2011

The last day of 2010 started off with a lot of excitement around here.  We woke up to Tornado Sirens. I'm terrified of storms so I woke up the entire family and ran in and grabbed Harper out of her bed and made a bee line for our closet. It was about 6:20. Harper went to bed late and this was probably the one morning she might have slept late but I wasn't taking any chances.  Luckily it blew over quickly but near us a small town was hit and three people were killed.  I hate living in tornado alley. And it's SO WEIRD to have on in December.

Today is the day when everyone is making their resolutions or goals for 2011.  I usually try to make a few - whether I can keep them or not.  But this year I have decided my goal for 2011 is to have no goals.
I've had to be realistic and remember I'm going to be very pregnant or have two small children through this year.  My goal is just to survive and try not to ruin their childhood. ha!
I can't imagine setting weight loss goals or organization goals or even spiritual goals this year.  In fact - my goal is to slow down. I have a feeling Hollis is going to force me to do just that. I want to try to capture every moment with my two girls and just treasure these days because they are so fast. I'm pretty sure this year will be a whirlwind and I won't remember half of what goes on. (Thank goodness for blogging).

I'm very type A and that can be a terrible fault when you are the mother of small children.  I'm sure many of you understand what I'm talking about.  I'm trying to sit back and take deep breaths and understand my house doesn't always have to be clean or look like a magazine cover (not that it does - but part of me always wants it to - I mean what if someone just dropped by.  And let's be honest - I've spent my whole life worrying about my house being clean in case someone just dropped by and so far no one has. ha!) The girls don't always have to have the cutest outfit with matching bows on and I don't always have to be dressed.
I don't have to sign up to serve our church in every need I see in the bulletin - because that is my first tendency.  I don't have to be the first one to answer an email when one of my friends needs a sitter or help. I will try - but I don't have to.  I can let my self off the hook a little because these two little girls right now are my mission field.  Serving them and taking care of their needs IS and should be my main goal this year. And Scott - I'm trying not to forget him in the midst of the crazy life of motherhood.

What are your goals for 2011? Are you like me and just need to focus more on letting go of a lot of stuff and just live in the moment. I know these days to come this year are going to wear me out and I may shed a few tears of exhaustion but I also know they are the BEST DAYS of my life and I'm so blessed and the next thing I know my girls will be getting in cars with their friends and waving bye and I'll have all the time in the world to clean my house and read books and serve on committees.

And probably cry about how much I miss having a toddler and a baby at home. :-)

Happy New Year Friends!!!!!

A menagerie of things..................

 

We are trying to get the nursery set up and Harper's room turned into more of a play room but the first thing that needed to be done was to make more room in our attic so we could move things like a double bed up there.  Scott and his dad have worked all day and most of last night adding wood and flooring to give us more space up there. I'm so thankful for them working so hard! Hopefully once that is done - we can start moving things around and make some progress! It's a big job! 

 I have to share this - Harper is turning two in two weeks (I can hardly believe it) and I decided that I just couldn't pull off a big party at home this year. (or even a little party).  So we are having it a local party place so we can invite lots of kids and it will be fun for them and the best part is I show up with a cake and leave and there is no cleaning or cooking or decorating involved! :-)  (And I think Harper and her friends will have more fun this way anyway).  Her invitations and cake and favor bags are all going to be Mickey Mouse since that is her favorite thing.  I wanted her to have a special birthday outfit (but one she could wear for months to come as well) so I had this made at SheSheMade.Com.  I LOVE how it turned out and with one of her cute peter pan shirts underneath - I think she will look precious! They made Harper's birthday outfit last year for me too!

(OBU friends - I just realized this outfit might be steering her towards being an EEE. ha! I'm going to have to throw in pink and green ASAP! ha!) 

 And they also made some goodies for our little sister! It makes it so much more real and exciting for me when I see Hollis' name on things!!! I can't believe I'm about to have another little girl!


I have been sent several prayer requests lately and I thought I would share a few. I apologize in advance because I'm not always able to share every prayer request I get. I'm hoping you will maybe find at least one in this list to pray for!

Mandy is a NICU nurse in SC and she lost a baby at 20 weeks in March. She became pregnant again with a son but went into labor at 24 weeks and delivered yesterday at 26 weeks. Baby Tyler weighed almost 2 pounds. If you could pray for he and his mother.

3 year old Jacob's parents struggled for years to have him and he is their miracle baby. He had an accident on Christmas eve and is now in the hospital struggling for his life with an extensive brain injury. Please pray for this family. http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jacobhelvey

Shannon is the mom of a two year old little girl and two days ago her husband died of a heart attack. I can't imagine being left alone as a mother of a toddler. Please pray for this family.

