Author archives: Niki

 

 

NC Zoo

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We went to the NC Zoo in Asheboro yesterday.  Van and I haven’t been since we were kids ourselves (and honestly don’t remember it) and it was the first time Ashley and Brock have been.  So we were really excited!  Our friends Tim, Michelle and Sarah Jane came along, too! The North America part of [...]

 

Tech Kids

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Ashley’s best friend Brody comes over often.  And boy do they love their techie gadgets.  Here they are with playing games together – one with an iPhone and the other with a Droid.  They are definitely kids of their generation!

 

Big Sister

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I was in the kitchen making coffee one morning and walk into the den to find Ashley had gotten her iPad and was dancing next to Brock.  It was so cute!  She is never far from her little brother   She is also imitating me a lot.  She likes to hold one of my breast [...]

 

 

2 Months Old

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Brock is 2 months old today!  Crazy huh?  Here is my cutie in his 2-month outfit.  We go to the pediatrician on Friday for his well check.  I can’t wait to get his stats.  This boy is huge!

 

My Little Reader

Here is a video I took of Ashley a couple of weeks ago.  Sometimes I read her a book while I am nursing Brock.  This particular day, she wanted to read to me.  So here she is reading her first book!  I just love her.  She tries so hard at everything she does.  I’ve watched [...]

 

Siblings

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One thing I was really excited about when having Brock, is seeing the relationship that will grow between he and Ashley.  They already love each other so much.  Ashley always wants to hold him and kiss on him, and he just stares up at her and smiles.  He will even watch her from across the [...]

 

Strawberry Patch

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We went to a strawberry patch this morning with my MOPS group.  It was so much fun!  Mom, Dad, Jenn and Finley came along, too.  I figured I would need some “back up” since I had Brock with me.  It was Ashley’s first time picking strawberries and she loved it!  Mom helped her pick most [...]

 

Tummy Time

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Ashley loves tummy time with Brock!  She lays down right next to him and tries to get his attention with toys.  She even rubs his back to tell him he’s doing a good job. Notice the cool quilt he is laying on?  It was made by my incredibly talented friend, Jan.  She picked out the [...]

 

Brock's First Bath

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We gave Brock his first bath this week.  Of course Ashley wanted to help so we got out her stool so she could be a part of it, too.  I’ve been meaning to give him a bath for a while now, but it’s just been so crazy busy time kept getting away from me.  Then [...]

 

 

Happy Easter

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He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and talks with me Along life’s narrow way. He lives, He lives, salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.   I hope everyone is having a wonderful Easter Sunday!  We weren’t able to go [...]

 

Proud Big Sister

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I took this picture of Ashley and Brock yesterday.  You can tell how much Ashley adores her little brother!  She is really sweet with him.  It makes her so happy to just hold him and kiss him on the head.  I know I’ve said this before, but I am incredibly proud of her and the [...]

 

1 Month Old

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Happy 1 month birthday to my sweet little boy!  I can’t believe he is already a month old.  He commenced the celebration by sleeping through the night for the first time last night!  Wahoo!  I almost hesitate to even put it in writing; afraid I’m going to ginx myself for what is to come.  But [...]

 

Newborn Portraits

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Jenn and Nathan with Finleymac Photography came over when Brock was 2 weeks old to do his newborn portraits.  They turned out so good!!  The tie we used is Van’s favorite tie that we bought in Italy 4 years ago.  The necklace that Brock is holding is mine; the charms have the initial for each [...]

 

Ashley Dancing

Here is a video I took of Ashley dancing last week.  She was being so good entertaining herself while I was nursing Brock.  Thank goodness for The Laurie Berkner Band! [Sorry for the glare in the video.  The sun was shining brightly through the window.]  

 

3 Weeks Old

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Brock is 3 weeks old today.  I know what you are thinking, but no, I’m not going to be doing a blog post every Friday.  I’m just trying to do it these first few weeks since he is changing so much.  I’m so busy that I’m not taking nearly as many pictures as I took [...]

 

2 Weeks Old

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Brock is 2 weeks old now.  Yesterday was my due date.  I’m so glad that God had other plans for me and Brock was delivered early.  He would have been a very big boy had he “cooked” for another 2 weeks! It’s been a long and a short 2 weeks.  Long in one sense because [...]

 

Brock's First Stroll

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Ashley and I took Brock on his first stroll yesterday!  The weather was so nice and warm, I was dying for some good ole’ Vitamin D.  And Ashley never objects to going outside.  She just loves to be outdoors!  So off we went; just the three of us.  It was kind of liberating, too.  Taking [...]

 

My Family

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When you’re in my heart, you’re in my family, When I’m in your heart, I’m in your family. When you’re in my heart, you’re in my family, When I’m in your heart, I’m in your family! Fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, Cousins, friends, sons and daughters, Uncle, aunts and grandparents I’m so glad you’re my family! [...]

 

1 Week Old

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I’m sittin here I’m one day old I’m sittin here I’m two days old I’m sittin here I’m three days old I’m sittin here I’m four days old One day I’ll be a year Then I’ll be two, then three, then four But as for now I’m sittin here I’m five days old and no [...]

 

Brock is Here!

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Brock Connor Murray was born on Friday, March 2, 2012 at 1:49PM.  He weighed in at 8 lb. 11 oz. and is 21 inches long.  He wasn’t so little after all!  We are so happy and relieved to have a healthy baby boy!  He is such a sweetie and looks just like Ashley as a [...]

 

The Nursery

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Here are some pictures of the nursery.  We still haven’t received the chair yet, but that’s the only thing missing.  Hopefully it will come soon! The wall decal was made by my friend, Jan.  Isn’t it cool? We are all ready to go!  Bags are packed.  Cameras are charged.  Car seat is installed.  Instruction sheets [...]

 

37 Weeks

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Well ya’ll, we made it to 37 weeks.  We don’t have too much longer now.  In fact, only 3 more days to be exact!  The little guy will make his debut on Thursday, March 1st!  My doctor decided on Friday to go ahead and deliver the baby.  I originally thought if I had to deliver [...]

 

 

 

My Other Helper

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I’ve told you about everyone helping me lately, but I forgot to mention my smallest, most important helper…Ashley!  She has really stepped up in helping with things around the house.  I am so proud of her!  When my cell phone rings, she will run to get it and bring it to me.  When Van makes [...]

 

Poop - Not a Post for the Queasy

Dogs are the leaders of the planet.  If you see two life forms, one of them’s making a poop, the other one’s carrying it for him, who would you assume is in charge? — Jerry Seinfeld   Since I have been on bed-rest, one of my tasks that has taken a backseat is cleaning up [...]

 

Baby Shower!

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My best friends, Jan and Michelle, threw the most wonderful baby shower for me last weekend!  Michelle hosted it at her beautiful home.  I promised my doctor I would stay seated, which I did (most of the time).  A chair was set aside just for me with a sign in it that said “V.I.P. Seating [...]

 

Pregnancy Update

Since the hospital episode, I have been seeing my doctor twice a week.  They have been doing a stress test (NST) of the baby at every visit and an ultrasound every other visit.  They keep talking about inducing me, but every time I go they are pleased with how my blood pressure is doing, so [...]

 

 

Boating in January

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Sorry this post is a little late.  It’s not like I’ve been preoccupied or anything   Anyway, the weather has been so mild here that we took Ashley out on the boat at the end of January.  She had a great time, despite having to wear her life jacket (that she hates!)  I’ve got to [...]

 

Boat Show

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Since I’m on bed rest, Van took Ashley to the boat show this morning.  It was a fun thing for them to do and a good excuse to get out of the house.  He sent me this picture and said “We bought one.”  LOL

 

 

33 Weeks

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I am now 33 weeks pregnant.  Yep, I’ve hit the home stretch.  And boy am I ready for this little guy to get here!  There was the cutest little 2 month old baby boy at MOPS this week and a friend of ours just had a baby boy a couple of weeks ago.  So I [...]

 

Chick-Fil-A

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Chick-Fil-A is our favorite food!  In fact, I’m not ashamed to admit that we go there at least once a week (hey, don’t judge a pregnant woman )  Ashley calls it “Moo” (for the Chick-Fil-A cow) and can spot the nearest one from a mile away.  It’s hard not to pass one at lunch time [...]

 

Crib Assembly

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The little guy’s nursery furniture was delivered this week!  Wahoo!  We received everything but the chair (which should come early February).  Luckily, the dresser was already assembled.  So all Van had to do was put the crib together.  It was such a surreal experience having Ashley here to help us.  All I could think of [...]

 

Dad's Surprise Party

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Dad turned the big 6-0 yesterday and we threw him a surprise birthday party!  I think for possibly the first time in his life, he was genuinely surprised and had no idea what was going on.  He’s normally pretty good at figuring things out.  But not this time!  It was held at Winston’s Grille and [...]

