Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Ten on Tuesday

Every year for Christmas, Nathan has gotten a book box filled with some of our favorite books. We have so many books right now and love toreadthem all. I thought, since most of the people who read this blog are parents to kids around N's age, I'd share some of our favorite books!

1. Come Along Daisy
N LOVES this book! I think it is probably his favorite book right now. It is about a little duck who does not listen to her mommy and gets lost. It has just the right amount of suspence for a toddler!

2. Row, Row, Row Your Boat by Iza Trapini
This author is wonderful! She takes well known kids' songs and adds verses to them. This one is about a family of bears and their adventures on a river. I love the illustrations in this book!

3. The Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett
This is the book that actually inspired me to do this post. We read this book after making our gingerbread house and N was enthralled with it. The illustrations arebeautiful, as they are with all Jan Brett books.

4. One Bear, One Dog
N has loved this book since he was a baby. It has fun pictures for the little ones and a great rhyming story.

5. Animalia
This is a great ABC book and N loves to look at--well okay, I love to look at it. The illustrator of this book is a genius and we find new things everytime we open the book.

6. That's Not My...
Books. I like all of them in the series. We have That's Not My Santa, That's Not My Bear, That's Not My Dragon, and a few more. Nathan loves them for their bright colors and the fact that there is a different texture on each page.

7. Whose Nose, Whose Toes
Fun animal book where each page opens up to a big, full length page.

8. Baby Cakes
We read this a lot before we go to bed. Nathan has it pretty much memorized and we act out every page.

9. Colors: A Play With Me Book
Nathan has loved this book since he was old enough to understand the concept of a book. It has different beach creatures that you can take out of the book--which N liked to take out, put back in, take out, put back in, take out, put back in...you get the idea. So, its a fun book, while teaching colors! Somehow,though, our copy is missing!

And what book list is complete without...

10. Goodnight Moon
What can I say about this book, but that it is a classic!

If you have any other books that your kid loves, please share the title!
Monday, December 29, 2008

Emma is Two Months Old Today!


My little girl turned two months old today and she couldn't be any cuter!

This month Emma learned to smile at us--and not just a little, fleeting smile, but full on smiles that don't end. Nathan gets the majority of them, which I love. She ADORES her big brother!
She also took her first out of state trip. On the 26th we all loaded up and started the 6 hour drive to New Orleans to visit Mimi. Mimi loved showing off her two great grandchildren and they were both super well behaved, even though N was/is sick.
Happy two month birthday, baby girl!
Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Gingerbread Boy!

I haven't gotten to spend as much time with Nathan as we are both used to, so I thought it would be fun to have a little mommy/Nathan time by making a gingerbread house with lots of yummy candy. Of couse it took us about 3 days to actually be able to sit down and finally make it, but that's okay. It was well worth the wait! N had a blast while making it. No surprise that most of the candy didn't make it in the house, but rather in a little mouth. That's part of the fun, though!Towards the end, Emma had had enough of Daddy time and wanted to eat. So, Daddy had to take over the gingerbread house fun.
Saturday, December 20, 2008

Santa!


We went to a local toy store, Toys on the Park (which I LOVE LOVE LOVE) and visited Santa today. Nathan played with the trains while Ems and I waited in line to see the big man himself.
As it was getting closer to our turn, Garett brought Nathan back to the line and N started to panic! We just knew that we were going to have the classic crying kid with Santa picture--like last year. But, N took a deep breath, let me carry him over there and warmed right up to Santa. Of course it helped that Santa was super friendly. N and Ems sat in his lap and Nathan even told Santa what he wanted --trains. Santa sang them a Christmas song and gave N a candy cane. Emma even got into the Christmas spirit and gave Santa a huge smile.



I am so proud of both my kids! Operation Visit Santa=SUCCESS!!!
Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Fun Day

What a great day! We had a showing of our house this morning at 8, so I had to load both kids up in the car and be out pretty early. I actually enjoyed it--call me crazy! Ems fell asleep in her carseat and slept for two whole hours after we came home, giving Nathan and I lots of time together. I miss that special mommy/Nathan time we used to have and I know he does too.

We played all of his favorite things: superheros, blocks, Mr. Potato Head, trains, and we danced a lot! It was a blast!


Then, after Ems woke up, we took her Santa hat pictures. I have a picture of Nathan in this same hat when hewas just a few months old. It is seriously one of my favorite pictures! Here is Emma, and I will have to see if I can find N's picture on the other computer so we can compare!

Friday, December 5, 2008

Its amazing what a Hersey Kiss will get me!

