Happy birthday Lila!

January 17th we celebrated Lila's first birthday. I still can't believe that it's been a year since I was being toted to the ER for the delivery of our 25 week old baby girl. How is that possible?

I can still close my eyes and be back on that day, January 17, 2011.
 I STILL REMEMBER:
the breakfast I had, eggo waffles and chocolate milk
what I was wearing when Scott told me to lie on the floor so that the contractions would slow down
the paramedics repeatedly asking me if I was 25 weeks pregnant
telling myself that my baby would not be born in the ambulanace
the look on my doctor's face when she realized that I was the one that was going into labor
the looks of concern, pity and haste on the nurses faces
the way sweet Lila looked on the nurses iphone pic so I could see her before she changed hospitals
realizing that I had just joined the ranks of so many parents of micro-preemies

I can truly close my eyes and be back on that day and remember every detail. The thing is, i wouldn't change that for a second. As crazy as that day was, it is my baby girl's birth story. A story that I will hold dear to my heart until I die. Thankful for the story that began the life of our sweet Lila. A story that changed our lives forever.

Fast forward a year...a year of tears, grief, milestones and challenges.

For Scott and I both, this was such a crazy day to plan. We knew we wanted to honor our baby girl and celebrate her short life but how do you do that? No one tells you how to prepare for a day like this.

We decided to do what we knew best...pray and read scripture. The day turned out to be freezing so it was a short and sweet tribute to our girl. Scott read scripture and prayed as our parents and Griffen stood near.

Happy birthday, sweet Lila!

Satisfy us in the morning with yoru steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all your days. Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen evil. Let yoru work be shown to yor servants; and your glorious power to their children. Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of your hands!--Psalm 90

New Years Eve 2012

We prayed for a house for years. Not so we could just enjoy it ourselves but to really be able to open it up to friends and family. New Years Eve was the perfect time for this. We invited about 20 friends over to ring in the new year together. I felt so excited turning every corner and seeing friends and their little ones enjoying themselves. We are so blessed to have so many friends in the same stage of life to walk together through life with.

Everyone enjoying Mrs. Tricia's cookie sundaes.

I can't express how much I love having a playroom (which is really a dining room)! The kids loved being able to pull anything and everything out. So fun!

Griffen and Johnny telling some secret and giggling about something! They stood there laughing at each other for what seemed like forever. Can't wait to see these little guys grow up together.

Don't they look guilty of something? Who knows what secrets they were telling in their own little language.

G's New Ride & Uncle B

When did our baby become such an adorable little man? Just couldn't resist this picture because he looks like a little mini-me of Papa. Love it!

We were so blessed and excited that Brandon was able to come home for Christmas this year! Griffen hadn't seen him since he was 1 1/2 years old or so. We had practiced with Griffen before Brandon got here for him to say Uncle B. It was the cutest thing to hear him say. He walked around for days saying "B, B!" Brandon loved it when he heard it for the first time.

Brandon being the cool, bike-riding uncle he is, took it upon himself to be the one to buy Grifen his first bike. Griffen walked up to it and acted like he knew just what to do. I'm sure we'll be chasing him down the street very soon.

 Love this picture as a proud Uncle B looks on as Griffen checks out his new bike.  Thank you B for such a generous gift!!

After practicing on his bike, Griffen couldn't resist another romp through the leaves.

Griffen loved playing with B. His eyes just lit up each time he saw Brandon. Love seeing the relationship grow and change each time they are together.

We love you Uncle B! Thank you for the bike and all the sweet memories we made this Christmas!

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

I love Christmas! Definitely one of my favorite times of year. We spent a few days at my parents house to be able to spend as much time as possible with family throughout Scott's break. I love all of the traditions that we've continued through the years. We wake up Christmas morning and have a big breakfast filled with cream cheese roll, fruit and all the fixins. So relaxing to be able to wake up at my parents house and still feel like a kid again at Christmas.

Christmas with a two year old has to be one of the funnest thing ever! Griffen's first gift to open was a pair of crocs. It was the cutest thing ever! He immediately knew that he wanted to wear them asap. He stripped off his pajamas and put the shoes on as fast as he could.

Here he is playing basketball with his new goal after he had put on his shoes. As you can tell, he loved the goal too.

Precious and Uncle B

G loved crashing through the wrapping paper. The smile on his face didn't go away for days!

Me trying to teach G how to play baseball with his new tee on Christmas morning.

Checking out his new cash register. Remember these things? I had one when I was a kid and was so glad to see they had come out with them again. So fun to see Griffen playing with one of my favorite toys as a kid.

After breakfast and all the gifts, we headed to Scott's parents house to have Christmas #3. Here we are posing for our annual pic by their tree. It was a pretty low key holiday there this year with different family members at different celebrations. So good though to be able to spoil each other in a smaller setting.

Granny, Scott's grandmother, checking out her new blanket. Think she likes it?

Griffen and Emilee, my cousin, loved checking out the leaves (no snow this year) in my parents yard on Christmas night. Love seeing the smile on his face and the joy in his eyes!

Goofing off with cousin Emilee!

All in all it was a great Christmas. So very thankful for our loving families, a beautiful home to enjoy, and for Christ's love this season.

Christmas 2011

Christmas 2011 was filled with so much love, laughter, tears and sweet memories. It was hard, don't get me wrong. All I had to do was look at our mantle and see what our family of four should have looked like this Christmas. But that wasn't our reality. I tried not to dwell on what "should have" been. Instead I looked around at my sweet 2 year old and loving husband and thanked God for the gifts we have been blessed with.

The weather was beautiful throughout the holiday season, so with Scott home we made lots of trips to the park.

Our family made a trip to the Gaylord Texan to see the train exhibit and to ride the indoor snow hillls. It was such a fun day. We were so blessed to have Brandon, aka Uncle B, come visit this Christmas so we had  filled our time with as many fun adventures as possible.

Our first Christmas celebration was at my aunt and uncle's house. We are so excited to have them back in the DFW area and not in Florida anymore. I loved looking around and seeing all my cousins, their families, and my family all enjoying the day and celebrating the gifts God has blessed us with. 

Before we headed to my parents for Christmas, Scott and I had our traditional gift exchange at our house. This was our fourth year to go to Target for our gifts. We set a $20 limit and a time limit and then see what all goodies we can give each other. Definitely have to get creative on the budget and time limit.