Brie is a young mother in TX who was killed in a car wreck this week. She has two girls - 2 and 6 and was 7 months pregnant with a little boy. The word I got was the little boy was in critical condition - I'm not sure how he is . But please pray for this family - especially her husband Eric.

Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas Part Two

If you read my blog at all - you know that my best friend is Laurie.  We have been friends for almost 20 years. We always joke we are "common law sisters" because we lived together for 7 years after college.  I always think of her as the sister God let me choose for myself. :-)  And I consider her girls my nieces. I love them with all my heart and Laurie loves Harper and I know will love Hollis also. In fact - I'm pretty sure Harper loves Laurie more than me. ha!
Five years ago my first little princess niece was born.  I will never forget that night as long as I live.  She was so little and precious and I felt an instant bond with her. I was so thankful to be there that night.  She has always been VERY special to me. She was my little girl before I had any kids and when we were waiting for a baby - I would dream of having a little girl as sweet as Emily.

This was Emily on December 29, 2005

 and here she is today - the sweetest little 5 year old who will go to kindergarten this fall! I just can't believe how quickly time flies! She had a birthday party today with just a few of her little girlfriends so we went over this morning to take her a gift and wish her happy birthday!

 Our sweet girls - best friends!

 This afternoon Scott's parents came to visit so we could do Christmas with them.  Harper is excited to have more grandparents around and we enjoy them being here too!

 We opened gifts tonight.  I told them they should have just given her one gift because once that one is open -she has no interest in opening any more.  It was the same way on Christmas day!

 She did love this little princess tea set and dishes that she can use with her kitchen (that she still doesn't know she is getting!) We are doing major rearranging in the girls' rooms this week and then we can finally put her kitchen together and move it in her room. I can't wait - she will be SO excited!

 Face of WONDER!

 Her grandparents got her the cutest little car.  Can you tell if she liked it or not?

 I'm pretty sure Harper and Hollis will have a lot of fun riding in this little pink mobile!

 It even has Harper's name on  the back! We may have to paint Hollis underneath that in a couple of years!

Yes - my poor baby has a black eye. She got it before Christmas and I'm not even sure how. The poor thing falls down all the time.  Mostly because she CLIMBS all the time. She is so rough and tumble. Thankfully she's pretty tough so tears never last long. 

We have had a great Christmas season. I can hardly believe 2011 will be here in 3 days!

28 weeks

I'm 28 weeks!

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 28 Weeks

Size of baby: Hollis is the size of a melon

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Gained 11 lbs

Maternity Clothes: I wear maternity jeans and pants but everything else is regular.

Gender: It's a girl!!! Hollis Barrett Stamps

Movement: I've been feeling the baby a lot more lately!

Sleep: I'm sleeping pretty good!

What I miss: Nothing really - maybe sleeping on my stomach?

Cravings: Mexican, baked potatos

Symptoms: Mostly tiredness, a few Braxton Hicks

Best Moment this week: Thinking about Christmas next year with Hollis (and Harper!)

Today my friend Amanda had a birthday lunch for me with some of my very best friends! They were so nice and we had a good time! She made chicken spaghetti, salad, garlic bread, YUMMY green beans and my friend Amber made the best dessert!

Some of my favorite friends - Laurie, Amanda, Elizabeth and Amber

SO thankful for these girls!

Amber even put out cute birthday decorations!

We enjoyed eating and talking while our kids ate and then played in the play room! I'm lucky to have these friends and Harper is lucky to have their kids as friends.

I have to be honest - I've had a rough day - my hormones are all out of whack. I don't remember being so moody with Harper but I have been a mess today. I've been so short with Scott and cried a bunch. Besides my birthday lunch - it's just been a tough day. I'm hoping I get straightened out soon - but probably not as much as Scott is hoping it. ha!

Christmas 2010

We spent Christmas with my family and have had a wonderful time.  Harper has had the time of her life. We are afraid she is going to be SO upset to be away from her grandparents. She is OBSESSED with her Papa. She just follows him around and adores him.  She has been SO wound up and has loved having an audience to entertain.

We waited and did Santa Claus and presents around 11 since Harper didn't know this year that Santa comes overnight and we wanted my aunt and uncle to be there.  I took her out into the garage while they set up her Santa stuff and then I brought her in.

She was so excited she didn't know what to do.  My parents got her a little table and chairs that match the kitchen we got her.  I think this is going to be one of her favorite things.  We are going to be rearranging her room and Hollis' rooms later this week and we will set her kitchen up then so I can't wait to see how much she loves it.  We got her some food and pots and pans and she LOVED them! She LOVES Mickey mouse and my parents got her some big stuffed Mickey dolls and some other little things to go with them. She has carried them around a ton.

It was SO fun having a kid this year at Christmas and just to watch her excitement. We let her do all her gifts and we took a ton of pics and then we sat down and did the adult gifts while she played with hers. We drew names this year so it was nice to just have a simple Christmas!

