Little footprints. . .

As many of you know, our life was changed dramatically 3 1/2 years ago with the sudden and unexpected arrival of my little Pumpkin.  Every so often it hits me. . . "I had a baby how early?  She only weighed 15.5 ounces?  I spent three months visiting a hospital?"  Its crazy.  I never imagined my senior year of high school that the Children's Hospital I volunteered in would become a place that can bring my emotions to the surface just driving by. 

My first time seeing my beautiful baby girl!  (Yes I thought and still do think she was beautiful!)

You don't think you can handle things when you watch other people go through it, then when it becomes your reality you have to step up.  We did it. . .we survived somehow.  7 weeks of our little girl fighting to breathe on two different ventilaltors. . . on 100% oxygen at times and still unable to keep her sats up.  Sitting by her side just watching her move and patting her bottom.  FINALLY after 7 long weeks she was extibated and I could hold my little girl.  I was in heaven!  Next came dressing her, then feeding her, and finally the day came.  On her three month birthday we brought home a 4 lb, 2 oz baby girl complete with oxygen tank, apnea monitor, and no sleep for the next week for G and I!  We literally took turns sleeping so someone was always awake with her. . we were so worried she would stop breathing and we wouldn't know (we did have the apnea monitor, but didn't trust it!).  We were thrilled at the first doctor's appointment to show off our little miracle and even more ectastic that she had gained weight!  Our rollercoaster ride was finally starting to slow down and maybe we were going to be able to just enjoy our little girl.

Watching my little fighter. . .still amazing to see how small she was!

Tonight I sat and watched with I'm sure many other Americans to see the arrival of the 19th Duggar baby.  I know many have said they need to stop having children and that this is a sign, etc. . .. but it doesn't change the emotions.  Watching them have to take the mom into emergency surgery while her face is bright red from the mag sulfate and hearing the dad state "this will change our lives forever."  It hits home. . .prematurity is real and it is life changing.  These precious little red babies are such strong fighters.  I'm so proud of my little girl and how far she has come.  I never imagined she would be doing the things she is doing or have her special sensitivity about her when I need a hug or extra love.  She is my precious miracle. 

Sweet sleeping baby

Once again this year I am participating in March for Babies.  Feel free to join our team and walk with us or to sponsor our team.  Our goal this year is $1550 which is $100 per ounce that Pumpkin weighed at birth.  With the arrival of Sweet Pea last year I have changed our team name to "Little Feet, Big Dreams."  Both of my girls are petite little things but I hope they acheive whatever they may dream in life.  Please help our team to help other babies be able to have the chance to reach their dreams.  Click on the badge on the right side of my blog to go to our team webpage.

Thanks for your support and for being in our lives!

One of my favorite pictures (Feb 2009)

Tiaras and Hula Hoops

All week I've been wanting to update my blog, but I've struggled finding the time to sit and put my thoughts together!! 

It's hard to believe that Miss Sweet Pea is going to be turning one in a month!  This year has gone by way too fast.  I did my first digital project starting from scratch and created her invitations. I had lots of fun creating them and am excited about the next project I'm going to do. .  .

Last weekend Miss Sweet Pea learned how to put a headband on her head.  It was adorable to watch- she would put it on and it would fall off, so she would try again. . . and again. . . and then she would get it, but when she started to crawl or stand up it would fall off again so she would have to start all over.  Her face once she got it on was priceless!

So proud of herself!  The next day she found Pumpkin's "Fancy Nancy" tiara and she again started the process of trying to get it on her head. It turns out that she may be the "girly-girl" that Grandma C is waiting for!!!  I was so surprised by how long she sat and played with the tiara. 

All gums!

A family member reminded me of how G and I didn't want to encourage the "princess" mentality in our girls. . . Sweet pea may be changing that all that on her own!!!  Maybe she was just born to be a princess!

My favorite story of the week needs some history. . . At Christmas, my brother received a hula hoop from Santa.  It was passed around and we got to see who in the family had the "skills" needed to hula hoop and who just looked silly (and yes it is on video!).  Well Grandma C is quite the hula hooper it turns out, but Miss Pumpkin also wanted a turn.  So G put the hoop around her and helped her do it......Fast forward to this week- She brought me my embroidery hoop (it has to be only 10 inches diameter.  . .) and asked me what it was.  My reply "its a hoop."  I went back to what I was doing and didn't think much until I heard her whining, saying "Mommy its not working!"  Sure enough, she had gotten the hoop over her head, past her shoulders, and was trying to hula hoop with my embroidery hoop!!!  Too cute! 

