Counting down.....

We no longer are counting the days, we are down to counting hours now. In just 48 hours we will be at the hospital and in a little less than 50 we should have our baby girl........in 52 hours I might actually be holding her for the first time. While we are excited that God is blessing us with another little one to love, our hearts are so full of so many different emotions and feelings at this time. The reality that life is such a blessing no matter how long or short was driven home once again this week when our friend's little girl went home to live with Jesus. She was only 10 months old and had some heart problems.

While we know God has great plans for each of us, this plan of His is really hard to understand. At the same time, it has been a real blessing to see the faith of this family in action. They chose not to question God's plan and just trust him, they chose to cherish those special moments that most moms take for granted, of just holding your little one close to you, cherishing the smiles and enjoying each milestone their child met at their own pace. They chose to continue to thank God for the little and big things he was doing. They really are an amazing family and I admire them so much for their faith and hurt so much for their loss.

Many tears have been shed since Friday for them and Amanda asked me, "why are you so sad mommy." When I told her it was because God wanted the little one in heaven to live with him, she looked at me like you keep telling me how wonderful heaven is and can't wait for us to all be there one day if we accept him into our hearts and lives, yet you are sad she is there?

I think the lack of understanding/innocence of children is so refreshing and continue to put my focus right back onto God. I just needed that reminder that His plans really are good for those who love him like this family does, and it took my little girl's questions to just remind me of that this week.




Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

Fun at the grocery

A few weeks ago our favorite local grocery store got a new addition of their own and we have fallen in love!

These shopping carts have not only made our grocery trips shorter because Amanda is totally entertained using them, I no longer have to lift a finger at the grocery. My shopper in training insists on doing it all but paying!

Grocery shopping has always been one of our favorite learning activities that we like to do together on Mondays. Ever since Amanda was a little baby she has loved going to the grocery. Once she sat up she enjoyed riding in the cart stopping to say hello to everyone, then as a toddler she enjoyed driving the car carts. (so glad she is out of that stage because they are so hard to manuver) Lately, she has realized she was too big for the shopping carts and most of the time stayed right next to me, but sometimes something on the shelf would catch her attention and shopping took a lot longer because she wanted me to see it too:) These carts keep her entertained and so busy that our trips are shortened and sweeter than ever. She has learned so much at the grocery. Our trips are a continuous vocabulary lesson.

She even places everything on the belt and has only dropped something once, yogurt. Just like her mom has done on more than one occassion, only she managed to drop it without it spilling all over the place unlike her mom.

I think this is going to work out great with our new baby in the sling, and Amanda pushing the cart, we can continue our weekly learning trips. This was something I worried about not too long ago, how was I going to grocery shop with two kids? That problem is solved with these carts, they really hold a lot.

Last date

Today hubby and I got to spend an entire day together. It really is amazing to have a conversation with your spouse and not be interrupted, or distracted, and just be together. We need to do more date nights and think that after every one we go on, but it really is hard to balance with work, family time, etc.

I have to say after today, I love him even more! You know he even asked me if I wanted to go to the mall before lunch? Yes, shocking and even more shocking was my response of "no, I don't feel like it."
He is so gentle and kind to me. He is very forgiving and understanding, always modeling giving everyone a fair chance, he doesn't prejudge people which is shocking considering his field. He takes wonderful care of me and has been so patient with my hormones jumping out of whack, my not feeling well, and wanting cold water the minute he comes upstairs. He really is the best husband to me and much more than I could ever have imagined asking for the night I knelt beside my bed and asked God to send me a wonderful hubby.
Today we went out to lunch which is rare for us in the middle of the week. We went to our special occasion place and the man finally got his free Lobster for his birthday which was back in June. He had to call them since he didn't receive his coupon, but persistence paid off and they finally sent it so we celebrated with a wonderful lunch out. I had salmon since I am not a Lobster fan. We ordered creamed spinach and cheesy potatoes, and of course we had to split a piece of carrot cake. (the carrots make it healthy you know)

