Memorial Weekend

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

I will forever be grateful for those and their families who have sacrificed in order for me to sleep peacefully at night, make a living, raise my family and worship Almighty God freely.

I also want to take a moment to remember a few very special people that have gone on to be with the Lord....

My Granny Bow....she taught me what it means to love unconditionally....even when it is undeserved...because that is how Jesus loved us...
My Grandaddy Pinkston...he was a true example of the fruits of the spirit lived out (and I know it was only Jesus Christ in him that allowed him to do so) "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control..."  Galatians 5:22-23a
Bryan's Grandpa Carney...He taught Bryan what it means to work hard without complaining...and Bryan carries that characteristic with him well...

Our Memorial Day weekend started with a trip to the farmer's market in BG which was my first time.  I absolutely loved being there picking out fresh veggies and Hannah enjoyed the trip too....I can't believe I had never been.  When we got home, Hannah went down for a much needed nap and I started cooking for some friends that came over for dinner while Bryan mowed and did some weed eating.  I've posted pics of Hannah and her friend Lana before...we had a wonderful evening visiting, and Hannah and Lana had a big time playing.  On Sunday we actually had a day of worship and rest...with nothing else planned...wonderful.  On Monday, Bryan washed and waxed the truck and did some outside house chores while Hannah and I had fun playtime outside...

Hannah and Lana playing...

Everyone visiting...

 Fun in the shade on Saturday!

 Daddy took a break from his work and got in on the fun action!

 Water time on Monday!

 Hannah absolutely loves the water...I can't wait to see how she likes the lake and the beach this summer!

Look at those two teeth shinin'!

What Does The Cow Say?

Watch me Grow!

Here are a few pics of Hannah over the past few weeks....

 So excited that it's lunch time!!!

 Cheese!!!

 Clap, clap, clap your hands!!!

 Enjoying her walker...

 Happy girl...

 Thinking about crawling...

 Look how big I am!!!

 Before church...

 Bryan and Hannah playing before church so I could get ready...

 Love her sweet smile...

 Hannah and I watching 20 minutes of Noah's Ark like we do every night right before bed...where's the popcorn?!

 Big brown eyes...

 Hannah was really excited about taking these chocolate chip cookies over to the neighbors last week...

 More walker fun...

 Some outside pics in our backyard...

 Play time!!!

 It was kind of cool last Friday...I think this is the last day for a hat...summer heat has arrived!

 Hannah's welcome home sign after Bryan was in Michigan all week for work...She told me exactly what to write (ha!ha!)

 Bryan and Hannah ready for their outside adventure!

 Sweetness!

The End...

9 month checkup

Last Friday Hannah had her 9 month checkup.  Crazy, I know!  I know that everyone says this, but it seems like just yesterday we were taking her to her 2 week appointment.  Well, I'll just start with the statistics...Weighing in at 15 pounds and 4.7 ounces, little bit is definitely a little bit!  However, she is right on target with her growth curve gaining about a pound a month and staying consistent in the 3rd percentile for weight.  She is 26.75 ounces which is in the 20th percentile for height.

About Hannah....

1.  She is eating most any veggie or fruit you put in front of her with her favorite still being prunes and apple/pear combo.  Her favorite veggie right now is green beans and lima beans...go figure!  It used to be sweet potato, but she opens up way bigger for the beans now!

2.  She just started with finger foods about two weeks ago.  She picks up cheerios and just studies them.  I don't think they have actually gotten to her mouth yet.  However, the organic yogurt bites certainly have!  She loves them!

3.  She loves animal noises!  Her favorite this week is the pig "oink, oink" and the snake "sssss".

4.  She just started trying to say "WOW!".  Too cute!

5.  She loves to cuddle after nursing which mommy loves!

6.  She loves her new walker and her new leapster standing table.

7.  She can pull herself up holding your hands with just a little help and a "1, 2, 3" count.

8.  She can stand at the couch with your help and loves to do so...she stands on her tippy toes sometimes though.

9.  She's rolling, but not crawling, which the doc said isn't an actual developmental milestone and she may skip it and go straight to walking.

