2018 JOY

This year my goal is to sit back and see.

My kids, my husband, my Lord.

I want to enjoy,  I want to be calm.  I want to be thankful.  We are so so blessed and I am tired of rushing around and loosing my patience with my family.  There is nothing in the world for me to rush about.  God has blessed us over and over and I want that to reflect from me, my thankfulness.

So this year,  I want to show JOY! and bring JOY!

Also, I am so thankful that my relationship with the Lord has taken an all time high.  I am in the Word and I am memorizing scripture and it feels amazing.  I love it! I love HIM.

Emme is 6 months old!

Happy six months Emme!

16.13 pounds and growing lots!

This has been the sweetest year ever.  You are so so easy and I absolutely love you to pieces.  You love your brother and sister so much.  And your Daddy too :). I have done things differently with you.  I am not sure if its because you might be my last baby and I am soaking up this baby phase with you extra or if its just how we are bonding.  But I feed you on demand.  You eat anytime you seem hungry, fussy, tired, ect.  I love it and you are so easy.  You do take a couple bottles at the end of the day which is wonderful.  At night you are waking up about 2 or 3 times and I always nurse you right back to sleep.  I am a tired Momma but I wouldn't have it any other way.  There is nothing sweeter than holding my chubby little baby thighs while I nurse and rock you back to sleep.  

You are rolling over and reaching for everything.  You are eating some solids and seem to like oatmeal, avocado, and sweet potatoes most.  It is fun to watch you try new things.  Soon we will be doing breakfast also, and then you'll really start to grow and sleep more.  

I feel like you complete our family so perfectly.  I love holding you and never want to put you down, but I have to sometimes to get other things done.  ;). Its nice to have clean laundry and dishes.  

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH EMME!!!!!! so so so much!

music

Hannah loves music, just like her Dad.  Hands down her favorite day of the week is Thursday because we have Kinder Music.  She is crazy about it!  She smiles so big when we are walking into the class and is on cloud nine until we get in the car.  Then she always falls sound asleep on our drive home because she put out so much energy at class.  

Her teacher, Ms. Lisa, is wonderful.  She is so interactive with each baby.  Hannah loves loves her and often times will crawl/walk over to her so Ms. Lisa will do the moves with her.  I think Hannah is going to be the little girl that wants to sit in the teachers lap during story time.  Just like her Momma ;)  

It's truly amazing to me how much she has learned from class.  Today she was mimicking us as we did all the hand motions.  She is even starting to sing along to the songs.  She loves the clean up song and being a big helper while we put the instruments away.  It is so special for me to be able to watch her interact with other babies and learn as she is having so much fun.  These are the days that I am so thankful for!  

Drums are pretty awesome!

party

Your party was so much fun!  Most of your little friends were able to come and we all had a ball.  You were pretty sleepy at first but then you got a burst of energy and the night was a great success.  

We served Kanes Chicken, fries, fruit salad, and pasta salad.  Then we had cupcakes for dessert!  You loved her second cupcake but you did not like it when i blew out your candle.  Everyone laughed so hard because you got so upset with me, ha!  Your face tells it all in the pictures.  It was so nice to have our families and friends all together at our house.  The evening was beautiful and we spent a lot of time on the back patio.  I am so glad we got people together to celebrate your little, yet very big, life :)

Happy First Birthday baby girl!  We love you Hannah Jean!

Cheers to another great year!

thank goodness for grandmothers

I rocked Hannah to sleep.  Either nap or bedtime I rocked and rocked and rocked.  I started this routine when she was just a wee one.  Even though everyone told me not to, I did.  Most days I loved it and treasured the special time together and then the sweetest was watching Hannah sleep in my arms.  But there was definitely negatives about it too.  Slowwwwwly putting her in the crib so she didn't wake and if she did started the WHOLE routine over.  Spending hours and hours a day in the rocking chair trying to get her to sleep.  It was a bad habit for her and for me.  

I tried and tried to break her of falling asleep on me but I she would cry so hard!  It was awful and I couldn't stomach listening to her yell out for me.  But it was wearing on me and at night especially when she would wake up and want me to come and rock her back to sleep.  I was tired and so was she!

