11 months old

* Since there is not a 30th this month...we'll say she is 11months today!

M, it is hard to believe that you are 11 months old. It feels like we just brought you home from the hospital. Oh, how you have grown though, so we know that it is true!

* You got 3 more teeth this month, and all within 48 hours (for a total of 6)

* You got your first pair of "real" shoes to help you walk. They are adorable.

* You love to stick out your tongue and blow, because it makes a funny noise.

* When someone say "Awww", you will lay down on a pillow and pretend to sleep.

* You have reached the 20pound mark and are ready to face forward in your car seat. If only your age would catch up to your weight.

* You try to drink out of water bottles like your big sisters. Too bad you get all wet.

* You love to crawl all over your sisters (or whoever may be laying on the floor).

* You love when I open the garage door from inside, you laugh while the door is going up. I don't know why, but you look forward to it everyday when we leave to go pick R up from school.

* You had to go to the ER last week for a stomach bug...you threw up all that was in your tummy and then some. You had your first taste of an orange popsicle, and you LOVED it. You cried when it was gone and I threw the package away.

* You love when Daddy comes home from work. If you are awake when he comes in the door, you will smile and take off from whereever you are to get to him. So sweet!

* You are learning to wave "hello" and "bye bye". You especially love to do this first thing in the morning when I get you out of the bed. You start looking for your sisters and smile as soon as you see them. Then you start waving your arm at them. Just precious!

I cannot believe that you are just a few short weeks away from being ONE. I wish that I could make time stand still. But we would only miss out on all the fantastic stuff that is in store in the future. So, here is to 11 months. They have been wonderful. We love you very much!

So Very Tired!

Tonight after dinner we were playing a board game. About 6:30 R was laying on the floor saying how tired she was. This is not unusual since she is usually the first one of the kiddos up in the mornings, and has gone strong for about 12 hours at this point. So, we finished up the game (which she won) and headed upstairs. She brushed her teeth and Daddy read her a book while A was in the shower (she and M already had baths). I said prayers with her and put her in the bed. She was asleep in no time. About an hour and a half later B and I were watching Survivor downstairs when we hear something upstairs. B goes up to check it out, and this is what we found: R had gotten out of her bed and climbed into our bed...still sound asleep!

Isn't she sooooooo cute!!!!

Her daddy scooped her up (after I went back downstairs for the camera) and put her back in her own bed. She was none the wiser, and will not remember this in the morning.

Good night, sleep tight!

Locks of LOVE

About a year ago A heard about Locks of Love. She decided that she wanted to try to grow her hair out so that she could donate it. Then she found out that her kindergarten teacher, Mrs. A, had breast cancer AGAIN. Mrs. A is in her mid 30's and had a 7 month old at the time (this all happened during A's kindergarten year). A was sure this is what she wanted to do. Then, on Halloween we found out that B's sister, Aunt C (also in her mid 30's) has breast cancer...well this sealed the deal. A was growing her hair out to donate. So, yesterday, after waiting a LONG time for her hair to reach at least 10 inches to donate, we headed to Fantastic Sams (they sponsor Locks of Love, handle mailing the hair in for you, and the haircut if FREE), where A got her hair cut and sent it on to donate. Below are pictures of her process.

Before: her hair is so dark, but you can barely see how long it was...

Here are the ponytails they put in her hair to cut off...

First ponytail is gone...

All gone...

Getting is trimmed up...
All done...what a precious girl.

A, what you did was AWESOME! We are so proud that you chose to think of others. And you look adorable too! We are so proud of you! We love you!

p.s. Aunt C and Mrs. A, this is for you! We love you and pray that you keep kicking cancer where is hurts!

7 years ago

7 years ago yesterday (Sunday, February 18, 2001) I was 36 weeks pregnant with our first child. Despite the fact that I was the size of a house and swollen beyond recognition from my head to my toes...(I could only wear bedroom slippers because my feet were so huge)...I was a happy as could be. The baby was right where I wanted him/her to be. I remember my sister-in-law asking me "Isn't any part of you just ready to have this baby?" To which I replied "No, right now this baby is EASY, I can take him/ her with me whereever I go and I don't have to take any supplies." I should have kept my mouth closed...because only a couple of hours later my water broke. I still had 4 weeks. I was not ready. No bag packed. The house not cleaned. The nursery

was not finished. We hadn't even bought our rocking chair yet. This was not happening.

Well, yes it was. We went to the hospital just to make sure, and yes we were staying, my water had indeed broken. However, I had not even begun to dialate. We waited, and waited, and waited. Finally, around 8am (Monday, February 19th 2001) the doctor came in. I was about 2-3cm and still needed to have my water broken some more. With that out of the way, and needing some sleep, I opted for the epidural...it was GREAT. I couldn't feel a thing..not even when my leg would fall off the side of the bed. We waited some more. Around 4:30pm I finally reached 10cm and we were ready to push! YIPEEE! I was now ready. Once everyone was in place and the doctor was in the room we began. After just a few pushes, our Beautiful Baby Girl was born at 5:12pm. She was perfect. Head full of black hair, blue eyes, and she looked just like me. (smile). She was 7lb 3oz and 21 1/2 inches long. (Yes, big baby for 4 weeks early). She is named after both of her Grandmothers (just like I was). It was truly love at first sight. And we still cannot get enough of her, and we love her more and more each day!

We love you, A! Happy 7th Birthday!

We are so proud of you.

Teeth, teeth, teeth!

I know that I said a few weeks ago that it wouldn't be long.

M cut tooth #4 on Wednesday and #5 and #6 this morning.

All of them on the top. She now has 4 on the top and 2 on the bottom.

I bet A and R will keep their fingers away from M's mouth

from now on. She likes to hang on and bite down HARD.

Then she just laughs.

Also, A and R start softball practice tonight. Should be very interesting.

They are very excited. Have a great weekend.

Happy Valentine's Day...

...to my wonderful husband and 3 beautiful daughters.

I love you all very much and am blessed beyone all measures.

I hope you have a day filled with LOVE.

I Love YOU!