Welcome Home Kip!

Amy's been a regular on this blog the past few months but I've been waiting a year to post this one to my cousin so, Welcome Home Kip! Other than enjoying a great crawfish boil with family in East TX nothing was more appropriate this Memorial Day weekend than returning home to LA for a party on Caddo Lake with family, friends, and other soldiers to welcome Kip home from Iraq.

He's been a scout for the 1st Cavalry, 4th Brigade Combat team out of Fort Hood which has helped bring some peace and stabilization to Southern Iraq the past year. He volunteered for his second tour to help train other scouts after his first deployment in 2005.

In all the debates (and there were many) we used to have about who won the battles we'd fight in the dirt hills that used to be next to our houses growing up it is Kip who has become the true hero. There is no debating this fact as Kip is also a Purple Heart recipient. We 're all very proud of you and thank you for your service and dedication to this Country. I'm looking forward to hanging out with you sometime this summer at Ft. Hood.

To everyone else please keep those still deployed in your thoughts and prayers and especially the families/friends of those soldiers who won't be coming home.

Grace's Dedication

Sunday at church was baby dedication day. Nine babies were dedicated together and introduced to the church. I think its such a nice way to recognize the new babies and let the church see them as they promise to pray for the children. Its also a great way to remind us as parents to make God the number one priority in our children's lives. Bible classes are so important for kids, but I know I need to be reminded that Ty and I should be the main Bible teachers for Jake and Grace. Jake loves his Rhyme Bible my mom got him and wants me to read that to him quite often. I need to make that a more regular part of our routine. 

 Jake came up on stage with us as well and so many people commented after church just how much he and Ty look alike. Apparently, they had the exact same expression on their face while we were up there. Grace did great as well, and didn't cry once which I thought was fairly impressive :) After the service, the elders came and prayed over Jake with us. We so appreciate having a church leadership that cares so much and raises up Jake to the Lord. We're blessed to be a part of such a loving church!

Here are pictures of our little Gracie in her pretty blue dress.

Photo Shoot

Back in April when the kids and I were in Oklahoma for Easter, my brother and sister-in-law's friend, Audrey, came over to Mom and Dad's house to take some pictures of Jake and Grace and my niece and nephew. She's a professional photographer and got some really cute shots of the kids. Ryan recently mailed me the CD with the photos. Here are some of my favorites:

Gentry and Grace

My brother Ryan and nephew Hendrix

Hendrix and Gentry

Jake and Grace

The first picture of the day: Jake playing with his hairbrush...I thought this was a priceless expression on his face!

Surgery Date

Last week on Wednesday, I finally just had to call Dr. Heinle's office to ask about Jake's surgery. We had been told we'd get a date by Monday and it was two days later, and I just couldn't wait any longer! Paula, the surgery nurse was really sweet and said she had been meaning to call us but kept getting distracted so she was glad I called. I was relieved she was so nice and not annoyed at me calling :) Anyway, Jake's surgery has been scheduled for July 21st. We have an appointment with Dr. Heinle on June 17th to go over the surgery and for questions. Its possible that the surgery will be moved up if our cardiologist, Dr. Altman, can arrange it. I talked to her on Thursday and told her that Jake has been getting tired much sooner lately and his sweating is increasing. She said she would work on a sooner date so he didn't become even more symptomatic. I just continually thank God that we have such excellent care for Jake. I can't say enough wonderful things about the staff, nurses, and doctors we've encountered at Texas Children's. We are indeed blessed to live in Houston!

Thursday, we went to King's Orchard and went strawberry picking with Jo Jo and some other friends. Jake loved picking the strawberries and by the end of the morning, he and Jo Jo had picked 7 pounds of them! He was covered in red juice and enjoyed every minute of it! Grace slept nicely in her stroller in the shade. Here's some pictures of our adventure:

Happy Mother's Day!