Amanda was at mamaw and papaw's house for the entire day. She hasn't done that since mamaw's surgery and loved and needed the extra attention and patience that can only come from mamaw and papaw. She had a wonderful time, and went out to lunch and Uncle R joined them. She ordered spaghetti and I heard she ate it properly in public so that pleased me:) She visited her favorite pet store and best friend who is a parrot. She tilts her head to the side for him and he mimics her. I didn't believe it until I saw it one day. She loves the pet store and I don't think she gets the concept that it is a store where you can buy animals just yet. So she hasn't asked for a parrot yet.
She ate homemade cherry Popsicles even though her uncle played a joke on her and hid them. She told him that she is "unflappable" and didn't believe he ate them all. She enjoyed being tickled by him, she loves to play jokes on him and tells me she is going to make him "spider soup." It really is a blessing to have a family that loves my child so close, especially now!

She made delicious banana bars with mamaw, and papaw picked her very own tomatoes for her from his special tomato plant that she so admires. When we came home tonight she just had to have one for a bedtime snack. She eats tomatoes just like they are apples, or peaches. It cracks me up! She made beautiful pictures and brought a family of paper dolls home that she made sure we didn't leave in the car overnight! Thanks for a wonderful day mamaw, papaw, Uncle R, and the husband of the year! I think I am de-stressed now and ready to face all the action and the day God has planned for us on Tuesday now!

Saying good bye to summer fun

Amanda had her very first camp experience this summer. For four weeks she attended Gymbo camp every Thursday for three hours. It was a drop off camp but since I know one of the gals that was helping I could let her go. Not saying it was easy to drop her off and smile and wave.......but I did it.

I think it was good for her and was restful for me. It is good practice for me when she goes to kindergarten in 2 years, and it just might take me that long to be prepared/able to let her be away from me everyday. What can I say? I love being with my girl and once she is in school, her teachers will have more time with her than I will ( I have already added up the hours they will have her awake versus me !) I cringe at the mere thought so I have to get my time in now!

Amanda loved camp and learned all about India, Hawaii, Egypt, and Italy.
I was so impressed with the teachers and science experiments, (they even made an active volcano), social study lessons, special snacks, sports classes, etc. Amanda definitely enjoyed herself and learned so much:) The teachers were so creative, she make a pyramid when studying Egypt out of sugar cubes. The teacher said she worked diligently on it for 35 minutes. I never knew sugar cubes could be so entertaining, I will have to get some.

She loved all four of her teachers and she would hide from me when I came to pick her up in the same hiding place (shelf) every week:) I pretended to not catch on:) Thank God for all of those acting classes!

Amanda had to say good bye last week to the only babysitter she has ever had besides mamaw and papaw. She told me today, "I wonder how __is doing on vacation?" She really went away to college but Amanda considers college vacation. I am hoping ___________ doesn't feel the same way and if she does I am calling her parents and telling! ha ha

We ended the day going to B and R for ice cream! I think Amanda has enjoyed more ice cream this summer than she probably ever will in her lifetime. (It's only because I am preggo and it is super hot girly:) Don't expect this much ice cream next summer, unless you are with grandpa or papaw of course.

Fun girl time!

A couple of weeks ago some amazing girlfriends got together to celebrate another friend and my soon to be additions to our families.

They made delicious and beautifully decorated cupcakes and took us out to one of my favorite restaurants:)

The beautiful girls! These gals are so precious and one of them is moving away and that makes us very sad so we aren't talking about it!

When I returned home Amanda insisted on taking a picture of every single item in the beautiful basket! She especially loved the "I Love my Big Sister" bib. She is constantly kissing my tummy and telling Amelia she loves her so much!



She had gone out to eat at DQ for dinner. Her daddy gave her a choice of going to any special restaurant and DQ was the special choice. She told me her grandpa in Florida eats ice cream at DQ for dinner! Her daddy didn't let her do that but after she ate her dinner she did indulge in her favorite ice cream cone, vanilla dipped in chocolate:) (I think her other papaw taught her to like that one) What are we going to do between papaw and grandpa teaching her these unhealthy things? At least, I can blame someone other than myself!