It was hard to get Harper to open any presents because she just wanted to play with the things she had already gotten or seen.

My Aunt Linda got her an Itty Bitty Baby doll and she loves it.  She got so many wonderful toys. She is a very blessed little girl!

My mom had my SIL Carrie, my aunt Linda and I aprons made with our names on them so we had to take a picture.

My brother Chris, My SIL Carrie and their baby Coco.  I've loved getting the chance to just spend time with them.  My mom offered to keep Harper so we could all go to the movies but we have just loved hanging out at home in our pj's at night instead. It's been a nice cozy Christmas of just spending time at home. 

Today after church we took family pictures.  It is always good to go as a family to church and get to hear my dad preach!

Our family of "almost" four!!! We are so blessed! I can't wait until next year and the years after that when we get to spend Christmas with our two girls!

Tonight we are having pizza and having family game night! I'm excited! And then Scott's family will be coming this week to celebrate a second round of Christmas with us.  And then we will have to detox Harper because she will be spoiled rotten from all the attention. ha!

I hope your Christmas has been full of joy and wonder!

Merry Christmas!

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.

The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay,
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes (lucky Mary!) ha!

I love thee, Lord Jesus. Look down from the sky,
And stay by my side until morning is nigh.

Be near me Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay.
Close by me forever, and love me I pray.

Bless all the dear children, in thy tender care.
And take them to heaven, to be with thee there.

Thank you SO much for all the amazing comments you leave me every day with your kind words. I wish I could reply to every single one every single day but I just can't. BUT I read every word and treasure them! Blogging is a fun community and I'm thankful to "know" each of you! I pray you and your families have a wonderful Christmas and that you know the joy that comes from the God I love who sent His only son to be born and live a human life so He could then die for our sins so we could have life ABUNDANT with Him forever! No greater gift has ever been given!

(Oh and I LOVE hearing where y'all are reading from!!!)
(and I crack up at how some of you from far away must think I'm so crazy!)

27 weeks and 37 years old

I'm 27 weeks!

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 27 Weeks

Size of baby: Hollis is the size of an eggplant

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Gained 11 lbs (the holidays are helping me to start pack it on!)

Maternity Clothes: I wear maternity jeans and pants but everything else is regular.

Gender: It's a girl!!! Hollis Barrett Stamps

Movement: I've been feeling the baby a lot more lately!

Sleep: I'm sleeping pretty good!

What I miss: Nothing really - maybe sleeping on my stomach?

Cravings: Mexican, baked potatos

Symptoms: Mostly tiredness, a few Braxton Hicks

Best Moment this week: Finding out I DON'T have gestational diabetes

Well - I found out yesterday that I don't have GD! I am SO thankful! That was the best call I got all day! I also just realized that I'm in my third trimester now! Or I'm about to enter it - not sure - but I'm there! Wow - this is going SO fast this time!

Today is my birthday and I'm 37 years old! Yikes! It's a little stressful thinking about being so close to 40. I just really don't know when this happened. I swear I was just in college. ha! At least having two babies should keep me young! (Or make me really old if Hollis sleeps anything like Harper does).

My birthday didn't start off too great. Harper has been sleeping SO good lately but of course last night she was up around 11 and Scott was out of town so I let her get in bed with me. And then it was like a mini party. She was up talking and moving around and having a good old time until 2:30 when she finally went to sleep. I have no idea what her deal was. (And of course she was up and running by 7) Maybe it was the 3 Red Bulls I let her have before bed time. Or the 5 hour energy drink. (I kid)

So I decided we would both get dressed and I would be crazy and take her to lunch by myself because I was craving a local tea room. I took her video player and she did really good! Scott just got home and tonight we are doing something we've only done once since Harper was born - we have a babysitter and we are going out to eat on a birthday date! I'm so excited!


And could you pray for a couple of people:

Jamie is a young woman who was diagnosed with leukemia in March and this week the doctors sent her home and told her there was nothing else they could do.
Cat is a young woman who lost her husband to cancer a month ago and this week - her FIL died from cancer also.
Laurie is a young woman who was hit in a hit and run. She was 34 weeks pregnant and lost the baby and is in critical condition.

I know there are hundreds or thousands more of people who need our prayer right now. Pray for those who don't face Christmas with a lot of joy or happiness. Pray that the same Jesus whose birthday we celebrate will be their comforter right now!

Harper's "Friends"

and Here is my 23 month old in action - with her favorite friends  - the mannequins at Old Navy. 

She is OBSESSED with these mannequins. She loves them. She would stay there all day if I let her!


P.S. ONE last chance at a $100 Visa gift card from BlogHer and Olay - it would make a great After Christmas present!!! http://www.kellyskornerreviews.blogspot.com

23 months

 Harper you are 23 months!

