It's Summer Break!

And we are VERY excited!

Happy Half Birthday

Happy 6 months to our happy little girl!!

Easter

We took Stella to meet some baby chicks at TSC back before Easter. It was our original plan to buy a few for some fun photo props. After reading care instructions and such I was NOT game for those sweet little cheeping, feathered friends. We decided to make a sweet event out of it anyways. Stella really enjoyed looking at the different types of chickens. We got to get one out and let her see one up close and personal! She of course wanted to lick all over it. Clearly we didn't let that happen but we did let her touch her finger to it. It was really fun and a special time with her.

Easter is my favorite holiday.  The time of year, the bright colors, the candy, and the clear reason why we celebrate it all--the death and resurrection of our Rescuer.

Stella's first egg hunt was fun!  When everyone on my mom's side of the family started having babies 5 years ago, we started this fun new tradition of a huge egg hunt.  Stella enjoyed finding the eggs.

The easter bunny came to see Stella!  He ate some of his carrots we left our for him and even mixed up a few for her to enjoy!  How nice!  Stella loved her FurReal bunny too!

Easter morning, we celebrated with our church family.

We enjoyed lunch and another egg hunt with John's side of the family later that day.

It has been so special this year celebrating so much with our baby girl!

Baby Bullet

Possibly the greatest baby shower gift ever.  The baby bullet has been a life saver and a huge money saver in our house recently.  It is important to us that our child has everything as natural as possible so when preparing for her arrival, we knew that we wanted to make her own baby food.  Let's face it, when you have to buy wipes, diapers, and everything else for your precious one, who wants and needs to spend an additional $5.00 for just 6 jars of baby food that will last you less than a week.  Not sold yet?  That's fine.  Here's the kit we had registered for.  It includes 6 storage jars that are freezer, fridge, and dishwasher safe and have a dial for the date, the large bullet, the small bullet that has a lid for additional storage, 6 additional freezer storage container, a cook book with simple instructions on what to do, nutrition guide, and a spatula.  It's $60.00.  That's about 11 weeks worth of store bought jarred baby food. Here's the fun part.

Carrots: 1 carrot makes 4 jars of baby food.

Bananas: 1 banana makes 4 jars of baby food.

Peas: 1 can of peas makes 8 jars of baby food.

Apples: 1 apple makes 4 jars of baby food.

You can do the math on all of those.  It's all simple to make too.  Dice and boil the food, drain, put it in the bullet and add 1/4 cup of water, mix, and you are done.  It takes 5 minutes.  See!  Simple!

It's Time

Time for a new adjustment to our lives.  Time to carry on with a new reality.
We have been beyond fortunate that God has allowed me to stay at home with our sweet daughter for four and a half months.

 I have been able to witness many precious milestones.

The first smile, the first giggle, the first time she rolled over, the first time she pushed up on her own, the first moment of a bottle, cereal, and the joy of the smiles I receive when she wakes from a nap.
Each of these things I will hold in my heart.  This time has been priceless.

Now it is time to go back to work.  Back to a place where my "first babies" have been waiting so patiently for their "Mom-Maholland" to return.

A place where I can show God's love to every one of them.
It's hard.  It's bitter sweet.  I do sit in tears thinking about leaving my baby girl.  Tears of thankfulness and joy for the time we have shared together.
For time is such a sweet, sweet thing.  Just yesterday she was this teeny.

For we can't keep them little forever.  Why would we want to?  If they were forever in time little, we wouldn't be able to witness the giggles, the baby food, play baby dolls with them and pretend they're a princess at a tea party.  We wouldn't be able to watch them learn how to ride a bike, or help them when they come home from a hard day.  We wouldn't be able to watch them come to be a warrior for Christ and share her joy of God with others.  We wouldn't be able to get her ready for prom, hold her in her first break up, or get her ready for a new beginning with a special mate.

Yes.  Time is so precious.  For the special moments--each and every one of them--I am thankful.

Women

 There are some women that are in your life

that pull on your heartstrings a little more than others.

Women that light up a room with their smile

and make you feel so at peace with it.

These women aren't in our life by choice but they have purpose.  They are family.

They are sisters and nieces.

They are cousins.

 And they are daughters.

For these women, I am extremely thankful.

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!