On our Way.

Ready Or Not.

Dille's are on our Way!

 

The stress of packing, sorting and organizing

is over even if I am ready or not.

 

The nice thing about going back to the States is that if I forgot it,

generally I can just buy it new there.

 

So we are loading the last of the bags and the kids.

Heading over the causeway to Bahrain.

(Wish us luck- we hear it's a nightmare this weekend!)

 

From there we're off to Kuwait, and then DC Bound.

In less than 24 hours we will be on Freedom soil.

Can't wait!

 

Cross your fingers and say a little prayer we survive.

It's been a long time since we've flown with a 16 month old.

 

Happy Summer and start making plans to come visit and see us!

Hugs, A



Siblings.

Found these two in our bedroom after naptime just like this.

I love that our children will have brothers and sisters. That because they are all close in age they will have the chance to grow up together, to play, to challenge each other, to help each other and be each others friends.

The joy of Siblings.

Hugs, A

Fathers Day.

 

Happy Fathers Day to one of the Most Fun Dads around.

Who spent his special day hands on playing with the kids.

Yeah, he's pretty awesome like that.

The daddy who also takes good care of his baby girl and puts as many bows in her hair as she wants and brings to him!

We are a lucky bunch to have him.

 

Shoes.

 She is a girly girl.

She already loves shoes and keeps track of every ones shoes. She will put them away for you, find them for you, bring them to you and pick them out for any occasion.

She sure is fun.

These little lady bug jewel of slippers were handed down from a friend of mine. Lexie discovered them yesterday and hasn't parted with them since. She is in them constantly, and the best part, they have little bells so we know where she is at, at all times.

 She was a happy girl to pose with her slippers. Check out the little bee next to her, it sings twinkle, twinkle, little star and she loves it. She presses its tummy and sings, 'ba,ba,ba..." Seriously, her cuteness makes any day better.

Today we finally managed to see the vascular surgeon here about my leg. I've seen the OB, been to the ER twice and a regular to the hematologist who now referred me to the vascular guy. Not really great news, just going to get worse. Nothing I can do about it, but pretty much the main veins valves are no longer working. Hence the circulation issues, pain and general awfulness of my right leg. The verdict, most likely surgery after the baby is born when we come back to the sandbox. I'm discouraged.

 

It's been a rough little day for me. But then I come home and Lexie is walking along with that smile and those bell ringing slippers and a bit of perspective hits. This too shall pass, the sacrifices of a mother are just that, and are worth it to bring another little spirit into this world and into our family.

 

She makes me smile, she makes me forget about all of the issues and just love being a mom. Tonight she was overtired and Mike was at a meeting. It was not an easy bedtime. So I picked her up and just snuggled my baby. I think we both needed a piece of comfort.

Hugs, A



Irony.

Oh the irony, as I get bigger with this pregnancy and continue to slow down, Lexie keeps getting quicker with a bit more sass.

 

In just two hours this morning she had managed to empty a drawer in the bathroom, filling a half full aquaphor jar with cotton balls and emptying every band aid box in the trash, floor or dipped in aquaphor. Then she moved onto the front of the house where she dismantled all of the wallflowers and as I was making lunches I spotted her three steps up the ladder to the bunk bed with Owen. Who, as you could most likely guess, was coaxing our 16 month old up each step. There was more, these are just a few highlights of our newly mischievous little toddler.

 

But with the bad also comes some good. Lexie is finally signing. Still not really talking, but at least now she will sign, 'all done', 'eat' and 'drink.' Really helps in translating the ear piercing squeal she mostly uses to get everyone's attention, or the point and 'this.'

 

She is snugly and loves to sit on the couch with you. She loves to shut doors, push in chairs, pick up shoes and put them away, close the dishwasher, help with laundry AND turn on the washer or dryer.

 

She's fun. Bet your excited to finally see her, huh?

Three weeks until the Dilles hit the States!

The gift that keeps giving.

 The Christmas Eve jammies that just keep giving. Day, after Day, after week, after month. Yup, we are working on six months strong of Owens favorite warm jammies. December to June and still going strong.

Now in my book I call that a pretty darn good investment. He will wait for them to come out of the dryer, he will search for them in drawers or in piles of clothes and if it's been a day like the one below- he will beg not to take a shower so he can keep them on.

