Marshalls Abroad

Life

HELLO AGAIN!!!


Oh my, it’s been a long break from my computer and phone, hasn’t it … but for such good reason!


I’m 25 weeks pregnant with our fourth baby, praise God!! We are so excited about our sweet little GIRL!

The lovely hormones have messed with my vision this pregnancy so I needed to just stay off of my phone and computer completely for quite a while. But as God always does, He uses everything – even things that scare us – for our good. I’ve so enjoyed the break (over 5 months of almost no screens !) and have been reminded of an important lesson. My smart phone absolutely has its benefits, but more often than not, it’s a distraction from what really matters. Not picking up my phone regularly (some days not at all!) feels so much more normal than checking it ten times a day. It’s far better for my kids and my husband and it’s really quite amazing how much more time there is in the day when it isn’t a distraction!



The kids have grown so much over the past months. Gracie girl turned 3, finished her first season of ballet lessons, planted her first sunflower seeds and excitedly watched them grow over the summer. Our garden area is still mostly unfinished but we’ve all so enjoyed the part that is done. The kids especially love digging in the sand (our natural soil here), covering themselves in it from head to toe and then running through the sprinklers. Evvvery day.



John Shea turns 5 next week (ahhhhhh my baby!!) and is already stepping into his role of big brother to two wild little sisters, soon to be three. He often shrugs his shoulders in frustration and tells me, “Ugh! They’re not listening to me!” He somehow knew our baby is a girl even when Cam and I thought for sure we were having a boy. Many mornings I’d wake up to another of his hilarious drawings of me in robot form with green eyes and “baby girl laughing in your belly.” I have a whole stack of them and they crack me up.


Behind the scenes helping me taste test and photograph one of the last recipes for my cookbook 🙂 These are šape – bear claw cookies.



Georgia bear started walking and now she is running and scraping her chubby knees. She is such a joyful little girl. She gets excited about anything and everything, loves to clap, LOVES to dance – even finding a good beat when I have classical on for the kids in the morning, and eats like you would not believe. We call her “bear cub” – she gives the best bear hugs and slobbery kisses. I asked her if she’s ready to not be the baby anymore and she stuck out her bottom lip in a pout and dramatically shook her head back and forth. Ha!


Cam picked up all the slack on his own working on our renovations while I was sick. He has transformed this piece of land from a pine forest / dumping area to a beautiful place we all love spending time in. We just finished wainscoting our front entry and we’re about to start on our bonus room and kitchen – yay! It’s amazing to watch him figure things out for the first time and use different sides of his very creative mind. I’ll be posting some of our ongoing and finished projects next.

Anyways, there’s much more but this has already become a novel, so if you’ve made it this far, thank you! I hope you’ve all been doing so well!!


Comments

  1. Anne says

    Welcome back! I was wondering where you had gone and am so happy for you! I hope you are feeling much better and that fhs rest of your pregnancy is smooth. Congratulations!

    • Amanda says

      Thank you, Anne!! Oh me too. I’m finally feeling good but I hear that’s how it goes with the fourth, ha! Hope you’ve been doing so well too!!

  3. Elena says

    First of all, congrats on baby #4!! I’m expecting our third boy in about 3 weeks! Also, I’ve missed your beautiful posts. So glad to hear you’re feeling better!

    • Amanda says

      YAY congrats Lena!!! I can’t wait to see photos on him — getting back on insta is my next order of business 😉

  4. Gabriella says

    Congratulations, dear Amanda! What joyful news to read on this morning!! So glad you are a little better. I’ve missed your posts! x

    • Amanda says

      Aw it’s so great to hear from you my friend!! How is everything?! Thank you for still reading!

  5. Cynthia says

    Congratulations and so glad to hear you are doing well now! I certainly wondered and had you in my thoughts these past few months, so I’m very happy and relieved to see a post from you 🙂 Sounds like unplugging was a great idea, though.

    • Amanda says

      Thank you so much for thinking of us. Oh unplugging has been AMAZING. I even considered never coming back, but I’m not there yet! This is such a fun and creative outlet and connecting with wonderful people like you makes it worth it!

  6. H says

    Oh, congrats!! We have an oldest boy and just had our third girl in June. It’s a super fun birth order and I know your kids will love their new sister as much as ours have loved our little Hope.

