National Infertility Awareness Week

Did you know that this week is/was (it's still not too late) National Infertility Awareness Week? I had no idea. Unfortunately with my ever on-going experience, I am asking that you a take a moment out of your day and pray. Pray for those women like me who have the burning desire to be mother, the achingness in her heart for a child, and the emptiness in her soul longing to hold a baby of her own. I know those emotions all too well. Kelly, a fellow blogger, couldn't have said it better as she wrote, "As mother's day approaches, I know it can be the hardest day of the year when it represents something you so desperately want and yet can't seem to get."

Here's a song that hits far too close to home..


I had posted this post a while back, but I thought it seem fit to put it on again...

I came across these words spoken by another mother who had some of the same experiences that Greg and I did. One mom posted the words below and it rang so true to me reading them. If you or someone you know has suffered through infertility, you will find these words very touching. I thought I would share them with you to give you a deeper look into the world of infertility. Let me know what you think!!

Why God Gave Me Infertility

"What do I think God meant when he gave me infertility?

Couples experiencing infertility often receive well-meaning but extremely insensitive "advice." We can all list the most popular ones: "Just relax and you'll get pregnant," or "adopt and you'll get pregnant," or "things happen for a reason", of the most painful from those who think they've got the goods on God's plan, "Maybe God never meant for you to have children."

The sheer audacity of making a statement like that never fails to amaze me.

These same people would never walk up to someone seeking treatment for cancer and say, "Maybe God never meant for you to live."

However, because I am infertile, I'm supposed to get on with my life.

It's hard to understand that people can not see infertility for what it is, a disease for which I have to seek treatment.

What if Jonas Salk had said to the parents of polio victims, "Maybe God meant for thousands of our children to be cripples, live in an iron lung or die."

What if he'd never tried to find a cure?

Who could think for one minute that that was God's plan?

What do I think God meant when he gave me infertility?

I think he meant for my husband and I to grow closer, become stronger, love deeper.

I think God meant for us to find the fortitude within ourselves to get up every time infertility knocks us down.

I think God meant for our medical community to discover medicines, invent medical equipment, create procedures and protocols.

I think God meant for us to find a cure for infertility.

No, God never meant for me not to have children.

That's not my destiny; that's just a fork in the road I'm on.

I've been placed on the road less traveled, and, like it or not, I'm a better person for it.

Clearly, God meant for me to develop more compassion, deeper courage, and greater inner strength on this journey to resolution, and I haven't let him down.

Frankly, if the truth be known, I think God has singled me out for a special treatment.

I think God meant for me to build a thirst for a child so strong and so deep that when that baby is finally placed in my arms, it will be the longest, coolest, most refreshing drink I've ever known. While I would never choose infertility, I can not deny that a fertile woman could never know the joy that awaits me.

Yes, one way or another, I will have a baby of my own.

And the next time someone wants to offer me unsolicited advice I'll say, "Don't tell me what God meant when he handed me infertility. I already know."

As my second Mother's Day quickly approaches, I can't help stop for a moment pray for all those women (who like) have endured so many mother's day empty handed. I most definitely will give my little a girl an extra big squeeze and 10,000 more kisses as I ETERNALLY AND EVER GRATEFUL that the Lord has blessed me with a such a wonderful little girl to love and cherish with all my heart!

Wordless Wednesday

It's still not too late...

Flashback Friday

Do you see any similarities??
1977

1980

2007


THANK GOODNESS IT'S FRIDAY! Have a great weekend!

1st hair cut

Last Thursday, I took Alison and I to our favorite hair salon to see Vicki (the only person I let cut my hair might I add!). I brought a whole bags of tricks (Oreo cookies, M & M's, chicken nuggets, her babies, shamu, the shamu movie) and her entourage for this venture. I wanted to be prepared! She doesn't have alot of hair but it was getting kind of nappy. So my advising committee (hehe) suggested that if I get her hair trimmed it should start growing back and most importantly evenly. I have to admit that I was quite nervous for this milestone as I would call it. One more thing to check off in the big girl category. Ok...sorry enough of "I am sad to see my girl grow up"....Here's how it went....
Um...yeah this is going to be as difficult as I envisioned...