When Amanda and daddy got home they watched Beauty and the Beast since Belle is now living at our house:) Daddy had never seen it before.........I just can't imagine:) This pic is when Amanda asked her daddy "kiss me like the beast daddy" and then showed him how! (She's not going to be allowed to date until she's 30 and only then unless I go as a chaperon with a loaded gun)

The girls sent home a cupcake for Amanda........I will let you decide if she liked it or not?

Amanda took a picture of everything in the basket:) It was filled with beautiful things and I am still overwhelmed with the kindness of these wonderful girlfriends:)

The movie watchers:)

What a relaxing, fun night for me and for Amanda and daddy too:)

Time with just dad camping!

Camping fun!

Amanda watched a show where the characters went camping and has wanted to go camping ever since. Unfortunately, I am really not camping material, although I did go when I was a Girl Scout so I used the "I am pregnant excuse" and it worked for a while.....so this weekend she got to go camping in the basement with daddy. He set up her Dora tent, and air mattress and even washed old sleeping bags he had from his boy scouting days. The mattress didn't fit in the tent so they just slept in the bags on the mattress. They told stories, and had a wonderful time so I heard. Normally, I would have camped with them but with my belly and back I really need to be in my bed right now. I did tell my hubby that I did go camping in large high up tree house once and would go for that again since we would be high up, but unfortunately I don't remember where that campsite was and if you know, please don't tell him!

Amanda can't wait to camp in the basement again and wants it to be a nightly thing now. Something tells me my little girl will talk me into camping outside one day, I just know it! I guess if I bring a case of Lysol/pursue with me I could handle it well, probably not! It just might have to be a "daddy thing" like going to McDonald's for dinner:)

Morning talk/funny conversations

This morning Amanda was being so sweet and I told her, "I hope Amelia is as sweet as you!"


Amanda said, "Well, she might not be, she is different, because she is a completely different person!"

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When out shopping for a new baby bathtub Amanda watched a video of an inventor explaining how this new bathtub was the best one because it is the only one that allows you to keep the clean water separated from the dirty water. I was all set to buy this other one and Amanda said, "You should get this one mommy, watch this" So I did, and she said, "it keeps the clean water from the dirty water" so I checked the price and it was only five dollars more than the one I planned to get so I bought it. Only to get it home and realize we would have to use the kitchen sink every time we used it and really didn't want that. It does sound great but I think you would have to have a huge sink in your bathroom for it to work or use it in the real tub and we have a blow up duckie for that when the time comes so we decided to take it back but I must say I was impressed with how she took it all in from the video. I just have to keep her away from infomerials.

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While driving down the road Amanda is totally quiet and I am enjoying the quietness........she says, "mommy what are you going to do when you hair turns white?" I said, "I could color it, or leave it white, what do you think?"

She said, "just let it be white"

Ummmm.........ok:)

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Our last week just the 2 of us, Girlfriend!

OK Amanda, it is our last week together just us , before baby Amelia gets here so I thought I would share some thoughts with you:) We love you so much and now you will have a little sister to love you too! You are so blessed!


Dear Amanda,


I love how you quickly you learned to smile and laugh! You have brought so much pure joy into our lives since the moment we found out God put you in my tummy and you started growing...to the moment I first held you in my arms....to now, the BIG SISTER! I am so proud of you already and know you are going to be the best big sister you can be!

You were so tiny, I just can't believe you were ever that tiny when I look at the big girl you are today!

I love how you just put up with our cluelessness when we gave you a pacifier that was way too big for a newborn. It took us a while to learn they came in sizes:) I think I figured it out when you were about nine months! oops! No wonder you were never a big time paci kid!

Your clothes were too big to go along with your paci ......clueless yes, we were:)


I have loved just watching you sleep from our time in the hospital until now. Did you know I still check on you or send daddy in to make sure you are breathing almost every night? I think it is my excuse to just watch you sleep.