 

 

Sneak Peak

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We had a 3D ultrasound of the little guy today!  And I have to say…he is so cute!  He already reminds me of Ashley and looks like she did at her 3D ultrasound.  Except for hers, she was more squished up to my belly.  This guy was moving around so much, we actually got some [...]

 

The World From the Eyes of a 2-Year Old

We had our last music class today and guess what my little girl did?  Her ba-ba’s!  If you read my earlier post about music class, you would know what I’m talking about.  She went up the the teacher, held her hand, and SAID her ba-ba’s into the microphone all by herself!  I was super duper [...]

 

Daddy's Little Helper

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Ashley is such a big girl and loves to help Van and I do anything around the house.  She likes helping me cook in the kitchen and has recently become interested in helping Van with fixing things around the house.  Van installed a couple of new light fixtures and Ashley wanted to help him, especially [...]

 

29 Weeks

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Here is my 29 week photo.  Sorry Ashley didn’t make an appearance.  She was asleep when we took the photo last night We have our 3D ultrasound scheduled for Friday and are SO excited to see the little guy again!  I’m starting to freak out though when I think about how soon Ashley was delivered [...]

 

Ashley's Angel

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Our church puts out angels every year at Christmas time.  You can purchase one and personalize it any way you wish, i.e. in memory or in honor of someone.  They put them around the nativity scene on the front lawn and their candles light up at night.  You may remember that we bought one in [...]

 

Christmas 2011

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We had a wonderful Christmas!  I hope you all did as well!  Ashley got lots of toys, books, shoes, etc.  Now we are just trying to find a place to put them all!  Her big present from Santa was a Strider Bike.  The concept is that if a child can walk, they can ride the [...]

 

The Retail Scam

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The price I thought it was (you can see another sticky underneath)

The price I thought it was (you can see another sticky underneath)

Okay, so now that Christmas is over I just have to blog about this… I call it a “scam” but I’m sure it’s just a common practice among retailers.  I just never suspected they did it at my favorite store – Kohl’s!  I bought a few Christmas presents there this year and as I was [...]

 

Christmas Cookies

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We baked and decorated Christmas cookies today with our friends Jan and Brody.  The kids loved it and it was neat seeing how differently they decorated their cookies.  Brody was more interested in eating the cookies plain and Ashley was more interested in eating the icing off the cookies.  They also loved eating the sprinkles.  [...]

 

 

Gingerbread House

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Ashley and I worked on our gingerbread house this week!  I set it up on her little table so she would have easy access to help me decorate and then cranked up the Christmas tunes.  She was doing good until she realized that the white stuff was icing!  So as I was working on one [...]

 

 

The Winter Blues

Ashley has been sick with a virus this week.  It started in the wee mornings hours on Wednesday with vomiting.  And now it’s a fever that comes and goes.  One minute, once the medicine has taken hold, she eats, drinks, smiles, and plays.  But once the medicine wears off, she quickly goes downhill as her [...]

 

So Proud!

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I have to brag about Ashley a little.  I am so stinkin’ proud of her!  For those of you that don’t know her very well, she is very introverted in public and social situations.  She’s a crazy wild woman at home, but it takes her a while to warm up to people in public.  She’s [...]

 

Toby's Early Christmas

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We got Toby a dog bed today for Christmas.  He and Blake used to have their own couch, which they slept on every night.  But when we put our house on the market back in April, we got rid of the couch.  It wasn’t exactly show-worthy.  And ever since then, the boys have had to [...]

 

25 Weeks

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I hit 25 weeks today – wahoo!  This pregnancy is really flying by.  I made my “24 weeks” sign a few days ago, in hopes of taking a picture.  But then 25 weeks snuck up on me.  Oh well.  Here is my 24 week photo taken tonight, at 25 weeks.  Close enough I ordered his [...]

 

I Am Thankful

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How was everyone’s Thanksgiving?  Good I hope!  Mine wasn’t exactly as planned. I originally drafted a long post complaining about how nothing went right over Thanksgiving.  But after reading it, I felt like I was rambling so I will shorten it up for you.  Basically, we had to cancel our original plans (having Thanksgiving dinner [...]

 

Cruising SML

Here is a video that Van took while he was cruising Smith Mountain Lake with the boys.  This makes me so happy!  Nothing like a little wind in your floppy ears

 

Love the Lake

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We had such a great time at Smith Mountain Lake this weekend!  Now that we are home, I feel like I have a little more time to blog about it. So the drive there on Thursday was quite an adventure.  You wind through the mountain, part of it on an unmarked road, to get to [...]

 

Boating

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We’ve all had a great time riding on the boat while we are here!  The dogs even got to partake, which is something they rarely get to do, so that makes me very happy   And Brody had his first boat ride.  I have a feeling that Smith Mountain Lake will be a new vacation [...]

 

Smith Mountain Lake

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Today is my birthday and what better way to celebrate than with good friends at Smith Mountain Lake!  We rented a house up here for the weekend.  It’s been a lot of fun so far and the kids are having a blast together.  Here are some pictures from our first day!

 

Couponing Pays Off!

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I just got the coolest coupon find ever!  So I was going through the paper last Sunday, clipping coupons, when I found one for Wolf Camera.  It was for a FREE 12-page photo book.  The ad said to just bring in 20-30 pictures with the coupon, and they would put together a free photo book [...]

 

Supernanny, Where Are You?

“Life affords no greater responsibility, no greater privilege, than the raising of the next generation.” –C. Everette Koop   Parenting is hard.  It is rewarding, challenging, exhausting, yet provides a sense of accomplishment and purpose in life.  I always believed I was destined to be a Mom.  But I had no idea how hard it [...]

 

 

Harris Teeter

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The loot

The loot

This week is “Super Doubles” week at Harris Teeter.  They will double coupons of value up to $1.98, which means if you have a $1.50 coupon, it will double to $3.00 off!  How cool is that? I’ve never been into the extreme couponing craze.  I just always figured it was a lot of work, that [...]

 

Apple Addict

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We have lots of Apple products in our house.  From iPods, iPhones, and iPad to a Mac mini; we are lovers of all things “Apple”.  So it’s no surprise that Ashley loves them, too.  We even turned the reigns of the iPad over to her because she was using it more than we were.  She’s [...]

 

20 Weeks

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I found this cute idea on Pinterest.  It was a series of pictures taken during someone’s pregnancy.  She had her son hold up a sign indicating how many weeks along she was in the pregnancy.  It was really cute!  So I thought we would try it with Ashley.  Ashley is apparently too young to stand [...]

 

 

NC State Fair

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We went to the NC State Fair this morning.  Being a native of Raleigh, we’ve been to the fair a lot.  But we didn’t go in 2009 because Ashley was just born and we didn’t go in 2010 because Ashley was too young to enjoy it.  So this year we were really excited to take [...]

 

Happy Happy Joy Joy

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We’re having a little BOY!! We had our big ultrasound appointment today.  They measured the baby’s body parts, listened to the heart beat, checked out the chambers of the heart, brain, spine, etc.  They even turned on this thing where you can see all the blood flow in the baby; it turned red and blue.  [...]

 

Wedding Anniversary and Hill Ridge Farms

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Yesterday was our 7th wedding anniversary!  October is a busy month for us.  Ashley’s birthday is the 12th and our anniversary is the 16th. I’m dying to post pictures from our wedding but the computer that has those photos is unplugged at the moment.  Once Van gets it working again, I’ll post some oldies.  Our [...]

 

Party Day!

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Today was Ashley’s birthday party.  We had a blast, but I am so exhausted!  Thanks to all our friends and family that came to celebrate Ashley’s special day! I’ll write a detailed post about it when I get the pictures back from Uncle Nathan.  But in the mean time, I thought I’d share a family [...]

 

Happy 2nd Birthday Ashley!

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Ashley turned two today!  I cannot believe how fast these two years have gone by.  It’s just crazy!  I’ve been reliving this day two years ago when our sweet baby girl was welcomed into this world at 5:14 PM.  I remember every single moment of that day.  It was a wonderful glorious day.  And now [...]

 

Playdate with Cousin Finley

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We met up with Nana, Grandaddy and cousin Finley this afternoon.  It was beautiful weather so we went for a nice stroll down the greenway and came back to the house so the girls could play.  Finley has grown so much since I last took pictures of her.  She just recently turned the big ONE!  [...]

 

Ashley's First Kiss

We went to a playdate this morning at our friends’ Kara and Caleb’s house.  Jan and Brody were there, too.  As we were leaving, Brody gave me a hug and so we asked him if he would give Ashley a hug, too.  Normally he does this quick “lean in” type of hug and then darts [...]

