Mommy's Picture Project

Since I discovered our back fence was down in the fall, I've been waiting for the spring flowers to bloom so I could take pictures in the orchard behind our house.  Between rain and sickness, we finally had our little photo shoot.  It didn't quite go quite as I had hoped, Miss Sweet Pea did NOT want to have her picture taken or be away from me.  Plus I didn't realize how hard it would be to get pictures of the girls in the trees and deal with the shadows.  I hope to keep practicing and to keep taking pictures yearly in the spring in the orchard (as long as they don't cut it down!).  Its going to become a tradition- I hope!

Here are a few of my favorite pictures!

"You're Silly" . . ."I'm not silly, you are silly" night!!!!

I almost peed my pants several times tonight!  My sister and her hubby went off for a fun night to watch the PBR and I was home with all four little girls (ages 4,3,2,1!!- I can only write that for about a month before someone has a birthday! hehe).  Needless to say Nenna and Pumpkin are best of friends and Sweet Pea and KK will hopefully be buddies as they get bigger.  Here is a rundown of our evening. . .

My sister leaves and I get some unusual cuddle time from her little one, which I'll gladly absorb.  Only a few weeks ago I told KK "you don't like me??" after she ran away from me. . .to which she replied "don't like you!"  haha  She is at a repeat everything stage so kind of funny.  So the fact that she was happy to cuddle on my lap for 15 minutes was nice.  During which time, Nenna told me about her mom- "My mom has eyes on the sides of her head and back!!"  I told her that I knew that.  She then proceeded to tell me that was how her mom always knew what she was doing!!  I about peed my pants for the first time. . .

Then I scored major points by ordering pizza for dinner.  All four girls loved and I think probably scared the pizza man with the screams as he came up to the door.  I gave myself points for taking a picture with all looking and smiling!

ALL Smiling!!! 

The big girls used the potty during dinner, which left the little girls at the table.  The two proceeded to giggle and giggle at each other.  Sweet Pea was copying everything that KK did. . .so cute!  After they all ate pizza and all the apples in the house, I treated them with chocolate chip cookies!  Sweet Pea LOVED her first Chips Ahoy which doesn't surprise me at all!

"Mmmmm . . ."  I think someone likes cookies!

Since today was almost 80 degrees we went outside to run off some energy.  Papa and Grandma H were enjoying the nice weather and their new porch, so I visited with them as the big girls explored and blew on dandelions.  I know this summer will be filled with days of the girls playing in the yard and on the gazebo!

Back inside, we colored "shrinkydinks" and had fun watching them instantly shrink in the oven!  Such fun!  While we were coloring Nenna started to tell me a story but stopped and told me "If I tell you, you'll crack up. . ."  I wish I knew what she had been thinking, but this was the third time I almost lost it! 

The girls watching the shrinkydinks bake!

As we were getting pajamas on, I was being silly so the little girls would not be upset that it was bedtime.  I overheard Nenna walking back into the playroom saying "Emily!  Your mom is funny!"  Again about peed my pants. . .  I'm so happy to know that a four year old still thinks I'm funny!  hehe

The evening was complete with the big girls in my bed watching "Snow White."  Nenna was so excited but cracked me up.  "Its not on!"  I would tell her yes it was and to be patient."  Over and over she told me that.  She did not understand that the classic Disney movies had long intros!  Too cute!  Then she said "Snow White talks funny!"  I guess she does, but as I grew up with the movie I never thought about it!  That was just how Snow White talked!  haha 

Two big girls snuggled in the big bed watching "Snow White!"

Years ago, my sister and I talked about ideally having our children close together so they would have cousins to play with.  Her and I were so much younger than our other siblings and cousins that we were always stuck with each other.  Until college, I don't think we really appreciated each other.  My babies didn't quite come when I would have ideally planned, but they are close to hers.  It is awesome to see them growing up together and already having so much fun together!  I hope they will always treasure each others friendship and see how lucky they are!  The other ideal would be to have our other sister live close by. . . .her daughters are the perfect baby-sitting ages!  hehe  Then we could all go out together! 

Someday these two will be partners in crime!

My Girly Girls!

If you know me and G very well, you know that 1- I am not a "girly girl."  Yes I like purses and shoes, but I'm not someone who loves pink or spends hours at the spa or the mall.  I like to say that I am well rounded.  I do the girly things like sewing, scrapbooking, long baths, etc, but also love to be outdoors, do projects with my husband who has taught me how to do woodworking, weld, and use powertools.  AND 2- G's biggest fear is that our girls will adopt a princess mentality and become cheerleaders!  (no offense to the cheerleaders out there. . .)  He wants his girls to be able to take care of themselves and to know how to fix things.
 I hope that our girls will be well rounded and also embrace being girls.  We all know that girls are the stronger sex!  haha  

Well I think we may have our work cut out for us. . .   Notice how Sweet Pea already loves having a purse on her arm, Pumpkin's sweet pink slippers.  The picture of Pumpkin with her snow hat, dress, church sweater, leggings, and green "monster" boots is the first outfit she really picked out all on her own!  She has her own sense of style and I hope it improves over time!

My mom would LOVE my girls to be girly.  Maybe she'll get her wish. . . either way as long as our girls are healthy and happy I'll take it. 

Here are some of my favorite pictures of Pumpkin enjoying the puddles after a rainstorm a few weeks ago!!!

Pure Bliss!!!  (until she realizes she's wet!)

"I looked out the window and what did I see?..."

"Popcorn popping on the apricot tree!" 

These are lyrics to a song I learned as a little girl at church.  I've sung the song to Pumpkin since she was an infant. 
One day after school this week, she got out of the car and ran down our driveway.  "Look Mommy!" she cried with her arms stretched out.  I looked and had no idea what she was gesturing to.  "Its popcorn!" she exclaimed.  Sure enough, on one of our trees in the front yard there was "popcorn."  She has now shown it to anyone who comes over and every drive we take we look for more "popcorn" trees! 

Some pictures of "popcorn" trees in our neighborhood!

Happy Birthday Sweet Pea!

I can't believe she is one!  Where did the time go!?!?  Here is a quick little update. .. I'll hopefully get some more pictures up as the week goes on and the stories that go with them. 

Last night my mom came over and we had a mini-party for Sweet Pea.  She opened her first presents from my parents and feel in love with her little doll.  She went straight to it this morning and I think she would have liked to have taken it to school!  We gave her a cupcake which she loved the candle, but was not happy when she touched the frosting!  I'm a little bummed. .. I was hoping that she would dig in and have fun with her cake, but both of my girls have texture issues.

"helping" open Sweet Pea's presents!

                                    Sweet Pea and her Baby!!                                   

"Grandma is crazy to eat that!"

 Loving the candle!

Last week we had Monday off of school and we had a cousin day at the zoo.  KK and Nenna both came as well as my brother and his friend!  It was so much fun.  Pumpkin was dying to see the elephants and then the tigers. . .. Sweet Pea was happy eating her goldfish in the stroller for most of the trip.  Our highlight was being able to see the elephants be fed!  We luckily were right there and discovered a cool little tower on the backside of their habitat and we were able to get even closer than most.  Uncle S and and big girls fed the giraffes.  Too cute!

The Four Girlies!!! 

Nenna and the Elephants!

                     Pumpkin showing us how to sign "monkey"               

                  Big girls feeding the giraffes               

Sweet Pea's birthday party is scheduled for next Sunday (the 28th).  We held off a few days in order for my dad to come and for our house to get put back in order (we just moved in. . .. long story for another day!).  So this week I'm busy busy getting the house closer to the way I want it to look.  Those pictures will also be coming!  :)

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!