I love dressing you in fun girl clothes and so do the sales girls at Gymboree:) You would look cute in anything but I really like you in pinks and blues.

Thanks for being so patient with us since it took us a while to learn you didn't like to be carried facing outwards! We were so slow at learning these things, so thank God we have you to help us with Amelia.

I loved how much joy you got out of a simple balloon and will never forget buying you one every time you went to the grocery store with me since you were a good girl until daddy told me, "she's three months old, of course she is good at the store but she doesn't need a balloon every time." They drove him crazy flying around the house:) I do remember a certain someone bringing you 12 at one time. Uncles, Uncles, Uncles, what would we do without them?

I could never get you to fall in love with the jumperoo....which is shocking considering how much you love moon bounces now:)

I loved your little rolls on your tummy when you were a baby. You loved watching your little fish aquarium in your bed.....um..... I guess prep for TV watching.

One of my favorite pics you!

Yes, I even love you when you get into my make up and get it on the brand new carpet-I guess you just want to help your uncle with his carpet business huh?

I loved taking you to New York and showing you the Christmas decorations, I know you don't remember but we will take you again sometime! I hope you love New York City as much as I do at Christmas time!

I love how well you adjusted to moving, change is never easy especially at 17 months:) You did great once you realized we were taking all your toys with us and not leaving them! That was too cute how worried you were that we were leaving them behind:) You kept telling us "take this, "take this"

I loved having you help be our interior decorating assistant and picked out fabric for our furniture. I am so glad we took you advice, you just might have a career ahead of you in the decorating field. You were such a great helper and we think you have great taste! You were so patient with us when we kept changing our minds:)

Even though it frustrated me when I caught you taking all the toilet paper off of the rolls sometimes in several bathrooms a day, EVERYDAY....I still love you! I learned to lock the bathroom doors or take the paper off the rolls until the time I forgot to put it back and didn't remember until company had gone into the bathroom. Yikes! No wonder no one visits us anymore and if they do they pack their own toilet paper!

I am just thankful you never put it in the toilet or even played in the toilets because you know that would send me over the edge.
You gave me such hope when you started using the potty at 21 months but that's OK........you are trained now and that's all that matters:)

I love celebrating holidays with you especially Easter, Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Year's Eve, and Valentine's day! I love the traditions we have started together as a little family! You sure make holidays fun!

I love how you find unique places to play with all of your babies and stuffed friends.
You thought it was so funny to put your animals and babies in my bed!

I love putting bows in your hair, the two times you have let me:) You really crack me up now how you say, "can we stop a minute I need to fix my hair" then you take your fingers and put it behind your little ears! You are like a teenager in so many ways! It really is funny to see how you have gone from don't touch my hair to don't touch my hair, I will fix it myself!

I love how you love to go to the library and book store time and how well you listen to stories being told to you by others. Your memory continues to amaze us. I am especially thankful you can remember what I tell you we need to get at the store when we don't have a list, since I can't remember anything right now!
Thanks for being my little GPS and my memory:)

Yes, I even loved the "look at pretty picture" you made us on the wall as we were packing to move. Your timing may have been a little off with all the packing we had to do but you were so proud of your work so how could we possibly be mad at you? Plus, it was a beautiful reminder that your parents needed to be more responsible and keep the crayons out of your reach unless we were coloring right next to you. You have taught us well!

You really did make packing and moving so fun!

You were an amazing helper when we moved boxes and bags into our new home. You were so excited to have some space to run and play that you didn't even need your toys as long as you had your little baby doll:) You were so friendly to the painters and workmen that they enjoyed coming to our house a little too much! One of them tried to get us to do more work just so he could see you everyday! You not only make my job fun as a mom, but the painters too!

It is so fun to see what you want to dress up as for trick or treating every year, I loved the Elmo, and Minnie Mouse, I can't imagine what you will want to be this year......well, maybe I can. Probably Belle right?

I love how you love to have friends and family over to play with. You love your play dates!

It has been fun to watch your play skills develop with others. Teaching you to share has taught me a lot! Let's face it, some things we just don't want to share! I sure don't like sharing you but I will because like you tell me, "it makes Jesus and God happy so you have to share" You are so right!

