Bountiful Blessings

My Funny Valentines

2012-02-14T20:21:00.005-06:00

Happy Valentine's Day from our family to yours! My sweet little Valentines were ready to go to therapy this morning! Thanks to my new friend Laura for the ADORABLE shirts! We have a bartering thing going...she's making some adorable shirts for the girls & I'm helping her decorate her new house!

Georgia showing her domestic side (in her adorable apron that Mimi made her)...
Ivy Jane taking care of her babies...
They LOVE to get in this toy basket, in particular. They were laughing & having THE BEST time!
I had to take this picture of sweet Georgia Claire sound asleep in bed with her assortment of babies...
Shelby took this picture of Ivy Jane sitting in Georgia's new bathtub baby's bathtub...hahaha!
Georgia displaying her "tato head" creation complete with an arm, an ear & a nose in one side and a tongue on the other side!
My sweet Valentines reading "Richard Scarry" together...LOVE THESE THREE!
Thank you, Lord for these precious three!

Daddy/Daughter Valentine's Banquet

2012-02-10T22:00:00.003-06:00

In my book, there is not a lot sweeter than a little girl who LOVES her Daddy! Georgia Claire & her daddy had a date tonight. Our church hosted a Daddy/Daughter Valentine's Banquet tonight, and Shelby & Georgia attended. Although she may have been a little bit too young, we thought it would be a good excuse for a one-on-one date for both of them. I found her a "fancy dress" on sale at Dillard's today & she was so excited she wanted to put it on as soon as we got home from MDO. When her daddy came home she ran to the door to meet him and said, "I put on a fancy dwess & you put on your clothes & we going to eat supper but Ibee Jane & Momma are staying here! OK, Daddy?!"

She doesn't nap well at MDO, so normally on Mondays & Fridays she's in bed about 7:30. At 5:30 she was already laying her head on our bed...

Shelby called me from the car & said she was snoring on the way! A 20 minute nap & she was better!

This is her "pose"--notice her hands!
Happy girl & happy Daddy!
I love these two so much!
A "BIG KISS", as Georgia Claire says...
They ended up leaving the banquet a little early & Shelby took her to Toys R Us. She picked out a "bathtime baby" for herself and a baby with a paci for Ivy Jane!

She is a precious little girl who loves her Daddy & I'm afraid she is wrapped around his little finger! I hope she always knows how special she is to both of us, but ESPECIALLY her Daddy!

18 Months

2012-02-06T22:38:00.002-06:00

Ivy Jane...25.5 pounds...hilarious, strong-willed, smart, happy...just to name a few! As of February 5th, she is 18 months old-wow! Georgia takes care of her little sister, and Ivy Jane lets her. They have the cutest relationship. She is talking up a storm, putting words together like "Hold you" and "Bye bye Daddy" and "I yuv u". She pretty much says anything she wants, and it is very clear! The funniest thing that she does right now is say "Uh-uh" when she really means "Yes!" (Shelby says she's already a typical female...no means yes!) If we ask her if she wants to do something and she really does, she'll say, "Uh-uh" and bounce up and down!

Just some sweet pictures of her the last few days...

Sleepy girl in her pj's wanting to read books early in the morning...

Her favorite thing to do is play peek-a-boo in our curtains...
This past Sunday she climbed up in this chair with Goodnight Moon and sat there until we were all ready to go to church!
We love you, Ivy Jane! You are such a fun and loving addition to our family! I cannot believe you are 18 months old...

Sweet Pumpkin

2012-02-06T21:36:00.004-06:00

Georgia Claire & I had a date tonight! After supper she and I went to Target & got Princess & Minnie Mouse panties & M&M's, along with a few other things. I decided it might be an even better idea to go ahead and buy the panties. I wish I had a video of her face when we found the panties at Target! She opened her mouth, gasped, and said, "Pwincess ones AND Mickey (actually Minnie) Mouse ones!" The rest of the time she held on tightly to them. After we got those we headed over to get a bag of M&M's for a special treat when she is tries. She wanted to get out of the shopping cart & walk. We got lots of looks as she was walking several steps behind me, insisting on carrying both packs of panties AND the bag of "M's", as she calls them. She even said loudly, "Momma, I have my Pwincess panties and my Mickey Mouse ones and my M's!!!" We got in the car & I asked her if she wanted to get ice cream and in this little whisper said, "Yessss." So, we headed to the ice cream shop...

She REALLY enjoyed her "chocwate ice cweam". Here are some of the things she told me while we were sitting there-"I did it!" when she ate a spoonful of ice cream and when I ate some she said, "YAY! Give me high five!" Then she said, "I so happy eating my ice cweam!" Then, the sweetest, "It's yummy BB, thank you! Give me a big hug & a big kiss!" She has been an absolute angel the last few days. Last night she was loving on Shelby and she said, "I yub you sweet pumpkin!" Shelby calls her a "sweet pumpkin" a lot...I guess she has picked up on it!

This Friday night Shelby and Georgia have a date at the "Daddy Daughter Valentine Banquet" that our church is hosting. I can't wait to hear how the "sweet pumpkins" enjoy their night out together!

A BIG Sticker

2012-01-30T21:07:00.005-06:00

Yep, that's right folks! She sat on the potty and actually was SUCCESSFUL! {Side note--I promise my blog is not going to become potty chronicles, but she was so proud of herself! Honestly though, I THINK I may have been a TAD bit more excited!} Since she went on the potty she got to put a BIG sticker on her chart & get a treat...her smile was PRICELESS!

We're getting closer to going on that special outing to pick out "the princess ones"!

Princess Ones?

2012-01-27T13:38:00.003-06:00

So, I think my 2 1/2 year old is telling me that she wants to start potty training. Why, you ask? This was our conversation today...

GC: "Momma work puzzles!"

Me: "OK" (getting on the floor to work puzzles.)

GC: "I sit on my knees to do puzzles cuz I have poopoo in my diaper & it's squishy!"

ME: (with my mouth hanging open) Ummm...ok!

I really could not believe she could articulate that...wow!

Out of the blue a few nights ago she told me that she was a big girl & she didn't need diapers, but Ivy did. I told her that when she starts going on the potty we could go to the store & get some special panties. She asked, "Pwincess ones? Like Ca-yine & Mawy Kafwin?" (Caroline & Mary Katherine--her cousins) "YES!", I replied. So, today they made potty charts at school and we are going to make one for our house. She's very excited & I AM TOO! Stay tuned...

Thankful for our Health

2012-01-25T22:36:00.005-06:00

This past week or so I've been reminded of how precious life is...especially a HEALTHY life. For those of you who read my blog I'm asking for prayer for four different families. First, my Uncle Bill. He was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of cancer two weeks ago & is undergoing chemotherapy at Baylor Hospital in Dallas. He's home now but will go back for 3 more rounds of chemo the first week of February. Please also pray for my Aunt Peggy (my Dad's sister) as she takes care of him. Second, a childhood friend named Randy. He's only about 30 years old and he had a biopsy done today on a mass the size of a fist in his chest. Doctors believe that because of his age & the location of the mass, it is lymphoma. He & his wife Tonya have 3 little boys & are the SWEETEST family! Third, a sweet little girl named Bebe lost her battle with cancer today. She was about 5 years old, I believe, and a former student of a good friend of mine. And fourth, a beloved friend of our family, Kay, died this past Saturday. We attended her visitation Monday night & funeral on Tuesday. She was 60 & had just been diagnosed in October. Please be in prayer for her husband Doug, daughter Molly who is a dear friend of mine, and son Jason. I've known them my whole life & Kay was such a faithful servant of the Lord! Her mom had just died a few weeks earlier. All of these families weigh heavy on my heart tonight.

I took Ivy Jane & Georgia to the doctor earlier today because they have had congestion & a cough since last Thursday. Tonight I find myself thankful for medicine that will hopefully clear up the ear infections that both of my baby girls have, and thankful that it's only ear infections that we have to worry about.

Despite feeling crummy, they've been little sweeties the past few days...

This picture makes me smile...and get teary-eyed all at the same time! SO THANKFUL for these two little girls that love each other!

Sensory Diet

2012-01-18T16:33:00.004-06:00

I talked about Georgia's sensory diet in a previous post. Today we've had a REALLY great sensory diet day! We actually got all of her skin brushing, joint compressions, and listening therapy completed! WOOHOO! Granted, my house is a disaster, but I really don't care because she is doing so well!

I'm addicted to Pinterest and have found some of the BEST ideas on it! Every time I find something new I think, "Why didn't I think of that?!" My newest little project is toddler activity bags. {SIDE NOTE--I got the idea of making snack bags from my sister Kathy about a year ago. Instead of scrambling to make snacks for the girls before we leave the house, I take about 30 minutes once a week or so and make little snack bags that I keep in a basket in my pantry. So, now when we are headed to therapy or to the store or on a trip, I just tell the girls to "grab a snack" and they pick out their own snack...goldfish, pretzels, raisins, granola bars, animal crackers, cheerios...whatever they want. I always seem to be running late & it just saves me a step when we are headed out the door.} That being said, ...I'm in the process of making these little activity bags to grab when we are headed out. One idea includes pony beads & pipe cleaners (Georgia worked for AT LEAST 30 minutes on these today and it is a fine motor activity that is strengthening her little muscles in her hands). Other activities are small play-doh containers & a few tools, a small box of crayons & a few coloring sheets, felt pieces to make different pictures, stickers & a landscape to add them to, small books, clothes pins & color blocks to match (another hand strengthening activity)...and I'm sure I'll think of more! I'm always grabbing a few toys and throwing them in my bag but now I'll save even more time when we are heading out the door by grabbing a few activity bags! Yay for organization! I might actually be ON TIME or (gasp) early?!?!?!

Here's that precious little girl working her hardest at putting the little pony beads on her sparkly silver pipe cleaner!

SUCH concentration! She sat in her little chair and put beads on the pipe cleaner until it was FULL! She was so proud of herself! "I did it!" she exclaimed when she finished!
Ivy Jane enjoyed dumping the beads out of the bag and putting them back in the bag...
I think I said, "Don't eat the beads!" about a million times, but we had fun! They are small and bright...I'm sure if I was 17 months old I would try to eat them too!
And later, on to the next activity. This proved to be a little harder for GC. Opening a clothes pin is HARD WORK, people! I just took a piece of scrap cardboard and divided it into 8 sections. I cut out 8 different colors of construction paper and glued each of them to a square. Then I glued a little rectangle of the same 8 colors onto 8 clothes pins. Her job was to open the clothes pins and match the colors. She did GREAT with the matching, but opening the clothes pins was a difficult task. She loved it, though! YAY! First two activity bags are a hit!

We headed outside when it got a little warmer (and the first of I think 3 wardrobe changes for the day). Georgia loves the tire swing. She's doing her listening therapy...LOVES HER "MOOSIC"!

Climbing up the rock wall with just a little help!
"I DID IT!"
What?! My "moosic is OVER?!
All in all, a GREAT day in our little world today!

January?

2012-01-18T15:29:00.003-06:00

It's hard to believe that this BEAUTIFUL weather we are having is in the middle of JANUARY? We're taking advantage of it. Georgia Claire woke up this morning and asked, "Where's Daddy" then said, "I want to go outside!" We've played outside every day this week...LOVE IT! Although, I'm afraid we won't like it very much this summer when my Dad's peach crop doesn't make because there weren't enough chilling hours this winter. Mmmm....how I LOVE a fresh peach!

These pictures were taken on Monday...love these swinging girls (and their sunglasses)!

And I had to post this picture...they were having their own little conversation about the fence!

Ivy Jane's Therapy

2012-01-16T21:23:00.004-06:00

Ivy Jane goes to physical therapy twice a week to S-T-R-E-T-C-H and work with Mr. Ron & Ms. Jen. WE LOVE THEM, TOO! It's great because while GC is working with Ms. Cre, Ivy Jane is working with Mr. Ron or Ms. Jen and they get to see each other and sometimes even "play" together! Ivy Jane's torticollis is improving SO much and we could not be happier! The therapy center has been another God-send...making our move last summer that much easier.

I came across this picture and can not believe what Ivy Jane's neck & back looked like last March...

Poor baby! No wonder she would wake up screaming and crying...she was in pain, I'm sure. She is my strong-willed child, but SOOOO funny! Here she is yesterday running from me. I managed to get her pants off and was needing to change her diaper...hence the saggy diaper falling off the poor child! Such a happy baby....
She ate and ate and ate her spaghetti night before last...
I should have gotten this on video. She was bouncing & laughing hysterically on her Rody horse that Santa brought her for Christmas. Georgia has one, too. It's great for Georgia because it helps her strengthen her core. It's great for Ivy Jane because we can manipulate her little body to lean to the side that she needs to and hold her head up. You can tell how straight her little noggin looks now! YAY!

She's improving so much and we are so thankful that Sue, the original ANGEL/PT that worked with Ivy Jane got us on the right track. I emailed her the other day to give her an update and she said, "I miss your strong-willed child but I know she's just testing others instead of me!" She hit the nail on the head! I'm not worried because I believe that her strong-willed nature is what is helping her to work that much harder. So, between Georgia & Ivy Jane's therapy I have my hands full, but I'm so very thankful!

More and more in LOVE

2012-01-15T20:33:00.009-06:00

January 6, 2012 marked two years since Georgia Claire's official GOTCHA DAY! I cannot believe this baby girl...

Has become this baby girl...
She's not a baby really, but she'll always be our baby. What a BLAST these last 2 1/2 years have been. She's hilarious. She sings. She slides. She "reads". She sleeps. She plays. She climbs. She swings. She hugs. She kisses. She gives the best HUGS & KISSES! I asked her today while we were swinging, "Georgia, what is your very favorite thing to do?" Without hesitation she replied, "DISHES!" By golly, I'm going to do everything I can to make sure she gets to do the dishes as much as her little heart wants to! :)

Back in November she was diagnosed with sensory processing disorder, as well as hypotonia, or low muscle tone. If you want, you can read about SPD here. Since Georgia was about 6 months old we've always known she was somewhat delayed in her gross motor skills. She never rolled over & was a very late walker, she seems clumsy at times, falling down easily. Come to find out, her low muscle tone has also affected the muscles in her mouth & hands. That's why she had such a difficult time transitioning from a bottle to a sippy cup, and why she doesn't like some foods. It also explains why she has trouble opening things & colors lightly with a crayon. Little things, it seems, but if we don't work on them while she's young, it will affect her handwriting and other simple tasks when she is older. We are once again SO thrilled with the therapist that God has put in our path. Once a week Georgia works with an Occupational Therapist named Ms. Cre (or Cwee, if you ask Georgia)! Ms. Cre loves on Georgia & tells me every time we see her how she would take her home with her in a second. She's doing exercises to strengthen her core, which have already helped her get stronger! We know she is hypersensitive to sound...that's why she gets really quiet when a lot of people are around. Her "sensory diet" at home includes listening therapy, strengthening exercises on a large exercise ball, brushing her skin, and doing joint compressions. I must admit, we don't get it all in every day, but I figure anything is better than nothing!

When she first got her diagnosis, I worried...a lot. I'm a Type A personality and like to be in control of things. Once again I'm faced with something I cannot control. One day back in December I remember dropping the girls off at MDO and breaking down in tears at the steering wheel. My prayer was simple--"Lord, help me help my baby girl. I love her and I know she is perfect in every way. Take this worry far far away from me & help me to not see her weaknesses, but her strengths instead. Thank you for allowing me to be her Momma." I think I drove to Starbucks to get some much-needed caffeine AND calories, and went about my busy day of errands. Throughout the day it was like I literally felt the worry being lifted & I was at peace by the time I saw her sweet little face when I picked her up. Since then, I have met some incredible mommas at therapy and enjoy connecting with them on a weekly basis. It has been so good for me, almost like a support group of sorts!

