Easter 2010

Our family has experienced one of the most memorable Resurrection Celebrations weekends! It is in part to having a wonderful blessing from God with our little girl, but the services we attended were just amazing! I wish all of you could have been with me to experience them and worship our Savior and King!

The three of us attended the Good Friday service at our church, FBC Newcastle. The worship leader, choir, and pastor led out in a Tenebrae service and we took the Lord's Supper as a congregation. The songs and drama truly caused a person to think on the cross, the sacrifice, our sinful selves, and God's mercy. It was amazing and really helped to honestly lead me to worship God. I am so thankful for those who worked so hard and gave up so much time so that I could experience it. The Good Friday service left me in anticipation for the services on Sunday.

Before we left for Good Friday Service

Bryan isn't in the picture because he just about got out of his truck and right into the car so we could get to church on time.

We had a nice Saturday at home, enjoying beautiful weather and working in our yard. There was even enough time for me to get all our clothes prepared and laid out for Sunday morning. I had a great Saturday. And thankfully, we were all dressed, picture taken, and on time Sunday morning!!

Here's a shot of my two favorite people while I worked on getting the timer on the camera ready:

I love it!! It was kind of an indication of how the morning was going. Little Bit didn't realize it was Easter Sunday and I needed a little time to get ready myself. Plus, she didn't really want to be in a dress. She prefers her pjs! She was a little fussy! We warned the nursery workers. And you'll never guess....she was perfect for them!! It is fun to watch Little Bit's personality slowly develop.

Our First Easter as a Family of 3!

My mom made this year's Easter dress for Little Bit. It is kind of a wild print but I loved the colors. I'm glad my mom was able to make her dress. Mom has been very giving to us and we loved going over to her house for "fittings."

This picture just makes me smile every time I look at it!

We have borrowed Nathan's Bumbo chair to see how she likes it. We did purchase one on Friday but I got a different color than I had intended for her and need to take it back and exchange it.

I'm looking forward to reading about your Resurrection Celebration Weekend!

What We've Been Doin'

I love cough medicine!! I have had a head/chest (it keeps bouncing back and forth) cold this week and I'm so grateful for whomever created the medicine to clear up the congestion and soothe my airways!! I've just been focused on taking care of Little Bit and resting when I can so I've not had much computer time!

Here's a catch up:

Last Tuesday was an exciting day in our household. It was the DVD release of one of the best movies ever!!

In honor of the movie, Bryan (although he didn't know it at the time but went on my instructions) picked up Taco Bell for dinner that evening. Little Bit even watched part of the movie with us before she went out for the night.

I love the movie Blindside and think every family should see it. It is a great movie to open one's eyes to the huge need of foster parenting and mentoring. What we give up, could save some child from the potential of a horrible future.

We've gone out and about a few times last week, but we have also tried to stay at home more and establish a morning routine. We love to read!

Excuse the frizzy hair! This was pre-flat iron time! Bryan took this and did not know the rules about non-frizzy hair in pictures.

Little Bit loves the book "God Knows All About Me" and I also read out of this illustrated book of Bible Stories each morning. It is fascinating to us to watch her eyes just light up and open wide once I begin reading the book. It makes me think she is recognizing the pictures...I don't know.

This same day we went to the doctor's office for her 4 month check up and shots. Bryan took off the entire day to be with us and go to the doctor's.

On Friday night, Little Bit went with me to my Bunco group. I play with a great group of ladies who are so supportive and encouraging to Bryan and I. It was nice to have her with me, but I'm pretty certain she will not be going again. I think she was a little distraction.

Miss Sharon

Miss Carla

Bryan's parents came up on Saturday to visit with Little Bit and help us with some projects around the house. Bryan and his dad put in the poles for a clothesline (I love sun dried clothes in the summer) and Bryan's mom re-upholstered my chairs.

Before

After

On Monday we tried cereal for the first time...per the suggestion of our doctor

Please note: These are Bryan's hairy legs, not mine! :)

Cereal did not go so well. So we are definitely taking our time with it. I think she is still a little young.

Have a wonderful Resurrection Weekend Celebration!!!

I Go Out A Walkin'

We had our first walk in the stroller on Thursday!!

The weather has been in the high 50s to low 60s, but the forecast is predicted to get colder and wetter over the weekend. Blah!!! We wanted to get in some sunshine while we could. Thursday was a perfect day.

We met Nathan and his mom Kristine and walked in Nathan's MiMi's neighborhood. Little Bit slept the entire time! I really enjoyed my visit with Kristine. I remember thinking a year ago, I would not have children during the same time as she and I longed to raise our children together. Wow!! How God can completely change your life!!! In so many ways!!!

I neglected to get a picture of Nathan. It just means we will have to do it again soon!

We finished off our Thursday evening with Book Club! Again, no pictures!

On Friday, we met our personal seamstress, Little Bit's Nawna, to make a quick trip to Hancocks to get some material for another new dress Nawna is making. It is great to have her close by to make dresses. I'm hoping she doesn't begin charging labor! We also have a pattern for Gran D to work on.

Then on Friday night, we met Pop and Gran D in Purcell at Rodney's Pizza Place! YUM!!! Little Bit did so great. She was so well behaved and she was awake the entire time!

Pop gave Little Bit her first fishing pole!

It snowed in our area on Saturday and some on Sunday so Little Bit and I stayed in from church. Then Bryan took time on Sunday evening to study for his P.E. exam he takes in April. Little Bit tried to lend a hand!

Someone in this house is quickly getting spoiled!

(note: Bryan normally doesn't dress like this!! :) He kept his shirt from church on and had on comfy pants. We all lounged around)

4 Months Old!!

Another month has come and gone and Little Bit is another month older! I just told Bryan she is nearly half a year old! This time is moving so quickly. She seems to change every day!

