My Current favorite pics of Hannah and Cailyn

Please Support in Prayer...

I came across the link for this blog on our friend's blog (the Verlanders). I spent 1.5 hours reading from the very beginning. Its an amazing story of hope, endurance, true love, and God's amazing providence.

This precious family needs all the support, thoughts and prayers they can get. And, if you're so lead, the financial donations couldn't hurt, either!

http://cfhusband.blogspot.com

Houston, We have a tooth!!!

At 9 months 1 week and 1 day old, and after 4 months of swelling up for days, then going back down, Cailyn has finally cut her first tooth!!! Her bottom left tooth broke through sometime today. I know it was today b/c we felt last night and it wasn't there. I'd post a pic, but you can't see it just yet.

We knew it was coming b/c her bottom gums puffed up and then turned purple last week, and her sleep has been messed up the past few nights. The right tooth appears to be not too far behind. Then its on to the rest of the teeth!!

Hannah's Birthday Festivities

Ok, here are some pics from Hannah's birthday, finally!! Its been a bit hectic around here (when isn't it, right??). We had a really great time for Hannah's birthday. Her actual bday fell on a Sunday, so she took mini cupcakes to Sunday School class to celebrate. We then had a birthday party the following Saturday. Boy, was THAT a long week - for all of us!! Its just so hard for a 3 year old to comprehend why in the world she can't open presents or eat birthday cake yet!

Hannah enjoying the last cupcake after lunch on her birthday

I decided to make Hannah's cake this year and went back and forth for a long time on what to make. I finally settled on Cinderella's coach (for many reasons). I think it turned out cute...not exactly how I had it in my head, but she seemed to like it and it tasted yummy!!

The finished product

I didn't want to serve it to anyone after it was done...I wanted to preserve it after all that work! LOL

Hannah seeing the cake for the first time. She was very excited and had a hard time not touching it.

We had some of Hannah's best friends and their parents over for dinner the Saturday after her birthday. We had 7 kids under 7 here! But boy was it fun! We grilled hamburgers and hotdogs, and had potato salad, baked beans (which ended up all over Hannah's face and I somehow managed not to notice until AFTER all the pictures had been taken!), and salad. It was a really great night.
Hannah opening gifts.

Its a funny thing when kids watch other kids open gifts. When we started, they were all in a nice little semi-circle about 2.5 feet away from Hannah. But the end, they were huddled around her and Hannah was turned toward the fireplace like she was trying to protect a football on a drive or something! haha

More gifts!

Early on in the proceedings...

Cailyn and Cassidy had more interesting things to do, apparantly

Modeling her new jammies!
I think this was my favorite part of the night. Not because it involved the cake (hehe), but because while everyone sang to her, she sang along! It was priceless!!

Blowing out the candle! She chose the number 3 candle as opposed to using 3 seperate candles. What can I say, she knows what she wants!

Finally tasting the treasured cake - boy, she sure seems to like it....right??

More jammies! We just HAD to wear them that very night...and are still wearing them!!

It was a really great time, and I can't believe she's 3. I've just been watching her the past week or so and I'm realizing how grown up she's really getting....and yet still such a baby! She can now go to the potty all by herself when we're at the office....she goes down there, does her stuff and comes back all by herself! She puts all her clothes on by herself (most of the time). She can write some letters, say the alphabet and count. She has a memory like a steel trap. She's very independant and does nearly everything for herself (or at least tries to). And yet, we still snuggle on the couch together, she still must have her blankie at all times, and even though she's a "big girl" now, at times I look at her and she is so small and vulnerable. *sigh* I never thought parenthood would be so joyful and painful at the same time.

Happy Birthday, Hannah!!

I can't believe it, today is Hannah's 3rd birthday! I'm typing this at 12:53 pm....three years ago at this time, I was in major labor! LOL Its so odd how fast and how slow time has gone! In some ways it seems like she's only turning 2...in others it feels like she should be about 8 years old! haha

She took mini cupcakes to her Sunday School class today. We'll have a little BBQ party on Saturday with some friends. I'll be sure to post some pics of that! In the meantime, a little stroll down memory lane:

Just minutes old!

1 year old!!

2 years old!

3 years old! (that's a peace sign LOL)

Happy Birthday, Hannah! You are a precious little girl and Daddy and I are so proud of who are you becoming. We love you!!

The trip out, McCormick Train Park & Christmas #1

We had a WONDERFUL time in Arizona with our families! We just got home this afternoon (the 4th). It was a bittersweet leaving.....we weren't ready to leave family, but we were looking forward to sleeping in our own pillowtop, kingsize bed! LOL It will take us awhile to blog all of what we did, so where is the latest installment.

The girls did GREAT on the trip out! Cailyn slept a LITTLE,
but mostly they just charmed everyone on the plane!

Daddy did a great job of keeping an eye on Cailyn while I went to the toidy! ;o)

Cailyn had a great time using Big Sister's seat - a nice break from Mommy's lap!! But where's sister??

Hannah found a little spot for her to sit and read books....so glad she had her own paid for seat to sit in!

Once in Arizona, we had a fun time going to the McCormick Railroad park with Granny, Papa, Great Grandpa, Ms. Marilyn and her son, Mr. Steve. Its this neat park that has several playgrounds, a carousel, and a couple of different little trains that you can ride. At Christmas time, they have all kinds of little Christmas things set up and at night the train goes through a light display....we tried to take pictures, but they didn't quite turn out. :o/

Cailyn the elf

Hannah the snowman

Hannah and the train all lit up for Christmas!

Riding the train together!!

Not only did we get to ride trains and carousels, but we got to open presents!! Hannah played Santa and helped pass out gifts to Mommy, Daddy, Cailyn, Great Grandpa, Granny, Papa, and Uncle Thom. She was so sweet - each time she gave a gift to someone she would whisper "Merry Christmas" so sweetly. I know there's not too many pics of the girls opening gifts. But, there were almost 900 pictures on the camera after just the first few days, so we just picked a few good ones. :o)

Hannah snuggling with Great Grandpa
Wearing the scarf and hat Uncle Thom made!

She loves her Care Bear!

More plushy goodness!
This gift thing is fun!

Hannah and Cailyn were given matching jogging suits by Granny and Papa - they look so cute! We'll post a pic of them in them later.

So, that's the first few days in Arizona! There's LOTS more to come! So, check back soon!