Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Serina's 2nd Birthday
On Saturday, Greg, Alison, & I went to Serina's 2nd birthday party...Elmo themed might I add!! We had a blast, but it scared the crap out of me! What scared me was that Alison's 1st birthday is just around the corner and I BETTER START SAVING MY PENNIES. These kids parties are soo expensive..oh man..Greg better get an 8th job! haha! Here are some pictures from party! Happy 2nd Birthday Serina!
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
She is on the move!!!
So this weekend we decided to get a baby gate for the top of the stairs. It was mostly in effort to keep the dogs downstairs permanently, but we knew that it wouldn't be long before it would help keep Alison from tumbling down the stairs. She has been pushing up on her hands and knees and rocks back and forth...She is really good at pushing herself backwards just a bit, but not really crawling yet. Today was one of those days that she was quite active. I tried to sit her next to me on the bed while I worked on a project and before I know she is practically (not literally) hanging off the bed. I thought this can't be good as she is going to fall so I better do something with her...hum..where could I put her...the floor!!! The safest place!! So I make this nice cushy blanket area with lots of toys for her to play on and her favorite movie was playing on the television...Perfect! We are set...She won't bug me and I wont' bug her! She was talking away and playing so nicely that I started to day dream (I know not a surprise!). Suddenly I thought crap what is she doing??!! So I lean over and look at where I put her and guess what I see......
WHERE IS SHE???? Oh there she is...CRAP...chewing on the vacuum chord!! NO!!! UGH!
Look at how far she traveled...Point A to Point B....
And with all that work...She got soo sleepy!!
I think the play pen is going to be permanently out!!
WHERE IS SHE???? Oh there she is...CRAP...chewing on the vacuum chord!! NO!!! UGH!
Look at how far she traveled...Point A to Point B....
And with all that work...She got soo sleepy!!
I think the play pen is going to be permanently out!!
Like Mother, Like Daugther...TORNADOS!!!
Greg always swears that I am a tornado when I am sleeping..I take the blankets..move from one side to the other side of the bed..kick him in the back..another words I am all over the place when I sleep. He calls me the TORNADO! Surprisingly I never seem to agree because I always find myself in the same spot as where I feel asleep. No idea what he is talking about! ha! So today I put Alison down for a nap and when I went back in to check on her this is the first thing I see....
Is she trying to escape? Are those really her feet sticking out?? YEP!!!!
And of course, she is such a beauty when she is sleeping! Like Mother, Like Daughter...Tornado #2
Is she trying to escape? Are those really her feet sticking out?? YEP!!!!
And of course, she is such a beauty when she is sleeping! Like Mother, Like Daughter...Tornado #2
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Please Pray.....
I am asking that you keep this family in your prayers during this difficult time. This was a very sad and unfortunate accident.
http://www.stevencurtischapman.com/
Maria is seated in the arms of her father
May 21, 2008
Steven Curtis Chapman's daughter killed by car in driveway
By KATE HOWARD and LINDA ZETTLER
Staff Writers
Steven Curtis Chapman’s youngest child died Wednesday evening after being struck by a car driven by her teenage brother in the driveway of the family’s Williamson County home.
Maria, one of the Christian singer’s six children, was taken by LifeFlight to Vanderbilt Hospital, which confirmed the death, according to Laura McPherson, a spokeswoman for the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
The 5-year-old was hit by an SUV driven by her teenage brother, she said. Police did not give the driver’s name.
The teen was driving a Toyota Land Cruiser down the driveway of the rural home at about 5:30 p.m. and several children were playing in the area, McPherson said. He did not see Maria in the driveway before the vehicle struck her, she said.
“It appears to be a terrible accident,’’ McPherson said.
No charges are expected, she said. The accident was witnessed by two other children; the entire family was home at the time, McPherson said.
Singer/songwriter Chapman, who recently was inducted into Music City Walk of Fame, is one of contemporary Christian music’s most recognizable and most awarded names.
He and his wife Mary Beth have long been supporters of international adoption, having brought three girls from China into their family. Maria was the youngest.
The couple is so active in the cause that they formed an organization, Shaohannah’s Hope, to aid families wanting to adopt.
With his latest music tour, which came through Nashville in November, Chapman started a campaign called “Change for Orphans”. He asked audience members at each stop to bring spare change to the concert, where it was counted and given to a local family to aid in their adoption process.
