MIRACLE on Veronica Dr.

Well if there was a question in any your minds let me assure you that there is most definately a God!!! After 11 months, 3 weeks, and 3 days Claire went down for the night without me feeding her. Allan was actually able to put her down without too much horrendous crying. Thank you Jesus!!!! I was trying out our typical routine of feeding, rocking, pacing, bouncing, laying her down, picking her up, praying, and pleading with her to sleep when I finally called Allan up to her room and asked her to take a turn with her for a little bit (usually when he "takes a turn with her" it lasts for about ten minutes and then both Allan and Claire are beside themselves and I can't handle the crying anymore) tonight Claire did scream for about five minutes and then I heard her begin to calm down and then within a few more minutes there was silence. I am beside myself with joy that I kind of got my first night off in almost a year. Who knows maybe tomorrow I will let Allan start from the beginning and see what happens?!?!?! Maybe we have entered a new era, I will let you know.

***This picture isn't all that recent, but I don't have too many of her sleeping, she isn't the biggest fan of rest. There is too much to see and do in this world of hers =)

Playgroup and Moving

Playgroup is a highlight for Claire and me. It has been a while since we all got together, so today I decided that I would host the girls, and Noah. Everyone played at the house for a bit, then we headed to the pool. The kids were so cute splashing around in the water together. Unfortunately this is one of the last times that Amy and Noah will join us because they are moving to Waco. We have only been meeting since January and this is the second departure from the group. I guess that is just life now. It seems like our generation can't just stay put for too long, we are always looking for the next best thing. I mean just since Allan and I have been married we have lived in three towns (four homes)...luckily we are in a place that we will stick with for quite some time now. Anway, back to playgroup. I am so thankful that Sarah initiated our little get togethers. We all seem to gel with each other so well. It probably helps that we are all pretty much in the exact same place in life- young marrieds with first children all around the same age. When we first started meeting it was absolutely for the moms because our babies all just laid around, I think that Caroline was the only one crawling. Now the three "older" girls, Caroline, Lily, and Claire are running around and taking notice of each other. It is so much fun to have friends for our little ones to begin growing up with. I truly hope that these are connections we will stick with for a very long time. I know that I need the adult interaction and it is good for Claire to have kiddos her size to hang out with as well.

Clean House

What a treat...after being a little frustrated that I was not going to be able to get my house to its cleanest potential for this weekend without help with Claire, my whirlwind of a daughter Allan gave me the go ahead to hire someone to come clean. Two ladies showed up at my door today from Molly Maid and I was more than impressed with the outcome. They cleaned for almost five hours. My house literally smells different it is so clean. Now the trick will be keeping it this clean for the next few days...at least until my inlaws arrive. What is it about wanting to impress the in laws anyway? I know that it is stupid, but there is always a little stress when they are coming to stay to prove to them that I am good enough for their son. All that really matters is that Allan thinks I am good enough for him and he does so YIPEEEEE!!! One day I think that I will surely grow out of the need to impress. Anyway that was a random tangent...I am thankful that my hubby gave me a super clean house and that is all I really wanted to say.

Friends

Yesterday we spent a little of our day with some friends of ours, Sarah and Karl. They are actually the couple that introduced Allan and I. We have since had our little girls Caroline and Claire who were born just a few months a part and we only live about 45 minutes apart. Every time we are together I think, why don't we spend more time with them. Sarah is probably my best friend outside of my family. Although we don't see each other as often as I would like and we don't talk that often either there is a bond that doesn't seem to break between us. When we are together it seems like no time has passed and we are ablt to pick up where we left off. I love that I have a friend like that! Thank you Sarah for being that person for me.