And then..........Zach and I went out of town and left Hannah with my parents for a week.  I had no idea what a wonderful thing this would turn out to be.  Not only for Zach and I but for Hannah too!

Somehow my Mom got her to sleep all night long from 7:30 to 9 in the morning.  She dropped her 5am bottle and now sleeps like a champ.  If she wakes up she talks herself back to sleep and it only takes her about three minutes.  And best of all, she goes to bed for naps and night like it's the best thing that has ever happened to her.  She smiles up and me when I lay her down and cuddles up with her blanky.  No more rocking and no more crying.  ITS UNREAL PEOPLE! I don't know how Marme did it and I don't think I want to know, but I am so happy with the results.  I haven't felt this rested in over a year and I know Hannah feels great too!  

Thank goodness for Marme's that know just what to do with little babies!  Too bad I didn't leave Hannah for a week months and months ago, ha!

eleven months

Planning your big first birthday party has been so much fun.  I told myself not to go crazy, so we are just doing a real small low key get together with friends and family.  Of course the more I think about it the more I want to do - but I'm trying to just focus on you and your sweet life and not worry about all the details :)  But it is going to be cute ;)

You are 11 months old and so so sweet.  

Here are some of the things I've noticed you doing more this month.  

Walking more with your walker - up and down the sidewalk

Walking along furniture and walls all over the house - you can really get around

Talking more and trying to imitate us

You still take four bottles a day of formula

You still throw all your food on the floor so I end up feeding you everything (hopefully you will out grow this soon ;))

Love playing with other kiddos

Love when Dada comes home from work

I LOVE YOU HANNAH JEAN!!!!!

busy bee

It's so sad but so cute at the same time - Hannah gets all caught up in her dresses when she crawls and it drives her crazy.  She pulls and tugs at it even before I put her down because she knows its not crawling material. 

This girl is on the move!  She wears me out.  Just like her Dad, always wanting to be on the go.  You know I could sit and do nothing and be totally content for days on days.  Hannah and her Dada like things busy.  She definitely keeps me on my toes.

We started a music class this week and she absolutely loved every second.  The class consisted of her dancing to the songs, playing with the other kids, laughs, giggles, and smiles. Every now and then she would look back to make sure I was still there.  When she looks at me with that big grin and those blue eyes it just melts my heart.  I wanted to pick her up, hug her, and say, "Yes Mommas still here baby."  She has my heart for sure! Her birthday is October 15th so we put her in the class with 1 and 2 year olds.  I hope that she learns from the older ones, so far so good!  She seemed to be totally comfortable and confident :)  I was relieved that the first day went so well.  One song was all about body parts and I realized I hadn't been working with her as much on that.  So as soon as we got home that's all we have been doing all afternoon, ha!  My girls going to know her nose before you can turn around ;)

 Even though some days are long, and I stay busy trying to entertain my babe, days like today are so refreshing and nice.  She was happy and Mommy was happy!  Success!

"I thank my God when I think of you!"  Phil 1:3

ten months

Ten months old sounds crazy to me!  In two months I will have a ONE year old.  Nuts!

I am really big on Hannah eating well now that she eats solids three meals a day.  I get such a good feeling when I know she has had a healthy meal and her belly is full.  This is a tricky task because she loves feeding Max.  It was cute the first couple times but now she loves it and I'm afraid it's a habit that will not be broken.  Here are some foods she does love...

Cinnamon Toast

Mac N Cheese

Chicken (prepared any way)
Eggs

Cheese

Tomatoes

Berries 

Bananas

Sausage

Spaghetti

 Spinach Tortellini

Oranges

Peanut Butter Pancakes

Turkey

Hot Dogs

As you can see we really need to work on veggies!

Here are some of her ten month pictures.  

cousin time

This school year I have the priveledge of keeping my sweet nephew, Tommy.  My cousin asked me if I could keep him on Fridays each week.  I was so flattered that she would ask!  

Hannah is really social.  She absolutely loves days when we have a play date set or when we are out and about running errands.  She does not like days when we stay home and she has to play with Mommy.  I know she gets this from her Dad, because I love staying home and being lazy.  I probably love this alittle too much ;).  It's good that we have Dad to keep us out and about.  So because she gets a kick out of having friends over, this is perfect!  Fridays are a set play-date with her cousin Tom Tom.  

