Cooper's Room Reveal

The moment you've all I've been waiting 37 weeks for...his room is finally. finished.

This is honestly, 100%, hands DOWN my favorite part about getting ready for a baby. By far the hardest part of pregnancy for me is the beginning when I don't know if I'll be decorating a boy room or a girl room...ALL I WANT TO DO is paint and pick curtains and buy sheets but I can't even brainstorm ideas in the early stage because there are too many unknowns. It's not even fun for me to imagine until DECISIONS CAN BE MADE.

20 weeks hit, we threw a party and found out we'd be having a boy...a couple days later we announced the name...and then somehow everything about the adorable cows, neutral color scheme, and collected vintage pieces just fell together in the most perfect way.

These were the four pieces that gave me the vision for this room:

The vintage cow breed poster hanging right of the window was something I found at a shop down in the East Village earlier this spring for $6...I never found the perfect place for it in our house, but it was too cute to pass up and I had a feeling I'd be able to use it for something in the future.

The white porcelain cow was a JB Knacker find from more than a year ago...it lived outside on our porch, welcoming guests until it moved to Cooper's room. When I find cute unique pieces that 'speak to me,' I just grab them. It's what gives our house that warm, collected, interesting feel instead of a 'Straight From Target' feel.

The real cow skull was pulled from the barn at our Cambridge acreage/rental property years ago and it's been an excellent conversation piece no matter where I have it hanging (it's made appearances at both our old and new house on the front steps, the living room, the kitchen). It's gotten really strong reactions from certain grandmother's: 'A dead cow skull hanging on the wall of a BABY'S room?!' but I find that to be hilarious, so it stays. Because seriously, how perfect is it?!

And finally the old 'Cow Herd Register' on the shelf above the dresser (possibly my favorite piece of the original 'puzzle' that solidified the cow theme for me) came from somewhere in my grandma's or my dad's stuff...I can't remember exactly, but I know it's old and it's cool. There are old photographs of different cows, paperclipped inside, along with handwritten notes and cattle prices.

This is the only room in the house where I reversed the trim and wall color...in the rest of our house, the trim is white and the walls are colored, but in Cooper's room the trim is this amazing dark smokey gray + a super light gray wall color. Don't ask me about links for either...the trim color was a mistint gallon I used for our bathroom vanity (and anywhere else I can manage to put it because it's amazing), and the wall color was an Olympic brand color (which Lowe's no longer carries) and their color-matching is worthless...as still evidenced by the corners in this room.

Once I'd gathered those four pieces from around our house, I was off and running (this all happened right after the gender reveal at 20 weeks). A trip to Hobby Lobby was next in order because they always have really great cow canvases and pictures on their shelves...stuff I've loved but never had a place for or a reason to buy. The Longhorn canvas above the dresser and the Scottish Highland cow on the built-in dresser both came from HobLob, as well as the small white 'C' and the scalloped shelf above the dresser. I threw the cow hide changing pad cover; a set of Burt's Bee's gray buffalo plaid sheets; and the camel-colored leather pillow case into my Amazon cart and then didn't buy/collect much until after Christmas when I was ready to stop thinking about it and pull everything together.

I did some very light Pinterest research, but for the most part I use Pinterest as more of a Google machine than a place to find my inspiration. For me, once inspiration hits, I just know it's right and I can pretty easily start gathering what I picture in my head. I took my time, blocking in the bigger pieces (crib, rug, chair, bookcase), living with them for a while, and then slowly adding the final touches. Daily, for the past 37 weeks, I walk across the hall to the baby's room after I lay Mav down for nap to just stand and stare...and slowly the pieces all fell into place.

The letterboard, frames, books, and cowboy boots are all things we already had/I pulled from Mav's room to style this shelf. I wanted this bookcase to feel 'collected' but I have to admit I had a hard time styling it without making it cluttery....always a fine line I'm walking.

The bookshelf in our living room was starting to get a little out of control so moving all my baby/parenting books to this big bookcase in Cooper's room was the perfect solution to that problem.

