More Friendship Retreat pics

Got these from Neil's parent's camera and LOVED them!! Enjoy!

Stories to remember

A few stories from this week that I want to remember!

"Band aid Blues"

On Sunday morning before church Claire lightly bumped her leg and when asked she said she did it on the wall. She wanted a band aid and I wasn't in the mood to fight it so she got a really cool Little Mermaid band aid with Prince "Doo-Loo" as Neil affectionately named him for her. (She wants to know EVERYONE'S name!) Well, it was non-stop talking about her band aid and when warned about it coming off soon, she'd have a bit of a fit. I finally got the band aid off Tuesday - yes, I left it on that long - as it was barely hanging on. It's so funny how kids LOVE band aids! I guess I'd love them too if they had pictures and everyone went "Ahhhh" when I told them I got hurt.

"Nursing Elmo"

On Wed. I was getting ready for BSF and Claire was sitting in our lazy-boy in the bedroom. I noticed she had covered herself slightly with a baby blanket and was unusually quiet. I asked her "Claire, what are you doing?" and she said "I'm feeding Elmo". I then asked what Elmo was eating and she said "Milk from my boobies"!! HA! She has seen a lot of my friends nurse and was recently interested in her new friend Baby Isaiah who was covered by a baby blanket Sunday night at life group. Pretty funny huh? As a side note, she has often said that babies eat boobies and so we have been trying to teach her that they drink milk FROM mommies just like they drink FROM a bottle - not eat them. So it looks like she has the concept!! She's even being modest about it =)

Thanks Mom!

A HUGE thank you to the beautiful duvet cover and pillow that my mom made for Claire's bed! Claire loves it and is sleeping under it for the first time tonight! It matches the curtains and quilt she made for Claire's nursery and is just perfect for her. My wonderful friend Lezlee is working on letters to hang on the wall and her room will be all set! Now we need to get the nursery going. Here are some pics of her loving on her bed.






I couldn't resist posting these pictures! Claire went to MDO today because I had to makeup my Monday lessons so she was there for picture day. She hadn't gotten a chance to wear this cute outfit I found so it was perfect for today - especially because it was a bit cool this morning. Look at that smile!! She's definately gotten it down and uses it to her advantage. Thank you to Neil who got her ready and even put a bow in her hair.

Friendship Retreat

This weekend was the annual Friendship Retreat in Medina for Neil's family. It started as a retreat for his mom's youth group from Corpus but has become a family reunion for us since everyone brings their fams. We only went for a little bit on Saturday for lunch. It was good to visit with Neil's cousins and Claire had a blast playing with hers! I have a few more pics on Neil's parent's camera that I will post later.

Kyle, Justin and Claire - silly cousins!


It's hard to get a good one of all three at the same time!


Claire and Justin

Claire Bear the Science Girl

"Did you hear about the kid who wanted to know

everything about everything?"

-Sid the Science Kid

For those moms who haven't seen the new PBS show, Sid the Science Kid, you need to check it out!! It's on every weekday from 7:30 a.m. - 8 a.m. and even though it can get a little annoying and the characters all seem like they are a little high (especially Jared and Grandma), Claire loves it!! It has given me many opportunities to teach Claire about things like freezing and melting, sound waves, decaying, growing, charts, etc. It's a really neat show.

All this to say, Claire has become my science girl!! Ever since she was a newborn, people have commented on how observant she is and how she doesn't miss a thing. Well, ever since she could talk, she has shown her inquisitive side. Her favorite things to say right now are "What's that?", "What happened?", "What's their name" and the one we all can't wait for "Why?" A few days ago I realized how much I LOVE her inquisitive side and how we get so many opportunities to teach her because she initiates so much of it! Yes, the "why?" is driving me a little crazy after the 9th time in a row it's asked but I pray that she continues to want to know it all.

So like Sid would say "Did you hear about the kid who wanted to know everything about everything?" That's Claire!

Doctor's appointment

We had a doctor's appointment yesterday for Eden (28 weeks 1 day) and everything is still good to go! I had to do my gestational diabetes screening while at the office and I only have a little bruise from where I got my blood drawn. With Claire my test came back high so I had to go back for the 3 hour test. Please pray that I don't have to do that with Eden... well, maybe I would like a 3 hour relaxing break in the office but I certainly don't want to have to worry about GD! Everything else went well. All three of us went and got to hear Eden's heartbeat (in the 150's). I start going to the doctor every 2 weeks now so it's getting closer! I'm getting so excited!

I've finally hit the stage of pregnancy where I have to go to the bathroom every 15 minutes even though I haven't had anything to drink! I've always been blessed with a strong, large bladder so there is a definite switch for me when I'm early and late pregnant. I'm also feeling a lot hungrier the past 2 weeks. My appetite has been different with Eden but it's finally picking up and now I have to eat every 3 hours or so!

I want to remember Eden's dance party she had! 2 Sundays ago we had a visiting minister at church who notoriously gets very excited, loud and lengthy. Well, Eden reacted strongly to him!! The WHOLE time he spoke she was trying out her fast dance moves like a crazy girl! I had Neil feel her for a long time and he couldn't believe it. I eventually had to get up and walk around the back because it was so uncomfortable. It just made me smile knowing that she was responding to him and I know she was in there yelling "AMEN!"

Please continue to pray for Eden's health and my energy - I'm feeling pretty slow these days which doesn't go well with a 2 1/2 year old.

Lifegroup

I've meant to post these pictures all week but have been so busy and more exhausted than usual. Our lifegroup had dinner at the park last weekend and we had a great time! We meet every Sunday night for bible study and dinner but do a social thing about once a month. Our lifegroup has been a HUGE blessing to us and we have grown some amazing friendships with the other members. I wish we all got together even more! To know you have people to really confide in who will pray for you and ask you how things are going is something everyone should have. There is a genuine interest in how people are doing in their lives which is something that I love and appreciate. And to get together to discuss God's word is what the basis of our friendships along with raising our young families. Anyway, here are some pics from our night out:

Claire, Jacy and Carlie

Ethan and Claire eating hot dogs


Lauren and Kristin with our newest addition, Isaiah

Neil, Vu and Rene

Carlie, Claire, Jacy, Lauren and Ethan
Group hug!
Aren't they the cutest?

Claire, Jacy and Lauren