 

Ashley's Big Announcement!

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Ashley has a big announcement to make that we were going to get on video.  But we all know how it goes when you try to get something on demand from a toddler…it never happens.  So you’ll just have to hear it from me.  I bet you can guess what it is though Ashley is [...]

 

 

Concert Videos

Here are some videos I took during the Laurie Berkner Band concert.  I took tons of video but had to shorten them so as not to bore you   Here are 5 of the short ones.  As you can tell, Ashley was shocked when they came out.  I don’t think she quite knew what was [...]

 

Baltimore, Maryland

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We took a road trip to Baltimore, Maryland this past weekend.  Why, you ask?  Well, Ashley’s favorite band is The Laurie Berkner Band.  Not a day goes by when she doesn’t want to watch one of their DVDs (thanks a lot Jan ).  Or she will play The Laurie Berkner Band app on my phone.  [...]

 

 

'Da Plane 'Da Plane

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Waiting patiently for a plane to land/take-off

Waiting patiently for a plane to land/take-off

Ashley loves airplanes!  Anytime she hears one coming, she immediately points up to the sky in anticipation.  We live on the part of the flight path where the planes turn around for landing at RDU, so we see planes and/or helicopters just about daily.  And since Ashley loves being outside, either playing in the backyard [...]

 

Go Wolfpack!

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We took Ashley to her first NC State football game last night!  They played Liberty and won – yippee!  It was the first game of the season, so there was lots of excitement around the stadium.  And it was a night game, which fit into our schedule nicely (Ashley had her full afternoon nap before [...]

 

Toby Turns Ten!

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Eyeing his cake

Eyeing his cake

We celebrated Toby’s 10th birthday on Monday!  Wow – how time flies!  Ten years have put some gray on his muzzle and between his toes; and he now has arthritis in his rear legs, but he is still the same ole’ Toby James!  Full of life and he loves his family more than anything!  He [...]

 

Pool with Friends

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Friends!

Friends!

Our friends Michelle and Sarah Jane invited us to their pool this week.  We were lucky enough to go on Tuesday and again today!  The cool thing about today was that since it was the first day of school here, we just about had the entire pool to ourselves!  There were a few other toddlers [...]

 

My Hero

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As many of you know, Van is an entrepreneur and has his own business called Accent Plus, Inc. Accent Plus does cloud computing, sells Google Apps, and other IT services I couldn’t even begin to explain in my non-technical brain.  I am so proud of him on so many levels.  But today he did something [...]

 

The End of an Era

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For those of you that don’t know, my parents have had their beach house for sale.  They want to move back here to be closer to their grand-babies.  Their house is now sold so we just spent our last week at “The Franklin Resort”, as my Dad affectionately calls it   They built their dream [...]

 

Mountain Trip

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Walking around in Biltmore Village

Walking around in Biltmore Village

We went to Asheville for a few days this week.  It was Ashley’s first trip to the mountains and she enjoyed being away from home.  I was working at a Convention so we got to stay at the Grove Park Inn.  It was a nice getaway.  Ashley spent lots of quality time with Van since [...]

 

Happy Birthday Blake!

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Friday was Blake’s birthday.  He turned 5 years old!  We sang Happy Birthday to him in our usual fashion.  He enjoyed doggie cake from Gourmutt’s Bakery and a bully stick.  He even shared his cake with Toby and Toby got a bully stick too.  Such a thoughtful little brother   Ashley gave him a hug [...]

 

My Big Little Girl

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Well hello again world.  Thought I disappeared did ya?  It’s been such a busy summer.  Sorry I haven’t posted in a while.  Excuses excuses…I know. I’ve been thinking lately how fast time is flying by.  Ashley is 3 short months away from being a two-year old.  Isn’t that crazy?!  I’m afraid she’s going to be [...]

 

Nana

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Most days, all throughout the day, Ashley is constantly saying DaDa.  Over and over and over again.  Especially while we are riding in the car.  And my response is always the same “DaDa is at work”.  I probably say it at least 20 times a day.  Well now, ever since we got back from the [...]

 

Surprise!

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Ashley and I showed up at Holden Beach yesterday to surprise Nana and Grandaddy.  Nothing like an impromptu visit by your granddaughter!  This morning we went out to the beach and Ashley made a new friend.  A little surfer dude in a wetsuit.  So cute!  His name was J.E.  They shared goldfish and shells together.  [...]

 

Henry's Gelato

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There’s a new gelato place right down the street from us, Henry’s Gelato.  It’s in the LaFayette Village shopping center .  I’ve driven by it a lot and yesterday I finally stopped to check it out.  The gelato was amazing!  It was so refreshing, especially on a hot day.  After sampling several different flavors, I [...]

 

 

Sunblock Escapade

I have a funny story to share.  Last Friday, Ashley and I were upstairs playing when she decided to sneak away while I was on my laptop.  I could hear her downstairs making noise, so I figured she was okay.  I normally only get worried when it’s quiet – then I know she’s up to [...]

 

Falls Lake

We took Ashley on her first boat ride/fishing trip this morning!  Van has been dying to take her on the boat for a long time, and while reluctant, I finally caved in.  I was just so worried about Ashley falling in the water (bass boats are very low to the water).  But as a friend [...]

 

 

Water Sprinkler Playdate

As promised, I bought Ashley a cute little water sprinkler.  It’s in the shape of flowers.  It’s not overpowering and the water comes out at just the right height for the little ones.  Our best bud, Brody, and his Mom came over this morning to try it out.  It was a beautiful morning to be [...]

 

Memorial Day Weekend

As you know by now, we spent the weekend with my family at Holden Beach.  We spent lots of time relaxing by the pool, cooking out, and even got in a late dinner at Provision Co.  Ashley had fun playing with her cousin Finley.  She liked rubbing Finley’s hair and got on the floor a [...]

 

Water Hose Fun

We got back from the beach this afternoon and my poor plants were dying for some water!  It seemed to be a lot hotter here than it was at the beach.  So I waited until after 5:00PM to go out and water them, but even then it was still very hot outside.  Ashley loves being [...]

 

Happy Memorial Day

Thank you to all the men and women, past and present, in our armed forces and military. The service you provide for our freedom is invaluable. My heart goes out to the family members of all those who have died protecting our country. Your sacrifice is not forgotten. God bless you all!

 

Daddy's Girl

I have noticed a common similarity whenever Van gives Ashley a bath.  She always comes down stairs in the same pajamas!  She has a set of long-sleeved/pant pajamas that say “I Love Daddy” on them.  These were great winter pajamas, when she was a size smaller.  But now that the weather is warmer, I always [...]

 

In the Car

Since I haven’t posted a video in a while, here is a new one for ‘ya.  Sorry the quality is bad; it was taken with my phone and I apparently had it turned the wrong way so the video is vertical instead of horizontal.  Who knew?  But you get the picture. It was taken this [...]

 

18-Month Portraits

We had Ashley’s 18-month portraits taken several weeks ago.  Jean Lombos, the same photographer that took her 6-month portraits, came to our house for the shoot.  It was important to me to have some pictures taken of us with the boys.  After all, they are part of our family, too!  Plus, Toby will be 10 [...]

 

Wine & Design

For Mother’s Day, Mom, Jenn and I did a class at Wine & Design.  It’s a paint party where they provide all the art materials, and you provide the wine!  Today’s design was hydrangeas.  I don’t have a lick of art experience, and I must say that my painting turned out pretty good!  I can’t [...]

 

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother’s Day to Mom/Nana/Mary Lou!  I am so lucky to have you as my mentor, friend, and Mom.  Thank you for all that you do.  I hope I can do as good a job with Ashley as you did with me.  I love you! Happy Mother’s Day to all of the other wonderful Moms [...]

 

Last Hoorah

Yesterday was our last full day in Orlando.  We left bright and early this morning to come home, and Ashley is already in her own bed as I type this.  We made good time, too.  Less than 10 hours. I am so pleasantly surprised at how well Ashley did in the car.  She far exceeded [...]

 

 

The Magic Kingdom

We went to The Magic Kingdom yesterday.  Oh my goodness, it was so much FUN!  Ashley did great and really enjoyed it!  She got a special pin to wear signifying her first trip, and she wore her Minnie Mouse t-shirt that we made for her.  If you can’t read it, it says “Ashley’s First Disney [...]

 

Sea World - Day 2

Sorry I wasn’t able to blog last night.  A benefit to vacationing with Nana and Grandaddy is that you have built-in babysitters!  So Van and I took advantage of that and went out last night.  Didn’t get in until late, so I didn’t have time to blog before going to bed.  I will recap for [...]

