photo darling-header_zpswtwkdcas.png
 photo home_zpshvywoptq.png  photo about_zpsydmjl24b.png  photo faqs_zpsuv8jjpbe.png  photo videos_zps0mddtpry.png  photo sledhockey_zpsli4gq33r.png

Sunday, November 2, 2014

A whole lotta darlingness.

It's November. 

I remember on New Years thinking about how this was the year I was going to have a baby. It all seemed unreal and unsure. 

And now...it's November. Already.

Here's a huge long load of us over the last few months...




{the many faces of Nora.}




Nora's first time to Heppner! It included Uncle Mike & Aunt Rae, football, crazy hair and a walk. :)

We painted our cabinets in the kitchen. I've wanted to do it since we built the house and finally decided I just needed to get it done! It was waaaaaaay more work than I had expected but I'm so glad we did it! I love it!! Thankfully we have some pretty awesome friends who came to help out...


 {The before}


 {This stuff did not work in the slightest with the varnish. Let down.}


{this stuff saved us! We still had a lot of sanding to do but this still helped cut the mess big time!}



{the after! it's so much lighter and not so heavy and dark looking in our little home}


There was a special wedding that took place. Mama's best friend found another man to walk the rest of her life with her after she lost the first one.


Mike made Cale the game Cornhole. It's awesome. Cale loves it so much!


A sweet friend sent Nora some goodies all the way from Uganda!








 {friends}


 {another beautiful wedding!}













{oh yeah. at 5 months she started Army crawling. everywhere.}


{FaceTime with daddy!}

Nora & mommy went on a little trip. It was needed. Needed in so many ways and so so so good. Wounded Warrior Project made it possible. Rachel had a conference to go to for work in Texas and we tagged along. :) We had the weekend to all play and then she had a few days of being at the conference so little miss and myself had our own little mommy and baby adventures. I loved it! Before leaving I thought I would be bored with Rachel gone all day but with a baby...there wasn't much time to be bored! 


When we arrived back home, mommy was refreshed and ready to get back to real life and baby was happy to see daddy :)





{how in the world did 6 months happen?!?!?!}







{her FIRST dentist appointment!}


{her FIRST time eating!!}



 {look closely...you can see her little teeth!}






 {watching in amazement!}

 We spent a day with friends at Bill Berry Farm. It was fun and just so nice to be with friends. Cale used a sling shot to hit targets with apples in the hopes to win free donuts. He didn't end up hitting a target, but the sheer enjoyment of slingshotting  apples was enough! We did eat fresh yummy donuts, took pictures and made cider. Cale had fun for the most part but towards the end he was done. I was so thankful for how he was able to handle his anger. Normally he would have taken off and probably yelled a little but this time he just left the area. He found a spot away from everyone and chilled. When I went over to him, thinking he was going to try to walk home, he said he was done and needed to take a break. Guys, this is huge. We would have a whole lot less of tears and frustration in this family if he could more consistently find his limit and take the break before it becomes too much. Often I'm able to be the one to help him figure out when that point is, but I'm not always there or involved in the moment. This was cool. This was huge!


No candy for the little one this Halloween but daddy and mommy sure had some! Mama made Nora's little costume!


No shave November has begun! I'll make sure to post his picture after a month of no shaving! 


We were visiting with friends last night and at one point I grabbed one of their daughters baby dolls and showed Nora. She made some noises at it and then started growling and then...started chewing on it. That's what friends do, right?


If you are in need of a smile...watch this!


"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all." -Helen Keller

We've had a few interesting conversations lately. If you think about it, be praying for wisdom in how to respond to some of them. Here's a few of them...

Cale is missing the Army terribly. He talks about it often and although he may not remember everything quite as it happened or in the order it happened or even the majority of what did happen, he does remember he was a soldier. He does remember he worked and deployed and loved it. He came to me a couple weeks ago with an entire plan of rejoining. He had thought about us moving and about being away from Nora. We talked for awhile about it. Honestly, I had no idea how to respond. I did ask him if he honestly thought he could rejoin and he said yes. My heart broke. He wanted it so badly. 