I love celebrating your birthdays together with friends and family.

I love how you never gave up and learned to ride your bike even though we bought it before you were ready:) Sorry about that! You didn't get frustrated! I am so proud you learned to pedal it all by yourself this summer!

I just love how you hold, feed, change, and sing to all of your little babies. You are going to be such a great big sister to baby Amelia. The other day you told me you want to have nine kids of your own and from this pic, I think you could definately handle it!

I love how you carried your baby everywhere we went for about six months. Even the pumpkin patch! That poor baby has probably been washed more times than you have! It really is the only thing you have been attached to for a period of time:) I guess that means you are just independent? Um.....don't know where you get that.

I love our hayrides together and just enjoying being outside together in the fresh air! You have taught me to like things I never thought I would enjoy, like visiting smelly farms with stinky animals.

I loved your Mickey Mouse and friends phase you went through.........I kinda miss it but am learning to accept the princess phase and look forward to more phases to come!

Now this climbing phase you went through about drove me nuts, but at the same time I am so thankful God gave you two healthy legs and the ability to climb:)

I love how you stroll your babies around the house:)

I love how you have introduced me to so many new playgrounds and look forward to finding more to explore with you and Amelia. I love swinging next to you and pushing you on the swing. I am so proud of you for learning to pump on your own this summer! Now we can really race to see who can touch the sky first! I bet you'll win!

I love that you love one of my favorite places, the BEACH!! It is so fun to make sand castles with you.

You are so too cute!

I love how you love wacking pinatas and think a party isn't complete without one! You even bought one for daddy's party!

I have loved our trips to Great Wolf Lodge and look forward to many more! Your love for the water and water slides thrills us!

I love how much you love to go on picnics and eat outside, you are a child after my own heart!

I love how patient you are waiting for me to get out the door....and I am thankful you are trying to encourage me to be on time since you hate to be late! I do wonder where you get that from? Oh yeah, I remember now, your dad! Thanks for helping me work on my weaknesses:) You have made me a better person in so many ways!

I love how much you love to eat out and how well you behave at restaurants. I love listening to you place your order now and how you say please and thank you without being told. I love when you pick the restaurant to go to and how cute it is when you say, "I don't know I am out of ideas" and ask us to choose:)

I love that you enjoy going to concerts and shows with us! Your attention span throughout them is amazing and how you never ask to buy all those things they sell is even more amazing to me especially with all the kids around us whining for their parents to buy them stuff!

I loved all you taught me while trying to potty train you. Most importantly, to just be patient and wait for you to be ready and to not worry about what others thought if you weren't trained by 2 1/2! You have taught me to live by what works for our family, and your personal development, and not anyone else's time table. (Can you remind me of this when training Amelia? )

I will never forget how you went three days in a row to earn this doll you saw at the store:) I was so proud and quickly learned to look to the dollar store for potty rewards. Not that they worked for long...........you just had to decide for yourself when you were ready and you know you just taught me to let you develop at your own pace:) Thanks for constantly teaching me!


I love going fun places with you! Seeing your joy and zest for life. The way you smile and enjoy the simple things in life like dandelions, and fill my days with laughter. God knew exactly what I needed when he gave me you and your personality! You are so good for me and have made me grow spiritually, and emotionally and continue to make me grow:)

I love our trips to Chincoteague, and how excited you get staying in hotels:) I loved going to Sesame place, Disney, Dutch Wonderland, and Kings Dominion with you. I love how you have no fear of any ride! Not sure where you got that, not from me!

I love how you love going to the library, sprinkle park and playgrounds. I love how you love to have fun and that its all FREE:) I look forward to next summer with the sprinke park opening up near our house, we can make that our second home!














Yes, I even love you when you get into messy markers and colored all over your body, or the time you "painted your nails to make them pretty" while I was in the shower. I just wish it wasn't on the day you were having your picture professsionally taken and you didn't have to use a permanent marker did you? Are you just trying to teach me to take shorter showers?

