It has been so refreshing to experience a new Fall, with so much joy this year. Last year at this time I was on an emotional roller coaster. It started with my Aunt's passing, then Ryleigh's first hospital visit on September 9, then finding out Marabeth most likely wouldn't make it at the beginning of October. The six weeks after that were emotional as well, not knowing how many days I had left with her. This year we have had a fresh start! I have had so much joy, and I am anxious and excited about what lies ahead!
We made one last trip to the Splash Park before it closed in September! My girls love going to this park, and they love playing in the sand. It was a fun day!
Kate and Carly joined us!
Can you tell Aubrey likes it?
I love it when the girls hold hands!
The girls had their first experience getting ice cream from the ice cream man! Ryleigh and Aubrey kind of kept their distance at first. They weren't sure what to think about it, or the music that was playing.
Oh what a mess they all made, but it was worth it!
Is this a blue face or what?
I love that Aubrey is trying to get every last drop of her ice cream here.
I had the bright idea of letting Aubrey explore with her new blue sand on our kitchen table. It didn't take long before I was cleaning blue sand up, and letting the girls take their exploring to the bathtub. However, that ended up being a chore, cleaning the bathtub! We haven't gotten the sand out since! I think I will leave it for outside play!
I had lots of quality time with Kate and Carly, while Tami was preparing for Baby Claire to get here. We started out the day with donuts! Ryleigh is chowing down!
Sweet, sweet Kate! (She loves to wear this dress up outfit everytime she comes to our house.)
Block time!
Book Time!
I had fun spending the day with you Pruett girls!
Does anyone remember Teddy Ruxpin? I had one when I was a kid, and my Brother In Law, Chad got it working again! Brings back some memories!
We had a good time celebrating at Babes!
Happy Birthday Mom! Love you!
On September 9, my nephew Jaydan decided to get baptized. It was a special day, and the anniversary from my Aunt's passing. This year we were able to celebrate with tears of joy instead of sadness.
Chad and my Dad did the baptism together. It was such special moment!
One last maternity picture before Tam heads to the hospital! It makes me sad that the two of us will most likely never experience pregnancy together again. It has been so much fun! We have been blessed!
I love these belly pics with my girls! They love kissing my tummy at night, and hugging on my belly, telling me how much they love their sister, etc..
Glucose screening! I was one of the few Mommies who was excited to drink this! I am so grateful I made it long enough in the pregnancy to drink this nasty stuff! I also am so happy I passed the test too! This Mommy loves her sugar!
Getting ready for Baby Claire on September 10
She has arrived! Zack came out to give us all the details! "Tami didn't have to push at all, Claire was born on a giggle."
First picture of Zack holding Claire!
First picture with Mom and Dad! Happy Birthday Claire!
Take a look at some proud grandparents!
And some proud Aunts!
Tam and I have a tradition of crying everytime we see each other after one of us delivers a baby. I can't quite explain it, but that's what we do! We are smiling here, but there were tears prior. It's such a priceless, beautiful moment.
I love this girl!!!
Check out the proud Mama!
After Tami had the baby, Rod and I had the pleasure of getting to keep Kate and Carly at our house. It was the first time for Kate and Carly to have a sleepover with us! I had so much fun taking care of them! Rod did a great job reading them all a bedtime story.
Carly slept in Ryleigh's bed!
We made Kate a bed on the floor. She loved it!
Aubrey and Ryleigh also got to share a room for the night, which they loved! We started the morning with cinnamon rolls and morning hair!
First Day of Soccer Tots! (September 12)
This ended up being an interesting event. Aubrey was extremely uneasy about getting out on the field. It didn't help that when we pulled up to the parking lot, there was construction everywhere, with all the loud noises, cars, etc.. She was not happy about going! However, her coach is awesome and let Ryleigh get out on the field with her. (Ryleigh wasn't sure what to think bout it either) Since this picture, Aubrey has grown to really enjoy soccer days. She has adjusted, and I am glad we stuck it out.
And yes, I did bribe them with ice cream.....
First Day of School!! (September 13)
Aubrey had been eager to start school until we started walking to her classroom. She wanted Rod or I to hold her, and she was very nervous. I felt so nervous for her! My heart was breaking, just knowing how much she wanted us to stay with her. When we dropped her off, she started crying, so then of course I cried some too. (I tried to keep the tears hidden as I was walking down the hallway. I can't believe I am that Mommy. I can only imagine what Kindergarten will look like )
Such a cute girl!
Anxiety is setting in......
Aubrey was trying to put on a good face here, but I knew that this was a nervous smile.
Putting her name stick where it goes!
Ryleigh walked right in and was ready to play.
It's hard to believe that next year it will be her sitting in a classroom!
One last hug!
Aubrey and her sweet teacher Mrs. Lindsey
Last week for the first time, Aubrey walked in and gave her teachers a hug. We have come a long way! It took awhile for her not to be begging me to hold her. Then, we went from that, to hiding out in the hallway. I was so excited for the change in her! She loves, loves, loves her teachers!
After dropping Aubrey off, Ryleigh and I shared a salted carmel decaf frappucino! Ryleigh would of drank her own if I let her. I love this pic! I needed some cheering up too!
Along with the excitement of the first day of school, Rod and the girls got to meet Baby Claire! Rod had not had the opportunity yet, because he was on babysitting duty while they were at the hospital!
