(closed) shabby apple giveaway

Shabby Apple offers a great selection of vintage inspired clothing. I wore one of their dresses in our family pictures when Lark was a baby and it is still one of my go-to pieces that is so easy to throw on. What I love most about it is it doesn't require any undershirts or slips to make it modest - the less layers I have to put on the better!

I would wear the dress pictured above in a heartbeat as well as this skirt, and this fun peplum dress (who else has a thing for polka dots lately?)! Want to win a $50 gift card to their online shop? Just leave a comment below about something that made you smile recently. I'll announce the winner next week. Open to US residents only. Good luck! 

***Congrats Sarah M, you won! Please contact me within 3 days to claim your prize, or another winner will be chosen. Thanks!

thank you

Thank you for your support about our recent loss. I have been taking time to process it all. I am doing much better although there are still moments when I am overcome with sadness, but I am okay with that... I allow myself a good cry whenever I need it, and I am grateful that I have a husband who can just look at me and know that I need his arms around me and his whisper in my ear that everything is going to be okay. And I know it will be. We are definitely not done having kids.

We have been keeping busy behind the scenes. We are all so excited for the coming Summer months. It has been a chilly start to Spring, but we have had some warm-ish sunny days we took full advantage of with trips to the beach, skateboarding down the driveway, and running through the sprinkler.

With Springs arrival we have turned our attention from working on projects inside the house to working outside in the yard. So far that has meant a lot of clean up. The yard was completely neglected for some time, but you can tell it was once well taken care of and there are pretty daffodils and tulips blooming a midst all of the weeds and overgrowth. We are still not close to being done, but it is shaping up to at least be presentable. I am itching to get our garden plot ready and almost can't wait for those lilac buds I spotted the other day to bloom.

art of... series

Hello! Today I am happy to be guest posting for my friend Michelle, one half of the Twig Creative duo. If you haven't already heard of their adorable handmade toy cameras, chairs, and more you are missing out! This one is definitely on my radar. Michelle and her husband are one talented couple and some of the nicest people I have met. She is doing a great series right now called 'The Art of...' and asked me to write about the art of vintage. It was fun to sit down and think about what beauty I see in all of these old used things I like so much ;) You can read it here.

easter

I know, Easter was so last week but I couldn't let it pass completely by without acknowledging what was such a lovely holiday. After church we spent the afternoon at my mom and her husband's new home in the country. It was the perfect setting for an egg hunt and a fun place to go exploring. We all walked to the end of their property and back and it was so nice to be outside together with the warm sun shining on our faces. You are more than welcome, Spring!

The girls wore vintage dresses like they have for the past two years, but I am thinking I need to bring the tradition of handmade dresses on Easter back (not that it was that long ago, ha). What I really mean is I would like to start sewing more again, which is code for 'I need to organize my craft room'. ;)

Oh, and that last picture? My mama heart is bursting. I love those girls.

I wish I were posting almost 20 week baby bump pictures. I wish I were announcing the gender and preparing the guest room to be converted into the nursery, but this past month God had other plans for our family...

When I woke up the morning of March 14th instead of being 16 weeks pregnant I was empty, and I could feel it in the deepest part of my grieving heart. Our sweet baby passed away at 13 weeks. It happened just days after we heard the heartbeat and right around the time we were announcing our happy news, although we wouldn't realize our loss for another three weeks. I experienced what is called a missed miscarriage.

About a week or two after we made our announcement worrisome thoughts started entering my mind... I hadn't felt any movement yet and I thought that my baby bump should be bigger by now. But there were none of the typical warning signs other than the bells going off in my head, so I was trying to stay positive and hope for the best. I was scheduled to go in for an ultrasound, but instead of being thrilled at the thought of seeing my baby for the first time as I should have been, I felt nervous. I knew this was the day I would find out if my worries would be confirmed.

I knew right away. The image of my tiny baby came on the screen and there was no flutter, no tiny kicks or acrobatics. The ultrasound technician quietly took a measurement, turned off the screen and told me she had some bad news. There was no heartbeat. I felt numb. I turned to Husband who was still wrangling our girls into place and slowly shook my head when we locked eyes. As I saw the realization and sadness cross his face I knew it was reflected in mine.

The next morning I went to the hospital for a D and C. It was totally painless for me physically, but emotionally my heart was completely broken. My baby, who had already been etched onto my heart as a member of our family, was gone.

My mother came to help me with the girls. Dear friends, family, and neighbors dropped thoughtful gifts on my front porch, brought over dinner, sent sweet cards, emails, text messages, flowers, and I was (and still am) in just as much danger to burst into tears from all of the love I felt as I was for my loss. I have been asked if I regret making the public announcement of my pregnancy seeing how it ended, but I don't. I needed that support more than I knew, and I thank every person who served me and my family with eyes full of tears and gratitude.

I don't know how long it will take my heart to heal, if ever, but I have found great comfort in my belief that God knows me and has a plan for me and my family. One that is different and greater than my own. I am trying my best to let this trial shape me into a better person and most especially a better mother.