Princess Emery has declared that rice cereal is not her fave!

Since The Princess has been showing an interest in what we're eating we thought we'd let her try some cereal for the first time. I'm thinking that given her reaction, this is going to be a work in progress!

Here goes nothing...

OMG, what was that?

Nope, not likin' it at all!

Guess we'll try again tomorrow!




***I am grateful for
1) that cute little face, even if she didn't like the rice
2) baby coos
3) "play" baths, Chase's new way of saying he wants to play in the tub
4) birthdays, there's a big brother with one coming up!
5) good company

Don't like the weather?

Just wait a few minutes and it will change - so is life in Texas!!! Saturday shorts, Tuesday snow... crazy! Chase loved it until his hands got cold, then he was ready to come in. It didn't last long, but it was lots of fun while it lasted!







****I am grateful for
1) snow
2) homemade Chicken and Dumplings
3) bedtime
4) heaters
5) warm, cozy blankets

Princess Emery is 19 weeks old!

My Sweet Princess Emery,

My how you have grown in these last 19 weeks! You had your 4 month checkup on Friday and you were 25 inches long (75%), 14.7 lbs (75%) and your head was 16.5 (I think, which is 90%). You have almost doubled your birthweight and by the time I post this, I'm sure you have. Oh how I wish you wouldn't grow so quickly, I feel as if time is slipping away! I have your bandaide shot but the internet was not cooperating so we'll post it later.

So much is going on and you are taking it all in each and every day. You are very alert and so good when we are on the go. This week you wore jeans for the first time, you were one adorable ltitle thing!

Your band aids after your shots.

You have also mastered turning the tears off and on. Here you are happy one minute (although you had been fussy so your eyes are puffy)

and here you are just seconds later. I absolutley love that little pout and it totally cracks me up.

You have also been watching the Olympics and are intrigued by all the movement. We were at Nana's on Saturday and ya'll watched some of the skiing together.

Oh my sweet baby girl how I love you. I love you so much I feel as if my heart could explode. How did I ever get so lucky???

~Mommy

***I am grateful for

1) little itty bitty blue jeans

2) little pouts

3) big smiles

4) Olympics on tv... awesome!

5) life

The Pink Bulldog

Look what's coming up for sale at The Pink Bulldog!








*** I am grateful for
1) bows!
2) wild prints
3) pink!
4) Hump Day!
5) weekend is a comin'

Silly Big Brother Chase

Chase wanted to do some posing for the camera, which is rare, so we let him give us some of his silliest faces and snapped away! (sorry I look rough, it's been a long week!)

Mama's Boy

Silly Face

Shocked Face

Mean Face

Gonna Get You Face

Sweetie Face

Sad Baby Blue Eyes Face

Such a cutie, no matter what the face! The other day he came up to me and said, "Don't you just love my beautiful blue eyes!" Yes, yes I do!!!!




****I am grateful for
1) Chase Alan
2) Chase's beautiful blue eyes
3) Chase's perfect little nose
4) Chase's adorable freckles
5) Chase's ability to make me smile!

Princess Emery is 18 weeks/4 months old!

Princess Emery,

It's so hard to believe that you are 18 weeks old... 4 whole months! I remember when I couldn't wait to make it to the 2nd trimester, that time has definitely come and gone, eh?

You are simply adorable and gorgeous and wonderful and perfect and the list could go on and on. I'm sure you get the picture! You have not only discovered your feet, you've discovered that you can reach them and that it is very fun. It has become your favorite past-time and the minute you are on the floor you are like a little ball with your feet in your hands. It's very entertaining to us to watch you grab them and immediately start rolling to your side because of your little round butt!

Speaking of feet, have I mentioned how cute yours are? They are like little sausages that I could just eat right up!! I love to take your little foot in my hand and nom nom on it. Tasty! You think it's quite funny, which of course makes me nom nom on it even more. I'm such a dork, but that's OK, I don't mind one.single.bit and I don't think you mind either!! I mean, look at this shot, wouldn't you want to nom nom on it?? I have no doubt you'll have that foot in your own mouth in no time!

Still no teeth, which is fine by me. You love to chew and drool though, you are a drooling, spitting up machine! I think we go through about 10 bibs a day easy, thank God for washing machines!

You do seem to have a little bit of an attitude. Well I say your just the kind of girl that knows what you want and when you want it. Others seem to think it's an attitude. I've already heard more than once that you have my temper and attitude, but whatever. I'm totally cool with that. I say bring it on sista! ;o)

Friday is your four month check up and I'm excited to see how long you have gotten and how much you weigh. I'm going to say 26 inches and 15ish pounds. You are in 0-3 months clothes and your sleepers are getting too small. Not because they are tight, but because you have gotten too long for them. Just amazes me at how much you have grown!

You are definitely our Little Princess and we love you!

~Mommy

****I am grateful for
1) cuddle time
2) four wonderful months
3) 18 awesome weeks
4) coos and giggles
5) great pictures

Happy Valentine's Day!

***I am grateful for
1) a great Valentine's Day
2) my three Valentines - Jeff, Chase, and Emery
3) weekends
4) pink
5) sweetness

One year ago today we learned our lives were changing forever...

