life as of late...

So it's been 6 months since I updated our blog, whoops! When I first started our family blog, I had visions on writing a new entry every week so I could keep a good account of our lives before I forgot it all….and then I had sweet babies.  Life these days keeps my laptop closed most of the time, and honestly, I kinda like it that way. I am way behind on posts about Jonah's birth, life with 2, all the important milestones I want to remember. Hopefully, in the next few weeks, now that I am finally able to upload photos again,  I can go back and write it all down. But for now, I'll spend my time changing diapers, feeding bottles, cutting food into bite size pieces, playing blocks, folding laundry, going for walks, reading Cat in the Hat, tickling chubby necks, giving boosts up the ladder at the park, bouncing and swaying and singing amazing grace to put little ones to sleep.

Emma Kate turned 2 and ½ in April and she is fully embracing toddlerhood! She is vibrant and imaginative and pushing every boundary possible.  She is learning to obey mommy and daddy "the first time, all the way, with a happy heart." She is playful and joyful and loves to sing songs and read books. On our hard days, I feel like she hears lots more "I'm sorry's" from me for getting frustrated with all the boundary pushing and not responding well, which daily makes me realize my need for Jesus. "He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love." Psalm 145:8   I guess we are both learning how to navigate the two's, and giving each other grace in the journey.  She loves being a big sister and has really blossomed since Jonah arrived. She is more engaging of other people and is learning to be brave, which is so fun to watch.  She loves having playdates and making friends and her blond curly hair is one of the prettiest things I have ever seen! She is sweet, talkative, always has sticky hands and destroys her clothes playing and exploring in the backyard and I love her for it.

Jonah is 3 months old and is c-h-u-b-b-y!  I love it! I think baby wrist fat is probably one of my favorite things in the whole world. He has such a calm and joyful disposition. He sometimes sleeps through the night, which is a total gift, and he clearly has a healthy appetite!  His loves watching Emma Kate play and read books. If she is in the room, guaranteed he is looking at her.  He is a grunty breather, loud eater, likes to blow bubbles and kick around on his playmat. We are so thankful he's here! 

 

 

Halloween 2013

Emma Kate has slept through the last two halloweens, so this year was actually her first year to bust out a costume! I was totally expecting her to refuse the costume idea, but once I put it on her, she literally started dancing in circles. I wish I had video to prove it, but I was face-timing with my mom and brother, so they are my witnesses. It was by far one of the cutest things I have ever seen! When Adam got home, we tried to get some photos before trick or treating with neighbors. Some are blurry cause she didn't want to stand still for even a second :)  Isn't she the cutest elephant ever?!!

i think this is my favorite :)  

and she's off!

It's a B.O.Y. and other updates...

Adam and I had our 20 month appointment for baby #2 and we found out it's a boy! I totally thought it was a boy the whole time and so did Adam so we weren't totally surprised. We waited till Emma Kate was born to find out boy or girl, so this is the first time we actually will have some lead time to plan a boy's nursery, pick out boy clothes, pick out a name. It kinda feels weird. A good weird, but still weird. We know this little man is coming and he's not here yet!  Hopefully this will make the transition for Emma Kate a little easier if she can wrap her mind around us bringing home a baby brother. She really wants to name him "silverware," but I don't think that's gonna fly. We are 99.9% sure on the name so maybe I can get started on some artwork soon for his room!

We took Emma Kate to get snow cones to reveal boy or girl. When we showed her the huge blue snow cone we asked her what it meant but she just kept saying, "I want that!" "Can Emma Kate have some?" "I want some!"  At least she was excited for the treat right?

 Everything looked great so far in our ultrasound, but we have to get another ultrasound next visit because little man didn't want to give us a face or profile shot , so they couldn't complete the anatomy scan to make sure everything is ok. Emma Kate was literally jumping up and down on my bladder, and sucking her thumb during our ultrasound with her. But this little one is more of a "roller."

