Happy 1st Birthday Baby Girl!!!

WARNING: Long post, but hopefully it is something she will cherish in years to come!

How can it be a year has passed since this day of your bold arrival?! It seems just like yesterday that I was pregnant, walking around 4cm dilated for weeks, and wondering if you were going to come out on your own, or were we going to have to make you. And then, you did....and boy did you ever! You decided to make your grand entrance into the world and and into my heart forevermore! At 12:30PM you broke my water while I was in my classroom causing me to panic because of the mess it made and the fear of not being able to get to the hospital in time. Thanks to Mema and campus security guards/golf cart, we made it to the hospital with plenty of time to spare. However, you made my labor so easy until the last hour that I didn't have time to get any pain meds. And then, all of a sudden (although the last 15 min. seemed like eternity), you were here...all 6lbs 2 oz...you were the prettiest doll I had ever seen! This year of watching you grow and change has been amazing...thank you for how you have blessed our lives!

You finally have teeth! We call you our little jack-o-lantern because you only have 2 teeth, one on the top and one on the bottom. But boy to you know how to use them...as your brother says..."you can tear some food out the frame"

You are so curious and getting very courageous! You can climb from the bottom step to the top of the playroom steps without stopping and get so very proud of yourself for your accomplishments. Although you are not walking yet, I am expecting it any day (although...don't rush...mommy is in no hurry).

You have quite a personality these days and love to make us laugh! You are also becoming very "chatty" and make me wonder if you are going to talk more than your brother. You know lots of words and it seems like each day you pop out a new one. Some you are saying now:

-fav is "now" (when you get finished doing something or when something is complete)

-your fav character is Mickey ("K") and you love to watch him on TV, look at pics, and love on your stuffed ones.

-Granda

-bread

-banana "nana"

-"bubbie" for brother

-"bye-bye" & "go bye-bye"

-apple

-cracker

-love u

-"errio" for Cherrio

-"hey" & "hey there" (in the cutest southern accent...wonder where you get that?)

-"pa" for Pop

-girl

-baby

-mama

-dada

It is funny how most of them deal with food...since you LOVE to eat! I haven't found much of anything you don't like and you are a really good eater with everything, but these days your fav seems to be spaghetti and your yogurt melts. These make you say "nmm, nmm" with each bite.

Your favorite person is still your brother...you love to play with him and he makes you laugh the hardest. You are also still a mommy's girl, which I love (except when mema is around...then you choose her most of the time). You love to play with a phone and "talk" and your other fav toys are your tea set and push car (and anything your brother is playing)

You still can't stand your bows and shoes...I still have to re-dress you anytime we go anywhere because you always can't off your shoes and pull out your bows. Your hair is growing faster now and it seems it may get some curls, although it can be unruly at times.

You are such a gentle, self soothing, and self-entertaining little girl. You enjoy the simplest of things. You still are an AWESOME sleeper (although I wish I could get you to sleep in a little later). You still LOVE your crib and love to just lay in there for a while when you wake and play with your blankie or few toys. You have decided to turn your mattress into a trampoline at times though which has resulted in us moving your crib down to the lowest level.

Your thumb and rabbit blankie are still very dear to you. You must have them to sleep or when you are upset (both of them...not just one). You love to rub the rabbit's ears while you suck your thumb. You know the difference between the real one and the backup (which is identical). Mommy is getting nervous about the thumb sucking since you have caused a dry rash on your finger because of it and even your nail is becoming a little indented. But it brings you much joy, so how could I possibly think about taking it away right now?

You love your babies too. Just the other day, I caught you trying to feed your doll a Cherrio. It is so precious to watch you with your babies.

You don't like grass or anything too fuzzy! And you are still very head strong and don't mind letting us know when you don't want something or think you can "tell us" what you want to do all the time. When we take you from something that you want (even though you can't have it), you have started to swat at us and throw a fit. We have got to work on this so it doesn't become a problem later on.

You love music and dancing...anytime you hear it, you start to "move". There is even one children's songs CD in our car that if you are upset, all I have to do is turn it on, and you become silent. You like to rock too...so I am excited that you are getting a mini rocker for your birthday.

We are working on getting rid of your bottle, but you like it a little more than your brother.

You are such a joy in our life and feel it with sugar, spice, and everything nice! I thank God daily for you...my doll!

Happy 1st Birthday...may the next year be as fun as the first! LOVE YOU!

What lies ahead?

Now that I have reflected on the past year, I think about the next year ahead...2010...and although I am excited for a New Year, I am apprehensive of some major changes, some we know about and some we probably don't. The road last year was not easy to travel, but we still took the climb and were able to see God's blessings. As the new year is here, I am not making any resolutions (eat better, lose weight, etc.) Instead, I am focusing on some personal goals and goals as a family. I begin to think about my goals and am excited about some time for K and I to sit down without distractions in the near future to look at our goals together. It is with this intention that we will have a better vision as to what lies ahead of us this new year and will be stronger in reaching our goals. It is my prayer that God will lead us, guide us, and shelter us through this next year! Happy New Year to you and may God bless you this year!

Reflections

As the New Year is here, I reflect on God's goodness of 2009. We were blessed with so much!