I remember the phone conversation like it was yesterday when Brandy, one of our favorite nurses at our REs, called to tell us that IVF #5 had worked and we had a miracle on the way. It had only been 6 months (well 5 months 3 weeks and 5 days, surely I'm not the only person that counts) since losing the twins and we were terrified, thrilled, and on cloud 9 to know that God had blessed us with another baby. I was so scared something would go wrong, but in my heart I just knew October was going to bring us the most wonderful addition ever.

I was at work when I got the call and immediately called Jeff because surely he was on pins and needles like I was. While he was anxious to learn, I think it took a moment to sink in because I finally had to say, "Do you know what this means??? This means we're having a baby!" Yep, that got it through to him! Chase was with his mom that day so we decided to go to eat and celebrate Valentine's Day and our big news. Having that little secret is something like nothing else. We were giggly and daydreaming, it was perfect. I had not POAS (peed on a stick) up until this point because after our 2nd IVF I didn't want to risk the pains of negatives and had learned that all it did was set you up for heartbreak. We had gone by the store to grab some because we HAD to see a positive test for ourselves... so silly, but we couldn't help ourselves. I actually took the test in the bathroom at Olive G, guess you never know what people are really doing in those restrooms! Of course it was immediately positive and you couldn't wipe the smiles off our faces. Good times!

I simply cannot imagine our lives without Emery and I am so very thankful that the Lord chose us to be her parents. I never in a million years though we'd have to do four IVFs to get her, but to tell you the truth, I'd have done a million! We love you Princess Emery, you and your big brother are our world!!!




***I am grateful for
1) good friends
2) fun birthdays
3) a vacuumed floor
4) baby E videos for Princess E to watch
5) that phone call one year ago today!

Prayers Please

My cousins' grandfather just got diagnosed with cancer. You can read more on Randi's blog here. As you can imagine, they are scared at the diagnosis and hopeful that everything will be OK. Please take a moment to send some prayers their way! Thanks!

~Kahla

****I am grateful for
1) Thursday, one more day until the weekend!
2) warm jackets
3) heaters in cars
4) my Ug.gs that I've had since before they were popular (read over a decade) and yet they are still warm and comfy
5) sweet tea in the morning

So, I was thinking...

this has really turned into a "look at my adorably cute, wonderful, awesome, perfect little kid/baby blog" hasn't it? Are ya'll totally sick of it yet? I am going to try really hard to put some other stuff on here cause I'm certain that everyone wants to hear not only about my kiddos, but about my awesomely interesting life as well. You know, things like how I can't stand the idiots that drive down the shoulder of the road instead of sitting in the same traffic you are stuck in because apparently their lives are way more important than yours and they can't possibly wait another minute sitting there like you. Or perhaps about the fact that my house looks like a tornado went through and no matter how much time I spend cleaning for some reason it just won't stay clean. Or maybe about the fact I really think we should have a four day work week and a three day weekend... any takers? I always find myself thinking, "man, I should put this on the blog" but then I totally forget and end up just posting something about the kids instead. So I guess I'll make more of an effort to put other stuff too, just don't hold me to it!




****I am grateful for
1) my cousin's grandfather got good news, hopefully that will continue (send prayers for healthy reports - see her blog, Shoes, Art, and Motherhood)
2) funny shows on tv to make you laugh
3) surprise treats from awesome class Mommies
4) Hump Day (love it every time)
5) a delicious dinner ready when I got home

Princess Emery is 17 weeks old!

Princess Emery,

Today you are 17 weeks old and what a big girl you are becoming! You are laughing so much and give us smiles all the time. It is absolutely wonderful!!! You can also roll over in both directions, which is pretty darn amazing. Your Daddy says you are advanced, I have to agree. Even Dr. Q was pretty amazed that you can already roll in both directions, maybe she thinks you are advanced too. ;o)

Unfortunately you are ringing in your 17 week birthday with an ear infection. :o( I'm praying you won't follow in your big brother's footsteps with the whole ear thing. Your Big Brother is having issues too and back on breathing treatments. Tough times for my sweet babies!

Get well fast Baby Girl!!

Love,
Mommy

***I am grateful for
1) Emery has meds and WILL get better!
2) Chase is on breathing treatments and WILL get better!
3) our great pediatrician
4) an awesome Daddy that took both kids to the doc by himself
5) hopefully a better night tonight than last night

We knew he was destined for great things...

Tonight was a very proud night for the Larson Family, tonight Chase was the first person in Tiny Tiger history to earn his blue belt! I'm so proud of Chase, words do not even begin to describe it!! How impressive to make history at only 4! ;o) His test lasted for a good 20 minutes and that boy didn't miss a beat. He knew all the Korean words he was asked, counted to five in Korean, demonstrated his stances, his kicks, his blocks, broke his board with a kick, and demonstrated what he has learned with his bow (think long rod). He is very proud of himself too and beaming from ear to ear. Here are some pics of our blue stripe Tiny Tiger! (Doesn't Ms. Sophia look thrilled!)










***I am grateful for
1) Tiny Tigers
2) history
3) proud smiles
4) self confidence
5) our little blue belt