Where the big stuff came from:

Rocker - Target
Pouf - TJ Maxx
Crib - Target
Bookcase -Target
Rug - RugsUSA
Teepee - Sam's Club

My rustic windows and frames have all been gathered over the years, pulled from my basement decor supply to help give this room its character. I really struggled with wanting bookcases on either side of the crib for a grand symmetrical look, but I had absolutely no need for MORE storage in this room. I hardly had enough stuff to style one shelf, let alone filling two with unnecessary 'things.' So Maverick's teepee from Christmas was the perfect solution to that problem once I talked him into it. I'm still sort of picturing a small cowhide rug for the floor of the teepee in this room, along with some gray buffalo plaid pillows, but I can add those later.

Canvas Bins - Target
Brown Cow - Scentsy
Black/White Cow - Poopsie's  (in Galena)

We collected every cow book Maverick owned and put them in Cooper's room because that added to the cute cow details. And Maverick was (surprisingly) thrilled to be sharing them.

Cooper's room is bigger than Mav's, but Mav's closet is way bigger...I didn't have a ton of shelving to work with so I added a cheap cube shelf from Target for storage underneath all those tiny baby clothes. A hammer and nail freed up some storage for stuff that could easily be hung on the walls and now I feel like this is a much more efficient use of space.

Once Cooper's custom name arrived from Etsy yesterday at 11:30 (from a shop named 'BlairMade' - I would highly recommend!), I could finally call it 'DONE.' The paint touch-ups somehow magically happened, the closet has been organized to my standards, and don't think I could love how Cooper's room turned out more.

I painted the walls in this room more than a year and a half ago and it felt like the most unfair thing in the world...I should have been six months pregnant, choosing paint colors for a room that would hold a baby in three months, but that wasn't our reality. To make the best of it, my plan was to put the crib back up to use for cousins and the many baby guests who visit our house, which I knew would be sensible and useful...but to spend two whole days painting a room that wouldn't hold a baby of ours for the foreseeable future...lets just say it's not the most fun I've ever had. I powered through because that's how I do projects, but I think that's why this room was so over-the-top fun for me to think about and plan for and put together...in 20 days (or less!) Mav will finally have a baby brother in this adorable room across the hall!

MmB

Bar Cart turned BABY Cart

Okay this might seem dumb, but I am THRILLED about this cart. There's just something about baby goodies being all stocked and organized and READY that gives me so much satisfaction...and this cart. I'm telling you, it's like my crowning achievement of this pregnancy.

Four years ago, Wal-Mart and Target pick-up didn't exist. The first week we were home, random things kept coming up that we needed, like ASAP and so my mom would faithfully take her daily (sometimes multiple) trips to Target, list in hand, to grab the nursing pads/gas drops/Lanolin cream I'd requested. It was usually like two or three small things each time, always super random...and it's sort of what she was here to do, but errands in September are different than errands in February. I want us to be able to hunker down and hibernate as MUCH as possible to avoid unnecessary activity and germs.

Plus, when you realize you need gas drops the first night you're home with baby...YOU NEED THEM NOW.

So as the weeks have gone by, I've done my best to think back and remember all of those 'last-minute' things we grabbed the first week Maverick was home (guessing people who have babies closer together already HAVE this kind of stuff, but we had NOTHING for newborn life left in this house). I parked myself in the rocker, imagined the middle of the night, and remembered like ten things I remember needing/wanting/using. Then last week, I curated my baby supply Wal-Mart and Target pick-up lists.

I was explaining to a friend how Cooper's room doesn't have as many 'surfaces' as I like when changing a newborn (especially because I'm using a cute OLD dresser that was mine vs. the big IKEA Hemmnes one we had for Maverick), and she suggested getting one of these carts from Target.

The more I thought about it, the more genius of an idea it became.

First off...they are CHEAP. Second, they come in white and gray...what better colors are there (answer: none). Third...I can roll this thing ANYWHERE IN THE HOUSE. It currently sits in our master bedroom, waiting to be rolled closer to the bed, closer to the bassinet, into the bathroom, out to the kitchen for sink baths...and eventually it will land in baby's room once Cooper is permanently stationed there for naps and night.