I can't believe in less than one month - my little baby will be two!

You weigh 33 lbs

You wear a size 2T and often a 3T

You wear a size 7 shoe

 You have changed so much in just the last few weeks.  Every day I notice you getting older.

You are beginning to be more like a little girl. 

You talk all the time and you are starting to say more sentences. 

You are throwing less fits and I think it's because we are communicating better! 

You can tell me your opinion on almost anything - I love that I can ask you questions and you can tell me yes or no. 

 Just this week I have taught you to start saying "Yes Ma'am!" and "Please" when you want something. You are so cute when you say both of those things! 

You are so smiley all the time! You really have the cutest happiest personality!

I hate to say this - because it might jinx me - but you have been consistently sleeping through the night lately. I think it's made us BOTH so much happier. I sure hope you keep it up!

 You are so loving! You love all animals. You want to hug and pet every cat and dog you see.

You also want to hug every person you see. It's so sweet. I can tell you are going to have a sweet tender heart and combined with your strong will - you should be an amazing person!

Your favorite thing to eat is oatmeal. You ask for it every morning and most nights you want it for dinner too. You also LOVE applesauce and apple juice.

You have started playing independently for short periods of time in your room. I'm hoping after Christmas when we turn your room into more of a play room that you will play even more in there.

You absolutely LOVE going to school and church! I'm so thankful for your teachers and how sweet they are to you! You have learned so much - you can even count to ten! I LOVE peeking in at you at school and watching you interact with the other kids.  Your favorite thing is play dough! And puzzles!

It seems like just yesterday I was pregnant with you and now you are about to be two! I keep wondering if Hollis will look or act anything like you. I have a feeling you will be completely different but I will love both of you so much. I hope you will be best friends.

I love you so much my sweet, sweet baby girl!

Christmas Card

Front

Back

I wish I could send a card to every one who reads this blog! I SOOOO would if I could! But since that MIGHT be a little costly and take me months - I'm posting our card and wishing each of you a VERY merry Christmas from our family to yours!

My wish for you this year is the very verse we have on the back of our card!


I know this video is going all around but I loved it! I have thought so much about what Mary and Joseph were feeling at the FIRST Christmas - and this just makes it seem more real! ;-)

Hollis' Nursery

When I was pregnant with Harper - it was after YEARS of praying and waiting on a baby and I'd had a LOT of time to plan her nursery and work on it.  I'm fairly certain at this point her nursery was done and her closet was full.
I am equally excited about Hollis coming - but with a busy toddler and Christmas and 100 other things going on - I confess I haven't done one thing to get ready for our sweet baby.  So I decided it was time to get busy.
Harper's room is very pink and girly and I love it but I decided I wanted to do something a little different this time around.  I wanted to make the room just a cool and calm and soothing room.  I'm actually more excited about how I think it's going to turn out (at least in my head) than I was about Harper's room.

I found this very old dresser at a local antique store on Friday and fell in love with it.  It's absolutely perfect for the feel I want in Hollis' room.  And it was the perfect size for the spot I needed it to go in.  And I love the glass knobs that are original to the dresser.  I love it SOOOO much! Last night I ordered the perfect picture to hang above it!

This is the fabric for the bedding we are doing.  It's going to have a ruffle on the bumper and a gathered skirt  and be very girly - but I love the colors and the paisley. 

I'm not anywhere near ready to move Harper from her crib. I think every kid is different but I decided to keep her in hers and get a new crib for Hollis.  I wanted a girly looking crib and I finally decided on this one. It's in antique white. I'd love to try to antique it a little more to match the dresser but I'm nervous about that. I guess we will just see when it comes.  (Have any of you done that???? You may need to email me if so!)

I have plans for things to go on the wall - like I want to do big gold shadow boxes with the sweet white Feltman brothers dress that both Harper and Hollis did/will come home from the hospital in.  And I think I'll frame this sweet monogrammed linen bib and maybe some monogrammed bloomers in the other.

(This is the coming home dress I want to frame - and when was she EVER this little?????)

Scott's parents are coming to visit after Christmas and I plan to put Scott and his dad to work moving things around and putting up the crib while we have someone here to help! Then hopefully by mid January - the nursery will just about be done.  Luckily since we are having another girl - we really don't need anything else but a few small things! That's the blessing of having two of the same sex!

I just honestly can't believe we are about to have another baby! Nearly every night I look at Scott and say "We are about to have TWO babies!!!"

And can I just ask you to pray for a friend?
Amy is a blogger who I've had the opportunity to meet in person. She has struggled with infertility for years and I have been praying for her so much. My heart just is broken for her. And this weekend they found out her husband has a growth on his brain.  They aren't certain yet just what it is but I just know they have been through SO much this year.  I know they would love your prayers!