    I also completely agree about the phones! My husband and I did a year without social media and it was life changing. We joked that we should just give up the internet but… we probably really should give up the internet.

    • Amanda says

      Oh wow! Congrats!! I’m so glad to hear you guys love that birth order — we thought FOR SURE this baby was a boy but now that we know we are so so excited about three little girls and a big older brother to round them all up! That’s amazing you went a year. I’ll be honest, I have put off coming back online because it’s SO great breaking from it – I hardly use my phone as it is but even still I learned how addicted I can become to it!

  7. Jenna says

    Congratulations Amanda! That is very exciting news and I am relieved to hear that you have wonderful news, I was worried something was wrong. That must have been a scare for you and I’m so glad that you’re feeling better. I read your blog over breakfast when I have time to myself before everyone wakes up and I have been checking faithfully while you were away. So, welcome back, I look forward to seeing all of your updates and recipes and adventures.

    • Amanda says

      Thank you so much Jenna. Haha yes Cam could tell you the vision issues have freaked me out but as my hormones leveled it’s gotten so much better. Thank you for still reading and being here!!!!

  8. brittany says

    ahhhh yayayayay i have been waiting for this post!!!!!! no but really. i was about to email you again. haha!!! i hope you are feeling soo much better and omg that photo of baby girl!!!! so amazing. your home looks heavenly and your family is the cutest and you’re the best. CONGRATULATIONS! love you, friend!

    • Amanda says

      Hahaha love you B!!! I’m excited to go catch up on all your beautiful posts! Hope you are feeling so good this pregnancy!!

  9. Morgan says

    Congratulations! I have been missing your beautiful posts! So glad you are feeling better now!

  10. Ryan says

    Congrats on baby #4 and welcome back, Amanda! Since before John Shea, I have followed your adventures and enjoyed nearly every recipe. My children are all born within days or weeks of yours so it has been fun watching your little ones grow. I look forward to all you have to share in the coming days/weeks/months!

  11. Sarah Willett says

    So excited to see another post from you! And congratulations!! Really glad your vision issues have straightened out because wow…so terrifying. Can’t wait to read more about your home updates and your cookbook!!

  12. Shannon says

    So excited to see your blog pop up on my feed again! Congratulations on your new little one on the way! Loved reading your update!

  15. Mary Grace says

    It was such a lovely surprise to see your post after awhile “away,” but I’m so glad you’re feeling better! It sounds like this time refreshed your soul. God is good! Love to you and your sweet family <3

  17. Rebecca says

    Congratulations to you and your family! You have been missed greatly! Hope you are feeling well and can enjoy this time with your growing brood 🙂
    So happy to have you “back!”
    Much love, Rebecca

  18. Amanda says

    So incredibly happy for you all! Sending you a big hug! And a cookbook too?!? I cannot wait!!

  19. Emilystone says

    Amanda, this has me so excited for you!!! Hooray for baby #4! We’re expecting our FIRST at the end of next month (so so crazy), and we’re having a girl, too. I was kinda hoping for a Germany birth (I’ve heard such great things about birthing in Germany), but we just PCS-ed to Nola and getting settled there! It had me think of you with getting to birth in 3 different countries and I think that’s so fun! Congratulations, friend!

  21. Kristin Hein says

    I periodically checked here and on Instagram wondering if there is any hint of where you had gone! So glad you are ok and happily pregnant with another little sweetheart. I also suffered occular migraines when pregnant. The first one scared me to death but I got familiar with them and the fear subsided. Thankfully, they stopped after pregnancy!
    Praying your final days are healthy and joyful! Best Wishes! Kristin

  22. Cortnie Muscari says

    A GIRL!!! So happy for you all!! I’m glad that you were able to take such a great (and needed) break, but also glad to catch up;) Tell Cam he’s doing AMAZING on that house!! Hope you are feeling well, friend!

  25. Megan C says

    So glad you’re back, but even more excited for you to welcome your 4th little one soon!! Love the beautiful transformations of your home and can’t wait for the cookbook. LannaBear and I will be taste testers if you need them 🙂

  27. Lanna says

    WELCOME BACK TO THE LAND OF THE LIVING!!!! So so happy to see this pics but SO happy you were able to take a break from the screens. I love you so much friend and so excited for baby #4!!! And JS gets to be the only boy with daddy. Love it! He’s such a good big brother.
    xoxoxoxo,
    Lanneybear

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