So here's what I've stocked it with (remember this is newborn life...which is much more high maintenance than life 6+ weeks in...but it can be the HARDEST, so my main goal was to make everything as easy as possible for Future Mollie):

*I've linked a few of our favorite products in the list below, too!*

Plastic compartments (to keep all the tiny things together)
Hand sanitizer (I actually have this in every single room of the house + every bag/purse)
Newborn diapers + wipes
Baby Q-tips
Baby nail clippers (the good kind with big white handles)
Nose sucker (just the bulb-kind...the NoseFrida is in Cooper's room)
Infant head scrubby brush (I like this one when they're tiny for scrubbing all that gross skin off during baths...but as gently as possible)
Baby comb + brush
Vaseline (baby boy diaper changes are the worst in the beginning)
Chapstick (for me)
Nail file (for me...does anyone else feel paralyzed when you're nursing and you NEED stuff like this but can't get to it for a half hour?? Trying to fix that situation)
Burp cloths/towels (I never use traditional 'cute' burp cloths...flour sack towels are bigger and way more absorbent, can be found in plain white, and also...cheaper! I couldn't find a link for plain white ones like we have on Target, but I found Cooper's at Thiessen's this time)
Thank you notes + notebook to record gifts (MOST PROUD OF THIS ONE)
Spare bassinet sheets
Baby washcloths
Spare outfit (in case of middle-of-the-night blowout)
Spare swaddle blanket
Gas drops
G'mas homemade lotion (for me)
Nursing ice packs
Nursing pads
Gas drops
Nursing shield
Nursing creams/balms/cooling gel 
Baby shampoo + lotion
Water bottle + Tylenol/ibuprofen (for me)
Books/magazines/reading material closeby

This thing is locked and loaded, specifically for bathtime and feeding time...I love how useful it will be to travel around the house with for the first few months...and I love how useful it will be in Cooper's room after that! Even after the first year, once most of this stuff is less necessary I can picture using it in almost any other room of our house for cute storage or as a fun bar cart in the dining room.

Honestly, I couldn't believe all the stuff I remembered we needed and didn't have. Most of my friends with multiples have just said, 'All you need when you bring them home are diapers!' BUT...most of my friends have had babies a lot closer together than 4.5 years...I'm guessing they could still scrounge around for a tube of diaper rash paste if they needed to...not at this house! So I'm guessing this post may be more helpful for new mom's, and that's great!

I'll have to keep you posted on if this bar cart turned baby cart lives up to my hype.

MmB

What's in my hospital bag this time...

Maverick noticed me packing my bag a couple weeks ago, asked to help, and then proceeded to pack his own Paw Patrol suitcase for the hospital. It weighed about 20 pounds because it was full of every single Hot Wheels car he owns, plus his robe and his slippers and his Bandit.

He knows now he doesn't need a suitcase because he will just be visiting the hospital, but every once in a while I go in Cooper's room and find a mysterious bag packed with toys,lined up next to mine and Cooper's and it kills me. Mav is as ready as we are for this brother to come any time!

I always like reading what people pack in their hospital bags, and it's really useful to remember (for myself) or direct people to when they ask. I know blogging is a dying art, but you would be shocked at the number of times people ask me about a recipe or something else random and I either direct them to my blog or I go hunt down a post to remember for myself.

Mom's Bag:
Pretty robes + comfy robes
Cute pajamas/loungewear/hoodies
Leggings
Cute nightgown to wear instead of hospital gown
Swimsuit (I do not 'do' stark naked during childbirth)
Nursing bras, wide variety/assortment
Most comfortable/cute sports bra
Undies
Socks + slippers
"Fresh 48" outfit
"Going Home" outfit
Shampoo/conditioner
Dry shampoo
Lotion + chapstick
Vitamins/current meds
Self-tanner spray (Yes I went there...it's winter, just ok?)
Blow dryer/straightener
Make-up
Headbands
Letterboard + presorted letters needed
Phone charger
Current books/reading material
Wallet + Insurance cards + ID
Toothpaste/toothbrush/floss
Deodorant
Make-up/face wipes
Notebook/pen to record possible gifts
Pillow + blanket (a MUST)

