The Fehrle Family

Christmas Day 2011

2012-01-10T13:13:00.001-08:00

I'm FINALLY getting around to blogging about Christmas day. James & I decided last year that we wanted to have some time on Christmas for just our little family. So, Christmas morning we enjoyed our first Christmas morning as a family of four. It was so nice to just have a casual breakfast & watch the kids open presents & play with their new toys. We didn't have to be anywhere until 11:30 & we didn't have to drive across town, it was so nice.

James & I also felt that we went overboard last year buying presents and wanted to tone it down this year. So, we didn't buy too much for the kids especially since they would be getting gifts from the rest of the family. And of course Jacob didn't really know what was going on anyways. James & I agreed not to buy each other gifts because we bought a new couch & coffee table for the living room.

Jacob woke me up at 6 am wanting to eat. Jacob & I waited anxiously for Daddy & Abigail to wake up to see what Santa left for them. Abigail asked Santa for an American Girl Doll. Several months ago, we went to the new HEB in the Woodlands and they were selling Texas Girl dolls. They look like an American Girl knock off. Abigail saw the Texas Girl doll dressed as what she thought was a bride & wouldn't stop talking about it. Abigail wanted the "Quinceanera" Texas Girl doll. James & I of course thought that was hilarious, but Abigail did not forget about that bride Texas Girl doll & that's what she wanted for Christmas. Of course, Santa was happy to pay the $25 for the Texas Girl doll versus the American Girl doll prices. Abigail doesn't know the difference & that's what she wanted. Santa also brought a cowgirl outfit for the doll. Santa also brought Abigail a doll house for her Barbie dolls. Abigail got lots of other toys, books, & clothes from the family. Santa brought Jacob tools. James wanted Jacob to have a little tool box. Santa was able to find a few tools that were age appropriate for Jacob.

Abigail woke up saying "It's Christmas, woo hoo, Santa came" & came running down the stairs. She was so excited about her American Girl doll a.k.a. Texas Girl doll. Abigail couldn't wait to get her doll out of the box. She was excited about her doll house too, but had to wait patiently while Daddy to put it together. Jacob of course was too little to understand what was happening, but he did enjoy eating the wrapping paper.

We had a wonderful Christmas this year! We bought the Elf on the Shelf book & Abigail named our elf "Katie" because she's a girl & had a cute little skirt. Abigail had lots of fun finding her each morning. Katie didn't do anything too creative & sometimes she would be found in the same spot as the day before. Abigail really got into the whole "Santa" thing this year. We still made sure Abigail understood the real meaning of Christmas is celebrating our savior's birth. We spent the week after Christmas cleaning out toys & organizing toys in an effort to make room for everything. I always love putting up all the Christmas decorations & enjoy looking at them while they're out, but I also enjoy putting the decorations away just as much. I like getting the house all back in order.

Santa visited the Fehrle home

Abigail's presents from Santa

Jacob's presents from Santa

The stockings were hung

Jacob didn't know what was going on & just wanted to chew on whatever he could get his little hands on.

Abigail LOVED her presents from Santa

Jacob checking out his new hammer

Abigail was so excited about her new book. I hope she always gets this excited about books

Jacob wanted to eat the wrapping paper

Jacob likes his new book

My precious baby boy! Jacob's 1st Christmas!

Abigail LOVED her new Olivia umbrella

Abigail was excited about her little people horse trailer

Family photo op (everyone was ready for a nap at this point)

My family minus my parents

Christmas Eve 2011

2012-01-08T19:35:00.001-08:00

On Christmas Eve, we had Grandma & Papa over for lunch to celebrate Christmas with them. I cooked my first turkey. I was very nervous about cooking a turkey, but wanted to make the meal special. My mom makes the best turkey, cornbread dressing, & gravy, so I had a good mentor. First, I made the Pioneer Women's brine & brined the turkey overnight. Cooking the turkey was easy, but James did keep an eye on the temperature to make sure we didn't over cook the bird. I don't like eating dried out meat of any kind from being overcooked. The turkey turned out beautifully. We made the homemade cornbread dressing & giblet gravy with a little assistance from my mom who came over to help me. I was very proud of myself for pulling off a big meal like this for the first time. I guess it made me feel more like an adult since I'm used to always going to my parent's or Grandmother's for the holidays and they do all the cooking. The meal was AMAZING if I do say so myself! James was very pleased too! After our fabulous lunch, we opened presents & watched the kids play with their new toys. Grandma & Papa were very appreciative of the meal we made for them.

Making the brine for the turkey

Putting the turkey in the brining bag

My 1st turkey!

Making giblet gravy

Table is set

Grandma & Papa with their grandkids

Look at that cute little bottom

Jacob's favorite thing was playing with the wrapping paper

7 Months Old

2012-01-03T19:40:00.000-08:00

Jacob has been 7 months for several weeks now, but I'm just now getting around to posting some recent pictures of him.

What's Jacob up to now?

-started crawling all over the place shortly after he turned 6 months

-pulling up on everything & starting to cruise around furniture

-FINALLY sleeping through the night (Mommy is so thankful)

-FINALLY establishing a nap time routine of napping in his crib & not the infant carrier while I'm out running errands

-LOVES eating puffs, the little finger food snacks that melt in your mouth

-Getting pretty good with his pincher grasp when picking up the puffs to feed himself

-is still a Mommy's boy! If I'm in the room, Jacob prefers me over anyone else.

-LOVES playing with his sister

-enjoys being outside

-is a happy baby full of smiles & laughter, only cries when he's tired or hungry

Jacob's 1st wagon ride

Abigail wanted to pull the wagon

Had to lower the crib

Playing with his friend Merritt's toys

Happy boy

Discovered the Christmas tree

The childproofing has begun

Abigail's Christmas party @ Sonkids

2012-01-03T19:18:00.001-08:00

Abigail had so much fun at her class's Christmas party. They got to eat McDonald's for lunch as a special treat that day. Then, they played a book exchange game. Abigail loves books and was excited about getting a new book. Abigail's teacher had a craft planned for us to make candy canes with beads. Abigail did a good job & only needed a little assistance from me. And of course every good Christmas party ends with singing Happy Birthday to Jesus and eating a cupcake.

Abigail made a Christmas ornament for us using her finger prints as the bodies of snowmen, the snowmen on the ornament represented our little family. It's super cute! I took a picture of the ornament, but haven't uploaded it to my computer. Abigail also made a plaque of a reindeer using her handprint. I LOVE getting homemade crafts that my child has made especially when they're using her cute little hand prints!

Getting ready for the book exchange game

Abigail's looking a little bored! LOL!

Making a candy cane with beads working on fine motor skills & practicing AB patterns

Cupcake time

Reindeer Dance @ Boni's 2011

2012-01-03T14:01:00.001-08:00

Abigail performed her annual holiday dance at Boni's. She did such a good job. It's been really neat to see her progress over the last few years. They performed a reindeer dance & one other cute little dance. After, the girls performed the Daddies were asked to come up so they could teach them a dance. James was happy he was able to be there, it was not easy for him to get away from work that day. Abigail is a Daddy's girl so she LOVED having her Daddy there & thought it was so funny that she got to teach him a dance. I took a video of both dances & posted them on facebook. So, this is the dance in pictures. Enjoy!

This little girl LOVES her Daddy!

Family photo op

Abigail & Honey! Mimi was there too!

Santa's Wonderland

2012-01-02T19:06:00.001-08:00

At the beginning of December, we went to Santa's Wonderland in College Station with our good friends the Steele's. We stopped at our farm in Plantersville on the way to pick up James & to show our friends the farm because they had never been to our place before. It also helped break up the drive for the kids. The kids loved running around the farm & riding in the mule. Thankfully, Santa's Wonderland wasn't too crowded when we got there so we were able to get on a hay ride rather quickly to ride around & look at all the Christmas lights. I was really impressed! The kids loved looking at all the lights! Plus, they had a lot of other cool stuff like a petting zoo, pony rides, mechanical bull riding, pics with santa, live music, lots of food, & more! We all had a great time! It made for a late night since we had to drive back home, but it was worth it!

Going for a ride on the mule at the farm

This picture of Abigail, Maggie, & Caleb is hilarious!

Looking at all the lights

Going through a tunnel of lights

Lydia holding Jacob

Santa Pics

2011-12-30T13:12:00.001-08:00

The last several weeks have been super busy, so I will be updating the blog when time allows. The Christmas festivities began with a visit to see Santa. Abigail told him she wanted an American Girl doll this year.

My boos with Santa

Abigail with Santa

Jacob's 1st Christmas & visit with Santa!

6 Month Stats

2011-12-02T11:31:00.000-08:00

How does it go from this....
to this....
and this in just 6 months???

Babies change so much in just 6 months, it's crazy! I want my itty bitty baby back! Time needs to slow down & so does my precious baby boy!

Jacob's 6 month stats:

weight: 16 lbs. 7.8 oz. (25%)

length: 25.25" (7%)

*Looks like Jacob is going to be vertically challenged like the rest of the family!

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-28T19:39:00.000-08:00

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving despite dealing with one illness after another. It started with James getting a sinus infection, then both James & Abigail got the hand, foot, & mouth disease, then Abigail came down with a double ear infection, & then James went to the emergency room for an infection in his manhood area. I forgot to mention while all this was going on, James spent two nights away from home doing a sleep study. So, needless to say I was more than ready for the Thanksgiving break to be over because I desperately needed to get back into my regular routine. It was getting a little bit depressing!

Our Thanksgiving festivities began on Wednesday night, we went to my Grandmother's house for dinner. Thanksgiving day we watched some of the Macy's parade on t.v., but Abigail got bored rather quickly. We went to my parent's house for lunch with my family. Then my sister who's a photographer took our family pictures. We went by James's parents house to visit with them for a little bit. We ate dinner with James's parents on Friday night. I love Thanksgiving because it's a time to reflect on all we have to be thankful for in our lives. I also love getting together with my family. Even though we all live in the Woodlands, we don't see each other as often I would like.

Aunt Jamelle brought a craft for the kids

Jacob chilling

Mommy's little turkey

Mimi getting Jacob to laugh

Thanksgiving Feast @ Sonkids 2011

2011-11-23T13:53:00.000-08:00

Last week, Abigail's preschool had their annual Thanksgiving Feast. I know I've said this before on my blog, but I LOVE Abigail's preschool. I love the program, the teachers, the staff, the fact that I know my child is being prayed over each day she walks in the classroom, and I could keep going on and on. The Thanksgiving Feast is one of my favorite things that Sonkids does each year. I didn't know what to expect last year because it was our first year. The gym is all set with tables on the ground for the children to sit down & have lunch together. Each classroom decorates their tables with centerpieces & place mats made by the children. I was excited to see what Abigail made this year. Each class is responsible for the food for the children in the class. The staff all bring food & share with the parents. It's a time for the school to come together & break bread together. This year, after I helped clean up the mess I took Abigail home from school early. Last year I didn't take her home & when I went to pick her up she was the only one left in her class. Even though she was only there for an hour or so by herself with her teachers, I still felt terrible. So, this year Abigail got to leave school early & we went to visit Mimi & Honey since Mimi was so kind to watch Jacob while I was at the Thanksgiving feast.

Abigail listed a few of the things she's thankful on the turkey's feathers.

The tables all set waiting for the children.

Cute centerpiece that Abigail's class made. What a cute idea using their handprints as feathers.

My little pilgrim

Abigail was excited that Mommy & Daddy came to eat lunch with her.

Abigail's class eating their Thanksgiving feast together.

6 Months Old

2011-11-20T17:52:00.001-08:00

I can't believe that my baby boy is 6 months old! Time needs to slow down! Jacob is growing up too fast, it makes me so sad! I'm trying to soak up every minute of my time with this baby while he's still a baby. I love this baby boy so much. His smiles melt my heart & he's got his Mommy wrapped around his little finger.

What is Jacob doing:

-sitting up unassisted

-rolling all over the place

-scooting backwards

-getting on all 4's (he'll be crawling soon & I'm not quite ready for that yet)

-LOVES his baby food

-LOVES bath times

Busy boy playing with his toys

My little stud

Happy baby likes sweet potatoes

Practicing with the sippy cup

Bath time fun

mmm, green beans

Abigail's Turkey Tango

2011-11-15T13:21:00.001-08:00

Last week at Boni's, Abigail danced her "Turkey Tango" dance. Abigail did such a good job. They had two dances, the first one was a tap dance to the "Turkey Tango," & the second dance was a ballet dance where they were also singing (yelling) "Happy Thanksgiving." Abigail LOVES to dance & perform for people. She reminds me so much of my niece Kayla when she was Abigail's age. Here's the dance in pictures since I've been unsuccessful in the past posting videos. I'll post the videos on facebook for all to enjoy.

Notice the height difference, LOL.

Changing out her shoes from tap to ballet

Taking a bow

Mommy & Daddy with our little dancer

Mimi & Honey came to watch

Jacob's Baby Dedication 2011

2011-11-12T19:33:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday was the baby dedication at our church. Our church has baby dedication twice a year so it's a little more personal than having a large number of people on stage. Although, our church is growing so fast & has lots of babies & children that we still have a full stage each time. Baby dedication is a special time to publicly dedicate our child to God & promise to instruct him in HIS ways. Jacob is such a precious gift from God. He's the cutest little baby boy & his smiles just melt your heart. It was such an honor to have our pastor & friend introduce our family & pray with us as we dedicated our son to the Lord. It was very special to me that we weren't just "another" family on stage, but the pastor & the children's ministry staff actually knew who we were & knew our names other than just reading them off a card. We invited our family to church to witness the dedication. So, Abigail had her cousins Gannon & Colton in her class. She thought that was so funny. Abigail also thought that the Bible Jacob received was for her & she commented that she now has two of the same Bibles. Silly girl! Abigail came on stage with us & she stood there so sweetly just holding the Bible.

