4 Months

Stella Beth is 4 months old! It's hard to believe that our little gummy bear has been our pride and joy for 4 whole months.  The time flies too fast.

Each and every day we watch as she literally grows and develops before our eyes.

She has always been such a strong little girl and never cared to be held like a baby.  She loves tummy time and is trying really hard to roll from belly to back.  She's done it a few times, but isn't consistent just yet.  She laughed for the first time a few weeks ago.  I started crying immediately and got so excited that the poor girl will probably never do it again.

She has gotten really good at grabbing things and putting them in her mouth.  She loves her giraffe, Sophie.  She's one of her favorites!

It has been such a joy watching her grow into her own little person these 4 months!  I look forward to watching her bloom into the sweet little girl that God has made her to be!

Happy 4 months Baby Girl!

Cereal

Stella Beth had her first cereal this week! She eyes down our food at the table so we thought she would probably enjoy it. She loved her first bite! She opened her mouth so wide and swallowed every bite! She now has cereal as a meal twice a day. Once in the morning and once at night. It really seems to be helping her with her schedule too and I love that!

Sweet Caroline

Never did I ever think that my sister and I would get to be pregnant at the same time!  And both with sweet little girls!  We have been anxiously awaiting for Caroline Grace to join our family.  She came a little sooner than we thought and we are so excited that she is finally here!  There really isn't anything better than being an aunt.
Introducing Caroline Grace!!!! My first niece!

She weighed in at 5 pounds 10 ounces with a head full of gorgeous dark hair! What a doll!

Stella and Caroline had their first little play date the other day.

 It's so amazing how 3 1/2 months looks so different and to think that once they reach a year they will look the same age.  I'm sure they will be the best of friends just like me and my sister.
Caroline Grace, I already love you so much!  From the tip of your gorgeous hair to the bottom of your teeny toes!  You are already loved by so many including your Aunt Lindsey.

I am so thankful for you and pray that you will be a warrior for Christ and seek God and glorifying Him in all that you do.  Good luck ever getting a date with your 3 older brothers standing guard.  I'll see what I can do to help you on that one! ;-)  I love you so much baby girl!

All Things Girl

It's taken a good two months for us to really get settled into parenthood.  The fog has lifted, we are still floating on cloud nine, we have a solid routine now, and we feel like we can get out and about comfortably now. Stella Beth has been able to enjoy some fun events this past week!

First, we had a Glitz, Glitter, and Shine baby shower at our home celebrating the coming of Caroline Grace!  I am beyond excited for Stella Beth to have a cousin so close in age!

We can't wait to meet her either!  It was a small get together just celebrating with close women of the family.  It was a wonderful afternoon together!

Is my sister not the most beautiful pregnant woman!  OH my gosh!  Gorgeous! I've always been so envious of her beauty!
We have also enjoyed a girl's lunch date with Aunt Beth, Aunt Kim, and Audrey.

We had the best visit at a local coffee shop.

Stella Beth loved the visit and insisted to wake from her nap to be a part.

It was the perfect day for some hot soup and tasty coffee with these wonderful ladies!

2012--Our Favorites in Pictures

 Ventured to Disney World with 25 of the most amazing students I know and watched as they enjoyed every moment.

 John and I both got a little more ink.  Wrists were this year with a surprise hebrew covenant from me and an anchor for him.  By far my favorite so far!

 John and I got to spend an entire day on set of a music video for Jack White with some of my students.

 John's Maw Maw and Paw Paw celebrated 50 years of marriage.

 We found out we were pregnant and having a girl.

 We enjoyed a special night away at the Hutton and since it was our anniversary of 4 years were upgraded to the Penthouse. What!

We were a part of a special wedding.

 John learned how to flip a kayak.  Very impressive!

 We met some cool people!

  We celebrated a month of awesome events leading up to the celebration of two of our friends getting married.

 We found a new love for youth and were led to serve them.  Aren't they awesome!

 We chose to show everyone the Grace and forgiveness that our Father has given us.

 We found out that Stella will have another cousin!

 These two girls threw our world upside down and we were able to rejoice in their safety, protection, and healing.

