Time Flies

...when you are having fun AND when you are trying to keep up with a 5 month old and an 18 month old! Five months ago today we were blessed with the arrival of Ivy Jane. It's hard to believe that this little jaundiced baby drowning in her newborn clothes...

Is now this chubby, happy baby barely fitting in her 9 month clothes!

Also, one year ago TODAY is the day that we told our parents and Aunt Heather Georgia Claire's big news....

It's REALLY hard to believe that the little chunky, happy baby in her "Big Sis" shirt is now this happy & funny 18 month old finishing up her milk & brushing her teeth before going to church...

What an exciting year full of fun & happiness! In 2009 we welcomed Georgia Claire, in 2010 we welcomed Ivy Jane, and now in 2011...we're going to ENJOY these two baby girls! They won't be babies for long!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The quote of the night on New Year's Eve came from Shelby, as we are sitting in the living room having a tea party with Mary Katherine & Georgia Claire watching a Strawberry Shortcake movie. I asked him if he was OK, that I thought he was sort of being a bump on a log, and he said, "I'm fine! There's just a little too much estrogen in the room at the moment." Hahahaha! If he thinks there's a lot of estrogen right now just wait until we have two teenage girls! I'm thinking he's probably going to take up hunting or something...an excuse to get out of the house from time to time! =) It's not like our New Year's Eve celebrations have ever been wild and crazy but this year was especially comical. Mary Katherine spent the night with us and we made homemade pizza, played with Georgia's new toys, and were in bed by 10:15. We wouldn't trade it though. Shelby loves his girls...and I think he secretly enjoyed the tea party!

I told Kathy that if Mary Katherine wasn't only five I'd seriously consider hiring her once a week to play with & babysit Georgia Claire. THEY LOVE EACH OTHER! It is PRECIOUS to watch. Mary Katherine kept picking her up and telling her in the sweetest little voice, "You're heavy, you know that Georgia? You're a big girl!" She probably said it 10 times throughout the evening. Georgia kept patting MK on the back and smiling at her. While I got the pizza dough going, the girls read books (Ivy Jane "helped" me in the kitchen).

Then they came in and helped spread the sauce and sprinkle the cheese...
I decided we needed to have a New Year's Eve celebration, so I dug in the pantry and found goldfish, marshmallows, and fruit snacks...Mother of the Year, right?! We also had some sparkling grape juice (Georgia didn't like it, though). Mary Katherine said, "This is SO awesome! Can we do it again in the morning?"
The next morning while Georgia Claire & her daddy were still sleeping, Mary Katherine, Ivy Jane, & I got up and watched a little TV. Ivy enjoyed cuddling with her big cousin!

The Best Christmas Gift

My sister Angie gave us all a very special gift this year. It's a book titled, "Lessons Learned in the Hospital"...Angie is the author and Will is the illustrator. On the inside cover it reads, "This little book is dedicated to all children spending Christmas in the hospital." On the next page it says, "The pictures in this book were drawn and colored by 5 yr old Will 3 days after surgery to remove his lung on October 5, 2010. Some are dot-to-dots drawn by his PawPaw. Will reminds us that miracles happen!

"It's OK to want to sail away sometimes."

"If all else fails...show them your TEETH!"
"There is someone who will always answer when you call."
"We are all vulnerable without protection."
"Sometimes the simplest machines pack the most power!"
"I think I can...I think I can...I KNOW I can! You are as strong as you believe yourself to be!"
"The view is always better up HIGH!"
"Beauty can be found...Anywhere!"
Does this put things into perspective or what?! It's not about fancy gifts or the latest gadgets. This Christmas I really thought about what it all means to me...spending time with our family, creating memories with our girls, counting my blessings of which there are many, and being thankful for the miraculous birth of our savior. What a SPECIAL time of year!

Christmas with Grandma & Paw Paw (and all of the cousins!)

It's a tradition that as soon as we get into Grandma & Paw Paw's neighborhood, Georgia gets to get in the front seat with us. We started that with my nieces & nephews and the tradition continues. I LOVE THIS PICTURE of GC & Shelby...

As soon as I took it she wanted to see the picture and then said, "Momma"...she wanted to take a picture with me, too. So, here ya go...
Ivy Jane got a glo-worm and LOVES it! Georgia loves it, too! We went right home and found the one Stacy had given her last Christmas...I think she had forgotten about it! Now it's one of her babies in her bed with her each night.
Caroline decided that she could be in a "TV" in this box. This kid is HILARIOUS! She's the one when I asked her if she had eaten lunch she said, "No-just a fousand fousand cookies!" When Andy (her daddy) asked her what she ate for lunch she said, "Carrots, candy & cookies!"
Sweet William Robert & Mary Katherine making cookies together.
We celebrated with everyone on Sunday, the day after Christmas because Will had to go back to the hospital last week. Early Sunday morning his fever spiked so they went back to Houston to stay for a couple nights. The IV antibiotics will hopefully clear up any infection he has in his lung. He got to spend the night with Mary Katherine and Caroline...first time ever and he is FIVE. He was beside himself...couldn't wait to go! He's only spent the night away from his mom with his nurse Kathy. SO, spending the night with his cousins was a HUGE deal!

