We're back!!

I feel like I've been away forever!  I always say I'm going to make more time for blogging, but it never seems to happen.

May is an extremely busy, and fun!, month for us.  First we celebrate Mother's Day, then my birthday, and then our anniversary.  Not to mention all of the birthdays in our family (my sister, gram, and our nephew, plus a couple of my cousins!).  May is like one long celebration, and I love it.

In exactly 2 months from today, my baby girl will be 3.  It's hard to believe!!  She is the most brilliant little girl I've ever known, and beautiful and so funny at the same time.  She's so loving and will make a wonderful big sister this year.  I've started thinking more about schooling for her when she's big enough for kindergarten (as long as we stay where we're living now, she'll stay in her current daycare for preschool).  Her pediatrician has already told us we will either need to find a full-time gifted program or a good Montessori school - so now it's time to start putting thought into that, for sure.  She counts to 30, knows many songs, the days of the week, the months of the year, recognizes most of her letters, and is trying to learn to write them!  Plus so much more. 

I've heard many stories from her teachers that she gets frustrated when another child is trying to do the puzzles and having trouble - she goes over, takes the pieces away, and does it for them.  She is also the first to identify anything her teachers ask the class to identify.  But, she is still a normal 2-year-old that loves to run, climb, jump, dance - she has real issues with sitting still sometimes!!

We are planning her birthday party at a local water playground - either Ariel or Dora themed, Brooke can't seem to make up her mind!!  I'm wondering what I'm doing having an outdoor party late in July when I'll be so late in my pregnancy, but it will be so worth it to see Brooke having fun with her friends.

We are expecting our second Princess, Paige Nicole, on August 27th!  That's the date of my scheduled C-section and we are all thrilled!  Brooke loves shopping for "baby sister."  She is a great helper in preparing for the baby. This pregnancy has been rough on me and as much as I am looking forward to the pregnancy ending and meeting Paige, I hope she stays put until Aug. 27 since we have plans with family to be here.

MIA Blogger

I can't believe it's been almost a month since I blogged!  I keep telling myself I'll get better at it, and I never do.

Everyone knows the news by now - we're expecting baby #2!  I'm due September 2, 2012, but will have a repeat C-section at least a week early.  We are thrilled, and Brooke is so excited to be a big sister!! 

In the past month, we've had lots of fun!  My sister visited earlier in the month, and then one of my best friends (and sorority sister and Brooke's godmother!) visited at the end of February.  We had a blast with both of them, and we took both of them to Lion Country Safari, which was so much fun!!

My cousin's little girl Addison is having more symptoms with her DIPG (brain tumor) which she was diagnosed with almost a year ago.  Please keep her in your prayers/thoughts.

A whole year.....

It's hard for me to believe that a whole year has passed since I did a series of posts dedicated to CHD awareness week.

This year, I haven't had much time or energy to put into doing a series of posts.  But, I do want to point out that the need for CHD awareness continues, and there are many advances being made. 

Check out:

http://jacobsspecialheart.blogspot.com/ for the stories of some of these amazing kids.

http://alyjeansspecialheart.com/ for some facts about CHD and some amazing advancements that have been made (including in utero intervention to lower the number of babies born with HLHS! Amazing!!)

Also, from last year, you may remember me talking about bills and legislation requiring that all newborns receive pulse ox screening before being discharged from the hospital.  This site http://www.cchdscreeningmap.com/ will tell you the status of your state.  I'm proud to say Florida has passed its bill, which will go into effect on 10/1/12 (not soon enough in my opinion).


Finally, I want to introduce you to a family whose blog I just stumbled upon today.  Their baby is due next month with HRHS (where the right side of the heart is underdeveloped).  I know they would appreciate all the prayers/positive thoughts they can get being sent their way - please think of them.  http://hlhsfamily.blogspot.com/

2012

Happy New Year!!!

We had a nice, low-key new year.  We went to dinner at BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse (so yummy), went to a local carnival, had wings at a local pub, and finally rung in 2012 from our couch while Brooke slept in her room.  It was a beautiful day with my little family, just the way it should be.

I just know 2012 is going to be an amazing year for us and bring many changes (for the better, of course).  I wish the same for you!!

Great Christmas!

I hope everyone had as great of a Christmas as we did!!  Our whole family was totally spoiled!!

Brooke woke up at 7:30 (her normal time), and I managed to keep her in my bedroom for about an hour since we were waiting for Daddy to get home from work.  Finally, she was too antsy and we came out to the living room - and she couldn't believe her eyes!!  She had a HUGE stack of presents from Santa, not to mention Grandma and Pappy, Aunt Kelly, Uncle Kevin & family, Aunt Heather & family, Nana, Jacqui, and Becky....

She got so many great things.  Of course, her favorites are her big kitchen and Ariel doll from Santa, but she also got play-doh, some board games, clothes, Tag Jr. reading system, etc., etc.

Jim totally spoiled me this year, too.  I got a bracelet and earrings, new dishes I had been eyeing up, a great picture frame, a Kindle Fire, a meat grinder attachment for my Kitchen Aid, and lots more!!  I had gotten him a GPS system, replaced his lost wedding band, and got him a Raiders watch.

It took Brooke four - yes, 4!!!! - hours to finally get everything open.  We spent the rest of the day playing and enjoying a delicious dinner.

I'm still homesick, but there is absolutely nothing better at Christmas than seeing the pure happiness and belief that eminates from Brooke.  I am so happy to make the holidays magical for her.

Now, I need to focus on getting everything cleaned up this week (haha!) and figuring out what we will do on New Year's Eve.  Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas Eve!

Has it really been two months since I've blogged??  I don't know how time flies so fast - this is something I definitely need to keep up on, though, because it is the only written journal of our family for Brooke to see when she's older - to me, pictures capture the memories, but she won't have the memories without these stories.

What have we been up to?  Thanksgiving, of course.  Decorating for Christmas.  Norton family trip to Disney (Brooke asks daily if today's the day we're going back).

But all of that pales in comparison to tonight and tomorrow - Christmas.  My favorite days of the year.

Right now, as we speak, Brooke is asleep in her bed.  We've sprinkled the Reindeer food, left out milk and cookies, and hung Santa's Magic Key on our door.  Santa will be here really soon, cause Mama's tired.

I'm homesick.  I miss my family, my friends.  I can't wait to be living up north where we might be able to make it home for the holiday.

But still, I'm happy, and my heart is full.  Brooke and I read the story of Christmas every day for the past couple of weeks.  Her version? "We celebrate Christmas because Jesus' birthday. Angels told Mary baby named Jesus. Joseph walked. Angels told him baby born. Follow Star. Give gifts cause they loved him. Give presents to show our love. Say, Happy Birthday Baby Jesus!"  Cue heart swelling with pride and tears gathering in my eyes.

Merry Christmas, everybody!!

Halloween fun!

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays.  I love costumes, parades, trick or treating - all of it!  It's even more fun now, with a child to dress up.

Last night was Harvest Night at Brooke's daycare.  The theme was "Once Upon a Harvest," and each classroom was decorated based on a book.  Brooke's classroom was Chicka Chicka, Boom Boom - one was Clifford, one was the Grinch (yay!), 5 Little Monkeys, etc., etc.  Brooke had a blast going from classroom to classroom giving hugs, getting candy, and playing games with her little friends - and we had a great time swinging and playing on the playground.

I'm sure everyone's seen this on Facebook already but, without further ado, may I present to you.....BIG BIRD!!!

Today, we went trick-or-treating at the local mall, and Brooke got more candy!!  She loves Halloween too, and she keeps asking to put her costume on.  I love my girl!