Updates

I am FINALLY posting some updates, but I'm changing the dates on them. Even though I didn't actually write the posts on those days, I'm putting some closer to when the events happened because...well, I'm OCD and don't like things out of order. So look for the updates in the "older" parts too. :) Oh, and just for grins, here's another picture of my oh so cute daughter! :)


We thought she looked like Lady Liberty here. :)

Away in a Manger

Today Cody, Kaitlyn, and I got to light the advent candles at church. It was a pretty exciting time for us as a family. I was really nervous that Kaitlyn would be crying or fussy, and she was right before. We ended up having to feed her in the pew right before we went down to the candles. But we got her fed in time and she did wonderful! The song right before we came down was amazing!! It was called, "Here With Us" and there was a part when it talked about Mary rocking her savior to sleep. I looked down at Kaitlyn and how small she was and how much she needed me - for pretty much everything. It's hard to believe Jesus was ever like that, but that's part of what makes Him so amazing. I am so thankful that God decided to send his Son and I cannot wait until I get to teach that to Kaitlyn!

We went down to light the candles during Away in a Manger and I almost lost it. Being caught up in the amazement of God and then thinking of my sweet family just choked me up. I thought of how Kaitlyn's coming into this world was not easy - right from the beginning. Then I looked around and saw so many faces from my loving church family smiling down and us and I realized how very blessed we are. We've had so many people praying and loving us and I cannot express how thankful I am for that. This Christmas will be the best one I've ever had. I have so many blessings including my precious little daughter. And I think back to that manger that had the biggest blessing that this world will ever receive. Praise God for his Son!

Stroller Struggles

Well, here's my first attempt and catching up with the blog! Hopefully I'll get to do a lot of that over the Christmas break, but there are a million other things I need to catch up on too, so I'm not making any promises! :)

One of the things I wanted to write about when it happened, but never got around to was the very first time I used the stroller with Kaitlyn. I was on maternity leave at the time and decided to go get envelopes for Kaitlyn's birth announcements. I was going to go to Office Depot and it was right by my house so we wouldn't be gone long. It was a weekday morning so I knew not a lot of people were going to be out, and her doctor had said I could take her on short little shopping trips as long as nobody touched her. So I thought this first experience would be perfect. So I get everything ready and packed the car. I get to Office Depot and pull the stroller out of the trunk. I had managed to fold it up and get it in there just fine at home, but stupid me forgot to look at how to get it unfolded. I started pulling and tugging on anything I could think of and the dumb thing wouldn't budge. This seriously went on for about five minutes, and one lady even stopped and asked me if I needed help. "No thanks - it's just stuck," was my answer. Like I was really going to tell her I was a stupid mom that didn't know how to work the darn thing. Then I finally got it opened and got Kaitlyn out in her carrier and went to put the carrier on the stroller. Somehow before it had "snapped" in, but of course this time it wouldn't. I tried and tried...I had to put Kaitlyn back in the car several times until I FINALLY figured out how to push the bottom down. At this point I had tears in my eyes and was so embarrassed. I wondered who in the store was watching (I doubt anyone, but that's how my mind works) and I really almost didn't go in because I felt so dumb. But I did go in - went right to the envelopes and then the check out. Literally I was in the store for all of two minutes. That's it. Two minutes. I fought with my stroller for about fifteen minutes in the parking lot so I could be in a store for TWO MINUTES!!! I could have just carried the dad gum carrier in the store and not had any problems. What was I thinking???

I went home feeling like one of the dumbest moms ever, but I sure did practice with that stroller so it wouldn't happen again!! And it hasn't...but I'm sure there will be plenty of dumb mom moments in my future!

Short and Very Sweet!

It's been so long since I've "blogged." Hmmm...wonder what could be taking up my time! :) I'll try to post over the break (and maybe some this week, but who knows!) because Kaitlyn has had so many firsts and what nots that I need to put on here. But for now, I'm beyond exhausted, almost finished with laundry, and the pillow is calling my name. So I'll just post one of my newest favorite pictures of my little angel! :)

Thanksgiving

Wow - did Cody and I have a lot to be thankful for this year!!! What an amazing time it was to reflect on our blessings over this past year...especially little Miss Kaitlyn Grace!! This year we spent Thanksgiving with Cody's family (per a rotation we were already on) in Arlington. Cody's grandparents were able to come in and meet Kaitlyn for the first time, as were some cousins. It was such a fun time. Cadie, Kaitlyn's cousin that was born 13 days before her, was there too. It was so fun to see the girls together and to think of all the moments they will have in the years to come!


Kaitlyn meeting great grandparents for the first time


Kaitlyn with her Aunt Candy


Cousin Cadie was tired of all the noise!


So very thankful for her!


With Daddy


With Cody's parents and grandparents


Kaitlyn ADORES her Uncle Caleb!


Her bow was not cooperating...



Uncle Caleb is so great with both girls!

Sip and See

Because Kaitlyn came so early I didn't get to have my scheduled work shower. So my wonderful team planned a "Sip and See" where I could bring Kaitlyn. We waited a little while so that she could have her shots - newborns in an elementary school without shots...now that's a scary idea. Kaitlyn was great and didn't cry at all. Kelly, who used to teach next door to me, got to come too! I was so excited. I taught next to her for three years, but this year she's teaching in Burleson so she can be closer to home. It was so great to see her!! My team was so great and Kaitlyn got so many precious things from them and the rest of the school. I am so blessed to work with such great people!

Kaitlyn and me in front of the yummy cake with her nursery colors

My wonderful team!
With Kelly and her son Jacob
Grandma was there to hold Kaitlyn during the gift opening
One of Kaitlyn's many precious presents

Kaitlyn's First Halloween

Yes, I'll admit it - I'm a big dork when it comes to holidays. And I especially love Fall holidays...well, actually just Fall in general. When September 1st rolls around I get out all our Fall decorations. I'm fully aware that's not the official start of Fall, but I just love it so much that I get in the mood early. October 1st hits I put up all the Halloween decorations. November 1st hits and here come the Thanksgiving decorations. By the way, Thanksgiving is sooo under appreciated, but I'll blog about that later. :)

So this year Kaitlyn had two little "outfits" that both were pumpkins. One was bought for her by one of my friends at work, and the other I bought just in case I couldn't find another costume. She wore the first one the day before Halloween when she went to Pam's house. (Pam is our babysitter for those who don't know) Then on Halloween day she wore the other pumpkin outfit to Pam's. Later that night, we changed her into her little ladybug costume. There really wasn't much I could find that was newborn size - small newborn anyway. She was almost a really cute butterfly, but the only costume in her size left at the store was missing the head part and it just would not have been as cute. So ladybug it was. Luckily, Darcy had a costume to match! I'm already so excited thinking about what her costume will be next year! (Told you I was a dork!)








My little love bugs! :)