It's that time of year again!

The toy catalogs have been arriving for a couple of weeks and Chase quickly realized that Christmas was on the way. Christmas being on the way means one thing: Christmas Lists! Chase has been asking to start his for about a week now and tonight we finally sat down and took the time to work on it.

First, you have to browse to find just the right items that catch your eye:

Then you gently cut the perfect toys out:

Next you carefully glue them down:

Finally: Your Christmas List is ready to be distributed!

I'm sure he'll add plenty more over the next couple of weeks, but he's definitely off to a good start!




***I am grateful for
1) bedtime
2) stars
3) pictures
4) Christmas Lists
5) Hump Day

More Sneak Peeks!

Daddy and his Little Princess

Jeff's grandmother had given this dress to his mom when she was pregnant with his younger brother. Since he was a boy it's been stored for 33 years! We finally got a girl to put in it and boy did she look pretty!

Rings and Toes

Ho, Ho, Ho!

Hope Now

*The pics are up and ready to be viewed now. If you want to see them all, just send me a note (I must have your email to get the preview link to you) and I'll set it up.




****I am grateful for
1) sleep, when I get it
2) the few quite seconds I have to myself in the bathroom, I'll take what I can get
3) I still have almost a month of maternity leave - I do not want to leave Emery, but I do kinda miss my kids at school, can I just work like three days a week? ;o)
4) we survived three birthday parties and a crab boil this weekend
5) awesome pictures

Emery's Newborn Photo Shoot Sneak Peek (and more to come later!!!)

The pictures say it all...

These were taken by Peggy Carty (www.peggycartyphotography) and I have yet to see one that I didn't love! She will come to your site and give you as much time as you need. Which is awesome when you have a little one that gets hungry and needs loved on from time to time. You are able to stop, take care of needs, and the start back up again. She is patient and loving and awesome! We met when her oldest daughter was in my first grade class and got so attached that I have her daughter again in third grade this year. I really can't recommend her enough!! If you want more info let me know, I'd be more than happy to refer!!!! There are over 100 pictures coming so check back for more (or the link to view them) soon!!!!

~ Kahla

****I am grateful for

1) Emery had a much better night, but boy is she constipated, that's our new work-on goal

2) we are not letting this reflux get our baby girl

3) a GREAT photo shoot

4) Peggy, she rocks!

5) Saturdays!!

This ain't our first rodeo...

I've mentioned before on here what a wonderful baby Emery has been and how we are totally not used to that. When I say that, I really hope it's not taken the wrong way. Since this blog was not in existence when Chase was a baby I should probably go ahead and explain a couple of things. Chase was an adorable baby, but he was a hard baby. He was diagnosed early on with severe GERD (reflux) and he was miserable with it. Not only did he have reflux, he had formula tolerance issues. It was an uphill battle from the start and took a long time to get it under control. During that time there was lots of crying by both of us, little sleep for either of us, and a ton of frustration. I remember all too well how hard it was to watch him squirm and cry when he was hurting and knowing there was nothing I could do to ease his pain... it devastated me. Lots of people just assume reflux babies are fussy colic babies and I hate that. I can't even begin to count the number of times that I had to explain Chase was hurting and not just a bad attitude baby. We always say that he is so good now, because we paid all our dues when he was an infant.

Emery has been a happy, content, rarely crying baby. Or she was. A couple of days ago we noticed that she was a little fussy, spitting up more, gagging, coughing, squirming, pulling her legs up, and arching her back - all after she ate. I immediately started having flashbacks and my heart sank. We had not changed her diet in any way, still nursing and the same formula, so I knew everything was pointing to reflux. After all, this ain't our first rodeo. Two nights and a full day of this and we knew it was time to take her in. We wanted it under control ASAP, for her well being and everyones sanity.

Sure enough Dr. Q feels we are indeed facing reflux again. Crap. Why? Seriously?! I knew it was too good to last. Anyway, after some serious crying and pouting on my part due to total frustration that 1) My 2nd baby is having to deal with this painful disease, 2) GERD just sucks, no matter how you look at it, and 3) can't anything ever be easy??? I sucked it up and decided since there is nothing I can do to make it go away, we'll do what we can to make it better. We got her on prescription meds, are trying out a new formula, and are quickly remembering all our tricks for dealing with the reflux monster. Hopefully we'll get it under control quickly and have our happy, little princess (and sane Mommy) back in no time. Send a prayer... or two!

~ Kahla

***I am grateful for
1) TGIF
2) Emery is having her newborn photo session today
3) we are going to kick this reflux business to the curb
4) good health care
5) weekends rock!

Happy Three Week Birthday Emery!

I know I say it every week, but seriously, three weeks already???? Time is just flying by since Miss. Emery has arrived and every day brings new and exciting adventures. I really wondered how I could love another baby like I love Chase, but sure enough, I do! These two kids make my heart want to explode it's so full of admiration for them... I am one lucky Mommy! Above is one of my favorite pics of Emery that I took yesterday and then at the end of this post is the birth announcement we ordered. We have a friend that is going to take pics later this week, so we'll probably come up w/a second announcement, but we saw this and fell in love.

Miss. Emery,

Today you are three weeks old and we are three weeks into a new adventure in our life. We feel so lucky each and every day to have been picked to be your Mommy and Daddy. We are all totally, completely smitten with you. You are so loved by so many, you will always have plenty of people there to take care of you, that's for sure!

You are changing each and every day and when I look at pictures of you I already see a huge difference from when you were born. You are more alert and love to just sit and stare at us. Your big brother loves to entertain you and you seem to be intrigued by him. I have a feeling that the two of you are going to have a great relationship and I am so thankful.

You have decided that at night you only want to sleep snuggled up next to me and while I get a little nervous, I always give in. You look at me with those big blue eyes and the minute you are next to me you nestle right up and get still so I let you do it every time. What can I say, I'm a sucker for you!!!

Love,
Mommy


~ Kahla

***I am grateful for
1) 3weeks
2) health
3) fall
4) connections
5) stars in the sky

Happy Halloween!

~ Kahla

****I am grateful for
1) Halloween
2) cute costumes
3) happy smiles
4) trick or treating
5) cool evenings

The Pumpkin Patch

~ Kahla

****I am grateful for

1) the weekend

2) Halloween (this is my favorite time of year, three holidays in three months = lots of family time!)

3) genuine smiles

4) family pictures

5) miracles, they happen every day, we just have to know to look for them