I received my Masters of Arts in Teaching from Austin Peay.

We baby mooned to a new spot that we hope to go back to in years to come.

And this little girl.  She made us a family.
We can't explain how humbled we are for such a joyous year.  We had a lot to celebrate this year together and we are so undeserving of it all.  We thank God for His blessings and love.
We wish you a very happy 2013!

Our First Christmas

Stella's first Christmas began with Nana's tradition of making Christmas cookies for Santa.  

 This started 9 years ago with Bryce and look how must we've grown!  It's exciting to know that we will have one more at the table next year with Caroline!

 We enjoyed Christmas at Great-Nana and Pa's house.  It was such a relaxing visit together.  I personally enjoyed the thrill that Great-Nana and Pa have for family and for their new granddaughter.  They had a special "glow" about them this year.  I sat back and soaked all of that in.  We love them very much.

 We had to make sure to make time for a 4 generations picture. These are so special to me.

 Christmas Eve Eve at the Maholland's--or Grammie and Granddaddy's I should say.

 The whole crew in front of Stella's first Christmas tree.  The Maholland's bought one for each of their boys first Christmas and planted it when Christmas was over to signify their first Christmas.  They are going to start going their grandchildren as well.  I just love that idea!  Next year Stella and Granddaddy will decorate it outside together!

 Christmas Eve with Great Nanny and Poppy was wonderful as always.  We enjoyed it at the Livery Stables.  We got to play a lot with our nephews.

 We had to make sure to get a picture of "The Beths" Such a proud Great Aunt!

 And here is another 4 generation picture with Stella's Nanny.

 Christmas Eve night we celebrated with Maw Maw and Paw Paw..Here we all are (pouring over the couch now) reading the Christmas Story.  It was so special having Stella be a part of this 26 year old tradition.  We also attended our Christmas Eve service at church.  We decided to make this a part of our Christmas Eve's to come.  It was really special worshiping with our church family celebrating Christ's birth.

 Christmas morning at our home was by far the best day.

 There's not anything better than celebrating Christ's birth together as a family in your home.  We are so blessed to have our sweet little family.

 Here we are in our yearly Christmas pajama picture.

 Every good and perfect gift is from above. Sweet baby kisses are my favorite!

 We enjoyed our special time that morning and then relaxed together until the afternoon.

 We wrapped up everything at Nana and Big Papa's house for late afternoon snacks and games.

 Big Papa got Stella her special jewelry box.  The amazing thing is we had lightly mentioned to each other about wishing we could find a special one with a spinning ballerina for Christmas.  We just let it go and figured they didn't make them anymore.  Mom and Dad had no idea we wanted one for her.  It made this gift so much more special.  Clearly, I was thrilled.

 The boys were absolutely adorable opening their gifts from us.  They knew we all weren't going to have gifts be the focus this year and April did such a good job preparing them of how important family time is on Christmas and that gifts are not what it is all about.  They were so grateful for their things.

 We really enjoyed our time here.  We played really fun games and grazed on yummy snacks all night.  We ended the night with a special "game" We all drew a name and went around the circle and had to share some positive things about the person's name we drew.  We all knew it would be fun but we had no idea it would turn into something so moving and special.  My Granny was there for all of this and she shared about very special things.  Our last 4 generations.  Poor Stella woke and was ready to eat.  I want to make sure we retake this one but I still wanted to post it!

 Life is so short.  Too short.  It is so important that we spend each day glorifying God and enjoying moment with family and those that we love.  We never know when it will be over for us here on this earth.  Our family experienced that this year and it was a wake up call.  We know that life is so fragile.  We aren't here on this earth for things.  Life isn't about that.  It isn't about your fancy house, your clothes, how much weight you've lost or gained, the big elaborate parties you throw.  Life is about moments and glorifying God in them.  God gave us everything that we ever needed when He sent His Son to this wretched world to die for us.  Stupid us--sinners who are unworthy of any of that and so unworthy of everything that God has blessed us with.  Take a moment and thank God for his love this morning.  It is the only thing that will never fail you.

 And from our home to yours...

 Merry Christmas and...

Happy Birthday Jesus!