I had to bribe him with his favorite thing in the world, chocolate, but I love this picture! My little baby looks so much like a big boy now! Don't you love his Christmas tie shirt? Found it on Esty--my new addiction!

I am loving his new haircut, too. He was such a little trooper at the salon! He didn't cry once, but he was quite disapointed. We went to a new place since our old place cut off his curls and that is unforgivable. Anyway, our old place used to blow bubbles while they cut his hair. So, he kept asking me and the lady where the bubbles are. When we told him that they didn't have bubbles, he says,"sucker?" which of course they had. So, he kept saying, "No bubbles, just suckers." the whole time. She told him that next time he comes back she will have bubbles. I love this kid!

Saturday, November 29, 2008

A month old already...

This past month flew by for me! It doesn't seem like there was a time without Emma, which is funny because I was so worried about what it would be like adding another little person to our established family of three. She has blended into our family perfectly. Nathan is so in love with her and she with him. When she wakes up, she looks for him and even gives him a little smile. And when he wakes up, the first thing he does is give her kisses. We are all so in love. Happy one month birthday, Little Emma!



Friday, November 28, 2008

Things I am Thankful For

Yesterday, as I sat in a bedroom in Garett's parents' lakehouse nursing Emma, I began to think just how lucky I am. Sometimes it is easy to forget when I am having a rough day or am down about something. But, I truly believe that I am one of the luckiest people around.

I am thankful for my two beautiful, healthy children. They truly are my little miracles. As I held Emma's little hand, I realized just how blessed I am to have her big brown eyes gaze up at me. As Nathan beamed about his first fish that he caught, I couldn't help but tear up a bit about my life. I love it and I love my babies. There are so many people out there who are desperately want children and cannot have them, and here I am with two. There are so many people out there who had to spend Thanksgiving in the hospital, watching over their sick baby, and here I am with two healthy ones. There are so many people out there who are having to pray for the safety of their children over in Iraq, and here I am holding my two little ones. I truly am blessed.

I am thankful for my wonderful husband. We have our moments where we want to strangle each other--had a few over the holidays--but I love him deeply. He truly is my soulmate and my best friend. I probably don't tell him how much I appreciate him as much as I should, but I hope that he knows it. I hope that he knows just how much I love him and just how thankful I am that he is in my life. I truly am blessed.

I am thankful for my parents, my sister and brother. I wish that we lived closer and I could see them more often. I wish I could have seen them yesterday for Thanksgiving. I wish that we didn't have to move even further away. But, despite all the things I wish for, I could not wish for a better family. I love them and am very thankful for all the support and love they have ever given me. I truly am blessed.

I am thankful for the roof over my head and financial peace. There was a song that used to play often. I think it was called "Don't Laugh at Me." The part that has always stuck in my head is the part about the homeless man asking for money on the side of the street. It turns out that he wasn't just a druggie begging for money, but he was a man whose wife and baby died and he lost it. So, everytime I see a homeless person, I never assume the worst about them. I always try to think of what put them in that situation. My point is, I am thankful that I am not in that situation. I am thankful that I have a great roof over my head, food for my family, and am able to pay our bills and still buy my kids toys. I am thankful that I am able to stay home and be with my kids. I truly am blessed.

I am thankful for my friends. It seems like some friends come and go as you travel through the different stages of life. Even friends that you thought were going to be lifelong friends, sometimes turn out not to be. I do have regrets about drifting aways from some of my friends, but things are what they are. I have made some great friends since having Nathan-friends that I have a lot in common with, friends I can lean on and that can lean on me, lifelong friends. I truly am blessed.

I am thankful for my health. On the way to Garett's parents' house yesterday, I was telling Garett about someone that I know who was going to the Ritz for Thanksgiving dinner. I made Garett promise that if I ever die, he would always have a homecooked Thanksgiving meal for our kids on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. I always make him promise to do things if I die. Hopefully, that will not happen anytime soon. Hopefully, I will live to watch all of my kids walk down the aisle and have kids of their own. Hopefully, Garett and I will grow very old together. So far, so good. I truly am blessed.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008

My little non sleeper

Okay, so I might have jinxed myself by saying that I had a sleeper earlier. She is NOT a sleeper. In fact, she just went down for the first time today about an hour ago--at about 2:45! She is fine as long as she is sleeping in my arms, but the minute I lay her down, those little eyes pop right open and she begins to cry again. Oh well. I love holding her, so its not that bad!

She is a great little nurser, too. I am so happy that htings are going smoothly in that department. I think that I have really lucked out since it was so easy with Nathan, too. The hardest part is that she just wants to nurse all the time, which makes going out a little more difficult. My friend, Lisa, came over this weekend with her newborn and almost 3 year old and she had the coolest nursing cover. So, I ordered one of those last night. Hopefully that will get Nathan, Emma and me out of the house a bit more often.