All the parents & children

Family photo op

Mimi with the her grandkids minus Alec. Aunt Lindsay had to hold Paxton.

The Bible that WPCC passes out. This is a really neat children's Bible.

The card Jacob was given along with his Bible. This picture was flashed on the screen while his name was being read.

Inside of the card

Starting Solids

2011-11-10T14:54:00.001-08:00

A few weeks ago, we introduced Jacob to solid food. I was going to wait until he was 6 months old to start solids, but he was ready. He's still content without the baby food, but I was secretly hoping that the solids would help him sleep better at night. That was wishful thinking on my part. Oh well! Jacob LOVED the rice cereal. I was surprised by how much he actually swallowed instead of spitting it right back out. He even tried to grab the spoon away from Daddy to feed himself. Little stinker! Abigail helped feed him too. She's such a good big sister. So far he's tried most of the fruits & squash. Other than bananas, he's loving this food thing. Thankfully he hasn't had any allergic reactions to any of the foods we've tried. Praise God!

Halloween 2011

2011-11-09T18:35:00.001-08:00

As you can see from all the posts, we've been very busy with all kinds of fall fun the last few weeks. Finally, getting around to posting the pics from Halloween. After I picked Abigail up from school, we went by Grandma & Papa's house for a quick visit. Then we took Abigail & Jacob trick or treating on our street in our new neighborhood. We live in an older neighborhood so there's not a lot of young children. However, we realized that there are more children that live around us than we thought. The neighbors across the street have 3 small children. Trick or treating in our neighborhood gave us a chance to get to meet some of the neighbors. Then we headed over to Mimi & Honey's house for more Halloween fun & some more trick or treating. Honey was dressed up in a tux with his gorilla mask & Uncle Ricky dressed up as Men in Black. I know I say this every year, but I can't remember a Halloween when my Dad isn't wearing his gorilla mask. The cousins all love being together & it's so fun watching them play together. We all just hung out & took the kids trick or treating around my parent's house. And of course we ate lots & lots of candy & everyone was full of sugar by the end of the night.

Playing at Grandma & Papa's

Trick or treating in our neighborhood

Cousin pic minus Alec

The boys with their transformer masks on

Trunk or Treat

2011-11-08T19:49:00.001-08:00

James & I went to the "Trunk or Treat" at Faith Bible Church with our friends Todd & Kimberly & their girls. Papa & Grandma came along for the fun. I had never been to a trunk or treat before & didn't know what to expect. I pictured everyone parking in a parking lot & passing out candy out of the back of their cars. I was wrong! We just had to show up & the rest was taken care of by the church's youth group. The youth group dressed up & passed out the candy. Abigail enjoyed walking around with Sydney & of course she loved getting candy. She was wanting to open the candy as fast as she was getting it. James & I loved getting to spend some time Todd & Kimberly and our children. I thought it was a great idea because it provided something fun & constructive for the youth group to do together.

Grandma's a spider & Papa is a farmer. Abigail is Rapunzel, Jacob's a frog, James is the King, & I'm supposed to be a Queen.

Sydney & Abigail

This is how Jacob did the trunk or treat!

Abigail talking to Mr. Todd.

I think this picture of Jacob is hilarious!

Jacob & JoJo flirting already!

Fall Festival 2011

2011-11-07T19:33:00.001-08:00

Abigail had so much fun at her fall festival at Sonkids. She was so excited to dress up as Rapunzel from the movie Tangled. Abigail even had a long wig like Rapunzel. I didn't think she'd last all day wearing the wig. I was correct with that assumption. I didn't get a group picture of all kids in her class dressed up this year. Abigail's class had their train ride earlier in the day & then they were the last group to go in the gym for games. However, the teacher had lots of fun things for them to do all day. Abigail's favorite part of the day was of course the train ride. I loved seeing all the teachers, staff, & kiddos dressed up in costumes.

These girls were in the same class last year!

Train ride

Marching back to class!

Playing games in the gym!

Abigail's had enough fun for the day!

Zoo Boo

2011-11-02T14:06:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, my sister & I took our kids to Zoo Boo at the Houston zoo. I was a little concerned about taking both kids to the zoo with just one stroller. Thankfully, my sister has a double stroller. It's a good thing she had the double stroller because Abigail rode in it most of the time. She had a major meltdown when I asked her to get up so Paxton could ride in the stroller. My sister's boys were sharing the back of the sit & stand just so Abigail could ride in the front. Besides the major meltdown we had a good time. The mosquitos were horrible! My sister had to run back out to her car to get the bug spray so we wouldn't get eaten up with mosquitos.

I had never been to the Zoo Boo & didn't know what to expect. Basically, the zoo had Halloween decorations throughout the zoo. There were also a few stations set up for the kids to trick or treat & a few games. Some children were wearing their costumes. The last time I was at the zoo it was under construction. The new Africa part of the zoo is really nice. I wish we could have fed the giraffes. We'll have to make time for that next time for sure. I didn't take any pictures of animals or the kids looking at animals. LOL!

Gannon & Abigail picking out their pumpkins

Coloring their pumpkins

This is how Jacob enjoyed the zoo!

Happy Baby

Abigail riding on my sister's double stroller

Riding the carousel

Attempt to get one last picture before we headed home!

Pumpkin Patch 2011

2011-11-01T11:29:00.001-07:00

A few weeks ago, my mom & I took the kids to the same pumpkin patch where we've taken Abigail since she was born. I love it because it's in a church courtyard, so it's not busy at all. The weather was beautiful & not too hot so it was perfect for pictures. I was very pleased with how well the pictures turned out too, since I'm not a very good photographer.

My little boos!

Jacob doesn't know what to think about the grass!

My baby boo!

A rare picture of me & the kids!

Hold on!

Abigail was done with pictures at this point!

I love this baby boy!

5 Months Old

2011-10-25T12:39:00.001-07:00

I can't believe that Jacob is already 5 months old! Time is going by so fast! I was a little late with his 4 month check up & shots, which I'm sure is perfectly normal for a second child right? It's also very difficult to find the time to update my blog. I want to make time to update the blog because I have always been better at blogging than updating the baby book. So, I will work on making time for updating the blog in my already hectic schedule.

4 months stats:

15 lbs. 5.6 oz. (40%)

24.75 " (23%)

Jacob had a reaction on one of his legs to one of the shots. The area of the shot site got really red & knotted up. He never ran a fever & it didn't seem to bother him, but we went back to the doctor just to double check. A few days later, we discovered that he's allergic to the milk proteins in formula. We tried to give him formula for the first time & he had an allergic reaction. He kept spitting up & dry heaving & then he broke out in hives all over his body. It was VERY scary because he was choking on his spit up. Thankfully I had some friends over, so they were able to stay with Abigail until my in-laws could get to our house. At the emergency room Jacob was given benadryl & an oral steroid. He was tired from all the medication, but back to himself the next day. I followed up with the pediatrician the following Monday who recommend I try soy formula. Well, Jacob turned his nose up at the soy formula. So, this Mama's just going to have to make pumping a priority if I want to be able to leave Jacob with other people.

What Jacob's doing at 5 months:

-sitting up unassisted, but isn't steady yet

-loves his jumper & could bounce all day if I'd let him

-rolling from tummy to back & almost all the way from back to tummy, but not quite

-he babbles & coos, but he's been doing that for a while now

-scoots backwards when you put him on his tummy

-can move all around when he's laying on his back playing on his floor mat

-grabs & plays with toys, his fine motor skills amaze me

-loves his big sister & watches every move she makes

-enjoys being outside

-smiles all the time

That's all I can remember at the moment. I am still sleep deprived. Jacob still wakes up during the night to eat.

Farm Trip

2011-10-05T14:27:00.001-07:00

Last Saturday, we spent the morning at the farm. We didn't have anything going on & the weather was perfect, so I thought it would be fun to go to the farm. This wasn't Jacob's 1st trip to the farm, but it was his first trip where he was awake to see the farm. I hadn't been to the farm since Abigail's birthday in June because it's been so hot. I knew everything would be dry since we're in a severe drought right now, but I was sad to see how bad everything looked. We've lost some trees, the lake is very low & small, the hay field is just short stubby dry grass, & we only have about 20 cows or so because we've had to sell the majority of the cattle due to the drought & not having enough grass for them to eat or hay to feed them now or during the winter. The cost of hay right now is ridiculous, so James is thinking about selling all but a few until we get some rain & things turn around. It was a fun family day, but sad to see how the drought has effected the farm. It breaks my heart for the farmers who farm for a living because this drought is making things difficult. So many people are having to sell their cattle right now too because of the drought, so the auction prices are down.

Jacob loves being outside just like his big sister & his Daddy. I'm not so much of an outdoor person, but when the weather is nice I don't mind it so much. I need to learn to love the outdoors with a little boy though. James of course, had to drive Jacob around in the mule & introduced him to the cows. James also took Jacob for his 1st ride in the tractor. We have so many pictures of Abigail in the tractor with Daddy when she was a baby, so it was Jacob's turn. I know James can't wait to teach Jacob how to drive the tractor one day. Abigail is already learning to steer the mule while Papa pushes the gas pedal. Abigail likes to go fishing with her Barbie fishing pole at the farm. She actually caught a fish & she touched it. Abigail was running laps around the pavilion, that girl has too much energy sometimes. She was so sweet & picked me some flowers from the field. I knew they wouldn't make it home, but I did take a picture of them so at least I'd have the picture. We went to the Bar-B-que place near by & picked up lunch and brought it back to our farm and had a picnic under the pavilion. The weather was amazing & we all had a wonderful time. I love my little family so much & we are truly blessed! I'm one lucky girl!

Riding in the mule! Look at Jacob holding onto the steering wheel!

My boys! I love this picture of them!

Daddy showing Jacob the cows!

James walking in the "hay field," but there's no hay due to the drought!

Abigail caught a fish!

Jacob's 1st tractor ride!

There they go!

Jacob's 1st Night in his Crib

2011-09-16T09:56:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago, I decided it was time to move Jacob upstairs to his own room & to the crib. I was wanting to wait until Jacob was sleeping through the night, but it was time. Jacob was in our room sleeping in the bassinet by my bed. Every time he moved, the whole bassinet would shake. If he just started making noises, I would jump up to feed him because I was worried he would wake up James. I didn't get as emotional as I thought I would & everyone slept great! I put Jacob to bed awake & swaddled. Those ugly hospital blankets make perfect swaddling blankets. I gave Jacob his paci & lovie and walked out of the room. He was sound asleep within minutes. Abigail was so excited that Jacob would be sleeping upstairs with her now. She couldn't wait to go in his room the next morning to wake him up.

Update: Jacob is still sleeping very well upstairs in his crib. He has slept through the nights several times, but not consistently just yet. He is a little congested right now so he's not eating as much during the day, so he's waking up at least one time during the night to eat. I'm working on getting a nap routine for him, but it's difficult with more than one child. So, for now I'm just letting him nap when he wants to, which is usually in his infant carrier when we're running errands or shuttling Abigail to & from school. However, when we're at home I'm working with getting him to nap in his crib. Jacob is such a good baby! He's so laid back & goes with the flow!

I put him in his crib awake!

And not even 5 minutes later he was sound asleep!

Why does the bed look so big empty?

A view of the nursery with the crib. It's not a great picture, but oh well.

Abigail's 1st week of Pre-K

2011-09-15T12:38:00.001-07:00

Abigail started Pre-k last week, but I'm just now getting around to posting pics. Abigail was very excited to start school as all her friends had started school the week or so before she did. I found a cute painted horse back pack for Abigail that came with a matching lunch box for free. I ordered a back to school dress from someone who makes adorable little girl clothes. I was so excited about Abigail's first day of school too. I was quickly reminded that being a Mom requires you to go with the flow & not have certain expectations! I wanted to have the perfect posed "First Day of School" pics & that did not happen! Abigail woke up in a cranky mood. I had to force her to put the dress on for school. Then, she was trying to be little miss independent & put her back pack on herself & smashed her finger. So, the opportunity to have a happy girl & take any pictures was over. Abigail was being super clingy & had James carry her into the school. She wouldn't let him put her down to take pictures. Abigail even had a moment of hesitation before going into her classroom before we left, which isn't like her at all. I snapped a quick picture of her putting away her back pack before we left. Abigail had a good first day & seems to like her class & her teachers. Abigail isn't one to talk and answer a bunch of questions when I ask her about her day. She usually ends up telling us later on when she's in the mood to talk. Abigail had a lot of changes over the summer with adjusting to a new baby to moving to sleeping in a different bed, so I think getting back on a schedule & in a routine will be good for her. I think it's going to be a great year for her!

The only picture I was able to get of Abigail on the 1st day of school!

The special dress I had made for Abigail's 1st day!

2nd Day of School! She was in a much better mood & very excited that her baby doll had a matching outfit!

Abigail's cute back pack!