Neighborhood Watch

I am excited about our neighborhood. I think that by the grace of God I am coming out of my shell and figuring out how to be a little more social without the leading (or should I say pulling) of my husband. I was so proud of me yesterday, I spent a little time chatting at a neighbors house, made dinner for a neighbor that just had a baby, and finished the day off hanging out in another neighbors yard while our kids played. There is a buzz on the street that we want to have a block party so we can all get to know each other even better. I am also thinking that I will open our home up on Claire's actual birthday for cake and ice cream. I think that I am just realizing that there is a reason Allan and I found a home on Veronica Dr. in Flower Mound. We are pretty much the only Christians on the block. We are surrounded by mormons, hindus, and a few families that just seem to be searching. I really hope that we are able to come out of our comfort zones and be a good example to those around us. We have no intention of putting on a holier than thou attitude, we want to get into these people's lives and live in community with them. Hopefully they will see that there is something different about who we are. So here is to our neighborhood, I look forward to being a part of it.

Good Morning

Allan leaved for work around 5:30 in the morning every day, I am blessed to have such a hard working husband to take care of me and The Bear. I love the weekend when I actually get to wake up next to my sweet husband, but this morning I was reminded that even if he isn't there physically when I get up on weekday mornings there are little pieces of him everywhere so he never seems far away. I walked into our bathroom this morning and one of my favorite things was left for me, Allan's smell. I LOVE when he shaves in the mornings and then the smell of his aftershave lingers for most of the morning. If I am every feeling a little sad that he is not around all I have to do is walk into the bathroom and breathe him in.

My famous husband

So Allan has been told that he looks like a lot of famous people (Toby McGuire, Joaquin Phoenix, Marshall from Alias), well I have found a new celebrity twin...Anthony Wiggle. Just in case you are not up on your wiggly knowledge he is the Blue Wiggle. What do you think?

Precious Moments

I was just upstairs with my sweet Claire and we were watching her Praise Baby DVD. She isn't one to sit still and cuddle these days, she is usually a woman on a mission. I was laying on the floor and she walked over to me and started holding my hand but kept her eyes fixed on the video. Then she sat down beside me and laid her head down on my hip and kept holding my hand. She sat there for about five minutes and I laid there with tears in my eyes. I am so in love with my daughter! The very few moments that she will just sit still with me are so precious and I look forward to them everyday.

Strawberries and Bruises

We are quickly approaching toddlerhood. In the last two days Claire got her first strawberry on her knee and bump/bruise on her forehead. She is seeming more a like a little girl everyday. I was just sitting here listening to her and her daddy play "chase" in the living room. Allan says "I'm gonna get you" and Claire squeals and runs in the opposite direction. I am so blessed to have a husband that delights in his daughter. I would imagine that after a long day at work it would be so easy for Allan to just come home sit on the couch and veg for a while, but that rarely if ever happens. He is thrilled to see his girls the moment he walks through the door and that makes me so happy. It may get old for you all to hear, but it never gets old to say... I love my little family something fierce and I just might be the luckiest girl in all the world.

Special Trip

Claire and I joined my parents and Sara and Asher on a trip to my granparents house in Howardwick, TX this last weekend. Her great gandparents have not been around her too much so it was so fun to let Claire get to know them a little bit better. We also got to be a part of Asher's first plane flight. It was so cute to see how much he loved the airplane. He would just press his face to the window with his eyes wide with awe. I love that I have a close family! It is so imprtant to spend time together and everyone in my family knows that which is really cool!

OOO-OOO

My baby cracks me up! This is her newest face she makes when she has been hurt (physically or emotionally)...to be clear either when she bumps her head, falls down walking, or we take something away from her, like a screwdriver.

Also last night she wanted nothing to do with a nap so she is learning a few tricks like zurberting me instead of eating and then looking up at me and laughing with every bit of joy she can muster up. I could just eat her up sometimes. Needless to say she didn't fall to sleep until about 10pm.

It is coming

Allan and I just finished putting Claire's first birthday invitations together and I almost cried. It just seems like yesterday that I was going into labor, then all the drama with the birth happened and now almost a year has passed. Where is time going? Where is my tiny squishy baby? It is a weird feeling; I miss Claire's tiny coos and itty babyness, sometimes I forget what that time in my life was even like. I love the place we are now, I wouldn't trade it, but there are times when I wish time would slow down. My baby girl will be one in less than thirty days and that is very bittersweet.