Two of our friends and their kids came over yesterday, which was SO nice. We have been cooped up in the house the past few weeks, trying to adjust to life with two kids. So, it was great having visitors! I am really going to miss everyone here when we do move--if we ever sell our house. That is a whole other blog post. Grrr.

Just a couple of pictures to share of my two favorite kiddos in the whole world!


Sunday, November 23, 2008

Look Who Made Santa's List!

http://family.go.com/santas-list/video/8170-txamu01/
Thursday, November 13, 2008

Busy Day!

Ems had her 2 week appointment today and she did great. She didn't cry until they did the little heel prick, after which she whailed. Poor thing. Good news is that she gained her birth weight back and then some. She is now 8 pounds 1 ounce, putting her in the 50th percentile for weight--numbers we never heard with Nathan! I knewshe had gained weight since nursing is ging so well.
We also had visitors over, Meredith and Baby Elizabeth. N LOVED showing Emma off and I loved having some adult company!

And just to prove that E doesn't sleep all the time...

N loves his babby Emma. I am so proud of how he has taken on the role of big brother!

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Just a picture!


Saturday, November 8, 2008

My little sleeper

Emma is a sleeper--that is, only if she is in my arms or next to me. The minute I put her down, her little eyes pop right open and she begins that sweet little cry. I really do love her cry. It is so soft and gentle, just like her.
Garett took Nathan to the zoo today for some daddy time. I miss spending time with Nathan. I miss the many cuddles he used to give me. I miss the snuggles. I still get some, but not as many. We are still both trying to adjutst. He loves his baby Emma, but yesterday he woke up and told me in a very quiet voice that he wanted baby Emma back in my belly. That broke my heart.
Sunday, November 2, 2008

Emma Grace is here!

I don't have much time to do a long post, but little Emma Grace was born on October 29th at 8:51 in the morning. She weighed 7 pounds 12 ounces and was 19 and 3/4 inches long. She has a head full of dark hair and I think she is going to have brown eyes.

Everything went so fast that morning! They started the Pitocin around 7 and I was only 3 cm dilated. Before we knew it, I was telling Garett that I needed to push. He went out and told the nurse that and she came in to check me. I was 10 and the doctor wasn't even there. I had to hold her in and ignore the urge to push until she came. A few pushes later and she was born. She didn't cry, instead just looked around at her new little world. It was so amazing! Oh, and thankfully the epidural worked this time! What a difference!

Here are a few pictures that I have taken of Emma over the past few days. Garett, Nathan and I couldn't be more in love with our newest addition!

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Maternity Pictures

Garett took a few pictures for me tonight. These will probably be my last belly pictures before Emma makes her arrival!

Ignore the stretch marks. That's what happens when you have two kids!


Friday, October 24, 2008

Pumpkin Patch with our playgroup

What a beautiful and wonderful morning! We couldn't have asked for a better day to visit the local pumpkin patch. nathan had a blast with his friends and I had a great time with mine! Here are a few pictures that I have gone through. I'll be adding more as I have time!


They had so much there for the kids to do--a corn seed center that Nathan had a blast with, a pumpkin you could color with chalk, a pumpkin that you could hammer "nails" into, coloring centers. N should take a long nap today!
Thursday, October 23, 2008

Pumpkin

I love Fall, all things Fall. I always have. But, this Fall I cannot get enough of pumpkin. I love the smell of pumpkin, I love the look of pumpkin, and I love the taste of pumpkin. Basically, I crave pumpkin.

So far I have made pumpkin muffins (and I think I may have just eaten 95% of them by myself--yikes) and pumpkin pie. I had a special little helper with the pumpkin pie this year and I have to say he did a great job! The proof of that is the empty pie plate sitting in my sink after just a couple of days. Garett doesn't like pumpkin pie, so again, that left me to eat most of it by myself.



More pumpkin pictures to come later! We are meeting our playgroup at the pumpkin patch tomorrow and then I think that G and I are taking Nathan there again on Saturday to get the family pumpkin.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Induction Set!

I had my 38 week appointment today and am dilated 2 cm. Dr. Browning says that is enough to set up an induction for next week. I really wanted this baby to come naturally, but with Garett working almost two hours away, there was no other choice. So, little Emma Grace will enter this world next Wednesday, the 29th! I am super excited to meet my precious baby girl and hold her, but also a little sad to put a time stamp on Nathan and my alone time together. I am giving him a sibling, though, someone who will be a friend his entire life.