 

Sea World

We went to Sea World today.  Spent about half the day out there, and will be going back tomorrow.  We lucked out and got our second day free, so it’s nice to not feel like you have to cram it all in to one day.  Plus, Ashley was ready to come home and take a [...]

 

Pool Day

Since it was our first full day here, we just sat at the pool and relaxed.  They have cabanas that you can rent, and we were lucky enough to get the last one.  It was awesome!  Provided lots of shade, had a fan, flat screen TV, fridge, loungers and chairs.  We stocked the fridge with [...]

 

We Made It

Well, we made it.  I’m sitting in our fancy schmancy room as we speak.  The drive down was wonderful! I think I told you that we were renting a minivan.  Well, that van ended up being the newest, most loaded up one they had!  It’s brand new (2011, 70 miles).  Has leather, navigation, rear view [...]

 

Happiness is...vacation

We are leaving tomorrow for vacation!  Or holiday, however you want to say it.  I’d prefer to say holiday, as it sounds so British   We actually leave in T minus 12 hours.  We are headed to Orlando, Florida to visit Mickey Mouse and Shamu.  I. Can. Not. Wait!  Nana and Grandaddy are coming with [...]

 

 

Happy Easter!

We have spent Easter weekend at the beach.  The Easter bunny came early (today instead of tomorrow).  Ashley got some books, a stroller for her baby doll, mini M&Ms, and a bunny beanie baby.  Nana and Grandaddy gave her a cute pair of sunglasses, books, and a soft, cuddly teddy bear. We had an Easter [...]

 

Family Date Night

Our good friends, Jason, Jan and Brody came over last night for dinner.  It was sort of a date night, but we didn’t go anywhere and had the kids with us.  So I guess it was more of a family night.  We had so much fun and the kids had a blast!  I wish I [...]

 

Sleepover with Nickel

Toby and Blake’s friend, Nickel, came over this weekend.  Nickel’s parents went to a wedding in Charlotte on Saturday and spent the night there.  So Nickel spent the night with us. Watching Ashley interact with other animals, especially dogs, truly amazes me.  I’ve never seen an 18-month old be so gentle and respectful of animals.  [...]

 

Signs of Spring

We’ve all seen the signs of spring – flowers blooming, grass greening, birds chirping, pollen lingering.  The days are getting longer and the weather is getting warmer.  But my favorite sign of spring is this one… Little birdie eggs!  I hung some ferns on the front porch a few weeks ago.  The day I put [...]

 

SPCA K9-3K Dog Walk

We participated in the SPCA K9-3K Dog Walk yesterday morning.  I know what you’re thinking, we’ve been doing a lot of walks lately.  Just figured it was a good habit to start   I love the SPCA and am happy to do anything I can to help their cause.  I used to volunteer there several [...]

 

Happiness is...time with family

As you know, we’ve been at the beach this week.  We have had so much fun!  Visiting with friends, walking on the beach, shopping at the outlets, and spending quality time with my parents.  It’s been wonderful!  We are headed home today because Ashley has her 18-month check up tomorrow.  I’ve enjoyed watching her have [...]

 

Week at the Beach

Ashley, the boys, and I are at the beach this week.  My parents’ friends from Canada, JP and Rachel, are also visiting.  Ashley has been a ham eating up all the attention!  She loves it!  She is having non-stop fun, running around, entertaining everyone.  I was able to capture a few pictures of her today.  [...]

 

Walk Like MADD

This morning we participated in the Walk Like MADD (Mother’s Against Drunk Driving) event at NCSU’s Centennial Campus.  It wasn’t the prettiest day for a 5K – gloomy, cold, and windy.  I’m still thawing out as I type this.  But we had a nice time and Ashley did great.  It was quite a long walk [...]

 

Ashley's First Haircut

Ashley got her first haircut today.  She is almost 18 months old and I finally bit the bullet.  I probably would have waited until she was 2 had her hair not gotten so long and whispy.  It had gotten to the point where Ashley was constantly pulling it away from her face.  So I figured [...]

 

Saturday Cookout

Grandma and Grandaddy Murray came over today to cookout for lunch.  They brought yummy food.  Hot dogs, chips and salsa, lots of mustard   Most delicious was the homemade potato salad by Grandma Murray.  It was nothing short of scrumptious!  Ashley got to hang out with one set of grandparents yesterday and the other set [...]

 

Piggies and Paws Party

Ashley and I threw a Piggies and Paws Party today.  If you haven’t heard of Piggies and Paws, you can check out their website here.  It is basically a really cool way to turn your child’s hand and foot prints into works of art!  I had some made last year; we kept one and gave [...]

 

Happiness is...tutu pajamas

I’m baaaaack!  Sorry I’ve been MIA for a while.  I’ve been quite busy the past 2 weeks and my blog has taken the back burner.  I will fill you in later on all of our happenings. On to my happiness post…things that have made me happy this week are: Ashley and Toby… Ashley’s new tutu [...]

 

Happiness is...Ashley talking on the phone

Here is what makes me happy this week… Ashley talking to me on the phone while we were away last weekend (photo courtesy of Nana) Our upcoming trip to Florida next month Warmer weather and the smell of pear trees blooming (I know they stink but it’s a sign of Spring!) Ashley spinning in circles [...]

 

 

ACC Tournament

Van surprised me with ACC tickets last week.  We went to the semi-finals on Saturday and the championship game on Sunday.  It was so much fun!  Nana and Grandaddy stayed here with Ashley, so we could have a weekend to ourselves.  It was absolutely wonderful!  Van flew us to Greensboro Saturday morning and we spent [...]

 

Playing House

Ashley loves to play with her house, but loves it even more when someone plays house with her.  Her friend Brody likes playing with it too.  I have yet to capture a picture of them playing but I promise I will!  It is so cute.  Brody will get behind the house in the corner and [...]

 

Happiness is...toddler crocs

I hope everyone is having a wonderful week!  Thursday just crept right up on me.  Let’s see, things that have made me happy this week are… Ashley’s new Crocs.  Just in time for spring! Handmade hooded towels.  Thanks Jan! Other things that make me happy are… Weight Watchers Online My parents coming to visit today [...]

 

I Heart Amazon

Okay, so do you remember my post about the amazing deal on diapers you could get on Amazon?  Well, I’m here to rave some more about them!  No, not diapers.  Amazon. You could call me addicted to Amazon.  I guess I am.  I find myself shopping there rather frequently.  If there is something I need/want, [...]

 

Happiness is...green blades of grass

For those of you that have been reading my blog from the beginning, you may remember that I used to have “Thirsty Thursday” posts when Ashley was little.  I would use the posts to showcase random pictures that I had taken of Ashley throughout the week.  It was fun having a consistent “themed” day. So [...]

 

 

 

Marbles Kids Museum

We went to Marbles with some friends today.  Had a blast!  It was quite a different experience than when we went last summer when Ashley was only 8 months old.  You can see those pictures here.  This time she was not only walking around, but much more interested in the different areas.  I guess it [...]

 

 

Spring Teaser

The weather here this week has been absolutely beautiful!  I believe it hit 76 degrees yesterday!  So we took advantage of it and went to a playground with our friends.  The playground had a cushy foam ground versus sand or mulch.  So it was a little less dirty.  Ashley liked climbing around on the equipment [...]

 

Beach in the Winter

We went to the beach this past weekend.  It was a nice getaway and the weather was beautiful!  I really wanted to concentrate on the dogs and make sure they got lots of exercise.  I feel like our days at home are so mundane for them.  So we took them to the beach and let [...]

 

 

The Streak

Oh, yes, they call him the Streak Look at that, look at that Fastest thing on two feet Look at that, look at that He’s just as proud as he can be Of his anatomy He goin’ give us a peek –Ray Stevens I’m afraid we’ve got a streaker on our hands Margaret!  Just kidding. [...]

 

 

Valentine's Party

Our playgroup had a Valentine’s party yesterday.  It was so much fun!  Even though the kids are too young to realize what was going on, it was still neat for them to exchange Valentines.  Mainly it was an opportunity for the kids to play and adults to mingle and eat some yummy Valentine-themed food!  It [...]

 

 

Cinderella

So my Dad is in town and we went to Harris Teeter last night for some groceries.  My Dad and I love Harris Teeter as we always share coupons and tell each other about the specials they have going on.  Anyways, we got some free “kid” cookies and went about our shopping escapade.  Ashley was [...]

 

 

Tea Party

One of the toys Ashley got for Christmas was a tea set.  It is so precious!  It came with 2 tea cups, some little cakes, and a tea pot.  The tea pot talks and says “more please” and “thank you” and makes a pouring sound.  Ashley will pour tea for you in the cup and [...]

 

 

Dishwasher Fun!

