16 Weeks!

This has been a fun, filled week for everyone. Christmas was wonderful and Caroline was an especially sweet little girl! She has spent almost the entire week in her crib. I think Andy and I have had a harder time than she has adjusting to the crib. We have also adjusted her bed time. We now start an hour earlier, 8 PM. She gets her bath, lotioned down, pj's, bottle and then her favorite good night books. After her books, we turn out the lights, turn on her constellation night light and rock. I know we aren't supposed to rock her to sleep, BUT it is such a sweet time. Also, we are just working on one thing at a time... The self soothing will come at some point! :-)

I have enjoyed my time off with her. We have enjoyed hanging out in our PJ's and just chilling! We are going to be spending the New Year at the beach with some friends. Will post more when we get home.

Our First Christmas with Caroline

Caroline on Christmas Morning

We had a wonderul Christmas! Our Christmas was filled with family and friends and lot's of fun! We spent Christmas Eve on the road. We went to Granny's for lunch with my family. Then back home for supper with Andy's side of the family. Then we went over to Pop and Peeps and exchanged gifts with Jay and Ansley Kate and the rest of the family. Christmas Day was spent at home enjoying our family! Granny, Pop and Peep came to visit Caroline. Caroline got some great gifts, a lot of which she can grow with. Granny gave her a constellation night light, which we hope will help her as she sleeps in her room. Pop and Peep gave her a wagon which will be great by summer. It also has a wonderful UV protection canopy. Most importantly God gave us the best gift ever, his son and our daughter!

Our good friends Wes and Sage told us about a great Christmas tradition. Every year, they reflect the year they have had and write about what they hope the future will hold. Andy and I began last year. Our greatest desire last year was to receive the gift of a child and guess what... God gave us that gift! We feel very blessed this year!

We hope that your Christmas was wonderful. We hope that you enjoyed this special time with your family and remember why we celebrate December 25th! :-)

Oh my goodness baby girl is 15 weeks!

As soon as I sat Caroline in the chair and picked up my camera, she started smiling. :-0)

Well we finally did it! Caroline officially moved to her crib last night. She did well. She woke up at 12:30 and then again at 2:30. Both times I rocked her and put her back in her crib. She did well. She didn't wake up until 5:45. I never knew how hard it would be. I had the hardest time going to sleep because I was scared she would wake up and I wouldn't hear here. But we made it. It's just one more sign that our baby girl is growing up. I am sure it won't the be the last night I lay in the bed awake wondering if she will be ok... She does this really funny thing. We call it her turtle necking. When she doesn't want to go to sleep, she pokes her head around and stretches as hard as she can to see what's happening. She also starts singing. The more that you talk to her, the more she "talks" and "sings." She is such a joy!

Morning after her first night's rest in her crib!

Ethan Jay

The happy new family!!!!

Ethan Jay arrived in the world on December 12 at 8:09 am. Ethan and his parents are doing well. I can't wait to get my hands on this little man!!! To bad he will be almost 6 months old before I get to see him. :-(

I think Ethan looks like Heather here...

Christmas Fun

We have had a fun, busy weekend. On Saturday, we went to my brothers annual Christmas BBQ. As always it was yummy! We enjoyed spending time with our family and Caroline was an angel. My brother had a box of assorted fireworks that we popped. The kids had a blast.

Granny and the boys

Alston was "fishing" from the clubhouse. Peyton was in charge of "hooking" the fish for Alston. Don't you just love kids with an imagination???

Watching the fireworks show

The fireworks crew

The fireworks

Then on Sunday, we went to visit Andy's family for Christmas. We had a great time visiting with everyone there as well. Caroline slept most of the time, which is one things she does really well! :-) Sunday night, we had our Sunday School party at JV and Amy's. It was nice to chat with everyone.

4 generations... Andy, Papa, Caroline and Mr. Andy

Papa and Caroline

It's hard to believe that Christmas day is only a few days away...

One amazing group of believers!

Almost three years ago, Andy and I joined a small group Bible Study. We had a lot going on in our lives and we were just not sure if we could commit to one more thing. However Beth convinced us to give it a try and see. (God knew that we would need these individuals to help us through the days ahead...) Since that day in January of 2005, we have become a part of an amazing, loving, compassionate, caring, wise group of believers. These individuals have been with us through so many things. My dad's illness and passing. Mrs. Susan's illness. Our desire to have a family. The list goes on and on... Through each situation, our friends prayed for us and supported us.