“I don’t know of anybody who loves his children more than he does and is so committed to the adoption concept, and to lose one, no matter what the circumstances, is heartbreaking beyond all comprehension,” said John Styll, president of the Nashville-based Gospel Music Association.
“He talks about his kids all the time. That’s his life. His kids are more important to him than music, that’s for sure.”
The tragedy was announced during Wednesday-night services at Harpeth Hills Church of Christ, which the family attends. Maria had just graduated from the church preschool.
And word spread throughout the tight-knit Christian music community on Wednesday evening.
Styll got the news not long after Maria’s death.
“I’m confident I can speak for everyone in the community to say we will do everything we can to support this family, as we would do at any time, but especially at a time like this,” he said.
Most of the Chapman family was at Vanderbilt children’s hospital after the accident and could not be contacted. The long, gravel driveway leading to the home west of Franklin was blocked off by Williamson County sheriff’s deputies.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.stevencurtischapman.com/
Maria is seated in the arms of her father
May 21, 2008
Steven Curtis Chapman's daughter killed by car in driveway
By KATE HOWARD and LINDA ZETTLER
Staff Writers
Steven Curtis Chapman’s youngest child died Wednesday evening after being struck by a car driven by her teenage brother in the driveway of the family’s Williamson County home.
Maria, one of the Christian singer’s six children, was taken by LifeFlight to Vanderbilt Hospital, which confirmed the death, according to Laura McPherson, a spokeswoman for the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
The 5-year-old was hit by an SUV driven by her teenage brother, she said. Police did not give the driver’s name.
The teen was driving a Toyota Land Cruiser down the driveway of the rural home at about 5:30 p.m. and several children were playing in the area, McPherson said. He did not see Maria in the driveway before the vehicle struck her, she said.
“It appears to be a terrible accident,’’ McPherson said.
No charges are expected, she said. The accident was witnessed by two other children; the entire family was home at the time, McPherson said.
Singer/songwriter Chapman, who recently was inducted into Music City Walk of Fame, is one of contemporary Christian music’s most recognizable and most awarded names.
He and his wife Mary Beth have long been supporters of international adoption, having brought three girls from China into their family. Maria was the youngest.
The couple is so active in the cause that they formed an organization, Shaohannah’s Hope, to aid families wanting to adopt.
With his latest music tour, which came through Nashville in November, Chapman started a campaign called “Change for Orphans”. He asked audience members at each stop to bring spare change to the concert, where it was counted and given to a local family to aid in their adoption process.
“I don’t know of anybody who loves his children more than he does and is so committed to the adoption concept, and to lose one, no matter what the circumstances, is heartbreaking beyond all comprehension,” said John Styll, president of the Nashville-based Gospel Music Association.
“He talks about his kids all the time. That’s his life. His kids are more important to him than music, that’s for sure.”
The tragedy was announced during Wednesday-night services at Harpeth Hills Church of Christ, which the family attends. Maria had just graduated from the church preschool.
And word spread throughout the tight-knit Christian music community on Wednesday evening.
Styll got the news not long after Maria’s death.
“I’m confident I can speak for everyone in the community to say we will do everything we can to support this family, as we would do at any time, but especially at a time like this,” he said.
Most of the Chapman family was at Vanderbilt children’s hospital after the accident and could not be contacted. The long, gravel driveway leading to the home west of Franklin was blocked off by Williamson County sheriff’s deputies.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday, May 19, 2008
"Australia"
Below is a "story" that a friend of mine posted on a message board for women with infertility.
All the woman on this message board have become good friends of mine. All of us have experienced so much on our road to becoming parents. The "story" hits home for me on many levels. I remember the days of friends getting pregnant and having a beautiful baby and then another beautiful baby while Greg and I were still struggling to have our first. Then hearing or reading a story of someone having an abortion and getting so upset as I would have given anything to have a baby. Then going through the months of shots, blood draws, and surgeries. But, in the end..... the gift of motherhood is amazing no matter what road you had to take to get there. (Thanks Jobie...I had to share this post!)