So, that's what's up with our Georgia Claire. She now slides with a vengeance, can almost climb up our little rock wall on our play set by herself, runs and gets in the swing on her tummy like she's flying, and is not totally shutting down in social situations like she has done in the past. Yes! Go Georgia Go! As for me? I'm more and more in love each and every day.

Happy 2012

2012-01-05T00:31:00.004-06:00

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a safe & memorable holiday. Ours was definitely memorable. I think we were all in bed by 8:00 on New Year's Eve despite the crazy fireworks displays of our neighbors. That afternoon I went to the doctor & found out I had strep throat! Today is the first day that I am feeling back to normal. Thank goodness Shelby was home and was willing and able to take over with the girls while I was at my sickest. I loved listening to them laugh and play while I was in bed. He is such a great daddy...those girls love him like crazy! Georgia Claire came in a few times to check on me and said things like, "You OK, Momma?" and "You get up now?" and "You sleep little bit more and then come play, ok Momma?" I wanted to jump out of bed, grab her up and play until we were both exhausted, but that wasn't going to happen. I tried my best not to get too close to the girls but after Ivy Jane said "hold you" again and again and again, I finally had to pick her up. When I did, she sighed and said, "thank you!" SO PRECIOUS!

Today was an absolutely gorgeous day! It's always so nice to have a sunny day in the 60's the first week of January! The girls and I enjoyed getting out and soaking up the Vitamin D. They LOVE playing outside so we are taking advantage of the beautiful weather while we have it!

Georgia LOVES to swing. Her new favorite is the tire swing. Can you tell?

Ivy Jane is my fearless child. She climbs onto anything & everything. Today before I could get over to her she shot down the slide and was ready to go again...After an hour of continuous climbing, sliding, & swinging, a picnic lunch, blowing bubbles, drawing with sidewalk chalk, and an early bath, no wonder they crashed for 3 hours!

And I had to include this picture because it cracks me up. The one REALLY great thing about Shelby's new position here in Louisiana is that he is home most days around 5:30 and usually doesn't have to do much when he gets home. Tonight he had some emails to return, etc. So, while he did that, Ivy Jane climbed onto the dining table, emptied out all of the play-doh toys & Georgia Claire kept right on doing her listening therapy & playing "tato head"...every last one of them in their own world!
This new year I'm going to continue making the most of every minute I have with my girls while they are little, continue loving my husband, and continue seeking the Will of the Lord in our lives. Happy 2012!

Dressing Up

2011-12-29T22:03:00.006-06:00

I am not a "girly girl" by any means, so raising two little girls has been, and I'm sure will be, a challenge at times. Georgia Claire has enjoyed playing dress-up at Mary Katherine & Caroline's house, so I thought some dress-up stuff would be fun for her this Christmas. Shelby's mom & sister came through with some great heels, jewelry, tiaras, wands, and even a set of butterfly wings! We've also accumulated some of Caroline's hand-me-downs from her dance classes and performances. GC now has an entire drawer of tutus and leotards...I'm beginning to pray for my sanity now! Please join me, won't you? :)

Caroline & Mary Katherine came for a visit today & Caroline comes running out of Georgia's room this evening and asks, "BB, can Georgia and I take our clothes off and put on dress up stuff? PLEASE?" Of course I said yes, why wouldn't I? The squeals and giggles were THE BEST!

I hope you have recently gone to the bathroom because if you haven't you just might pee in your pants! The following pictures are HYSTERICAL!

Look at the little diva...

As I was taking this photo I was saying, "Georgia Claire, you will never wear a skirt this short as a teenager!"

And this series of pictures of GC & Caroline...

LOVE IT! I can't wait until Ivy Jane struts her stuff in the heels...might just have to break out the video camera for that!

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T22:49:00.012-06:00

Merry Christmas from our family to yours! Our Christmas celebrations began last Sunday, when we loaded up and hit the road to go to Mimi & Granby's for a few days. We left after lunch, right before nap time, thinking the girls would be so sleepy they would sleep most of the 4 hour trip...WRONG! Ivy Jane fell asleep about 10 minutes down the road but took about a 30 minute nap and was done! Georgia Claire was obviously tired but did not give in. About 15 minutes into the trip she said, "I get out now!" and 10 minutes before we arrived she said, "I go to sweep now!" I had to laugh...isn't that typical?! That's what I get for always trying to plan things out. I try to stick as closely as I can to their schedule, but it doesn't always work!

We had a delicious home-cooked meal when we arrived at Mimi & Granby's house, and enjoyed an evening of watching the girls play and enjoy being out of the car. Shelby's parents have the most incredible display of Christmas trees and decorations and I loved watching the girls admire all of them. Christmas through the eyes of a child is so wonderful!

The following day was jam packed, but LOTS of fun! After going to see some dear friends we headed to the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine for lunch and a tour of their awesome Christmas display! This pretty much sums up Georgia's face the entire time...

There were lights and ornaments and trains and music and people and the list goes on and on! It was BEAUTIFUL, but probably a little overwhelming to a 2 year old and her little sister. They did great and seemed to really enjoy seeing everything. I know I did!

Granby & Mimi and the girls...

I was going to get a picture of Heather & Julian but Georgia wanted to be with "Hedder and Juse" so she got in the picture as well...and then Barry & Ivy Jane snuck in, too! Ha!
Ivy Jane enjoyed walking along with two of her biggest fans!
I had to get this picture...
They had all of the reindeer dressed up in different roles. I can't remember her name, but she was a "domestic engineer" or something like that. I had to get a picture with Ivy Jane and her yellow paci because the reindeer's baby looked so similar! Been there and done that with a cookbook in one hand and a baby in the other!

Afterwards, the girls were worn out and slept for an hour in the car...

That afternoon we hung out at the house. I love this picture of Ivy Jane with Daddy & Granby. She thought she was so big working the puzzle with them!
Even Great Grandma got in on coloring! Georgia Claire was bossing her around telling her, "You sit here, Grandma & codor!"
Later we had a special guest, and the newest member of the family come by for a visit. Heather & Julian rescued a dog from a local shelter. His name is Han & he's a terrior mix and is such a gentle soul. He was SO good with the girls, however Georgia wasn't too sure of him. He gave Ivy Jane lots of kisses and she thought it was funny!
Ivy Jane decided Han's bed looked pretty comfy, so she gave it a try...he came over to check things out...Looking at ornaments with Mimi...
We had a wonderful time! Georgia & Ivy Jane are the only grandkids on Shelby's side of the family, so they enjoy the attention tremendously (and I enjoy the help)! We got home on Wednesday evening and the girls were so excited to start playing with their new toys, etc. I put them in our bathroom to play with some of their new dress up things or "jewry" as Georgia calls it, while I unpacked and repacked.
We were home for about 24 hours and left for Grandma & Paw Paw's house Thursday evening. My sister Angie & her family were in from the hill country & my sister Kathy & her family were there as well. It was a great couple of days filled with good food & lots of silly cousin time! Thursday night Gabe & Luke, the two oldest cousins, spent the night together at Luke's house while Will, Mary Katherine, Caroline, Georgia & Ivy Jane had a sleepover at Grandma & Paw Paw's house. After getting all 5 kiddos bathed and getting Ivy Jane to sleep, the other 4 little monkeys enjoyed jumping on Grandma & Paw Paw's bed! They were jumping from the settee in the window to the bed & squealing the entire time!

I asked them to pose for the camera and this is what I got! I thought it was too funny not to post!

Mary Katherine & Caroline are SO good with Georgia Claire...I don't think GC stopped smiling the ENTIRE time! That night Caroline & GC slept on a pallet on the floor in Grandma & Paw Paw's room. Georgia Claire didn't go to sleep until 10:oo and was up and at 'em at 5:00! She has never been awake that early! By the time I got up at 7:00 she had already had juice, fruit, and some peanut butter crackers...Paw Paw was in charge!

What would Christmas be without science experiments?! My dad bought a whole bag of experiments but they turned out to mostly be duds. MK said matter of factly, "This isn't fun at all!" Poor Paw Paw! He's already planning bigger & better experiments for the next time!

Later that night Paw Paw redeemed himself with a great fireworks display! Georgia Claire loved the sparklers...

Ivy Jane wanted to climb & slide over and over and over!

Georgia was giggling the whole time she was swinging!
And this was the best picture I got of Paw Paw, Grandma & the sweet little 7 darlings! (Yes, that would be my child with her hands over her eyes!)
We made it home on Christmas Eve & Santa found his way to our home. We have enjoyed our day at home...I cooked 3 meals, the girls took great naps, we started purging & organizing toys, Shelby had a fire going most of the day, he & I have almost finished a 1,000 piece puzzle that we started last night, & I even started taking down our Christmas decorations. I love Christmas SO much but next year I plan to start earlier & make things simpler.

I want to begin observing Advent with our girls. Georgia already knows that Christmas is Jesus's birthday & knows who Mary & Joseph are, and that shepherds & wise men came to see Baby Jesus in a manger. Every night we sing "Away in a Manger" and she tells Baby Jesus "night night" as he goes to sleep in her nativity set. Today we sang "Happy Birthday" to him TWICE! How precious to begin our season celebrating the coming of Emmanuel with these two precious miracles that God has given us! A friend of mine said in her blog that Advent had helped her family to "settle their holiday restlessness" and that it was like a "slow, deep breath"...don't we ALL need that during the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season? It sounds glorious and I'm already looking forward to it!

Tonight Georgia said it best in her prayer, "Dear God, thank you for Baby Jesus. Thank you for home all day and our naps. I yub you. Amen." I'm in love...

Family Photo Session

2011-12-14T20:30:00.007-06:00

Emily Grace, a very talented 18 year old young lady and a budding photographer, took these FABULOUS pictures of our girls, and us four. I LOVE how they turned out!

This was our Christmas card...I loved their facial expressions and the sunlight behind them!

Thank you, Emily! We are so thankful to have these photos to remember this time of our life!

Georgia being Georgia

2011-12-14T15:10:00.005-06:00

We "worked" 3 weekends selling Christmas trees at our family farm. The girls did REALLY well considering the fact that they are 2 1/2 & 16 months old! I love watching my girls play outside at the farm, riding the hayride, eating candy canes, running with their cousins...sweet memories! Of course, I either didn't have my camera or forgot to take pictures most of the time while we were there. Two weekends ago Georgia Claire went to Joel (a long-time family friend, and one of the best men I've ever known) and got really still. I thought it was so sweet that she was cuddling with him...

Then I saw this...
Poor baby was worn slap out! She fell asleep in about 3 minutes on his shoulder! It was precious!

Speaking of precious, she's been saying things that make me laugh out loud or grab her up and give her a big 'ol kiss! This morning I listened on the monitor as she was waking up and reading books. She'll stay in bed for a good 30 minutes reading before she wants to get out of bed. Today I heard this, "Momma, where are you? Daddy, where are you? Ibee Jane, where are you?" then there was a few seconds of silence and she said, "Everyone?!" Hahaha! funny girl! At night when we put her to bed she says, "I yub you! Have a gwate day! Be caweful!"

Other Georgia-isms that I don't want to forget...she says, "Hold on!" when she knows it's going to take her a minute to do something. She also says, "Just a second!" and "I'll be wite back!" Yesterday Shelby worked late so while supper was cooking I took the girls in the backyard to swing/climb/slide--after about 30 minutes we came inside to eat and I went to our room to take my shoes off. Georgia said, "I take my shoes off too!" I didn't notice until after she had gone to bed what she had done...
She put her shoes in mine! How precious is THAT?! (And in true Georgia form they are backwards!) I never want to forget these precious moments I have with these baby girls. I know they will be over before I know it....{sigh}...

That's My Brudder

2011-12-14T14:24:00.005-06:00

Today Georgia put her arm around Ivy Jane and said, "Momma, that's my brudder!" I said, "No, Ivy Jane is your sister!" She turned and looked at Ivy Jane and said, "Oh ok! You my SISTER Ibee Jane!" These sisters make me smile inside & out!

I took them to the doctor yesterday because Georgia has been so stopped up & coughing and Ivy Jane STILL has a bad cough. The doctor wanted to do a little blood work only to show it is viral...probably a cold on top of a cold on top of a cold. So, the cure? Take them out of MDO, never put them in the church nursery and keep them home all day every day in a bubble! :) The funny thing is when the doctor was jokingly saying this to me, Ivy Jane was chewing on my cell phone and I said, "So, Ivy Jane chewing on my phone right now is probably not in that prescription, right?!" Of course he knows I'm not going to keep them home every day, but he DID say that this will make them healthier adults in the long run because these colds, etc. are building their immune systems. Here are the sweeties waiting on the doctor reading books...

Ivy Jane is talking like CRAZY and doing SO much! She's now saying just about anything we tell her to or she wants to say! She's started saying, "Hold you!" and "Love you!" This picture cracks me up. She's so independent and was trying to put on her boots after bath time. She picks up her foot and tries to put it in the boot...SO MUCH concentration!
Today we have had a FABULOUS morning AT HOME! Between therapy two days a week, MDO two days a week, and church on Sunday, a morning at home is SO WELCOME to all of us! I wrapped Christmas presents & cleaned while the girls just played and played together. They pushed their babies in their strollers all over the house for at least 30 minutes! Georgia came in and announced, "Ibee Jane and I are going to the store! OK, Momma?"
Going to the store...
Then they emptied one of the toy baskets & climbed in and played for another 15-20 minutes! I love it!
Now all I hear is snoring on the monitors as I MAKE myself blog. December is SO busy. I'm DETERMINED to start earlier next year and to change some things, but for now I'm feeling great about everything I've accomplished, especially with the two little sisters running around!

Funny Funny Girl

2011-12-01T13:44:00.003-06:00

Oh my goodness how we LOVE our Georgia Claire! She is becoming a funny funny little girl with a big personality! Look at this smile...

Some of the funny things she has said lately...

She calls me momma most of the time, but "BB" some. That's what my nieces and nephews call me & she has picked up on it!

"Nevermind!"...says it when I can't understand her and she has repeated herself several times. Ha!

When I asked her if she wanted to sit on the potty like a big girl, she replied, "No, BB I did it yesterday, SORRY!" (The funny thing is she actually DID sit on the potty the day before!)

She sings "Jesus Loves Me" like this--"Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so! Little ones to him belong, for the Bible tells me so!" and she keeps repeating it again and again...it never ends! (unless she gets tired of singing it)

She exclaims, "OH MY GOODNESS" when something happens-bad or good!

I know there are others, but those are what I can remember at the moment.

She also LOVES to help. It dawned on me the other day that she is going to actually be able to help me CLEAN the house one day! I think back to my childhood and all of the chores we had growing up...I mowed the lawn, we all dusted & vacuumed our own rooms, cleaned our bathrooms, helped with the dishes, sometimes dusted & vacuumed the other rooms in the house, as well as help at the farm almost every Saturday. I'm going to have two little helpers one day! YESSS!!! Is it bad that I feel that way?! I love the work ethic my parents instilled in my sisters & myself and I hope that my girls grow up with the same work ethic. I know there will probably come a day that we have arguments over chores, but I'm going to enjoy my little helper(s) that I have now. Georgia LOVES to run my little sweeper, which she calls the vacuum. She loves to rinse the dishes. She loves to unload the dishwasher. And she LOVES to help cook! On Tuesday I baked my first batch of Christmas cookies, and Georgia helped! When I got down to the last little bit of dough I gave it to her and she had a blast rolling it out & cutting out cookies. She stood on her stool and "cooked" for about 20 minutes!
Thank you, Lord for this funny funny girl and wonderful little helper!