A friend forwarded me this story the other day and I have to admit to crying while I read it. I think it sums things up pretty well.

I walk along holding your 2-year-old hand, basking in the glow Of our magical relationship. Suddenly I feel a kick from within, as if to remind me that our time alone is limited. And I wonder: How could I ever love another child as I love you? Then she is born, and I watch you. I watch the pain you feel at having to share me as you've never shared me before. I hear you telling me in your own way, "Please love only me." And I hear myself telling you in mine, "I can't," Knowing in fact, that I never can again. You cry. I cry with you. I almost see our new baby as an intruder on the precious relationship we once shared. A relationship we can never quite have again. But then, barely noticing, I find myself attached to that new being, and feeling almost guilty. I'm afraid to let you see me enjoying her -- as though I am betraying you. But then I notice your resentment change, first to curiosity, then to protectiveness, finally to genuine affection. More days pass, and we are setting into a new routine. The memory of days with just the two of us is fading fast. But something else is replacing those wonderful times we shared, just us two. There are new times -- only now, we are three. I watch the look between you grow, the way you look at each other, touch each other. I watch how she adores you -- as I have for so long. I see how excited you are by each of her new accomplishments. And I begin to realize that I haven't taken something from you, I've given something to you. I notice that I am no longer afraid to share my love openly with both of you. I find that my love for each of you is as different as you are, but equally strong. And my question is finally answered, to my amazement. Yes, I can love another child as much as I love you -- only differently. And although I realize that you may have to share my time, I now know you'll never share my love. There's enough of that for both of you -- you each have your own supply. I love you -- both. And I thank you both for blessing my life.

Author Unknown
Saturday, October 18, 2008

What a beautiful day!

It stayed in the 70's today so it actually felt like Fall for once! Garett and I decided to take advantage of the beautiful weather and took Nathan to the park. We usually stay there for about 30-45 minutes, but today we stayed for close to two hours! Needless to say, Mommy and Nathan took a 2 hour nap when we got home!


It is so much fun to see Garett and Nathan interact together. We don't get to see G too much lately because he is working almost two hours away and commuting everyday. I love watching them play. Daddy played football with N today and taught him how to swing in the big boy swing. N was VERY proud of himself!




We had a great Saturday. I dread the start of another week when Daddy has to go back to work. I know Nathan does, too.
Friday, October 17, 2008

Drumroll please...

Our little girl is no longer called Baby Girl Willig. We have decided on a name!

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Hulk Smash!

The Hulk is N's hands down favorite super hero right now. He loves to "Hulk smash" everything and show everyone his Hulk muscles. So, it was a no brainer on what he would be for Halloween. We showed him a bunch of costumes on magazines, online, and in the stores, but nothing would do. He wanted to be the Hulk.

After long searches, I discovered that for some reason they don't make the Hulk costume in his size. They make it smaller and bigger, but not in 2T or 3T. So, I made my very first Halloween costume! I still need to find him some green shoes, but I proudly present my little Hulk!
And my two Hulks...

Nathan's Hair

I cried yesterday and it was NOT due to pregnancy hormones. It was due to a woman who apparently did not speak English very well.

Garett was off yesterday, so we drove all the way to The Woodlands Mall because they have this really cute children's salon there. I had taken N there once before and they did a beautiful job with his hair--trimmed it, but kept his little curls. So, we get there and are assigned a different lady. I told her that I wanted a little boy cut, BUT that I did not want to get rid of his curls.

My baby doesn't have anymore curls. I had to tell her twice that she could not use the clippers on him! HELLLLOOOOO! I said I wanted to KEEP the curls. So, yes, I cried right there in the salon.

It isn't that his hair looks bad, but I loved those curls. Okay, tearing up again. Here are some shots of his new do.



In other news, I had my doctor's appointment today and it was pretty uneventful. We did talk about an induction, but that won't be until I am 39 weeks--so two more weeks. I know I have
said this a million times, but man this pregnancy has flown by! I think we have everything ready except for a name! We need a name!!!!
Sunday, October 5, 2008

My growing belly

I will officially be 36 weeks tomorrow and I have only taken two sets of belly shots! I should be shot! I took them every week when I was pregnant with Nathan/ So, I thought I would have Garett do a whole little photoshoot of my 36 week belly. Unfortulately, we ran out of light, so that will have to wait until next weekend. Here are some snapshots that we took tonight.