Cooper's Bag:
Hakka
Sleepers + hats (I also do not 'do' hospital hats and blankets)
Favorite swaddle blanket
Assortment of paci's
Diapers/wipes
Gas drops
Hand sanitizer
Portable sound machine + spare batteries
Socks/booties
Stuffed cow for pictures
Nursing shield
Nursing pads
Nursing cover-up
Nursing lotion/cream/balm
Breast pump
Burp towels/cloths
Car seat + base + warm car seat cover
"Going Home" outfit

Josh's Bag: 
Pajamas
Lounge-clothes
Hoodies
Slippers
Deodorant
Toothbrush/toothpaste
"Going Home" outfit
Tennis shoes
Laptop + charger
Phone charger
DVD's
Assortment of snacks
Spare vehicle/house keys
Pillow + blanket (also a MUST for dad)

Because some of these things have to be thrown in at the last minute...if I'm unable to perform that task for whatever reason, I can direct my dearly beloved ones straight to this list.

Think I'm leaving something out? Message me!

MmB

Gear for Baby #2

I absolutely love baby gear.

I love sorting the clothes and figuring out how to organize all the stuff...I love hauling out all the newborn-stage gear and setting it up around the house...I love opening Amazon and Target packages as all of our last minute things have started to arrive.

The clothes are clean and the drawers are organized and full, the swings are out and waiting, the soaps/creams/lotions/balms/gas drops/hand sanitizer/tiny diapers are all scattered in convenient locations throughout the house. Basically the only thing we're waiting on here is the baby.

So I thought I'd share a few of the things I made sure to grab this time around based on recommendations from friends or things I've observed and LOVED other friends using over the past four years. I've been taking lotsssss of mental notes so when we finally got our news I was READY for the STUFF. Here's a link to what we bought and loved the last time around. I still firmly stand by EVERYTHING on this list, namely the Baby Bjorn Travel Crib which, I'm convinced, is the literal best pack'n'play in the history of all time. Absolutely worth the money because it's been used nonstop by Mav (and many baby-visitors) for the past four years and I've never once been frustrated by it. That's a pack'n'play win for sure.

Each item listed is a clickable link!

Sound Machine:
We used a white noise app on my iPad for a LONG time with Mav. And even after I bought a small Graco sound machine, I doubled-up on the sounds most of the time because our old house was so small. However, a few months ago I decided I was kind of 'over' sharing my iPad and I might as well order two matching sound machines (plus a battery-operated travel option!) for both boy rooms. This thing is SO GREAT. It's a super common model/brand and it gets LOUD, which I love. I grabbed it on an Amazon Deal of the Day.

Rocking Chair:
We had this chair in the gray version for Maverick and LOVED it. Again, a purchase that I would say was definitely worth the money, especially on the FIRST baby when the Target giftcards are a-flowing.  I probably did 80% of my nursing in this chair. For a long time I tried to figure out a way to NOT order a second one (we were still using the gray rocker for naps/bedtime for Mav in our new house)...but as I thought more about what having a newborn in this house would look like, I settled on the fact that baby will likely be in our room for MUCH longer than Maverick was (approx. 3 days?) because I'm not trekking across the creaky floors in this house 2, 3, 4, 5, times in the night to feed the newborn. So in October during a Target furniture sale I pulled the trigger and ordered one for Cooper's room, moved the gray rocker to our room, and moved the gray chair + ottoman to Mav's room so we still have a special spot to cuddle up and read books every night. I like these chairs because they look like a real piece of furniture I could move to any room of our house when they're done being used for babies/kids. *I couldn't find our exact chair on Target.com anymore...so I'm glad I ordered it when I did! The one I linked is super similar.*

Hakka: 
I have yet to use this handy thing (it didn't exist when Maverick was born!) but I've witnessed my best friend use it for two babies, and if it's as magic as she claims, I'll get away without having to use Satan's Breast Pump EVER this time around. She catches so much milk without having to do a THING or waste any extra time, and I'm all about that life. It was one of the first things I ordered!

Letterboard: 
This seems like a dumb one, but I love me a good letterboard. They are SO great for remembering big milestones (first day of school, last day of school, monthly baby photos!) so prepare to see a LOT of letterboarding happening on my Instagram this year. I prefer the felt boards to the plastic ones from Hobby Lobby or Target.