Tooth Fairy Visit

2011-09-05T13:18:00.000-07:00

While we were at Abigail's 4 year check up, I discovered she had a chipped tooth. I have no idea how she chipped her tooth nor do any of us remember Abigail having any falls recently. So, last Saturday while Abigail & I were sitting at the table eating a bowl of cereal & she complained of her tooth hurting, I assumed she was referring to the chipped tooth. I asked her which tooth & she pointed to the opposite side of her mouth. I just thought she had heard me talking about her chipped tooth, so I just let it go. Later that day while James & Abigail were eating popsicles, Abigail complained about her tooth hurting again. So, this time I decided to take a look at her teeth. I asked Abigail which tooth was hurting & she pointed to one of her top front teeth. I felt it & it was very lose!! I of course freaked out & did the whole gasp & hands over my mouth bit, which in turn freaked Abigail out! I admit not my best Mommy moment! I called the on call dentist & he said if the tooth falls out over the weekend there's nothing they can do, but follow up with the dentist on Monday either way so he can take a look at her teeth. The next morning, Abigail's tooth was just hanging on by a thread at this point. We decided to go ahead & go to church to try to take Abigail's mind off her tooth. After church, we went to lunch with friends like we normally do. Abigail wouldn't eat because of her tooth. She was holding a napkin on her tooth & when she thought no one was looking she pulled the tooth out herself! Abigail's always been one tough little girl! We almost really lost her lost tooth! Abigail was very proud of herself & couldn't wait to eat because she hadn't eaten anything all day because of her tooth. I on the other hand was at the other end of the table trying hard not to burst into tears. Abigail was excited to go to bed for the tooth fairy to come visit. She wanted to stay awake to see what the tooth fairy's dress looked like. Abigail's so funny. The tooth fairy had to stay up late to make sure Abigail was sound asleep so she could sneak upstairs without waking up Abigail. I must say that the tooth fairies job is much more difficult than I imagined. The next morning, Abigail came running down the stairs with her money in hand! She was so excited & couldn't wait to go to Walmart to spend her tooth fairy money. So, first thing Monday morning I called the dentist to make an appointment. It was time for Abigail to get her teeth cleaned anyways. Abigail did great getting her teeth cleaned & picked cookie dough as her toothpaste flavor. Abigail got x-rays of her teeth for the first time. I had to do a little bribing to get it done though. I could tell from the x-rays that her other top front tooth will be falling out soon, I didn't need the dentist to tell me. And of course, the dentist told me that the other top tooth would be falling out soon. The chipped tooth is fine. He said that the roots dissolved early most likely from trauma that happened when she was 18 months or so. Of course my first question was when will her adult teeth come in? He said not until around age 7. We can do nothing about the teeth & it will be just fine or we can get a bridge put in until it's time for her adult teeth to come in. I was sitting there listening to the dentist talk about our options trying so hard not to cry. I know I should be thankful that we're just talking about a missing tooth. I have a healthy little girl, I should not complain. I'm just not used to looking at my little girl with a missing tooth. My baby girl is growing up way too fast! It just makes me so sad! I lost my two front teeth at an early age & was toothless for a few years & it wasn't a big deal at all! For now, we aren't going to do anything about her missing tooth. We'll decide if we want to do anything once the other tooth falls out. For now, we just wait.

Not quite used to this new smile

Ready to put her tooth under her pillow

Excited about her tooth fairy money

Getting her teeth cleaned

Getting x-rays

x-rays

Abigail's 4 year Stats

2011-08-25T10:51:00.000-07:00

Last week, Abigail had her 4 year check up. She's 32 lbs., which puts her in the 20% for weight. She's 37.5" tall, which puts her in the 10% for height. Abigail is a petite little thing, but healthy. Abigail passed both her hearing & vision tests. She was brave for her shots, although she was screaming after the first two. I took her to get a cookie afterwards, but she only took two bites & she was done. I can't believe how big my baby girl is getting, time needs to slow down. Abigail has so much personality. She loves to sing & dance and makes up her own songs. She loves to play with her toys & has quite an imagination. Abigail is really into playing dress up and loves all the princess dolls & movies. Abigail is full of energy & always has been. She likes the t.v. on in the background, but doesn't just sit still and watch. She's always on the move. I love to listen to her playing when she doesn't think anyone is watching. I wish I could just stop time & she'd stay my little girl forever.

Waiting for the Doctor

Fell asleep in her playroom after her shots

Playing dress up & taking care of her babies

Abigail playing around

Abigail playing in her playroom

Jacob's 2 Month Stats

2011-07-27T06:04:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I took Jacob for his 2 month check up & shots. He weighs 12 lbs. 3.6 oz, which puts him in the 50% for weight! He's 23" long, which puts him in the 40% in length! It took Abigail almost 7 months to get to 12 lbs. & she's NEVER been in the 50%! I'm not gonna lie, I'm one proud Mama! I'm so thankful to have such a healthy baby boy! It's been a completely different experience having a healthy full term baby! Jacob is a very good baby! He loves his swing & will actually stay in it for longer than 5 minutes! Jacob seems to have a pretty laid back temperament so far! He's smiling & cooing, which is so cute! He has the most adorable smile EVER! He still has a head full of hair, which has a style of it's own! He's kicking his legs & grabbing at things with his little hands! He does take a pacifier & likes his lovies too! Jacob is breastfed only, which is another reason why I'm so proud of his healthy weight! However, I have introduced him to the bottle so I can leave him with others! He only gets a bottle maybe once or twice a week though! I haven't put him in the nursery yet at church, maybe in another month or so! Jacob sleeps in the bassinet in our room next to the bed! I plan to move him upstairs to his crib once he's sleeping all night! Jacob sleeps from about 10 pm until 5 am when he wakes up to eat, but then he goes back to sleep until he's ready to eat again around 8 am! I'll be happy when he's sleeping all night, but I'm happy he only wakes up one time to eat for now! I don't have any pictures to post this time, but promise to post lots of pictures next time!

We moved two week ago & it's been a little crazy around here! I've almost got all the boxes unpacked! Now, it's a matter of organizing & finding places for everything! Our old house is on the market, so we'll see what happens! We put the house for sale or lease, we'd like to sell it but we aren't going to sell if for any less than what we want to so we may just have to lease it for now! It's a nice little house & in a great location, so we aren't just going to give it away!

Abigail's 4th Birthday

2011-07-01T11:49:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, we had Abigail's 4th birthday party at our farm in Plantersville. Several months ago we decided it would be fun to have a pony party for Abigail because she is so into horses right now. For almost a year now, Abigail has been very into horses. If you take her to the toy store to pick out a toy, it's either going to be ponies or princesses. Usually I just have Abigail's birthday party at our house with friends & family. I figured I would already be packing up the house since we'll be moving mid July, so I didn't think we could have the party at our house. Well, not much packing has gotten done since I was put on bed rest before Jacob was born & obviously I've had my hands full with taking care of a newborn since he's arrived. We wouldn't normally splurge for a birthday party like this, but thought the timing was perfect to do something extra special for Abigail. It took a lot of preparation to get ready to have the party at the farm, but it was totally worth it. James had to get the decking down on the farm house to make it a pavilion so we could entertain there. James started the decking, but since he's been so busy at work & ran out of time, we hired someone to finish the rest. We had to take a load of tables & chairs up to the farm the night before. We had several industrial size fans on hand in case we needed to hook up the generator to cool everyone down if it got too hot. We left bright & early the morning of the party to finish setting everything up.

We had The Little Horeseshoe Farm come to do the pony rides. They brought 2 saddled ponies, a horse with a cart, a donkey, & a small petting zoo with a pony, 2 goats, ducks, chickens, & a rabbit. The animals were all so gentle with the children. I booked them during the Rodeo & they were running a special at that time. Abigail LOVED riding the ponies & even walked one of the ponies all around the farm. James & I were a little worried that Abigail thought she was going to get to keep one of the ponies. The Little Horseshoe Farm gives riding lessons & they are reasonably priced so we may take Abigail for some lessons once things settle down for us. Abigail really wants a horse. It's an expensive hobby & a lot of work so we're waiting to see if it's just a phase she's going through. In a few years if she's had some lessons & is still wanting a horse then we might consider getting her one. However, she has to be old enough to help take care of it since horses require lots of attention.

The weather could not have been more perfect for the party. There was a nice breeze because it was pretty windy. We had the party from 10-1 before it started getting too hot. I had to pull Abigail away from the ponies to come cut her cake & open presents. I was so busy playing hostess that I didn't get very many pictures. Thankfully, my parents & my mother-in-law were taking pictures with their cameras. We served hot dogs & hamburgers with chips & dip. My friend Dawn made an awesome birthday cake for Abigail. The top layer was chocolate & the bottom layer was vanilla. We had a horseshoe shaped pinata for the kiddos. The kiddos all had so much fun just running around, kicking around the dirt, riding on the mule, climbing on the mule, & fishing. James gave some tractor rides too. Abigail is blessed with lots of friends & family who love her dearly. Abigail had a blast at her party! Everyone who attended the party had a great time too! Abigail couldn't wait to tear into all of her presents as soon as we got home! Why do toy companies have to make it so difficult to get the toys out of the boxes? Oh my goodness, all the little ties they use to tie down the toys makes for a big mess! After we cleaned up everything at the farm & loaded everything up to come home, James commented "at least we aren't going home to a mess!" We realized after we unloaded everything & opened up all of Abigail's toys that we actually just brought the mess home with us! LOL! James & I were both totally exhausted after the party was over! I almost forgot to mention how wonderful Jacob was at the party. He slept most of the time, I almost forgot he was there he was so good! It was a fun party & I'm glad that we did something big & special for Abigail this year. However, I'm looking forward to getting back to the more simple laid back birthday parties!

Abigail's awesome birthday cake that my friend Dawn made!

View from the pavilion.

Abigail riding one of the ponies.

Abigail had so much fun walking this pony around.

Tristan took over walking the pony for Abigail, so cute!

Abigail & Daddy riding on the horse cart.

Samuel & Kaelynn looking at the bunny.

Colton brushing one of the goats.

Kayla & Paxton looking at the ducks & chickens.

My nephew Paxton riding one of the ponies. He'll be two July 9th.

Porter looking at the chickens. I love the excited expression on his face.

This goat was very friendly with Carter.

The mule is always a big hit with the kiddos.

The boys in my family, except for Jacob who was snoozing!

Paxton was trying to share his pickle with Jacob.

Dance Recital 2011

2011-06-11T06:57:00.000-07:00

Memorial Day weekend Abigail had her big dance recital with Boni's dance studio. This was Abigail's second year in dance & it's been neat to see how much she has progressed throughout the year. Abigail's teacher was Ms. Boni, the owner of the dance studio. Abigail got a dance trophie this year. One of the little girls in her class has an older brother that plays baseball, so he gets trophies. So, the little girls mom got some trophies for the girls. Abigail is very proud of her dance trophie. Abigail loves to dance & dances all over the house & anytime she hears music. Her pre-ballet class danced to the song "Baby Beluga," they were supposed to look like whales. The recital had a cruise theme this year. Abigail did a great job! We wanted to snap some pictures afterwards, but Abigail wasn't in the mood for pictures. She had her mind on the ice cream we told her we would go get after the recital. This was the last year for her Daddy to pick her up off the stage after her dance. Next year Abigail will be taking ballet & tap. The class is an hour long & they'll do 3o minutes of each. I think Abigail is going to love tap.

Abigail & James after he picked her up off the stage

Trying to get a good family picture, not going to happen!

Family photo op, Abigail's not having it!

Abigail & Jacob with their cousins Colton & Kayla! Abigail specifically asked if Kayla was coming to see her dance, she adores Kayla!

My Grandmother on my Mom's side with us & my Mom in the background

Headed Home

2011-06-01T14:11:00.001-07:00

I was in the hospital for about 3 days after I had Jacob. Abigail stayed with Mimi & Honey while we were in the hospital. She is a proud big sister, but she did have some adjustment problems. Abigail's tummy was upset all week & she was having poop accidents after being potty trained for well over a year. Abigail was acting out and not wanting to do anything and the answer was "no," to everything. I felt bad that she was giving my parents such a hard time. I'm not sure Abigail understood that I would be in the hospital for few days & then we'd all go home together as a family. One day, my mom brought Abigail up to the hospital & James took her to play in the playroom down the hall. Abigail met a little friend & she had a blast getting to play with someone her own age. The day I was discharged, Abigail threw a fit because the volunteer pushing me in the wheelchair took off without her. Then, she had to climb up in my lap while I was in the wheelchair. Abigail had a total meltdown as we were loading up the car. However, she calmed down & when we pulled up in front of the house she said, "wake up Jacob, this is your home." We decided Abigail needed to spend as much time at home getting back in her routine. After a few days of being home, Abigail was back to her old self again. And thankfully her tummy issues went away & she stopped having accidents.

Jacob is a very good baby. I have to wake him up every 3 hours to feed him. At night, I feed him & he goes right back to sleep. Jacob does have periods throughout the day that he's alert, but he mostly eats & sleeps. Abigail enjoys holding Jacob & she helps get diapers and throws them away. My recovery has been a breeze compared to when I had Abigail. I feel great, I'm just really tired. I do try to make myself nap in the afternoons while Abigail is napping, but that doesn't always happen. I'm so in love with my precious baby boy!

Proud big Sister

We are ready to go home!

Abigail insisted on climbing up in my lap!

Yes, our baby boy is in a car seat with flowers!

Home Sweet Home!!

