Christmas Morning at Home

Wow...what an adventure! Last Christmas I had to open all of Brienna's gifts. She was only eight months old and was just learning to crawl. Needless to say ripping paper off of gifts wasn't her thing. This year was a totally different story!

Brienna loved opening the wrapping and then handing the package over to Daddy to get the present out of it's packaging. She wouldn't open the next gift until the previous gift was separated from it's packaging and she could get her hands on it. She got so many toys - many people gave her baby dolls - she didn't know where to start! Her favorites seem to be a computer that Grandpa gave her, her tea set and stove from Omi, and table and chairs set that she got from Mommy and Daddy.

Overall, it was a great Christmas morning. I am still kicking myself for not remembering to recharge the video camera batteries Christmas Eve. I actually thought about it twice, but it wasn't until Christmas morning that I remembered that I forgot to do it. Next year, we'll have video tapes!!

Welcome Home Ellie!!

She's finally here! Elisabeth "Ellie" Noelle Phipps was born December 21, 2007 at 10:35pm. She came in weighing 7 pounds, 13 ounces, and 19 1/4 inches.

I can't tell you how thrilled I am that Ellie is finally here! I went into labor on Friday (the 21st) around 1:30pm. Labor was very hard - more so than with Boo - because it was all in my back this time. Thank You, Lord, for the invention of the epidural!! After an hour of hard work Ellie made her way into the world. The doctor was glad that I kept my composure and I was glad he didn't try to empathise with me - like he tried to do last time. If you haven't heard the story, you'll have to ask.

Patrick stayed with Ellie and me at the hospital. I can't say it was a great two nights stay as he was stuck on the pull-out couch, but he managed to sleep. Our stay was very eventful as many friends came to see us and Ellie. Our pastor and his wife, Tressie, Judy, Daddy, and of course Omi and Brienna. Brienna enjoyed the time she got to spend with her sister - just take a look at these pictures!

Brienna holds Ellie for the first time

Brienna admires her little sister

Brienna gets to help feed Ellie

Waiting, Waiting, Waiting

I went to the doctor on Thursday morning. In eight days I found a way to lose nine pounds and two inches. He didn't think was something to be too concerned about as I was up on my feet more and ate less meat and more fruit and veggies (yuck!). I jokingly asked him, "How much can I pay you under the table to induce labor?" With a smile he took out his calendar and said, "We can do it Monday morning if you want. We just require you to be within a week of your due date." Well, I have to tell you that I started getting excited when he said that - I could have Ellie Monday morning (tomorrow)!!

I talked to Patrick about it and after a lot of discussion, we decided to wait and not plan her birthday. As much as it killed me to make that decision we do think we made the right decision. Ellie will come in her own time when she's ready. (However, if she comes Friday that will fit perfectly into our home schedules!)

Today we went to church and everyone seemed to be watching me as if to say, "You still haven't had that baby yet?" We are all anticipating her arrival; I'm the nervous one though. Every time I feel something - braxton hicks in my back or my tummy tighten - I'm trying to find the nearest clock...but nothing is happening on a schedule yet. I just keep reminding myself that I am on the Lord's timetable, everything is in His hands, and He knows what is best for Ellie and for me. But on the other hand...tomorrow is another day!

Christmas Town USA

It never fails...when I am spontaneous with my daughter something will inevitably go crazy! Since I was a little girl, it has been a family tradition to go to drive through McAdenville and see the Christmas lights. This year I decided Brienna was old enough to go and enjoy it - and boy was I right! But of course the trip didn't go just as planned!

Today we started out going to Landis to see Patrick's grandfather in Landis. It was a nice visit and well worth the entire day! On the way home, Mom and I talked about taking Brienna to McAdenville this year. This was the only weekend to do it and walk through town - it's in the 70's!! So, halfway home we hit I-77 ad headed towards Christmas Town USA.

We got to Lowell around 4:30 and decided to stop and get dinner. We had about an hour of daylight to kill before the lights turned on. We stopped to get a burger and found that Brienna had wet through her diaper, onesie, and corduroy overalls. All we could do was get the wet clothes off of her and put her in a dry diaper and her fleece jacket! She thought she was something else for only having a jacket and a diaper on!

Mom immediately headed to Kohl's on highway 29 to get her some PJ's to change into. Once we got her jammies on, we got dinner and headed back into McAdenville. WE reached the line around 6:30 but didn't make it into McAdenville until 9PM!! The line never seemed to move! But once we got to town, the line seemed to take off at a normal pace and we were walking in downtown McAdenville within ten minutes!

Mom took a picture of us outside of one of the stores in downtown.

Brienna was enthralled with the huge Christmas tree outside of City Hall.

She also loved the nativity outside of the local Baptist church.

Once we finished walking through downtown, we jumped back in the car and drove trough town. Brienna sat on my lap with her hands folded over the side of the car window. She laid her head on top of her hands and enjoyed the lights. She didn't like getting back in her car seat (I can't blame her), but we made it home safely. We didn't get home until after eleven o'clock, but it was so much fun! I can't wait to take her back next year.