Roller/Bar Cart:
Like I said, being in a new place for our second newborn has given me a lot to strategize for (ie: sink baths in the farmhouse sink; a BASEMENT to utilize; a toddler sleeping one room away, etc.). I grabbed this cart at Target and the more I think about it, the more insanely useful I think it will be. First of all, it rolls...so I can roll it to our master bathroom for bath time, out to the kitchen for bathtime, to the bassinet for a quick diaper change, to the rocker in our bedroom in the night to feed baby...or all the way to the other side of the house to Cooper's room when he's more settled over there. Second of all, it's gray...so I can put it in any room of our house whenever I want from now until forever and it will continue to be useful, but also match.

Bassinet:
We skipped this the last time around, because we didn't have room in our bedroom, and honestly...Maverick in his crib in his room meant better sleep for everyone. So this was one of those things that I labeled as unnecessary gear and did without. But as I've previously mentioned, with a bigger house comes different newborn challenges...namely logistical middle-of-the-night challenges. I didn't want a tiny bassinet that would only last a month, but I also didn't want to just set up a big pack'n'play in the middle of our bedroom...I wanted something that made sense with the style of our bedroom...and if you know me, you know I don't like the 'look' of most baby stuff so this was a challenge. Because it's semi-temporary, I also wanted it to be semi-cheap. After much deliberation, this is what I finally settled on. If I have a hard time sleeping, it's a perfect size to throw in the bathroom for more distance/barrier between me and Cooper.

Baby Bath:
The tub we had for Mav was *fine* but it was big and made showering in my own shower kind of a pain...I always had to move it out before I could shower, it was annoying for guests to 'work around' and it was just MORE than necessary. It simply took up way too much square footage to store for years and years after Mav was done using it so it got donated. When I found out we were pregnant I picked up this bath seat/support as soon as I saw it in gray on the shelf at Target (can you believe it was almost impossible to find gray stuff five years ago?!). I'm planning to hang it on the wall down our back stairs for easy access for kitchen baths and when it's time for the big tub I can stick it to the tub wall.

Baby Gym:
Want to know what else has become popular in the past four years? Baby toys that aren't obnoxious colors! We liked the little baby play yard we had for Mav (see link to old blog post!), it was easy enough to fold up and hide if people were coming over or if I just didn't want to look at colorful plastic on my floor for a few days...but LOOK AT WHAT THEY MAKE NOW. I'm sort of planning that this adorably-neutral set-up will be upstairs in our living room and the BRIGHT LOUD COLORFUL one will be downstairs for evening movies or hanging out with Mav in the toy room.

Diaper bag/Backpack:
Literally everyone I know has this diaper bag, so when I saw it on sale I jumped on board. It's been proclaimed on my social media ads as the Best Diaper Bag Ever so I figured it was worth seeing what the hype was all about. There are so many compartments it's insane. I'm a purse-carrier by nature, so I never wanted a diaper-bag-looking diaper bag, and I still plan to use my leopard Coach bag for the first 6-ish months...but this one seemed appealing for the second-stage when there's more food and toys and bigger diapers to pack. Plus that's when we'll be on the go a bit more in the summer/fall and I prefer a backpack for those months anyway.

Vornadobaby Space Heater:
Maverick had a Vorndo space heater for about three years, but for some reason it didn't like our new house. It worked at our old house, we moved, plugged it in here, and it hasn't worked since. We never replaced it because he's been sleeping under real covers since we moved here (his room is actually the coldest in the house, so I've often thought we should grab one for him, but it's just one of those annoying things you don't WANT to spend $70 on) but finally last week I threw the the nursery version of his space heater in our Amazon cart. I like all the safety features on this brand of space heater, I just think we used the old one a LOT, so I'm interested to see how long this one lasts.

Diaper Cady:
I was suckered into this on a PrimeDayDeal. It was less than $10 and looked like something that would be good to keep behind the couch in the basement filled with diapers, wipes, burp cloths, etc. so we don't have to hike upstairs for a diaper when we need one. It's already loaded up and downstairs!