At 4 months:

She sleeps sideways in her bed no matter how we lay her.

She loves any toy that hangs from her play mat.

She loves bright lights and goes into a deep stare.

She is cooing some.

She loves to kick her legs. It looks like she is running or riding a bike all while laying on her back!

She loves to ride in the car. Getting in the car seat/carrier isn't so great but once she is moving, she's good-to-go!

She has stayed in the church nursery on 2 Wednesday nights. We haven't left her on Sunday mornings yet.

She smiled one time (it was a non-poop/gas smile:-) when I was make silly laughing noises.

She has beautiful big bright eyes.

She is staying a wake more during the day and loves to play.

On the night before her 4 month birthday she went to bed at 10:30, woke at 2 a.m. to eat, and then slept the rest of the time!!!

Little Bit is beginning to coo and make some adorable noises! I tried to catch some of it on video.

I think she may have had some performance anxiety! You'll just have to bare with me and put up with my high pitched, squeaky voice! It's incredibly embarrassing to hear and I can't believe I'm posting it. But it is for the benefit of Little Bit's family who live out of town. And, I put socks on her everyday. She just keeps kicking them off!

We don't do much to celebrate St. Patrick's day at our house but we had some errands to run before church so we dressed in green. I didn't want Little Bit to get pinched by any of little ones she may have encountered!

Little Bit & I on St. Patrick's Day 2010

The Greats

On Saturday, March 6th, we were finally able to make our first trip with Little Bit down to Ada to visit and meet her Great Grandmas...Our Granny and MeMaw!!! Neither one of them had met Little Bit in person. They had only saw her through pictures. Unfortunately, her Great Grandpas are not with us. But we have a lot of stories we can share and pictures! They were great men!

It was so great to see my Granny!

She has been very sick with shingles and then she fell and broke her hip. It is amazing how God can change your hearts! During a tense and uncertain time...WHAM God gave us Gracie!! I had not seen Granny since the day Bryan and I left her hospital room to go meet Little Bit for the first time on January 8th! Granny is recovering and slowly resuming some of her activities she did before she got sick this past fall.

Bryan's MeMaw had a stroke a few years ago. She still lives in her own home, but her daughter-in-law stays with her. We are glad to have MeMaw. She really loved Gracie!

Bryan's dad..Now known as "Pop", MeMaw, Little Bit, and Bryan---4 Generations

When Bryan was a child he stayed with a wonderful lady named Roberta. She is like a Grandma and mother all in one!! She is very special to us and loves Bryan so much. She was also able to come by Bryan's parents house.

It warms our hearts to see our grandparents love our little girl so much!! Some were hesitant for us to go the foster adoption route, but I think it is safe to say they are very happy now!

A Few Firsts

Little Bit has had a few first in February that need to be documented!

1st Valentines Day

On Friday before Valentine's we visited Dad at his office and met his co-workers. We took Bryan a cupcake from Sara Sara in OKC. Throughout the week I had worked on moving some photos of Little Bit over onto a digital frame to have at his office and we took that to him as well. He tells me now he looks at it but on some days doesn't turn it on because it makes him miss Little Bit during the day.

This ape came from her Pop...even after he received several warnings from me not to give us so many plush Valentine toys! Her Pop is totally smitten! You can definitely tell he has waited a long time for this little one and loves her tremendously!! So do her Gran D, Nawna, & Poppa!

1st Time to Church

This is the outfit she wore her first time to church. I love the expression on her face!

It is so wonderful to be back at church as a family of 3! I am still learning the balance of feeding, attending Sunday School, and making it through a worship service without getting up.

Thank goodness for a timer on the camera and Bryan's tripod stand he usually takes to the gun range! We wouldn't have had a family picture of our 1st Time to Church without it!

1st Pair of Shoes

Bryan is not a big fan of her shoes. He keeps calling him her clown shoes! They are a little big, but I'm having a hard time finding shoes that go with several outfits that actually fit her. Although she is growing and gaining weight, her little feet still seem small!

She celebrated her 3 month birthday in February!! It is amazing how quickly time truly does fly. It is happening to fast!!

Photo Session

I am completely amazed how fast time flies when you are at home with an infant! The day just goes by so quickly, at times to quickly! I'm still working on balancing a baby, a home, a husband, my walk with God & quiet time, and myself. Just when I think I may have it down....I see that I don't! I feel like I have a been a horrible blogging friend!

She is growing so fast! We had Miss Amanda come to our house the first week of February to snap some pictures of Little Bit. Amanda did a great job. She took over 200 pictures and edited the cd down to 103. We are having a hard time choosing which ones to print. It has been 3 weeks since these pictures and yesterday at the doctor's office our girl weighed 8 lbs 8.5 oz. She's come a long way from her birth weight!!

We've been able to do a few more things and have some outings, but for now, I'll just try to get some of my more favorite shots of the photo session on here. One funny story....Amanda had Little Bit on a white fluffy thing to take a picture in the buff. Before she could click the camera, Little Bit proceeded to begin to have a bm. I didn't want it to hurt the prop so I placed my hand on her booty and kept the "stuff" from falling on the white fluffy thing. Amanda grabbed the diaper so it didn't do too much grossness to my hand!! I feel like I can do just about anything now!! :)

Bryan loves his little girl so much! I love to see him walk through the door in the evening and his eyes light up! He is an amazing man and father!

Daddy's Hands...

This one above was one of my favorites of her in her Easter dress. But now that everyone has seen her dress early, she may just need to get a different one! :)

When others have seen this next picture they say she is smiling. We didn't count it as her first smile though. We think she may have had some gas!

Our Family Photos