Yesterday was our first day to have him over.  At first I felt like I had my hands a little too full, but then they both napped at the same time, and I knew I had this ;).  The day flew by with lots of playing, eating, and exploring the house.  It will be so fun to watch these two change over the year.  Hannah will be walking in no time and Tom will be sitting up soon, crawling, and maybe even walking too!  

These are the days of our lives and I like em!

Baby T

My H on the move...!

sleepy face

The past couple weeks Hannah has been waking up with a real good sleepy face.  Her Dad has the same one.  It cracks me up.  It looks like she tossed and turned all night - but trust me she sleeps great :) This little one has my heart with her sleepy face and all!

Her hair!  haha!

Hey Mom!

Still smilin

Sweet pea

Mornings are such a sweet time of the day around here.

splishin' and splashin'

Hannah loves loves taking a bath at night.  She plays and plays.  I got this gem last night and will cherish it forever!

nine months

So much has happened I don’t even know where to begin…

Nine Month picture weighing 19.8 pounds and 29 inches long :)

We went to Breckenridge, Colorado again this summer with my entire family.  We stayed in a home that had eight bedrooms, it was masive and beautiful.  Perfect for eight adults and eight grandchildren ;)  You would think it would be crazy with all the kiddos in one house, but it was awesome and we all had a blast!  My favorite thing is all waking up together in the same house with all the cute little babies running around in there pjs while Moms and Dads drink their coffee and enjoy the beautiful mountain view.  Best thing ever!  My happy place for sure.  I’m pretty sure I brought back an entirely different child from Colorado.   

Hannah has changed so much over the past couple weeks.  It’s unreal!  I think it was all the time she got to spend with her older cousins.  Watching them and learning from them.  She picked up so much over that week!  She is truly like a little sponge now.  Here is a list of all the milestones we have crossed this July :)

• crawling
• pulling up 
• drinking from a sippy cup (water)
• talking - Mama, Dada, hot (bc I say it all the time with this TEXAS HEAT!), ouch, dog, bow
• sign language - milk, eat, and all done
• she took her first steps with a walker toy and lots of hands on from Mom ;)
• she has TWO bottom teeth, finally!  They just came through last weekend at a week shy of ten months old.
• eating all solids for every meal, I LOVE this!
• can drink all by herself with a sippy cup
• takes a bath without her baby tub
• 100% formula - I nursed for 9 and a half months.  I will miss it so much.  Good thing I’ll be having more babes.  By far the sweetest thing I have been able to do for a person, but this is a whole new post ;)
• sleeping through the night - or at least this past week she has, YAY!
•  Big girl car seat.  She has officially outgrown her infant carrier.

On a completely different note…Zach had his appendix taken out last weekend.  He had a stomach attack Friday night and on Saturday we went to the ER.  My sister Mary was in town and kept Hannah for us.  Thank goodness,  God has planned that part out perfectly for us.  I wasn’t worried about her one bit, though I missed her like crazy!  We were in the ER for about an hour, CAT scan and all, when we heard it was appendicitious and he would have surgery Sunday morning at 10am.  I was so scared for the love of my life to have surgery but I prayed and prayed this would be the answer to all this stomach pain.  We got home Monday and he is healing very fast.  He is so brave and tough.  I am in awe of how well he has bounced back!  Tonight we had red meat for dinner.  We shall see how his stomach reacts.  Fingers are crossed!!  

God is good and he has taken care of our family this summer even with some bumps in the road.  Looking at Hannah everyday I am filled with so much joy.  Being a Mom is the most wonderful gift He has given me.  I feel so blessed by the family he has given me. 

father's day and eight months

You are 8 months old baby girl!  We love you so much.  This past weekend we celebrated Father’s Day with your Dada.  The first thing I said to him in the morning with tears in my eyes was that he is exactly the Father that I always dreamed my children having.  You are so lucky to have him as your Daddy.  He loves you so much!  He will teach you wonderful things about the Lord, share patience and love with you, play with you and make you laugh, cry with you and cuddle you.  I know you already know how special he is, you are right!

