christmas 2017 {a video}

A merry little Christmas, indeed.

holidays with hutch

He came quickly.
He brought peace.
His every move is admired by the three of us.
During the most wonderful time of the year, he brings even more wonder.

His baby blue eyes focusing on the lights...
His soft, tiny hands grasping the blankets and sweaters...
Little breaths against my skin...
Sweet, sleepy faces in the light of the fireplace...
Awe and wonder as sister laughs and sings...
Oblivious and unaware of his first Christmas.

But, oh, how aware I am that he came for me.
To slow down.
To cherish.
To be thankful.
To be in love.

His smiles,
his hands,
his noises,
are all I need this Christmas.

welcome, hutch steven {a video}

Hutch Steven Crews

October 19, 2017

11:55am

7lbs 14oz

20in long

Almost a month has passed and I'm still unable to put Hutch's birth story into words. 

I remember the same thing happening with Emmerson (post here),

and it wasn't until a year later that I could fully express the emotions of her birth (posts here & here.)

This pregnancy was so, so difficult on me physically and mentally.

This labor and delivery was the hardest, most painful experience of my life.

I knew though, in the middle of all my pain, this sweet boy would bring a peaceful season of "pause."

And he most certainly has.

Hutch is the sweetest, most content little gentleman baby.

Every day he captures my weary heart with his strawberry blonde hair, blue eyes, and baby tiger noises.

Welcome to our world, Baby Hutch.

You are so loved.

dear emmerson,

Dear Emmerson,
You are days (minutes? hours?) away from becoming a big sister.
This will be a crazy transition for all of us, but for some reason, I think you'll excel quicker than your Mama.

As an older sister to a younger brother, I know the opportunity you'll have to teach him everything you know.
I pray you show him the importance of ending the day snuggling on the couch.
That you enjoy showing him (and sharing!) all your favorite toys and movies.
I hope he gets your humor (that you obviously got from me...okay, okay...your Daddy.)
And I can't wait to listen to the two of you giggling together.
I know you'll fight and bicker, but I pray at the end of the day you realize what a blessing you've been given in him.
I hope you show him how you find the joy in the little things.
Like suckers, planes, and bridges.
I know you will teach him things that probably aren't true, just remember...he will one day probably be bigger than you and remember those times. (From one big sister to another.)

From experience, I know that you'll learn just as much from him as well. (It may take a few years, but you'll get it.)
I pray you look up to him, despite him being younger than you.
I know you will confide in each other on a level different than you will with us, your mom and dad, and I pray God uses those bonds you'll grow.
I hope he teaches you the tough lessons (like when you're dating a loser and you won't hear it from anyone else.)
He's not always the "annoying little brother," listen to him.
Because of who his Daddy is, I know he'll protect you, pick on you, aggravate, and love you so,so well.
I pray you see the perfect example of the man of God you deserve through their lives.

Hutch Steven will be the perfect addition to our little family.
I hope you always know our love won't be taken away from you to give to him.
(You've always had the biggest heart, something tells me it'll expand just as our's will.)

Emmerson Marie, I love you.
I love your brain and your thoughts.
I love your voice and your words.
I love your laugh and cries.
I love your straight brown hair all the way down to your sparkly-blue painted toes.
Thank you for making me a Mama and Hutch a brother.
We are blessed by your small and mighty presence.

Love,
Mommy

my summer with emmerson {a video}

Knowing this was the last summer with Emmerson before baby boy arrives, 

I wanted to be intentional with how we spent our days.

I made all of kinds of plans and activities, getting us out of the house at least once a day...

Did they all happen?

Nope.

(We can thank baby boy for that!)

But, we still found the "happy" in those normal days at home.

(Plus, she DID fly to Costa Rica and Florida, so it wasn't a total waste of summer!)

What a sweet, sweet last summer with our family of three.