This is when I got a new AWESOME camera

So there are about a billion more pictures than ever before!  I love it, love it, love it, and can't thank mom and dad for the most amazing Christmas present ever!

Can you tell I couldn't wait to even get to Grandmomma's to start taking pictures!  

Grandmomma reading the Christmas story from the Bible!  A favorite tradition, including Jesus Birthday Cake! 

We love Uncle Christian and Auntie Kristin! 

And I couldn't wait to hug that sweet Bella after five long months!

Claire playing Grandmomma's ukelele from her childhood.  So sad I didn't get any shots of Bella, because she has been taking ukelele lessons in Hawaii.

These are pics from one of our BEST family vacations EVER... Wildnerness at the Smokies... It's an indoor waterpark, perfect for Christmas time and for a momma with a new camera!

 

Sisters reading books in their matching pjs!

 

Tea party with Grandmomma on the trampoline.

 

Oh how I love family game night!

 This officially puts me in 2012!  Sorry for the lack of actual blogging in this post, but there were so many cute pictures!

Until next time...

To everything there is a season...

My trip to New Orleans this weekend has really hit this one home.  As I look into Claire's crystal blue eyes and then into the blue eyes of my Grammie, I see the circle of life. 

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (KJV)
“ To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up."

Grammie is going into Hospice next week, and we just pray that she is comfortable until she goes home to be with Jesus.  I feel at peace with what is happening, but it breaks my heart that Claire will not know Gram and how much she enriched my life.  I will make it a point to tell the girls of my memories of Summers at her house as a kid, learning the difference between self-rising and all-purpose flour, creating the perfect ham glaze and how clothes dried on a line simply smell better.

But we did get to visit with my parents, Aunt Shirley and Casey, and Aunt Nancy...

We also got to go swimming with Claire in the pool for the first time.  She loves baths so I was sure she wouldn't mind the water.  I was right, she actually loved the water.  And since I was a lifeguard and swim team coach, I'm not sure why I was surprised.  I also got some video of her putting her face in (I think she was trying to drink the water?) and kicking her legs, that I'll have to figure out how to post.  Maybe she'll follow in momma's footsteps.

And then we had a wonderful Mother's Day lunch at the Harbor, our favorite seafood establishment.  I did what I always do... get so excited about my catfish basket that I dive right in and burn the roof of my mouth.  Hopefully, Claire will learn from her mistakes- unlike her momma.

Can you tell I just learned how to create a collage?  Maybe I should write more about how Claire has changed my life, and how this Mother's Day is especially special, but I think she knows.  But I will say that I am becoming my mother.  In every way that I swore I wouldn't- I am.  Guess that's one of life's little jokes.

Hope you had a wonderful weekend and Mother's Day!

Detours on the Road of Life

So just when I think I have everything under control and I am finally in a groove, life throws you a detour.  I can't tell you how often this has happened to me, but this one really hurts.  Grammie, my mom's mom, had a stroke about seven months ago (the week before Claire was born). 

Mom and I went to visit her in Huntsville when Claire was 11 days old.

She was in a skilled nursing facility, trying to rehab the left side of her body (the stroke was the right side of her brain).  In November, the family made the decision to move her from Huntsville to New Orleans so that she could receive care at Ochsner and be closer to mom and dad.

But she didn't get better.  She really just got worse.  Claire and I went to see her in December, and Luke came with us again in February.  She was weak but still herself, making jokes with the nurses and laughing about figure skating in the Winter Olympics (she loves figure skating like no other).  She then moved back and forth from the nursing home into the hospital with pneumonia, an infection, a seizure and last week, another stroke.  This one was in the frontal lobe, which contains your personality.  She is no longer the Grammie I know.

There isn't much time left, and my family needs me, so Claire and I are jumping on a plane tonight and heading to New Orleans.  It's last minute, I'm exhausted from packing late last night, I have no idea what I even packed and I haven't eaten since lunch yesterday, but you do what you need to do when family needs you.

My relationship with my mom is irreplaceable.  We talk at least five times a week, if not every day.  We tell each other everything (it was so hard not to tell her I was pregnant with Claire for two weeks until I saw her in person).  She is the rock of our family.  And now I need to be the rock for her.  I have a few things set to publish this weekend, but I'll be back Monday with an update.

We know the Lord is a mighty comfort, and we rest in His peace.  Please keep us all in your prayers as we travel this road.

