Kenya's new big girl bed

I'm sure you remember me talking about Kenya sleeping in her "big girl bed" which was really a mattress on the floor to get her ready for her big girl bed. You remember right??? Well I don't think I ever told yall the rest of the story so here goes.

When I (Vanessa) found out that Melody and Madison might not make it I got really attached to Kenya. Since Kenya was a few weeks old she has gone to sleep on her own in her own bed or the pac-in-play in our room. Anyways, the point is that we have never rocked her to sleep. This is something that I kinda regret but not really. The reason I regret it is I lost a lot of bonding time with Kenya the reason it was nice is because no matter where we were at I could lay her down and she would go to sleep on her own. It was great. So now back to my story.

After I found out about the twins I decided I wanted to start rocking Kenya to sleep because I didn't know if I would get the chance to do that with the girls and I really wanted some extra bonding time with Kenya. So that's what I did every nap and every night I would rock her to sleep. Let me just say that I LOVED IT. Well after we came home from the hospital I still enjoyed rocking her to sleep so I did until I was ready for her to go to sleep on her own. So of course that time came and guess what... She was having no part of that. I would read her a book, sing a few hymns to her, pray for her then try to walk away. Then Kenya would run to the door screaming "I WANT MY MOMMY!" It killed me. I tried to be tough but I just couldn't take it.

We ended up putting her back in her crib to re-train her to go to sleep on her own. So that worked of course. Oh I forgot to tell you we had ordered a "big girl toddler bed" for her but the parts were all bent and they wouldn't fit together so we sent it back.

After much talking it over with Jason we decided Ikea was the way to go. Their kids rooms are sooooo cute. We decided to get her bunk beds. I know you all think we are crazy but they are the cutter shorter little kid version of bunk beds. You can use her bed as just a twin bed by flipping it over, or it can be bunk beds by putting a norther mattress on the floor or you can do what we did which is use it as a loft bed and put her toys underneath. Now don't be worried, the bed doesn't even come up to my shoulder so it very short and she can get up an down all by herself with no problems. So with out drawing this out any longer here is Kenya's new big girl bed...

Oh I forgot to tell you all we also got her the canopy that goes on top it looks like there are stars on it. I love it!


Kenya's first night in her big girl bed didn't go so well I had to sleep with her. It's a twin bed so there was plenty of room. After that though she did great she lays down and goes right to sleep on her own after we pray and sing hymns.

I love this girl so much I can't believe how fast time flys by.

Our lives these past few weeks...

Hello blogging world! It has been so long since my (Vanessa's) last post. Well a few weeks anyway. I'm doing pretty good I will catch yall up on the past few weeks. Here it goes,...

After our friends had a miscarriage on February 27th I was devastated. I felt like I started mourning the loss of our babies after their baby died. I know that sounds strange so let me explain. I of course was devastated when our babies died but I never had a heavy heart. I was sad and I cried but I didn't ever feel like my heart weighed 1,000 tons and I wasn't sick to my stomach like I thought I would have been. But after our friends baby died it was instant. I got the heavy heart and the sick to my stomach feeling,... oh and the very fun cry wherever I was at about anything and everything. I was mourning the loss of our babies and their baby. It hurt so much but it was such a good place to be.

"Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of face the heart is made glad."
- Ecclesiastes 7:3

As I was in the middle of mourning the loss of our babies I told Jason I can not take anymore, If anything else happens I'm going to go crazy. I really meant that too. Then on March 3rd a very dear friend of mine (well, really she was like a big sister to me) Stephanie Malone died. She was 29, married with two sons, one is 4 years old and the other one is 7 months old. I couldn't believe it! I felt like my heart was being ripped out of my chest. Stephanie was such an AMAZING woman she loved the Lord and I know that I would not be where I am today if it had not been for her and her husband Randy taking me under their wing when I was a teenager.

I never questioned God. I know that He is sovereign and that it was for His glory and for my good as Romans 8:28 says "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." I knew Gods ways are far better than mine but it still hurt. I'm so thankful that Stephanie loved the Lord. I know that I will see her again! I am able to mourn not as the world but with hope knowing that I will see her in Heaven (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.)

So moving on it got a little easier as the days went on. Jason and I celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary on March 5th.

