"And a little child shall lead them" Isaiah 11:6

Abigail & Anna at church Spring 2007

This past Saturday, we got home after midnight from a wedding roadtrip. Pulaski was 3 - 3 1/2 hours away. We were pretty exhausted from the events of the weekend: wedding rehearsal, visiting with old friends, getting naps at wierd times, and a wedding Saturday night. We expected a lot from the girls with their behavior, and as the wedding just got started, it was as if ants got into the threes' britches. A bit stressed out I was, unsuccessfully keeping them quiet and still (which they are capable of). Louis officiated remarkably well adding personal stories to our friend's ceremony. Anyhow, Sunday, I decided when we woke at 7:30 a.m. and the 3 girls were still asleep that we'd just stay home from church and not rush around getting ready. Afterall, we'd have to leave the house by 8:30 a.m. (We have two services- one at 9am, and the other at 11). Louis left for church at 8:15 and minutes later Abigail got up. We hung out in bed watching cartoons until Anna woke at 9:30. I was fully prepared to stay home in jammies ALL day! Abigail questioned the whereabouts of her daddy and was not happy with my answer of "Let's just stay home today and rest". Before I could give Abigail justification for staying home, Anna was picking out her dress. Abigail pleaded, "It's Sunday, we want to go to church". "We don't want to miss church". After all of that, we got dressed for Lovelady Church that started at 11. After I called Louis to come by and pick us up after the 9:00 Worship and was telling him the story he said, "And a child shall lead them". Thanks God for the lesson! I needed to be in church afterall!

A birthday party for a not so happy 1-year old

Aliza Beth (12 days old)

It's long overdue, but busyness got the best of me. It's hard to believe Aliza's First Birthday has come and gone! She doesn't look happy in her party pictures because she wasn't feeling very well. She had double ear infections and an upper respiratory infection the week of her birthday...I wish we had her party to do over again. We got a ladybug ice cream cake from DQ and what she got to dive in was a star brownie covered in whipped cream. She really wasn't into unwrapping gifts, socializing, or touching her brownie cake. She just sat there and stared at it uninterested. My sister put her hand in the icing to encourage her to make a mess and Aliza just cried. I wish we had her party to do over again, but this will be a memory for sure. Maybe her second party will be better for her! Now she's back to her happy, sweet self of course!

Aliza began this life at 5:37 pm on December 11, 2007 weighing 6 pounds 14 ounces and measured 18 1/2 inches in length. At 1 year, she weighs 20 pounds, but is still a shortie! She is trying soooo hard to walk, but is still Miss Spaghetti Legs. She talks to us alot....she says Mama, Da-Da, bye-bye, and will say hi with a wave (it's more like an indian's "How" with one hand raise in the air...but we'll take that). She kisses her sisters, will make kiss noises, and will blow her nose if you hand her a wipe or a tissue. She has 6 teeth and two more poking out of the gums barely. She sings in church, reads books by humming and touching the pages, and tries to talk over her daddy while he is preaching. She has given us so many laughs and has been easily entertained by her sisters as well. She is an all around "Mama's girl" but is slowly adapting to family and friends easier and more quickly. The tough time in the hospital is all but a distant memory but a reminder to us of the power of prayer and the awesomeness of God!! We are SO blessed by Aliza Beth!

Forget Cheerios...she wants an oatmeal cookie!

Aliza went to the pediatrician Wednesday for a check-up and the second part of her flu shot. She cried very little, Anna was so proud that Aliza got to have a Dora band-aid on her thigh! Aliza weighs 19 pounds and measures 28 1/4 inches long. For her age she is right under the 50% group for weight and height! Her doctor discussed several things with us this visit, among the topics was starting her on table/finger foods. He said, Cheerios were a good thing to start her on. (She's already had several finger food things- like those veggie puffs, etc.) That night at church we found Aliza just chomping away at a homemade oatmeal cookie that Anna left on the kids' table- which was right at her level in the walker. We then watched her as pieces just crumbled perfectly into her mouth. She handled it well, and didn't take bites until she finished chewing what was in her mouth- OUR BIG GIRL.

What makes Mommy cringe, makes Anna want more!

Halloween has NEVER been one of my favorite holidays...the dressing up and trick-or-treating is fun, but that's it. I love the fall scene, the pumpkin and mulled cider smells from the candles burning in my home. I love the pumpkin patch, sweet black kitties with smiles, or a leaf poster with a cute grin. I don't like the creepy stuff. ANNA, on the other hand, is very much into it ALL. As we walked down the halls at Abigail's school this morning, children's Halloween art was scattered down every wall. There were poems, short stories, paintings, and other crafts...the teachers and kids are pretty creative! Awe Anna, look at the cute friendly scarecrows..."Whoa, scary WITCHES!", her voice cracked as she playfully ran her fingers over them. Sweet, the kids did apple printing Anna- look! "oooh, look at those skeletons, Mother!" (she has begun calling me this). We turned the corner, there were friendly little pumpkins...very SWEET! "Mama, BOO! Here's some "ghost-es"! It's like there are blinking lights flashing on every spooky thing, saying "C'Mon over here Anna". And at Wal-Mart, the weird blow up things...she's there! And that gross mechanical hand in the Halloween bowl that moves towards unexpecting little hands as they reach in for their treat...yep, she reaches in over and over! The rubber monster faces- "Try it on me, Mommy- HURRY, it's funny!" She loves it all, she will be a "Spider Queen" we are calling her for Halloween, which suits her Halloween-mania infatuation!

Puttin' on the Ritz

For her-

Dress from the past: 5 minutes with a warm iron

shimmery jacket: 1 hug of appreciation to mom

jewelry: 1 text of thanks to baby sis

special treatment with hairdo: $35

For him-

black suit: 30 seconds of time in the closet

Tie and shirt: a search in 3 stores and $28

haircut: 10 minutes with his wife and the clippers

Catered dinner w/lights, music & decorations: a donation to the Theater

babysitter: a smile and banana bread for the coveted favor

The chance to be child-free with your favorite man:

PRICELESS!

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Singin In the Rain

Or maybe just stompin in puddles but the title was catching and now you know what song I have been singing!!! I am SO excited we found these raincoats for the girls...I have only been looking for like 3 years but didn't want to pay the $30 for 1! I spent just $4.00 total on them at the "50% off everything sale" at the Goodwill Store. One is a London Fog and the other is from The Disney Store! The girls love them!!!