B-U-S-Y

2011-11-29T22:40:00.006-06:00

Man, I just THOUGHT I was busy this time last year...Georgia was just starting to walk & Ivy Jane was still a little baby "blob", staying put wherever I put her. NOW, we have two very BUSY little girls who like to go go go! This is such a busy time of year, but throw an almost 2 1/2 year old and an almost 16 month old into the mix and it can get crazy busy! Of course, I wouldn't have it any other way and I'm thankful to be so busy (I've actually lost weight running after those two busy little girls)!

We travelled over the Thanksgiving holiday to visit our families & enjoyed our time away, but we were ALL glad to get home & sleep in our own beds. We headed west after Shelby got home on Tuesday, stopped by to eat supper with my family & let the girls play and take their baths. Clad in their "jahmies" we got the girls all snuggled in the car with their pillows and blankets, and their "Praise Baby" dvd. An hour down the road they were asleep, but woke up when we arrived at Mimi & Granby's house.

The next morning, Paula had a floral activity for Georgia. Paula is so good with Georgia & Georgia LOVES to help. They worked hard at it...
Concentrating so hard...
And then she gave it to MOMMA! She was so excited to show me her turkey. (Sorry for all of the bed head in the pictures, but it was a sweet little moment that I wanted to capture!)
That evening Shelby's grandma had all of us over for pizza! She lives in a retirement center now and has the nicest little apartment and seems so happy! Georgia loves her Great Grandma...
After pizza Ivy Jane enjoyed hanging out with Granby...
And after pizza Georgia enjoyed vanilla ice cream & strawberries with Heather...
We had a GREAT feast for lunch on Thursday and headed to Grandma & Paw Paw's house that afternoon. The day after Thanksgiving is opening day at the farm. We lasted a few hours on Friday, but only about an hour on Saturday. It rained Saturday until about noon & then got EXTREMELY windy & cold, but the girls had playing for a little while with their cousins.

Georgia & her oldest cousin, Luke. He is such a sweet boy & is SO very good with the girls. Look how happy Georgia Claire is in this picture!
I think Ivy Jane loves Caroline, too!
Trying to get a picture with our Christmas tree was next to impossible!

Saturday night we ate supper, got the girls bathed, and then headed home. Georgia Claire "read" a book to her baby & then sang her a song...
Ivy Jane watched a video and just chilled...
So thankful for our family!

Life with 2 little girls

2011-11-20T21:53:00.006-06:00

(So I uploaded pictures for this post 4 days ago & I'm just now getting to blog. We have capabilities to get online now while we are in the car! We just left Granby & Mimi's house and are headed to PawPaw & Grandma's. The girls were asleep 10 minutes down the road...I'm so thankful they sleep in the car because they SO desperately need their naps!)

I've made a conscious effort during the month of November to be thankful, and to name my blessings...I have so many! But, I've been especially thankful during this month for our girls. Life is crazy right now, but of course we wouldn't have it any other way! Georgia Claire is testing the waters at times as a 2 year old & Ivy Jane is starting to show her stubborn self at times, but Shelby & I are determined to "nip it in the bud"! Don't tell the girls, but I think we're winning!

These are some random pictures, but ones that make me smile. This first one is of one evening after their baths. They love to get in their 'jahmies' and play on momma & daddy's bed. This was my attempt at trying to get a picture of them both...

Ivy Jane loves Wheel of Fortune...every time the audience claps (which is A LOT on that show) she claps and says, "YAY!"
Georgia is starting to help me with so much around the house. She loves to help me clean...dusting, vacuuming, sweeping, and doing dishes! she is a GREAT rinser...she gets every last bit of suds off the dishes!

And speaking of suds, she loves taking a bath in momma's big bath tub...
They both love to help Grandma in the kitchen, too. She was making a buttermilk pound cake and they were helping.
After baths one evening we were playing in Ivy Jane's room and Georgia decided that her daddy needed a pillow, a blanket, and every baby she could find...then she snuggled down beside him while Ivy Jane played nearby. Such sweet little girls.

Sunday Afternoon

2011-11-09T14:46:00.005-06:00

This past week both of the girls had the croup, and I think Ivy Jane had a cold on top of it all. Poor baby girls. They sounded awful and felt awful, but thank goodness, our goofy, silly, funny girls are back in FULL FORCE! We had a great Sunday afternoon playing and enjoying each other.

This picture makes me smile! I don't know what I like more...Shelby's pink jingle bell bracelet, Georgia's face as she's playing the harmonica, or Ivy Jane looking at her Daddy while she plays the tambourine. I love these three with all my heart!

After their "jam session" we headed outside. A few weeks ago Shelby & I bought a playset for the girls, one that will last until they no longer want to play on it. They LOVE swinging, sliding, climbing and playing!
They got a little warm, so I brought out juice pouches for them to enjoy. These girls LOVE their juice! This picture CRACKS ME UP! Georgia Claire loves her play glasses, and ALWAYS puts them on upside down! This will be one we look back at years from now and get a good laugh!
Georgia is SO brave on the slide now. She almost catches air halfway down and always says, "One more time!" when she lands on the grass.
Ivy Jane enjoyed sitting...and resting! She's such a funny baby.I always check on the girls before I go to bed. I had to get the camera when I checked on Georgia Claire that night. Poor baby was EXHAUSTED...obviously!
Thankful for my baby girls, for my husband who loves his girls (all 3 of us) and for the wonderful life that God has given us...even if it IS in Louisiana!!! :)

A Night of Hope

2011-11-05T21:55:00.005-05:00

Generations Adoptions, our adoption agency, held its annual fundraiser called the "Hope Gala" this past Tuesday night. We were invited to give our testimony of how Generations blessed us, as well as Julia...what an honor! Because I'm not a public speaker, Shelby did the talking while I stood by for support. I felt pretty silly, really, just standing up there not saying anything while almost 500 people were watching & listening. Before he spoke, Julia gave her testimony...so poised, so mature, so articulate! I have to keep reminding myself that this precious soul is only 20 years old. She's married now & pregnant with a son who is due to make his appearance in about 4 weeks! Shelby's parents traveled with us & attended the Gala. They had never met Julia, and I KNOW they really enjoyed meeting this beautiful young lady who not only gave Georgia Claire life, but gave US a life with HER. We remain in awe of her selflessness and her courageousness. It was a wonderful night, although a 2+ hour event with two little girls two and under is not the most relaxing!

We didn't make it last year because Ivy Jane was only 3 months old and we didn't want to tackle that drive just yet! Here is a picture of Julia & Georgia at the first Hope Gala we attended in 2009. I cannot believe how our baby girl has changed in just 2 short years!

And here they are in 2011...

This is adorable of Georgia, Stacy & Julia...
Georgia warmed up to Jerry, Julia's dad & her biological grandfather, towards the end of the night. We had not seen Jerry since the day Georgia was born. He was asking Georgia all kinds of questions & all she could say was, "Yes".
This is a great picture, too! Georgia was stroking Julia's hair and face right before I took this picture!
And our family...
Hope is a terrific thing. When we first found out about Generations Adoptions in January of 2009, we had the first glimmer of hope that we were going to be able to start a family. And now, not even 3 years later we have two baby girls who we love more and more each day. Thank you Lord for the hope you gave us, and you continue to give other families through the wonderful work of Generations Adoptions!

Halloween 2011

2011-11-03T15:31:00.006-05:00

We were back in East Texas for Halloween. We spent a few nights at "GrandmaPawpaws" as Georgia calls it, before heading to "MimiGranbys". The girls were not feeling well that night, especially Ivy Jane, as you can see from ALL of the pictures in this post.

Here are my little cat & mouse...

This picture cracks me up...Ivy Jane's right ear perfectly hides Georgia's face-ha!
Their tales were my favorite part...

Georgia was a happy little kitty cat...
We went to our former church for their Fall Festival and Georgia enjoyed hanging out with her cousins. Caroline-aka "Hello Kitty" and her buddy...Paw Paw wanted to be a mouse, too! He was there with one of his vintage John Deere tractors and a trailer with hay for the hayrides. All four of his granddaughters enjoyed helping him drive at least once!
Mary Katherine is SOOOO good with Georgia!
Georgia looks up to her...
Our best family photo of the night...
I'm glad the month of November is here...so thankful for the blessed life that I live!

Jah-mees

2011-11-03T15:06:00.002-05:00

Fall is here and so are the new long-sleeved pj's, or jah-mees, as we call them.

Georgia Claire's eyes in this picture are so bright!

Ivy Jane doing two of her favorite things...climbing & watching the Rangers! (We still love our Rangers, even though they lost the World Series!)
The girls LOVE climbing on the chair...it was Shelby's grandparent's first piece of furniture they bought as a married couple. Shelby's parents got it recovered for us when we got married. It's still SO comfy & the favorite chair of these two girls...
This was taken last Saturday morning, the girls cuddling with Daddy while watching cartoons on Saturday morning.
I love matching jahmees and I love cuddling with the two little girls wearing them!

Me and My Shadow

2011-10-17T23:20:00.003-05:00

Today we had a day at home and Georgia (my shadow) helped me clean. Ivy Jane helped some, played some, snacked, watched Sesame Street, etc. She was happy as long as she could see Georgia & me, which made cleaning a little easier. Georgia wanted a rag and followed me all over the house dusting what I dusted, moving what I moved...I wish I had a video of it. I kept bragging on her saying what a big girl she was being such a good helper & she would just smile and keep working! Such a little sweet pea. She even got out her vacuum cleaner when I was using mine. Tonight after supper we went outside and I started pulling weeds in the flower beds. Where was Georgia? Right beside me pulling weeds...SO funny & so sweet!

It got dark on us before we could finish so Shelby took the girls in to get a bath while I got myself cleaned up. After a snack & watching a little Monday Night Football (Georgia's request), we brushed teeth & got in the glider. The last few days at nap time & nights at bed time, Georgia has wanted to rock Ivy with me. She'll sit beside me while I'm reading and then wants to stand behind me (in the chair!) while I sing a few songs.

Shelby came in with the camera tonight because it was just too funny! Please excuse the way I look...cleaning, cooking, yard work, and chasing two little girls all day makes for one tired Momma! (Ivy is CLEARLY not amused by any of it and just wanted to GET IN BED!)

I love her arms around me...
Being silly...
I told Shelby the other day that I'm enjoying EVERY last second of this time with our girls. Before I know it "Momma hold you" will not be in Georgia's vocabulary & I will be BEGGING her to sit in the chair with me. They grow up so fast & I'm just trying to soak it all in...

Chocolate Pudding

2011-10-17T22:38:00.002-05:00

I've been doing really good (if I do say so myself) in the meal planning & cooking department lately but today I cleaned the house and ran out of time to make a dessert. So, at the last minute I pulled out a box of chocolate instant pudding from the pantry, mixed in some milk, & 2 minutes later it was ready! Who would have thought my "gourmet dessert" would make my girls this happy?!

Georgia said, "One more picture!"
Ivy Jane is becoming such a big girl...eating with a spoon & doing so well! She LOVED the pudding, as well!
She had it everywhere in NO TIME!
Georgia, Shelby & I finished eating and while they went outside I started cleaning up the kitchen. Ivy Jane continued to eat her pudding. She started saying, "Mmmmm!" At this point she decided she could use the spoon AND her hand to get more in her mouth!
I love these little chocolate pudding faces!

Family Fun

2011-10-13T13:45:00.007-05:00

Georgia & Ivy Jane are like their Momma when it comes to loving family time. This past week my sister Angie & her boys Gabe & Will came to visit. The girls and I spent Thursday night with Mom & Dad so that we could enjoy time with all of them. Thursday night (before bed), Paw Paw got Georgia, Gabe & Will on the kitchen island and they all ate cookies & milk. Will enjoyed it so much that he couldn't put his milk down for the picture! (Georgia even had on her cookie pj's)

Georgia & Will became buds quickly. They colored together...
And read and read and read together...
Ivy Jane enjoyed coloring, sitting on MY stool from my childhood that reads "Stand up to be tall. Sit down to be small." Didn't everyone have one of those growing up? I love that my mom still has mine...
We enjoyed playing dress up in Mary Katherine & Caroline's room...
Look at Miss Hollywood!
Will, Ivy Jane & Caroline. They love each other so much!
Ivy Jane & Smokey (or Fokey, as GC calls him) became best buddies. She thought he was hilarious.
They even shared ice out of Paw Paw's cup!
Angie planned an art project with the cousins...fall trees with handprints! Georgia really got into it...
And then they got to ice & sprinkle their own cupcake to celebrate Will's (belated) birthday. Look at that face of concentration!
Grandma & Paw Paw gave Will a marble tower. The girls loved it, too!
It's hard to believe our Will is SIX! I love his new glasses...and look at his decorated cupcake! I especially like the candle placement!
After celebrating Will's birthday we got the girls bathed and got in the car to head to Mimi & Granby's house. All of the fun of the day caught up with the girls and they were asleep about 30 minutes into our trip. When we arrived, Heather, Julian, Granby & Mimi were all there to play! Georgia loves Julian (aka Joos) and was reading books with him in no time!

Aunt Heather (aka Hedder) always gets good snuggles and play time with Georgia!

When we were leaving Mom & Dad's house our nephew Luke said, "Are y'all going to the movie theater house?" :) The girls enjoyed a Sesame Street video or two in their little chairs from Ikea. Ivy Jane was mesmerized by the HUGE characters on the big screen...

Georgia's little pallet in our room. She was woken up early from her nap by her loud-mouthed sister!

And I have to give a "shout out" to Mimi! Shelby & his dad went to a post card show in Plano on Saturday morning. At about 11:00 I left the girls with Mimi & had a few hours to myself. She played with them, fed them lunch, and got them down for a nap! Yippee! Thank you, Mimi! I KNOW the girls loved every minute of it, and SO DID I!

Poor Mimi sat at their table and colored and colored and colored...
We had a great time seeing everyone, but all of us were glad to be in our own beds Sunday night! The girls did GREAT going home, too. Ivy Jane slept most of the way and then was just content as could be with her blanket. milk, snacks & a few toys...
Poor Georgia slept all but the last hour. That sweet baby girl was worn slap out!

Georgia's Words

2011-10-05T23:54:00.005-05:00

I don't want to forget any of the things Georgia Claire has said to me, especially in the last couple of days. Last night I let the girls take a bath in our big jetted tub. When I asked them if they wanted to take a bath in Momma's big bathtub, Georgia replied, "Yes! Take bath big momma tub!" I didn't like the way "big momma" sounded, so I said, "Momma's big bathtub!" and she said, "Yes! Big momma tub!" I hope I'm never referred to as "Big Momma", but I guess there are worse things to be called!