This Christmas we were the recipients of an amazing Christmas gift from our small group. They have once again supported us and shown us just how much they love us. Through this gift, God has shown me once again that he is so much bigger than I am. He knows our needs and has fulfilled them once again. God continues to remind me that he knows what we need before we ask and so often provides in ways that only he can. Who would have thought that I could have learned so much about our Lord and Savior through the journey to parenthood?

Papa Jack and Beth, John and Susan, Wes and Sage, Chris and Charissa, John Van and Amy, Rhett and Farrah, Thomas and Kayne and anyone else who was involved, we love you! We can't thank you enough for your generous gift to our family. You continue to touch our lives and leave finger prints on our hearts. Thank you for loving us and loving our little girl. We feel truly blessed to call you family!! :-)

14 weeks!

It's been a pretty quiet week. Caroline has started waking up around 3 each morning. She doesn't want a bottle or anything. However, her Daddy has been getting up with her and they have fallen asleep on the couch together... (wonder who needs that?) Caroline loves the Christmas lights. The Christmas tree just might stay up a little longer this year!! :-)

Sleeping in my bassinet sure is good... I don't want to move to my crib.

Oh there are my feet...

Oh I can touch my feet too!

Small group bonfire

hanging out around the fire

Tonight we celebrated Christmas with our small group. We enjoyed some yummy food and a Marchette bonfire. It never falls that when we plan a small group social, the weather takes an extreme turn. We planned several pool parties and it was either too cool or rainy. We plan bonfires and it turns warm. However, Jack can make a great bonfire. Often times, it too hot to even get close. However due to the warm evening, Jack made a "small" fire for us. We enjoyed some great conversations and some yummy roasted marshmallows. Caroline almost slept through the entire thing. She woke up right before we left. (Wes and Sage, we loved our pouch!) We had a great time!

Caroline and Mrs. Sage (everyone looks happy!)

Wes is telling the guys a great story that Sage thinks is hilarious!

Rhett was working hard getting the marshmallows just right.

"All I want for Christmas is a family..."

Tonight while driving home from Andrews, I heard Steven Curtis Chapman's song "All I want for Christmas is a family." I have posted the lyrics below:

Well I don't know if you remember me or not
I'm one of the kids they brought in from the home
I was the red-haired boy in an old green flannel shirt
You may not have seen me - I was standing off aloneI didn't come and talk to you,
'cause that's never worked before And you'll prob'ly never see this letter anyway
But just in case there's something you can do to help me out
I'll ask you one more time

All I really want for Christmas Is someone to tuck me in
A shoulder to cry on if I lose Shoulders to ride on if I win
There's so much I could ask for But there's just one thing I need
All I really want for Christmas is a family

Well I guess I should go ahead and tell you now
If it's really true about that list you have
Somehow I always seem to end up in a fight
But I'm really trying hard not to be bad
But maybe if I had a brother or a dad to wrestle with
Well, maybe they could teach me how to get along

And from everything I've heard
Sounds like the greatest gift on earth would be a mom
All I really want for Christmas Is someone to tuck me in
A shoulder to cry on if I lose Shoulders to ride on if I win
There's so much I could ask for But there's just one thing I need

All I really want for Christmas Is someone who'll be there To sing me "Happy Birthday"
For the next 100 years And it's OK if they're not perfect
Well, even if they're a little broken, that's alright'
Cause so am I Well, I guess I should go It's almost time for bed
And maybe next time I write youI'll be at home

'Cause all I really want for Christmas Is someone to tuck me in
Tell me I'll never be alone Someone whose love will never end
Of all that I could ask for
Well, there's just one thing I need

All I really want for Christmas All I really want for Christmas is a family
Just a family That's all I really need
http://lyrics.christiansunite.com/lyrics_1_4.shtml

As I listened to the song, I thought about last Christmas. All I wanted was a baby to call my own. Someone to call me Mom, someone to tuck in, someone to sing happy birthday to, someone to LOVE! God gave me all those things in my sweet baby girl! I thought about the love that B had for Caroline. She loved her so much that she gave her to us. She didn't let her end up in an orphanage or in some home looking for a family. It breaks my heart to think of all the children who are "waiting" for a family. I praise God that Caroline isn't one of those. I couldn't imagine my family any other way. I couldn't imagine a more perfect gift!

