Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! We hope that everyone had a safe and wonderful holiday. Here are some pics for you to enjoy!










Sarah was so fun to watch! She loved to rip the paper (and chew on it)!





Christmas at G. Monica's & G. Jim's

Aunt Coy Beth held Sarah while I helped her go through her stocking. Brian was taking pictures.





Our Christmas at home. Mommy and Sarah going through her stocking and Daddy and Sarah (right).
My family came in to spend Christmas at our house. We had a wonderful time. Sarah with G. Darrie & G. Scott.

Toes,Toes, Toes

Sarah's latest passion seems to be her toes. She is changing so fast. We are now beginning the transition to her nursery. She is really only eating once during the night now and when Brian gets up for work it is starting to disturb her sleep so we decided it was time. She is doing great too, except this week but that was because she had her shots. The doctor report is good she is 16lb 3oz now and about 25 1/2 " long and we believe she is in the beginning stages of teething. Hope that everyone is enjoying the Holidays. We will definitely have a Christmas update. There is definitely something about having a baby all the time that makes you really appreciate Mary and the fact that Christ humbled himself so much so that He could become man and take our place on the cross. Merry Christmas!

She loves to hold and feel things now. What a grin.

Momma and Sarah.

Happy Thanksgiving

Sarah is smiling so much now. This is her first attempt at sitting on her own about 3 weeks ago.
She is working on it but doing so much better. She also is beginning to stand with support. Along with that sometime this week she found out she could scream and has been letting us know it.


Left: All bundled up for the cold, we had just run outside to the mailbox real quick and when we came back in she fell asleep. Just a precious picture in her adult sized hat. Right: Aunt Coy Beth and Uncle Brad came up for the day to spoil their neice. We had a good time.


We spent Thanksgiving in Birmingham, AL with Brian's dad and family. We ate so much good food and I had lots of willing babysitters. Below: Sarah is chewing on everything now and found this Mountain Dew bottle. She love bright colors and anything that can fit in her mouth so she found the perfect toy. And no, she did not get a sample of the Dew.

Three Months Old Today

Happy 3 months old, Sarah!

This is Sarah's 3 month birthday. It is amazing the change in just 3 months. She is so vocal with coos, caas, goos, & gaas. She is so much more alert and interactive. When I am on the phone she really likes to join in the conversation too! She is trying to sit up though she can't balance on her own yet (but she is close). Today she figured out how to pull the cord on one of her toys so that it makes a noise. In late October we went on another trip to Knoxville where Sarah got to meet her Great Aunt Laurie and Great Uncle Kelly. It was so good to see them. It had been so long. She also dressed up in her TENNESSEE Orange - still a loyal fan regardless of performance. Well, that's it for now - more later.

The Great Outdoors

Fall is in Full Swing Here and We are Loving It!
The weather is cool and the leaves on the trees in our yard are changing bright red!
It is such a great time to be outdoors - alot!
*Note: Last blog I listed that Sarah had been in 5 states already. That's not true - she has been in 6. Before she was born she went to California and Texas!

Sarah's First Hike

Sarah enjoyed her first hike on Oct. 12th. We went to a small state park near where we live to hike about 3 miles. Sarah looked around at the trees for a while but then fell asleep. I don't blame her as it was a beautiful Sunday afternoon to take a nap outside.

CORN MAZE
This past weekend our Sunday School class went to a corn maze and bonfire. Of course, we took Sarah along too! She was great! She is such a laid back baby!
Right: Brian is holding a very bundled up Sarah. It was cold!
Left: Brian is enjoying every last bit of his S'more.

Road Trips and Grins

Well, I promised a better smile picture and here it is! This month has been filled with lots of trips, lots of smiles, and lots of weight gain. We are so enjoying the cuddly plump phase of babyhood. Sarah had her 2 month check up yesterday and is doing great. She has grown 3 inches in lenght and now weighs 13 lbs. She is in the 95th percentile of the growth chart but is actually light for her height. Praise God that everything is going well and for our healthy, happy baby.