Tonight I enjoyed snuggling with her reading books before bed (it's rare when she wants to read with me--usually "Daddy read!" is what we hear!). She always wants us to lie on the floor right beside her bed with her big floor pillows under our head while she lies on her bed. Tonight, however, she wanted to lie on top of me! After reading several books, including a few verses from her Bible (and after my rear end went numb) she climbed into bed & we started singing. After song time I asked her if she wanted to pray tonight instead of Momma praying and she whispered, "Yes". So, I helped her get started and this is what she said, "Thank you God Momma and Miss Amy and Miss Jessica (MDO teachers) and my nose??? and Ibee and Daddy!" I finished up the prayer & she was ready to say good night. I have to admit that I left her room with tears in my eyes and my heart swelling. Thank you, Lord, for all of the sweet (and sometimes not so sweet) words from my two-year-old!

Super FUN & Super BUSY weekend!

2011-10-04T23:36:00.008-05:00

Saturday evening began a very fun, but very busy 24 hours! Some friends of ours (that we knew in Texas) live here in Louisiana & invited us to a small birthday party with a bounce house! I LOVE this picture of Ivy Jane sitting in the bounce house while her friends Parker & Phoebe jumped around her. She was SQUEALING & clapping her hands!

Georgia REALLY enjoyed it, too. The big kids were so good to let the little ones play...
Shelby was singing songs with Georgia on our way home when we noticed she quit singing! This is what we found...
Poor baby was WORN OUT! And she was NOT happy when I brought her in the house & put her in the bath. I HAD to bathe her though...her feet were BLACK & she had birthday cake face! I washed her quickly & she went to bed. I always feel like they rest better if they are clean...I know I do!

It was SO pretty on Sunday that we decided to spend a little time at a local park. There was a LOT of static electricity on the slides! Look at Ivy Jane's hair!!!
Georgia is getting so brave! She's decided she REALLY likes the slides. We started on the little one & she quickly wanted to go to the big ones!
This was fun to get to do with Daddy...
All four of us went down together, too! She kept sliding & then saying, "One more time!"

This could possibly be my favorite picture to date! Is this sweet or what?! Can't you just feel the love?
The park even had music!
Later that afternoon we had another birthday party to go to at a farm. The girls LOVES pumping the water & letting the rubber duckies swim!
Georgia & I had a blast on the big jumpy blob thing...
Ivy Jane enjoyed a snack break...
Part of the party was getting to ride out to the pumpkin patch & pick pumpkins! Georgia LOVED it!
SO happy with the pumpkin she found!
Going home...one happy little girl...
And one TIRED little girl!
I LOVE this time of year! Thank you Lord for pumpkin picking, jumping, sliding, swinging, & playing outside without breaking a sweat!

Ju & Steecy

2011-10-04T22:26:00.004-05:00

On Friday we had some special visitors...Julia & Stacy (or Ju & Steecy, as Georgia calls them) came to see us! Julia is married & is pregnant with a baby boy who is due December 1st! It was a treat to have them drive all the way to come visit us at our new home in Louisiana.

Pictures with a two-year-old aren't always the best, but I'm glad to have these memories with Julia & Stacy...

Sweet picture...

I saw a quote on Pinterest the other day that said, "Home is wherever my books are." That is SOOOO Georgia Claire! Stacy & Julia brought her some books which is THE BEST gift! I love this...

Reading more books with Julia...
Georgia liked Julia's purple in her hair!
A little blurry, but so sweet! Cooking & eating in Georgia's kitchen!
We love you, Julia! Thank you for giving us THE GREATEST gift!

Daddy's Girl

2011-09-29T21:49:00.003-05:00

Georgia Claire is attached to her daddy as soon as he gets in the door in the evenings, whether he's on the phone, sitting in his recliner, eating supper, or even in the bathroom! Last week when he was mowing the yard she followed him back and forth. It was THE CUTEST thing and of course I didn't get a picture of it! BUT, I did snag a few pictures when Shelby took a phone call one evening as I was finishing up supper...

I think at this point she started getting bored but there was no way she was letting her daddy put her down!

The phone call was LONG...

She & Ivy Jane still love Momma, too! YAY! Tonight, as I was rocking Ivy Jane, Georgia said, "Momma Rock!" She climbed up into my lap & then said, "Sing songs!" I AM BLESSED...

Talking, Walking, & Teething

2011-09-28T22:07:00.008-05:00

The girls are just so much fun right now. I'm loving this stage, even though there are times that I want to pull my hair out. Those times are definitely few & far between though & I am so thankful for these two little girls! Georgia saying, "Momma, hold you!" is probably THE BEST thing that she says. Oh, and don't forget the way she says, "One more time!" or "Cookie Monster" or "I be white back, OK?" or when she's cold after her bath & wants to wrap up in her towel and cuddle with her daddy and then me. She loves to sing songs with us...she sings in the car & she sings when she's going to sleep. She loves "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and "Jesus Loves Me". She also loves Granby's song "Black Cows"...we sing those three songs at LEAST three times a day! She always says, "Momma, hand!" when we are in the car, asking for me to hold her hand. Monday night she wanted to read the book, Just in Case You Ever Wonder (she calls it "God") and she sat on the edge of the bed, while I sat on the floor, held my hand, and listened intently to every word. Does she even know what an angel she is? I got tears in my eyes as she cuddled up closely to me. It's like she knew what the book was saying. If you have never read the book, you must! Georgia is a precious big sister to Ivy Jane. Whenever Ivy Jane cries, Georgia says, "What's wrong? I-bee hurt? She ok?" I love that little girl and her BIG heart.

Here are three of my favorite pictures from the last couple of weeks...

She ALWAYS puts her play glasses on upside down! Ha!

She LOVES to read (I love her little crossed ankles in this pic)...
And this picture makes me smile! Bubbles & milk, what else could a girl want?!
Sweet Ivy Jane has not been so sweet lately. Poor baby...she's cutting a LOT of teeth & is just not feeling well. This has been the face I've seen a lot the last few days...

Why play with the toys in the basket when YOU yourself can get in the basket?!

Mimi made this apron for Georgia & Shelby put it on Ivy Jane the other night while they were "cooking". Such a cutie in her pink gown & apron standing at the kitchen!

She is walking ALL over the place & doing so well. Shelby & I just smile & laugh at her "teeter tottering" around. Every day she goes a little farther & keeps her balance a little better. I can't wait until the day when she is running after her big sister! She's now saying "puh puh" for puzzles, "park", "pa" for paci, and when we ask her if she wants to do something she says, "myeah" for "yes". We realized last night that she is about the same age now that Georgia was when we brought Ivy Jane home from the hospital! What?! It's hard to believe that really. What a FABULOUS time we have had as a family of four. I love my little family.

AAANNNDDD she's walking!

2011-09-22T15:20:00.003-05:00

Ivy Jane is officially walking! She has been so close for awhile, but in the past week she has gotten stronger and walked farther and more often each and every day!

We practiced a lot outside. She LOVES being outside & walking up and down the sidewalk!

Hanging on...about to take off (WITH her purse, of course!)...
And she LOVES to climb...up on chairs, on tables, beds, etc! She loves this little rocking chair...
And this chair in our living room...
SO determined...holding her mouth just right and her arms up!
I LOVE the beginning stages of walking! She is SO proud of herself & it is absolutely hilarious watching her take these little "granny" steps...
Looks like I just got a WHOLE LOT busier, but I love it! =)

Cooking & Sewing with Granby & Mimi

2011-09-22T14:38:00.005-05:00

Shelby's parents, or Granby & Mimi as they are known nowadays, came to visit this past week. From the moment they walked in the door Georgia Claire did not want to leave their side. "Granby cook!"

Poor Granby didn't get a break. He would stop "cooking" and she would say, "Granby COOK!" It was like, what do you think you're doing?! He & Georgia cooked lots of great food for Mimi & Ivy Jane...
Lots of tower building...
AND, Mimi made BEAUTIFUL curtains for our living room, dining room, and master bedroom! I honestly cannot believe she was able to do it all with her little "helper"! Georgia LOVED being by Mimi's side helping her pin...
Helping her fold...
and then going to get her chair & actually sitting ON the fabric!
Granby & Ivy Jane got tired waiting for them to finish, so they napped together...
Taking a break from sewing to sing a few songs...
Georgia LOVED helping Mimi with the sewing machine!
Because Mimi was still busy sewing at bedtime, Granby got to read books & sing songs with Georgia. I THINK she enjoyed it!
We always LOVE our visits with Granby & Mimi! I'll post pictures of the curtains later! A HUGE THANK YOU to Paula (Mimi)!

"GrandmaPawpaw"

2011-09-22T13:56:00.004-05:00

Although I miss my family tremendously, I love the fact that we are only a little over and hour away and we can tag along with Shelby when he has to go back to East Texas to work. Georgia always says, "GrandmaPawpaw's!" It's one compound word in her two-year-old vocabulary. We've seen them the last three Wednesdays in a row. Last week I remembered the camera.

Right in the door, Georgia goes to the play room, gets books, climbs up on the couch by Dad and says, "PawPaw read books!" SO, like a good PawPaw does, he read and he read and he read!

The hummingbirds have been migrating and Dad has nicknamed himself their "sugar daddy"! Ha! He has been filling up the feeders twice a day and has counted as many as 20 at a time! Every once in a while one will get disoriented and find it's way in his shop and he has to climb up on the ladder to rescue it. This time he brought one in to show Georgia & Ivy Jane...
Georgia didn't want to get too close & Ivy Jane didn't stop long enough to even see it!
Ivy Jane has started laughing at herself...becoming quite the little ham. Georgia was obviously not very amused when I took this picture!
"Momma tickle!"
Paw Paw & Ivy Jane going to feed pear scraps to the donkeys...
Nice relaxing day spent at "GrandmaPawPaw's"!

Success!

2011-09-11T21:24:00.003-05:00

(Sorry about the blurry spot on the pictures...sticky fingers were touching my camera lens!)

Georgia had a successful night's sleep and nap time today! WOOHOO! When we went to bed I told Shelby that I expected her to fall off the bed and probably get disoriented and cry, but SHE DIDN'T! Shelby & I were talking about how well she does with transitions...giving up her paci, making the move to Louisiana, starting MDO, moving into her "big guh bed"...she has been such a champ with it all! =)

At 7:15 I checked on her and this is what I saw...

AND, she was awake about 30 minutes later, and SO happy! Momma was SO happy, too!

Big Guh Bed

2011-09-10T21:27:00.008-05:00

Georgia sleeps FABULOUSLY in her crib, but we've known the time was coming for her to transition to a "big girl bed". I thought about making the transition when we moved but Shelby & I decided that we needed to make the move with some familiarity for her. So, we decided last night that it was time for her to make the change. We started talking it up with her last night and went to Target today and bought a wooden toddler bed that her crib mattress fits into. She was so excited to help her Daddy with her "big guh bed". She kept saying, "I help Daddy big guh bed"! Those last three words in the phrase she would say really quickly...so cute!

Here they are taking down the crib...I use the term "they" loosely!

And the assembly begins...
We watched her VERY closely with this screwdriver, but she was SO excited to help!
Even Ivy Jane got in on the action...
The last piece...the crib aquarium. We can't part with it just yet!
Ivy Jane climbed right up and had to check out the aquarium. Don't you just love that little Elmo booty?! She is squealing with excitement!
Georgia took a two hour nap in her new bed today! It was a little hard for her to go to sleep, but after her Daddy read books I went in and sang a few songs and she fell asleep! When she woke up she sat in her bed and stayed there until I went in to her room. When I opened the door she said, "Hi Momma!" and I said, "Hi Georgia! Are you ready to get out of bed?" and she said, "YES!" and hopped down. I don't know if she thought she couldn't get out or wasn't supposed to, but it was too cute! Fast forward to tonight at bedtime...again, it took longer to go to sleep than normal, but by 9:00 she was asleep. Here is our sweet girl snoring...

We are keeping our fingers crossed that our "big girl" has a good night's sleep in her new bed! I'll let you know!

Therapeutic Day

2011-09-09T15:20:00.005-05:00

I feel guilty for saying it (OK, not THAT guilty), but today was FABULOUS! For the first time since Ivy Jane was born I had a day to myself (from 8:30-2:00)! The girls started Mom's Day Out today and they both did SO WELL! Shelby & I have been praying that they would have fun & WANT to go. We've been "talking it up" with Georgia telling her that she would have new friends to play with a whole room of new toys. She said this morning she was ready to "play new friends"!

Here they are with their bags--YES, they are as big as they are--ready to go! (These were the best pictures I could get!

Ivy Jane was the first to be dropped off and she did AWESOME! You would think she was going to her Grandma or Mimi! It was quick and painless! Yes! Ok, now to the 2 year old class. Georgia and I had been talking about what would be in her classroom and she said she wanted to "weed books" and "pay pupples" (puzzles). Guess what we went right to? The books and the puzzles! Yesss! I stayed a few minutes and then told her I was going to go for a bit. This is how our conversation went...

Me: "Are you going to have fun with your new friends?"

Georgia: "Yes!"

Me: "Are you going to be a good girl?"

Georgia "Yes! Bye bye Momma!" and she hugged my neck and did not look back!

Seriously?! I cannot believe how smooth it went. I tried not to run out of the church or smile too big when I was leaving, but it was such a relief that they were both happy! =) I shopped the WHOLE time by myself and had soup & salad at Jason's Deli by myself! It was DIVINE! It truly was like therapy for me.

I picked up Georgia first and she was helping fold the nap mats. Her teacher said she did not nap, however she laid quietly on her mat for and hour and a half. She had a great day and came home and wanted to go straight to bed! When we picked up Ivy Jane she was laughing and eating goldfish. Her teacher said, "You were right! She does love ALLLL kinds of food!" Apparently she ate her food and her friend's food to her left and her friend's food to the right, too! That girl can eat! =)

So, today I am very thankful for a great, kid-friendly, God-loving environment for my girls to go for a few hours two days a week!

2011-09-08T15:18:00.004-05:00

I had to go back to East Texas on Wednesday for a doctor's appointment and I wanted to check on Mom. She had arthroscopic knee surgery but was home by 10:30! When Dad called Kathy to tell her that Mom was out of surgery at 7:45, Mary Katherine said, "MAN! Grandma is GOOD at surgery!" Hahaha! Hopefully this will help the knee swelling and pain Mom has been having. She's doing well and on the mend. She has her cell phone on her bed and is calling Dad when she needs something. Dad said he was about ready to take her phone away! =)

On our way there, Georgia read and read and read...I'm sure everyone that reads this knows about the wildfires going on around Texas. East Texas has been hit pretty hard. The smoke is awful. Here's a picture as I was heading into town.
It smells like one giant campfire. Thank goodness my family is ok, but we know a fire can happen at any time! Mom & Dad have even made a list of things they will grab if they have to evacuate. Dad spent Tuesday working on making sure the Christmas trees were ok. Using the tractor, he dug a ditch around the perimeter of the trees to hopefully stop a fire, if one should start. Scary times but it seems to be getting better! We all need rain SO bad!

We spent the day with Kathy and Caroline, since Mom was recuperating from her surgery. Ivy Jane thoroughly enjoyed jumping on the chair with Caroline! She was cackling!

Caroline & Georgia enjoyed cuddling on Caroline's bed and reading before naptime...

We had a great day, just hanging out with family and playing. Every night before I get in bed I HAVE to go in and check on both girls. I can't sleep until I look at them one last time. I was glad I checked on Ivy Jane last night because this is what I found...
Doesn't she look SO uncomfortable?! I pulled her around and straightened her pillow, blankets, etc. and she didn't flinch! I guess she wore herself out!

