Snow in Houston?

I know it's hard to believe, but these pictures were taken in our backyard. I couldn't believe my eyes when I looked out my kitchen window and saw huge snow flakes falling like crazy. I called for Lauren to come look, she was amazed and couldn't wait to get outside and play in it. I took Jillian outside for just a moment because I wanted to get both the girls' pictures. She was not a happy girl. She prefers to be swaddled up nice and warm. Lauren had a great time making snowballs and catching the snowflakes on her tounge. Daddy got to come home early from work, so he and Lauren got to play together in the snow while Mommy and Jill stayed warm inside.

Thanksgiving

We were blessed to spend Thanksgiving with Uncle Rob, Aunt Mar, Maia, Josie and Grammie. They were so excited to finally meet Jilllian. Lauren was thrilled to have a permanent play mate in Maia for a few days. They played and entertained each other non stop the entire visit. It was wonderful!

Halloween 2009

Halloween was a blur this year. We came home from the hospital with Jillian just in time to trick or treat with Lauren. Lauren and Will got to trick or treat together this year, and as you can see they were both precious in their costumes (is it ok to call Buzz Lightyear precious?) Lauren was Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, complete with ruby slippers and all. She had no idea who Dorothy was, but when she saw the sparkles on this dress, she was sold.

Welcome

Jillian Renae Reed

After 40 weeks of pregnancy, we finally got to meet our precious Jillian. Precious really is the perfect word to describe her. She gave us a little bit of a scare during labor because her heart rate kept dropping during contractions. Before we knew what was going on they were preparing us for a c-section and Jillian was born with in a matter of minutes. We were so relieved and overwhelmed with joy when we got to see our beautiful daughter. The first thing I said when I saw her was, "Hello Lauren". She reminds me so much of what her big sister looked like when she was born. She even has birth marks in the exact same places as Lauren. I think these girls are going to be two peas in a pod.

39 weeks and still waiting!

I can't believe that I am 39 weeks pregnant. After being put on bed rest at 28 weeks and being so worried that our baby was going to make her arrival too early, now this girl seems content to stay put. We are ready for Jillian to join our family and meet her big sister. Hopefully soon!

Pumpkin Patch and Pregnant

I wasn't sure it was going to happen this year, but we did indeed make a pumpkin patch trip before our newest pumpkin arrives. I am 38 weeks pregnant and chasing Lauren through a sea of pumpkins was not happening, so Daddy deserves a round of appaulse for keeping up with our marathon runner. After a while of searching for the perfect pumpkins, we ended up bringing two large and two small pumpkins home. Lauren picked her pumpkin right away and carried it around the whole time. Good thing it was small! She also picked a pumpkin for baby Jillian, very sweet. I don't know what it is about kids and pumpkin, but they make the cutest pictures. Don't you agree.

38 weeks pregnant

Daddy and his little pumpkin

Happy 3rd Birthday Lauren Grace!

Our little Lauren celebrated her 3rd birthday on October 6. What a sweet and precious blessing she is to our family. She is growing up so fast, but I still think of her as my baby. I don't think that will ever change. We love the little girl that she is growing into, and it is so fun to watch her personality develope She loves to sing and tell jokes, just basically likes to laugh and make others laugh. I think the Lord has given us the best of both worlds with her because she loves to play dress up and baby dolls, but she also won't pass up any opportunity to get messy and dirty. We think she is the perfect combination of a princess and tomboy. We love you, big 3 year old girl. Thanks for making the past three years so much fun!

The birthday girl

Cupcakes with her friends at school. Our daughter, the only girl in her class, was the only child with cupcake all over her face.

We took Lauren to the see the movie Toy Story 2 in 3D. It was her first movie and she loved it. She was a little unsure of things at first, but nothing a little popcorn, candy, and lemonade couldn't fix. She hasn't stopped talking about it.

Lauren's purple room

Lauren has made the move to her new room. With baby sister's arrival rapidly approaching, we have been working on making Lauren a special big girl room so that we can keep Lauren's old room as the nursery. Last night was her first night in the new room, and we had our good and not so good moments. She was not happy that Daddy put the safety rail on her bed and she told us that her bed was ruined because of it. Trying not to laugh, we explained that all of her friends also had safety rails on their beds. She didn't buy it at first, but eventually gave in. Once we got her put down, Lauren decided that the fun was just beginning. She went from jumping on the bed, to swinging and twirling around in the curtains, and finally ended up breaking 3 of the planks in the plantation shutters. Dad was not happy. She didn't fall asleep until after 10. She did however sleep through the night with no problems. Yeah!

