It's been 4 months since I posted last! I've been busy! A lot can happen in 4 months... Sophia is 4 months old and is the world's happiest baby. She smiles all the time and loves the attention of her siblings. She is rolling from belly to back, has great neck control, and 'talks' constantly. I am just soaking in this sweet stage and trying not to be sad that she is growing up so fast. She has been sleeping through the night for a couple of months now...such a good girl! When we get home from vacation she will officially be moved to the crib in the bedroom with her littlest big sisters. Maggie is changing a lot too. Saying more words every day and becoming more and more independent. She is definitely our family 'clown'! Molly is a big helper and such a sweet girl. I love getting the alone with her. :). Evelyn is, as always, a joy and a hard worker. She is really enjoying our summer break. Emma is growing into a young lady right before my eyes. It's so nice to have someone who is able to help out with bigger jobs. Nathan just turned 10! What!?!? Not sure how the last 10 years sped by so fast, but they sure have. So thankful to have been chosen to be the Mama of such a sweet young man. I'm beginning to anticipate all the changes that will take place in our home over the next few years...scary, but exciting! :) In other news...we are just finishing a week of vacation at a lake house in Tennessee! It has been relaxing, refreshing, and so much fun! I can't even explain how much I love having my husband around all day. The kids have been great and have so enjoyed swimming, fishing, bubbles, movies, and games. My parents, siblings, niece, nephew, and cousins are here with us and it's been a great time for all the grown-ups too. Tomorrow we will load us the vehicles and while everyone else heads home Brett & I are taking the kids and heading to Indybforna couple days (just for fun:) then to Chicago area for 5 days. Brett will be in a conference from Tuesday-Thursday while the kids and I get to hang out with some of our dearest friends! On Friday we will take the kids into the city for some sight-seeing (that's right, 6 kids in Chicago...yes, we are crazy!!!:). We will drive home that night. I have a feeling that I will be very ready to be home again by then. But I am so thankful that we are able to join Brett for this trip...we love to travel and really don't like it when he is away. Anyway, that was wordy and maybe too much info, but I'm listening to country music (my fav:) and feeling chatty so there you have it. I'll try to post more often. It will be much easier now with the IPAD!!!! that Brett & my parents gave me for my birthday!!!! ;)

Emma Grace is 8!!!

Today is Emma's 8th Birthday. Wow...the time has flown by! I just can't believe it's been 8 years since I held my first daughter for the very first time. What a gift she has been to me. Emma has challenged me in ways that no one else can, she has touched my heart in places only she can, and she has brought me to tears more times than I can count with her own tears, sweet words, or prayers. She is feisty, fun, loving, ornery, compassionate, funny, sweet, and incredibly tenderhearted. She loves all things 'animal' and especially loves baby animals. Littlest Pet Shop toys must have been created with Emma in mind...she LOVES them! :) Emma is a little prayer warrior. She makes me very proud!

Today started with Upward basketball games followed by our traditional Chocolate Chip Pancake breakfast then presents. This afternoon we went ice-skating (no, I didn't skate - I sat at the window holding the baby and watched though:) which is one of Emma's very favorite things to do! In fact, Nona & Poppy gave her 8 weeks of ice-skating lessons for her birthday present! Emma's friend MacKenzie went ice-skating with us and is spending the night tonight. They are currently watching a movie before bed. It's been a fun day of celebrating Emma by doing the things she loves to do!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, EMMA GRACE! You make your mama's heart happy. I love you to pieces!!!

Sophia Bliss Curry

Baby Sophia has arrived! Sophia Bliss was born into her Daddy's hands at 6:51pm on Saturday, January 21st 2012 surrounded by loved ones!

Labor started at 2:16am and was off and on all day.
I had my usual 'labor crowd' here at the house all day entertaining me, taking care of me, and encouraging me...I am so blessed to have so many people that love me and want to be a part of my children's lives...starting the moment they are born. :)

Late in the afternoon (maybe 4:30ish?) my contractions gained momentum and got closer together and by 6ish I was ready to be done. I only had about 5 total pushing contractions before Sophia was delivered - AWESOME!