Ok..I'm ok if I am on Momma's lap




We can get her to do anything if an O-R-E-O is involved!


She thought the curling iron was goign to hurt her...

and the finishing touches..

My big girl with her new hair cut

Long over-due update

Ok...raise your hand if you're a slacker who is so overwhelmed that she can't see straight or think clearly (wait..what did I just say...is it day or night...am I supposed to be somewhere..I think it's Tuesday..no wait..Wednesday... Wednesday..Wednesday.. what am I supposed to do on Wednesday??)..
OH what that's me!! Haha...Sorry I have been slacking in the blogging world. I made it through a marathon of baby showers for my good friend Mandy last week, and now I have long enough to take a quick breath and start planning another one (that I am already behind in might I add).

Well the house (at least downstairs) got finished just in time for the shower. And I will have to brag...my interior decorator (who I might add is awesome at what she does..and I think you should hire her to help you out) got my house newly decorated and up to fashion the day before the shower!! Boy did she do a great job! THANK YOU SO MUCH DANA!! MUAH! Thank to you to our helping crew..(Steve, Curt, Kevin, my dad, my sisters, and Dana) for lending us extra hands! My oh so brilliant mother in law (Kathy) treated me to some new window valances too!! (and of course we know she had nothing else to do..oh wait did I mention that she took time out of her crazy life of moving to make sure my windows looked perfect!) Thanks Kathy..I truly appreciate your hard work in spoiling us!!! My other oh so brilliant mother in law came and helped me slave away in the yard in a huge attempt to make the outside look at beautiful as the inside. After clearing roots..and more roots..and pulling weeds...and more weeds...MY YARDS LOOK BEAUTIFUL! Thanks Kathy!! So you say...where are the before and after pictures?? Haha! Who has time to take them..Not me!! Just kidding..I have the before..but I haven't taken the after. I will..I WILL PROMISE!!

Amidst all this constructions and remodeling, my baby girl has blossomed in very busy toddler. Alison is now 18 months old! I truly can't believe how fast time has flown. I am throwing a clause here..(Forgive me if I write too much about what she is doing...I use the blog as my journal to look back at her development since I am bad at writing in her baby book. I am going to get my post published into a book so I want as much info as I can remember). Here is what she is up too...

Language: Oh boy do I have a talker (just like her momma??). It is truly amazing to see the new words and sentences she comes up on a daily basis. She loves to babble a whole conversation to anyone who will listen. She will babble, babble, and babble some more and then look at you like "didn't you understand that?" Here are some of her new words and sentences that she says: "bubba (Michelle's dogs)", "hot dog", "juice", "I don't know", "go bye bye","ah-ha", "Neee-na", "Mama..pee pee", "Mamu", "shhh..", "TT-M", "Bree-ah (Braden)", "Pop pop", "Au he DaNa", "Auhe Jen", "My Dadda", "Na-na (Nala)", "Be (Belle)", "dog dog", "Hold you (her cue to pick her up", "uupie (up)", "Nana (banana)", "Nana (Nana Jan)" {and there is distinct differences in banana and Nana Jan}, "Elmo (not mommy's favorite)", "No", "bye-bye","nihh..nite","good", "ahh-dun (all done)", "more", "baby"...I am sure there are many many more that I am forgetting..

Sign language: She continues to do well with her signing as well. Some of her new words include: cracker, juice, horse, frog, cat, dog, work, home, baby signing time, blanket, bear, hat, sleep, ice cream. She has created a sign for Shamu so we know when she wants to watch the movie.

Motor development: As I stated before, Alison runs, runs, and RUNS. There is no such thing as walking. Her latest thing is trying to jump. It is the cutest thing. She tries with all her might to get both feet off the the ground. I am going to see about getting it on video. She is very efficient at going up the stairs and is working on coming down. She does pretty good but gets more scared than anything.