Sometimes it can be hard entertaining a toddler and trying to cook dinner at the same time.  Ashley is always in the kitchen with me going through the drawers and cabinets.  Pulling out anything and everything she can get her hands on.  And I just let her do it.  As long as she is entertaining [...]

 

 

 

My Little Cupcake

A friend of mine made a cupcake hat and matching scarf for Ashley.  Here is my little cupcake showing it off! And she is 15 months old today, I might add.  Can you believe it?

 

Snowed In

Today is a snow day.  Well, more like “ice” day.  Meteorologists were forecasting a big winter storm.  But instead of pretty snow, all we got was yucky ice and sleet!  So we are all stuck in the house today.  Van is working from home.  We have the fireplace on.  It’s been quite entertaining watching the [...]

 

 

More Pictures...

As if you weren’t bombarded with enough Christmas pictures, here are some more  These are some that Jenn and Nathan took. I just love pictures, especially ones of my family!

 

Christmas Vacay - Day 2

Well, we may have missed all the snow and excitement back home, but we still had fun here at the beach!  It did snow here, it just didn’t stick.  Instead of boring with you a play by play of our day, I will just post pictures for you to see for yourself!  We took some [...]

 

 

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was a fun day.  I spent the morning baking pies and Christmas cookies.  Then we went to the family service at church that afternoon.  We normally go to the later, more traditional service.  But with Ashley this year, we figured that wouldn’t be a good idea.  So it was our first time going [...]

 

 

NYC Video

Here is some commentary from our second night in NYC.  We had just seen the Broadway show, Elf, and were back in Times Square admiring the lights.  You’ll have to pardon my excitement.  I was still pumped up from the show [vimeo clip_id="18035137" width="680" height="355"]

 

 

 

Let it Snow

Okay, here is my “snow” post a week late.  Sorry about the delay.  I had the post drafted, but never got around to publishing it because Ashley and I went to the beach for a few days while we had some work done to our house.  And I didn’t have access to my pictures.  Then [...]

 

Christmas Party

We went to Ashley’s first Christmas party yesterday!  So fun!  It was for our SAHM group.  Our friend, Lauren, did an amazing job organizing everything.  There was a yummy lunch catered by Golden Corral.  We had a surprise visit from Santa and he gave all the kids the book The Night Before Christmas.  We also did [...]

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas Parade

Have a holly jolly Christmas It’s the best time of the year Well I don’t know if there’ll be snow But have a cup of cheer We took Ashley to see the Christmas parade yesterday morning!  One of the things that I love about the holidays are the traditions that come with it.  I remember going [...]

 

 

12 Month Portraits

We had Ashley’s 12 month portraits taken this past weekend.  Well, I guess it was more like her 13 month portraits (I’m a little behind).  My brother-in-law, Nathan, is starting his own photography business.  You can check out his website here.  So he took them for us.  Since I am usually the one behind the camera, [...]

 

 

 

 

The Boys

Some of you may wonder what’s going on with the boys.  Sorry they don’t make it to my blog often.  I’ve been a little pre-occupied with a very active toddler!  Blake just loves Ashley to pieces.  He’s like a giant teddy bear to her.  He gets poked, prodded, stepped on, hair pulled, drueled on, and [...]

 

 

 

Lake Lynn

We went on a beautiful walk today at Lake Lynn with friends Annie and Miss Emily.  We walked around the lake, fed the ducks, and even saw 2 baby deer!  It was a gorgeous day to be outside, even if it did hit 79 degrees in mid-October.  We walked around the lake this past spring when both babies were [...]

 

Halloween Party

Ashley went to her first Halloween party yesterday.  She was the cutest lil’ pumpkin I ever did see!  The North Raleigh/Wake Forest SAHM group that we are a part of threw the party at Baileywick Park.  It was a beautiful day for it!  Unfortunately though, Ashley’s costume isn’t exactly made for the nice 75-80 degree [...]

 

 

 

 

Tutu Much Fun!

Wow, where do I begin?!  Today was such a blast!  First off, let me thank my wonderful parents and patient husband for all of their help in preparing for Ashley’s first birthday party.  I really couldn’t have pulled it off without them.  And thank you Mom for baking, icing and decorating cupcakes with me until [...]

 

Not Gonna Do It

Ashley refused to take a nap the other day.  She cried and cried.  She would stand up in her crib, then sit down again.  Stand up, sit down.  When all was quiet, I went in to check on her and this is how I found her.   She cried herself to sleep sitting up!  Notice [...]

 

My Lil' Food Critic

As Ashley’s first birthday approaches, I have been reminiscing with old pictures and videos.  Here is a movie I made (it is kind of long) showing how she has progressed with food.  It takes a look at what she was eating at 5, 6, 7 and 11 months old.  It is really neat seeing how [...]

 

 

Vent Showdown

Ashley and Toby love to lay on the floor register, or vent as I call them.  The other day, they had a vent showdown!  Toby was in the dining room laying on his favorite vent.  It must put out the coldest AC in the house!  Next thing I know, here comes Ashley.  Ruh roh!  I wasn’t quite [...]

 

Busy Bee

Ashley is really movin’ and shakin’ these days.  I can only imagine how crazy it’s going to get once she starts walking!  Even now she is all over the place, climbing on anything she can climb on, pulling on things, inspecting things, tormenting the dogs.  It’s just non-stop with her.  So unfortunately I don’t have [...]

 

 

Friends!

Ashley’s friends came over to play yesterday and we had such fun!  So much so, that Ashley napped for 3 hours after they left Here is some info. on everyone.  Sarah Jane is a December baby.  She’s the one with the beautiful blue eyes!  Lexi, Ashley and Brody are all October babies.  Brody’s birthday is actually [...]

 

Cutie Cousins

If there’s one thing us Franklin girls have in common, it’s producing some C-U-T-E babies!    Jenn and Finley came over to visit this week.  I still can’t get over how tiny lil’ Finley is!  Her tiny nose, little hands, skinny legs.  She’s so little!  And cute to boot!  She’s still at the age where she [...]

 

Happy Grandparents Day!

Sunday, September 12th was Grandparents Day.  I brainstormed on what Ashley could do for her grandparents and came up with a brilliant idea – she would paint for them!  What grandparent wouldn’t want a hand-made gift from their grandaughter?!  I bought some finger paint and canvas at Michael’s and took Ashley outside on the patio.  [...]

 

Bring on Fall!

Sorry for the late post.  I’ve been crazy busy this week!… The end of summer means the beginning of my ultimate favorite season, FALL!  Oh my goodness do I love fall!  Between football, pumpkin spice latte, our anniversary, Ashley’s birthday and crisp autumn mornings, life just doesn’t get any better!  The cooler weather also means [...]

 

Grandaddy's Pancakes

If you know my Dad, you know that pancakes are his specialty.  He is the ultimate pancake maker!  So we usually have pancakes, at least one morning, for breakfast every time we go to the beach.  This weekend was no different.  He made some yummy banana pancakes and Ashley LOVED them!  He even made mini pancakes [...]

 

 

Peek-a-Boo

Ashley’s new thing nowadays is opening and closing doors.  She just loves pushing and pulling doors, whether it’s the closet door, pantry door, front or back door.  She’ll push it until it almost shuts, and then open it back again.  Over and over and over.  So I went out on the front porch one morning [...]

 

Pulling Up

Ashley’s development has really taken off lately.  She is army crawling at warp speed, pulling up on everything, and will pull herself to a stand in her crib and pack-n-play.  You can’t stand in one place too long without feeling those little hands crawling up your legs as she pulls herself up.  She is also [...]

 

Hair

We all know that Ashley was blessed with a beautiful head full of dark hair.  It’s wild, curly, and there’s lots of it!  But since you haven’t seen how long it is when it’s wet, I thought I’d post a picture from bath time last night.  Isn’t that amazing?!  She’s not even 11 months yet, [...]

 

Din Din

We had chicken, green beans and mashed potatoes for dinner one night last week.  It was so neat watching Ashley eat the same food we were eating.  She really enjoyed herself!  I feel a bit relieved that she’s eating more solids now.  For a while there, she would gag with any “real” food you gave [...]

 

 

 

I'm an AUNT!

Isn’t she lovely Isn’t she wonderful Isn’t she precious Less than one minute old… – Stevie Wonder My sister gave birth to Finley Maclaine Colchin this morning at 8:17 a.m.  She weighed in at 6 pounds even and 19 inches long.  She is so tiny!  It’s hard to imagine Ashley was once that small. Finley has [...]

 

If The Shoe Fits

“Give a girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world”.      — Marilyn Monroe Well, here ya go Ashley.   Grandma and Grandaddy gave you your first pair of shoes!  Just remember that for when you conquer the world, sweetheart. 