Double Stroller + Attachments:
This has not yet been ordered, but it's on my list. Last summer and fall, we were still frequently using a stroller for Mav, and I always like the OPTION of making him get in and sit if I need him to. He obviously doesn't need his own stroller seat, but I like the skateboard or bench seat options for him to be able to ride along...especially if it's for long walks or big trips to the zoo or the fair, etc. It's way easier to hand him snacks and drinks if he's sitting than expecting him to handle that if we're walking around...maybe this is because he's a first and only child, but who doesn't prefer their child be CONTAINED at the Farmer's Market?! We used our first stroller to death because I was determined we only needed ONE. But after four years and that much use, it's not folding quite right...it's dirtier than I can get clean...and I think right now the kitties use it to cuddle up and sleep on in the shed. So we have our eyes on an upgrade for the spring.

Humidifier:
As freaking annoying as it was to have to buy two of these this winter...they're a necessary part of life for an Iowan living through winter. I've had a cold in some version since Thanksgiving and Mav has been a lot snottier than usual too...throw in the fact that we needed one for baby's room, and that's actually three humidifier's. But because I know Cooper will be in our room, I held off on buying the third because...humidifier's are like the least fun thing to spend $150 on. I like this model because it's SILENT and holds a gallon of water, without using a filter we have to keep clean/replace (all different from the Vick's one we owned when Mav was a baby...it ended up getting super grimy, hard to clean, and filters needed to be purchased/replaced often). Mav loves that he can pick a different light color every night. You can also throw essential oils in if you're into that kind of thing.

Drawer Dividers:
I couldn't find the exact kinds we have online so I've linked really similar options. I bought a white set from IKEA and more recently a plastic Room Essentials set from Target and let me tell you. I already know it will be easier to keep paci's and Q-tips and gas drops and tiny baby socks and mittens more organized. I hate having that kind of stuff just floating around in big drawers, so this was a super cheap option to remedy that.

Stuff I'm borrowing this time around:
Dock-A-Tot (lots of hardwood floors in this house, seems like it might be useful but I didn't want to commit to the price tag)
Rock'n'Play (NOT for overnight sleep, just an option to have in case we have an unreasonably fussy baby this time, and they're like Black Market Contraband now so borrowing was my only option)
MamaRoo Swing (so we have a swing option upstairs and downstairs)

There it is! I know none of these things are 'needed' to bring a baby home, but they do make it easier. And in the dead of winter when we will be hibernating, I just wanted everything to be here and ready and waiting...and I think we're there! All that's left is deep cleaning the showers, appliances, sinks, and baseboards...making freezer meals...and planning our family newborn picture outfits!

MmB

Christmas Letter 2019

Right now Maverick’s biggest frustration is not being able to understand time. In his vocabulary, last week could mean last year; yesterday might mean last week; & tonight could mean tomorrow…so the way we explain things is by season. The ‘calendar’ I created for Mav when we told him about what he calls, ‘his baby’ is a list with pictures in the correct order everything will happen. He knows after the pool comes the orchard…& after the orchard it’s Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas…then we will have some snow & the calendar countdown ends on Valentine’s Day when his baby brother is due to arrive! So it just made sense to break our Christmas letter down by season.

WINTER: Josh plowed a record amount of snow. I’m not sure the final totals, but I know BLC plowed more snow than ever before so things stayed nice & busy around here. We had a great crew of guys and made it through the whole season safely, no accidents for customers or employees. We played out in the snow as much as we could, exploring our acreage and playing with our puppies and kitties…we have a decent sledding hill at the back of our property & we all had fun shooting Maverick down on a saucer to see how fast & far he’d go. Mav went out in the plow truck a couple of times with Josh, but got bored pretty quickly so I had to be available to run & grab him…I think he will like riding along with daddy a lot more this year! Josh & I snuck away to Galena for a couple days in January during the Polar Vortex & will remember forever the trip when we were the only people staying in the DeSoto house...two nights in a row!

SPRING: Josh geared up for BLC’s 20^th season in business and the snow continued…Maverick enjoyed his usual rotation of church play group, library, CFA, play dates with buddies, & playing outside…I planned/hosted/decorated for countless parties/showers/events & ended up designing/redecorating a chiropractic office in Ames. We had tons of events for Aunt Jamie getting married & most weekends involved wedding planning + prep, ending with the Big Day in May. Josh hired his BLC crews to start rolling with spring work; one of our trucks was rear-ended; we bought a skid loader (Josh’s favorite BLC toy to date) to haul the four semi-loads of mulch our customer’s requested; & we finally got around to growing grass in our backyard! We also accidentally took two trips to Galena…one in April and one in May.