The Unspoken Tribute

There are many types of women in the world. The workaholic, the home-maker, the busy-bee, the social butterfly...the list goes on and on. However, my mother has a category all her own - she's the stand alone. Stand alone - sounds like a weird title so let me explain. She stands out above all other mothers I have ever met - she's the most incredible woman I have ever known. I don't take it lightly that God ordained her to be my mother.

Since I was ten years old, my mother raised me as a single mother. I wish I realized at the time what she endured as a single mother – the sacrifices she made because of me – and what I gained by having such a selfless mom. Looking back I see it all so clearly, but I also see the missed opportunities I had then to be a blessing in return to her.

She received Christ when I was in seventh grade and from that morning on we were in church every time the doors were open. We were at every service and I attended every youth function. Over the course of a year and a half, she showed me what it meant to be a Christian and what joy there was in the Christian life. I wanted a part of that, but on my own I was so unsure of how to begin taking the road to redemption. She sent me to a Christian school and it was there that the Lord got a hold of my heart and taught me how to begin my own personal walk with Him.

I wish I could say that after that January morning in 1996 that everything went perfectly. However, I still acted on my selfish antics and rebelled every once in a while. I know I broke her heart hundreds of times, forced her into hours of prayer, and even created more than half the grey hairs on her head. But through it all she showed the love of Christ, the true love of a parent, and the support of a best friend that I didn’t acknowledge.

Now that I am grown and have children of my own, I can look back through the eyes of a new parent and see the love that she’s had for me all along. From the moment we were joined together, she’s loved me unconditionally – even when I was undeserving and ungrateful. I finally realize that no matter how much I pushed away she never budged.

Mom – I am so thankful for you. I’m so grateful that you have stuck by me all these years, watched over me, guided me, and lead me down the right path. You’ll never know how much I appreciate everything you have done for me. All I can do is stand in awe at what the Lord has done with our relationship, what He’s accomplished in our lives, and the blessings He’s bestowed on us as a family. God has been so very good to us – and I tend to still take it for granted that you are the mother He gave me. Thank you for everything you have done for me – the sacrifices you made, the privileges you have given me, and the path you paved for me to follow. You are the most fabulous person I know and I’m lucky to have you as my very own. You truly are the stand alone mom.

Boo's Bedroom Follies

Today was unusual - I was actually tired enough to take a nap! The only thing standing between me and my pillow was Brienna. Patrick has always been a nap person but me? Not so much. Brienna likes to take naps mid-morning and mid-afternoon. The weekends are like clockwork. So I was excited when she started rubbing her eyes - Mommy gets a nap!

I laid down with her for fifteen minutes until she rolled over, waved her hand, and said "Bye." (This is the cue to leave the room because she's going to sleep.) Of course I headed straight for bed after checking to make sure the light on the monitor was on. It was 3pm when I laid down and 4:30 when I awoke to the sound of my child banging on the door saying "Mama! Mama!" It took me a couple of seconds to realize I wasn't hearing her through the monitor! I saw the light glowing in the dark of our room and assumed Patrick had turned up the volume.

I jumped out of bed (as fast as a preggy can move anyways) and opened her bedroom door. Now I have to preface this with an explanation. When Brienna wakes up in the mornings and from any other nap she's taken in her life, she's sitting on her bed waiting to be picked up. Today was the exception. I opened her door to find Boo on the floor complete surrounded by bibs, burp cloths, and blankets galore! What too outrageous to believe? Here's the proof!

I was stunned, but after the shock wore off I changed her diaper and we went downstairs to wait for Omi. She arrived fifteen minutes later and was just as shocked as I was. When we finally got a hold of ourselves, we decided Brienna needed to help clean up her room. Omi kept telling her to "Clean up." Her reaction? She piled on the stack of bibs and giggled at us as if to say, "I'm proud of my decorating!"

Next was Mommy's turn to tell Brienna to clean up. I got a finger pointed at me and a big "No!" But I have had this terrible two reaction before and I learned a trick with Brienna. When you want her to help you clean up, you have to show her she's helping. She loved to be the helper. So I picked up a small stack of bibs and asked her to put them in the basket. She then got up and took them from me and she put every single one back in the basket! We cheered her on and kept telling her she was a good helper. It seemed way too easy, but in the end, she cleaned up her own mess which I think made a statement - she has yet to climb off her bed again without permission!

First School Pictures

Last month when the daycare sent home a notice that the kids were having their school photos taken for Christmas, I flipped out. I immediately called a girlfriend of mine and we went shopping that Saturday for Christmas dresses for both Brienna and Ellie. (Yes, I am quite aware that Ellie's not here yet, but you never know when she'll pop her little head out!) Once I got home, Mom reminded me that she'd bought Brienna's Christmas dress last year - oops! Now she's got two.

I took Brienna to school the following Monday with her form filled out and my assumption that we would end up with Christmas pictures of her in the overalls that she wore to school that day. I left instructions for the background in case that did happen. I was told that afternoon that she had her picture taken in her dress with her hair up in the ponytail - but no one could tell me if she smiled or not. Oh the drama of waiting for photos!

As you can see -

she smiled

AND posed!!

Sorry that the pictures aren't the best quality online. There is a protective material on the photos to prevent copying and scanning - but I couldn't' help it! Everyone has to see these!