights:


How Far Along: 20 Weeks

Size of baby: Our baby is about the length of a banana!

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Not sure but I'd guess a few pounds.

Maternity Clothes: Maternity jeans and sweatpants but I still wear regular shirts!

Gender: It's a boy! Chaseton Matthew Pollock.

Movement: He has been moving so much! Matt joked that he was practicing his jump shot and I would have to agree that he can definitely move!

Sleep: I don't sleep well at all...hello pregnancy insomnia! I already am having issues getting comfortable.

What I miss: Nothing really. Everything has been going pretty smoothly! Except for normal emotions and moods.

Cravings: Strawberry milk, orange Hi-C, sausage patties with mustard and rice krispy treats. :)

Symptoms: Tired, moody, emotional, and excited!!

Best Moment this week: Shopping for boy stuff and telling our friends and family the news.

Xoxo,
Tanna

Photobooth

One of my favorite pictures. The girls love to snuggle on the couch together.

I am so thankful that my girls have each other. I have always wanted a sister and even though I have one in heaven, I know God was thinking of me when he blessed me with two little girls and the chance to watch them grow as sisters. I love watching them play and learn and I even occasionally enjoying watching them fight because I know one day, they will be the best of friends.

Xoxo,

Tanna

Fly A Kite

We took the girls to fly a kite this weekend. After a windy picnic, we headed to open sky to launch away.

Finlee loved watching the kite and chasing the tail.

She is getting so big. I am so amazed by everything she is learning.

I'm sad that she is changing and growing so quickly.

Sisterly Love.

Jaelyn's first time flying a kite.

Finlee even had a turn.

Yes, she's been spending time with her daddy. :)

Finlee has loved to swing from the day she was born.

We had a great day picnic'ing, flying kites, swinging, and playing!

Xoxo,

Tanna