She weighed 6'7 and was 18 3/4 inches long. Almost 2 lbs less than Maggie! She seems so tiny to me. Since Saturday we have been showered with gifts, meals, visits, and encouragement from many friends and family. I just can't say enough about how blessed I am to have such an amazing family as well as so many wonderful friends who truly live out Christ's love by caring for those around them...namely me. None of my children should ever be able to question whether or not they are loved. :)

What a great week it has been loving on our new sweet baby girl. And so far she is so easy. Sophia is already sleeping for 3-4 hour stretches at night in her bassinet and allowing me to rest well. Her siblings adore her! Maggie loves her although she has seemed to be a little ticked at Brett & I...today has been a little bit better so maybe she's getting over it. :) We are just so excited about God's plans for our family!

In other news...on Monday we bought our very first Suburban! I say first because I seriously doubt it will be our last. :) It is currently having new tires installed and being inspected...we are hoping to be able to pick it up sometime this weekend. Exciting!

I've been meaning to post this blog all week and just couldn't seem to put sweet Sophie down long enough to come down to my computer. This morning I realized that it had to be done today because tomorrow is Emma's 8th Birthday and I will want to post all about her! So stay tuned for more tomorrow!!!

P.S. - Sorry for the weird layout...I am still learning all the ins and outs of blogging...well, actually working a computer in general. I'm not very tech savvy. :)

More babies...

I heard this morning that the Duggars are expecting baby #20. I know that many people are probably criticizing them and calling them irresponsible, but I applaud them. They have taken a position on many issues (birth control, finances, child-rearing, modesty, etc...) that is totally against the grain of this nation. They have decided that they are more concerned with God's opinion of their family than the world's opinion. Galatians 1:10 says "Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ." Galatians 1:10 I believe that God approves of the Duggar's decisions to allow Him control of their family size. I AM NOT saying that God has called every family to be so large, but I DO believe that God wants us to allow Him to be a huge part of all of our decisions (huge as in His commands should be the deciding factor). The Duggars feel that God has very clearly called them to allow Him to decide when it's time for another baby. Who are we to speak against that?

As to the part about the Duggars being irresponsible....I would challenge anyone who thinks that they are irresponsible to find a family with children who are more respectful, disciplined, loving, RESPONSIBLE, and an asset to their family, community, and society as a whole. They have their finances in order (debt-free), their home runs smoothly, and I can only imagine what a joy they are to be around. The Duggars have chosen to live a life in the public eye and I know that they fully expect that many people will not agree with their stance on most issues, but that doesn't make it right for us to criticize.

Those are my thoughts...take them or leave them. I'm not trying cause an argument or start some controversial conversation, but I couldn't keep from sharing my thoughts on the topic (I guess it's something that I feel pretty strongly about). :)

This one is personal...

I've been spiritually empty and dry for a while now (a few months at least). And I have felt very trapped in this desert. It started due to circumstances and I've stayed as a result of my stubborn pride (pride is so ugly). I haven't spent adequate time in the Word because it has been so frustrating (Isaiah 59:2 "But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear."). But last night Brett was reading his Bible before we started our movie so I picked mine up as well. It fell open to Psalms so I turned to Psalm 51 (I guess partly because it's familiar, but mostly because God had a personal word for me). Verses 10-12 quickly became the cry of my heart. Psalm 51:10-12 "Create in me a clean heart, O God. And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit." Psalm 51:10-12 My heart and mind began to sing Keith Green's song "Create in me a Clean Heart" (or in the words of some - "create in me a glee-hah":). I felt somewhat renewed...and exhausted. This morning I opened the Word to Psalm 118. Once again God had a personal word just for me in verse 5. Psalm 118:5 "I called on the Lord in distress; the Lord answered me and set me in a broad place." Psalm 118:5 Broad? What? That probably would not have spoken to me in the past (in fact I had previously underlined the verses before and after it, but had skipped underlining verse 5). But a "broad place"? This morning a "broad place" sounded liberating, freeing! I've felt trapped in a bad place, stuck where I don't want to be, unable to escape this desert. A "broad place" sounds fresh & cool. I'm not sure if this means that I've left the desert completely (I'm guessing not quite yet), but it gave me a breath of fresh air...a cool drink when I thought I might not make it another step without one. It gave me a glimmer of hope. And hope is addictive. I'm pretty sure that I'll be reading and seeking more and begging God for another word for me...from Him. Cause I need it...daily.

It's been a while.