The bed is no longer next to the windows and curtains. Lauren had too much fun playing in them last night, so that had to be changed this morning.

First day of School

At the beginning of September, our little Lauren started going to a Mother's Day Out program at the local Presbyterian church. It honestly makes me a little emotional when I think about it too much. She loves it and has several friends that are also in the program. Another funny side note, she is the only girl in her class. This apparently does not bother her at all. I have been on bed rest for the past month, so it is a blessing that Lauren has a place to go and play and be stimulated a couple of times a week. We went through a little bit of separation anxiety the first week, me more then her, but we are starting to get the hang of our new routine. We're excited about what a big girl she is becoming.

Lauren picked out a Disney princess lunch kit. I know you are all very surprised.

This picture makes me laugh. Doesn't she look like she is saying, "Hurry up Mom, take the picture".

Mother's Day 2009

This was an extra special Mother's Day for me. I got to celebrate being Lauren's Mommy, which brings me more joy then I could ever put in to words, and I also got to celebrate being a Mommy-to-be again. I am truly loving this time in my life, and trying to soak up every moment. Don't get me wrong, being pregnant and chasing a toddler is challenging, and half the time I feel like I'm losin' it. But I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

Doesn't Lauren look like such a big girl in the picture

Our newest blessing!

We are so excited to share our newest blessing with all of you. We will be adding a new little one to our family in October. Another October baby! God is so good! Lauren will be almost exactly 3 years older then her baby brother or sister. Our new little baby is so lucky to have such a sweet big sister. We can't wait to see the two of them together.

Easter Sunday

Today we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior. What an amazing message to proclaim: He is Risen! So with all the bunnies, chicks, candy and eggs aside, we put Christ as the center of our celebration. Hallelujah, He is Risen!

Lauren called her dress "my ballet". This is what she calls pretty much anything that twirls.

Digging in her Easter basket

Daddy's Little Girl

Lauren got a pink baseball glove and ball in her Easter basket this year. I am sure there is no doubt who picked this out for her. Of course, Daddy and Lauren went right outside to break the glove in. Lauren also had to have on her sunglasses and bracelet before she was ready to play ball.

Hunting Eggs with Friends

We had an Easter egg hunt in our backyard for Lauren and her friends. Daddy hid the eggs, but before he could finish, the kids came running out to get their loot. I was cracking up. It was a great time and all the kids loved opening their eggs and eating the treats.

Once again, my daughter was the only one with stuff all over her face. This is actually her second change of clothes.

Lauren's Big Beautiful Bed

Lauren made the move to a big girl bed and things are going surprisingly well. Because we have such an active little girl, we were concerned that she would use her new found freedom to have an all night party in her room. We told her that the big girl bed comes with only one rule, "No getting out of bed until Mommy or Daddy comes to get you". She has done great and always follows the rule. She tells everyone that will listen to come and see her "big beautiful bed". We are really proud of our big girl.

Lauren playing princess in her big beautiful bed!

Of course cuddle cat also had to check out the new sleeping arrangements

Sweet Valentines

Lauren got together with her friends in Pearland to celebrate Valentine's Day. They ate lots of sweet treats, danced, played with bubbles and exchanged cards. Lauren was so cute passing out her Valentine cards and she loved looking through her bag of cards and treats. It brought back fun memories of Valentine parties at school as a kid. I know that Lauren isn't there yet, but this was a perfect little party to start those memories.

The cupcake crew
(and why is my child the only one with frosting smeared all over her face)

Emery was showing Lauren how to blow bubbles

more cupcake!

Dance Party Pearland

Wildlife Park

Our playgroup visited a wildlife park and it was amazing. I hope you can tell from the pictures how unbelievable this place is. The kids got to see the animals really close up, feed them and touch them. It was super cool! We rode on an open tram for about 40 minutes and the animals would come up to the tram and eat out of your bucket of food. Lauren wasn't scared of the big animals at all, but the petting zoo was a different story. She would let a huge ostrich or camel get right next to her, but she wanted nothing to do with the goats and pigs in the petting zoo.

feeding the ostrich