Deciding to have a baby is like planning a trip to Australia. You've heard it's a wonderful place. You've read many guidebooks and feel certain you're ready to go. Everyone you know has traveled there by plane. They say it can be a turbulent flight with occasional rough landings, but you look forward to being pampered on the trip.So you go the the airport and ask the ticket agent for a ticket to Australia. All around you, excited people are boarding planes for Australia. It seems there is no seat for you, you'll have to wait for the next flight. Impatient, but anticipating a wonderful trip, you wait, and wait, and wait.Flights to Australia come and go. People say silly things like, "Relax, You'll get on a flight soon.: Other people actually get on a plane and then cancel their trip, to which you cry, "It's not fair!"After a long time the ticket agent tells you, "I'm sorry, we're not going to be able to get you on a plane to Australia. Perhaps you should think about going by boat.""By boat!", you say, "Going by boat will take a very long time and costs a great deal of money. I really had my heart set on going by plane." So you go home and think about not going to Australia at all. You wonder if Australia will be as beautiful if you approach it by sea rather than by air. But you have long dreamed of this wonderful place, and finally you decide to travel by boat.It is a long trip, many months over many rough seas. No one pampers you. You wonder if you will ever see Australia. Meanwhile, your friends have flown back and forth to Australia two or three times, marveling about each trip.Then one glorious day, the boat docks in Australia. It is more exquisite than you ever imagined and the beauty is magnified by your long days at sea. You have made many wonderful friends during the voyage, and you find yourself comparing stories with others who also traveled by sea rather than by air.People continue to fly to Australia as often as they like, but you are able to travel only once, perhaps twice. Still, you know God blessed you with a special appreciation of Australia, and the beauty is not in the way you get there but in the place itself.
All the woman on this message board have become good friends of mine. All of us have experienced so much on our road to becoming parents. The "story" hits home for me on many levels. I remember the days of friends getting pregnant and having a beautiful baby and then another beautiful baby while Greg and I were still struggling to have our first. Then hearing or reading a story of someone having an abortion and getting so upset as I would have given anything to have a baby. Then going through the months of shots, blood draws, and surgeries. But, in the end..... the gift of motherhood is amazing no matter what road you had to take to get there. (Thanks Jobie...I had to share this post!)
Deciding to have a baby is like planning a trip to Australia. You've heard it's a wonderful place. You've read many guidebooks and feel certain you're ready to go. Everyone you know has traveled there by plane. They say it can be a turbulent flight with occasional rough landings, but you look forward to being pampered on the trip.So you go the the airport and ask the ticket agent for a ticket to Australia. All around you, excited people are boarding planes for Australia. It seems there is no seat for you, you'll have to wait for the next flight. Impatient, but anticipating a wonderful trip, you wait, and wait, and wait.Flights to Australia come and go. People say silly things like, "Relax, You'll get on a flight soon.: Other people actually get on a plane and then cancel their trip, to which you cry, "It's not fair!"After a long time the ticket agent tells you, "I'm sorry, we're not going to be able to get you on a plane to Australia. Perhaps you should think about going by boat.""By boat!", you say, "Going by boat will take a very long time and costs a great deal of money. I really had my heart set on going by plane." So you go home and think about not going to Australia at all. You wonder if Australia will be as beautiful if you approach it by sea rather than by air. But you have long dreamed of this wonderful place, and finally you decide to travel by boat.It is a long trip, many months over many rough seas. No one pampers you. You wonder if you will ever see Australia. Meanwhile, your friends have flown back and forth to Australia two or three times, marveling about each trip.Then one glorious day, the boat docks in Australia. It is more exquisite than you ever imagined and the beauty is magnified by your long days at sea. You have made many wonderful friends during the voyage, and you find yourself comparing stories with others who also traveled by sea rather than by air.People continue to fly to Australia as often as they like, but you are able to travel only once, perhaps twice. Still, you know God blessed you with a special appreciation of Australia, and the beauty is not in the way you get there but in the place itself.
Friday, May 16, 2008
7 months old!
I can't believe it..yesterday Alison turned 7 months old!! I waited soo long for her (literally years and years) and yet her first year of life is flying by soo fast!! Alison continues to brighten our day and fill our hearts with so much joy and love. She is a character as she finds humor in giving raspberries and smoothering you with kisses. Yes kisses..she grabs your face and totally licks the heck out of you. She loves to watch Baby's First Move by The Einstein Company and listen to any type of music. Doggies are high on her list of favorites as well. She can roll from her back to her tummy and lately we have been practicing propping herself on her hands and knees so she can start to crawl..Sometimes she likes it other times she doesn't. Alison loves loves loves to eat! As I mentioned in a previous post...she loves to eat everything!! Meal times are soo fun just because of the facial expressions she makes.