Dear God,
Thank you for loving us and bringing us our sweet baby girl. Thank you for your perfect timing and your faithfulness. This Christmas all I really need or want is something I already have..my precious little family! Amen...

Christmas at Granny's

4 Generations of girls

Granny Esther, Caroline, Mommy and Granny

This afternoon my mom's side of the family got together to celebrate Christmas. Caroline and I made this trip. (Daddy was at home a little under the weather...) It was a great afternoon. Caroline got to meet many members of her family for the first time. She was on her very best behavior. She smiled almost the entire time, except when she was asleep. I was a little nervous because we left Andrews around 5:30 and she is used to being fed at 6, which wasn't possible. Plus I was a little nervous about the dark lonely roads alone with baby girl. Praise God she slept the entire way home!

Santa and Katy's birthday

Tomi Jean invited us to the Club for lunch today. We celebrated Katy's birthday and also got pictures with Santa. Caroline loved Santa. He was so sweet and so patient with her. She gave him her famous grin. She really has been a good girl this year! :-) I asked Tomi Jean if she would invite us back in the coming years. My pictures turned out a whole lot better than the ones I paid way too much for!!! The little things in life that we new moms learn as we go...

Caroline and Santa

Grace and Santa

Ansley Kate and Santa (not really sure about him...)

Jay and Santa

Dinner with the family!

Yesterday my sister-in-law called for directions. They were coming in to town to do some Christmas shopping. When they were finished, we went to Cracker Barrel for dinner. We had a great time!! Caroline slept most of the time and the boys were great! It was such a great surprise. Wilson and Peyton loved "the baby." Thanks guys for meeting us!

Wilson

Peyton

The boys and "the baby"

Happy 3 months (13 weeks) Birthday

Our baby girl is 3 months old today. She is the most beautiful, amazing little girl. She has the sweetest smile! This week she laughed out loud for the first time. We are trying to upload on here so I hope we can share it with you. She sat in her bumbo for the first time and seemed to enjoy it. She loves to look at the Christmas lights and listen to Christmas music.

Caroline's friend Clara turned a year old on Saturday. Clara gave us this great toy and we have enjoyed playing with it especially for tummy time. It's the neatest toy! Clara is a sweet, sweet baby girl and we were so excited to share her first birthday with her.

Laughing out loud

We have been saying for a while now that Caroline would be laughing out loud pretty soon. Well it's official. Last night while Andy was getting her dressed after her bath, he gave her a few zerberts. She would laugh when she saw him coming towards her. It was hilarious. Of course as soon as we called our parents and put them on speakerphone, she stopped! However, we did manage to capture it on video. She is something!!!

Christmas shopping with the kids and lunch with Heather

Last night Andy and I took Jack, Grace and Caroline Christmas shopping. It's hard these days to buy gifts that they want. They are no longer "little kids" but they are not "big kids." So we went to Toys R Us, Target and Sam's to look for the "perfect" Christmas gift. We got a lot of ideas and can't wait to go pick the perfect gift. All the kids were SO good. Jack and Grace listened and Caroline slept! It was a lot of fun. I love watching little kids at Christmas. I look forward to watching Caroline through the years. I LOVE THE HOLIDAYS!

Today I took the day off to take care of Caroline and visit with Heather. She is leaving on Saturday to go back to CA. Every time we are together it makes me realize just how much I miss her! I had planned to head home for the day to visit. However, Heather and her mom were coming here so we met them for lunch. It was nice. Caroline was such a good girl! I enjoyed spending time with Heather and her family. Please continue to pray for her and her family!

12 weeks

Before Caroline was sleeping through the night I saw this shirt and HAD TO HAVE IT! Thanks Santa, we are now sleeping through the night. What a great early Christmas present! Caroline that is...

I have officially been back at work as long as I was at home with Caroline. WOW! Time really does fly by. This week we are staying with Jack and Grace at their house while their parents are away. So far, so good. The kids are at a great age and have been a HUGE help with Caroline. Caroline seems to be adjusting well. Thank goodness it has not effected her sleeping habits!!! :-)

Andy had to take Caroline to the doctor today for a red irritation under her right eye. Dr. E said it's nothing to get concerned about. He gave us some cream and told us to massage between her eyes around the bridge of her nose. So we will see how that goes.

Baby girl acts like she's shy!

Grace's kids, Pink and Blue made sure Caroline stayed on the bed while we went down stairs for our last bottle...