SO thankful for a good night's sleep, for comfy beds to come home to, and for cousin play time!

Sweater Weather

2011-09-04T22:04:00.005-05:00

That's the title of the blog background I picked...I LOVE THE FALL & CANNOT WAIT UNTIL "SWEATER WEATHER"! Things are changing...Ivy Jane is growing up-she'll be 13 months old tomorrow, football is all over our DVR, and the temperatures were in the 80's today & supposed to be in the 50's Tuesday night! WOW! We've had another great weekend, although we were not able to go to church this morning. I took the girls to the doctor Friday and found out they both had a virus-cough, runny nose, congestion, etc. but they are on the mend! So, instead of going to church this morning, we enjoyed our day at home. It really was a GREAT day-breakfast together, watching church on tv, reading, playing, watching Sesame Street, eating lunch together, taking a nap, watching football, taking a walk, working in the yard, eating supper together, and playing a little more before bath, books, and bed!

Ivy Jane is SO close to walking. She's learned that she can open the door to the refrigerator. I love watching her when she thinks no one is...

I can hear her thoughts--"Why did you just take my picture? I'm hungry...a little help here, please!"
We played A LOT this weekend. Friday evening after supper we "ate" again in Georgia's room while Daddy cleaned up the kitchen...
We also read A LOT! Georgia would read books all day long if I let her! Tonight we were outside and she said, "I read books, OK? Be right back Momma." She went inside, and came back out with her three favorites...Hop on Pop, Goodnight Moon, & Elmo's ABC's.
And, I'm afraid to say it, but my sweet little 2 year old has become a football fan! I got her bathed tonight and she said, "Where'd Daddy go?" and then I said, "He's in the living room!"...to which she replied, "Watch football!" She ran into the living room with her towel around her and was mesmerized by the Aggies! Here she is with her Daddy watching football...
She started crying when we told her it was time for bed, saying, "I watch football Daddy!" Her Daddy quickly told her that it was OK, that they would have FOUR nights next week to watch football...ugh!

Ivy Jane is happy as a lark in this little rocking chair. She climbs up in it and rocks and smiles and laughs-sweet baby! She will be 13 months old tomorrow and tonight I officially stopped nursing her. I was sadder than I thought I'd be! I thought she might cry and wonder why I wasn't feeding her, but she had her whole milk, we brushed her teeth, I read her a couple of books, sang a few songs, put her in bed and she didn't make a peep! My baby is growing up.
I made a fort under our dining table and we read books, used flashlights, and played. They THOROUGHLY enjoyed it!
It has been a GREAT weekend and we have ONE MORE DAY at home with Shelby-yippee! =) I can't wait for those "sweater weather" temps later in the week...

16 Years

2011-08-29T22:43:00.005-05:00

16 years ago today Shelby & I had our first date. Tonight, we celebrated with our two baby girls! Our celebration consisted of eating out at a KFR (Kid Friendly Restaurant), going to Kirkland's to buy a lamp, and grocery shopping. Although Shelby & I didn't have a romantic dinner reminiscing about the last 16 years, (have we EVER had a romantic dinner?!?!?) we got lots of smiles, hugs & laughs at supper from two special little ladies. After groceries, it was home for baths and play time before bedtime stories, milk, and cuddling with our two little loves. That's one of the things I love most about having babies. They have a way of making you slow down and enjoy the simple things in life. I am totally content and in my happy place when I am surrounded by my family, doing the simple things like helping Georgia mark off the groceries on our shopping list or tickling Ivy Jane until she belly laughs or singing the Elmo alphabet rap with Shelby while our girls laugh and clap...thank you, Lord, for this sweet family you have given me!

Miss Independent

2011-08-29T15:30:00.003-05:00

Georgia & Ivy Jane received a package in the mail today from Mimi & Aunt Heather. Georgia had a Sesame Street t-shirt & stickers and Ivy Jane had a shirt & book. Georgia was SOOOO excited when she saw the shirt that she immediately started taking her dress off and wanting to put the t-shirt on. When I tried to help her, she said, "No Momma! Joja do it!" So, like every other time she gets dressed, I let her try & try at it until she finally gives up and says, "Momma do it!" I must say I got the best laugh as I was chasing her around the living room with the camera. She was squealing and laughing and drooling (I think she's cutting her 2 year molars). Here are the pictures of "Miss Independent" trying to get dressed herself! And notice she's still wearing her bloomers from the dress she was wearing earlier...too excited to get the t-shirt on to stop and take the bloomers off!

Finally, she gave up and asked me to do it...thanks, Mimi & Heather for the goodies (and the great laugh that came with them)!

Spaghetti Faces & Hooded Monsters

2011-08-24T21:49:00.005-05:00

Shelby thought he would be home about 5:30 tonight, and I've been trying to have supper ready so that we can eat when he walks through the door. The girls are always so ready to eat...it's all I can do to keep them happy until time to eat. At 5:35 Shelby was still at work, and Georgia had climbed into her booster seat and had her strap buckled so I decided to go ahead and let them eat!

Ivy Jane LOVES to eat! I have not found a thing that she doesn't like. She's learning to use a spoon and is loving the process and I love watching her figure it out! I learned a long time ago that spaghetti night means stripping both girls down to their diaper and heading straight to bath afterwards!

She wouldn't stop eating to smile at the camera!

She ate every bite of her garlic toast!

Georgia's eating habits are a little less desirable these days. She does love spaghetti, but she didn't touch anything else...ugh. I would say that is my biggest stress as a mom lately...mealtime with the 2 year old who has decided she's a picky eater...

Have I said lately how much I love these little girls?! Picky eater or not...I think I'll keep them both! =) GREAT facial expressions...
They were so messy that I ran their bath water while they were still strapped in their seats and then I took them STRAIGHT to the bath! Shelby got home while they were playing in the bath. I'd say they were glad he was home!

I just love the hooded towels...

Cutest little hooded monsters I've ever seen!

Today I am thankful for spaghetti faces and hooded monsters! I really am loving the life that God has blessed me with, and I do not take it for granted. The way Ivy Jane belly laughs and Georgia counts, "One, two, fwee, fi, six, seben, eight, nine, ten" (she always leaves out four) are priceless. I hope I never forget those sounds.

Peek-a-Boo in Momma's Closet

2011-08-24T14:02:00.002-05:00

While I was getting ready today Ivy Jane and Georgia were giggling in my closet. I knew it was probably a kodak moment waiting to happen, so I ran to get my camera & this is what I found!

Peek-a-boo Ivy Jane!
Big Sis joins in...I loved hearing their "sister talk"...
Peek-a-boo little sweeties!

Alee Update

2011-08-22T15:30:00.002-05:00

I just realized I never updated everyone on Alee. She got to go home last Wednesday! YAY! She started talking a little, saying Momma, Daddy, & Baby. She even got up and walked on Tuesday evening, even when the doctors thought it might not be possible. She's a fighter, but still has a journey ahead of her. A cure has not been found for Tubular Sclerosis, but we know that with God all things are possible! Please continue to pray for her and her parents.

Fun with Family

2011-08-22T14:11:00.009-05:00

Shelby was able to take a couple days off so we headed to see his family. Taking a trip with a one-year-old & a two-year-old is not exactly easy, but knowing the girls are comfy at Granby & Mimi's house is a comfort to me. We had a great few days and Shelby & I got to go shopping one afternoon & out to eat one evening-just the two of us & it was glorious! Shelby had to work in Kilgore on Wednesday, so it worked out that the girls & I could go with him that morning and spend the day with my parents (AND we'd be one hour closer to our destination)!

Mom & Dad have a little rocking chair that Ivy Jane learned she could climb into and she was so proud of herself. Look at this happy little face...

And then she figured out she could play peek-a-boo in the curtains!
Georgia & I played and played with the Fisher Price little people garage. She enjoyed putting every chair that she could find on top of the garage...of course!
We got to Granby & Mimi's house Wednesday night and played awhile before getting in bed late. The next morning we slept late, ate breakfast, and played until time for lunch!
Going to meet Granby for lunch...
Sisters waiting on lunch at the tea room...
Georgia REALLY enjoyed the chocolate cake & ice cream that Mimi shared with her...
Shelby's Grandma sold her house last month and moved into a retirement center that is WONDERFUL! She has a small apartment with huge windows...the perfect space for her! It is like a very nice hotel with a small library, grocery store, hair salon, dining room, etc. She lives alone but her best friend lives in an apartment nearby & she is enjoying playing bingo twice a week! =) She reserved a special family dining room for us Thursday evening to eat dinner together. It was so nice and afterwards we enjoyed visiting with her at her new pad!

Georgia warmed up to her when she started reading her Elmo books!

She's too busy to take a "normal" picture with Momma...
She LOVES her Mimi & Ivy Jane was enjoying "getting" her sister! =)
I'd say Georgia got comfy...
Ivy Jane climbed in the booster seat that was on the floor and ate pineapple sherbet from Grandma...Georgia warmed up REALLY quickly to future uncle Julian. His nickname is Jules, but Georgia calls him Juice! Having a snack...

Reading books...

Playing with toys...

Watching Cookie Monster in the media room!

As great as the trip was, it's always good to get home, get back on a schedule, get the laundry done, and sleep in our own beds! Thanks for a great visit Granby, Mimi, Heather, Jules, & Great Grandma!

Prayer for Alee

2011-08-14T20:47:00.004-05:00

Look at this sweet little angel named Alee...

She's in the hospital tonight intubated and sedated after having a seizure for more than an hour last night. Her mom Mindee is a sweet friend of mine, and an awesome teacher in Kathy's Mother's Day Out program. (She would have been Georgia's teacher this year...wahhh!) Alee was diagnosed with Tubular Sclerosis when she was about 9 months old. Unfortunately, there is no cure for it. Kathy, Mom & I were able to see her tonight at the hospital. Mindee is asking specifically for prayer tomorrow. IF Alee's brain activity levels out they will take the tube out and off the sedation and Mindee is scared. She wants her Alee back, but they know she had some brain damage since the seizure lasted so long. Please pray specifically for MINIMAL brain damage and that Alee is Alee when she wakes up. What a privilege it is to be able to pray for our friends and loved ones. God is able to MOVE mountains and I'm believing that He is going to move the mountains for Alee and her family!

New Beginnings

2011-08-13T22:18:00.006-05:00

Mornings are one of my favorite times of the day...the girls have serious bedhead, and huge smiles & hugs for Momma, and we start the day out refreshed and renewed (most days)! They usually hang out in my bathroom with me while I get ready. I bring a basket of toys and lock both doors so they can't get out! Georgia loves her baby doll...I think she's under all of those blankets!

Ivy Jane has learned to love books just as much as her big sis! We usually have at least one or two arguments over books each day!

School started here in Louisiana this past week. As I was shopping in Target with my girls one day I saw a mom and her two little girls shopping for school supplies. I looked at them for a second and thought, "that will be me in NO TIME!" I cannot believe I already have a two year old and a one year old. As I was loading yet another box of diapers into my shopping cart I said a prayer of thanksgiving...right then and there. Thank you Lord for these baby girls...thank you that I can stay home with them...thank you for Shelby's job that allows me the PRIVILEGE of staying home with them. This time of year always makes me miss teaching a bit, but then I snap out of it! =)

I came across this prayer in another blog and I had to share it with my friends who are facing a new school year! May your year be blessed!

Here we are again, Lord. Their backpacks are loaded and their faces are scrubbed and their lunch accounts are full. And I know you'll walk with them, Lord. You always do. But a mom still has to ask. Will You walk with them? Will You whisper to them what they need to hear, when I'm not there to whisper it? Will You please, oh please, cover their school with the protection only You can give, and will You keep harm far away? Will You make their minds strong and ready to learn? Will You help them understand that hard work honors the One who created them? Will You guide their teachers, giving them patience and wisdom and creativity and even more patience? Will You bless them for their efforts? Will You love all those children there, the ones whose lunch accounts aren't full, the ones who feel alone? Will You teach my children to be kind and unselfish and to love those who are different from them? Will You point them back toward home just as soon as you can? Lord, I give them to You today and everyday, trusting them to Your care. Amen.

One of Shelby's friends at work invited us to his daughter's first birthday. We went this morning and had a FANTASTIC time! Adley turned one...just FIVE days after Ivy Jane! In all there were 7 families with 12 kiddos ranging from about 9 weeks-5 years!
Shelby really likes the guys he works with and I'm so thankful. Most of them are new to the area, too, so it's great having connections with people who are in the same boat as us.
Since we moved (really since we first found out we were moving) I've been praying for friends for us, but especially the girls. Looks like we may have found ourselves some friends! The wives have jobs like...OT, dental hygenist, HR recruiter, kindergarten teacher & there is one other stay-at-home-mom...YAY!!!! Thank you, Lord, for new beginnings!

Trying to remember everything...

2011-08-10T08:24:00.006-05:00

So I see my blog as an online baby book in a way...one that I can go back to & find the dates, etc. when the girls performed certain skills, especially since I am SOOOO behind on their baby books! Ugh. I'm horrible when it comes to scrapbooking, baby books, etc. I HAVE to be better at that. So, I'm blogging this morning to add a few things that Georgia is saying & that Ivy Jane is doing right now that I forgot to mention on the previous post. I want to remember EVERYTHING they are doing and saying because it changes so very quickly!

Georgia--

*"No Momma, Jo-ja do it. Jo-ja do it!"...as she buckles herself into her carseat or puts on her pj's or shoes.

*"Help me! Help me!"...as she runs to help me sweep, mop, vacuum or unload the dishwasher. She says "help me" because I always ask her, "Do you want to help me?"

*and "Hold you!"...as she reaches up for one of us to hold her.

Here is her attempt at putting on her pj's by herself. Shelby said it was her first (and ONLY) tube top that she would wear!

Ivy Jane--

*crawling crazy fast!

*cruising around the furniture...yesterday she turned loose and reached from one chair to another

*laughing hysterically (big, belly laughs) at her big sister

*climbing up the stairs (thank goodness for the baby gate!)

Here is Ivy Jane waiting patiently for her sister to wake up from her nap! She kept crawling away and getting more toys!

I love these girls! They definitely keep me on my toes and I'm loving it!

Busy Georgia

2011-08-09T23:36:00.003-05:00

Oh where do I begin about Georgia Claire? She is such a delight! She is totally into ELMO right now...she loves to watch Elmo videos, sing Elmo songs, wear her Elmo t-shirt, and read her Elmo books.

Other things she's doing...

*counts to 10 (when SHE wants to!)

*says "please" & "thank you"

*sings "twinkle twinkle little star" and "Jesus loves you" when we sing it to her

*says "new house" when we drive into our neighborhood & then, like clock work, says "gape" when we drive through the gate

*LOVES her babies...especially rocking & humming to them, and then telling her Daddy & me "baby ni ni...shhhh!"

*makes friends when we go shopping, saying "hi" and "bye"

*"reads" books for a long time. She loves to sit and read while her Daddy or I sit and read.

Here are some favorite pictures of her these last few weeks...

Playing hide 'n seek with me...

Happy girl after spaghetti for supper...
Early morning reading with her baby...
Putting her baby to bed...(she got embarrassed when I came in and saw her covering her up with a blanket & humming to her!)
Sweet 2 year old...

Happy First Birthday, Ivy Jane!