We are soo in love with her and continue to thank God for allowing us to mold and shape this precious life. She is truly a blessing to not only us but everyone she meets. Thank you for following our updates! We love our Ali Lu Bugga Boo!
We are soo in love with her and continue to thank God for allowing us to mold and shape this precious life. She is truly a blessing to not only us but everyone she meets. Thank you for following our updates! We love our Ali Lu Bugga Boo!
No I am not Gerber.....
A friend of mine in Seattle (which by the way I think is super mom, GO LISA!!) has inspired me to make my own baby food....yeah I know crazy huh? At first I thought it was a good idea but might not be something for me...until my little darling starting eating..and eating...and eating...I would easily drop 40 bucks at Walmart on nothing by baby food! What!!! So we were at Costco the other night and I came across the HUGE can of green beans for only 5 bucks and I thought "oh my, you know how much baby food I can make with one can!" One little container of a Stage 1 Gerber fruit or vegetable cost me around .60 each. With the big can of green beans: it cost me $5.89, and I got 58 cubes of vegetables out of it...so each cube serving = .10! Crazy on the price difference..Maybe now Greg could quit job #7..hahah!!
So I spent the day Wednesday being a Gerber factory. I made green beans, peas, peaches, pears, mixed vegetables, and carrots. It was soo easy, just a little time consuming. I just steamed up the vegetables and then threw them in my food processor and blended it up..Viola! I froze them in ice cube trays so that all I have to do is take out two or three cubes at lunch or dinner time, nuke them in the micro, and viola we have tasty baby food! She actually loves to eat this food over some of the other stuff. I think I am going to venture out and make squash, sweet potatoes, mangos, blueberries, and who knows...any ideas??????...Here are some pictures of my productivity....
Pears
Green Beans
Peaches
So I spent the day Wednesday being a Gerber factory. I made green beans, peas, peaches, pears, mixed vegetables, and carrots. It was soo easy, just a little time consuming. I just steamed up the vegetables and then threw them in my food processor and blended it up..Viola! I froze them in ice cube trays so that all I have to do is take out two or three cubes at lunch or dinner time, nuke them in the micro, and viola we have tasty baby food! She actually loves to eat this food over some of the other stuff. I think I am going to venture out and make squash, sweet potatoes, mangos, blueberries, and who knows...any ideas??????...Here are some pictures of my productivity....
Pears
Green Beans
Peaches
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Grocery shopping anyone?
Alison is very lucky because she gets to spend a lot of quality time with two of her cousins. She thinks she can play and keep up with them and is always VERY interested in what they are doing. The other day her two year old cousin was grocery shopping in the living room so I asked her if she wanted Alison go along and help her....So...here is what we got....
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Happy Mother's Day!
Today was my first Mother's Day! It was all that I have ever thought it would be...simply because I spent it with my husband who loves me and a baby girl that far too perfect for me. A few weeks ago, Greg asked me what I wanted for Mother's Day. As I pondered on the question, I found that there was nothing I truly wanted as I feel like I have everything I could ever ask for. I told him that it really didn't matter...he could do whatever he wanted as long as he put some effort and thought into it. So..this morning I opened two of the best gifts I have ever received...a black shirt and white shirt with Alison's tiny hand and feet prints on them. With the help of my very crafty sister in law, the end product was fabulous. Today I proudly wore the best gift ever.
As the clock is inching closer to midnight and my 1st Mother's Day is coming to end, I decided to check on my sleeping princess. As I peered over her crib, all I could do was gaze down at this perfect little child that was sent to this unperfect person. Gosh, God sent to me...Me...How amazing is that. After a few minutes of stroking her hair (or lack there of) I couldn't resist in picking her up so I could hold her in my arms. Of course she didn't wake, but hey if she is anything like me that isn't a surprise. I sat rocking my precious baby and couldn't help but think of just how much I love being a mommy yet how much I truly miss my own mom. It seems that ever since Alison's birth, I find myself missing her more and more. I want to be as great of a mother as she was. I have a great example to follow so I hope I can follow in her foot steps.