• The new year began with the birth of my healthy precious baby girl
• God has provided for us financially...even though it wasn't easy we survived...my lack of pay for 6 wks while I was on maternity leave, K's changing of jobs, and more financial trials
• great health for entire family
• my job which I LOVE is thriving even though we face economic hard times and budget cuts
• were able to spend quality family time together at the beach on 2 occasions, one with extended family
• celebrated CR's turning 4 by making a dream come true for him...visiting Mickey's boat and house
• answered prayers for family members and their health
• being led to join a new church were God is working in our lives
• K and I being more aware of our need to grow in our relationship together and with God
• This year, although I am thankful for all the above, I am most thankful for our wonderful family that does so much for us and for the AWESOME friends we have....our lives are richer because we have you! You will never know how much you bless our lives and I don't know what we would do without our family and friends!

Christmas....Come and Gone

I know you have heard it said time and time again "it is hard to believe that Christmas has come and gone", but this year with two kids, I REALLY feel this way. We enjoyed our time together celebrating and making memories to last forever!

*I always post pictures backwards...you would think I would have the hang of it by now...sorry for the random order.

The mess from our real tree...not to mention that we all have been sick since it has been up. I thought I was going to cry when I was on my hands and knees for 2 hrs. cleaning up this mess

It was a pretty tree though, and we had so much fun going to cut it down, but I am afraid it will not happen again. No, these are not all our gifts...they are all of our gifts from extended family to each other

Baby C on Christmas morning opening her presents from Santa

One of CR's most exciting gifts...thanks Nana and Pop

and his other...thanks Mema and Granda

Baby C got into the gift opening more than I expected. It was so fun to watch her get excited about it all.

and climb on her boxes

and open gifts...this was her fav wrapping...it had "K" on it, as she calls him (Mickey)

It was fun having CR around in the kitchen for our baking day too (well he stayed around for some of it). He was so excited to help and did a really good job.

My kiddos nestled in mommy and daddy's bed in the morning after getting up watching cartoons and eating Cheerios.

Baby C enjoyed Christmasville too, even though we froze!

CR wore this same outfit (minus the girly shirt) when he was 14 months old...she is only 11 months...amazing at the difference in size of them. She is going to catch up with her "bubbie" soon if CR doesn't start putting some meat on those bones.

Reading about Santa's coming

CR and his BFF's at Christmasville

Great pics!

Thanks to a former college roommate, I was able to knock out several birds with one stone the weekend before last...Christmas pics, baby C 9 month pics, and cousin pics for K's mom for Christmas (per her request...hence the TN clothes in some...although I refuse to post many of those). Anyways...thanks Tyler...they are GREAT! It was great to catch up with you too...we have got to get together more often!

*These are not all of them...of the 164...these are just a few...

Only 2 months away!!

How can it be that we are only 2 months (well less than that now) before baby C isn't a baby anymore?! She is growing and changing so much these days.

-Eating is a fave...but you still have NO teeth...we are singing "all we want for Christmas is baby C's 2 front teeth". You love to feed yourself and can pick up the smallest pieces of food and get it into your mouth...and well sometimes not food too (we have to be on the lookout)

-You still love to do your funny face (above pic)

-Mommy is still your favorite person, yet you LOVE Daddy, bubbie, Mema, Granda, Pop, Nana, and Grammie. You love to give kisses to us!

-Staying at Mema's and Granda's is already becoming a fun thing for you...so much that you sometimes don't want to leave...maybe all the popsicles and such factor into this

-Discovering how to talk is neat for you...I think you are going to be a talker too...you can say "hey", Mama, dada, buba, & trying more and more every day

-Getting into bathrooms is so fun for you...you love to try to sneak into there and try to get to the toliet...does this mean that you are going to potty train easily?

-Baby food is a thing of the past...you throw your arms up and make a ugly face when you are tried to make eat it...although I can't say I blame you

-You can't stand shoes and have tried to leave them behind several places.

-Although you seem to be very independent and head strong, you have such a sweet gentle spirit too...I LOVE YOU SWEET GIRL!

Sights of Christmas

Getting ready for Christmas is in full force in our house...below are some our latest doings to get ready for our favorite time of the year. I think after 3 trees and inside and outside decorations, we are done. Now if only I were finished shopping...I hope to be soon so I can enjoy Christmas without the hustle and bustle.

CR all tuckered out from the decorating...he had such a good time helping this year and did a great job
Baby C even liked to help...especially the lights...can't say she was as much a good helper as CR

Our 12 ft live tree...I am so excited to have a live tree again (a staple in our house growing up) but haven't had one since we have been married...K agreed this year...see our adventure below

Baby C had a great time searching for the tree but by this point she was D-O-N-E...it was beyond nap time

CR could have stayed out here with his favorite dog all day. Every time we saw a tree he always found a reason to keep looking

The fam and our tree

Here it comes down...we had to do some modifications of course to get it in the house, but not much

It smells SO good...so nice to have that real smell again

CR and his buddy

CR had to take a time out in "his deer stand"...really it is his and Granda's (he even has a chair in it he brought on his last hunting trip)

The boys &Max looking for the perfect tree

See I told you she liked it...really she talked and squealed at Max and the woods the entire time til the end

Okay...so not Christmas...but had to include...we had a great Thanksgiving too. We have SO much to be Thankful for. Baby C enjoyed it too...she ate, and ate, and ate...above she is finally done...and ready to relax!

CR (and this other girl) was asked to help be Santa's helper at the grand opening of Santa's Village at Bass Pro a few weeks ago. He thought it was awesome (and well so did I). He got to be the first to meet Santa and sit with him.

Bass Pro tree...yeah mine doesn't look this good...they must have something good to help them decorate it

Santa arrives at Bass Pro in nothing other than...a Bass boat

Spotting Santa