We went shopping for baby things yesterday and I wanted to leave the store crying. N's infant carseat was ruined during the hurricane because it was in G's car. So, we were supposed to find a new carseat for baby Ella/Emma. I could not find a single one that I liked. All the prints are so ugly for girls! They are bright and big and just not my style at all. I know in the grand scheme of things it shouldn't be a big deal, but to a pregnant woman who wants everything perfect it was the end of the world. I am looking forward to having my hormones back under control!


And I have to just throw this picture in there. His blue eyes are to die for!



Thursday, October 2, 2008

Oyster Creek Park

We met up with an old highschool friend, Lisa, yesterday at a park near her house. She just had a baby about two weeks ago, so we saw her for the first time--so tiny! You forget just how small they are after carting around a two year old! It made me very nervous to have a tiny one again!

I am now 35 and a half weeks pregnant. I CANNOT believe how fast this pregnancy has gone! I have so much to do before she comes--like picking out a name!
Sunday, September 21, 2008

We're okay!

I just wanted to let everyone know that we are okay! Our garage and Garett's car, on the otherhand, are not--but more about that later.

Our power finally came back on Friday night (after a full week) and I can actually say that it made me tear up. Being 8 months pregnant and having no power is absolutly miserable. Nathan did okay with the whole ordeal because we spend A LOT of time outside--taking walks, painting, playing with the neighbor kids, etc. He actually had a blast.

Anyway, as I said earlier, G's car and our garage didn't fare so well. About 4 in the morning on Saturday during IKE, I heard this loud crash. I thought for sure that a tree fell on our house. In the morning, we could finally see that thankfully that didn't happen. But, our big 100 year old oak tree in the back fell right on the garage and G's car that was in front of the garage. It took out our gumball tree with it. G's car is pretty much totalled and the garage has seen better days. We had some tree people come out this last Friday and rescue my car (which was in the garage) and take the tree off of everything. You should see the pile of debris in our front yard.

I will post pictures later once I get them downloaded. For now, though, I just wanted to let everyone know that we are all safe.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008

More from San Antonio

Nathan's cool ride that mommy wished she could fit into, but as N reminded me many times, "Mommy too big."I think one of N's favorite things that he remembers from the trip was feeding the flamingos (the "meeengos"). We fed the dolphins at Sea World, too, so that's what we figured he would remember. Everytime we mention feeding the dolphins, he says meeeengos. So, up until yesterday we thought he was saying "minnows" because we fed the dolphins little fish. Nope, I figured it out yesterday--meeengos.




My favorite part of the Sea World day was feeding the dolphins. It was so neat because they come right up to you with their mouths wide open. We had like three waiting for us to feed them. It was pretty cool!

N's second cool ride of the day. He spent a lot of time up on daddy's shoulders. Again, mommy wishes she could have had a ride like that, but I probably would have broken G's back. By the end of the day, we were all so tired.


I also realized that I say, "Careful baby," a lot. And when I mean a lot, I mean a lot. It's funny what kids point out to you. The whole trip, N was saying, "Careful baby" to Garett. In the picture above, G was walking close to the curb, so N was saying, "Careful baby, big step." Earlier in the day he told Garett, "Careful Daddy," while he was driving on the freeway--and with good reason! Then on Sunday, he said, "Careful Daddy, water," because G had him on his shoulders again and they were walking next to the River Walk. It was so cute and funny!
Monday, September 8, 2008

We're back!

We had a blast in San Antonio! First off, G deserves a pat on the back for the hotel he chose. We stayed at Hotel Contessa and it was beautiful! We had a room that overlooked the River Walk and there was a wedding that went on each night.

When we left Friday afternoon, N was super excited! I had been talking about our vacation all week and he really couldn't wait to go. Here is a picture of him on the way there. I am so proud of my little man for being such a great traveller. I don't think he cried the whole car trip!

We arrived in San Antonio around 7:30 and immediatly hit the River Walk. I have to admit I was a little scared of N falling in. He wanted to get close to the ducks in the water and did not want to hold our hands. But,we eventually made it to Casa Rio and had a great time eating there. N especially liked dipping his taquitos in the green dip (guacamole), the white dip (sour cream) and the yellow dip (Queso). Needless to say, our meal was probably over an hour long with all that dipping!

That next morning, we left to go to Sea World! I have to admit, being 32 weeks pregnant and thinking about walking the entire day scared me, but I think I did pretty good. First,we went and saw an acrobat show with the dolphins and whales. N loved it and kept wanting the dolphins to come back out.

N had Dippin' Dots for the first time and seemed to really love them. Those are some neat little things!
I will have to post more tomorrow! Naptime is coming to an end!

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Sarah
I am a mommy to three wonderful kids and a wife to one great husband. I love to find new, fun things to keep my kiddos entertained--especially now that I have three of them!
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