Ok..enough about me as I can barely see the computer screen...We want to wish all the wonderful mother's out there... A Very Happy Mother's Day. We hope your day was all that it could be! Hug those you love dearly!
As the clock is inching closer to midnight and my 1st Mother's Day is coming to end, I decided to check on my sleeping princess. As I peered over her crib, all I could do was gaze down at this perfect little child that was sent to this unperfect person. Gosh, God sent to me...Me...How amazing is that. After a few minutes of stroking her hair (or lack there of) I couldn't resist in picking her up so I could hold her in my arms. Of course she didn't wake, but hey if she is anything like me that isn't a surprise. I sat rocking my precious baby and couldn't help but think of just how much I love being a mommy yet how much I truly miss my own mom. It seems that ever since Alison's birth, I find myself missing her more and more. I want to be as great of a mother as she was. I have a great example to follow so I hope I can follow in her foot steps.
Ok..enough about me as I can barely see the computer screen...We want to wish all the wonderful mother's out there... A Very Happy Mother's Day. We hope your day was all that it could be! Hug those you love dearly!
Bittersweet
Yesterday our family participated in the Revlon Run/Walk for Women at the Colessium (who knows if I spelled that right) in honor of my wonderful mom for the 5th year in a row. I love that the walk takes place over Mother's Day weekend because I find it is my way of doing something special for her around a holiday that we can't share with her. I rejoice in seeing all the thousands of survivors, and my heartbreaks for all those who have gone before due to these horrible diseases. It is only 3 miles and my extremely out of shape body feels like we walked for days! ha! We looked very cute (at least we think so) because us girls all had matching shirts (even Alison!) After the walk, we went and grabbed a bite to eat and then headed over for a visit to the cemetery. I was sad, scared, nervous, yet excited to make this trip as I had yet to take Alison there. It is my goal to make sure knows all about her Grammy Cindy even though never met her here on earth. Well, my very comical daughter made this first trip much easier as she was all smiles and giggly. We will always love her and never forgot what a wonderful person she was! Happy Mother's Day Mommy!
Monday, May 5, 2008
Too sleepy..too play
As many of you know (and some may not) but Greg and I are following the Baby Wise parenting style to help get Alison on a schedule. It seems to be working very well for us as it has trained her to sleep 10-12 hours through the night! yipee!! Another aspect of Baby Wise includes training them to learn how to play in their room by themselves for a set amount of time. We have started it with her and she is slowly entertainig herself for longer periods of time. Right now I put her sitting down with a boppy pillow (u shaped pillow) around her for sitting support and place a variety of musical toys in front of her. I put her in there this morning and I noticed it got very quiet so I went in there and this is what I found!!!
Friday, May 2, 2008
Revlon Run/Walk
Hey Everyone,
We wanted to let you know that our family is participating in the Revoln 5K Run/Walk on Saturday May 10th at the Colessium in Los Angeles. We would love for you to join us if you can. It is only a little over 3 miles and you don't have to fundraise. We love to just participate. I have created a team that you can sign up under or you can just register by yourself. Our team is TEAM CINDY. We will meet down at the event around 730 in the morning. YOu get lots of goodies and a t shirt when you walk. We have found that this is our way of celebrating Mother's Day for our mom. We hope you can join us!!!
https://www.revlonrunwalk.com/la/secure/TeamWebPage.cfm?CFID=776866&CFToken=958b699e22e12bee-AB7DA7F5-F565-54BE-064330A1F6C0583A
Call me if you can join us so we can make sure to meet up with you!!!
We wanted to let you know that our family is participating in the Revoln 5K Run/Walk on Saturday May 10th at the Colessium in Los Angeles. We would love for you to join us if you can. It is only a little over 3 miles and you don't have to fundraise. We love to just participate. I have created a team that you can sign up under or you can just register by yourself. Our team is TEAM CINDY. We will meet down at the event around 730 in the morning. YOu get lots of goodies and a t shirt when you walk. We have found that this is our way of celebrating Mother's Day for our mom. We hope you can join us!!!
https://www.revlonrunwalk.com/la/secure/TeamWebPage.cfm?CFID=776866&CFToken=958b699e22e12bee-AB7DA7F5-F565-54BE-064330A1F6C0583A
Call me if you can join us so we can make sure to meet up with you!!!
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