 

 

 

 

 

Thrill Seeker

Ashley is such a little dare devil.   She loves falling backwards and if she’s laying on the couch, she’ll kick herself to the end just so her head can dangle upside down.  Here is a video I took of her playing with Van this past weekend.  She loves playing this game with him!  I imagine she [...]

 

Down We Go

Ashley has never been real active in her crib.  Even though she crawls around on the floor, she doesn’t move around much in her crib.  She normally just lays on her back and occasionally rolls from side to side.  Recently she has been rolling over at night to sleep on her tummy.  But that’s it; well…until now!  This week [...]

 

 

Tunnel Crawl

A friend at work gave me a crawl-through tunnel as a baby shower gift.  It was one of those “can’t play with till later” toys so it’s been hiding in Ashley’s closet since before she was born.  Now that she’s crawling around, I got it out for her a few weeks ago and she LOVES it!  She’ll [...]

 

 

 

Taco Night

I made tacos for dinner tonight.  Fed Ashley some baby food that she wasn’t too interested in.  I wouldn’t be either.  It was Gerber’s Chicken Noodle Soup.  Blah.  So I thought I’d give her some taco meat and cheese to see if she wanted to eat that.  Not only did she eat it, but she [...]

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Birthday Blake!

Yesterday was Blake’s 4th birthday!  My little pup is growing up (sniff sniff).  This was the first year that we didn’t celebrate on his birthday.  We are celebrating today, the day after, because I forgot to order his cake!  When I called yesterday to place my order, it was too late to get it so they are making [...]

 

First Words

Wait for it…wait for it…Da Da!!  Yep, those were her first words.  She’s been babbling a lot lately, but Tuesday night she was scooting on the floor towards the dining room, which is where Van was sitting.  She looks right up at him and clearly says “Da Da”.  It was the cutest thing ever!  No [...]

 

Dinner with Friends

We went to Patrick and Laura’s house for dinner last night and had a great time!  The four of us have been friends for a long time.  Pre-baby and even pre-marriage!  Ashley loves her Uncle Patrick and Aunt Laura   We do, too! On another note, Ashley is 9 months old today!  NINE MONTHS!  Needless to say, [...]

 

 

The Boys' Turn

Yesterday was a VERY off day for Ashley.  Oh my goodness, was it crazy.  She wouldn’t eat (solids or milk), wouldn’t sleep, and was cranky whenever you tried to feed her or put her to sleep.  So she was up all day long.  It was insane.  I think she may have been teething.  Her top [...]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baby Scootin' Boogie

Ashley started scooting around this weekend for the first time.  I’ve always had her sitting on the rug or on a blanket playing with her toys, and tried to keep her off the hardwoods.  I just thought the hard floor wouldn’t be comfy.  But this past weekend, she backed herself off the blanket, onto the [...]

 

 

 

Finger Painting

We had a play date this week at Janet and Cole’s house.  It was so much fun!  They had a cool activity planned for us…finger painting!!  Ashley really enjoyed it and she got paint all over her.  She  managed to get it on me, too!  She is very texture oriented so it was neat watching her feel paint [...]

 

 

Goodnight Sweetheart

Goodnight sweetheart, well, it’s time to go Goodnight sweetheart, well, it’s time to go I hate to leave you but I really must say Goodnight sweetheart, goodnight Yesterday was a fun but busy day for us.  Van flew a T-6 Texan World War II fighter plane out at the Franklin County Airport that morning.  It [...]

 

Goodnight Sweetheart

Goodnight sweetheart, well, it’s time to go Goodnight sweetheart, well, it’s time to go I hate to leave you but I really must say Goodnight sweetheart, goodnight Yesterday was a fun but busy day for us.  Van flew a T-6 Texan World War II fighter plane out at the Franklin County Airport that morning.  It [...]

 

From Bugs to Birds

Ashley graduated from her Bugs class at The Little Gym yesterday (tear, sniff sniff).  There was a ceremony and all of the babies got medals.  They had a little podium with an American flag hanging above and everything.  It was so cute!!  Daddy even came to watch and take pictures!  When we return in the fall, [...]

 

My Screaming Baby

Here’s a video I took of Ashley yesterday afternoon.  I started taking it because she was smiling at me.  I didn’t realize she was going to get into a screaming match!  This is how we communicate right now.  I talk and she screams.  She is incredibly vocal, that’s for sure!  I’m afraid I’ve encouraged it [...]

 

Marbles Kids Museum

We went to Marbles today with our playgroup.  We had tons of fun!  Ashley’s still kind of limited in what all she can do, so I think when she gets a little older and can walk around she will enjoy it even more!  We sat and played in the baby area for a while and Ashley [...]

 

Peaches for my Peach

Ashley loves  her some peaches!  It’s a good thing, too because peaches are high in Vitamin A, Vitamin C and they contain a great amount of fiber.  The perfect baby food!  Would you like to make some peach puree for your little one?  Here’s how! If you are using a Babycook, fill the blender with water [...]

 

 

 

 

 

Memorial Day Weekend - Part I

We went to the beach for Memorial Day weekend.  It was a much needed mini-vacation for the Murray household.  We had a blast!  Let’s see if I can sum it up in a few words: Sun, fun, family, pool, boat, beach, Angelo’s pizza, Provision’s shrimp burger, steaks, pepper jack cheeseburgers, hot dogs, cold beer, strawberry cake, [...]

 

Bouncing to the Extreme

Ashley LOVES to bounce in her exersaucer.  She’d bounce all day in it if I let her.  She bounces so hard you’d think she was going to fly out of it!  Her little feet hitting the floor just as hard and fast as she can.  It’s even starting to squeak when she really gets going.  So I [...]

 

 

Sunday Afternoon

We had such a nice weekend.  Van fished a tournament on Saturday and we had family time on Sunday.  We relaxed that morning, went out to eat lunch at Moe’s, went to the mall where I got some new clothes to go with my new hair, and stopped by Target and Kohl’s.  Ashley does really [...]

 

F5

We all know what the “F5″ button does.  Well, if you don’t, you should.  It’s the “Refresh” button.  You know, like when the page you’re on gets stuck out there in Internet Land and doesn’t load correctly or takes F-O-R-E-V-E-R to load.  You hit “F5″ for the page to be refreshed.  And voila, there it [...]

 

 

7 Months, 5 Days

7 months and 5 days…that is how long we made it before Ashley got sick.  I was hoping we’d make it her whole first year without getting sick, but that was obviously an unattainable goal.  I guess it was just inevitable.  We made it through H1N1 and flu season sick-free, so I am pleased with that.  But [...]

 

Scrub-a-Dub-Dub...

…little baby in a tub.  Ashley has outgrown her infant bath tub.  She is just too big for it now, so no more baths in the sink   She is actually in between sizes - she’s too big for her infant tub, but not quite old enough to sit in a big bath tub by herself.  I wanted to get [...]

 

Photography Page

I am pleased to announce a new addition to my blog…welcome the photography page!  I’m going to use it to post various pictures that I may not have time to blog about here.  So check it out!  I’m going to try and update it regularly to include some of the random pictures that I take throughout the [...]

 

Cookout

Well, it’s that time of year folks.  Time for humid summer nights, long daylight hours, and COOKOUTS!  I love love love to cook out and eat dinner outside on our deck.  We take Ashley’s high chair out there too, so we can all eat together.  We did this last night.  Yes, it was pretty hot out [...]

 

 

I Like Squash

Ashley had a good sampling of her first try at yellow squash.  She liked it!  She gobbled it all up.  It was a pretty uneventful meal.  She ate it fairly quickly and then started playing with the bowl and spoon.  I was waiting for her to lick the bowl clean!  Hummm…what to try next?

 

7 Months

I got my “Your baby is 7 months old” email today from babycenter.com.  They email me every week about child development as your baby grows. 7 months old huh?  Really?  You sure?  Are you telling me that I no longer have a newborn?  She doesn’t need to be woken up in the middle of the night [...]

 

Good Eats

Ashley tried zucchini the other night and she loved it!  I could not be more proud of my little eater.  I just hope she keeps this up as she gets older.  She really gobbled it down.  I love the fact that she tries new things and doesn’t reject it just because it’s different.  It wasn’t even messy because she [...]

 

 

Yummy to my Tummy

I hit the jackpot!  I finally found food that Ashley LOVES!  She loves it so much she will take the spoon from me and feed herself.  The first time I fed it to her, she grabbed the spoon (as I was holding it) and brought it to her mouth because I was apparently too slow.  She [...]

 

Life is Good at the Beach!

