Prayers for a friend...

I am writing this post to ask for your prayers. My sweet friend, Sarah, is pregnant with long-awaited babies. She is about 20 weeks and has been having strong contractions as well as other complications. She has been put on strict bedrest, and she is doing everything she can to make sure her twins continue to grow and thrive. She and her husband are fighting for their family, and they could use all of the prayers we can offer.

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Fourteen Months!

Annabelle,
You are 14 months old today! Here is what you have been up to lately...

This is daddy/daughter date night at the McDonald's drive-thru...your daddy said that you ate the entire cheeseburger and that he had never been so proud! ha!

- You love...swimming, eating, playing chase with daddy, milk, books, naps, balloons, bath time, animals, swinging and petting gabbie.

- You don't love... being alone in a room (except to sleep), car rides longer than 20 minutes, grass touching your hands, strangers, waiting for food or milk, and diaper changes.

- Words you say now...

Dada

Mama (very, very rarely)

Nana

Grandad

Dog

Night-Night

Thank You

Hi

Bye-Bye

Banana

Yay!

Diaper

Yum

Ball

Bath

- We have been swimming in the baby pool in the driveway (very classy - I know!) everyday now...you do to the garage door multiple times each day and bang on it to tell me that you want to swim.

- When you want us to pick you up or you need help, you hold your hands out, palms up...precious!

- You give lots of loving...coming to us and laying your head on us for hugs.

- You wear size 18-24 month cloths and size 4 shoes.

- We have been having the best days lately! Being home with you this month has been such an incredible gift! I am thrilled about the days we have ahead of us - being your mama is my greatest pleasure.

Greetings from the Sahara...

This is a picture of our upstairs thermastat today. And no, it is not 6 degrees...it just doesn't have 3 digits to read the true temp...106 degrees. Holy moly! Let's keep our fingers crossed that the a/c men find it in their hearts to fit us into their schedule tomorrow.

Summer has begun!

We have had a whirlwind start to our summer.

We are still unpacking boxes and trying to get settled in our new (new to us, but really 1972 old) house. I went to Georgia to celebrate a new baby due in August for my sweet friend Ansley. Jesse started his summer semester a couple of weeks ago, and he is in the middle of a major renovation for our house. I finished work for the school year and for the foreseeable future. (It is a very long story, but the mini version is that I was laid off according to seniority because of budget cuts for the school system and that is resulting in me having the opportunity to stay home with Annabelle now!) I have started a couple of painting projects and am trying to make our house feel like our family.

Annabelle and I spent 5 days in Texas last week with family. I will post some pictures as soon I can find my camera cord for the camera that I took on the trip. Flying alone with a thirteen-month-old was a character building experience, but it was completely worth it! Sixteen people you adore in one house, a beautiful lake, great conversation, delicious food, lots of laughs, fun games, and a little skiing - it was perfect It was truly the first time I have completely relaxed in months.

Annabelle has been really sick the past couple of days with a really high fever. We have spent a lot of time rocking her, watching Micky Mouse Clubhouse, giving lukewarm baths and trying to make her comfortable. She did much better today, so we are hoping that she is on the mend. This was our first high fever experience, and it was scary.
Here are some photos from the past couple of weeks.

Celebrating with Ansley!

Dressed up to meet Daddy for a lunch date!

Playing on her castle.


Discovering blackberries!

Learing how to slide alone!

Giving Gabbie some love

First construction project on house - building/adding laundry room!

Thirteen Months...

Dear Annabelle,

It feels like we just celebrated your first birthday last week! You have been fascinating to watch this month as you have learned and grown so much! We feel like you are doing something new everyday.

Here is a little of what you have been up to...

- You wear 18 month clothes, size 4 diaper, size 4 shoes - you weigh about 24 pounds.

- You are walking and practically running everywhere now. You have finally learned how to get up without pulling up on something first, so there is no stopping you. You rarely crawl now.

- You love to climb the stairs in our new house. Sometimes in the evening you will make it about 1/2 way up and then raise your arms up to be carried the rest of the way.

- Words you say now - Mama, Dada, Nana, dog, hi, kitty, banana. You sign for milk, please and all done.

- You are very curious and into everything. We have moved your crib in your new room several times now trying to find the right location that keeps you out of trouble! I came into your room during a nap this weekend and you had somehow pulled the roll up blinds all the way down into your crib.

- Nana and Grandad brought you the little table and chairs that Jimmy and I used when we were little. You climb up into the chairs and play at the table a lot now...it seems so grown up.

- You are still crazy about baths and anything involving water! You bring us book after book to read to you while sitting in our laps. You are starting to test us when we tell you no about things like not playing with the dogs' water bowl.

- You have been sleeping great the past few weeks after being on an antibiotic for ear infections - that seems to have made a huge difference!

- Favorite foods lately - blueberries, strawberries, chicken, rice, and animal crackers.

You are delightful, adventurous, fun and sweet. You bring so much joy to our family! We love you!