In other news, Adam turned 32 on September 16th, which makes him 2 years older than me for the next few months, which makes me feel young :). And the little miss is about to celebrate her 2nd birthday! I know. I can't even talk about it. She is seriously in such a fun stage and I can't believe she's almost 2!  I want to freeze time! (Except for when she's exerting her will, then I want to fast forward for a bit :)

We are now in the "I no like" phase. "Mommy, I no like hamburgers." "I no like when you touch my hair."  "I no like orange juice." "I no like dat book." "I no like potties." "I no like capri pants." etc... Her new favorite thing is going on a "dinner date with daddy." She gets so excited to pick out clothes, show daddy her outfit so he can oohh and ahh over how cute she is,  and go out just her and daddy. I always get a full report when she gets home about what she ate, and what she saw. It's does my heart good to watch Adam love his little girl so intentionally.

 Emma Kate started Mother's Day Out right after labor day and she is doing great! We both took a couple days to adjust but I feel like she is having fun learning and being around a group of consistent kids each week.  She likes her teachers and already made a craft where she got to glue cotton balls onto a hand print magnet. Every time she sees it on the fridge she says "Mommy, I'm a helper!"  That's right Ek you are a helper!  She seems really secure with her teachers and the class, which is such an answer to prayer since it can take Ek a while to warm up to new people.

While Emma Kate is at MDO I am trying to use my creative side. I'm working on some watercolor prints for friends and for EK and little man. I just bought a nice scanner which felt like a commitment to actually create things to scan.  I'll share some on here when I work up the confidence :) For now, I'll just end with this little photo of ek in a ball pit. She's such a pill!

she cracks me up.

someone on the other end!

That's right! Bean #2 will be joining us soon! My due date is January 27th (a day after my birthday ;), but if this pregnancy is anything like my last one, mid-february is probably a safer bet! (Emma Kate was born 12 days after her due date!)

We are so thankful for another little life and for Emma Kate to have a sibling. What a blessing! We had our first appointment a few weeks ago and got to see our little one in action and a beating heart which always feels like a huge relief.

I'm nauseous as usual and tired, the only difference is now I'm chasing around a very. active. toddler!! Motherhood is the biggest gift, but ain't for the faint of heart either! Right? I know feeling sick is a sign of a healthy pregnancy for me so I'm thankful for it. (on most days :)

Emma Kate knows there is a baby in my tummy but that is about the extent of her understanding.  Even though she doesn't totally understand what it means to be a big sister, I know Emma Kate will fill that role with flair! She is so spunky. imaginative. playful. passionate. determined. energetic.... and I'm sure this next little one will never get bored with an older sister like Emma Kate! We ask her about names for the baby and she has come up with "Peach, Lady, Kid, Boy, Ginger, Ariel, Eric, Cinderella, and the most popular choice...Emma Kate."

We are excited to become a family of four and are planning on soaking up the next few months with just Emma Kate. With being sick and tired and navigating toddlerhood, I'm experiencing God as my "pasture-maker" in a different way than I ever have before. I'm sure having another baby will be the best and hardest thing we have ever done and we are so thankful that God is extending our family!

seven month (accidental) hiatus

I can't believe I haven't written in 7 whole months! My my how time does fly! Well to bring you up to speed since December- Emma Kate is now 20 months old, I turned 30 years young, and Adam opened the doors to his new store in January.

After two years of living in transition, it feels like we are finally starting to put down roots here in Austin and it feels good and slow and stressful, but good.  I have picked up a little freelance writing work which has been fun to dive back into, and with the store having a few months under it's belt, Adam is finally able to take some quality time off! The time to rest as a family is a huge blessing and we have been filling our days with walks around our neighborhood and trips to the pool. It's supposed to hit 100 this week and I'm already dreading it. I haven't spent a summer in Texas since 2005 and I think we are all in for a shocker!


