Happy Birthday (Baby) Big Girl!

My biggest girl turns six today. It is hard to imagine that six years ago today I was in the hospital anxiously awaiting the birth of my first child. I had no idea girl, boy, just wanted healthy. Little did I know what I was getting myself into. After 24+ hours in the hospital it was time to push, there was talk of forceps and calling the doctor, I wanted a midwife birth. Of course not being a dummy I did have the epidural. And then the baby was here. It took 10 minutes for anyone to tell me if it was a he or a she. She had to be "worked on" to get her breathing cleared. I got to hold her for what felt like seconds and then she and daddy were whisked away to the neonatal unit. I was given a quick dinner and then shipped to my room upstairs.

Ever since the fateful day Grace has been full of adventure. She has been my dolly to dress up. She has been my guenea pig, my test dummy and most especially she has helped me find the meaning of being a mommy. Whenever I have been sad, mad or in a bad mood, that smile, her hugs and especially her kisses have made it all melt away and I have been swept into her joy. She is super intelligent, kind and caring, inquisitive, somewhat shy, but definitely a talker. She tells it like it is, the good and the bad. She constantly questions everything I do and say.(sometimes annoyingly so). She is my helper, my pleaser and my worrier(she takes after her daddy there). She wants everyone to be happy and hates when people leave our house.

first birthday

second birthday - look mom no hands

This September in Disney

She is a dancer, a swimmer, a dreamer, a princess, a reader, an imaginer, a disney fanatic(like her mom) and a GREAT girl. I can't wait to see how she grows and changes in the next year. I have so many hopes and dreams for her, but I know she is independent and will do what she wants and be who she wants. Here is to another year, may ALL your dreams come true sweet angel.

November 2009

I LOVE YOU!

Check us out!

Go to the following link to catch a small look at my newest friend and a great photographer Joy Wilson. She did a great favor for my sister and I as she took photos of our families for us for my mom's 65th birthday. She met us on the square and did a great job getting some grumpy kids to smile. Not Grace, she is always smiling for the camera(even if not looking at it with her eyes.) She did such a great job, I just can't thank her enough. Now just to figure out which ones to frame....................
http://joywilson-photography.blogspot.com/2009/11/family-edwards.html

Tis the Season............

Well December is almost here and I am ready. I LOVE Christmas, the decorations, the candles, the special songs and especially Christmas lights. Usually by two days after Thanksgiving, I have the tree up, the outside decorated and shopping started. This year.....the trees is up with no lights or ornaments, the outside has nothing but a wreath on the door, the stockings are hung and the nativity scene is out, but that is about all. I had huge plans...but Lily REFUSES to cooperate. She won't sleep in her bed, even at nap time. She screamed while I tried to help Daddy rake leaves outside so that I had to bring her in for a long nap. Now I sit typing, instead of decorating the tree because my arms are holding 22.5 pounds of cranky sleeping baby. I also need to clean the storage area out, so that I can clean the guest room out, so mom can stay tomorrow night before the big surgery on Monday. I can hardly wait........Maybe we can all start sleeping in our own beds through the entire night. It would truly be a Christmas miracle.

PS On another note the new pictures are courtesy of Joy Wilson Photography. Check out the link to her blog on this page. She met my entire family on the square for a fun day of photos!

Happy Anniversary

On this night twelve years ago, I married my best friend. Through thick and thin, for better for worse and through all the sickness and health, he has been there. I feel so lucky to have him in my life. He is a wonderful father, a great listener, a thoughtful person and a genuinely nice person. So though this post is short, Here is to MANY more years together. May they be as blessed as the last twelve have been. I love you!

Surgery

Lily will have tubes placed in her ears to clear up the constant infection and fluid she has been carrying around for months on Nov. 30th. It takes two weeks why? She has to be cleared from the cardiologist via letter, meet with the anesthesiologist, it HAS to be done in the hospital because of her heart condition and then throw in a week at Thanksgiving where nothing will happen. I already have a call in to the ENT and soon the pediatrician as to what we are to do until then to keep her comfortable.............Please pray that we can make it through the next two weeks on very little sleep and lots of Motrin for her. We'll keep you updated!

Videographic evidence

Miss Lily is walking. Not well yet and not without a little help from time to time, but once that fluid in her ears vacates via the tubes in her near future..... Watch out world cause HERE SHE COMES!

It was a cold, dark and rainy night....

It was Halloween! This year has been the year of perpetual rain. And so the one Saturday Halloween in Grace's six years of trick or treating and it was miserable. Our street carnival got moved indoors and then back outdoors and probably ended early due to the drizzle that was hanging in the air. Lily did not last long in her strawberry costume and Grace put her fleece lined raincoat on over her Strawberry Shortcake and took off the wig. I have no pictures on my camera of the event(hoping for the nicest neighbors in the whole world and friends and family to pull through on some pictures of the girls for me.) We then ate our annual neighborhood fall picnic of chilli's and soups and other wonderful food. Then set out the trick or treaters. The moms huddled under the tents with bowls of candy in our chairs waiting for all the trick or treaters. The dad's headed out with kids in tow looking for the best treats in the land. They actually stayed gone longer than I would have ever imagined on such a yucky night. But we were all home, candy passed out and in bed before 9:00. So much for a late Saturday night of fun in the fall. Oh well fun was had and next years will be even better! Kudos to Mrs. Holly for organizing the event and cleaning out her garage for all the food to be kept dry and thank goodness for the Reeves and Metiviers tents.
If I get some pictures from the aforementioned friends or family members I will post them or time willing and ear infections easing I will put them back in their costumes for some pictures after the fact.(Yes Lily has her double ear infections again/still and is getting two shots a day for the next three days and then to the ENT we go)