We keep our house pretty cool and he sleeps on the top bunk but not under the covers. All great reasons to continue to sport the festive fleece awesomeness of Christmas just a little bit longer.

It's  a Merry June in deed!

Six.

Carter turned 6 on June 4.

Happy Birthday!

It was a day for celebrating. I went into his classroom and brought cupcakes and juice for everyone.

His friend Lawson came home from school with him and then we picked up his other pal, Jordan and we took the kids to a new indoor play center called Bees. It was awesome, they literally ran in the door and scattered in every which way and direction and played hard and non stop for over 2 hours.

Followed by dinner at Chili's with his friends, then chocolate cake at home and we wrapped the night up opening presents. He said it was a great birthday and he got everything he wanted. Lucky Boy!

Here are the pictures from the day.

 Most classic face ever. He was so excited about the race car.

 Boys opening presents and Lexie helping to clean up. She's almost better about that than the boys are these days.

The next day playing with his new remote control helicopter with dad.  

 Cupcakes in the classroom.

 Chocolate Cake and Candles at home.

A few from the playcenter. It is brand new and huge! I figured if we were ever to go now would be the time as I am sure this is the cleanest it will EVER be. Not many photos of the kids, most came out blurry they were all too busy to stop for even a moment for a photo. It was a success!

 

Happy Birthday Carter!



Happy Little Night Owl.

 So what do you do with a 16 month old little lady who insists on screaming for over an hour in protest for bedtime?

 

...It's been a week of this, we keep telling ourselves its only molars and will pass- praying it will pass before our flights home in a month...

 

Eventually you totally cave and let the little night owl come out and watch a late night TV show with mom and dad.

Funny thing is, this totally uncontrollable screamer in the crib emerged happy and giggling and all sorts of lovie the moment she was invited to sit on the couch. She seriously gets away with a lot more than the boys did. Even in the naughtiest of moments she melts our hearts and you have to fight back the smile and laughter when telling her no. What time did she finally pass out that night you might ask... ONE Stinking A.M.

 The crew. Wherever they go, she immediately follows and in most cases takes over, knocks over, steps on and wiggles her way through. They are mostly good sports about it. Mostly, being the key word. The other dozen times, they either pick her up and drop her outside the door and quickly shut it, where she then stands and screams- demanding to be let back in, OR they call for me to come get her.

This was a more cooperative play time with all three.

Quick Updates, while I am online and blogging.

We leave in just a month to spend the summer in the States and to deliver our new baby at the end of August. People are getting antsy, counting down days until they leave the sandbox.

 

I however find myself dreading it. I know, crazy right? I'm excited to see family and friends, but not ready for this next chapter to begin and this current chapter to close. I am relishing the moments of being a family of five, enjoying every little thing Lexie does these days, enjoying the boys and all the things we can now do that Lexie is a bit more independent. Enjoying our mornings or afternoons at the pool and other mini adventures.

 

I'm just not ready to let this all go, because the moment we leave things will never be the same in our little house. We will come home with a new little person and start all over. That will also be exciting and awesome, but for right now I just want to soak it all in. This stage, this moment and not live for tomorrow or the next day, but to live in THIS day, choose to be present right now.

 

In the meantime, my leg is only getting worse. The daily shots are getting old and the thigh high compression sock is getting hot. My workouts are getting a bit lamer- but not my classes I still push them hard. I keep telling myself only three more months and then I can work out and be an active and fit person again. This stage in my life my body has more important things to do than continue to be tone and feel good. I need to make a baby and sacrifice. I look at my purple, veiny, throbbing and bulging leg and tell myself this too shall pass. I also tell myself- after this baby comes it will all go back to normal, right? More time with my foot up and less pushing with everything else.

 

There are still things to be done and I'm finding it a challenge to get them all done. Again, good thing we have another month in the sandbox. I may be the only person thinking this, but I am, even with todays high being 114 degrees, another 4 weeks is just what we need.

 

Hugs, A

The Ladies.

A good friend of ours took this photo on Easter Sunday at the park and just this week printed out a copy for me as a surprise. I wanted to share. I am in love with it and being a mother to a daughter.