2011-08-09T22:36:00.005-05:00

Ivy Jane turned a year old on August 5th...where did the year go?! She has become such a sweetie pie, but I'm afraid she's going to be my strong-willed one! As the doctor said today at her check-up, there is nothing wrong with strong-willed! It just means that she's going to be a leader one day! Sounds good to me...I'm going with that! =) She weighs 21 pounds, 13 oz and is 30 inches long. She's wearing 18 month clothes and has almost caught up to her big sister! She's saying "momma", "dadda", "no no", "nana" for banana, "cows", "cracker", "paw paw", and LOTS of gibberish...I'm thinking she's going to be caught up with Georgia in her language, too!

On her birthday I went into her bedroom singing "Happy Birthday" to her and here is the sweet little squinty-eyed smile I got in return...

Opening gifts...she was already getting tired, can you tell?!

Kids Table...Georgia is so big!

Happy Birthday girl...
Our attempt at a family picture...Georgia was running around with her cousins and wouldn't stop for a photo!

It's my party and I'll cry if I want to! (Right after this picture, she went to bed!)

Georgia & Caroline playing...the faces say it all!
Three little monkeys jumping on the bed!
The decor...I put pictures of Ivy Jane throughout the year in mason jars. Shelby's mom added pink roses that I bought...it was girly and oh-so-cute!
When Ivy Jane woke up she finally ate her mini strawberry cake and thoroughly enjoyed it!
She was pooped...fell asleep in Daddy's arms at 7:30!
We love you, Ivy Jane! Thank you for being a precious addition to our family. We cannot wait to watch you and Georgia grow up together!

Moving To Louisiana

2011-08-07T15:31:00.006-05:00

Let's see...it's been 4 or so weeks since I last blogged and BOY have we been B-U-S-Y! We've moved to Louisiana and Ivy Jane has turned ONE! In the days that led up to our move we spent a lot of time at mom & dad's house because it was so chaotic at our home with the movers packing. I wanted to make sure that the girls were happy and that their lives were interrupted as little as possible. For a couple of days, Shelby sat at the house with the movers while they packed everything. He's such a good daddy and husband. Let me just say THANK YOU Baker Hughes for packing & moving us...what a LIFESAVER! As crazy as it was, not having to pack a box or load a truck was fabulous!

The girls and I played at Mom & Dad's home and took naps while Shelby and the movers were at our home. Georgia and Ivy Jane like to play in mom's curtains in her living room...I love Georgia's little toes in this picture!

The week before we moved, my Bunco group needed me to sub, and it just happened to be 80's night. SO, Kathy bought me an outfit at Goodwill that was 80's fabulous and afterwards we met up with the family at the farm to shoot some fireworks.
It was windy...we got a little rain right after we took this picture of Georgia...
Our 80's outfits...complete with big dangling earrings, big hair, etc!
The last night we slept in our home we had boxes everywhere but we were so glad to get to sleep in our beds one final night and the girls did GREAT! Thank you, Lord! Georgia was exhausted that night...
We all were...
Georgia got to play at Kathy's house one day while I had an appointment. The girls played dress up...Ava, Mary Katherine, Caroline, Emma, & Georgia. (Ava & Emma are MK's and Caroline's cousins.) I love this picture!

Georgia taking dancing lessons from Caroline...
I could not believe how LARGE the moving truck was! It was impressive. I have to say that I got a huge lump in my throat when it pulled up in front of our home.
The last night in Kilgore we stayed in a hotel because my sister Angie and her family were at Mom & Dad's. The girls did very well again! Although Shelby & I didn't sleep very well. Here they are reading a few books before bed...
Ivy Jane hanging out with Daddy...
My entire side of the family came over on Saturday--the day after we moved to help us unpack and get a few things done. They were SO MUCH help!
This picture cracks me up. Will just decided he wanted to climb up on Paw Paw and sit on his shoulders! He climbed up on the turquoise high chair and then climbed up Dad in a matter of about 5 seconds! Crazy little monkey! (Will looked great, by the way! He's getting taller and seems to be feeling good!)
Joe & Andy supporting Shelby as he hung the monstrous mirror!
We are LOVING our home and the girls have not skipped a beat! We made sure we got their rooms set up first and it seemed to really help. I think having the familiarity of their beds, blankets, toys, etc. made it feel like home. Like Shelby's mom said the other night, "Home is where the heart is!" I have learned that from my sweet little girls. Every time we drive into our neighborhood Georgia says, "NEW HOUSE!" and when we are out and about and she's ready to go home she says, "Go new house!" I will post pics of the house later, as well as Ivy Jane's first birthday party pics. I know I am SOOOO behind on blogging. We just got internet last Thursday and Shelby's parents came that evening and we had Ivy Jane's party on Saturday! So, today is the first day that I felt like I had a few minutes to blog. But, right now I have two little girls waking up from nap...so stay tuned for more posts!

Happy 4th of July!

2011-07-04T15:34:00.008-05:00

We've had a great weekend! Shelby was out of town Tuesday-Friday so he watched the girls Saturday morning while Kathy & I sweated & shopped at Canton! He is a great daddy and I KNOW the girls loved their one-on-one time with him. I was up at 6 AM and Kathy & I were on the road by 7:15 with money in our pockets, sunglasses on, water in the cooler, and lists a mile long! I was so successful, finding lots of great "junk" for the new house--that truly is one of my favorite things to do. Here are some pictures of some of the junk...

I'm adding turquoise into our living room...it makes me happy! I LOVE this old teacher's desk...I've got the perfect spot picked out in the new house for it! (Oh, and notice the $8 IVY street sign--HAD to buy it!)

Two nightstands...
Dining room buffet...
Old door that will be our headboard (for $30!)...
Old turquoise highchair. I'm going to paint Shelby's old one another color and put them at our island for the girls to sit and play with play dough, color, or snack while I'm cooking...

Yesterday we enjoyed our morning & evening with our church family, and had a LONG nap in between. The girls even cooperated and went to sleep early so Shelby & I could watch a movie we had picked up from Redbox-SCORE! However, they did not get the memo that Shelby had the day off and were awake and ready to play at 7 AM! So, I got up and made some yummy blueberry muffins and we enjoyed our day together.

We actually got ready on time for church yesterday and took a few pictures. Georgia is into these play glasses that used to be sunglasses. I popped the lenses out and she LOVES them. She insisted on wearing them in the picture...funny girl!

It has only taken 11 months, but Ivy Jane is starting to REALLY love her Daddy...she's always loved him, of course, but now she sometimes picks him over me!
"Here Momma, milk! Georgia brush teeth!" The child LOVES to brush her teeth & wash her hands!
So happy to be brushing her teeth...
Our nightly routine is to play in Georgia's room...sweet memories!

I'm so in love with my little family and feeling extremely blessed...not only to be an American but to be a child of God! Our Sunday School literature this month is focusing on spiritual freedom and it is going to be SO good! In Galations 4 Paul tells us that we gain many things when we are adopted into God's family...freedom from sin being a HUGE one! God wants us to be part of His family--period. Not because of what we bring to him but simply because He loves us...He DELIBERATELY brought us into His family! I think about how much we love Georgia Claire, as her parents, and how we have been chosen to raise her. We went through the necessary steps to DELIBERATELY bring her into our family. Not only were we chosen by Julia, but I know we were chosen by God to raise her. And then to be chosen again to carry and raise Ivy Jane. I find myself being "weepy" tonight. The love we have for our girls is nothing in comparison to the love our father has for us. Thank you, God, for our spiritual freedom and for wanting US to be in your family. And THANK YOU for choosing US to raise these precious baby girls. Help me to always be the Momma that Georgia Claire & Ivy Jane need me to be.

Our First Goodbye

2011-06-30T21:25:00.004-05:00

On Wednesday Ivy Jane had her last chiropractor and therapy appointments and it was a bit sad! Although we've only known these people since March, they have helped us SO VERY much! Sue, the angelic PT, has 34 years experience and it shows. The first time that she came to our home, Ivy Jane looked like she was "nailed to the floor" (that's the way Sue explained her in the initial report). She laid on the floor and did not roll over or kick her legs like a normal baby...now we know it probably hurt! Ivy Jane has gone from that little baby lying in the floor who was waking up screaming in the night every 3-4 hours to a baby crawling, rolling over, pulling up, standing, and now sleeping 11 hours each night! Hallelujah!!!! Not only is Ivy Jane like a new baby, I feel like a new woman because I'm getting my sleep...and anyone that knows me knows I desperately need my sleep!!!

Normally Sue comes while Georgia is napping, but on Wednesday she had an early cancellation and came before lunch. Georgia wanted to do everything Ivy Jane did. It's hard to believe Ivy Jane used to cry & get mad when Sue came. On Wednesday she couldn't get enough of her...and neither could Georgia!

So, do you think Georgia is comfortable around Sue?!?!?

At this point we are not going to continue therapy when we move to Louisiana, because I know all of the things to do with Ivy Jane. She has made SO much progress. She still has somewhat of a head tilt, but the muscle is not near as tight and her vertebrae are back in alignment! Thank you, Lord! We have been given the name of a pediatric chiropractor that we will probably use occasionally. I am so thankful for ECI, for Sue, and for Dr. Adams. God placed them in our lives to help heal Ivy Jane and she is such a happier baby now! I promised to keep in touch with Sue via email...she wants to know when she starts walking! I promised to stop in and see Dr. Adams when we're back in town and now I'm even facebook friends with his receptionist! The first of many goodbyes to come...

a great day

2011-06-26T14:44:00.002-05:00

Saturday was an all around GREAT day! It was the first Saturday in several weeks that we didn't have something we had to do or somewhere we had to go. Instead, we were able to stay home and get lots done that we wanted to do! I went to the grocery store, Shelby & Dad completed the list of repairs, I made homemade cookies & I'd say the girls both thoroughly enjoyed them...

I paid the bills, we played in the sprinkler,

we had a picnic lunch, we had a nap, Shelby returned some things to Lowe's and got over $100 back! I got the carpet vacuumed & laundry done, & SHELBY & I HAD A DATE NIGHT! Mom & Dad babysat while we got to go to a REAL restaurant and then a little shopping after...it only last 2 1/2 hours but it was heavenly. I love my babies, but I also love my husband dearly and it had been four long weeks since we had a night out by ourselves. We reconnected and it was so great! We ended the day with everyone getting a great night's sleep and we are ready to face a new week! Bring it on!

Thank goodness...

2011-06-24T14:47:00.013-05:00

Wow...thank goodness I'm not getting paid to blog! If blogging was my full-time job I'm sure I would have been fired a LONG time ago! Life as a momma with a 10 month old & a 2 year old has been eating my lunch the last few weeks. It has been CRAZY busy around our house! I've been on the phone with our listing agent with our current home, our closing agent with our new home, our loan processor, our relocation agent, etc. I'm on my 2nd round of antibiotics for the month, fighting a sore throat, fever, and all over achiness. Today is the first day that I have felt like doing any housework, and it SHOWS! Shelby works so hard (he's been traveling back and forth from Louisiana & is TIRED) and the last thing he wants to do is come home and clean, and I don't expect him to. So the floor gets stickier and the dust gets thicker and the carpet gets crumbier, but the girls don't seem to mind! This afternoon I mopped our kitchen floor TWICE...AFTER I scrubbed the really bad spots with a scrub brush...it was BAD people! Planning on tackling the dust and the crumbs tomorrow!

So much has happened since I last blogged...

Georgia has turned TWO! She loves to sit in her rocking chair and watch Elmo!

And she randomly decided to fill her stroller tonight with several shoes, the cap to our Magic Sizing, and her baby underneath it all!

Where have the past two years gone?! Her new favorite thing to say is, "Where'd Daddy go, beebee?" and then she goes through the list of everyone she can think of. She thinks it's so funny. Her language has really picked up...she says a LOT now and we love it. Tonight we were enjoying our night at home and Shelby told Georgia that we were going to relax this weekend--she looked at us and smiled and said, "Wewax!" LOVE IT! We went to Mimi & Granby's house last weekend for one more trip before we move. We went to the Ft. Worth Children's Museum on Saturday...what an AWESOME place! I had been once before when I taught kindergarten but I forgot just how FANTASTIC it is! We will definitely be going back when the girls get older. We could spend an entire day there! We thought it was only appropriate that we get our family picture taken with drilling rig at the "Energy Blast" exhibit...Georgia clearly wanted to be with Aunt Heather...or "Heth" as she calls her!

One of her favorite things to do was shopping at the grocery store...she put things in her shopping cart and then went to the cask register to check out! The giant Light Bright with Mimi was a hit...SOOO cool!
Stacking cups was very interesting...
Driving the ambulance with "Heth"...

Last Sunday we celebrated Shelby's THIRD Father's Day. I surprised him with tickets to the Dallas World Aquarium before we headed home. He loved it, I loved it, Ivy Jane loved it, and Georgia...well, let's just say Georgia was happy to stay in the stroller at a safe distance!

Ivy Jane is now 10 1/2 months old...really hard to believe that I'll be planning a birthday party for a one-year-old soon! She's a sweetheart and definitely a momma's girl.

I'm beginning to think she may be a bit strong-willed...

She & I had a showdown today at nap time. She was EXHAUSTED and I knew she needed a nap. After rocking her to sleep, I put her in her bed, she woke up, stood up and started crying...a mad cry...no tears, just plain ol' mad! After going in to her room every 10 minutes for an hour to lay her back down, she finally gave it up and went to sleep! YESSS...one point for Momma!

We're scheduled to close on our new home on July 8th and will probably be moving the next week! Here is one of the latest pictures. It's supposed to be completely finished on Tuesday...

I'm afraid I'm about to get a WHOLE lot busier!

Georgia Claire's Kitchen

2011-06-08T21:54:00.003-05:00

My little almost-two year old has become quite the domestic queen! Shelby & I bought her a kitchen for her birthday and she has been busy the last couple of days cooking, baking, serving, washing, cleaning, ironing, etc. She LOVES her kitchen! I LOVE her kitchen! It really excites me to watch her playing with it because I used to LOVE playing "kitchen". I told Shelby that I don't know who's more excited about it--Georgia or me! I'm really looking forward to seeing Georgia & Ivy Jane playing and playing and playing together!

I ordered it online and it was delivered in a box-all 75 lbs of it-on Monday evening. Shelby started assembling it at 7:15, I pitched in about 8:30, and we were finishing at 9:15! Whew! There were a LOT of pieces and having two baby girls "helping" didn't exactly help with the time thing!

Georgia was so excited when Shelby started...

I gave the girls a bath and got them ready for bed, and Georgia probably wet her diaper when we came back in the living room and saw the progress Shelby had made. She was running in place she was so excited!!!
She had to TOUCH everything!!!
It was a late night, but we HAD to let her play with it once we got it in her room. She said, "Thank you, Daddy! Thank you, Momma!" She would not quit smiling...and Ivy Jane was trying her best to get in on it, too!
Serving the food she had cooked...
She finally crashed and burned around 10 PM, but we were right back at it yesterday and today! She will randomly look at me and say, "COOK!" and run to her room. This picture cracks me up...she was baking cookies and SO excited about it!
And here we are busy decorating cookies...
SO happy!

PARTY TIME

2011-06-05T21:16:00.009-05:00

We decided at the last minute to have Georgia's 2 year birthday party this past Friday evening. It looks like we will be moving (or at least the movers will be here packing) on her actual birthday, and I wanted to make sure that we had a family party before heading to Louisiana! It worked out that Shelby's parents, as well as his sister Heather & her fiance Julian could come, too! Grandma, Paw Paw, Andy, Kathy, Luke, Mary Katherine & Caroline were all guests. Georgia LOVES it when they all get to come to our house, and so do we! The party was very low key-hamburgers, hot dogs, and all the fixins, and cupcakes & ice cream for dessert! Georgia opened presents and after cupcakes & ice cream we headed outside to play with her favorite thing right now...BUBBLES! It is SO HOT outside right now...we were going to have a cook-out & play outside, but I decided that NO ONE would enjoy that. It was much more enjoyable inside in the A/C!

