Goodbye Peaches of 2009!

Today was the last day of selling peaches at the farm! I had to take a picture of the last 12 that we have to eat! They are always SO PRETTY and SO YUMMY! My dad is the best farmer...a perfectionist! =) We think they are the best in Texas!

Seven Weeks Ago

On June 17, 2009, seven weeks ago today, Georgia Claire was born, and our life was forever changed! Everyone told me the time would fly by and it has! She has been the best baby since the first night we had her in the hotel...

And now here she is-7 weeks older, and at least 4 pounds heavier...

The first question everyone asks is "How old is she?" and then they always ask "Is she sleeping at night?"...to which I gladly respond, "YES!" This baby LOVES to sleep! Her birthmother tells me that she slept a lot when she was pregnant, so maybe she is still on that schedule! Like clock work, she usually goes to sleep at about 10-10:30 each night and sleeps until 5-5:30 each morning...that's SEVEN hours folks! She's on the best little eating and sleeping schedule...I feel SO VERY BLESSED!

I received a phone call from Georgia's birthmother today and I am so thankful for that call! We had a great talk about everything from vacations to Georgia to healthcare to our families to President Obama...I'm so glad she called! I am amazed at how mature and wise she is, at almost 18 years of age. I came across these verses today and it reminded me of her--

"But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no partiality and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of goodness." -James 3:17-18

She has stepped back and allowed this adoption to happen and has been so sincere in doing so. My prayer tonight is that she will reap a harvest of goodness for the peace she has given us with Georgia Claire's life. We love you!

Meeting the Dogs

Jasper and Dudley are our beagles...we got Jasper in January of 2002 and Dudley came in May of the same year. They are such sweet dogs, although they are TRUE BEAGLES and LOVE to get out of the yard and go hunt. Jasper is terribly afraid of storms and would sit in our laps at all times, if we let him! I like to call Dudley "Cudley Dudley" or "Tubby Dudley"...sometimes just "Dud". They have been SO sweet with our nephews and nieces, I knew they would be good with Georgia, too! I took her outside on the back patio this morning and introduced her to them, and they were so sweet. As you can see from the pictures, Dudley was more interested in her than Jasper...I think Jasper was a little jealous, actually! He sniffed around her and then got under the storage building...it's cool under there and that's where they nap during the day.

Here they are sniffing her bouncy seat and meeting her for the first time...

Jasper sniffed around her and then walked away...

Dudley, on the other hand, sniffed her hand...

Sniffed her head...
And then sat down beside her...such a sweet boy!

So, I guess it was a success! I'm sure Jasper and Dudley are in for a lot of pulled ears and hugs around the neck from Georgia Claire some day!

Happy Birthday, Mimi!

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday Dear Paula,

Happy Birthday to you!

Today is Paula's (Mimi's) birthday! The name she has picked out for Georgia to call her is Mimi! I think it is great...like we've said before, we'll see what actually comes out of Georgia's mouth when she starts talking! =) Paula and Barry are vacationing in New Mexico and Colorado for a week or so...we are so jealous! Maybe one summer Shelby, Georgia and I can tag along! We love you Paula and hope you have a wonderful birthday!

I love this picture--the first time Mimi held Georgia...

Georgia's Room

The other day Georgia and I were sitting in the glider together and I started looking around the room. Her WHOLE room is filled with items that friends and family have either made for her or have given us. She is LOVED by so many!

I finally got the "icing on the cake" for Georgia's room and I HAD to post pictures of it now that it's done! Katriana, a very talented friend of mine, painted an old window for us to hang above Georgia Claire's bed. She took swatches of the fabrics we used and copied it onto the window! It is absolutely GORGEOUS!!! Thank you, Katriana!

This picture shows it above her bed...PERFECT!

I bought Georgia's bed from my cousin Matt. His son used it just a few times. I actually bought it a few years ago, thinking we would need it then...my mom used it at her house for awhile, my friend Amanda used it for awhile...now, finally it's our turn!!! Shelby & Dad painted it off-white using Dad's good sprayer that he uses to spray tractor parts...I can't believe he let us use it! Who am I kidding?! He'd do anything for this baby girl or ANY of his grandkids! All of Georgia's bedding, the pillows for the daybed, and the curtains were made by my very talented mother-in-law, Paula. The bumper pad has a soft melon-colored fabric on the inside and the paisley print that I LOVE on the outside, with a turquoise nubby fabric for the ties and cording. The crib skirt is a plaid with the nubby turquoise for a trim on the bottom with tiny pink ball fringe...she is SO GOOD! The "taggy" blanket on the side of the bed is made by my friend Ginger and has Georgia's name embroidered on it...I JUST LOVE IT!

