Walvoord get together

This post is really late but last weekend we had our Walvoord Christmas with everyone! Our whole clan went to my parent's house after church to exchange gifts with Mike and Heather. Claire got a Dora Mermaid that swims in the water and a really cool Eric Carle chalk book! She enjoys both. Eden got a teether and a rattle that I know she will love -thanks Mike and Heather

After naptime and hours in the kitchen, we all sat down to dinner. Now... that doesn't sound like much but you must know that this rarely happens! We were ALL there - a minor miracle and such a blessing to have that time together. This happened for Thanksgiving this year too but before that, I don't remember that happening since Sept. 07!

That afternoon Mike held Eden for almost an hour and a half! He decided to try out my nursing pillow so lovingly called "My Breast Friend". Now all he needs is a nipple shield - oh, and breasts!

7 years ago....

yesterday Neil and I went to Jim's late in the evening. He ordered a vanilla shake. I ordered a hot chocolate. I wore a big wool sweater I got for Christmas from a friend and he wore... well, I don't remember that part (He probably does!). After the usual chit chat of music and friends, I got enough nerve to tell him that I had romantic feelings for him and thank God he revealed he felt the same!

That night changed our lives forever - friendship taken to the next level. We didn't have to ask questions about old relationships, our favorite food, favorite things to do or pet peeves - it was like we started on our 15ht date. We did have to ask really hard questions like is it worth the risk? Worth risking our friendship we had grown to cherish and rely on? Worth risking hurting other people who would be affected by this leap of faith? By the end of the night we agreed that yes! It was worth it all if it meant us being able to find the most incredible human love we'd ever know. And later that night we had our first kiss in front of a bookcase in his parent's living room.

So here we are today- married for 5 1/2 years with a home of our own, two beautiful girls and yes, the most incredible human love we will ever know. I thank God for the insight and peace He gave us when we decided to trust Him with our relationship. I can't imagine where we'd be if it weren't with each other...

I love you Neil

Aunts & Uncles - Oh my!

This week was a busy one for Eden meeting her Aunt Jenny, Aunt Heather and Uncle Mike for the first time! Mike and Heather spent the holidays with her family in South Carolina so they were excited to come back and meet their newest neice. We had a great time and I wanted to share some first time photos. I'm also including the first time shots of Uncle Billy and Aunt Shannon from a few weeks ago. We are so blessed to have family so close even though we don't see each other as often as we should!


Meeting and eating at Salsalitos on Sat. night - What a great group shot!
Uncle Mike loving on Eden - doesn't he look good with a baby?

Heather couldn't get enough of her this weekend!

She was completely zonked!! (Eden - not Heather!)

Playing with Aunt Jenny last Tuesday night - Thanks for bringing dinner Jenny!

Uncle Billy holding Claire after a bath. Now he has 2 neices that will LOVE playing with him!

Aunt Shannon loving on Eden - now all we need is a Steve picture! Let's get that next time we're together

Mom-nesia

I know a lot of you have experienced this first hand and if you haven't - you first time preggers just wait!! I already feel so scattered and challenged in juggling our lives these days. This feeling drives me crazy because as most of you know, I like to organize, plan and schedule things (even if my house doesn't always reflect that).

Well, today was Neil's first day back to work after holiday break and so I was to get Claire to MDO by 9 a.m. along with a baby who was going to be hungry around that time. We were all ready to go and of course I couldn't find my keys ANYWHERE! Out of a last resort, we had to wait for Neil to come home from work just to give me a stinkin' key =( Out of frustration, I told Neil "I'm going to be a terrible mom of two!" - I think I'd sometime lose my head if it wasn't attached to my body.

Thank God my keys were left at my parents house yesterday so I don't have to continue worrying about them. This is only one of MANY instances the past few weeks so please excuse me if I seem a little flaky these days!

Celebrating Christmas Day

WOW!! I think we all know how hard it is to post about Christmas so here it is! I finally got enough time to get to it!

Christmas morning we enjoy our own family time at home! Claire had so much fun talking about Santa coming and was so excited to see her gifts under the tree - I wish we would've gotten it on video! We opened gifts, played, Neil made breakfast and then Claire and I tried out her new apron in the kitchen.

Claire sportin' her Princess apron and Princess band aids!


Bert!! Claire LOVES Bert! Neil found him online =)
Claire also LOVES helping in the kitchen - We put her apron to use right away!

After nap we headed over to my parent's house to exchange gifts and have a yummy ham dinner. We had a great time!

"Here you go Billy!"

"Oh my goodness - more blocks!" Claire seriously said that in this pic =)

Thanks Great Grandma Ann!

Peeking put of her Dora play tent from grandma and grandpa

Eden slept pretty much the whole time!

My sweet angel baby

Daddy and his girl

More play time with Uncle Billy - Claire really enjoys spending time with him!

Family photo by the famous Christmas Tree! I really love this picture

This photo cracks me up! Everyone is doing something different & Claire is her consoling self!

We love you Grandma and Grandpa!

Last year my sweet friend Heather gave us the neatest train cake baking pan so we started a new tradition by baking the train cake to decorate at grandma and grandpa's house. This year we added to the tradition and the train cake is now Jesus' birthday cake! We baked it in the morning, decorated in the afternoon, sang Happy birthday Jesus, blew out a candle and ate it for dessert! It was so much fun and Claire wanted to sing HB a few times =)

Heather stopped by to see the festivities!






"Happy Birthday Jesus!"

Heather meeting Eden for the first time! She wasn't being very photogenic at the time. She was fussy and we put Heather right to work trying to burp her the good ole NICU way.

Christmas Eve

We traditionally go to the children's service at my parent's church on Christmas Eve Day and then we celebrate with Neil's family that night with dinner and gifts.

Claire LOVED the service this year and especially loved her wand that they gave her. She kept asking "Where's baby Jesus?" They were telling the story from the beginning so Mary was still prego. It's was super cute! The service has these huge headed characters that make everything super child like. We were afraid Claire would be scared of them but as long as they weren't too close, she was ok with them!

Here's our sweetness looking beautiful in the foyer at UUMC

Claire posing with Mary, baby Jesus and Grandpa - she was in heaven getting this close


Family of Four! Eden wasn't fussing - we just got her when she was making a face

Us with my parents

Then it was off to Mimi and Poppa's to celebrate!

Just getting to Mimi's - I love this dress on her! Notice she still has the wand

The first present opened and boy did she LOVE it! I don't think she realized she had more than one because she wanted to play with it right away. As soon as she saw the boys opening more, she finally got to her other gifts.

Eden hanging out while we opened gifts! She was so good and everyone was surprised to see her wide awake!

This one is blurry but too funny to not post! Claire was digging for more in her doll house box!
The doll house ended up being the favorite toy of the evening - even with the boys!

Justin especially took to it =) He was so sweet playing with the dolls - he's going to be a family man!

Princess Claire! Thanks Aunt Shannon! This has been such a hit =)

The best we could do with all three

I like this pic but wish I didn't have the burp cloth on my shoulder! Oh well - it's mommy time

The Schimelpfening Family Neil and Shannon with their annual pic together!

Neil and Justin with his Planet Hero we got him - we did good this year! Glad we got the tip!

I love this man!