round here

as keeping with my blogging trend, it's been a good few months since my last post, so i suppose it's time for another. i've wanted to do a "currently" post for a while. i enjoy these because it helps me remember the little details of where we are at as a family. without further ado....

jake:
oh, my sweet man that he is. he's smack dab in the middle of wedding season craziness. the man has a ton on his plate, but manages to balance it with grace and thankfulness. he is sad when he doesn't see the kids much for a few days in a row. he brings me home little (big to me) gifts when he's been working a lot. he makes time to take me on dates. he lets me and the kids come take over his lunch break when possible. he's just really the best. i will be thankful when october is over and the weddings slow down and he can breathe a little bit more. until then...we will keep walking, doing, remembering to praise.

finley:
my nearly FIVE year old. hold me....
is into all things lego, hotwheels, and monster trucks. he is in the 4 year old class at preschool on monday/wednesday/friday, which he is loving and rocking at. he is getting good at writing his name. he does still write the "n" in it as a "u", but i sure don't want to correct him yet :) finley is thoughtful, analytical, and takes his role as protector of his sisters very seriously. he is trying hard to learn his right from his left. today in the car he held up his right foot and asked which one it was, when i said his right, he said, "nah...i think i want two left ones"...i just laughed. he's truly so sweet and is soaking everything up right now. i want to be a learner like him. 

audrey:
is every bit 3 right now. she is always pressing and pushing and testing. she likes to give her opinion on any possible thing like wearing a pony tail or not (which she is thoroughly against at the moment), which outfit to wear, when to go to bed, etc. she LOVES art of any kind. drawing, painting, writing. if i just sit down with her and color she is on cloud nine. she thrives off of one on one time which i love about her and is just like me, and it's also challenging to give that to her as often as she needs it. when jake or i do, it is sweet, sweet time. she is hilarious. she makes the funniest faces and has such a colorful way of talking and describing things. she is also in school with fin on M/W/F and loves it. she just makes me smile. she also calls "tomorrow", "tomollow" and "thirsty", "sirsty" :) i also don't correct that yet. 

bailey:
oh bails :) she is so much fun right now at 16 months! she follows her big bro and sis around like she's just like them. she loves chairs! ha, she loves going up and down and being able to do it on her own. she screams so loud whenever she sees jake. like, so much joy when her dada is near. heart melting i tell you. she also really loves finley. they're still bff. she waves at everyone and every car she sees. she says ball, book, mama, dada, water, uh oh...maybe a few more. i am not in a rush for her to talk though :) my M/W/F mornings with her are so fun and i love having one on one time with her. bailey gray brings us so much joy. 

me:
oh, i'm just doing my thang. trying to take good care of everybody and love Jesus too. i am excited for a few things the Lord has led me to do lately. church is good and am still loving serving in the high school girls small group. i make sure i take a nap most days or at least rest some because i'm just a better wife and mom if i do. also, i'm a better mom when i get a pedicure every now and then. ha! i am doing well. just taking life day by day. drawing near the Lord when my heart hurts and drawing near when i feel good. i have to work at this, as i usually just want to retreat inward in either circumstance, but it's good work. i love my man. love my babies. i have a lot to be thankful for. 

thanks for checking in. i am thankful for you. hoping all is well in your world.

love to you.
mer 

i didn't really need all those words. these pretty much sum up my life.