We've talked lately about Nora growing up and dreaming about what she's going to be like. Cale asked how he was going to teach her soccer if he can't run and play anymore. He also talked about if we have a boy, how is he going to teach him how to ice skate and play hockey. Do you notice anything about this conversation and the last? He sometimes knows his disability and sometimes doesn't get it at all. 

There was another I was going to share but can't think of it at the moment. Point is, sometimes these conversations we have can be difficult! 

A few other randoms...

This last Thursday Nora pulled herself up to standing. This has come way too soon!



Cale has started learning photography. One of our friends at church does it as a hobby and has started helping Cale to learn how to take better pictures. So far he's really enjoying it! I'll have to post some of his pictures this week!


This last week, Cale was being sneaky and took some cash I had sitting out. When I asked him about it later after I knew he had hidden it somewhere, he said, "It's in my Bible. God is watching over it." Haha. Awesome. It's totally a cool truth as well as him being hilarious. Which was exactly what he was going for ;)

Cale is always telling Nora she needs to learn English. He'll tell her words to say and they're always words like, "the" or "it" which seem really funny to be her first words. ;)

We are having so much fun with Nora now that she plays with us. She has quite the little personality coming out!

Just to perk up your ears and raise your eyebrows, we'll be posting about a new Darling Project soon! Well, as soon as I figure out the next one! It'll be soon though so start watching for it! :)

Hmm... I think that's about it! I'm sure there's a lot more stories and things to share but my brain is ready to turn off. 





7 comments:

  1. Wow that was a beautiful look at the past 5 months ~ you guys are in our prayers and I often marvel at the amount of wisdom that has been given to you as you walk this daily walk with it's beauty and it's ashes mostly in the perspective of your eyes looking at him - You are so beautifully honest Kathleen and that takes a warrior - a woman with guts ! Blessings on you believing HE will give you all the wisdom you need when you need it for all those conversations love you ((()))) Reenie

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you for sharing your lives with us. You inspire with your grace and honesty. Nora is such a beauty - she is happy and that shows that you are doing a fabulous job of being her mommy!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Dear One, My very first thought when you said Cale wanted to rejoin the Army, was "He's still in God's Army. He/we will never be discharged from His. As Cale is becoming more aware of his present situation, his Commander in Chief will give him the weapons/tools he needs to win the battle. It sounds like leaving and sitting under the tree was an implementing of one of those weapons. His Commander is rejoicing, as is all of those watching the battle in progress. :)

    WOAH!! Little Nora...not so little Nora is becoming quite the little sweetheart. I love getting to be a part of her sweet life. How precious she was so excited to see daddy. Some of my sweetest memories are of the children/grandchildren running to see daddy/papa.

    Thank you for loving us enough to share so much of your life with us. I love you and continue to trust Father with you precious family.

    Marion

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love the pictures of your sweet family & the update on your life! You teach me so much sweet friend! Just wish we were closer distance wise! Love & HUGS! -leanne

    ReplyDelete
  5. Really enjoyed all the pictures and how awesome is that progress of Cale's?!?! God is doing miracles every day and He has not forgotten Cale. The pictures of all of you are so sweet, glad you got away for a break, and how precious that little Nora is :o) I think of you often, maybe we'll actually get another cup of coffee soon!
    Terri W

    ReplyDelete
  6. Loved seeing all the pictures! Nora is adorable!! Thank you for sharing and we are praying for all of you.
    Love,
    Emily J

    ReplyDelete
  7. Also, LOVED the title of this post! How cute! And, what a wonderful thing to have such a special friend in Rachel!!
    Emily

    ReplyDelete

Please included at least your first name and know that we are reviewing each comment so it may take up to 12 hours to post. Thank you all for your constant encouragement and prayers.

Blogging tips