Here is the embroidered picture that my friend Kathleen made for us...it says, "For This Child We Prayed". The bottom is a poem that my friend Angie had matted and framed for us...it's called "Baby" by George McDonald and it brings tears to my eyes every time I read it!

Shelby bought the bird cage at a cool place in Ardmore when he was there for work called "The Cloverleaf"...it is a funky store with lots of cool jewelry, decorations, clothes, and shoes that you will not find anywhere else! If you are ever there, and you like that kind of thing, STOP! It's FABULOUS and it's really handy...right off the interstate! The changing table was Andy's & Kathy's...I just updated it by painting the baskets, the bottom drawer, and adding glass handles to make it fit with the decor in Georgia's room. The small table beside the changing table is one that Shelby's grandparents gave us.
Here is a closer picture of the bird cage...the initials were made by my sister Kathy. I also clothespinned cards and notes that we received for Georgia, as well as her hat and hospital bracelet from her birth.

The pottery was all either garage sale finds or given to us by Shelby's parents or my sister Angie. The small blue cabinet was also given to us by Shelby's parents. The picture frames were made by Kathy, too!

The turquoise chest was given to us by my sister Angie...she no longer wanted it. I bought pink glass knobs to make it a little more "girly". This was the inspiration piece for the room...I wanted turquoise in the room!
This little chair was Shelby's when he was a little boy, but I just painted it. His Grandma bought it for him in an antique store...he used to sit in it! The plate is a state of Georgia plate...Kathy got that for us!
The large picture in the middle is a scene of flowers and birds that my sister Angie made. They are all made from scrapbook paper...all circles or parts of circles...it's so pretty! The 3 bird prints were made by Kathy's kiddos for Shelby on his birthday. He LOVES birds and we were excited to get to use them in her room! The ABC's book is from Shelby's sister, Heather. The small turquoise bird is from Shelby's parents' collection.
And, here is a picture of the daybed (given to us by my parents) in the room...pillows made by Paula and numbered bird cards were given to us by Kathy.
Georgia Claire's room would not fit in with the rest of our house if it was filled with brand-new things! She's going to have to like antiques! =) After all, I DID see her name in the "antique charm" section of the baby book! Thank you to all of you who contributed to making her room so sweet! I think she is going to LOVE it when she is old enough to enjoy it!

Laughing with Aunt Kathy...

My sister Kathy was just saying the other day that this is the time when we will all start acting like crazy people in order to get a smile out of Georgia...well the craziness has started! Now that we know she can and will smile at us, we are all trying to get a smile or grin out of her...Kathy was the recipient of some precious smiles last night. We were at Mom's & Dad's celebrating Dad's birthday a few days late and Kathy & Georgia were hanging out together after supper when I got these pics...

Georgia is copying Kathy, making a funny little face...

I started laughing and she turned and I caught this smile...

And then she was basically laughing at Kathy!

Ohhh...I LOVE THIS LITTLE GIRL!!!

I've been reading this devotional book since January 1st, that my mom gave me for Christmas called "God Calling" by A.J. Russell. It is amazing at how it has spoken directly to Shelby & me over the last 7 months, especially when in the days before Georgia was born! Today it is called "Gratitude" and one sentence that stood out to me said, "Man proves his greatness by his power to see causes for thankfulness in his life." Shelby and I are both so thankful, not only for Georgia's life, but for the whole entire journey to her...thank you, Lord! Georgia Claire is cause for GREAT THANKFULNESS!!!!!

Quality Peach...Second Time Around!

If you've been following the blog, I know you remember this picture of Georgia...taken on June 24th...just one week after she was born! Well, today we were back at the farm selling peaches and I decided to weigh her again!

Today, a little over 6 weeks old, Georgia Claire now weighs 11 POUNDS!!! She weighed 6 lbs 14 oz when she was born! Two weeks ago at the doctor she was 9 lb. 2 oz...I knew she was getting bigger but I had no idea!

She's getting those fat thighs and double chin...I could just eat her up! She is such a sweet baby.

I also had to get a picture of her "talking" to her cow...she LOVES this cow and was just smiling and cooing at it for the longest time! TOO sweet...