Aubrey wanted Ryleigh to hold Claire first. Ryleigh didn't mind that at all. She was eager to do the job. Everytime I hold Claire, Ryleigh will say, "I want to hold her." She is so sweet with babies. She will say things like, "Kiss on the head."
Aubrey was sweet with Claire too. They are both going to be great big sisters to their baby sister.
I had to get a picture of Aubrey here, because I was so proud of her for doing this difficult puzzle by herself. She is our little puzzle girl! She loves puzzles and does so great with them. Her favorite game to play is "Puzzle Turnover". It's a game I made up, where I turn over a collection of different puzzle pieces all over the coffee table. She has to sort them out, and match the pieces to the appropriate puzzle.
We had to hit up the "Snow Cone Lady" one last time before she closed for the summer! Harper joined in the fun with us! I think they all enjoyed their snow cones!
NICU Reunion (September 15, 2012)
I am forever going to be grateful to the NICU staff that took such good care of Ryleigh! We were incredibly blessed with good nurses and doctors. I love these people! They made life at a very difficult time, seem manageable!
Caroline was one of the nurses who helped care for Ryleigh while we were in the NICU. She always made me laugh!
Ryleigh and Dr. August
Dr. August has such a calm disposition at all times. I absolutely love her! Ryleigh wasn't thrilled about me handing her over!
Dr. Powell (Always full of energy!)
Ryleigh's previous buddy nurse, Chris!
I will never forget the day that I was holding Ryleigh, and she was crying. Chris was able to calm her down before he put her back in her bed. I loved that he knew her so well, but it was very humbling as a mom. Wow, the tables have turned. Ryleigh was eager to get back to her Mommy! I love you Chris! Thank you for being the world's greatest Buddy Nurse!
We love Nurse Carrie too! You can't tell from the picture, but Ryleigh loves Carrie. Carrie has continued to be a good friend, although we don't see each other near as much as we did when Ryleigh was in the NICU. I am so blessed by her friendship!
Right before walking into the hospital, Aubrey said, "I don't want there to be any costumes there." I said, "There aren't going to be any costumes Aubrey." Whoops. I messed up there. Aubrey was not happy to see the characters when we walked in the door. Ryleigh didn't have feelings about them one way or another, until she saw Elmo! She was excited!
I love our NICU buddies! We only see each other a couple times of year, but we share a bond that is indescribable. We were able to relate to each other in a way no one else good, as we were on the NICU journey together. I am grateful to have their friendship. It seems like yesterday our little girls were babies! Now they are thriving 2 year olds!
GrapeFest-September 16
I normally am all about the food on Main Street! This year it was raining though, so we stopped at Ci Ci's with my sister and parents while waiting for the rain to let up. Our girls LOVE pizza, so they were happy about that decision.
The petting zoo is always a hit! Aubrey took some time to warm up to the idea, but Ryleigh was all about it!
Sampling the different bikes..
Aubrey loves this part!
Sand pit!
We weren't able to stay long, due to the weather, but the girls definitely enjoyed their time there. We left with some yummy Kettle Corn that cannot be topped anywhere else!
My girls LOVE any chance they get to help me bake! This was a brownie day! They looked so cute in their little aprons!
I love my sweet friends the Meeks! In August, Jenny delivered her son, Austin David Meek. After six weeks of fighting in the NICU, he went on to be with Jesus. Austin had Down Syndrome, as well as complications due to hydrops, and a heart defect. I never thought Jenny and I would both experience the loss of a child at this point in our lives. Jenny and David have two other kids, Colton and Sadie. They are two amazing parents with adorable kids. Jenny and I got to hang out with our kids for a little while before they headed back home to Midland again. I miss them being here, and I look forward to the day they are back in the metroplex again!
Jenny and Colton
Aubrey and Sadie
Aubrey and Ryleigh playing "Bear School". This was absolutely adorable to me! I had been in charge of teaching the kids at small group a few days prior to this. When we were on the way home that night Aubrey said, "I don't like you teaching my friends." I replied, "Why not Aubrey?" She said, "I only like you teaching me." Ahhh
The papers you see in the picture were extra copies from the lesson I did. It was funny to hear her repeat some of the same phrases. "Bear School" is a common event at our house. In Ryleigh's words, "We are tending" (aka pretending). Aubrey also includes laying the bears out on their "nap mats", songs, heading to chapel, etc..
My girls absolutely LOVE playing outside at the Pruett's house. They have better shade than we do, as well as DIRT. The girls can play in the dirt for hours and be happy.
A year ago we were here......
October 8, 2011
This was a memorable night of prayer, scripture, and worship. There were many emotions as family and friends prayed that Marabeth would survive the pregnancy. Although things did not go the way we had hoped, God provided a peace in our hearts, and we know that God works for the good of those who love him. (Romans 8:28)
A year later we are here.....
This sweet, sweet baby has already filled my heart with so much joy. She is definitely more active than what I have experienced in the past, but that's a sign of a healthy baby! I can't believe I am going to get to meet her in about 8 weeks or less. This pregnancy has been going so fast, and I am treasuring each moment!
September 16, 2012
This rainbow was the most beautiful one I have ever seen. This picture does not do it justice. We were able to see from one end of the rainbow to the other. I thought of Marabeth immediately after we saw it. My heart just melted! This Fall is full of happier times, and I am praying for that to continue! I am grateful that my sister has also been blessed with a happier Fall. It was this time last year that she had a miscarriage, and now she is a happy Mom to sweet Baby Claire. God is good!
