pregnancy cut

I got the ever so necessary mid-pregnancy haircut. I was so excited to go back to Mandy at Studio Galactica- she does such fun cuts and is so reasonable (won't even accept tips). Wahoo, new hair feels good! The next cut will probably be the totally necessary post-pregnancy due.

Day Off

Nate and I went to the Farmer's market with the kids on his day off (Wednesday).  It wasn't open so we decided to kill sometime by going to the cupcake place and letting the kids pick one out.  Well, I picked one out too I must confess- it was quite yummy!

Aren't these colors beautiful?

Where will the twins fit again?  I think Lucy's trying to figure that one out by the look on her face.

Good ol' Fairhaven.  We love walking around here.  It's my goal to try this double decker bus' food sometime in the near future- I can't believe I haven't yet, I've walked by it about a million times.  
 (On a side note, we're sick.  I'm not officially sick, but Ada's had a fever for 4 days and Lucy is throwing up.  You can pray this craziness will stop.  Summer's not for getting sick, right?)

Let's get serious now

We tried the guitar thing before, and my friend Colleen was right when she pointed out that strings last about 2 minutes. The guitars we bought the kids from our trip to Mexico lasted about a week with strings. We're trying again. A few weeks ago our neighbors that we met started coming to our evening meetings at our house. They met the kids and saw that Nate knew how to play guitar. They found this little guitar and fixed it up for Lucy- very, very thoughtful. Nate's been working with her and teaching her a song. I hope she (and we) stick with it.

Sweetness Factor

If you haven't met Ada yet, you're missing out. She is great, sweet and so good-spirited. She has not proved to be the neglected 3rd child- in fact is more like the spoiled 3rd with all the attention she gets. I haven't been great at documenting "baby stuff" with Ada (so maybe she is a bit neglected), but I'm going to do a quick catch up, so if you're anything like me, you might start zoning out or skipping over ... I'm not offended.

This girl is a mover and a shaker. She started army crawling around 6 months and by 7 months or so was full on crawling. She also is pulling herself up and cruising furniture. I think she is trying to keep up with her ever so busy siblings. Despite the many times we take things out of her hands, move her from here to there, and thwart her plans, she doesn't seem to be bothered and picks up where she left off. We definitely have another social daughter on our hands (good thing, cause she is always going to be surrounded by people) and is usually happy if she has someone to look at. She has just started to wave, clap, and point. As of now, she only has 2 teeth, I think she got those a month or so ago... I think. I don't know what more to say, but that she has a big crush on dad (I think dad has a crush on her too), she is a charmer. We are so thankful for this little person and love seeing her get a little bigger and bigger day by day.

the beginning of 2

I haven't been writing all that much, but be assured there have been a lot of things I haven't been doing "all that much" of lately.  For example, resting (I really should be), showering (I really should be), making beds, cooking dinner....  Life has already drastically changed (I was never too good with the showering thing to begin with though).  A common question: is it a lot different to have twins?  The answer- YES!  Oh my goodness, it is.  I am just about 24 weeks and I feel like I should deliver any day.  The body is aching, I'm tired, I get these nasty leg cramps and other pregnancy symptoms I never got with my other pregnancies and I've already gained the same amount I gained with my entire pregnancy with Ada.   Life is changing.  

I just went to the doc today and everything looks great. I asked the doctor, "what percentage of twin pregnancies do you think end in bed rest?" He thought for a second and said, "by week 34- 100%."  I was shocked by this answer (though if I'm honest, bed rest right now, doesn't sound all the awful, I could actually read the pile of books sitting next to my bed and not just look at them for a few seconds before conking out).  I also don't know if I mentioned that we confirmed that we are having 1 boy and 1 girl.  I'm excited for Ada to have a sister her age and for Will to have another man in the family.  I do this thing now, when I'm out.  I count the amount of kids people have.  I look at a family and count. It's become automatic.   It is a rare thing to count more than 3 kids.  However, I was at the beach with Nate one morning and I started counting and this mom had 10 kids with her!  Not only that, she was hiking down to the ocean with kids on the back and front, kids in a double stroller and some lingering around.  I knew we had to talk.  So, when there was a somewhat calm moment we started talking.  I asked her how she does it and she said, oh well, only 7 of them are mine."  I see, well if only 7 are yours that's a piece of cake.  I never really got an answer from her, but looked at her and thought that if she can go on a hike with 10 kids, I can do this.  The Lord has already started providing in many ways and I am excited to see how he pulls this one together for us.  Don't get me wrong, we're nervous.  Some days like today where we were cleaning up pee from the floor, spills on the tables (3 times), black beans from the floor and still have yet been able to do a single dish in the kitchen, the task set before us seems utterly daunting.  We just look at each other and say, "so how's this going to work out again?"  But we do always know that the Lord will shape us in huge ways through this, has a plan greater than ours, and loves to be strong for the weak.  He also makes it clear that children are blessings, so we know he's got it covered.

I have more updates on the way.  I haven't been able to catch up with what's going on with the church plant (Christ Church Bellingham), but one of the next posts will cover some of what the Lord has been doing through the church already.  Thanks for your prayers, I'm always so encouraged when people tell me they're fervently praying for our family- we appreciate it a ton.  Until later- ciao!

a couple rooms

The house is (slowly) coming together. It's been so fun to see the visions for the house come to be.  We got a TON done when the kids were gone for a few days, but since they came back it seems like projects are slow in coming.  However, they are coming.  Lucy's room, is nearly to completion.  She really wanted a pink room, I however, am not a huge fan of (too much) pink. We compromised with 1 pink/rose wall. I really like how it turned out (ignore the wrinkly bedding). I got to use the chandelier from a while ago that I spray painted and the fabric circles from my old dress.  Also, that clock above her bed is from my sister Stacie   (remember it Stace?) and I've been waiting to use it in her room.  It says Lu Lu on it.  I'm happy to give her a somewhat "girly" room as she has always lived in gender neutral world with Will.

Currently Ada is sleeping in the twins room downstairs, but she will move upstairs with Lucy when they come.  I still need to put her bedding and such on the crib.  Have I mentioned how excited she is to have Ada in the room with her?  Well, she is!

Here's our room, small and cozy, but I love it.  I also love the closet. I know it doesn't seem too big, but we came from a closet that was literally one fifth of the size and so I feel like I'm living the luxurious life.  I still want to put some kind of curtain contraption in front of it to hide the clothes- but that will probably be another one of those lingering projects- what's life without them?

More from Larabee

This is my new favorite pic of Lucy.  My favorite pictures are never of her smiling, though I love her smile.  Her contemplative look is definitely my favorite.

The three amigos- soon to be the cinco compadres.  

Lucy was pretty grossed out by the starfish and it took some major convincing to get her to hold it (she wouldn't even look at it).  Will on the other hand, with his boy instincts had zero problem picking that sucker up.   I love the lakes and all, but the exploring that can be done at the ocean is unbeatable.