TIFFANY SESTON...I NEED YOUR HELP

Don't you love my dramatic plea. Tiffany redid my boring old blog before I moved and made it the prettiness that it is now and while she was at it she added a bunch of the blogs I read to my blogroll at the bottom of my blog. Here's the thing. I can't figure out how to add anymore...for example...the parson's blog. love it. read it. can't stinkin seem to get it to the bottom of my page. so, how do you do it...kirra, tif, any body else that is smarter than me.
ps. i have tried various things like...adding it but then it just shows up at my dashboard and not on my actual blog. i don't get it.
pss. if anyone has a magical formula that makes all the ridiculously cute things at anthropologie cheaper, i would love that as well. thank you.

Oaks and Blessings

I am more than excited to be here in California meeting my new nephew, Oaks Ward Letterman. I am thankful that God has blessed our family with another beautiful gift. I am overly proud of my sister, who had an extrememly hard labor and was a champion through it all. I am praying that Oaks will be able to join his little family who is waiting here for him to be able to come home (he has a high bili count right now)! I am blessed that my kind and amazing husband let me come out here without my kids so that I can focus my attention on being a help here and that my awesome mother-in-law is lovingly watching my boys for me while Brandon works. I am overjoyed that my dad is able to be home from his treatment center in Reno for the whole weekend and that he is passionate about the treatment and positive and looks great! I love that my brother is here with us. I am missing my three boys that aren't. I am rejoicing in the fact that God is sovereign and continues to bless us in many ways.

Ps. I am really bummed that I don't have a picture to post of Oaks. He is too cute for words so hopefully tonight I will get ahold of a camera and get some pics on here.

One.

Yesterday marked a milestone. Our little Baby Mac, as he has come to be known, turned one. He continues to steal our hearts each day as his sweet little personality shows itself more. He still is the happiest baby I know and he loves his mommy dearly. I say that because Taeden is definitely going through a "I am obsessed with daddy" stage and it makes me pretty happy that Macalan prefers me, for now. Taeden still loves his brother so much, but I am gonna be honest...sharing is becoming an issue...oh, the joys!!! :) Mac is content crawling for now and I am soooo ok with that and enjoys chasing after his big brother. I am thankful that the Lord has blessed Mac with great health this year, now more turning yellow for him, which means his blood condition is staying under control. We are so grateful!
We can't imagine a life without our sweet smiley little guy and can't wait to see how he grows and changes during this coming year!
On another note, I am going to become an auntie again TODAY!!! My sister was induced this morning and I am waiting by the phone for updates. I fly out to California on Friday, and though I am bummed I am not going to be able to witness little Oaks making his entrance, I am thrilled to be able to be there for the first week of his life to help my sister out a bit!
Been trying to upload pics , but for some reason the computer won't let me...bummer!! I had some cute ones of Mac, but I will try again later!

Alive and Well

Just a note to say:

I am here (here being my new home..Illinois).

I am alive.

I am thankful for family here.

But miss my family horribly.

My dad may be getting treatment in Reno- a non-conventional one. they are encouraged. We remain hopeful.

I am daily trying to remember that God is in control of my life and I am not!

Brandon has started his new job. He leaves early, but is home early and once he is home, he is HOME and not running off to soccer games, meetings and activites. I love that!

Brandon's parents have been beyond gracious by letting us take over their home.

I love the weather here. 70 degrees is fine with me. You'll have to check back with me in the winter on that one.

Did I mention I miss my mom and dad????

Going home in Oct...only a few weeks away!! I can't wait.

We miss our friends! and Wolf Creek. Badly!

And now I am realizing that this post is getting much longer than I intended. Opps.

And I have no pictures to post. Sorry! :)

August in Pictures...

Shower for my sister and baby boy Oaks!!! Can't wait to see what he looks like in a few weeks!!!

We all grew up together and I love them all!!

At my cousins wedding

My parents dancing the night away!

Me and my sister doing my dad's famous dance move with him...both thumbs in the air :)

me and my "little" brother

me, my sis, and our oregon cousins, megan and mallary..don't get to see them often enough!

me and my daddy!

brunch at our place before the wedding

I am not sure what we were doing, but we were laughing pretty hard!

Taeden and my parents new dog..labordoodle Bailey! He is huge and the best puppy ever!

papa and taeden hangin in the hot tub

taeden loves being thrown in the air by johhny

we are going to miss our friends mandy

and johnny soo much!!!

The Big Move...

Hasn't happened yet, but our last days in California our slipping away from us quickly. I have had a hard week this week because of everything going on. I think I have cried everyday (my poor husband!). Things with my dad did not go as we had wished in Chicago. He went out to Chicago this week to try to become a part of a clinical trial there but was not accepted. It is so hard for me (and him and my family) that it has been so hard to find something out there to try and fight this cancer! He is willing to try anything, but because his cancer is so extremely rare, there is just not much out there for him. They are pushing ahead onto the next thing (possibly in either Alabama, UCLA or up in Seattle). We know that God is in control and I think He just wants our complete trust...this is so hard, but a good lesson that we all need to learn!

I have also just been down thinking about leaving our home here in Ca and all our friends. We have had to start saying some goodbyes already...and I am not liking it:) I know how hard it is to make great friendships and I am so sad to be moving so far away from so many friends and loved ones here! You can definitely pray for me! I am trying hard to have a good attitude and I know that God has a plan for our lives in Chicago.

We leave on Tuesday.... :(

Pictures of our Family Vacay in Newport

The boys enjoyed playing together lots in Newport

Me and my baby boy

Can't really get enough of that face!

Taeden, Daddy and Mac wrestling...boys will be boys!

Attempted family shot

My parents were able to join us in Newport for two days

Taeden LOVES swimming and is actually really good at taking breaths now all on his own...with no lessons!

My grandparents live a few miles away from Newport so they were able to come spend the day with us

A new park that Taeden enjoyed exploring

Love this pic of my dad and baby mac