I have had a happy and uneventful Mother's Day for which I am VERY grateful! This is my third official Mother's Day and the first two Mother's Day weekends were spent in the ER with Jake so I loved a normal one today :) Two years ago Jake had a stomach virus and they thought he was dehydrated so went to the ER and then I caught the virus and spent that Sunday in bed. Last year was when Jake had the rare reaction to the chicken pox vaccine and couldn't walk for 24 hours because his equilibrium was so distorted. We took him to the ER that time as well and luckily had a doctor who had been there long enough to make the diagnosis. This year we're waiting for the call about Jake's surgery, but all in all we're healthy and very blessed. 

Ty bought me a new flat iron which I am so excited about. Nothing makes me feels better than controlled hair in this Houston humidity :) Its about to drive me crazy since I'm growing it out (I'm in need of a pony tail with two kids I've decided) and my old flat iron has officially died. This morning Ty brought me coffee from Starbucks along with a rose and a sweet card from the kids. He took us along with his mom and stepdad to Shogun for lunch....delicious! I also got a nap today so that always makes me happy :)

I wish I could have been with my mom for Mother's Day today too, but she's spending the day with my brother and his family and enjoying them I know. One of these years I'll make it to Oklahoma on Mother's Day weekend to spend it with her.

 Its been a great day and I'm quite thankful its been so "normal"! Oh, and I couldn't resist adding these pictures of Grace. I love the one of her in her first jean skirt...I'm definitely having fun dressing a baby girl :)

Fun, Friends, and Fountains

Friday the kids and I went to the fountains on the Woodlands waterway with Claudia and her kids and had a great time. The weather was perfect, and Jake thoroughly enjoyed playing in the water. Grace loves the outdoors and was great as well. Don't you love a perfect springtime day?

Jakers getting brave enough to get in the water...by the time we left, he was putting his whole face in!

Jackson splashing away

Grace with Miss Claudia

Taking a goldfish break

Lillie Beth and Grace

Rain is okay. Thanks, Rob Bell.

NOOMA Rain | 001 Rob Bell - Full-Length Version

A Relaxing Weekend

We had a relaxing time this weekend with Ty's dad and stepmom. They came down from Marshall to visit and cheer us up after hearing about Jake's surgery. Larry brought his famous ribs and made some great strawberry shortcake. Yum! Jake had a great time with Pops and Nonnie (or Paws and non-NEE, his pronunciation). We just watched the Kentucky Derby and a movie, played with the kids, and had a relaxing meal out on the deck. I got some pictures of the kids outside but realized later I didn't get any of them with Pops and Nonnie. Grace's little tummy was hurting her this weekend, but she seemed to feel better when we put her in her swing and took her outside. The wonders of nature! 

We still don't have a date for Jake's surgery, but the surgeon e-mailed Ty on Friday and said his staff was working on it so hopefully we'll find out sometime this week. Ty and I are both planners and function better when we know when something will happen. I know we need to just pray for it to be in God's perfect timing. After all, He is the Great Physician!

Two Months

Grace had her two month check-up yesterday with Dr. Chandler and she did great! Our two week appointment was a little rough with a lot of tears, but yesterday Grace smiled at the doctor and was so pleasant and sweet. She even endured her shots with minimal tears. She weighs 11 lbs. and 15 oz. which puts her in the 75th percentile for weight, and she's 23 1/2 inches tall which puts her in the 75th-90th percentile for height. She's definitely eating good! Dr. Chandler listened to her heart for a good 3 minutes which seemed like an eternity to me at the time. About the time I had convinced myself there had to be a problem, she said it sounded great. She just always wants to be extra cautious which I appreciate. 

Grace is such a precious little girl who has a contagious smile.  I've yet to get a really good picture of her million dollar smile, but I'm working on it. We're getting into more of a routine and she's sleeping much better. If we're home all day, she'll take a few long naps in her bassinet. She's sleeping fairly well at night too, although around 4:00 in the morning seems to be her favorite time. This morning she woke me up at 4:00 just cooing to herself so I brought her into her room and she "talked" and "talked" for about 30 minutes. Her favorite person is definitely Jake who can make her smile in an instant. I know they will be the best of friends really soon :)

I bet Grace will be the one to make Jake smile after his surgery as well!

Oh, how I love my precious daughter!

Taking a nap with Daddy   

This is what she would look like with no hair...

And then with her crazy hair!

She doesn't look to comfortable here, but you can see those cute, chubby legs :)