We were out of town for 3 of the 5 weekends since I last blogged. We enjoyed visiting everyone but are glad to be home for a bit. Brian's brother will came in from Iraq on Sept 14 so we drove to Greenville after church to see him. The next weekend Brian and his brothers all went to Knoxville so Will could go to the Tennessee game. I took the opportunity to go to Georgia and see my grandmother, Eleanor. Mom drove to Charlotte from Knoxville to help me on the trip. It took 2 hours longer than usual but I guess thats not too bad for traveling with a 6 wk old baby. Right: The trunk ended up being the ideal changing table on the long trip. Good space for her to stretch out in for a bit after being in the car seat for so long. Left: Sara and Great Grandmother Eleanor.

The next weekend we were back in Greenville to see Will and to see Melba and Lloyd (Jim's Parents). And the next weekend to see Will off and travel on to Knoxville and Chattanooga to see more family.The last trip was exhausting but well worth it.


Our car started having trouble Friday night but by the grace of God didn't "break" until we were almost home on Sunday.
So I guess you could say Sarah has been in more states as an 8 week old than most adults have. North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee - And if you count pre-birth, California. Well off to church. There is promise of more news soon as I am sure with the holidays approaching life will not slow down much.
Above Left: Sarah & Uncle Will
Below Left: Sarah, Brian, & Great Grandmother Katherine
Right: Sarah and Great Grandfather Tom

Next Day: We had our parenting class at church last night and learned some great things I just really wanted to share. I was particularly struck by 3 applications of giving your kids love and purpose in life. The teacher was saying that it was NEVER too late to give these things to your kids. In my mind these are things that all people need regardless of age so it is NEVER too late to apply these things to all our relationships. They are:
1. Give regular affirmation - this is verbal - not to be confused with physical affection.
2. Give focused attention - let them know you care about the details of their life, spend one on one time with them and look them in the eyes when you talk.
3. Give graceful admonition - practice self-control and do not punish out of anger, but discipline out of grace. Punishment for sin was paid for on the cross, but consequences still remain.
The last one may seem odd in an adult to adult relationship but really we are called to hold each other accountable to scripture. It all comes down to Love as Christ Loves. We are called to a difficult task. I know I need to work on this and that I in and of myself can not do this, I need God's grace to extend His grace to other. This is my prayer.

One Month Birthday

Happy 1 month birthday,
Sarah Elise.

Today we all made it to church (first time in 5 Sundays). I guess I am slow to recover but just now am feeling back to my old self a bit. We only stayed for the service. I thought that was long enough for today, Sunday School will have to wait a couple more weeks.
We had a lunch and quick nap when we got home. Looks like Sarah found her favorite spot again.

Over the week she has held on to a rattle (not that she even comprehends this, but will keep it in her hand if we put it there and of course it moves when she flails her arm), "watched" her first Tennessee football game (which we lost, bummer), has started being able to hold her head steady for a few seconds,, and made her first trip to the grocery store and mall (she loves her sling and sleeps the whole time she is in it). Other than that it has been more of the same: eating and sleeping. Top: It was supposed to be tummy time where we work on our muscles, but Sarah decided sleeping was a better work out. Bottom: She's "holding" her rattle.

Three Weeks Old - The Beginnings of Smiles

Sarah then, Sarah now. What a difference 3 weeks makes. She is really filling out and putting on the weight.

Last post I said that we didn't snap any pics the second week but I was wrong. Daddy snuck this shot of Mom and baby napping.
Uncle shots.
Below Left: Uncle Brad (Brian's twin brother)
Below Right: Uncle Scott (Deborah's brother)



















The third week was the first week of just mommy and daddy taking care of baby. I was so spoiled having help the first two weeks. I could pass her off to someone and go take a nap. That has been so hard this week since there is only me during the day. I am so tired at night. Brian is being so wonderful. After working all day, he usually comes home and gets something cooked or atleast heated and then gets handed a baby while I try to rest some to gear up for the night. I am sure he is tired to but never he never complains. He just enjoys being with his little girl. I do try not to wake him too often in the night so he can rest up for work. You'll have to ask him if that's working. Now that the gradmas are gone, our Sunday School class will be blessing us with meals for the next couple of weeks which will help a lot with having time to unwind and trade off naps. The Lord knows just what we need when we need it.