We went to Church, ate lunch at Hillstone and enjoyed their grilled artichokes, went to Nordstrom and let your Dad pick out some new shoes and a sports coat :)  You picked out two ties for him too, one is pink and the other is green.  Pretty cute!  Then we came home and took long afternoon naps. It was wonderful!

seven months and learning everyday

Just short of seven months and we officially have a sitting baby.  Two weekends ago we went to a wedding and my Mom and Dad kept Hannah.  It was GREAT to get away and have a fun night out, dancing!    I told my Mom to keep the pictures of H coming while we were gone because I knew I was going to miss her like crazy.  One of them was of Hannah sitting up just playing away.  I was so surprised to see how well she was doing.  When I replied to the text of how impressed I was with her sitting up, my Mom replied she didn’t know Hannah couldn’t and that she had been doing it all day!  Love it!  Marmie got that girl sitting quick :)  I guess she could do it all along and I was still babying her?!  It’s probably one of the cutest things to see a tiny little thing sitting.  I can’t believe how fast she is growing and changing.  Seems like just yesterday we were holding that little newborn in the hospital.  Here’s to all the exciting new things we will learn in month seven!

He is Risen

Easter weekend was wonderful.  Holidays have been so much more fun now that Hannah is here to celebrate with us :)

A family of three

Easter Bunny and Mimi on Easter morning

Thank you Marme for my adorable Easter dress :)

We flew to Midland for the first time with Hannah.  We were super nervous how she would do on the plane, but she was awesome!  I nursed on take off and landing and she didn't even notice :)  Pretty amazing and SO much easier than driving 5 hours, phew!

The weather was hot and sunny so we got to spend a lot of time outside.  We took the kiddos to the park, ate great meals, had a couple Easter egg hunts, and enjoyed relaxing with family.  Zach and I both agreed that our favorite part of the whole weekend was watching everyone else love on Hannah.  It brought us so much joy and she was loving every bit of it.  

Just a little swingin 

We went to a super cute little baby shop on Friday and Hannah just had to have these sunglasses for the pool this summer ;) 

 During Lent we watched The Bible series on the History channel.  It was really neat to watch and I felt like I learned a lot.  Sunday night when we got home we watched the resurrection of Jesus.  It was a powerful episode and very hard for me to watch.  All the pain and suffering that He went through for us and our salvation.  The whole time staying strong and never doubting His purpose.  I am reminded of how amazing His love is for us and in return how much love I want to give Him in return.  Each day I am going to try and remind myself to live for my purpose, which at this time I believe to be to share God's love with everyone I meet so that they can become closer to Him.  I know that Jesus fulfilled this purpose with his life on Earth and I am forever saved for this.  Forgiveness of signs, the best gift and ultimate sacrifice of His life.  I give You my life.

five months

This month you have grown so much to me.  Even when other people see you they say, "Wow she's grown so much!"  I love it :)  You have the cutest rolls all over that I could kiss on all day.

Two weeks ago I put you in the jogging stroller without your infant carrier.  You did great!  And now I put you in the umbrella stroller without your carrier.  It is so nice, I was starting to feel like you lived in that carrier...glad that faze is over.

You sit really well in your bumbo now.  Everyone says when babies double their weight (you have) and can hold their head up (you can) then they are ready for food.  We have been eating rice cereal with pears mixed in, you do pretty good, but I know we have a long way to go ;)

first bite

You have made it pretty clear that your bedtime is 7pm.  Every night around 6:30 your eyes get really red and your yawns are long.  You sleep from 7 to about 10 and then I feed you again, usually you are half asleep through this feeding).  It has been nice because your daddy and I can have a nice quiet evening.  Then you are getting up around 6...I'll take it :)

ready for night night

You can officially ROLL OVER!  Front to back and back to front.  I put you on your play mat on your back one day and went to go get the laundry out of the dryer.  When I came back into your room a minute later you had rolled over!  I was so shocked to see you on your tummy.  Since then you do it all the time.  We have to be careful where we put you now, no more middle of the bed!

You say, Ma-ma-ma.  I know you aren't meaning to say Mama, but it sure does sound like it!  I love it!

 This month has gone by so fast!  Pretty soon we are going to have to get you a swim suit, oh that will be fun!!