Happy 5 months Mary Clare!

These were probably taken almost a month ago. They are the most recent pictures I have that are actually downloaded on my computer. Needless to say that her first feeding didn't go so well. Now she loves it.!We starts veggies about a week and a half ago and by then end of the month we'll add some fruits. Bon Appetit!

Dancing Queen

I haven't been able to sleep much lately. It's all stress related. MY job situation (Offered a job - accepted - talked to boss - declined new job), Mary Clare's appointment, youngest brother moving to Georgia for a girl (not the one Russia recently invaded - Jimmy Carter's Georgia), and not to mention the business at work. But because of my lack of sleep, you would think that I would be able to go to bed since Mary Clare's appt is over right? NO. SO I am going to share a little funny story and hopefully by the end I shall be ready for slumber.

It was the Sunday night before last, and Kate was on her chair playing with her stickers on the counter and I was cleaning up after dinner. I had made a quick spaghetti dinner because
1 - I didn't want to cook because I was tired and 2 - it was a Micheal Phelps night and I couldn't miss it! So, I took off Kate's shirt before she ate in fear of her staining it. She was still topless playing with her stickers and calls out, "Mommy! Look at me!" Now usually when Kate plays with her Princess stickers, she covers her arms, legs, and face with them. Then I, in turn, tell her that "She's my little princess Kate!!!" and run over and give her a bunch of huggies and kissies. Didn't happen this way this time. I turned around and had to pick up my jaw off the floor because Kate had two star stickers on her chest - one on each nipple! And they were pink! And then she topped it off by saying - "I've got stars on my nipples!" and starts doing her "Shake your bootie" dance. What?!?!?! What two year old tells her mommy she has stars on her nipples and then starts dancing?!?! I'm thinking - Oh my! She is two! She put pasties on her nipples! Is she destined to be a pole dancer?
Just thought I would share a story of a horrified mother and an innocent, fun-loving two year old.
Lord, please guide her to a horizontal wooden ballet bar instead of a vertical metal pole. In your name I pray. Amen.

Time is flying by me again!

I can not believe it! (Little Einsteins anyone?)

It has been a month since my last post! Whew! We have had yet another busy month and September is literally right around the corner. Autumn is my favorite time of year - the fall colors, the fall clothes, Friday night lights, tailgating at Aggie games in College Station on Saturdays (when I can get down there - Tim has been going solo here these past couple of years), the leaves on the ground, pumpkins, cornucopia's, and so on. Before you know it we are celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. So, as I am doing my best to keep up with my family and activities here, I will try to keep up on our blog.

We just got back from sweet little Mary Clare's appointment with Dr. Honeycutt at Cook's Children Hospital today. He said he think she is going to be fine, but he just wants to monitor her just to make sure. Her MRI in July showed some abnormalities, and he is a little worried about that. So we are just going to watch and pray that everything is going to be ok before we jump into anything. We go back for a follow up late October.

Mary Clare is growing so fast! She is 5 months today! They weighted her today at the hospital and she weighs over 20 pounds. My little butterball brings me so much joy! I actually just spoke to Torin Halsey tonight about having Mary CLare's five month portraits taken. www.photosbytorin.com
I got a really good deal with him at Christmas Magic Auction last year, and saved it for Mary Clare! I talked to another photographer/mommy friend of mine who did Kate's 1 year and our family photos in 2006 and she is going to be on board to do our family pictures again this year.


Our little cherub Kate starts 3's Pre-K at School for Little People on Wednesday, September 3. She should be starting the two's, but we talked with the director and she moved her up. We'll keep her their next year as well and then move her to a different Pre-K program for her final year in Pre-K since she will be too young to start kindergarten. She is ready though! Her hair is cut, she has her lunch box and back pack, we have the outfit (I think!) and all we have left to get is the shoes. I'll post pictures soon!

Ok so I am rambling now. Good night!

Everyone Loves a Blue Eyed Girl!