Chilling on the couch in the Boppy

Jacob Edison Fehrle

2011-05-28T08:08:00.000-07:00

As you all know I was put on bedrest as a precaution at 27 weeks. Of course, after I was released from the bedrest at 36 weeks, I continued to carry Jacob to my scheduled c-section date. Praise God!!! The day before my c-section James & I both picked Abigail up from school & spent the afternoon with her. After dropping Abigail off at my parents house, we came home so I could finish packing & attempt to get some sleep. I was so nervous, that I think I only got about 2 hours of sleep. I couldn't eat or drink past midnight & of course I threw up my dinner. The day of Jacob's birth we arrived at the hospital at 6 am to get ready for the c-section. Everything was going smoothly until it was time to put the iv in. I have horrible veins and I was dehydrated. The nurse tried twice to get the iv in & was unsuccessful. I'm terrified of needles & it was very painful because she was digging around in my arm trying to get a vein. The nurses wrapped my arms in warm blankets trying to get my veins to pop up. The nurses were telling me to relax that I was causing my veins to tighten because I was so nervous. Of course, I was nervous because I was being treated like a human pin cushion. Finally, the nurse got the anesthesiologist to come put the iv in & he had to stick me twice before getting a vein. The vein he got wasn't a good one either because if I moved my arm a certain way the fluid would stop running. Apparently, they wanted to get a certain amount of fluid in me before taking me into surgery. My Dr and the Dr assisting him were waiting for me! We were more than 30 minutes behind schedule all because the nurses couldn't get an iv in my arm. Finally, it was time for the c-section. I was really freaking out at this point. I was having to psych myself up by telling myself that the baby has to come out & this is the only way the baby can come out, so I have to do this. Walking into the operating room was even more nerve wrecking. I had to take a few deep breaths & stop looking around at all the equipment. The nurse had me climb on the table & put my legs in a chair in front of me. I was shaking because it was so cold in the room. The spinal wasn't as bad as I thought it would be and my legs went numb almost immediately. My blood pressure was high the day before & the morning of the c-section. My blood pressure dropped really low as soon as the spinal started to take effect, so I was given some medication to increase my blood pressure. Dr. Rawson asked if I could feel anything & I said "no," and he said "okay, we're ready to go then." James was standing by me watching the whole c-section. He was like a little kid in a candy store, he was so excited. James made the comment, "there's not that much blood," to which Dr. Rawson responds, "I can show you some blood." Umm, excuse me guys, but I can hear you! It was a weird feeling knowing that I was sliced open on the other side of the curtain & that my baby was about to be outside my womb. I will never forget the sound of Jacob's first cry. What an awesome sound and an amazing feeling! All I could do was cry tears of joy as I laid on the table getting sewn back up and listened as my baby was being examined. The doctors & nurses all sang "Happy Birthday" to my precious baby boy! We have a video of them singing & Jacob cries at the end of the song, so cute!

Jacob Edison Fehrle was born May 17th at 7:52 a.m.. He weighed 6 lbs. 13 oz. & was 19 1/2 inches long. He was born with a head full of brown hair. Jacob is a happy healthy baby. Once we got back to the recovery room, Dr. Rawson came to check on me & asked if Abigail was at the hospital. Dr. Rawson had been waiting to get a hug from Abigail for several years now & she said she would give him a hug when he got baby Jacob out of Mommy's tummy. So, Dr. Rawson went to the waiting room to get Abigail & brought her back to meet her baby brother. Abigail was so excited to meet her baby brother & is a proud big sister. I love the pictures of those first few moments after Abigail met her baby brother. Then, one by one the rest of the family came back to meet baby Jacob.

The rest of the day was not so fun for me because I was throwing up from all the anesthesia and medicine I was given. The medicine the nurse gave me to stop the naucea made me groggy. So, I just laid in bed watching as my family enjoyed my baby boy. Should I even mention that my iv had to be changed, making that the 5th time I was poked! I was finally feeling better by the end of the day.

The first night at the hospital was another new experience because the baby was in the room with us & not in the NICU. I'm a light sleeper & don't sleep well in the hospital. In the middle of the night, I could hear Jacob spitting up but couldn't get to him. So, I tried waking James up & he was not waking up. I was beginning to think I was going to have to find something within arms reach to throw at him. Finally, James woke up & helped me with the baby. I decided just to hold Jacob & let him sleep with me since I couldn't get out of bed yet. I was able to get out of bed the next day & felt much better. This whole experience was so different from having a premature baby in an emergency situation. In a lot of ways, it was like we were having our first baby because we were experiencing so many things for the first time.

Mommy/Daughter Day!

2011-05-15T14:49:00.001-07:00

I wanted to do something fun with just Abigail & I before the baby arrived. So, last week after dance class, I took Abigail to Sweet & Sassy to get a manicure & pedicure. Sweet & Sassy is a cute little salon just for little girls. It's one of those places that you make fun of, but one day end up there with your child. We had some time to kill before her appointment so we walked over & ate lunch at Pot Belly. Abigail enjoyed a PB & J of course, while I had a chicken salad sandwich. As I sat there watching her eat her lunch across the table from me, I couldn't believe how much she's grown. What happened to my baby girl? Abigail will always be my baby girl, but she's growing up too fast! Sometimes I wish time would just stand still. Abigail LOVED getting her finger nails & toe nails painted! She was so proud to show off her pretty hands & feet. We had to go by & show Daddy at work before we went home. Abigail is very much a girly girl & LOVED all the pampering! I see more manicures & pedicures in our future that's for sure. I loved getting to spend some special time with my beautiful little girl!

Abigail waiting patiently to get all pampered!

Abigail & Mommy ( a friend offered to take the picture)

I think she's having fun, what do you think?

It's a hard life huh?

Abigail is loving getting her feet rubbed!

Abigail is being so still while she's getting her toe nails painted. It's always a battle when I go to trim her toe nails.

Look at those pretty feet minus the ugly mosquito bites on her little legs.

Waiting for her toes to dry

Manicure time

My little princess! Notice the pony in the purse sitting next to her, she picked that out & we had to have it.

"cheese"

Pretty hands

My little big girl!

Showing off the glitter on her face

A quick picture as we were leaving Sweet & Sassy

Mother's Day 2011

2011-05-10T13:40:00.001-07:00

I had a wonderful Mother's Day spent with my precious family. I can't believe that I didn't get one picture of me & Abigail, the one that made me a Mommy! I didn't get any pictures of me with my Mom either. I'm good about taking the camera with me everywhere I go on special occasions, but then I'm horrible about remembering to take some pictures with the camera. HaHa! Maybe it's because I'm a horrible photographer & I hardly ever like the way I look in pictures, I don't know. Oh well! James's parents came to church with us Sunday morning & then we had lunch with them. We were able to see several of our friends dedicate their babies at church that morning. I couldn't help but cry tears of joy as I watched the parents on stage dedicate their babies to the Lord. Babies who were prayed for before they were even conceived. Each & every child is such a precious gift & miracle given to us by God. Afterwards, we headed over to my parents house to spend the afternoon & evening with my family. Abigail had a blast swimming & playing with her cousins. My Dad boiled 72 lbs. of crawfish for the family. My siblings LOVE crawfish & can take down some serious amounts of crawfish. I like crawfish, but I eventually get tired of peeling them to get to the little bit of meat there is to eat. My Mom made some delicious chocolate covered strawberries for dessert. It was a fun & relaxing day even though it was a busy day. Maybe next year I'll remember to take a picture of me with my children on Mother's Day, we'll see!

All of my Mother's Day cards & flowers!

I just LOVE those little hand prints!

A cute card Abigail made at preschool

James & I (I'm 38 weeks pregnant with baby Jacob)

Sonkids Spring Program 2011

2011-05-05T12:37:00.000-07:00

Last week, Abigail had her spring program at her preschool. This has been Abigail's first year at Sonkids & she has loved it. We have been very impressed with how much she has learned. She's learning not only about numbers, letters, matching, counting, science, etc.. Abigail is also learning more about God's word. We loved the spring program & were once again very impressed by Sonkids. We can't wait to see how much Abigail grows next year.

Attempt at a family picture in the hall.

P.S. I tried numerous times to upload a video of Abigail's performance, but finally gave up! I'm not sure why I've had trouble uploading videos to the blog lately. I posted the video on my facebook page if you want to check it out.

Easter 2011

2011-05-02T14:14:00.001-07:00

I'm late on blogging about Easter, but it's better late than never. Plus, the blog is like a journal for me so it doesn't really matter when I document the recent happenings in our life. We celebrated Easter with Grandma & Papa on Good Friday. I was able to go back to church with my family on Easter Sunday after being on bedrest. It was so nice to be back at church & on such a special day was even more meaningful. We had an Easter egg hunt at church after the service. Then, we headed over to Mimi & Honey's house to celebrate Easter with my family & all of Abigail's cousins. It's always so fun to see the cousins together because they love each other so much. We ate lunch with my family & then the kids hunted eggs again. Abigail finally said, "I'm done hunting eggs!" LOL! I guess after hunting Easter eggs 4 times, you would be "over it." I have lots of pictures of Abigail hunting eggs that's for sure. Abigail has been learning the real meaning of Easter at school, church, & home. She says that Jesus died on the cross & rose again or came back to life. However, I don't think she is old enough to fully grasp this truth. The important thing for now is that Abigail understands that Easter is not only about the Easter bunny, Easter baskets, & Easter egg hunts. We didn't get any good pictures of us as a family this year. Oh well!

Me with Jacob's Easter basket from Grandma & Papa

Abigail in front of her Easter loot from Grandma & Papa

Easter egg hunt at Grandma & Papa's

Daddy & his little princess

Abigail & Daddy with Grandma & Papa

Abigail's Easter basket from the "Easter Bunny"

Bedhead haha!

Easter egg hunt at church

Abigail with her cousins checking out their Easter baskets from Mimi & Honey

My sister-in-law Jamelle, my Mom, my sister Lindsay, & me with Jacob sticking out

My brother Barry, My brother Ricky, my Dad, my brother-in-law Holland, & James

Easter egg hunt with cousins at Mimi & Honey's house

Spring time fun

2011-04-23T18:22:00.001-07:00

This week was an exciting week in the Fehrle household. First, we got our rental property leased out. The house was only listed for 2 weeks & our new tenants move in on Monday. Getting the house leased now was such a blessing because that's one less thing we have to worry about right now. Then on Tuesday, I went to the doctor & he told me that he was no longer worried about me or the baby! Praise God!!! I'm so thankful that this pregnancy has gone so smoothly. My c-section is scheduled for May 17th unless Jacob decides to come earlier. On Wednesday, I was able to go to Abigail's school to watch the Easter egg hunt. Of course the egg hunt lasted less than 10 minutes. I spent the afternoon shopping with my mom. Thursday, Abigail had her dance recital pictures at Boni's.

Abigail & John, he gave all the little girls in the dance class little Easter baskets.

Abigail with her class @ Sonkids Preschool

Blue Bonnet Pictures 2011

2011-04-08T11:09:00.000-07:00

On one of my little outings out of the house, we took a trip to the farm on a Sunday afternoon. James had put the roof on the house that we're building there & wanted Abigail & I to see it. I was sitting the whole time either riding in the car or sitting in a chair, so no worries. I figured this would probably be the last time for me to go to the farm until after the baby arrives. Some friends of ours came along for the ride. We stopped along the way to get some blue bonnet pictures. There's always a ton of blue bonnets as you drive towards Montgomery. We had a great time & it was so nice to get out of the house for a while!

Classic Texas Blue Bonnet Pic!

This isn't a good picture, but this is the frame of the house with the roof. James is building it in his spare time, so who knows when we'll finish it. The goal is to have some flooring down in time for Abigail's birthday, so we can have her party at the farm. So, it will look like a little pavilion. The house will be a little weekend home when it's completely finished.

New Perspective

2011-03-30T10:18:00.000-07:00

Being on bedrest has been an eye opening experience for me. I've had all kinds of emotions along this journey. First of all, I'm so thankful that I can at least get out of bed. My doctor would like for me to be laying down or as he would say "horizontal" most of the time. However, I sit more than I lay because it's more comfortable for me. Sitting is more comfortable because I have horrible reflux/indigestion. I continue to monitor my blood pressure at home & my blood pressure is stable. I have been able to get out of the house for short little outings here & there. However, I do see a difference in my blood pressure on the days I have gotten out of the house. My blood pressure is not high, just higher than what it is when I'm resting. I'm thankful that what's working for my family to abide with this whole bedrest thing is working for my body. I'm so thankful that I'm not having contractions or any other signs of preterm labor.

I have had feelings of guilt for all the times when I could have helped friends who were sick/had babies/on bedrest/death in the family/etc. & I didn't make the time in my schedule to visit them or take them a meal. We all have busy lives, but we all have time to reach out and help others. It all comes down to prioritizing. In the same way we make excuses for not making time for a quiet time because "we don't have time." We all have time, it's how we choose to prioritize our days. For example, I'm wasting time right now sitting here typing this blog when I could be writing thank you notes that I need to get mailed. We all take time to watch t.v. at some point during the day. And I'm sure we all at some point during the day get on facebook and waste time or waste time searching the internet. My point is that if we're really being honest with ourselves, are we really doing something productive during every minute of our days? The answer is "NO!" Trust me I am guilty of this too and have really been convicted of how I've prioritized my life. I have also felt guilty for the burden that's being put on James & my mom for all the responsibilities they are taking care of because I can't. My mom has been busy taking Abigail to & from preschool, dance, & gymnastics. James works all day & then he comes home and has to figure out what he's going to make for dinner. Then, he has to clean the kitchen, do the laundry, do the grocery shopping, & tend to Abigail. I feel guilty for not being able to be the Mom I want to be for Abigail. Thankfully, Abigail understands that the Dr wants Mommy to rest so baby Jacob can keeping growing in my tummy. Although, she's beginning to get inpatient and asks everyday if it's time for baby Jacob to come out.

I have felt isolated, lonely, & depressed at times. The weekends have been the most difficult for me because it's more quiet around my house. James goes to the farm on Saturdays. He has to go check on the cows & it's relaxing for him. My mother-in-law usually takes Abigail for the morning on Saturdays & brings her home in time for her nap. Sundays are difficult because I'm home by myself all morning while James & Abigail go to church without me. I felt it was important for Abigail that she keep her schedule & routine. I didn't want my family to have to stay home just because I couldn't leave the house. I listen to the podcast from the week before while James & Abigail are at church. After we eat lunch & put Abigail in her room for a nap, James & I spend time discussing our notes from the sermon the week before.