We went to Holden Beach this weekend to visit my parents.  Had a GREAT time, as usual!  I was so excited to get Ashley in the pool, but it was a little too cool for that.  Grandaddy blew up her float and everything.  We did put her in it just for a sec, but considering [...]

 

 

Funny Faces

Ashley makes the funniest faces, and here are a few of them in action.  She is very entertaining!  She had on her Baby Legs which are OH so adorable!  They come in all styles and colors but I like the striped ones myself.  Reminds me of Pippi Longstocking, except much cuter :)

 

Apples and Pears

Our two newest food introductions are apples and pears.  She is so funny when trying a new food.  The look on her face is just priceless!  After she has a few bites, and realizes she likes it, she’s good to go.  But until then, let the funny faces begin!  As before, I just cook the [...]

 

iPad Mania

Van had to get the new iPad.  He pre-ordered it actually (surprise surprise).  So we’ve had it for a while now.  Last week he found a piano game and he showed it to Ashley.  She was pretty intrigued by it.  She is quite the little technology lover, as it would be hard not to be in this [...]

 

Ashley's Baptism

Lord, bless this tiny infant Who is brought to You today And teach those precious little feet To follow in Your way Lord, bless the baby’s parents, too, And with Your loving care, Grant them all the happiness A family can share. Ashley was baptized today!  I was real nervous how she was going to do [...]

 

Baby Food Adventures

Ashley got the “all clear” at her 6 month check-up last week to start on baby foods.  Until now, I was just giving her brown rice cereal a few days a week.  The doctor told me to start giving her fruits and veggies and that at her next appointment (at 9 months) she should be eating 3 meals [...]

 

Fellow Moms

I am soooooo excited to announce the launch of my new website www.fellowmoms.com!!  Everyone please check it out!  It is a new social networking site geared to us moms.  You can create a profile, publish a blog and chat in our groups.  Check it out, spread the word, and sign up today!

 

Can You Feel the Love?

There is nothing more special than watching pets interact with our children.  The love and wonder they have for each other just melts my heart! Here is a short video of Ashley and Blake.  For those of you who remember Blake as the rough and wild puppy, check out the gentle giant that he has become!  He [...]

 

Ashley's New Backyard!

If you know us, you know we don’t sit still long.  We are always busy; always doing upgrades to our home.  We’ve lived here for 5 years now, and have done many things to make it our own.  Some things we have done ourselves, others we have hired contractors.  Everything from new “green” carpet upstairs (made [...]

 

Easter

This year Easter was a little different.  Normally we would go to the beach to visit my parents, but we were having yard work done here at the house and didn’t want to leave the landscapers unsupervised.  So we stayed in Raleigh for Easter.  I can’t think of the last time I was actually home [...]

 

The Little Gym

Today is Good Friday and Van had the day off from work.  Which means he could come to our Bugs class at The Little Gym – yay!!  I was so excited that he could come with us and see what we do every Friday.  It may sound weird, but it meant a lot to me that [...]

 

Miss Personality

Ashley is 5 1/2 months old now and man, is she developing a personality.  She is so cute to me!  And I don’t mean just her adorably good looks, but her sweet personality, too.  Here’s a list of what she likes and doesn’t like: –She likes to suck her thumb. –She likes to watch the dogs and [...]

 

It's a Scary World Out There

Having a child brings about a whole new set of fears.  Not only am I responsible for raising Ashley to be a productive member of society, but I am also responsible for her safety and making the right decisions on her behalf.  I love her unconditionally.  She’s my offspring.  My child.  My daughter.  Me and Ashley, [...]

 

Holden Beach

We went to Holden Beach this weekend.  It was Ashley’s second trip.  She had fun visiting Grandma and Grandaddy!  The boys had a good time swimming in the pool and playing chuckit.  No waterway swimming this time.  With my luck, they would have cut their feet up, and I couldn’t bear the thought of them getting hurt [...]

 

Bath Time

Ashley had a big day today!  First of all, she officially turned 5 months old today.  I can’t believe she’s not a newborn anymore.  As I’ve said before, time is really flying by.  I’ll probably say that at all of her little monthly birthdays.  I don’t mean to repeat myself, but it’s true.   And she seems [...]

 

Introducing Solid Food

Ashley had her first try at solid food the other day.  As you may or may not know, that is a big deal in babyland!  I’ve been waiting for just the right moment to introduce solid foods to her.  She has recently become interested in the things that Van and I are eating.  She will even watch us [...]

 

Xylitol Nightmare

Xylitol is used as a sugar substitute and can be found in sugar-free gum, candy, foods, and is available in granulated form for baking.  It is now being included in toothpastes and other oral hygiene products due to its anti-cavity properties.  In humans, xylitol is absorbed slowly and has little to no effect on blood [...]

 

Getting in the Groove

I’m getting used to the whole SAHM (Stay at Home Mom) thing.  I do have to say it’s been a bit hard being home with a baby during the winter.  It’s nice to be inside and not have to bundle her up to take her somewhere, but some days I feel like the walls are [...]

 

Van's Birthday

We celebrated Van’s birthday today.  He turned the big 3-0!  And yes, I am a whole 3 months older than him   We went to The Pit for lunch and then had cake and ice cream at the house.  If you haven’t been to The Pit downtown, I highly recommend it.  They have yummy barbecue [...]

 

My Favorite Part of the Day

…is the first smile of the morning! As I walk into the nursery, I see Ashley laying in her crib, patiently waiting to be picked up, wearing a big ole’ smile. She is always so happy to see me and start her day. It makes every morning worth waking up for!

 

Growing Like a Weed

Ashley had her 4 month check-up this week.  She is now 13 pounds and 24 inches long.  She got 2 booster shots in her little leg, and the third was in a liquid form that she drank.   Poor thing screamed at the top of her lungs during the shots.  However, she did calm down by the [...]

 

Our First Play Date

Ashley and I had our first play date this morning!  Boy, was it fun!   We were running late on our way there because I had to change clothes at the last minute.   Ashley decided to spit up all over me right before we were going to leave.  This was another “first” by the way.  She’s never [...]

 

I Didn't Know Becoming a Parent Meant...

Stacking this month’s unread magazine on top of last month’s unread magazine. Eating dinner like we’re trying to break a world record for the most pasta swallowed in the shortest amount of time. All while standing up. Letting your husband choose between poop and laundry as a topic of conversation. Figuring out how to go [...]

 

Let It Snow

I had soooooooooooo much fun today!!!  As you may know, it never snows here so I was quite excited when the forecast called for it this week.  It started last night about 7:00 p.m. and continued through the night.  I woke up to a winter wonderland!  I started the morning by getting chili together in [...]

 

Cutie-Pa-Tootie

I am so thankful to have a healthy and happy baby.  I just cannot get over how perfect she is!  My little girl is the cutest, sweetest, most charming, adorable, delightful, endearing baby I’ve ever known!!  Am I a proud Mama?  Nah

 

Pets and Babies

This post is for all those who think you have to get rid of your pet(s) when you have a baby; those who are afraid of their pets being around their baby or those who give their pets away thinking they don’t have time to care for them AND a baby.  Well, I beg to differ.  [...]

 

Pretty Things

So, I just ordered another wall decal for Ashley’s nursery.  It’s called a Polka Dot Candy Tree.  I am so excited and can’t wait to see it on the wall!  I love her nursery.  It’s the prettiest room in the house.  And I love her initials.  I’d put them everywhere if I could.  You know you [...]

 

 

Baby Belly

Ashley is doing many new things now.  One of which is showing off her belly, and what a cute lil’ belly it is!  She likes lifting up her shirt.  And my guess is that she is going to be right handed, because most of the time she pulls her shirt up with her right hand.  She is also [...]

 

What Did You Say?

Daddy just came home from work and Ashley is telling him about her day. *WARNING* This video exhibits extreme cuteness!  It may make you smile or even laugh.  Please take caution while viewing. 

 

Ashley Kaitlyn

A mother’s love, so pure and dear I find it hard to explain How my life was once incomplete But now look what I have gained You are my angel, my daughter, my everything You were sent from God above To fill my heart with happiness And touch my life with love I promise to [...]

 

 

3 Months Old

Ashley is 3 months old -  wow – time is flying by!  Had the calendar not said Jan. 12, I wouldn’t believe it.  I feel like it was just yesterday when I held her in my arms for the first time.  I will never forget that wonderful, glorious day.  But then again, I feel like she’s [...]

 

 

Our New Pack

It’s been 12 weeks and I think we are all adjusted now to our new addition.  The boys have welcomed her as part of the pack and I am very impressed at how well they have taken to her.  It took Toby a little longer than Blake to warm up to her, but can you blame him?  In the early [...]

