WHAT A BEAUTIFUL WEEKEND

Our Church celebrated a Sunday School Picnic after Church on Sunday.  It was in honor of the three new Sunday School Classes, and hosted by the older Classes.  I was really nervous that Rose would be fussy and uncooperative because usually on Sundays she is completely off schedule!  Her morning nap falls right in the middle of "big church"; therefore, she usually misses her morning nap and turns into a Zombie Devil by lunch time.  So, in preparation for the picnic, Mark and I attended the early service and rushed her home to get that "guaranteed" morning siesta.  HA! She did everything but fist-fight me over it.  I finally got to the point that I was willing to let her cry-it-out for this nap, simply because this was a Big Day, and I needed her on her utmost behavior.  Well, to make a long story short, she did not get that nap...  after all that planning around her "schedule" - she blew that out the window!!! But, I do have to admit, that once she was outside in the beautiful sunshine with all those kids playing, she was a totally different child! Nobody ever knew she was in dire need of sleep! After the picnic she went to Aunt Ju-Ju's to play while I attended a baby shower and Mark played tennis! That poor child did not fall asleep until after 4:00 that afternoon!!!!  Then she woke up ready to head to the neighbors house for dinner! She had an eventful day and this momma was worn out!!!!

ROSE'S NEW DIVA POSE

BITTERSWEET

THOSE MOMENTS WHEN YOUR BABY GRADUATES FROM ONE MILESTONE TO THE NEXT.....

As I see the BIG ONE YEAR mark quickly approaching, I also see that there will be lots of BIG changes taking place...  They may seem more like mole hills to you, but for a first time mom, to realize your baby is "outgrowing" things, makes those hills seem more like Mountains.  And as happy as I am that my sweet girl is healthy, growing, and turning into a "little girl," I cant help but realize that she is no longer "my BABY."  Yes, "baby's" don't drink Whole Milk from a Jug, they don't face forward in their car seat, they don't eat cheerios for breakfast, and they sure cant tell their momma "bye bye" when she leaves for work.  It really does seem like yesterday that I was finishing the final touches to a nursery,  preparing my bank account for 2 months of not working, and cleaning my house so that there would be no signs of dust or dog hair.  1 year later, I'm ordering birthday supplies, hooking in DVD players the opposite direction, boxing up newborn outfits and sending them to one cousin or the other, the baby bed has been lowered twice now, and I'm still trying to clean up dog hair......

Rose's new Britax Boulevard

As most of you know, Rose has always been a TERRIBLE car baby.  All of my friends say their kids get in the car and immediately pass out and sleep the entire trip.  NOT ROSIE ROO.  She hates the car.  She screams in the 5 minutes it takes to run Lizzie home in the afternoon.  The DVD player helps, but sometimes, she still puts up a pretty good fight.  So, I have been counting down the days (or the pounds) until I could turn her around.  Well, Ladies and Gents, Yesterday at Weight Watchers - Rose weighed in too! And guess what.....  She bumped up! From 19.8 to 20.2! And that means.... drum roll please....  Little Stink Pot gets to TURN AROUND IN THE CAR SEAT!!!! YAY!!!! We rode all over town last night and not one single peep was uttered from her lips! Hallelujah! The day I have waited for has finally arrived, and the fact she was so happy and not fussy... made the "Bittersweet" really a lot more "Sweet" than "Bitter" :)

EASTER

AS MARK AND I WATCHED THE BIBLE LAST NIGHT, I COULDN'T HELP BUT TO REFLECT ON THE WAY GOD HAS CHANGED OUR LIVES IN THE LAST YEAR.  THINGS HAVE SURE CHANGED SINCE LAST EASTER...
 
LAST EASTER, WE WERE A FAMILY OF TWO, I WAS 8 MONTHS PREGNANT, 30 POUNDS HEAVIER, MISERABLE, LIVING WITH MY PARENTS DUE TO A GAS LEAK IN THE HOUSE, MY MOTHER WAS RECOVERING FROM OPEN HEART SURGERY, MARKS MOTHER WAS RECOVERING FROM A KIDNEY TRANSPLANT, AND WE WERE READY TO MEET OUR SWEET GIRL. 

THIS YEAR, WE ARE A HAPPY FAMILY OF THREE, LOOKING INTO BUILDING A HOUSE, HAVE A NEW CAR, GREAT JOBS, ARE NOW BOTH IN A SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS AND BIBLE STUDY, BOTH MOMS HAVE RECOVERED WELL, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL LITTLE GIRL. 

THIS EASTER, MADE LAST EASTER ALL WORTH IT!  EVERYTHING FROM DYING EASTER EGGS WITH ROSE, TO EASTER EGG HUNTING, TO CHURCH SERVICES, TO BUYING A NEW EASTER DRESS, TO THE EASTER BUNNY, TO SPENDING THE WEEKEND IN CARROLLTON, TO SUNDAY FAMILY LUNCH, EVERYTHING - WAS JUST AS I HAD EVER HOPED FOR. 
GOD HAS SURELY BLESSED US THIS EASTER :)


AND NOW! ON FOR THE FUN PART....  THE PICTURES!!!

DYING EASTER EGGS!

THE EASTER EGG HUNT

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

ALL THESE EGGS ARE MINE MOM???  REALLY????

THIS IS SO HEAVY...  COULDN'T YOU HAVE BOUGHT ME A SMALLER BASKET...???

THE WEATHER DID A NUMBER ON MY HAIR... 

EASTER IN CARROLLTON 

I REALLY DIDNT REALIZE THAT I DID NOT TAKE MANY PICTURES WHILE WE IN CARROLLTON.  I DONT HAVE ANY OF HAMPTON, OR OF ROSE AND ANNE LOWRY PLAYING.  VERY DISAPPOINTING.

EASTER SUNDAY

 THE EASTER BUNNY