10.  She is a mama's girl, but she is still very social.  When the doc walked in, Hannah started hammin' it up with a big ol' smile and talking about something with her high pitch voice that I'm sure was very important...

11.  She loves going to the doctor, by the way.  I think it's because she loves to be naked and she loves to play on the mat sitting on the paper that covers it.

12.  She is a daddy's girl too....she gets the biggest smile on her face when Bryan comes through the door....I would say it's the highlight of Bryan's day too...

13.  She is sleeping from around 8 pm after I nurse to 7 or 7:30am.  I lay her down in her bed awake and she falls asleep on her own.

14.  She takes two 1 1/2 to 2 hour naps a day.

15.  She LOVES being outside and she LOVES the water...I think that means there's gonna be alot of trips to the lake and to the pool this summer!

16.  She is drinking out of a small cup at mealtimes....that seems to work better for us than a sippy cup.

17.  And probably the highlight for me....she said "mama" for the first time on her 9 month old birthday...what a sweet, sweet sound!  She normally calls out for me when she's hungry or sleepy....either way, music to my ears.  She's been saying "dada" for a while now.

18.  She is really starting to show her personality now playing peek a boo and swaying her little body to music...too fun!

19.  She has been doing some kind of clap for a while now when music is on, but a couple of weeks ago she actually got the hands together making the clapping sound...I think she surprised herself!

20.  She's just starting to try to wave "bye, bye".

21.  I started signing to her "more", "please" "all done" and "thank you", but she hasn't done them back yet.

22.  She loves reading the Bible verse border in her room...we do it before bedtime and naps.

Well, I could go on and on, but I'll stop there.  I'll leave you with a picture...I call it "Lipstick Red"...

Can you guess?  

Beets!!!

"For you created my inmost being.  You knit me together in my mother's womb.  I will praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;"  Psalm 139:13-14a (the border in Hannah's room)

Happy Mother's Day

I want to wish all the mamas out there a happy Mother's Day!  Especially to my own....thank you for always giving of yourself for your family...sacrificing, going above and beyond and loving unconditionally...we love you!

I can't believe it's my very first Mother's Day!  It really is hard to believe.  It still feels so surreal that I have a 9 month old little girl that depends on me for everything.  Bryan and Hannah gave me my Mother's Day gift on Saturday morning before we left for the weekend....

 A great devotion to listen to in the car when traveling...

 A precious picture frame...

Now, this is the red bud tree that is in our current yard.  Bryan and I planted this tree 61/2 years ago when we bought the house...it was literally about as tall as the length of my hand.  I'm not sure what is going on at the top of the tree...looks like it is only blooming at the bottom.  Anyway, Bryan had a picture of a red bud tree in my Mother's Day card saying he was getting me one to put in our new yard.  He couldn't get in just yet, because he was afraid it wouldn't survive the month to 6 weeks before we move.  Such a thoughtful gift...I had made the statement that I wish we could take the tree with us, because it was the first tree we planted together in our very first yard.  Now we can plant new roots on our new land...

On Saturday, Bryan and I went to the Keene Farm for the Carney Mother's Day dinner.  It was such a wonderful time visiting and celebrating all the moms....

 Mom and daughter pic

 Hannah with her Great Grandmother Carney

On Sunday, we went to the church where I grew up...in memory of my Granny Bow...and then went to my sister's house for a grill out...it was a blast visiting, playing and eating...so fun!

 Me and Hannah after church...

 My sweet Granny Bow...Thanksgiving 2008

 My sister, mom and me...

 One with Hannah...

 Three generations...

 Finally, a family pic...this never happens...

 Hannah and Grandmama...

 And a pic for fun that I took today on our front porch...I couldn't resist...Hannah now poses for the picture as soon as she hears the camera noise when it's focusing...too cute!

Happy Mother's Day!  My cup runs over....

Proverbs 31...what a role model...

"Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised."  Proverbs 31:30