I love how you love to shop with mommy and are so good at helping pay, push the cart, and not wanting to buy everything in sight. I love how you tell me to put things back and will never forget the day you said, "put that back mommy it isn't on our list" You are so good at keeping me from buying things we don't need.

I love how much you love fresh fruit and going to the farmer's market!

I just love your little and big expressions you make with your face! I love when you are telling a story and how expressive you are with your face and hands, it makes daddy and I laugh!
Papaw says you will do well in drama what do you think?

I will never forget this day when I left you for the first time last summer at VBS. I have left you before for things but have always been in the building or left you with mamaw and papaw and our babysitter but to leave you and go home just made me grow emotionally! I didn't know what to do with my time away from you. Seeing how much fun you had put that smile right back on my face. But I really do not like being away from you because I know time is short, and before I know it you will be away from me all day in Elementary school, and then in a blink, College, and then you told me that you were going to get married someday! So I just want to treasure these special days we have together because I know we can't get them back and now we will have a playmate to add to the fun!

Love how you love having your face painted and will never forget this day when we went to Walmart and you pretended to be a tiger and growled at grumpy people and brought a smile to their faces:) You always know how to cheer others up and have been one to comfort other crying or sad children since you were very young. I hope you keep your compassion for others forever and it just grows and grows.



I love watching you on the carosel! Even though I just deleted the picture by accident! Just picture yourself right here on that pony with a smile!

I love playing with you, especially with my toys from my childhood:) I love our tea parties, playing babies, dress ups, restaurant, acting out plays, and playdough with you! You are my favorite playmate!

I love taking classes with you! I love watching how well you listen to your teachers and take it all in........like you did at your sibling class. You are going to be a great big sister! I love how you practice saying what you learned to anyone that wants to hold your sister, "please wash your hands before you hold my baby" you know I love that, especially with the way alot of people in this area don't believe in staying home when they are sick and the nurses at the hospital said the Swine flu is coming to town!

I love it when you just get in those silly laughing moods. You remind me of myself. I love how you start laughing and just can't stop! I think this was the number one comment on all of my teacher comment sections on all of my report cards. I was always talking or laughing too much for my teachers! I guess they just weren't happy and social people like we are! At least someone finally understands me and my love of laughter.

Who can forget those almost over the top of the tub, yikes, bubble baths in the jacuzzi. It is amazing how much fun we can have with bubbles! So fun!
I can't wait til Amelia is old enough to join you playing in the tub! It wil be so much fun to see the two of you playing together!

Our fun and spontaneous lunches out together. I have loved our flexible run around schedule. We will have to be a little more scheduled with a baby but with planning we can still pull off our lunches out girlfriend! I know our favorite family restaurant would go out of business if we don't keeep our lunch dates:) Plus, when a Chick-filet craving hits we can't escape its power!

Amanda the party planner-you are amazing at planning parties and it is so much fun to do it together! Maybe we will start a party planning business together someday! Daddy will you fund a start up business if we promise not to buy expensive candles?


I love how you love us and tell us spontanously at just the right time! I love seeing you and daddy together having fun and love how you think he is a better bedtime story teller than I am:) Mostly, I love how your little heart has grown to love God and learning about the bible. Your prayers just get sweeter with time.
I love you baby girl number one and think you are going to be a wonderful big sister! I will treasure these few years we have had together and all you have taught me forever. I love how you just say, "mommy, I love you" out of the clear blue. I love you too!

As we move on together as a family of four, I promise my love for you will not change, my heart is just going to grow bigger:) I love you precious Amanda!

Love, Mommy


I know I am super sentimental right now about cherishing every special moment I have left with just my Amanda before Amelia arrives. I have so enjoyed the past 3 years and almost 10 months together. Although I look forward to having another little girl to love and seeing my girls playing together and growing a relationship bond that is unbreakable, having a sibling........I can't help but wonder how things will change, it's been such an amazing time together! I know it will only be even more amazing in my heart but my mind......can't fathom it yet!