To the left you will see the beginnings of smiles. These are the moments that melt your heart and make it all seem worthwhile. She has definitely put on a better smile than this picture shows. We will try to get a better picture sometime. This week especially the nights have been a source of real temptation for me. Not only am I exhausted but also having frustrations with feeding, I have been so angry at times and crying at others, and these burst of emotions are usually taken out on Brian. That is not fair to him or Sarah, and he has forgiven me. I am so glad he know the Lord. God has also, throught friends and family, been reminding me of certain truths this week.

1. Sarah is a gift from God, just as life is. She is not mine but His. His creation, the work of His hands only. My life should not be mine, I am His creation.
2. He has entrusted her into our care. Therefore, out of love and reverence for Him I should always seek His ways and do my best in caring for her. I am cared for by God through Christ, I should always seek His counsel.
3. Even my best is not enough for Sarah or for myself. And, I will never always do my best (that would be sin nature).
4. He has forgiven me for my failures and knows each and every failure I will make with her and in life.
5. He also knows I will succeed because He will provide the grace and strength for that to happen. He will handle what I can't.
6. Everything I go through will be filtered by His grace. There is nothing He will allow to happen that will be for loss, but everything for the good of those who love Him.

When we bend our hearts to God he sees the beginnings of smiles and rejoices with us knowing there will bigger, brighter smiles to come.

Second Week

Sorry there are no pictures on this post. I am not even sure we took any the second week. Things are going as well as can be expected. In the middle of the first week I had some "activity" happening at the ankle on the leg that is affected by the Linear Morphea (Scleroderma). We had several doctor's appointments for me the rest of that week and during the second week. The doctor doesn't necessarily think the disease itself is active again but that there was definitely inflammation due to swelling in combination with the condition of the skin itself on that leg. He did some more blood work and put me on a zpak of Cortisone. It was quite exhausting and hard to catch a nap with all the running around and still trying to figure out breastfeeding and our daughters erratic schedule. Monica, Brian's mom, was staying with us so we were able to run to the appointments and leave Sarah at home. Sarah had her 1-2 week check up too. She is doing great and had already gained a whole pound from when she left the hospital. Nights were going better at this point but the help was still invaluable. I have so much still to learn! Brian is doing well. He went into work Monday but his boss sent him home with work for the rest of the week. He has been a tremendous help, a compassionate husband, and a loving father.

Today is the second day of my first week with just me and Sarah at home. So far, So good. I am under strict orders by my doctor, husband, and many others to just rest and take care of the baby. I am trying my best to obey. Well, more on this week later.

First Week

Our first week was challenging but fun in so many ways. Sleepless nights, learning to nurse, changing diapers were quite exhausting. Nothing new to seasoned parents but all a learning curve for us. As much as I have been around babies, nothing prepares you for having your own. Daddy and Sarah found a favorite past time together - napping. This usually happens while Daddy is trying to give Mommy time to nap too. I am glad he loves her so much. Sarah's other favorite place is in her rocker chair. She spent a couple of nights in it because it was the only place she would sleep. She had a bit of night and day confusion but we are slowly getting straight. My mom and Brian were so good at taking the night shifts so I could sleep.

Besides eating and sleeping, we took our first sponge bath. Mom and Dad thought it was fun but I don't think it's Sarah's favorite thing yet.










We also loaded her up in her stroller for a short walk. She is so cute. Her hat was way too big but it kept the sun out of her eyes. She really seemed to enjoy the fresh air. We will have many more walks in the future I am sure.

This is me, my friend Kristin, and Sarah. We all have birthdays in August so we celebrated with Baskin Robins ice cream cake. This has always been a tradition for me and it was fun to find out the ice cream cakes were a tradition for Kristin too.

Going Home

Mom and Sarah are ready to head home. We are waiting for our check out papers. We are grateful everyone is still healthy and recovering nicely.










Sarah is really proud of her Uncle Will currently serving in Iraq. We will see you soon, Will. We picked up this T-shirt on base in Texas. Guess it will be a while before she can actually wear it.



It was pretty scary leaving the hospital
with her all to ourselves. I felt really
unprepared to be soley responsible for her care.

We made it home. I am exhilarated and exhausted at the same time.
I am glad I will have help for the next couple of weeks.