I have felt so loved by so many friends who have come to visit me or brought me a meal. The visits from friends give me something to look forward to & helps the days go by faster. Of course, the meals are always helpful. I've been able to reconnect with friends during this time and gotten a chance to know new friends better. A Sunday school teacher from when I was in the youth group whom I've reconnected with through facebook brought me dinner one night, what a treat! Two of my friends who know me well insisted on bringing dinner. It's just been very interesting to see who in my life has stepped up to help encourage & support me during this time. Like I said at the beginning of this post, it's been an eye opening experience. I'm not writing this for pitty, I just simply wanted to document my feelings.

On another note, I'm almost 33 weeks pregnant! Yay! My personal goal was to make it to 34 weeks! Anything beyond that is just icing on the cake! Although, I would like to make it to my scheduled c-section at 38.5 weeks! We'll see how long my doctor wants to keep me on bedrest/house arrest.

4D Ultrasound

2011-03-19T14:19:00.001-07:00

On Thursday, I had a 4D ultrasound! I didn't get the opportunity to get a 4D ultrasound when I was pregnant with Abigail because I had her so early. I was excited to get a chance to get the 4D ultrasound with this pregnancy. James & I decided it would be fun to take Abigail with us so she could see her baby brother too. Abigail was a little confused & thought we were going to the hospital to have the baby. Abigail thought it was so funny to see baby Jacob on the screen. She kept asking to hear his little heart beating. Abigail is so excited about having a baby brother! She's going to be such a good big sister! I LOVED getting to watch my baby move around inside my tummy for almost 30 minutes! We got tons of ultrasound pictures, a CD, & DVD! It was well worth the money it cost since it wasn't covered by insurance! Again, these are pictures of the ultrasound pictures since I don't have a scanner at home. I think baby Jacob looks precious & I can't wait to meet him!

Awe, look at that sweet face!

Yawning!

One of Jacob's little hands!

Jacob's little feet, although they don't look so little!

Another shot of Jacob's face!

Jacob smiling, although it's probably just a little gas! LOL!

Go Western Day!

2011-03-04T16:27:00.001-08:00

Abigail had Go Western Day at her school last week. She was so excited about her new boots & dressing up like a cowgirl. We didn't have time to find a hat for her to wear. I ordered the dress & when James brought it home Abigail said, "I need a hat & purse to match!" She is a little princess for sure! Abigail is very into horses right now & keeps asking us for a horse. She is even saying she wants to be a cowgirl when she grows up. I'm really bummed that we won't get to go to the rodeo this year because I'm on bed rest, but there's always next year. When my Mom dropped Abigail off at school, the teacher told my mom that Abigail is going to have so much fun because they would be talking all about horses that day. I'm already planning for her birthday party in June & it's going to be a cowgirl party complete with pony rides. I love my little cowgirl!

28 weeks!

2011-02-27T12:57:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday, my Dr. told my husband that it was time for me to start resting. Dr. Rawson wants me "horizontal" as much as possible as a precaution to prevent preeclampsia. This news came the day after getting out of the hospital for the second time for iv hydration due to a stomach bug. I have been monitoring my blood pressure at home & it has been good, so I didn't think I was going to have to do bed rest although my Dr. has been preparing me for the possibility all along. When James told me that Dr. Rawson wants me on bed rest now, I immediately started crying & freaking out about how this bed rest was going to work. I am an independent person who likes to be on the go & be in control of the situation. I felt like everything was being ripped out from under me. I know that's an exaggeration, but I was struggling with letting go of being able to take care of my family. I spent the rest of the day stressing out about it.

On Monday, I went with my Mom to take Abigail to school to show her where to go & to introduce her to Abigail's teacher. When I explained to Abigail's teacher that I would no longer be dropping off Abigail & picking her up because I was put on bed rest, I started crying. I regained my composure only long enough to drop my Mom back off. Then, I came back home where I'd be spending my days from now on & cried my eyes out. I am so thankful that my parents live close by & that my Mom is able to help out with Abigail. My Mom has been shuttling Abigail around & running errands for me. She's also been helping with grocery shopping & making sure we have food for dinner. Monday night after dinner, James started getting sick. It was obvious that he had the stomach bug because he couldn't keep anything down. It was difficult not to help my husband when he needed me, but I couldn't afford to get sick again & I was supposed to be resting. So, I took him ice chips & gaterade & checked on him just to make sure he was okay. I slept in the playroom to keep my distance from all the germs. James stayed home from work on Tuesday because he was still feeling sick. James had to clean & sanitize the bathroom himself since I couldn't help. Although, I hate that James got sick, he does appreciate now how hard it is to clean when you're sick.

I went to the Dr. on Thurs. & everything is going well. My blood pressure is good & I still haven't gained any weight. I'm actually still down 6 lbs. from the beginning when I was so sick. I went into the Dr wanting to ask him what I can/can not do & what his expectations are of me. Again, he stated he wants me laying down or reclining as much as possible. My Dr. stated he was hesitant to say, but that "I was a more normal patient than he was giving me credit for." However, we all remember how scary it was when Abigail was born so early. I literally developed severe preeclampsia overnight. Dr. Rawson remembers pulling Abigail out & her being blue and close to death, he doesn't want that to happen again. So, as a precaution & to prevent my blood pressure from getting high, he wants me on bed rest. The selfish part of me is still having a hard time listening to Dr's orders, but I want a healthy baby.

So, my first week on bed rest was a little crazy due to James getting sick. I have had a few melt downs struggling with being stir crazy, bored, lonely, hormonal, & not being able to do things myself the way I like to do them. I'm OCD about some things & I'm having to learn to let things go. I have my own way of doing dishes, unloading & loading the dishwasher, folding clothes, picking up toys, etc., to me it makes perfect sense & yes I'm picky about it. However, I'm having to learn to accept help from others & let them do it their way. My poor husband has been very patient with me this week.

I am 28 weeks pregnant today! I have officially carried this baby longer than I did Abigail. I am so thankful for each day I continue to carry Jacob inside my womb where he is safe & can continue to grow strong & healthy. I know that he looks like a perfect little baby boy, but he still has some developing to do & he needs to put some fat on those little bones. He is measuring 2 lbs. 8 oz. at this point, which is bigger than Abigail was when she was born. As long as I continue to do well & my blood pressure doesn't get high, then I'll be able to get off bed rest at 34 weeks. My Dr. just wants to be sure we get through this critical time period. I know that although being on bed rest is difficult for me, I'm doing this for my son & that makes it totally worth every minute even if it's only a precaution. I pray that I allow God to use this opportunity to grow & mature in me the weaknesses that are being exposed. I need to learn to ask for help & accept help from others. I have been blessed with an amazing husband, family, & numerous friends who have been praying for me & asking how they can help.

Valentine's Day

2011-02-21T11:45:00.001-08:00

We don't usually do anything too elaborate to celebrate Valentine's Day, but we do make the day special. Since Valentine's Day was on a Monday, Abigail had school. So, James & I got to enjoy a lunch date at Landry's. It was nice because we got to enjoy a meal alone, but didn't have to deal with the crowds. Abigail had a little party at school & exchanged Valentine's with her friends. I cooked tacos for dinner because that's James's favorite & I rarely make them. We just enjoyed the evening at home as a family. Of course, we ate way too much chocolate!

All our Valentines! The small tulips are for Abigail from James!

Abigail loved her unicorn pillow pet that Daddy bought for her.

Opening Daddy's Valentine card.

What little girl doesn't love tinkerbell?

Daddy stealing a hug & a kiss from his little princess!

Opening Mommy's Valentine card.

Abigail checking out all her Valentine's she got from her classmates & teachers at school.

Mimi & Honey came by to deliver Valentine's too!

James took this picture using the timer on our camera. There are very few pictures of me from when I was pregnant with Abigail. So, James is determined to get more pictures this time around.

Abigail drew another picture of me with baby Jacob in my tummy. Only this time she told me it doesn't look like a snowman. LOL!

Sibling Class

2011-02-15T12:59:00.001-08:00

Last Sunday, we took Abigail to a "Sibling Class" that's offered at the hospital. I wasn't sure what to expect from the class, but I was impressed. The nurses talked with the children about not sharing their food with the baby because the babies drink special milk. They also showed the children how to test their toys to see if they were safe for the baby or not by seeing if toys fell through a toilet paper roll. Of course, I've already gone through Abigail's toys & gotten rid of everything that a baby could choke on. Then, the children practiced how to change a diaper using babies that looked so real. Abigail got to practice how to hold a baby, but also learned that she needs to ask Mom & Dad for permission to hold the baby first & wash her hands. Then, the children got a tour of the labor & delivery room where they would be visiting Mommy when she has the new baby.

Abigail had so much fun! She's going to be such a good big sister! The class was definitely worth the time & money!

Getting ready to practice changing a diaper

Admiring the baby

Listening to the teacher

Ready to go

Abigail noticed that the baby was a "boy!"

She's doing such a good job!

Check out the hospital bracelet on the baby, Abigail noticed & asked what it was for.

Loving on the baby

Abigail had to cover the baby with a blanket before we walked off.

Abigail practicing holding a baby! She's going to be such a good big sister!

A picture Abigail drew of me with baby Jacob in my tummy! I think it's funny because it looks like a snowman!

Jacob's Nursery

2011-02-07T13:10:00.000-08:00

We are decorating Jacob's nursery in a farm theme. The funny thing about this bedding is that I'm pretty sure it's the same bedding I had picked out for a boy before I knew I was pregnant with Abigail. James wanted a farm nursery for a boy. I'm okay with decorating the nursery in a farm theme, I just didn't want John Deere or primary colors. So, below are pictures of the bedding that I found. I love it! I still need to decide on paint colors for the room, art work for the walls, & knick knacks for the dresser. However, for now I'll have to settle for having the bedding ready to go.

We're planning on moving in July, so I'm having to wait to decorate the nursery. We're moving into our larger rental property. Our tenants lease ends June 30th, so we'll need to replace the carpet & paint before we move in. I know it's crazy to be having a baby & move soon after, but I figure it's easier to move with a newborn than a toddler. I'm excited about having more room, but I'm DREADING the actual move. It's going to be bitter sweet leaving the home we live in now because it's the 1st home James & I bought together & filled with so many memories. Hopefully I won't go crazy not being able to "nest." I guess my nesting will have to be cleaning & organizing in preparation for the move.

Adventures with Abigail

2011-02-02T17:09:00.000-08:00

Last week, Abigail came down with a stomach bug. We went to a KSBJ brown bag concert at Chick-fil-a & as soon as we finished eating Abigail threw up all over James's back. Needless to say it was time to go home. The next day she continued to be sick & developed a fever. Several of her friends from church were sick with the same stomach bug. So, we spent lots of time hanging out at home. It's always hard seeing your little one sick. Abigail & I were both getting a little stir crazy.

Saturday morning, I started throwing up & literally could not get out of bed. Of course, James was at the farm like every Saturday. Abigail was playing very well by herself, but I felt bad for ignoring her. I told Abigail Mommy was sick, so she came in with her doctor kit to examine me. I have never felt so weak before & my stomach was so sore. I started cramping, which really scared me because I wasn't sure what was going on. I was hunched over in tears I was in so much pain. James came home & we called my Dr. who asked us to start counting what I thought could have been contractions. I was having about 5 contractions in an hour for 2 hours, so my Dr. wanted me to go to the hospital to get checked out. I was so scared even though I knew I was just dehydrated. However, it brought back all the memories of getting sent to the hospital early when I was pregnant with Abigail. We dropped Abigail off with my in-laws & headed to the hospital. James told Abigail that he was taking Mommy to the Dr. I was hooked up to the baby monitor as soon as I got to the hospital. It's always reassuring to hear the baby's heart beating even though I feel him moving around like crazy all the time. I was hooked up to a contraction monitor, which showed I wasn't having contractions after all. However, I was dehydrated so my Dr decided to admit me overnight for hydration & observation. I started feeling better pretty quick once I start getting iv fluids. James stayed with me at the hospital & Abigail stayed overnight with my in-laws. This was only the 2nd night for her to be away from us overnight. I was discharged on Sunday & spent the rest of the day napping & taking it easy. Abigail was exhausted too because she didn't sleep very well away from home. So, she slept for 3 1/2 hours. When Abigail woke up she was not her usual happy self, she was throwing one fit after another.

Monday morning, I had a difficult time with Abigail getting her ready for school. I explained to her teacher when I dropped her off that she was a little out of sorts because of the weekend. When I picked Abigail up from school, her teacher told me that she had to go to the "office" because she was hitting & pushing. What? I was in shock! Her teacher explained that she was hitting & they corrected her, but then Abigail started pushing so they sent her to the office to see if that would get her attention. Abigail was sent to the office for a little while & when she went back to the classroom apologized to the little girl. James & I both realized that Abigail was acting out because of the crazy weekend & she was worried about me. We were sure to give her extra attention on Monday night despite several melt downs. I'm sure this is only a taste of what's to come when the new baby gets here.

Abigail seems to be back to her usual happy self! I know all of this is normal for children because they don't know how to express their emotions, so they act out. However, it's so challenging for the parent.

Abigail in her rain gear with her princess crown! Oh, and we had to take her white horse to Mimi's house too! I couldn't get her to smile for me!

Abigail loves dressing up in this red tutu with her dress-up shoes & princess crown!

My 32nd Birthday!

2011-01-27T10:58:00.000-08:00

I have to admit that it's a little weird to me to be blogging about my own birthday. I can not believe that I'm 32 years old! Where is time going? Didn't I just graduate from college? I still think of myself in my 20's, but I have been out of college for almost 10 years now. So far, 32 hasn't been so bad! I look forward to what this new year has to bring!

Abigail wears this birthday girl crown all time & even in public sometimes even though it's not her birthday. James thought it would be funny to take a picture with me wearing the crown.

James & I before going out to dinner!

James & I at Kirby's in the same booth we ate in on our 1st date celebrating my birthday!