Grandparents are Grand

When I first told my parents I was pregnant, I made them onesies that said "I Love Honey" and "I Love Pop."  Please note my Dad's face in this one, although he did start crying once the shock wore off!

Well, they were 9 month size, so now Claire can wear them! But I'm glad I got pictures the first time around since the washing machine ate both applique hearts.

And I love her face in this one!

We can't wait to visit Honey and Pop next weekend for Jackie and David's wedding!  Luke and I are so thankful for our parents and the wonderful grandparents they are to our girls.  They are such a blessing and we are forever grateful for all they do!

The Most Wonderful Feeling...

Yes, this picture was taken during Spring Break and could have been included below, but I thought this deserved a post all to itself.  This was only the second time that Grandmomma and Grandbarry have had all four of their grandchildren together.  The first time, it was so sweet and special, we all teared up.  I hope there are many more of these photos to come.  Our children growing up around family is so important to Luke and I.  These people love and care for our girls so much and we couldn't ask for better grandparents!

Spring Break with Bella

 I know I'm late in posting this, but I figure better late than never.  We had a wonderful Spring Break visit with Bella.  We picked her up after work on Tuesday and left dinner up to her.  Of course she wanted pizza from Chuck E Cheese, and being the push overs we are (especially when it comes to her) we obliged.  She may be the cutest big sister ever and loved being with Claire.  She even let her baby sis nom on her finger, which may or may not have been clean, but I'm over it.

She wanted to take Claire to play every game in the place, but after the newness wore off and the kids (being Bella and Daddy) left me for some air hockey and ski ball.  Luke isn't letting Bella win anymore, but she is still beating him (and I am smiling inside for her but Daddy's ego is bruised).  But Claire was a little afraid fo Barney, can you tell?

The next day we baked a cake for St. Patricks Day and Bella was quite a sight to behold during her first experience with an electric mixer.  But she died the icing green and decorated it with every topping in our pantry.  It was an interesting combination of funfetti cake mix, green icing, some chocolate mint pieces, parcils, and sprinkles, but overall delicious because it was made with love (and lots of fun)!

Grandmomma and her Aunties took the girls to the petting zoo at Oak Mountain State Park and the Children's Hands On Museum.  Here they are at Grandmomma and Grandbarry's house.  Claire's not really sure what to think!

And Bella is reading like crazy now.  She loved reading to Luke and I over, and over, and over, and well you get the idea.  We savored every moment knowing it would be months again until we would have the distinct privilege of being an audience during story time.

Bella will come back in June, but until then it's phone calls and Skype.  Since Hawaii is five hours behind us (it was only four hours but they don't observe daylight savings time) we can't see Bella until around 10pm our time and Claire is long in bed.  Weekends are typically "too busy" for them to Skype but maybe one day.  Continue to keep little Bella in your prayers.  We are believing in God's will for her life.  Hope you enjoyed your Spring Break as much as we did ours!

Remind me again what sleep feels like?

Oh yeah, It makes me feel like I am a new woman!!! I can't tell you how glad I am that Lukek is home. He busted through the door in Lucy and Ricky fashion, with a good ole' "Honey I'm Home," and I couldn't be more thrilled. As he told me of the gifts he returned with,I have to admit I didn't care. He was my gift. His return to the girls who missed him desperately. That was better than anything (although I do love the giant conch shell, baby- it will go perfectly in our beachfront retirement home- what I can't think about retirement one month into my new job?).


So after five days and four sleepless nights without my other half (and I say "other" here because I used to think I was the better half, but this has shown me that we are truly a team) we spilt the overnight duties on Monday. And thankfully approaching was Tuesday- better known as the night Claire spends with her grandparents. We are so blessed that Luke's parents, Karen and Barry (aka Grandmomma and Grandbarry) love keeping Claire once a week, and that is Tuesday nights. Luke and I can recharge and face Hump-day with a renewed energy.

And the sleep has done us both some good. We were both getting sick, but it looks like some rest was just what the doctor ordered!

Mardi Gras Weekend

We had a great time in New Orleans this weekend for Mardi Gras. We were also able to tell my parents the BIG NEWS! They were so excited about the new addition to our family! I will post some pictures soon. Otherwise, Luke and I are so tired from walking eight million miles this weekend, so we are just taking it easy.