That night Georgia slept from 9:30 until 10:30 the next morning and still took a 3 hour nap! Christmas WORE HER OUT! I think it was a combination of things, really. She's cutting all four of her eye teeth, for one! One toy she couldn't wait to play with was her stroller & baby bottles. She loves being Momma to her babies...

Her new favorite thing to do is get in Ivy's bed with her. She walks over to Ivy's bed, hikes up her leg, looks at me and says, "Pwee?!" meaning "please?!" How can I possibly say no to that?! I can remember being a little girl and always wanting to sleep with my sisters. One of my fondest memories is every Christmas Eve sleeping together in Angie's "big" bed...a full size, and listening for Santa's reindeer! Angie & Kathy used to always make me go and ask..."Mom, Dad, can we sleep together tonight?!" It was always such a HUGE DEAL! I hope our girls are as close as Angie, Kathy & I were and still are. I can't wait to see these two asleep together! =)

Christmas Morning at Our House

We came home on Thursday and the first thing on the agenda: cleaning out and organizing toys. We brought back so many new things that we had to find a place for them! We threw out some old things and are donating some of the gently used toys that we no longer need. Christmas Eve we attended our church's annual "Candlelight & Carols" service where Ivy Jane once again played the part of Baby Jesus. She stole the show...a little angel sitting in the hay looking around wondering why people were singing to her and looking at her, I'm sure!

Christmas morning Georgia Claire slept until 8:30 (I realize our time is VERY limited on this one, folks)! I think my nephew Luke was waking Kathy & Andy up at 5:30 Christmas morning. Here is Georgia coming into the living room seeing what Santa had brought for the first time.

She went straight to the musical instruments...

And then to her table with play dishes, pots & pans & food...

She wanted to kiss every puppet, but wasn't too sure about them being able to "talk" to her...

Ivy Jane got a new exersaucer and she LOVES it! She lasts about 20-30 minutes in it now and I am THRILLED! They are big and take up a lot of space, but SO worth it in my book! Georgia likes to bring her toys to play with while she is in it. Yesterday she took her a book, some play food, and a toy car...LOVE the randomness!

I told Shelby yesterday that my life was about to get a whole lot easier...now that Georgia Claire is walking so well and Ivy Jane can sit up in her exersaucer and bumbo! What am I going to do with myself?! I have a feeling my time will be filled with...changing diapers, rocking, reading books, playing, fixing meals, swinging, etc. I am SO blessed to get to spend each and every day with our girls...THAT, in itself, is the BEST Christmas gift I could ever receive! Georgia Claire & Ivy Jane truly are our Christmas blessings. It's hard to believe that Christmas 2008 was when our adoption journey began and now we have TWO baby girls in 2010! I tear up every time I think about how GOOD God has been to us! Looking forward to lots of fun Christmas mornings at our house with many memories to be made, no matter how early they wake us!

Christmas with Mimi & Grandbarry

Shelby had the whole week of Christmas off and it was GREAT! Georgia REALLY enjoyed having Dadda home for so long. We left last Tuesday to head to Mimi & Grandbarry's home to have Christmas with them. I kept Ivy Jane awake until we were ready to go. She got so mad at me but she slept the entire 3 hours that we were on the road. As you can see, we left at nap time...

Georgia slept 2 hours, which was great. I actually got to recline my seat and read a couple of magazines while Shelby drove and the girls napped...Merry Christmas to ME! =)
On Wednesday Grandbarry had to work until noon so we all loaded up and met him for lunch. Georgia LOVES to wear anyone's and everyone's sunglasses. Here she is "too cool for school" with her Aunt Heather & boyfriend Julian. Georgia loves hanging out with these two and it makes me VERY happy to see them loving our babies the way they do! =) They are TERRIFIC babysitters!
Ivy Jane slept again on the way to the restaurant and throughout lunch and our visit with some friends. We got this picture of her sitting like a perfect little lady with her hands clasped!
We had Italian for lunch and Georgia shared spaghetti with marinara with me...you think she liked it?!
After lunch we went to the home of some longtime friends of Shelby's family. They have a snow village that is INCREDIBLE.

Just a glimpse into our future of little girls playing dress up...Princess Ivy Jane!
Wednesday night it was time to open presents...Ivy Jane enjoyed being surrounded by tissue paper for a while.
I love this picture of Georgia Claire looking in a gift bag that is almost as tall as she is...
Ivy Jane was mesmerized by her crib aquarium...

Georgia and her daddy played with her first dollhouse...LOVE THE FEET!

Before we left, Georgia helped Mimi water her plants. She is such a sweet little helper. I hope she stays that way! =)

We thoroughly enjoyed our time with Mimi & Grandbarry, although it was a short visit. (I realized as I was blogging that I really didn't have any pictures of Mimi & Grandbarry! Oops!)

Merry Christmas 2010!

Lots of pictures to share later, but for now I wanted to wish everyone a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS (a day late)!