20 Week Appointment & Ultrasound

2011-01-07T14:40:00.000-08:00

I had my 20 week appointment on Wed.. I can't believe I'm already half way through this pregnancy, it's going by so fast. I LOVE getting ultrasounds! It's always so reassuring to get to peek at the baby & make sure everything is okay. My doctor waits until 20 weeks to determine the sex of the baby. Although, from the 12 week ultrasound with this pregnancy, it's been quite obvious that it's a BOY! So, the 20 week ultrasound was anti climatic at this point. However, it's fun to finally say 100% sure that it's a BOY! So, now I can have fun shopping for the nursery & for little boy clothes. Thankfully, I have lots of nephews, which means lots of hand me downs.

My appointment went well minus the LONG wait to see the doctor. I haven't lost anymore weight & haven't gained any either, which my doctor is pleased with. I found a solution that helps with my sickness. I take a pepcid ac maximum strength at 12 pm & 5 pm & try to eat before 7 pm. I still get sick sometimes, but not every night & it's usually when I eat too late in the evening. Everything looks great so far. My blood pressure is good too. However, my doctor wants me to start tracking my blood pressure at home & watching my sodium intake in my diet to prevent preeclampsia. My doctor will be keeping a very close eye on me this time around. He continues to prepare me for the possibility of bed rest at some point, but I'm really hoping this will continue to be a problem free pregnancy. I'm almost 21 weeks & had Abigail at 28 weeks. My due date with this baby is May 22nd, we are all hoping to make it to May even if it's May 1st!

Again, these are pictures of my ultrasound pictures. I really need to get my scanner fixed or buy a new one. Introducing Jacob Edison Fehrle!! This is the boy name we picked out when I was pregnant with Abigail. The baby will have the same initials as James & his Dad, which is also what James's company is named afer as well.

It's a BOY!! You can tell by looking between his legs!

Praying hands, so cute!

Christmas 2010

2011-01-02T13:18:00.000-08:00

Christmas was wonderful & relaxing this year. James & I are working on forming our own traditions for our little family. Both of our families live in The Woodlands, which makes it easy to see everyone in the same day. Last year, we tried to go to James's extended family's Christmas party on Christmas day & it was way too stressful. I'm sad that we didn't get to see that side of the family this year. However, we think it's a priority for Abigail to see her Grandparents & 1st cousins the day of a holiday. Next year, we're going to try to plan a party with James's extended family before or after Christmas so we can see them too.

Christmas Eve we usually celebrate with the Pearson family at my Grandmother's house. However, this year we all got together at my brother's house here in The Woodlands. My brother invited his in-laws, my in-laws, our parents & younger brother, my other Grandmother, & some family friends. There was a house full of people & tons of yummy food made ALL by my 82 year old Grandmother. She is a wonderful cook & boy can she bake! It was a fun evening, but not quite the same as having it at my Grandmother's house. It's funny how you get so used to family traditions, how it throws things off when it's different.

Christmas morning James & I had to wake Abigail up from a deep sleep so she could see what Santa brought her. I got ready with the flip camera while James & Abigail walked in the room. It was so fun to see Abigail's expression as she looked at all the presents Santa brought for her. Abigail wanted to get the babies out of the boxes right away so she could play with them. She loved her new horse too, but was disappointed that she couldn't ride it & that it doesn't move. After Abigail got all her gifts from Santa, James's parents came over so we could exchange gifts with them. Next year, we will have a new little addition in our family. We will be spending Christmas mornings at home with just our little family from now on to make it easier on us, but as part of building childhood memories for our children as well.

We headed over to my parent's house for lunch & to open presents with them. We only buy for the nieces & nephews, which saves money. My parents have 6 grandkids & number 7 is on the way. It's more fun to buy for the kids anyways. However, none of us really need anything! We had a yummy meal that my mom made & then we watched the kids open their presents. Of course, my brothers managed to make weapons out of wadded up wrapping paper & throwing them at everyone. Some things never change! Santa brought my niece Kayla a new puppy for Christmas, a yellow lab named Remi. I think my brother really bought the puppy for himself. My brother named the dog Remi after Remington the gun company because he's a hunter & plans to train the dog to hunt just like he did his chocolate lab that died last year. My mom also got a new puppy for Christmas that she named Jasper, he's a miniature schnauzer. Abigail is warming up to dogs, so hopefully being around these new puppies in the family with help. Abigail has always been scared of animals, I guess since we don't have any pets except for the cows at the farm. It was an enjoyable & relaxing afternoon.

We stopped by James's parents house for a little bit before we headed home for the night. James's mom had bought some toys for Abigail to keep at her house. It's nice that Abigail has toys to play with when she's goes to Grandma & Papa's house. My parent's already had grandkids, so they had lots of toys at their house. However, Abigail is the 1st grandchild for James's parents so they didn't have any toys at their house. Abigail kept telling Grandma that she needed a highchair for her baby dolls at her house, so that's what she got along with a baby carriage.

This was the first Christmas for Abigail to really understand what it was all about. She understands that Christmas is celebrating Jesus's birthday & can tell you the Christmas story. Abigail also enjoyed the whole Santa thing as well. I know Santa isn't real, but it's a fun tradition for the kiddos & only lasts so long anyways. I don't want to dampened Abigail's imagination or keep her from joining in on the fun. However, we do make it a point to remind Abigail over & over the real meaning of Christmas.

Christmas Performance at church

2010-12-27T12:44:00.001-08:00

A few weeks ago, the children sang in church. Abigail didn't sing, she just danced. She kept twirling around in her dress. It was precious & I enjoyed watching her have so much fun up on stage. Maybe next year Abigail will actually sing. Abigail loved how all of her family came to watch her at church. What little girl doesn't love being the center of attention?

I have tried numerous times to upload the video of Abigail dancing, but for some reason it won't work. I posted it on facebook a while back if you want to see it.

Christmas party @ Abigail's school

2010-12-23T19:57:00.000-08:00

The Christmas party at Abigail's school was so much fun! The teacher read them a Christmas book while the Assistant teacher & I set up the stuff for them to make their Christmas trees. We used ice cream cones upside down to make the Christmas trees. Then, used green icing to ice the tree. The kids had all kinds of candy to use to decorate their Christmas trees. The teacher also found some marshmellows shaped like stars for the top of the trees. After the children decorated their Christmas trees, they played musical chairs & did a book exchange. And, of course no party is complete with out a little ice cream & treats. The children also sang "Happy Birthday to Jesus!"

Abigail icing her Christmas tree!

Busy decorating!

Eating some of the decorations!

Finished product!

Reindeer Dance @ Boni's 2010

2010-12-20T18:35:00.000-08:00

Abigail did her annual reindeer dance at Boni's Dance Studio almost 2 weeks ago. It's so much fun watching Abigail & all the little girls & boy dance.

Mommy & Daddy with our little princess!

Mommy, Mimi & Abigail

Grandma & Abigail

16 Week Appointment

2010-12-18T06:00:00.000-08:00

My 16 week appointment went well. I had the usual blood work done at this appointment & everything looks good. I have lost 11 lbs. due to being sick every night. I FINALLY talked my Dr. into giving me some zofran, but it didn't help one bit. I have also tried pepcid ac & that didn't work either. I was sick the whole time with Abigail & nothing I took worked, so I'm in the same boat this time around. As long as the baby is growing & healthy I can deal with it. At least I know that pregnancy doesn't last forever. I asked for an ultrasound while I was waiting to see the doctor because I figured my doctor wouldn't mind. I wanted to get another peek at the sex of the baby before Christmas. The baby is most likely a baby BOY! My Dr. won't actually call the sex of the baby until my 20 week appointment. However, there's not much doubt that this baby is a boy. We are very excited! I go back to the Dr. Jan. 5th for my 20 week appointment & ultrasound. I'll be 18 weeks on Monday.

Dickens on the Strand 2010

2010-12-13T14:20:00.001-08:00

A few weeks ago, we went to Galveston for the night. Friday night, James & I took Abigail to the Festival of Lights at Moody Gardens. Abigail enjoyed looking at all the Christmas lights. James took her ice skating, but it was so crowded they only went around the rink one time. Abigail got to play in some snow, which was really crushed ice. We also made some smores around a campfire. I wasn't as impressed as I thought I'd be, but I guess my expectations were too high. We stayed at my parent's condo in Galveston.

Saturday morning, we went to breakfast and went to Dickens on the Strand. Abigail couldn't wait to ride on the ponies. She also rode an elephant & a camel and then asked what else could she ride. We spent the whole day walking around the shops at the strand while we waited for the parade to start. Abigail enjoyed seeing all the people dressed up. There wasn't really too much for the children, but Abigail had a good time. James & I enjoyed getting to spend the day with my parents by ourselves, usually we are always together with the whole family.

Family pic with Mr. & Mrs. Clause

Mimi & Honey with Mr. & Mrs. Clause

Abigail riding the pony!

Daddy & Abigail riding the elephant.

Mimi & Abigail riding the camel.

Daddy & Abigail at the Festival of Lights.

Playing in the snow.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

2010-12-11T13:49:00.000-08:00

We actually put up our Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving, but I'm just now posting. It's a lot of work to make room for the Christmas tree. Abigail had fun helping decorate the tree this year. I realized how many ornaments I have that are breakable, so most of my ornaments are toward the top of the tree. Abigail rearranges the ornaments from time to time. This is the first year that Abigail has really been interested in Christmas lights, so James put some lights up outside & decorated Abigail's play house with Christmas lights too. I love this time of year even though it's busy & a little stressful.

Thanksgiving 2010

2010-12-01T17:28:00.001-08:00

Thanksgiving this year was so relaxing. We went to James's parents farm on Wednesday and celebrated Thanksgiving with them. Thanksgiving morning, we had a relaxing morning at home watching the Thanksgiving parade on t.v.. Then, we headed over to my parents house for lunch. Usually there's this mad rush trying to get everything ready & we're waiting on someone who's running late. However, this year everyone was just chill & relaxed. The men even did the dishes, which was awesome. Although, I have to admit I enjoy helping my mom clean the kitchen after family gatherings. The Thanksgiving meal was amazing as always. My mom is a wonderful cook & makes the best turkey & dressing. Abigail & her cousins had a blast playing & eating together. My favorite part about Thanksgiving is when we're all standing in kitchen holding hands while my Dad says the blessing. I'm so thankful for my family!

Family pic minus Dad

Abigail with all her cousins except for Alec.

The kid table

Thankful

2010-11-24T17:33:00.001-08:00

I have so much to be thankful for & this precious little miracle is one reason! These ultrasound pics are from my 12 week appointment & I'm now about 14 weeks 3 days. The baby is growing & looking very healthy. I was able to stop taking the progesterone at 12 weeks. I was really hoping that I'd start feeling better, but I haven't. I spend half the morning nauseous & start feeling better in the afternoon, but then end up throwing up every night! I was sick the whole pregnancy with Abigail, so it looks like history is repeating itself. However, all the sickness is totally worth it! I thank God every day for this special miracle! Praying for a healthy full term baby boy or girl! The ultrasound tech guessed at 12 weeks that it could be a boy, but that's just a guess. We won't find out the sex of the baby for sure until 20 weeks.

Thanksgiving Feast @ Sonkids 2010

2010-11-19T12:46:00.001-08:00

On Monday, James & I went to the Thanksgiving Feast at Abigail's preschool. We didn't know what to expect since this is Abigail's 1st year at Sonkids, but we had so much fun! Abigail & her classmates were dressed as little indians. The teachers gave each of them an indian name & Abigail's indian name was "Dancing Bee." Abigail's teachers are always laughing about how much Abigail loves to sing & dance. The tables were all decorated with fall decorations & crafts our children had made at school. We were all asked to bring food for the kids, teachers, & parents. What child doesn't love chick-fil-a chicken nuggets? Well the preschool staff also brought food, so there was all kinds of food for the teachers & the parents. Needless to say we had a lot of food leftover. Abigail had a blast eating lunch with Mommy & Daddy!

James walked her back to her class while I helped the other moms clean up. I didn't even think to ask the other moms if they were taking their kids home or leaving them for the rest of the day. So, when I went to pick up Abigail she was the only one in her class! I felt horrible! Abigail didn't seem to mind, but I couldn't help but wonder what she was thinking. Next year, I'll remember to ask the other parents if they're going to take their kids home instead of leave them for the rest of the day.

Placemat Abigail made with her handprint.

Setting up for the little indians.

My precious little indian. Abigail's indian name was "Dancing Bee."

Abigail & all the girls in her class. There's only 1 boy & he was out sick.

Abigail & Daddy!

Abigail & Mommy!

Turkey Wobble Dance 2010

2010-11-16T05:31:00.000-08:00

Last week at dance Abigail did her annual turkey wobble dance at Boni's. Abigail loves to dance & did such a great job! She was a little distracted by the little girl next to her because she said she went tee tee in her tutu, so Abigail kept looking at her funny. This was the last year for Abigail to do the turkey wobble, next year she will learn the turkey tango. We love Boni's dance studio & love having Mrs. Boni as Abigail's teacher this year!

Abigail & Mommy!

Abigail & Daddy!

Abigail & Mimi! Honey was there too, but he was busy taking pictures!

Abigail & Grandma!

Halloween 2010

2010-11-09T12:17:00.001-08:00

I am late on posting about Halloween, but better late than never right. I have been a slacker about blogging & commenting on blogs I follow as well. Anyways, back to Halloween. We started off at Grandma & Papa's house. Then we went to see Mr. & Mrs. Benke & meet their new grandbabies. Hailey & Hannah are twin girls & they were dressed in cute little pumpkin outfits. Their mom Rachel also had a pumpkin shirt on. What a cute little family! Abigail started asking me for two babies & I had to explain we were only having one baby. Then she was wanting the baby to come out now, so I had to tell her the baby is very small & needs to grow for a long time.