Last weekend, we took a walk out back behind the barn and visited the peach orchard behind our house.  In the past year, I've never walked past the property line to see the orchard, so while we had sun the girls and I went to explore.  Pumpkin loved running between the trees.  I was busy looking for the perfect tree to perch my girls in to take pictures!  I can't wait until they blossom so I can take pictures of the girls in the orchard! Here is a sneak peek!

Moving up and Sliding down

This week our family was hit by the dreaded stomach bug. . . it was NOT fun and I had the worst of it!  So happy we are all starting to feel better.  Pumpkin threw up once Saturday night and woke up wanting a doughnut!  Kids definitely fared better than the adults- the thought of a doughnut still makes my stomach roll.  Hopefully we will all feel great for our three day weekend coming up although we are due for rain, rain, and more rain.

In other news this week. . .Miss Pumpkin has moved up into a new carseat!  Her old carseat can still accomodate her weight (no shocker there), but her height is slowly creeping up.  Sweet Pea will be inheriting the seat once she is one AND 20 pounds, so off we went to look at the new carseats!  After researching, I found two that I liked (and were on sale!) and so we went to the store to have her try them out!  She was so excited she even started singing "I"m getting a new carseat, I'm getting a new carseat!"   So here is her in her new seat on the way to school this morning. 

I'm calling this her "forever seat." She will never outgrown this chair. . .it turns into a booster and then maybe (hopefully) she'll be big enough to not need it. . . .It is the joke that she will take her driving test in a booster seat!  (And yes I scored MAJOR mommy points this morning for making her a lunch to take to preschool.  She was so excited for her new seat AND a lunch!)

Now not to exclude Miss Sweet Pea. . .she has become quite the little walker and climber.  This week she followed Pumpkin and learned how to climb up the slide!  She LOVES to slide down, so now that she knows how to go up as well she is pretty happy.  We  now have to watch for her climbing on the bricks by the fireplace, on the door of the dishwasher when it is open, and up the step stool in the bathroom!  She is keeping her mommy very busy!  Here are a few pictures of her mastering how to climb up the slide.  And yes- Pumpkin thinks she is big enough to "catch" her when she comes down!

Almost there!!

"I'll catch you!"

What a week!

The first week back to school after a vacation is rough. . .this one was especially hard for some reason!  G had to work Monday-Thursday so I knew it was going to be a long week. Monday I had to wake up both girls early to get to meetings at school and I was surprised at how easy Pumpkin was to get up- no fussing or whining!  She was sooo excited to go back to school and see her friends.  As the week progressed, we all slowly got back into our school schedule. The week wasn't complete without BTSA and MOPS meetings for me, a playdate at Grandma and Grandpa's for the girls, a trip to visit the "Great Aunt," and Sweet Pea getting a touch of a stomach bug!  I'm looking forward to our relaxing weekend at home while G goes to play paintball with his buddies.

This morning I heard what I thought was crying from the girls' room as I got out of the shower. . . I tried to throw on some clothes so I could go check on them before they woke up everyone....As I entered their room I found out they were laughing at each other!!!  Sweet Pea was standing in her crib laughing at Pumpkin with her pacifier hanging out of her mouth and Pumpkin told me between giggles "I'm making Sweet Pea laugh!"  Too cute!  It is awesome how they already have so much fun together and they can make each feel better!

This is going to be our annual Christmas morning photo!! 

(Notice our cute new stockings!!)

You don't need to open the presents to have fun!

The four cousins!

Guess who got a Barbie car??  (I never had my own. . . )

What sweet sisters!!!

I just wanted to give a quick update.  . .I've attached a few pictures from Christmas and the holidays. . .

Happy New Year and Welcome!

With a new year arriving, I'm going to attempt to maintain a blog. . . again!  After the crazy busy year we had last year- welcoming our little Sweet Pea in Februrary, G being injured in August, losing my work computer in Oct, and lots of firsts for our Pumpkin (soccer, dance, preschool. . . .) I want a place to record memories and keep photos.  You are welcome to follow our weekly adventures and stay in touch!!  Hope you enjoy!

(PS- if you have any experience with blogger PLEASE pass along your knowledge!  I would love to learn how to customize my page!)

Hugs!