 

 

 

The Boys' Christmas

We weren’t the only ones to have a great Christmas this year.  Our other chidren did, too – that is, the four-legged variety – the DOGS!  They got rawhide bones, Busy Bones, tennis balls and lots of time swimming in the ocean and waterway.  A perfect holiday for a couple of labradors, don’t ya think?

 

Santa was Good to Me!

We had a very Merry Christmas in the Murray household this year!  I got up Christmas morning and felt like a kid again.  I was so excited for Ashley even though she didn’t understand what was going on.  And I expect as she gets older Christmas will become even more fun for us!  We spent Christmas Eve with [...]

 

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

That is a tough question.  Stay at home or go back to work?  Stay at home with Ashley but give up my salary and benefits?  Go back to work but put Ashley in daycare?  There are pros and cons to both scenarios.  We ultimately decided that I would stay at home and raise Ashley.  So I resigned from [...]

 

Sleep, Angels and Sadie

Ashley is 8 weeks old now. I can’t believe how fast time has flown by. She has grown so much in the past few weeks. She is starting to “talk” now. It is so cute! She’ll coo at you. And once she figures out how to make a certain sound, she’ll do it again. She [...]

 

Hark the Herald Angels Sing

“Hark the herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinner reconciled Joyful all ye nations rise, join the triumph of the skies With angelic host proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem Hark the herald angels sing, glory to the newborn King.” This is my favorite Christmas [...]

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Well, we made it through our first Thanksgiving with Ashley.  I say “made it through” like it was an ordeal.  It was actually rather relaxing compared to years past.  We didn’t have many folks at the house therefore we didn’t have to make much food.  So it was a nice, chill Thanksgiving this year.  Which was [...]

 

Smile

Ashley turned  6 weeks old yesterday.  She’s doing great!  Just growing away and smiling a lot.  Apparently at 6 weeks, babies can recognize their parents.  And they get so delighted at the sight of Mom or Dad that they welcome them with a big ole’ smile.  It’s called a social smile and it shows that they are developing an ability to socialize.  I [...]

 

Don't Blink

Yesterday was my birthday.  I turned the big 3-0!  It’s hard to believe I’m not in my twenties anymore.  Heck, it’s hard to believe I’m married, have a baby, and no longer playing basketball in the driveway with my Dad!  Turning 30 really makes me reflect on life.  How precious it is, how fast it [...]

 

5 Weeks Old

Well, Ashley is 5 weeks old today.   She had her 1-month checkup last Friday.  Her weight is now up to 8 lb. 4.5 oz!  How cool is that?  The pediatrician was very pleased, as were we!  Her lowest weight was 6 lb. 5 oz. (she was 6 lb. 15 oz. when born) and now she is over 8 [...]

 

 

4 Weeks Old

Ashley is 4 weeks old today.  Well, she will be at 5:14 p.m.  I’ve been thinking about how to calculate her age – like by month.  I would think that 4 weeks old = 1 month.  But today is Nov. 9th.  So technically, she really won’t be a month old until Thursday (Nov. 12th).  Isn’t [...]

 

3 Weeks Old

Ashley is 3 weeks old today!  She is laying on her tummy with me now as I’m typing this.  She loves tummy time!  I just lay her face down on me as I’m sitting on the couch.  I hear it is good for babies to spend time on their belly to strengthen their neck muscles, which help [...]

 

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween everyone!  This is Ashley’s first Halloween!  It was unusually hot today, so we decided to go for our first walk as a family.  I pushed Ashley in her stroller and Van walked the boys.  The boys wore their Halloween bandanas and Ashley was in an orange onesie.  I always thought it would be fun [...]

 

 

2 Weeks Old

Ashley is 2 weeks old today!  I see her personality coming out each and every day.  She is so funny!   She makes all sorts of funny faces.  She is opening her eyes and is more alert now.  She can’t focus yet, but you can tell that she is trying.  She loves being taken to different [...]

 

 

Thank You

I just want to thank all of our friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors who have been so generous since the birth of our little girl.  We have received flowers, balloons, bears, cards, and lots of good food!  We’ve received so much food that we haven’t had to cook or go out since we’ve been home.  And [...]

 

5th Anniversary and Church

We celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversay this past Friday (the 16th).  Van surprised me with beautiful flowers and balloons!  I can’t think of a more joyous way to spend our anniversary than at home with our daughter, and that is exactly what we did! Our church brought over some things on Sunday.  They had a rose [...]

 

1 Week Old

Ashley is 1 week old today!  It has really flown by.  I’m a little tired (okay, maybe more than a little ) but it is so worth it.  She is such an angel.  We are getting the hang of things now and getting on a routine.  She had a doctor’s appointment last Friday and had [...]

 

Drum Roll Please...

She’s here!  Ashley Kaitlyn Murray made her debut on Monday, October 12, 2009 at 5:14 p.m.  She weighed in at 6 lb. 15 oz. and was 20 inches long.  She was one day shy of 38 weeks when born.  An over achiever, that’s for sure!  I won’t go into details of the whole labor experience, but [...]

 

37 Weeks

Great news this week! Not only have I made it to the magic number of 37 weeks (so now she’s technically considered full-term) but my blood pressure has gone down! Yay!! I’ve been sick since last Thursday, so going on a week now. Congestion, cough, sinus pressure, all the yucky stuff. Can barely even sleep [...]

 

36 Weeks

We’re in the home stretch now. Only 4 weeks left to go – wahoo! And actually, it might even be less than that. We went to the doctor this week. Good news – blood pressure wasn’t any higher. Bad news – I now have mild pre-eclampsia. So the doctor basically said they wouldn’t let me [...]

 

Family/Friends Baby Shower

Mom, Jenn, and my aunt Sibyl threw me a baby shower this past Saturday.  It was so much fun!  I have to give mad “props” to my sister because she did an awesome job!  It was held at her house and she decorated so nicely.  Really took on the pink and green theme.  She had [...]

 

35 Weeks

I’m 35 weeks now – yay!  This week is turning out better than last week.  I relaxed a lot this weekend.  Slept in on Saturday, watched movies, read books, and went to church on Sunday.  It was a very restful weekend.  I stayed off my feet as much as I could without going stir crazy. [...]

 

34 Weeks

We’ve had a little hiccup this week, but I have faith that God will continue to watch over our little girl and help me deliver a healthy baby. Last week when I went for my regular check-up I had high blood pressure. After laying on my side for a while, the nurse re-took it and [...]

 

Angus Barn

We went to the Angus Barn for dinner last night with Matt and Annette.  It was an early anniversary dinner.  Our 5 year anniversary is Oct. 16 and Matt and Annette’s is Sept. 18.  It was neat that we could all celebrate our 5 year anniversaries together.  Van and I always go to the Angus [...]

 

Labor Day Weekend and 33 Weeks

We went to Holden Beach for Labor Day weekend. As usual, we had a great time! Saturday was bright and sunny. Spent most of the day laying by the pool, relaxing, and swimming with the boys. You’d think it was Disney World to them! They absolutely love going to the beach. They spend most of [...]

 

32 Weeks

Well, we made it to 32 weeks. Only 8 more to go! It’s going by so fast now. I can’t believe it. Lil’ Pumpkin will be here before we know it! So I’ve had another good week. I was a little sick this weekend though. I researched my symptoms on the internet and of course [...]

 

Happy Birthday Toby!

Today is Toby’s 8th birthday!  My best bud has grown up too fast.  I remember the days in Wilmington when he was a puppy and would lay under the coffee table.  He even saved us from a speeding ticket on Wrightsville Beach when he was 10 weeks old.  Guess he wooed the heart of the police [...]

 

Work Baby Shower

Robbin, Kelli & Teresa threw me a baby shower at work on Thursday!  It was my first baby shower and was so much fun!  Mom even drove up from the beach for it.  We ate, mingled, opened gifts, and played games.  Robbin’s sister-in-law made a yummy cake that looked like a crib mobile.   And Kelli made a diaper [...]

 

31 Weeks

I am 31 weeks pregnant today. Yay!! I’m now wearing tennis shoes to work which has been nice. I’ve apparently lost the arch in my feet so now they are just about completely flat. Which has made them longer and not so comfortable in my pretty work shoes. So I’ve converted to some Nike’s and [...]

 

3D Ultrasound

We had a 3D ultrasound when I was 29 weeks 1 day pregnant.  It was so neat seeing how much she had grown since our last ultrasound at 19 weeks.  They estimated that she weighed 3 pounds 7 ounces.  And according to her weight and how far along I am in the pregnancy, she is in the [...]

 

30 Weeks

I am 30 weeks pregnant today. Each week I get more and more excited to meet our little girl! I think I am going to have Van take my picture each week until she gets here, so we can see how much my belly grows. I absolutely love being pregnant and wouldn’t trade it for [...]