It's been a while since I've posted. I meant to post after finding out baby's gender - A GIRL!!!, but forgot. We did post the video on facebook though.

Finding out it was a girl was shocking (I was so sure it was a boy this time - but I did ask the midwife again to be sure and she said it was VERY obvious that it's a girl:), but still exciting! I really didn't care either way and I think it will be so fun that this baby & Maggie will be so close in age and both girls - I hope they are best friends! But there were a few tears. Evelyn cried for about 30 seconds, Emma for about 5 minutes, but Nathan was the one who broke my heart. He was trying so hard to be excited and ok with it, but he was fighting tears. Later that day I asked if he would still like to share his room with the baby (he REALLY doesn't like having his own room and was so looking forward to sharing with the baby) and he said "I can? Really?". :) His room is decorated with KC Chiefs stuff so I told him we could just have a pink Chiefs bedskirt made for the crib and he thought that was REALLY cool! When he decides he is done sharing a room with a girl (I actually think it will be the toddler phase that gets to him first:) we will move her in with Molly & Maggie and he'll have his own space again. Which seems only fair to me considering the fact that he is about to have 5 sisters!!!

We had a little more trouble coming up with a name this time around. We had agreed on a boy name, but never could decide on a girl name (another reason I was so sure it was a boy). After a couple weeks and lots of "no, nope, NO, and I don't think I love it"s we finally decided on Sophia Bliss. We LOVE it! Sophia means wisdom and I think it fits so well with our other 5 names (as well as their meanings). The kids are already calling her Sophie...so sweet.

Everything else looks great as well! Sophia is growing and healthy (and very wiggly) and this pregnancy is more comfortable than the last couple which is very nice since I'm still carrying Maggie quite a bit (she really likes to be held). I am measuring right where I should be (24 1/2 weeks) but I feel smaller this time and that could be because I'm carrying this baby lower than my others. Anyway, I'm very thankful that there have been no complications this time around and I am so looking forward to meeting our sweet Sophia sometime in January or February!

Also, last Sunday Maggie turned 1!!! How on earth?!?! That's just crazy! She is taking steps, but still crawling for the most part. She isn't really saying many words...just Mama & Dada...but with so many people anticipating and catering to her every need and whim (yes, it's going to be a problem when Sophia arrives:) I'm sure she doesn't really see any reason to start vocalizing her needs quite yet. Maggie is a joy and the cause for many smiles and much laughter in our home! Her smile is precious and contagious. She now has 7 teeth and has lost some of her chunkiness, but is still pretty round for a Curry baby. What a loved little lady Miss Maggie is already. I can't wait to see all that God has in store for her future...but don't grow up too fast sweet baby girl...

Life is staying very busy for us. Brett is crazy busy with our growing business - a HUGE blessing - but also hard with all the hours he is having to work! The next couple of weeks are supposed to be a bit slower for him...we'll see. We had our fall break from school last week while our dear friends who moved to Chicago in July were here visiting. What a fun time we had!!! There were moments of chaos with 8 kids in the house (11 a couple times when we had extra friends over!), but it was a blast to have them here and I so hope we're able to do it again. :) So it was back to school for us this week and it's been a tough one...maybe not so much for the kids, but I am having trouble finding motivation. But we survived the week and completed Week 12 of school today! YAY! Now I am really looking forward to this weekend!!! Life Group tonight then relaxing, errands, & family time tomorrow, and Maggie's Birthday party on Sunday!

Well, that's all I can think of for now. I'll try to remember to post some pics and details after Maggie's party. :) Hope you are all doing well and enjoying the cooler temperatures. Happy Fall!!!

And Baby is....

You'll find out tomorrow...hopefully. :) I can just see this little one deciding to be stubborn and hide his/her...uh...parts. You can watch for a facebook video with the exciting announcement to be posted late tomorrow afternoon. If you don't have a facebook and want to hear the news tomorrow then send me an email/text and I'll be sure to let you know. :)

The kids are REALLY hoping for a boy. I have told them that it is very possible that it's a girl and if it is then it's because God knows another girl is what is right for our family. Nathan's response to that was: "We do not need another girl. Surely God knows that." :) Hopefully there are no tears if it's pink confetti that comes bursting out of the balloons tomorrow. I am 100% thrilled with boy or girl - I'm just praying for God's best and I know that is what it will be! :)

So...that's it til tomorrow.....