Ultrasound of Griffin

Today I went for my 20 week ultrasound. I went by myself because I like to be able to ask questions and talk to the person doing it without all my kids driving us crazy. It went really well. She checked his heart 5 different times and got all the views she needed ( we already knew he didn't have TGA, but it is still nice to triple check!) and she was satisfied that his heart looks great. He is now measuring 2 days ahead and weighs 14 ozs. We got a DVD and about 15 pictures of him. The lady told me she had printed me way too many pictures and to hide them in my purse until I got home so she didn't get in trouble by the office. I'll add the pictures later, but trust me some of them are really neat.

Halfway

Alright, here I am at 20 weeks (which is actually more than halfway for me, since I have my babies pretty early -- but who's counting:)

If you say I don't look pregnant to my face, I might punch you. The truth is though, I don't. Still wearing all my regular clothes and even have more growing room in my regular jeans. I thought you were supposed to get bigger with each pregnancy, and I think I'm getting smaller. This is baby number 4, but I've been pregnant 5 times, what is going on?

Oh well, I'm not gonna complain. Just can't wait to meet my baby boy!

Check This Out

This blog belongs to a friend of a friend, and is super cute! She is doing a free giveaway of her adorable letters. Go check it out!

http://charactersbylois.blogspot.com/

Bad Attitude Already

I just got home from taking my big kids to school and sat down at the computer. I forgot to put the gate up at the bottom of the stairs and after a few minutes of playing toys, Lila noticed and headed over. She kept acting like she was going to go up and I kept saying no. It turned into a game and finally I said, "Don't go up those stairs, I'll spank you." (No, I wouldn't spank her, don't worry). Anyway, she looked at me and perfectly clearly said, "I'll spank you." Then she laughed and went up the stairs as I chased her. She is such a stinker.

For those who don't know, Lila doesn't say many words. She is "talking" all the time, but it is usually gibberish. However, when she chooses to talk it is perfectly clear and sounds just like Sunny. Just this week she has added diaper, banana, cracker, and poop (yes, poop) to her repertoire. She doesn't talk on command though, only when she wants, but it really is perfectly clear. She cracks me up!

The Party

Today we had Lila's 1st Birthday party. I really wanted to do something special this year, in honor of baby Gracie. We decided to make dolls for Primary Children's Hospital. Everyone met at Ryan's Mom's house and we got to work.

Nancy was the sewer (is that even a word?)

The rest of us cut, turned, stuffed, and closed the dolls.

Lila in her pile of dolls.

We ended up making 22 dolls. 1 for Lila to keep and 21 for Primary Children's. It definitely was a good day!

Happy Birthday Gracie

Yesterday was Gracie's 1st birthday and we sent her some balloons to Heaven. The kids were really excited about the idea and wanted to make sure that Gracie got them and not anyone else. We said a little prayer and told Heavenly Father who they were for and for Him to make sure Gracie got them. This morning when they woke up Jackson said, "Well, they probably made it to Heaven by now. I bet Gracie is playing with them and sharing them with her friends." I hope she is!

Happy St. Patricks Day

I fully realize there have been way too many pictures of Lila posted in the last month, but I don't really care. Here are some more. Continuing on with last year's theme...Happy St. Patty's Day from Lila Cate. Above 3 days old, below 1 year and 3 days old!

Her new green and brown outfit from Nana.

She loved the chance to jump on the couch. That doesn't happen often around here, and certainly not on the front room couch.

On a completely different topic, here are some of my cute new baby boy diapers. You can't really tell from the picture, but there are tiny!!!

Some of his covers (to go over prefolds, for those who know)

Happy Birthday

It's official. Lila Cate is 1 year old TODAY!

With her Daddy

My big girl in her birthday dress!

This time last year I had just gotten to the hospital. I was supposed to be induced 3 weeks early, and I woke up early awaiting a call from the hospital. Well, I waited and waited and waited. They finally called at 1:30 and said to hurry and they would slip me in if I could be there in 20 minutes. Of course we were ready and waiting and headed right over. We got everything started at 2:30 and exactly 3 hours later she was here. All of my labor and deliveries have been quick and easy and this one was no different. She did have to spend some time in the special care nursery b/c she couldn't breathe, but she was fine and they brought her to us a couple hours later.

She is such a joy to our family. I can't imagine life without her. I can't wait to see what the next year brings for her, and I can't wait to see her be a big sister!

The Ball Popper and the Microphone

Mom got Lila her ball popper for Christmas last year. She loves it. She can do it by herself and has fun chasing the balls. Her favorite thing however is to stick random toys in it. Sometimes they are really hard to get out. Today while Sunny was at school Lila played for 1 1/2 hours all by herself with the ball popper. She was putting this microphone in and out. Seriously, she sat there for that long without looking up and without wanting anything from me. I was amazed and finally tried to sneak some pictures but she saw me and started posing. I guess this is still part of Lila's birthday extravaganza picture posts b/c I think I've put 15 pictures of her on her in less than 24 hours. Oh well, see Uncle B.J. she is freakishly cute!

This one is the classic Lila face. Half smile, half smirk, and lots of drool. She is such a stinker. (Love the new outfit. Thanks Mok!)

A Few More Pictures

Her with the maracas (is that how you spell it?)

She carried them around forever. They are too cute!

One more of her playing with the package. I can't believe she'll be 1 on Saturday! It feels like I was just pregnant with her and she was just born, and now here I am doing this all over again.

On a side note, today we met Ryan's sister Julie for lunch and got to visit with her little girl and her new baby boy. Sunny held the baby for a really long time. I kept asking her if she wanted to eat lunch or play and she said no, she was fine and that the baby loved her and wanted her to hold him. She is such a sweet girl. I think she gets the baby holding thing from me :) I will never let anyone hold my babies, but I'll hog everyone else's! Sorry, I can't help it and thanks to all those who share their tiny babies with me. I told Ryan if he doesn't want anymore kids after Griffin we might have to be foster parents to newborn babies. I can never get enough. Anyway, my new nephew is a wonderful baby. He didn't cry the entire time we were there. He is also totally cute. We had such a good time today!

Happy Early Birthday Lila Cate!

Lila got her birthday package from Mok and Pok today. She was actually really excited, and seemed to "get it". She loved the whole process and I took a ton of pictures, these are only a few, but I'll probably post the rest later because she is adorable.

Learning how to unwrap

She loved the baby puzzle because "belly" is her favorite thing to point at right now.

Playing tea party. I didn't put a picture on here, but her favorite thing was her maracas. She was walking around and shaking them and dancing. It was really funny. Thanks Mok and Pok. We love yall!!

Return With Honor

It's what we are all here striving to do, and sweet Gracie will do it today. She put up such a good fight and blessed the lives of so many. We had hoped that for her family's sake she would be able to stay around awhile longer, but it seems that our Heavenly Father is calling her home. We love you sweet Gracie girl.


Be Still, My Soul

Be still, my soul: The Lord is on they side
With patience bear thy cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change he faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul: Thy best, thy heavn'ly Friend
Thru thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: Thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as he has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.

Be still, my soul: The waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: The hour is hast'ning on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.

Be still, my soul: When change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

Whenever there is something difficult for me to deal with, or something I can't understand this hymn always come to my mind. I know there are questions that will never be answered in this life, and when those question and thoughts of "Why?" come to me I just play this hymn and sing the words in my head.

I know our Heavenly Father knows each one of us and loves us. He has a plan for Gracie and that plan has come full circle. I can only imagine that wonderful reunion in Heaven when his sweet Gracie returns home to him.