I cannot believe our big girl is SO BIG! She will be two on June 17th..wow. In the past few weeks, she is saying everything and is a happy happy little girl. Some of our favorite things she now says are, "Idee Nane" for Ivy Jane, "where Daddy go?" (or any other name), "essit, Momma" (or any other name) when she wants you to sit, and our absolute favorite thing is her reading. She will sit and "read" books saying, "momma happy evweeday" over and over and over. It made me tear up the first time I heard her say it. I have no idea why she says it, but I think it is the sweetest thing ever!

Here are some pics from the party!

The best picture of our family of 4...

You'll notice that in most of the pictures Georgia is not smiling! I think she had a good time! Something I've realized is that she gets really quiet in large groups, even when it's family! Maybe she is going to be shy? She is the most comfortable and the craziest when it's just us at our house. Here she is opening one of her gifts...
A pink broom and dust pan from Aunt Heather and future Uncle Julian! She walks around sweeping things and makes a "shussing" sound.
Multi-tasking...she's going to be a great Momma one day!

Sitting with her cupcake tower, a little overwhelmed..."Why is everyone looking at me & singing?"
Shelby & Ivy Jane...
Georgia (and her cupcake) & me!
and we finished the party with BUBBLES!

Georgia's First Haircut!

2011-06-02T16:45:00.003-05:00

This morning we went to run a couple errands before I got the girls ready for the day and before Georgia's FIRST haircut! After I unbuckle her from her carseat she wants to hang out with Ivy Jane while I unload the car. I thought this was so funny I ran to get the camera...legs crossed, just chatting with her little sister! OK, so notice her hair in this picture...kind of "straggly" looking...I can never seem to keep it cute. SO, my hairdresser cut it today for us!

BEFORE...

AND AFTER!
She did SOOOO good! She sat in a booster seat with her penguin cape and did PERFECTLY! When she was done, she got down & did a twirl...all the ladies oohed and aahed. It was TOO CUTE! I just love how it makes her cheeks look even chubbier than they really are! She keeps putting her hands in it. I think it probably feels SO weird to her! With today only being June 2nd and the temperatures reaching 100 degrees, I figure this haircut will be very welcome this summer!
I think she's HAPPY! =)

Twelve Years Today!

2011-05-29T22:25:00.004-05:00

Twelve years ago today I married my best friend. Our ceremony was a beautiful one, that lasted all of about 15 minutes! After the reception, we left in my forest green 1999 VW Jetta with shoe-polished windows, got around the corner from the church and I burst into tears! I said, "I miss my family!", and I'm sure Shelby thought, "Oh my, what have I gotten myself into?" I look back and laugh...family has always meant so much to me. That's one of the things that I loved right away about Shelby. Now, here we are 12 years later, with two little girls, loving our sweet little family of four.

When we first got married I was an admissions counselor at our local community college and Shelby was a lab technician at an analytical lab. We lived in an apartment complex...our neighbors were mainly senior adults. It was quite comical, really. We used to love swimming in the afternoons with a man named Strawberry, a woman named Marie, and every once in a while Billy Bob & Geraldine would come out to visit, as well. We've come a long way since then...Shelby earned his Master's degree in Biology and is now working for one of the top oilfield service companies in the US. I got my teaching certification, taught for 8 years, and now get to spend my days nurturing and raising Georgia Claire & Ivy Jane. I used to dream of the day when I could be a stay-at-home mom, and now I am "living the dream"! Although it's not glamorous, and there are days that I don't get a shower until after Shelby gets home, I wouldn't trade it for any other job. I'm thankful that Shelby loves his job and he takes his job of providing for us so seriously. I'm thankful for the past 12 years and the ups and downs that we have had. One constant that remains...God is always faithful! Thank you, Lord, for these past 12 years and the journey we have been on with you as our guide.

Blessings

2011-05-28T22:28:00.006-05:00

Another busy couple of weeks = one bad blogger. I have to catch you up to speed on the craziness that is happening in the Braman household! I am amazed at how God is working in our move. Last Friday night the for sale sign went in our yard, we had a showing Saturday, and another on Monday. Monday night our realtor came over & told us, "Y'all, we got a FULL PRICE offer! Y'all must be in God's will because this is awesome!" The 2nd people that saw our house wanted it! Suzanne is our realtor and we LOVE her. I taught her son Collin in 6th grade a couple years ago (the year Georgia was born). She is a pastor's wife and has a wonderful heart. She told us the story of the couple that came to see the house...he was in the Navy, and she is 10.5 weeks pregnant. She's had two miscarriages and when they walked into Georgia's room and saw the sign that my friend Kathleen made that says, "For this child we prayed", they knew the house was theirs! =) Suzanne started crying telling us the story! I got chills & immediately knew that God was in this move. I've known all along really, but that was just affirmation that we were in His will. So, we got the offer Monday night and went to Louisiana Tuesday to do some serious house hunting. Another God thing...our realtor that we got matched up with was the TOP Coldwell Banker realtor in the state of Louisiana last year! She is AWESOME! We left Louisiana Tuesday afternoon after signing a contract on a new home! The new home is in a great neighborhood with lots of young families and the elementary school is rated a 10 out of 10...another God thing! SO, we have been filling out paperwork for our home loan and relocation, plus trying to stay present with the girls. We took time today to just be together...we had to move some firewood this morning, but we played a lot, too. We all took a great nap, ate a yummy meal at home, and played until the girls couldn't play any longer.

(((In the midst of everything, I've been reminded this weekend of how blessed we are and how life can change in an instant. The devastation in Missouri & the reports of parents still searching desperately for their children has made me stop and truly try to soak in every minute I have with my family. I cleaned out the girls' closets (yet again) on Friday and was able to get a tub of clothes to a friend who is taking a trailer of items to families in Joplin. Thinking of the moms with babies who have nothing but the clothes on their backs brought tears to my eyes as I looked at the hangers full & drawers full of baby clothes I have for my girls. On top of it all, Shelby got word today that one of the men he works with was killed in a brush hogging accident in Arkansas this morning. He was 52. Shelby knows one son (whom he also works with) and they have another son who is stationed in Afghanistan. I cannot imagine getting word that my Dad had died in an accident. Please remember the McGough family in these next few days, especially.)))

Have I mentioned lately how much I love my baby girls?! Georgia has been so much fun lately, and learning so much, and oozing with personality. She loves to sit and read, and she's totally into her babies. Yesterday she sat her baby in her booster seat and was saying, "Sit beebee, ok? Ok?" She sings to her babies, she puts them in bed, she pats them, she feeds them. I'm LOVING watching her grow and change into a very sweet and loving little girl. Granted, she has her moments & her meltdowns, but she's an absolute doll. She says "peas & thank you", usually now without being prompted. Look at this happy face...

Sweet Ivy Jane. She's pulling up & standing, crawling crazy fast, and babbling like crazy. She LOVES her older sister and is still a momma's girl. Shelby & I think she is going to be super sensitive. She's so sweet!

Georgia taking care of Ivy Jane...playing with bubbles in the wagon.
Georgia was swinging and wanted out. She then said, "I-dee sing!" She wanted me to put Ivy Jane in the swing & then wanted to push her...
Some of the blackberries I picked with Mom & Dad at the farm this morning...I made a fresh blackberry cobbler tonight & we almost ate the ENTIRE thing!
Our supper consisted of fresh vegetables from Mom & Dad's garden...fried squash & green beans (that I picked this morning), new potatoes in white sauce & onion (that we dug this morning), & cornbread...all that was missing was fresh tomatoes...and maybe some okra...and maybe some corn on the cob!
Counting my blessings today, more than ever. I'm so very thankful for the couple who is buying our home and the fact that they are going to love our house as much as we have, thankful for clothes for my family, thankful for a new home, thankful for 2 hour naps, and thankful for fresh fruits & vegetables, just to name a few. Thank you Lord for the bountiful blessings!

My fun girls

2011-05-10T21:50:00.002-05:00

One of my favorite things to do lately is to get Georgia up from her nap with Ivy Jane. Georgia smiles and says, "Hi-ee I-ee!" and Ivy Jane squeals and laughs and almost jumps out of my arms! Yesterday, Georgia said, "I-ee sit!" and patted her bed beside her. After I put Ivy Jane in the bed, she gave her glo-worm to her and then said, "Book, Momma! I-ee book, too, Momma!" So, they sat and played in Georgia's bed for about 10 minutes! Love it!

We play a lot...Georgia had to take a break for some milk...

Ivy Jane is now crawling all over the place...from room to room and pulling up on all the furniture! Peek-a-boo!
And Georgia is still into her baby dolls, even a teddy bear. Girls are SO much fun!

Mother's Day 2011

2011-05-08T22:00:00.008-05:00

Mothers sacrifice a lot for the ones they love. I learned this lesson firsthand from a young girl named Julia two years ago. She chose LIFE for Georgia and placed her with us. I am eternally grateful for her tremendous sacrifice & I pray for her daily...that God would richly bless her life for the incredible gift she gave us, Georgia Claire. We love you, Julia!

I had a great 2nd Mother's Day! As my sister-in-law Heather put it, 2 Mother's Days down and 2 babies in! Another reminder of how blessed I am! I got myself a gift...with Shelby's permission! It came in the mail on Monday and I L-O-V-E it!

Paula, my mother-in-law, works at a flower shop that does BEAUTIFUL arrangements. So, when Shelby walked in with these beautiful flowers I was so surprised and so excited!

Ivy Jane is my precious little baby doll. I love her so very much...such a great addition to this 2nd Mother's Day!
Georgia Claire watering flowers with her Aunt Heather & Mimi...she is my first little angel...I cannot believe she is almost 2 years old! I love this little girl SO SO SO MUCH!
Can't I just get ONE good picture of myself with my girls?
PLEASE?!
Just one?!
I guess not...
My mom, the living, breathing example of Proverbs 31...she is one of my best friends and I love her SO much! She is an awesome Grandma, too!

Another mother that I love dearly, my mother-in-law, Paula. She gave birth to and raised my husband. AND, her granddaughters LOVE their Mimi! I love this picture of Shelby & her...

Will CRAWL for food!

2011-05-04T16:35:00.002-05:00

Ivy Jane's physical therapists came today...they hadn't seen her in 3 weeks. When they came in I told them how excited I was for her to show them all of her tricks. I said, "She's doing all kinds of things, but she's not crawling yet!" YET was obviously the key word because about 30 minutes later SHE WAS CRAWLING! We put toys out for her to go get & played with her on the floor, but she just sat & smiled at us. When we put puffs on the floor, she immediately started crawling! Sue, our PT, said that I needed to make her a shirt, "Will crawl for food!" She would crawl, grab a puff, and sit back and start clapping and waving her arms! She knew she had done something BIG!

Here's her progression...

Licking her lips...thinking about going...

And she's off!
I can ALMOST reach them!
YUMMMM!!!!
Did you see what I just did?!
Sue told me that she would be "graduating" from ECI soon! I asked her if they had ECI in Louisiana, and she said yes but Ivy Jane wouldn't qualify! Since she is now crawling, she is developmentally where she should be! WOW! Her trunk rotation, neck rotation and other movements are perfect. We're still working on the slight head tilt. Dr. Adams, her chiropractor, is still seeing her once a week. Today he was VERY happy with her progress and said, "We still had a slight head tilt, but that just makes for really cute pictures!" =) I'm so proud of our big girl...9 months old tomorrow!

Busy Busy!

2011-05-02T14:07:00.010-05:00

This Momma has been soooo busy! I can't believe the last time I blogged was April 19th. The girls continue to get more and more fun as the days go by and I seem to get busier and busier! Ivy Jane is on the verge of crawling...she has actually made a couple of forward movements last night but I wouldn't call it crawling-just yet! She is becoming "Miss Personality" and really becomes alive after meal time! The child loves to eat! My favorite thing is to watch her laugh at Georgia. Every night after supper we put them in the bath together. I always sit on the edge of the tub with Ivy Jane in her diaper while the water is running. Georgia will run down the hallway when I say, "Go!" and run right up to Ivy Jane. Ivy Jane cackles and throws herself backwards in a back bend. It is HILARIOUS! =) They are becoming best friends and I LOVE IT!

Ivy Jane now has three teeth...I just love her sweet smile!

Last night we were enjoying playing together as a family in Georgia's room. Shelby & I were watching Ivy Jane, thinking she was about to crawl when Shelby looked at Georgia and said, "Oh my gosh!" Thank goodness I had the camera close (imagine that!)...I snapped this picture of Georgia...22 months going on 16! She had my cell phone and had her feet kicked up in the air just talking away!

This is the definition of a 22 month old multi-tasking...fireman's hat, coloring page, and pushing her baby in the stroller!

Little Easter bunny...
Another little Easter bunny...
Two little Easter bunnies having technical difficulties with their ears...

Easter morning dresses...

Girl cousins...Mary Katherine, Ivy Jane, Caroline Leigh, & Georgia Claire...
Georgia was definitely into the egg hunting this year...

So, in the midst of Easter celebrations and playing with and raising our two precious girls, we've been getting our house ready to SELL! Shelby was hand-picked by one of his company's big bosses to be the new District Technical Manager for the ArkLa district...working on projects dealing with the famous Haynesville Shale (largest natural gas field in North America)! The catch is, we have to move. It's not a huge move, but it is an hour away and in LOUISIANA! For the first time ever I will not be a citizen of the great state of Texas! I am BEYOND proud of Shelby and his accomplishments with his job in just the last 2 1/2 years. He is providing for our family and allowing me to stay home, something that I CHERISH! So, we are waiting for the "green light" from the relocation company and then we will officially start house hunting. The best news about the move...Shelby will NOT be traveling (an occasional night away, but no week-long trips)! I am VERY thankful, although I'm afraid I'm about to get A WHOLE LOT BUSIER! =)

Peek-a-Boo

2011-04-19T07:14:00.004-05:00

My phone rang yesterday at about 5:30. My Dad said that he and Mom were going to Luke's baseball game and they would be by in about 20 minutes to get Georgia. I hung up the phone and asked Georgia if she wanted to go bye-bye with Grandma & Paw Paw and she looked at her Daddy & me and said, "Yeah yeah. Bye-Bye Momma! Bye-Bye Daddy!" Uh-you think she loves her Grandma & Paw Paw?! When they picked her up she RAN to the door and started yelling "PAW PAW...BYE BYE!" She left with her folding chair & back pack full of snacks and came back with dirty crocs & a big smile on her face!

Shelby & I had almost 2 whole hours with Miss Ivy Jane. That doesn't happen often & we knew GC was VERY HAPPY, so we enjoyed our one-on-one time with IJ. After she ate supper she started playing peek-a-boo with me in her high chair. She was laughing and smiling SO big...I had to capture it!

Hi Momma...

And laughing hysterically...LOVE this baby girl!

What We've Been Up To...

