Looking forward to August

Guess what Grace...You are going to be a big sister again!!!

These are the shirts we put on the girls on Friday night right after we gave them the big news. Mommy has a baby in her belly.

Grace seems excited and daily is asking more and more questions about it. She has even started kissing my belly. It really is a fun stage to be pregnant with her.

Where is it going to sleep?

Is it going to be a boy or girl?

Is it coming today?

Where is Olivia going to sleep?

How did the baby get in your belly?

And Olivia...well she is a little confused but give her a break, she is not even two.

I believe they will both be GREAT big sister and Grace will be a great role model to Olivia.

So what everyone wants to know...Yes and No, we were planning it. Chad and I both liked the idea of a third but was letting God help make that decision. So it was a little bit of a surprise. I took a PT the day after Christmas and went to the doctor two weeks ago. We have had our first ultrasound and heard the heartbeat twice. Everything looks good and I am feeling good. I am right at 11 weeks.

We told both grandparents on Friday night by letting Grace call and tell them on the phone. She told both sets that mommy had a baby in her belly. Too cute!

Snow Day

One more reason to love living in Georgia! You receive 1/4 inch of snow and the schools close down. Luckily Grace and Olivia didn't know how good it could of been. They both woke up excited about the snow, especially Grace. She woke asking to go outside to make a snow angel. There seriously was not enough snow to make a snowball but luckily enough to make that snow angel. It was COLD! Like 18 degrees but felt like less with the wind chill. But we bundled up in several layers of clothes and went outside before nine o'clock. The girls loved it!

Olivia tried making an angel. She couldn't get her arms going.

She kept trying to pick up snow.

But because of all her layers would end up on her belly.

Happy girls!

If this was a video you would hear and see the girls marching around the yard making tracks in the snow and singing a song they made up about the snow.

They are racing!

Breakfast when we came back inside...hot chocolate and marshmallows.

Then a HOT bubble bath!

I love snow days.

Looking back on 2009

January - This month was a big month! My dad retired from Chick-fli-a. A place that we called family growing up. It was a bitter sweet day. And God's timing could not of been better. He knows what He is doing. February - My sweet girl Olivia turned one! We celebrated with family and friends with a cupcake birthday party. This year has been SO much fun with her. I think the toddler stage is one of my favorite. So much happens those first two years.
March - Grace started playing soccer. It was a mommy and me class and I am not sure who was more proud...Grace or daddy. She did really well at the beginning of the class, following directions and playing with mommy or daddy. But by the end of the eight weeks when they were having little games, she quit, she did not like the competition. In September of this year she started ballet. I love the fact that she is able to explore different activities this young.
April - We were visited with special guest this month, Chad's brother and soon to be wife and stepson. It was so great meeting Niki and Anthony and to find out a few months later that they were part of our family. We couldn't of been happier for Ryan. And I might add that I gained a great sister in law! I also enjoyed watching how each of them interacted with my girls.
May - Mother's Day was special to me this year just to be able to hang out with just my little family. They mean the world to me and I couldn't be in a happier place then with the all of them. This picture below was a Grayson Park and you can just see how happy everybody was that day!
June - Our annual beach trip was again fantastic! I am so lucky to have such great parents who give us this trip. The only thing missing with Chad. This year had it's highs and lows as Chad lost his job in February and then found a new job in April...a great new job. When God closes one door He opens another. His plans are always the best.
July - Chad and I celebrated eleven years together! He is truly the man on my dreams and I am so glad I have this life to spend with him.
August - We were able to be with family in August to celebrate Tyler's first birthday. It is amazing to me to be able to share with my sister the journey of motherhood with our two kids. They both are only a few months apart and even though their is a difference between little girls and little boys our common goal is the same.
September - Grace started her second year of preschool. I am completely in love with her teachers and her school. Grace does so well there and looks forward to the three days she gets to go. I can't wait to send Olivia this September.
October - Grace was in a beautiful wedding. It made a mama proud to be asked for her child to be in it. She did absolutely amazing and she couldn't of been in a more perfect wedding. Heather and Drew have becomes one of our best friends and my girl's favorite people. So glad God put them in our life's.
November - Thanksgiving was a little different this year. Because of my mom's health we were not able to get together with family this year. BUT it was amazing to see our church family stepped in. We had a great time with friends and saw just how important God's family is to us.
December - The end of the year was amazing to me. Christmas was AWESOME! But the best part of this month was seeing my mom enjoy Christmas after several weeks of feeling really bad. The picture below is at Grace's preschool program and we weren't sure my parents would be there. I am so glad they were.

I know God has some amazing things in store for our family in the year 2010. I can't wait for it all to unfold and to see how He uses each one of us. My prayer is for us to be happy, healthy and to open to His plans. I also prayer that God lays His hand on my mom and the doctors to find out what is going on with her and to heal her.

Build a Bear

Chad and I took the girls to Build a Bear for a special trip a few days after Christmas. It's the first time either one of them have been. Grace really got into it and Olivia was Grace's little copy cat so she enjoyed also. Grace picked out a pink bear, picked out clothes and named it all on her own. Olivia picked a monkey and Grace named it for her.

Olivia and her monkey, Starry

Grace and Zoe

She has slept with her every night since.

Merry Christmas

We had an amazing Christmas! It was our first family Christmas on our own. We spent Christmas Eve at church and then came home to read the Christmas story, eat dinner and open one gift. After the girls were asleep Santa's elves went to work to get all the gifts ready. Mommy and daddy were both up before the Grace and Olivia on Christmas morning. We woke them up a little after eight. The girls were all excited with squeals and giggles. Grace's gifts from Santa that she asked for were an easel with paint and roller skates. Olivia got a baby doll swing and a crayon desk that sings. They both got lots more great gifts from friends and family.

Grace asleep in her bed on Christmas Eve night

Christmas Morning

This year we let Grace go to the dollar tree and buy gifts for mommy, daddy, Olivia, Copa, Maw Maw and Paw Paw all on her own. It was very interesting to see what she chose for each person. She was SO excited about buying wrapping and giving her gifts. You can see how proud she is in the picture below as daddy is thanking her for his notepad and highlighters.

Mommy got a figurine doll

Olivia got a pink flashlight

Copa got dog treats

Maw Maw got a spatula

Paw Paw got a flashlight

Olivia got several babies this Christmas. They were each a BIG hit!

This girl was in heaven on Christmas morning. Below she is was a bag (a sleeping bag) and candy.

Copa enjoying her Christmas presents.

Grace in her apron, panties and high heels.

And Santa's big surprise was a trampoline!!!

It was so cute, we had a big red bow in the middle of the den on Christmas morning. Grace nor Olivia ever noticed it. So we finally asked Grace to check outside to see if the reindeer ate the special food we left them. She looked outside and told us the food was still there then she said, "There is a jumpy, Mommy come look, there is a jumpy, Santa left a jumpy!!!". So cute!

And I promise Chad is excited about it.

Christmas evening was spent at the lake at Maw Maw and Paw Paw's. Great time eating Waffle House (the chicken my mom cooked was gross, something was wrong with it so we order Waffle House to go...memories). Hanging out with each other and opening gifts. The sunset was beautiful that night.

All four grand kids

Maw Maw with the girls

My sister and I

And attempt to take a picture with my girls

My sister, my mom and I