Look at my little beauty Mary Clare. She is now four months old. I can not believe how fast the time has gone. She brings me so much joy, and I am so blessed to have two precious daughters. Mary Clare is completely different that Kate was as a baby. Kate didn't weigh 15 pounds until she was 6 months, and she weighed 11 lbs 7 oz when she was born. Mary Clare weighed 11 even at birth and when we weighed her at 3 1/2 months she weighed 17 1/2 pounds! She is definitely on track to doubling her birth weight! She is so easy going, hardly ever fusses, gives me the cutest gummy smiles all the time and I thank God for her daily. We had a little scare with her while I was pregnant because her left ventricle in her brain was slightly enlarged. Her head is still growing faster than it should be now so we had to take her in for a MRI almost two weeks ago. Seems as though the problem with the ventricle is still there, although it is not causing any major problems yet. Does that make sense? Actually, the radiologist told her pediatrician that both ventricles in her brain were enlarged now. We are going to Fort Worth in September to see a Pediatric Neurologist. Pray that he tells us that she just has a big noggin and doesn't need surgery!

TWO NEW BIG SISTERS!

No No No! Not Kate and Mary Clare (as of yet)! My nieces Caroline and Georgia are going to be BIG SISTERS! Check out the surprise I got at Mary Clare's baptism reception. I kind of had a hunch that something was up, and I was relieved to find out that I was right! Congratulations Carlye & Marc and Amanda& John! I can't wait to meet my new nieces &/or nephews! Love you!

Check out this Cake!

This is the cake I ordered from the Market Street bakery the day BEFORE Mary Clare's baptism. Special thanks to Stephanie Mitchell who helped me. I said I wanted a cross on the cake with some flowers and this is what she did. Just beautiful!!!! Thanks Stephanie!

Long time, No Post

Well, I can not believe that it has almost been a month since my last post. Partly because our DSL messed up when we were at the lake for July 4th and because our life has been such a whirlwind for the past month that I don't know where to begin! Looks like I left off with swimming lessons. Hmm...We went to the condo for the 4th of July and had a great time. None of us (the girls or their parents) made it to watch the fireworks. We were all too pooped!

The week following we were getting prepared for our family and friends coming in town for Mary Clare's baptism. We were completely shocked (and still are) about the loss of one of Tim's friends Chris Brumley. Tim has know Chris since high school and is actually best friends with Chris' brother Nathan. Chris was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident just an hour and a half away from Wichita Falls. He leaves behind his wife and 2 1/2 month old son. I think why it has affected me so much is that it brought back all of the memories and anguish I had when my dad suddenly died in March 2007. What got me the most though is that he is leaving behind his newborn son. His two month old son that he was crazy about. I can't imagine Tim not being in Kate or Mary Clare's life. Just the thought of something happening to him and him not being here makes me ill. I know that God has His Master Plan set for us all the day we are born, and we must stay strong in our faith and know that He is in complete control. My faith is the only thing that has not let me down, even though I catch myself wondering why sometimes. Please pray for Chris' wife Jennifer and his son Chase. Please pray for acceptance of God's will and strength of her faith during this difficult time.

http://www.owensandbrumley.com/obituary.php?id=484&cp=8#condl

After we left his funeral that Saturday morning, we had to get ready for Mary Clare's baptism. We were so overwhelmed by the love and support we received from our family. I don't think the dinner after the Mass would have been successful if it wasn't for my two favorite sisters (in-laws) Carlye and Amanda. Thanks ladies! The picture below is our family with Mary Clare's Godparents Theresa and Chuck Berend from Fort Worth, Texas. We are really blessed to have them in our lives.



After the baptism we prepared for our 2,800 mile vacation. We drove to Omaha, Nebraska, then to Chicago and Lisle, Illinois, over to South Bend, Indiana, to Effingham, and stopped off in Fort Smith, Arkansas before our return home. We are resting up this week in preparation of our busy month in August! Vacation pictures and more pictures of the girls soon!