2011-04-12T23:13:00.006-05:00

I went to get my hair cut & colored today. Georgia was at MDO and Mom watched Ivy for me, so I had a whole TWO hours at the salon reading the trashy gossip magazines...HEAVEN! It's my guilty pleasure...I love seeing the pics of the celebrities out and about all over town! After listening to my stylist talk about her week-long Disney trip with her husband & daughter and her tanning appointments and going out with friends, she asks me, "So, what about you? What have you been up to?" I simply replied, "Me? Oh you know, BABIES!"

That got me to thinking that the last few weeks have been busy with these babies of mine. Georgia Claire is A HOOT! Her new favorite word is, "No!" Sometimes even when she means yes, she says no! Can you say almost TWO?! She's saying lots of words...Momma, Da-ee (Daddy), I-ee (Ivy), Paw Paw, Yamaw (Grandma), Mimi, Kathy, Yi-yine (Caroline), Kate, Luke, peas (please), tank to (thank you), bye-bye, hi, ni-ni (night night), pooboo (peek-a-boo), milk, juice, shoes, bag, ball, cook, ket-ket (blanket), paci, essets (bracelets), poo-poo, pawee (potty), book, house, sing (swing), puppy, cat, bebby (baby), bath, toys, sit, yay, and all of the animal sounds. I was starting to worry because she wasn't saying any two-word phrases like she should be at her age. And then, what seems like overnight, she has started! Her favorite phrase? "No no I-ee!" I was feeding Ivy breakfast the other morning and Georgia was already done but standing beside me watching. Ivy started spitting and I said, "Ivy, no no!" and then Georgia chimed in, "No no I-ee!" She also says, "Momma, shoes!" before we leave the house. As we are pulling out of the driveway I usually hear, "Bye bye house!" She also has learned to say, "Momma peas" or "Da-ee peas" when she needs help or "Tank to Momma" or "Tank to Da-ee" usually when prompted. She's also started taking us by the hand and leading us to her toys. Then she'll look at us and say, "Sit!" Sometimes Shelby will lie down on the floor and try to play but she won't have it! He has to sit up! Tonight during bath time she stood up and was playing peek-a-boo in the shower curtain. Shelby & I were saying "Where's Georgia? Peek-a-boo!" and she started saying "Whes Jo-gia? Pooboo!" After some our normal family play time after bath, Shelby & Georgia settled in to the glider with her blanket & baby, and she looked up at me and said, "Ni-ni, Momma!" and waved bye!

In the last week or so she has really been into her Bitty Baby. Yesterday she hardly put her down. I especially love how she carries her by the foot...poor baby! She pushes the baby in the stroller, we change her clothes (she was wearing one of Ivy's dresses yesterday), we change her diaper, she feeds her, she gives her a bottle, she puts powder on her, she rocks her, etc. It is so very sweet to see a tiny little girl being a little nurturing Momma already! I love it! Here are some pictures I've captured in the last week...

Trying to take her bib off after she fed her...

Putting her in bed & giving her a bottle...
Pushing her in the stroller (notice the upside down shades-she ALWAYS puts them on upside down!-and the bubbles in the other hand!)...
Pushing another baby instead of getting in the bathtub...

Ivy Jane has been busy, too! Between therapy & chiropractor visits, she's quite popular! We go every Wednesday morning for an adjustment and the physical therapist comes to our home every Wednesday afternoon for therapy. We're still not seeing much improvement in her head tilt, but her neck rotation is MUCH improved. The chiropractor said he doesn't expect to see a change this quickly. She still has 8 more weeks of adjustments. She is eating up a storm, has cut her third tooth (one of the top ones is poking through!), but is still not sleeping well. I really think she just gets stiff & uncomfortable because when she wakes up I turn her to a different side or position and she immediately goes back to sleep. The chiropractor assures me that this WILL improve! I'm keeping my fingers crossed! One thing that has improved DRAMATICALLY is her bowel function! Poor baby! She has been constipated for most of her 8 months, and in the last week she has been VERY regular with very little or no strain! Praise the Lord! I never thought I would be so happy to change so many dirty diapers! She is so happy and has the most hysterical laugh. When she sees GC she throws her body out with laughter...it is so funny! I know they are going to be best friends!

I've been doing "therapy" with her each and every day...a few times a day. She's getting better at rolling over and we've been working on reaching over to get a toy and coming back up, getting on all fours and rocking, and playing as she kneels beside a couch cushion. She is doing so much better with ALL OF THESE! I can't wait for Sue to come so that I can show her what we've been doing!

One of her new favorite things is to play the jingle bells...

Tummy time...reaching for toys, rolling over...
Up on all fours rocking...
Lunging forward and face planting! This therapy business is HARD WORK!

So, that's what we've been up to! I haven't had the time or the money to go tan, or go out with friends, or go to Disney World, but I have all I ever wanted right here in my own house! Thank you, Lord for these little miracles that I love so dearly.

Funny Bunnies...

2011-04-06T22:39:00.003-05:00

I've started calling the girls my little funny bunnies at times...times like tonight after church when I was trying to get some new pics of them. It's quite comical, really!

I think you can see Georgia's tonsils in this picture...

Georgia decided to put her arm around Ivy...
I LOVE Ivy's expression...
And we're leaning...
And laughing at Momma! I LOVE my little funny bunnies!

Two Years Later...

2011-04-05T14:54:00.006-05:00

The month of April 2009 was a BIG month for Shelby & me. On April 3, 2009, we found out that we were officially on the list with our agency for birthmothers to see, and about two weeks later (I still cannot believe that!), we were chosen by Julia! Our journey to Georgia really was an amazing one...one that only God could orchestrate. And since her birth, I am continually amazed and awed by how I personally have been blessed in these last two years. All I ever wanted to be was a stay-at-home mom and take care of my home, my children and my husband. My mom was the best stay-at-home mom when we were younger and is still an incredible example of what I believe God wants a mother and wife to be. Granted, I still have a lot to learn (namely how to get the laundry FOLDED & PUT AWAY before I start washing again!) UGH!

Two years ago I was dreaming of having a baby and now God has blessed me with two! Two years ago I was dreaming of giving up my teaching job and now my days revolve around meal time, play time, and nap time! Two years ago Shelby took on the role of being the sole provider for our family and God has blown us away with Shelby's success...He keeps blessing Shelby with raises and promotions...I'm so very proud of him. Two years ago I told my principal that we had been chosen by a birthmother and that I would not be returning the following year to teach. Thinking back he probably thought I was crazy...Georgia Claire had not been born and we had not even met her birthmother, yet I was resigning?! I can remember him saying something like, "Why don't you give it a little time? There's really no need to be in a rush." Now here we are two years later and, as of today, I have an 8 month old & a 21 month old! WOW! How I love my life! Granted there are days when I'm tired & sometimes overwhelmed, but then I capture moments like these and it makes my heart melt! Georgia LOVES giving Ivy kisses...

I'm so thankful that here we are, two years later, loving on two baby girls and loving this life that God has blessed us with. "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him." -1 Corinthians 2:9

Mimi & Granby come for a visit!

2011-03-29T22:05:00.003-05:00

Mimi & Granbarry (or maybe it's Granby since Granbarry is entirely too hard for Georgia to say) came for a visit last weekend! Their visits are always too short, but packed with lots of fun! Barry was a music minister for many years and has written music since he was young. Paula has a beautiful voice and they sing beautifully together! SO, it was quite appropriate that we had a music session with GC's instruments on a whim Friday night! BOTH girls THOROUGHLY enjoyed themselves!

After bath Georgia Claire got Mimi's camera and walked to each of us saying, "Cheese!" and holding up the camera...she definitely knows what a camera is!
Cooking with Granby Saturday morning while everyone else was getting ready...
Letting Ivy Jane taste something delicious to drink and saying, "Mmmmm!"
Trying to get a good family picture of us 4 with all 4 of us smiling & looking at the camera & holding our heads up right is obviously a difficult task!
I promise our girls are happy!
I love this picture...swinging, they were blowing bubbles, riding in the wagon & singing songs with Granby & Mimi! (Ivy Jane cracks me up in this picture!)We love you, Mimi & Granby! Hope we can see you again SOON!

Signs of Spring

2011-03-29T21:53:00.002-05:00

One of my absolute favorite sights of the spring season in East Texas...pink dogwoods!

And trips to the zoo...

Update on Ivy Jane

2011-03-22T20:56:00.007-05:00

Ivy Jane's pediatric chiropractor is FANTASTIC! Another answer to prayer...THANK YOU, LORD! There was no x-ray done (she's too young to be exposed to the radiation) so he performed a thermal scan, instead. The thermal scan detects imbalances in temperature patterns on each side of the spine. If the temperature is not symmetrical, then the patient could be having muscle spasms or some type of nerve interference. What we know from that scan is that her C1 & C2 vertebrae are "jacked". Ok, so that's not the elaborate medical term he used, but basically they are WAY out of alignment-so much so that the C2 is probably pinching a nerve. You can really see it from this picture I took last Friday, after her first adjustment.

You can also see that she is holding her right hip up to balance herself! SO, Thursday she had her first adjustment, followed by one of the worst (or best...depending on how you look at it) poops she's ever had. Weird-and very cool all at the same time! Here she is Friday morning eating cheerios. She has THE BEST appetite...the child eats everything and anything I put in front of her!

Fast forward a few days...she's now had two adjustments and we had her first official physical therapy appointment with Sue today. We are working on rolling over, moving around, stretching, etc. Her muscles are still tight, so I'm still stretching her neck like the initial therapist showed me to do, but I'm also "playing" with Ivy a lot to allow HER to do the stretching. The chiropractor is working on the alignment and then we are moving her around/stretching afterwards to produce the best results. It really makes sense, and we are already seeing results. Sue was impressed today that Ivy Jane was actually holding her head midline and moving around more than her initial assessment. Yea! AND, tonight she rolled over on her own and started scooting backwards after we did some "therapy"! Woohoo! Sue told me that she KNOWS Ivy can do it, and that she's not the least bit worried. She said she just thinks she was not physically capable of moving around because it hurt her too much. Already, just after two adjustments, she seems looser and is twisting her trunk more. She's going to see her every two weeks & her chiropractor is going to see her every week for 10 more weeks. So, by June 1st we should be on our last appointment and they both feel that Ivy Jane will be healed by that time!

Here she is after today's therapy session...you can tell she's tight in her right side still, but it seems to be better already!

Tired baby...therapy is hard work!

And I had to throw in a random picture of Georgia Claire this morning in her princess gown eating her breakfast...her favorite right now is organic granola & a banana!

So, I definitely feel like we are on the right track and we have a great team working with sweet Ivy Jane. The good news is that we caught this early and that the physical therapist could tell there was more going on than just torticollis. Initially I was upset that my pediatrician waited several months & I was scared that she would have long-term effects. I now know that children are moldable and pliable and Ivy Jane is making huge strides...I'm choosing to be positive because I know that I'm doing all that I can as her mother and the professionals working with her are THE BEST! Thank you, God!

Yard Work

2011-03-18T13:50:00.002-05:00

Shelby got out and cleaned up the last of the leaves in our yard last night while the girls & I played in Georgia's room. I opened her window so that we could see Shelby and Georgia thought that was GREAT! She stood on her tiptoes for the longest trying her hardest to see him pass by. She started getting frustrated because she wasn't quite tall enough so I said, "Where's your chair?" She got a huge smile on her face and ran out of the room, was gone for about 30 seconds and reappeared with her little pink chair (which used to be Shelby's little brown chair). That chair gets dragged all over the house. I usually have two trails in the carpet from her dragging it from room to room. She LOVES it! I love the progression in these pictures...

Standing on her tiptoes...

Climbing up in the chair...
Looking and waiting for Daddy to pass by...
"Dada!!!"
SO happy she saw her Daddy!
She is definitely a Daddy's girl...she loves Momma, but would pick him over me any day, I'm afraid!

"Sing!"

2011-03-18T13:37:00.002-05:00

It has been SO pretty here this week, but I'm an allergy sufferer and there's not a whole lot I can take while I'm breastfeeding, so the pollen has kept me inside more than I would like to be! This morning I was doing some laundry, with Georgia Claire's help, & I had the back door open with the glass door closed to let some light in. She saw her swing & said "Sing! Sing! Pees! Pees!" How could I say no to that?! No matter how bad the pollen is or my allergy headache might be later, it's worth it! SO, I loaded up Ivy Jane & her big sis in the wagon and we went to swing. The last couple of times she hasn't really liked it for some reason, but as you can tell from the pictures below that was NOT the case today! I think she would have taken a nap in the swing if I would have let her!

Mother's Intuition

2011-03-16T00:30:00.002-05:00

I believe I met an angel yesterday...and her name is Sue! Sue is Ivy Jane's new physical therapist.

As I've written before, Ivy Jane was diagnosed with toricollis...a shortening and tightening of the neck muscles on one side causing a child's head to tilt and chin to turn. I noticed it early on and asked my doctor about it at her 2 week appointment but she dismissed it and just said that it was her comfortable position. Now we know that it was probably positional...meaning it was more than likely her position in utero. We knew she had a hyperextended leg but that seemed to correct itself. Fast forward 6+ months to her first therapy appointment a few weeks ago. I left feeling defeated. I remember thinking, "that's it?!" We saw a PTA who seemed to watch the clock while we were in therapy...her appointment was at 1:00, she didn't get us until 1:05, and I was walking out at 1:25. After shelling out $100 for that visit and learning that it would be $100 twice a week I started praying for wisdom. Ivy Jane was sick on the day of her second scheduled appointment, so I had to cancel. I remembered hearing about ECI (Early Childhood Intervention) when I was a teacher. I really thought it was for low-income families or those who don't have insurance. What I've since learned is that any family can qualify, regardless of income. My sister Angie is an occupational therapist and advocate for her son Will and told me to DEFINITELY go with ECI. So, I made the call and two weeks ago a caseworker came out for a pre-screening appointment.

Today she came back with a physical therapist named Sue. Today I FINALLY got answers. Today I FINALLY felt like someone was listening. Today I FINALLY had a peace that came over me that only God can give. I don't know if Sue knows it, but she is my answered prayer! She has been a pediatric PT for 34 YEARS! She travels the country teaching other therapists and owns her own therapy company, and works in conjunction with ECI. One of the great things about ECI is THEY come to US! SO, our 1 hour appointment was spent on the living room floor, where Ivy Jane plays every day! Her evaluation was eye opening. She said her tortocollis was "extremely significant"-so much so that she was thinking something else was going on. She didn't give me any new stretches to do but instead, after 30+ minutes of questions about Ivy and us taking her onesie off and looking at her back, neck, etc. she suggested we see a pediatric chiropractor! She thinks IJ is out of alignment after discussing it with her I TOTALLY AGREE! It's like a puzzle and we are thinking that all of her problems are related. Does she sleep well? No, not on her firm baby mattress, but on my soft bed or in her bouncy seat-yes. Is she spoiled? Probably not...she's probably uncomfortable on the firm mattress! How are her bowels? She's usually constipated, which I've always thought was strange since I'm breastfeeding. But, if she's out of alignment that could cause her bowels to not function properly. Does she roll over? Not too well...why? Because it hurts! And the list goes on. WOW. My poor baby has probably been uncomfortable since birth...or possibly even before. SO, we go to the chiropractor on Thursday and I cannot wait to hear what he says. He's a dad of a special needs child so he really has a heart for helping kids who are hurting! I hope he is the answer to Ivy Jane's issues. I know that God leads my life, especially regarding decisions about my babies. I feel like he led me to Sue. So, from now on I'm going with my gut feeling, or mother's intuition.