Emma Kate is becoming a little independent toddler before my very eyes.  When did this happen?!!!! She talks in sentences, sings songs, plays dress up, and loves checking out the tomato plants on our cul-de-sac. I had high hopes of being one of those moms that runs and gardens. But I am neither, so we enjoy our neighbors tomato plants instead :)

She is learning to share and be brave and talk with other kiddos and it is so sweet to watch.  She has what we call "Lady Liberty" moments where she doesn't want any help and insists on figuring things out for herself-which can sometime end in a pile of tears, if the legos aren't stacking up right. Sometimes as a mom, it's hard to not just jump in and help her avoid the frustration but I know it's good for her to discover things on her own and its giving her confidence in who she is. And who she is is pretty great! 

Emma Kate made a big switch a few weeks ago where Mommy became old news and Daddy was all the rage! She cant' get enough of her sweet Daddy and Mommy is trying to take it in stride. Her new thing this week is saying "Mommy go away" and I tell her that it's not kind to say that, and then she says "Please?!" Oh well, baby steps right? She was a mommy's girl for a long time so I guess I can learn to share :) 

We are slowly doing projects around our house (which I will have to post about later), and making it our own little home. Even though we have been here 7 months now we still feel a little like lone rangers- which is never ideal for this little extrovert :) . Emma Kate and I are able to get out and go on play dates and go to a mom's group while Adam is working (which has been so life-giving!)  but it's been more of a challenge to get to know people as a family of 3 when we have to balance nap schedules and busy work schedules.  Now that Adam has more time off, we can say yes to more opportunities to get to know people and try out churches and get involved in things but the process is slow going.  I always forget how long it takes to forge friendships but I know it's definitely worth the effort.  Hopefully summertime will be a great season for our family to build some deeper friendships here in Austin!  

arrival

Well hello there blog.  Long time no see!  Let's see, where to start. In the past two months we uprooted from Denver, moved to Austin, bought a house, Adam started construction on his store, Emma Kate started walking, I stopped eating gluten...again, and we have taped and painted our way to making our house feel like home. 

I was reading One Thousand Gifts and there was a quote in there about how "hurrying is a clear sign of an amateur".... And that I surely am. I have sweat so much in the past few weeks- not from working out.  Just form hurrying! Lame.  Oh well, just a little reminder that I, Amy Callaway, am a work in progress :)  

I have never been a big advent celebrator. Actually, I never really understood what it was until a few years ago. I just remember watching the candles flicker in church during the sermon.  This year though, for the first time, Advent feels really super important to me. Like that feeling you get when your birthday is coming up and you're hoping everyone remembers.

advent |ˈadˌvent|

I actually looked up what the word "advent" even means and the grand old dictionary informed me it means "the arrival of a notable person."  I guess in the midst of a lot of change and unknown, I am deeply anticipating and celebrating the arrival of Christ in a way I haven't before, both with a rooted peace and rest that He came, redeemed and His presence is with us now; and with a knot-in-my-throat hope and anticipation that He is coming and He will redeem and we will know Him more fully.

I'm thankful that I can look back and see how God has drawn people to himself and brought healing to this world,  but in the brokeness and overall messed-up-ness of people, systems, creation, etc.. I also long for Him to still come and redeem and restore. During advent I'm reminded that I daily need his presence and redemption in my marriage, my parenting, my friendships, my work, my neighborhood, my city, my world. 

"O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer

Our spirits by Thine advent here

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night

And death's dark shadows put to flight.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel. "

Rejoice, Rejoice, Emmanuel, shall come to thee.....................

  

Honey Bee Birthday

Things have been busy for the Callaways! After moving 900 miles south, we are starting to catch our breath and catch up on life. Oh and by the way, we have a ONE year old!! Emma Kate is talking up a storm and working on her walking skills. Her favorite words are momma. daddy. water. sassy. kitty. meow. cow. moo. walk. night night. car. purple. flower. cheese. honey. ball. dog. pig. oink. bee. buzz. duck. quack. puffs. toes. shoes. shirt. turtle. frog. bath time. book. ouch. done. more. please... and many more!

We decided to celebrate her birthday in Denver before we skipped town. Here are some photos of our little Honey Bee :) 

My hens! i miss these girls a ton!