Then, we went to Mimi & Honey's house to meet up with all my siblings & their kiddos. I love how we all live so close. My family always has so much fun when we are together. It's so neat to watch all our kids play so well together. Don't get me wrong it's a zoo because there's so many of us, but it's still so much fun. We always take the kids trick or treating on my parent's street & then we just let the kids play & eat their candy. My younger brother Ricky & his girlfriend Jen put together some games for the kids. Abigail always loves being around her cousins. We all had a great time, but by the end of the night there were lots of meltdowns. It's never good when you have tired kiddos loaded up on sugar!

Abigail with Grandma & Papa

Abigail with Hailey & Hannah

Abigail & Mimi

Honey (A.K.A. Dad)

Uncle Ricky & his girlfriend Jen

Uncle Ricky, Uncle Barry, & Honey

The kids trick or treating

Special treat Uncle Ricky & Jen made for the kids. There were hidden gummy worms in chocolate pudding.

It gets harder every year to get a good picture of all the kids together.

Searching for pumpkins buried in hay.

Bobbing for apples

Abigail all sugared up!

James & I

Fall Festivals & More

2010-11-04T14:08:00.000-07:00

We've had all kinds of fall fun this year! These pictures are not really in order, but oh well. James & I took Abigail trick or treating at the Panther Creek Shopping Center. Abigail had lots of fun. She started saying she wanted to sit down & I assumed it was because she had walked a long way for her little legs. Nope, she wanted to dig into her candy!

"Cheese"

Notice who's digging for candy now!

I took Abigail to the pumpkin patch where I've taken every year since she was a baby. She had fun picking out pumpkins, but had a meltdown because she couldn't play on the playground.

Abigail had a fall festival at her preschool. They were able to wear their costumes to school that day. They had all kinds of little games set up for the kids & a train ride. Abigail really only cared about the train ride. She saw the train as I dropped her off for school that morning & was very upset when she couldn't ride the train right then. James & I had fun watching her with all her little friends. We were the first parents to arrive. Abigail introduced James to all her little friends & then told her friends, "This is Mr. James." She's such a sweet little girl! Abigail also got to have pizza at school with her friends instead of the boring old lunch Mommy packs for her. Abigail had lots of fun, but LOVED the train ride!

Attempt at a class picture!

James & I took Abigail to the family day at The Woodlands United Methodist Church. They advertised in the paper that it was free. They had a pumpkin patch, bouncies, pony rides, petting zoo, & few other little games. My sister-in-law met us there with her two kids. Abigail had a blast playing with her cousins Kayla & Colton. Abigail also got to ride a pony again! She actually rode the pony twice. Abigail even went in the petting zoo & petted a few animals. It was a fun afternoon & it was free, which was even better!

Answered Prayer!

2010-10-15T12:02:00.000-07:00

After my second miscarriage, I was overwhelmed with sadness. I started praying & seeking God's will for growing my family. I even began to pray about adoption if that was the route that God had in store for us. When I got a positive pregnancy test this time I was happy, but couldn't bring myself to get too excited. This was the first time that I took one & only one pregnancy test. We didn't make a big deal about it & didn't tell our parents until a week later. We told our parents, community group, & a few close friends. However, we wanted to wait until after my first doctor's appointment to tell everyone.

I was started on progesterone supplements once I got the positive pregnancy test. I went to the doctor for blood work to confirm the pregnancy, but scheduled my first OB appointment at 8 weeks. I could have gone to the doctor earlier, but felt like it caused too much anxiety in my previous experiences. I have been very sick like I was when I was pregnant with Abigail, so I felt like that was a good sign. I didn't start getting nervous until the night before my doctor's appointment. I was so scared of the unknown even though I knew God is in control. When I went in for the ultrasound I was so nervous. Angie (the ultrasound tech) told us right away when she found the heartbeat & all I could do was cry. However, this time I was crying tears of joy! I was measuring a few days ahead where with my previous miscarriages, I was always measuring behind. The heart beat is strong & healthy. When Dr. Rawson came in to see James & I, he came in with two thumbs up! I'm not out of the woods until after the first trimester, but everything is looking good so far. I have peace that everything is going to be just fine. Praise God for answered prayers! I'm a 8 weeks 5 days pregnant, which makes the due date May 22nd. However, I will be having a scheduled c-section. I will be monitored more closely due to having preeclampsia with Abigail & having an emergency c-section at 28 weeks.

I don't have a scanner at home that works, so this is a picture of my ultrasound pic!

Our Mini Vacation 2010

2010-09-22T14:32:00.001-07:00

James & I had been talking about taking a long weekend trip in September when the crowds settled down & hotels have better rates. I wanted to go to San Antonio, but when we sat down to plan our trip, we decided Sea World wouldn't be fun in 100 degree temps. We talked back & forth for a while & decided to go the Lost Pines Hyatt Resort in Bastrop, Texas. Some friends of ours had been there and told us it was a nice place. We booked the rooms last minute, so we had to stay the 3rd night at the Hyatt Regency in Austin because the Lost Pines Resort was already booked. All we planned ahead of time was booking the hotel rooms & booked a boat bat tour in Austin for Saturday night. We learned our lesson a few months ago that when traveling with a 3 year old, it's best to not over plan things. I was so excited about getting out of town for a few days & having my husband for four whole days!

We packed up & headed out of town Thurs. morning. We stopped by our farm on the way out of town, which was a good thing because we had to rescue a baby calf that had fallen off in the creek & couldn't get out. Then, we stopped in Brenham to go to the Blue Bell factory. I had been to the Blue Bell factory before, but this was the first time we went on the tour. As soon as we got to the resort & checked in, Abigail was ready to go swimming. James & I were both very impressed with the resort. The rooms were so nice, but there was also so much to do. The pool was amazing. It had a lazy river, slide, plus a beach front entry with real sand. After swimming for a while, we asked someone to give us a tour around the property on a golf cart. Then, we had smores by a campfire.

Friday morning, we walked all around the property. I was very thankful we made the decision not to go to San Antonio because it was so hot outside. Then, we checked out some longhorns the resort had for us to pet & ride if we wanted. We spent most of the day on Friday at the pool. Then, the resort had a big slip & slide set up for the kids. Thankfully we enjoyed all day outside because then it started pouring down rain. While James & Abigail had some down time in the room, I got a pedicure at the resort's spa. We ate dinner outside & had smores by a campfire.

Saturday morning as we were packing to go to Austin, Abigail saw the ponies outside the window & wanted to go ride them. Every other time we've tried to get Abigail to ride a pony she has freaked out. So, we signed her up for a pony ride. As we were waiting our turn, she pet the pony for one second & then backed away. We thought that she would freak out again. However, when it was her turn, she put the helmet on & she was ready to go. They set her up on the pony & when the pony started to move, she had a moment of hesitation. Abigail reached out for James & we told her she was okay, & put her hands back on the saddle. She was able to relax & enjoy her pony ride. James & I were so proud of Abigail for being such a brave little girl. James followed behind in case Abigail panicked, but she did great. Abigail was so proud of herself for riding the pony. Then, we went for a wagon ride around the resort before we packed up & left for Austin. When we got to Austin, we ate lunch at the Hula Hut, which was recommended by friends. After lunch, we headed over to Zilker Park. It started raining just as we were getting to the park. We decided to go swimming in the Barton Springs Pool. It was raining as we were getting in the water, which made Abigail nervous. The water is 68 degrees, which would have felt good if it was 100 degrees & sunny out. We were all cold, but Abigail was shivering, so we only stayed in the water for about 30 minutes. We met my best friend & her husband for dinner at Hutt's Burger. Then, we went on a boat ride to see the bats on the Congress bridge in Austin. It was really cool. Abigail enjoyed the boat ride, but got bored when the boat was just sitting while we were watching the bats. Afterwards, we went to see my best friend's new home. Abigail crashed the minute we got in the car. She did not nap the whole trip, so she was exhausted.

Sunday morning, we went to Austin Stone Community Church in Austin. We wanted to check out the church since we had heard so much about it. The message was awesome. They were doing a vision series & they were discussing community that week. It was an amazing message on community & how we need community in our lives. After church, we ate lunch at the Shady Grove, which was recommended by a local. It was a little bit of a culture shock. The waiter was wearing sunglasses, which I thought was odd. The food was okay, but the people watching was great. Then, we headed back over to Zilker Park. This time we were able to ride the train & play on the playground. However, as soon as we left the park, it stared pouring down rain again. I wanted to go to Amy's ice cream because I had heard they had really good ice cream. I must say the Mexican vanilla ice cream was very good & I'm a chocolate girl. We drove around Austin for a while & decided it was time to head home even though we didn't want our trip to end. We were able to do everything we wanted to do outside despite the rain. Abigail slept the whole way home, she was worn out! We had such a wonderful weekend! It was a relaxing & so much fun! We are already talking about taking another trip in January.

"1st Day of Preschool"

2010-09-08T18:48:00.000-07:00

Abigail has been talking about going to school for the longest time. I ordered Abigail's backpack & lunch box for her birthday, but put it away until the 1st day of school. My mom & I went shopping for the perfect 1st day outfit. I was surprised how hard it was to find cute clothes for little ones that didn't look like something that would be on a preteen. James & I had already taken Abigail shopping for shoes. We bought her Keds, which reminded me of being a little girl because I got a new pair every year.

The night before her 1st day of school, Daddy read her a Dora book about going to school before Abigail went to bed. Abigail woke up happy & was ready to go to school. I woke up extra early to allow plenty of time to get myself ready & get Abigail's lunch made & get her all dressed to go to school. James & I met Mimi & Honey (my parent's) outside the school early so we had plenty of time for pictures. I didn't start getting emotional until I saw Abigail all dressed in her school clothes with her backpack on her back. She just looked so big! Where did my baby go? I'm glad we took plenty of pictures outside because once we were inside Abigail just walked right in her classroom. She was excited about putting her backpack in her cubby with her name. Although, the teacher had spelled her name wrong, so I had to politely correct her. Abigail didn't even stop to hug us, she just walked right in & didn't look back. That's the moment when I almost lost it, but my Dad was laughing at me, so I think that's what kept me from losing all composure. We were able to at least get Abigail to turn around & wave "bye" to us. My parent's were teasing James & I in the parking lot because we were those parents that kept standing at the door staring at their child who could care less that we were leaving. I have to admit after leaving Abigail, I was a basket case! I didn't like seeing the empty car seat in the back seat or how quiet the house was since she wasn't home. I wasn't productive with my day at all because I was exhausted & not feeling well, so I just rested & caught up on some shows I had DVR'd. I think I was so emotional because I wasn't feeling well, at least that's what I'm going to tell myself. I was watching the clock all day waiting until it was time to go pick up Abigail. I got to the school early, but made myself wait in the car until it was time. I was surprised at how many parents were picking their kids up early, I guess because it was the first day. Abigail was excited to see me when I picked her up. There was only one kid left in her class waiting to be picked up & it was still not quite 2 yet. Abigail's face was covered with pink icing because she got cupcakes because it was a little girl's birthday in her class. Hopefully she won't expect cupcakes every time she goes to school now. Abigail had a great 1st day at preschool! I think it's going to be a great year! I know I will quickly find things to do with my time while she's at school.

"Meet the Teacher"

2010-09-08T14:25:00.000-07:00

Last week, we went to meet Abigail's teachers at Sonkids Preschool. Abigail will only be going two days a week this year. She is so excited about going to school. Abigail woke up from a nap right before we left the house to go meet her teachers, so she was not a happy camper. She woke up cranky, so I wasn't sure what was going to happen. Abigail checked out the classroom & started playing with the toys. However, she was being shy when we met the teachers, so we don't have any pictures of her with her teachers. Her teachers names are Ms. Julie & Ms. Kristen. There are 6 girls & 2 boys in her class & it's the first year for most of them, so they will all be adjusting together. There's only 1 baby doll for a classroom full of girls, that could be a problem. I'm excited to see what the school year brings.

Abigail posed for the camera, but I didn't get a smile!

Abigail with a few of the girls from her class!

Abigail playing in the classroom!

Abigail's 1st trip to the dentist!

2010-08-26T10:51:00.001-07:00

I took Abigail to the dentist for the 1st time on Tuesday morning. I took her to a pediatric dentist Scott Andersen who was recommended by several people. The staff were wonderful! The dental hygienist gave Abigail sunglasses to wear so the light wouldn't be so bright in her face. She explained what all the instruments were & what she would be doing with them. Abigail laid there perfectly still & was a perfect little patient! She did great! You can tell in the pictures that she was a little nervous, but she was still brave. Then dentist checked her teeth after the cleaning & said they looked great to keep doing what we're doing. We'll go for a cleaning every 6 months. Abigail got to pick out a tooth brush & got to pick a treasure from the treasure chest. I didn't know what to expect from Abigail, but I was so proud of her for being a brave little girl!

August 17th!

2010-08-20T18:43:00.000-07:00

August 17th, is the day we got to bring Abigail home from the hospital after being in the N.I.C.U. for 8 weeks! It's a date I'll never forget! So, to celebrate the 3rd anniversary of bringing my daughter home, here are some pictures of the day we brought our precious baby girl home! Although it was difficult while Abigail was in the N.I.C.U., the time really went by fast!

A few weeks ago, I was watching a show on the discovery health channel called N.I.C.U. & there was a baby girl on there who was born about the same weight as Abigail with the same heart condition. However, the little girl on the show had to have the open heart surgery to repair her PDA while she weighed less than 2 lbs.! As I sat there watching this show, I had tears rolling down my face because I could have been in that situation sending my tiny baby off to have open heart surgery. I'm so thankful that God was in control & gave Abigail the strength to thrive despite the PDA. It was God who allowed her to thrive & grow. Thank you God for not giving me more than I could handle at the time Abigail was born too soon! Thank you God for my precious gift from you! My prayer for Abigail is that she will come to know you at a young age!