I dreamed of this and wanted so much to have a little girl. I have this amazing relationship with my mom and I want nothing more than to have the same with Lexie. The future is bright and there are memories to be had and moments to be cherished.

Hugs, A

Toddler Antics.

It's as if, all of a sudden, she has morphed into a full blown toddler. Now, I know this did not happen over night, but it still feels like it. Perhaps as the new baby in my belly continues to get bigger the realization that Lexie will no longer be the baby and is getting bigger is starting to feel more real.

 

Right now she's working on all four molars, which makes for a cranky little lady. To give you a better idea, imagine a cute little thing, who then opens her mouth and lets out a scream loud enough to crumble mountains... yes, that is our Lexie. We are hoping and praying, this new little antic is rather a side effect to teething and not part of a blossoming drama personality.

 

Needless to say, she's still the cutest thing around. We still adore her, even as she screams at the dinner table to get your attention and then in the cutest tiniest little voice with pointed finger says, "this."

 

Yesterday we sat in the living room just the two of us and I was able to capture a bit of personality from our sweet little lady.

 

Climbing onto the couch to sit for just a moment with her lovie.

The calm quickly turned into scaling the couch.

Then realizing I had the camera, which prompted her to climb down and come after me with pointed finger, "this... this... this."

 Once I tucked the camera away off she went again for the basket of toys. This was a first dumping it all out to climb into the shelf. I wish I would have been faster to catch her proud accomplished smile.

 Making faces.

 Another stage has arrived. I can honestly say, I don't think we are ready for it. She will surely be a force in our little house.

Hugs, A

New Seat.

At 15 months, she's finally upgraded to a big girl seat.

Makes us both laugh a little, because the boys were too big for their infant seat at 10 months and here is our little petite princess just now moving on up. The reaction from the boys was exactly as I thought and told Mike the night before when we were installing it...

"Oh Lexie, look at your big girl seat. You are so big, yeah Lexie!"

 

 

Braid.

 Look what Lexie let me do this morning...

Her first little braid.

I seriously LOVE having her as our little girl.

Yes, I'm a bit giddy thinking that we'll soon have two little girls in our lives.

Also, realizing it will seriously slow me down in the morning.

Happy Monday!

Hugs, A

Big Girl.

Seriously, when did she get so big?

 Eating a surprise hamburger and loving it.

 The weather on Thursday (our Saturday) was perfect. We spent the afternoon cleaning out the garage and then riding bikes. Planning to really take advantage of the last little bit of nice weather before summer slams into us with the heat and humidity.

Hugs, A

14 months.

Lexie went in for her 1 year well check, just two months late. So here are her, 12 (really 14 month stats).  Weight, 21.5 lbs 50%, Height 77 cm , or 30 inches long 50 %.

She's a petite little thing compared to the boys. In fact she still fits in her infant car seat and the boys had outgrown that seat at about 10 months. Right now she is working on two top molars like a champ.  

She is an absolute joy these days. Her favorite things, climbing and sitting on the couch with us and sitting in her little rocking chair. She points and says 'this', 'all done,' 'da-da' and 'carter,' and I'm still waiting to hear mama, maybe for Mothers Day.

Hugs, A

Rain.

We had an extra special treat today.

Rain!

Moving to the Sandbox has sure changed our appreciation for a little precipitation.

So we did what any other little person would do. Owen busted out the umbrella and we played in it. Then we came inside and tucked ourselves into bed for long afternoon naps.

Hugs, A



The little things.

 In general I feel like we are doing great. It's just an array of little things that seem to keep knocking our little family over.

 

We've had our fair share of sickness the past three weeks. First Mike with strep throat. Carter then contracted a freakish lymph node infection. An entire side of his neck was super swollen, he couldn't move it or look around, and then had trouble talking and moving a side of his face. Scary stuff I tell you, at one point the ER doc. said he had mumps, only later to find out the doc had no idea what he was talking about. Carter had never been so sick. But a week later, he is back to his old self mostly, still a little swollen and looking off to the side, but we feel confident he is recovered. He is also finally back to school, which he has been so excited to get back to his friends and teacher.