SUMMER: At the beginning of June we found out we were finally pregnant! Most of 2019 has been spent at the usual doctor appointments, planning for baby, decorating baby’s room, throwing a gender reveal party, embracing maternity fashion, & Instagramming everything along the way (I swear this is the #1 way I remember things!). Josh spent the summer managing his mowing crews & chemical applicator, which made BLC more efficient + able to take on more customers because Josh actually had time to sit at his computer & quote work. We picked up some great new accounts; bought another white truck + plow to be able to run more crews at once; & enjoyed lots of time on our porch with family and friends. We spent nearly every day at the pool; took a family vacation to Galena; hit up the fair; dealt with a flooded basement + the clean-up that followed; & tackled rescreening the porch + adding supports to the bottom half to make it safe(r) than it was previously…one of the last ‘big’ home renovation projects we needed to accomplish. Between his trampoline, sandbox, play set, & Gator, Mav will spend hours outside playing while I read/watch from the porch and this is our favorite way to enjoy summer…acreage life is still a perfect fit for all of us.

FALL: Maverick started preschool! We were all really excited about this new milestone…he’s young for his grade since his fourth birthday was on September 1^st, but we knew he was ready. Mav absolutely loves his four mornings of preschool each week (the adjustment was shockingly easy!), which is mostly because his teachers are amazing. Josh’s chemical applicator quit without notice so we didn’t see him for a couple months while he was finishing fall weed control, irrigation shut-downs, & getting fall fertilizer down in record time. With some weirdly early snow, our crews have stayed plenty busy going between fall work & snow prep…plus we’ve finally committed to finishing the man cave/office in the shop attic + finishing the shop the way Josh wants it done, so we should have some pretty exciting Before & After pictures coming soon. Mav and I made it to the orchard (our favorite fall place) 10 times and Josh was even able to come three times! We spent two horrible weeks ‘vehicle shopping’ and ended up buying an old Yukon from a grandpa who had it parked & for sale down the street…so now we have more than enough room for two car seats + baby gear! We took our annual October trip to Galena, this time ‘vacationing’ with Adam & Jamie who are usually stuck at home house + pet sitting for us.

As most of you probably know, we lost a sweet baby in April of 2018…last year’s Christmas letter didn’t seem like the place to announce our news, especially because we’d been hoping we’d have happy news to share on the heels of the sad news. We didn’t & because baby #2 was due to arrive on December 3^rd, all the celebrating was consistently met with sadness over what was obviously missing…a fourth stocking on the mantle, tiny Baby’s First Christmas outfits, swaddle blankets with red trucks and trees…& the entire year kind of played out like that. We absolutely loved making more memories with just Maverick and our family of three, but every time we did something fun it sort of felt like we had a family member missing.

If anything loss has altered our eternal perspective to a more urgent hope, a desperate longing that when Christ returns again everything will be made right. And that perspective, our hopeful longing, is actually exactly what Christmas is about. The Israelites waited 400 years for God to give them a King. They were faithful to wait, trusting the words from Prophets who had come before them, that God would send a King to be the Savior of the World…and then…a baby born in a manger in Bethlehem, the King they’d been waiting for. We experienced a taste of desperate and hopeful longing this past year and can relate, in a very small way, to what the Israelites might have been feeling. When would God answer? How would He answer? Why won’t He answer? Cooper Wilder Harm will be the perfect addition to our family in seven short weeks, given to us exactly when God decided we’d waited long enough.

This Christmas has been filled with all the usual…movies, baking, kiddo concerts, BLC plowing, decorating, special traditions, wrapping, and one more trip to Galena…all while remembering the true significance of the Christmas Story & how that fits into the bigger picture of the Gospel, “In our longing in our darkness, now the light of life has come…What a foretaste of deliverance, how unwavering our hope…Christ the great and sure fulfillment, of the Law in Him we stand.”

Merry Christmas!

Josh & Mollie, Maverick & Cooper, Millie & Remy