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.

Baby #4 is a . . . .

BOY!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry I can't get the picture to scan right. Baby is measuring 5 days ahead and the best news of all is that he doesn't have TGA (Even I could tell). Yea!
Thanks Camie!

I forgot to say that our newest boy will be named:

Griffin Mikel Blair

Happy Birthday Extravaganza Weekend

Happy Birthday Sarah!! Your a great mother and wife. I appreciate everything you do for me and the kids. Hope the rest of your extravaganza goes a little better after a little too much Los Hermanos burrito. Happy Birthday from me and the kids!! Sorry about the new picture Sarah. I couldn't find the same one you loved so much before.

What to do?

Lila's 1st birthday will be here in two weeks! I've been thinking about what to do for her party. Jackson had a family party at home for his 1st b-day, and Sunny had a bit of Dora extravaganza at a local park. I've decided this week with all the baby Gracie has been though that I just can't have a regular party for Lila. Instead of a party I would like to do something for Primary Children's, or for heart babies, or something like that. Problem is I don't have many ideas. The only thing I can think of is to have a small party and instead of gifts have everyone bring material for blankets that we can tie and give to the hospital. Does that sound like a good idea?

I'm really wanting input from you other heart kid Mom's that know more about this than me? Is there anything they would be in need of at the hospital or anything that you have done that was successful? Any and all thoughts are welcome.

ETA: Just talked to my Mom who suggested we make some of the dolls that they give children before surgery. They are just plain dolls with hospital gowns and then the children get to color on them and give them a face. Jax got one when he went there when he was two for a surgery. I think that sounds like a great idea. Anyone else?