 

Then I have been having a crazy weird circulation issue with my right leg this pregnancy that has taken us to the ER and back to the OB and to the hematologist. All in which, six weeks later, I finally feel like I have a doctor who has a better idea of what is going on and is taking an active role in what to do. I have started the daily blood thinner injection and will continue this until six weeks after our baby girl is born. I have not had circulation or vein issues like this in any of my other pregnancies. To say the least, this pregnancy has thrown me for a loop in so many ways.

 

Most importantly, our growing baby is doing great and we are still set to come home to the States for delivery. We have decided to head back a few weeks earlier though, better safe and cautious we are learning. I have too many other little ones to take care of to take any chances. So I will bravely stick myself every evening, try to keep my foot up as much as possible, rock my awesome compression stockings and be grateful for the blessing of another pregnancy and another little spirit destined to join our family.

 

 

This past weekend we went to Bahrain for District Conference.Above is a photo of the crew watching a little Disney channel before packing up to come home. 

We splurged and stayed in an apartment. We had great visions for a perfect, relaxing long weekend. Ha, what were we thinking? Although we were able to have a great pork filled dinner Thursday night. But then, there was Carter who was incredibly sick this weekend, and we had a series of unfortunate events. Our middle of the night, 3:30 a.m. fire drill carrying everyone 11 floors down was the tip of the ice burg. I think in a few weeks we will laugh about, but right now, not so much. 

 

 In the meantime, we have been blessed with many helpful hands with our family. The little acts of service we have been given have been heaven sent. We are grateful, so very grateful for it all. Also very grateful we are here in the sandbox and that Mikes job has allowed for him to be here and help with docter appointments and taking care of us all.

 

*Another thing on the Dille plate this past month was some good old fashion kitchen remodeling. Most people here has hired that out, but my awesome husband pretty much did it all. We love it and now that our countertops are finally done and installed we can check another thing of our 'nesting' list.

 

Hugs, A

Spring Break comes to an End.

This week we are back to business.

Our crew after church. We successfully survived two hours of conference watching at church. Not only that but this picture was taken afterwards and everyone is still pretty happy. Double success.

She's the only one who stuck around after the first minute.

First spaghetti meal was a success.

 Lexie Double Fisting it Up. Sippy cup and snack cup. Don't forget her hot pink lovie in the other hand. Don't mess with her blanket - she's attached, but if she really loves you she might share. She's set and ready to go pretty much anywhere.

Almost 14 months big. This photo shows so much of her awesome personality.

 And that my friends is how to do a real full blown squat. That's my girl. She's now a full blown, walking, squatting and running machine these days.

After two weeks of Spring Break freedom, school is back in. I'm a bit sad, as crazy as it was, I have loved having all of the kids home, no schedules and mornings to just play. We spent almost the entire break at the pool every morning followed by lunch at the snack bar. Lexie will be a little swimmer too. She has no fear and even after tumbling into the baby pool, fully submerged she'd pop right back up and keep going. She really loved being in the big pool with the boys and loved everything Carter would do. Can I just say, Carter is becoming a great swimmer. Owen, when he wants to be, and puts in the effort does pretty well too. I think swim team may be in our near future.

 

It was a great break and a wonderful way to recharge before the last three months until summer break. Is is too soon to begin the countdown?

Hugs, A

A brother or sister?

On April 1, I had the big ultrasound for our new baby. I am 18 weeks.

 

We planned a surprise for that evening to announce to the kids if they would be getting another brother or a sister. A friend of mine made a patch of surprise cupcakes. White on the outside and the color of the sex of the baby on the inside. Pink for girl and blue for boy. We asked both boys what they would like, Carter "a sister" and Owen "another brother."

Carter was the first to reach the center of the cupcake

"It's Pink- A GIRL!"

So there you have it. At the end of the summer we will welcome another sweet baby girl into our family. We are thrilled. It took a lot of coaxing to find out, our little one was being pretty modest during the ultrasound. I must have flipped back and forth at least three times trying to get her to move. She was kneeling right up until the end.

 

I'm also a bit relieved, with two boys and two girls, we will continue to fit into our little three bedroom house. Lexie will have a sister to play with and I already have a slew of things ready and waiting for our new little one. Life feels a little more balanced.

 

18 Week side view after church this week.

Another view of our little one. What a cute profile.

Hugs, A