Abigail 4 lbs. 3 oz.!

Recent happenings in the Fehrle Household

2010-08-20T17:47:00.000-07:00

Ever since Abigail went to my niece's birthday party at the roller rink, she wanted her Daddy to take her roller skating. A few weeks ago, James got home from the farm a little early so we decided to take her roller skating. Abigail only skated for about 20 minutes & she was done. She didn't understand why there wasn't cake. Abigail remembered getting cake at the birthday party after skating for a little while & she expected to get cake again. She wasn't happy when she realized she wasn't getting cake. Abigail has her Mommy's sweet tooth for sure!

Last week, was a busy week! Monday night James & I bought a new car, a 2010 Ford Expedition. Well, it's technically used. We had been looking at cars off & on for a while. Once we decided what we wanted we started looking online & found some that we wanted to go look at in Tomball. We wanted something used with very low mileage because we plan on keeping it for a very long time. We did not trade my car in because the dealership didn't want to give us much for it, so James posted it on Craigslist. We had my old car sold within a few days. Selling my old car was bittersweet for me because it was the first big purchase I made on my own after college. Plus, we brought Abigail home from the hospital in that car. However, it was fun seeing the big smile on a teenage boy's face when he was getting to drive his 1st car away. I love my new car & plan on driving it until the wheels fall off!

Last Thursday was Abigail's 1st day back at dance. She is taking ballet at Boni's again this year & has Mrs. Boni as her teacher. Abigail was excited about going back to dance, but was looking for the same teacher she had last time and didn't understand why she wasn't going in the same room again. Thankfully Abigail went right into her class without a problem & did great! It's good practice for when she starts preschool in a few weeks because she won't know her teachers of have any friends in her class. Abigail is a social butterfly, so she'll do fine!

1st day of ballet 2010-2011 season! Abigail has Mrs. Boni as her teacher!

Warming up!

My old car!

My new car!

Getting ready to roller skate with Daddy!

"Anniversary trip to Galveston!'

2010-08-05T13:48:00.001-07:00

Last Thursday was our 4 year wedding Anniversary. I'm so blessed with the man God gave me to spend the rest of my life with. It's crazy to think what all has happened in the 4 years we've been married. We've had ups & downs, but through it all our marriage has grown stronger each day. We usually just got out to dinner at a nice restaurant alone to celebrate. This year James planned something special for us.

James arranged to leave work early on Thurs. & didn't work Friday. Owning your own business can make it difficult to get away. We drove to Galveston Thurs. afternoon. My mom drove to Galveston to keep Abigail for the night at their condo. James & I went to dinner at Giado's, which is the best place to eat seafood in Galveston. The restaurant has been in Galveston for almost 100 years. I love seafood, but don't eat it that often because it's so expensive. After dinner we walked along the beach & then checked out the pool at the hotel. We stayed at Hotel Galvez, which is an historical hotel in Galveston. We had a wonderful evening alone celebrating each other & our marriage! We were able to sleep late, to us that means 7:30 am! James & I grabbed breakfast at a local cafe' called the Sunshine Cafe' that my parent's found and I had breadpudding french toast with fresh fruit on top! Wow, it was so good!

After breakfast, James & I went to my parent's condo on the beach to see Abigail & spend the day as a family. This was technically the first night we left Abigail overnight, except for when I had to go to the emergency room in the middle of the night. Abigail had a hard time going to sleep because she was so excited to be spending the night with Mimi at the beach. Abigail had so much fun playing with Mimi while we were away. She never notices when we aren't around because she's always having too much fun! We took Abigail down to the beach to play in the ocean & sand for a while. Abigail didn't want to go in the water at first, but she warmed up to it and had so much fun playing in the waves. Of course, she loved playing in the sand and building sand castles. After playing in the sand on the beach and in the ocean, we took a dip in the pool.

I had so much I wanted to do the rest of the afternoon like going shopping on The Strand, going to Moody Gardens, & eating dinner at the Rainforest Cafe. Well, I learned when traveling with a 3 year old, you have to play it by ear and not stress over things you don't get to do. There's always next time right? When we left my parent's condo to head to The Strand Abigail fell asleep. So, we ended up driving around for an hour to let her nap. We decided that we would save going to Moody Gardens for another trip. So, we headed to The Strand. Shopping isn't what a 3 year old wants to do & it was so hot outside. We decided to take a boat ride to see the dolphins. It was neat to take a boat ride out in the ocean & to see the dolphins. Again, it was still so hot outside! The heat was so draining!

My family doesn't go to Galveston without stopping in LaKing's, which is an old fashioned ice cream shop that makes candy, chocolates, ice cream, milkshakes, salt water taffy, etc.! If you've never been there, you need to check it out the next time you're in Galveston. We went to the Rainforest Cafe' for dinner before we left to come home. None of us were even hungry & we were all hot from being outside all day. Abigail was actually a little scared of all the fake animals at the restaurant. We took the little ride they have at the restaurant while we waited for our table. We all felt better once we sat down in the air conditioning and got some ice cold water! The restaurant has a fun atmosphere for kids, but the food isn't very good and not cheap either. It was another thing on our trip that I should have just let us do next time. At least, we didn't have to drive back in the Friday 5 O'clock traffic. We enjoyed our day in Galveston, but we were all exhausted by the end of the day! I think we would have had more fun if we had just played in the water all day because it was really too hot to try to do anything else outside.

We're planning a long weekend to San Antonio in September. I learned some valuable lessons that will help in planning our next adventure.

This would be a really cute picture if we both weren't squinting so bad!

On the balcony of my parent's condo on the beach!

Playing in the sand on the beach!

Riding on a boat to see the dolphins!

Can you see the dolphins in the picture?

Abigail posing with Abby Cadabby & Elmo inside a candy store on The Strand in Galveston!

True Blog Post

2010-07-27T12:49:00.000-07:00

I have been wanting to sit down and blog for a while, but haven't found the time. It's been a difficult time for me over the last month or so. I have been really grieving over this last miscarriage. Just when I think I'm doing okay and getting over it, I'm overcome with emotions. A few weeks ago at church, I was overcome with emotion and my sweet husband asked me what was going on with me when we got in the car. I couldn't even really put my feelings into words. I have to tell myself that it's okay to grieve and that grief is a process. I have lost loved ones to death, but I've never had this amount of grief before. I had a very hard time the weeks immediately following the miscarriage. I felt like I was being suffocated and it was difficult for me to function and move forward. The first miscarriage drug on so long physically, that when the physical part was over, I was emotionally ready for it to be over. This last miscarriage came out of no where and we had heard the baby's heartbeat so we didn't think we needed to worry anymore. This miscarriage was physically over with so quickly that I've been having to catch up emotionally. It's hard to think about the fact that if I was still pregnant from the first pregnancy, I'd be having a baby in a little over a month from now. I am surrounded by pregnant women & and am learning every day of someone else who is pregnant. I came to a breaking point where I realized I didn't want to become bitter & angry or resentful for not being blessed with another baby. Instead I got on my knees and got real with myself and with God.

I began really seeking God's will for my life and my family. I started seeking God to fill that void. I picked up a bible study that I had started a few years ago about becoming a virtuous woman. The study really opened my eyes to the fact that I had become an "almost dead Christian." I think that many of us who grew up in the church and became christians at an early age can easily end up in this situation. We go to church every Sunday, serve in our church, and are involved in bible studies. We allow ourselves to get so preoccupied with being the "perfect christian" that we forget about the true meaning of what being a christian means and how much Christ just wants a personal relationship with us. My desire is to become more like the Proverbs 31 woman, which can only happen by spending time daily in God's word and in prayer. I know that God doesn't want me to feel guilty if I don't have my quiet time everyday, but God wants me to desire to spend time with him.

I started making my quiet time a priority again. As soon as Abigail goes down for a nap, I put my cell phone on silent, turn the t.v. off and put the computer away. I don't have a clock in the room, so I can't be distracted with the time either. I dive into God's word and spend time in prayer. It's been so amazing to see how God has been working in my life. I prayed for God to heal my broken heart. I have an overwhelming sense of peace that only comes from God. I prayed for God to help me seek opportunities where he could use the gifts that he has given me. God provided a situation the very next day where he used me to minister to a friend who is struggling with her own trials. I am in awe of how amazing our God is and I love those moments in life where you can literally feel God's presence.

I have been reading a book called "Hannah's Hope," which is a book that was written for those seeking God's heart in the midst of fertility, miscarriage, and adoption loss. I would recommend this book to any women and men dealing with these situations. The book provides personal stories, but also provides biblical knowledge and application. I have really enjoyed how God has been speaking to me through this book. I also listened to an online message from Gregge Matte at Houston's First Baptist Church. He did a message a few months back called Empty Womb, Full Heart. I would encourage you to listen to the message if you're struggling with these issues. He did a wonderful job explaining that having a child is not a right, it's a gift from God. He also reminded me of the fact that I'm complete in Christ. I'm complete in HIM! I was created by God and for God. My purpose in life is to honor and worship him in everything I do. He encouraged us to ask "why?" leaning forward seeking God's will.

I wanted to share this journey with my fellow blog readers. I just wanted to be real and honest about what's been going on in my world. I am seeking and praying for an older wiser spiritual mentor who will hold me accountable. I have always been told the importance of an accountability partner, but have never found one. I think it's been the fear of allowing myself to be vulnerable to someone. However, I'm at the place in my life where I'm ready for that challenge.

Psalm 139: 23-24 "Search me O God, and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there are any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

"3 Year Stats & Pics!"

2010-07-16T13:40:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I took Abigail for her 3 year well child visit. Abigail weighs 27 lbs, which puts her in the 25% for weight. She's 35" tall, which puts her in the 10% for height. Abigail is growing, but she's still a little peanut! The Dr. is very impressed with Abigail and how far she's come since she was born so prematurely. Abigail had to get one shot & she didn't even cry! What a big girl! I explained to her that she was going to get a shot, but it would just be a little stick and then it would be over. I'm so proud of my little girl!

Abigail loves to play with her baby dolls, strollers, shopping cart, purses, & silly hats! Below are some pictures of Abigail while playing! I love my little girl & it's so fun to watch her learn & grow!

4th of July!

2010-07-08T19:14:00.000-07:00

I was going to take Abigail to see the 4th of July parade this year, but didn't want to get out in the muggy weather. It had been raining so much that the ground was still wet. Maybe we'll see the parade next year. We spent the morning of 4th of July serving in the nursery at church. We met a new couple at the church, which is always fun. Then, we had lunch with friends from our community group. After nap time, it was time to head over to Towne Green to set up to watch the fireworks. I made the mistake of thinking we could just buy food there. The lines were long & it was expensive. Note to self: eat before we go or bring a picnic dinner next time! The kids had fun rolling down the hill on the lawn where we were sitting. The kids started to get a little bored waiting for the fireworks. The fireworks didn't start until 9:30 pm! Abigail was so excited all day about seeing the "sireworks," but when the fireworks started, she was so scared of them. She was asking us to turn them off. James ended up walking further away with her, so it wasn't so loud for her. He bumped into some more friends of ours, so that was fun. We had a good time despite Abigail being scared of the fireworks! It wasn't blazing hot outside either, which was nice. However, I just kept thinking we should have cooked outside because 4th of July just makes me think of bar-b-ques! There's always next year right?

Saying "cheese!"

Eating a red snow cone!

Rolling down the hill with Daddy!

Abigail was scared of the fireworks!

All dressed for church!

Abigail's 3rd Birthday!

2010-06-30T15:19:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that my baby girl is 3 years old, that just doesn't seem right! I am so blessed to be Abigail's Mommy! She's such a beautiful, happy little girl! Abigail has developed quite an imagination lately, which is so fun to watch! She names her baby dolls and makes up little stories all the time! Abigail has brought so much joy to our lives, it's hard to remember what life was like before she came into our world!

I decided to keep Abigail's birthday simple this year since I went way over board the last two years. I let Abigail pick the theme and she chose Abby Cadabby from Seaseme Street. I couldn't find an Abby cake because she's a fairly new face on Seaseme Street, so I had to settle for a princess cake instead. Abigail called it her "purple cake." I only invited family and a few of Abigail's friends which she sees on a regular basis. I basically invited the friends Abigail talks about all the time, so I let her make the guest list. I had a hard time not inviting everyone because I don't want anyone getting their feelings hurt for not being invited. However, for the sake of keeping it simple, I had to let it go. Abigail was so excited about her "Abby Party!"

The day of Abigail's birthday, James & I took her to Incredible Pizza to celebrate her special day. Then, her birthday party was Saturday afternoon. We bought a Rainbow swing set off Craigslist for a fraction of the cost buying them brand new. James worked hard re-staining the swing set & it took him & his two workers half a day to put it back together. Abigail was so excited when she saw her birthday present through the window that she said, "Daddy made me a playground!" Priceless!!! Abigail had so fun at her birthday party! This was the first year that she actually understood it was her birthday. Abigail helped open her presents & blow out the candles on her cake. Abigail had so much fun passing out her party hats to her friends. It was so cute to watch her get so excited over her "Abby Birthday Party!" Abigail is blessed to have such wonderful family and friends! She's one spoiled little girl that's for sure! However, I sure do love my spoiled little girl to pieces!

Abigail's Abby Cadabby Party!

Singing Happy Birthday & about to blow out the candles!

James pushing Abigail & Maggie on the swings!

Abigail's playground!

Abigail swinging while the playground is still being put together!

Abigail at Incredible Pizza riding the tea cups!

Abigail had to ride the train a few times!

Abigail just having fun!

James couldn't wait to ride the race cars with Abigail!