(more pics of our wedding here)

We went to PF Changs (which we do not do very often) and had a lovely dinner. (Just a side note if you ever go to PF Changs you HAVE to get the spring roll bananas for desert they are amazing!) It was so nice to get to spend time with my hubby and celebrate the gift that God had given us through marriage.

I LOVE being married to Jason! I couldn't have built a more perfect husband for myself. God knew what I needed in a husband, God knew what we would go through and He knew that Jason is the only one who I would want to go through any of it with! We have never had a year of marriage without great sorrow,...but it has always been mingled with great joy. I have never regretted any of the things God has brought us through. It has made me fall more and more in love with my husband seeing how he leads our family and seeing how he comforts me. It has strengthened our marriage.

I love you Jason and no matter what we go through I'm just so thankful that I have you to go through it with me!

So then on March 8th we found out that our dear friend of ours Samantha Bunch died. We couldn't believe it. We love her so much and can't believe she is gone. My favorite memory of Samantha was when I was pregnant with Kenya, Sammie was probably 16 she would always come up to me at church and say "Vanessa you haven't had that baby yet?" I would say "not yet" and then she would ALWAYS say "your HUGE I can't believe you haven't had that baby yet." Then I would always say "thanks Sam" It still makes me laugh to this day. Samantha will be greatly missed by a lot of people!

Then just two days later we found out that the Wright family delivered their conjoined twin girls Anna and Emma.

Their girls lived for an hour and forty five minutes which is such a blessing from the Lord because 50% of all conjoined twins are still born. I was so sad for their loss. I know exactly what they are going through and although the road ahead is not easy when they look back I know that they will feel blessed to have been able to have gone through what they went through.

Paige and Brandt we are praying for you guys we love yall very much!

So with out going into all the details of everyone who has died in our lives I just want to let yall know that I have had 9 people in the last year that are close to me die. Their ages range from a few weeks after conception to almost 80 years old. So that brings me to my next point,...

Jason and I talk a lot about the Lord and what it means to be born again. But if you have been reading this thinking, "Oh, I'm glad that worked for them" or, "I'm young, nothing is going to happen to me." I want you to understand that you are not promised tomorrow. The Bible says in Hebrews 9:27 "And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment", Did you get that? it is appointed every man once to die. The Lord knows the day we will leave this Earth. He knew when our babies would die, He knew that Stephanie would die at 29 and that my step Dad's Mom would pass away after living a very full life of close to 80 years (if I'm remembering her age correctly). So the question is,... Do you know the Lord? Have you been born again? Do you know what it means to repent of your sins and fully trust in the Lord for your salvation? If you don't please click on this link don't waste any time do it now.

To God be the Glory.

Love,
Vanessa

Update on Anna and Emma (conjoined twins) II

This from their page:

Praising God... Our pastor Neil and his wife Vela were with
Paige and Brandt and said Anna and Emma were born at 8:01 am, the
babies are so beautiful, and their heartbeats are very weak. Sophie
was able to visit with Anna and Emma.

Anna and Emma passed away at 9:45 am.

Please keep Paige, Brandt, Sophie, and their family in your
prayers during this time.

Update on Anna and Emma (conjoined twins)

Hello Everyone I just wanted to update yall on Anna and Emma. This is taken from their cares page,

Dear friends of Paige and Brandt,

Paige and Brandt went to the doctors today and they are being admitted to the hospital tonight. Anna and Emma are expected to be delivered tomorrow morning at 7:30 am. At this time they are requesting no calls or visitors. They will
keep you updated and appreciate your prayers. Pray for the doctors and all the hospital care givers as they minister to Paige and Brandt. Pray for peace and the Lord’s comfort
for Paige and Brandt...

That was written yesterday so the girls should have been delivered this morning. I will let yall know if I get any more information. Please be praying for the Wright family I know that the Lord is comforting them.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4

Tiny Treasures Tuesday - Jason's pile-o-leaves

Since my wife is laboring over the stove to make us some pizza (frozen pizza) ;) I'll do this post since I took the pics and created the scene.

Well, though it is almost springtime, I finally am getting around to raking. Long story short, the kids thought a big pile-o-leaves would be great fun to play in:

Oh the joys of just being a kids and ruining a adults hard work ;)

Soli Deo Gloria!

jason d.