Social: She teeters on being very social at times to being very shy. It really depends on well she has napped. Strangers at the grocery store are not a problem, but many times family and friends take some time to warm up to. Characters in costume are still a No no with her. All characters big or small get a "bye bye" right away to indicate "I WANT TO GET AWAY!"Alison loves music. Listening it relaxes her, and being sung to is a favorite of hers. Twinkle twinkle little star is by far one of her favorites. She jumps in at "up above the world so high" with "uppa uppa". Baby signing time is her other favorite song.

Some of her favorites:

• Movies: Believe (the Shamu show) & Baby Signing Time (Elmo is making a run at but it doesn't keep her attention nearly as long.
• talking on the phone (especially to Nina Laurie)
• Babies- right now babies alive and pretend are a high priority for her. She has two matching dolls that were given to her when she was born. These babies GO EVERYWHERE!
• Mena & Pee-ah- This is what she has named her blankie and paci. I know..she still has the paci. Mommy is trying hard (ok well not that hard) to break her of it. So I have limited pee-ah to nap time and bed time. Trying to sneaky she will say "night night" just to see if I will give her a pee-ah. She knows where they are in the diaper bags so many times I have caught her trying to pull one out. I had a paci till I was 2 or so...so I will see when I will actually take it away.
• loves to make people laugh at her. She has quite a sense of humor!

Daddy belongs only to her! She loves to put her arms around his neck super tight and grab is ears and look at me and say "MY DADDA" Of course...Greg just melts when she does it. She soo tries to make me jealous. It is so cute. but seriously ..when dad comes home...she is all about him!!

Cognitive: Alison is has gotten real good at following directions. She can follow directions that include up to 3 things (Alison..get your babies and mena..and let's go get in the car). Those sorts of things. My girl is so smart..at least I think so!!

I could go on all day about her, and I am sure I have forgotten lots of things that she does, but what I do know is that I love this little girl with all my heart! I cherish the days I spend with her, and try to pause in the business of life to treasure the special moments with her. I am so blessed by her and by God's mercy to provide me with this opportunity.

Easter Filled Weekend

Ok...here it is (just like I promised last night!)..
Since I lost a week (and I didn't get to enjoy Greg's spring break might I add), when I finally was up and at it, I had to frantically get things together for Easter. First thing on my list was the Easter Bunny. So on Friday afternoon, the girls, Auntie Laurie, and I took Alison. We were all excited..umm...except for Ali! Here is REASON #1 why Easter might not be her favorite holiday....THE EASTER BUNNY IS SO CUDDLY...I MEAN SCARY!

On Saturday, we went out to visit Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Tom. We had a very nice time, and Auntie Dana made us a very yummy chicken dinner!! Grandma Kathy gave her a basket full of goodies, and helped Braeden, Kelsea, and Alison color eggs. We had a blast..Thanks for a great time

Our very own mother hen...










Here is REASON #2 why Easter might not be for my daughter...
Egg coloring starting out good… .

But someone wanted to taste the egg WITH the shell on….look at Braeden's face..it says it all!!

And let's taste it with WET DYE too!! She put everything in her mouth so fast!

Squooshhhh….

So much for coloring eggs….maybe next year!

Easter morning, we got up and went to church (might I note that Alison's candy consumption started already!). It is so wonderful to be able to celebrate the miracle of Christ's resurrection. My life has so much meaning, a purpose,and guidance all because God loved us so much that he would sacrifice his only son for me.. a sinner! I had to speak during the church, and I honored me to get the privileged of sharing with our congregation that Jesus is Alive and HE IS WITHIN ME! Here is a family picture at church and Alison opening up her Easter basket from that oh so scary bunny..

.

After church, Greg and my dad headed to the Angel game while Alison and I went to Grandma Nana & Auntie Sandy's house. We always have a great time with our family. Grandma Nana had an egg hunt for Serina and Alison. Alison caught to egg hunting pretty quickly. Especially opening the eggs and finding "mina" (aka: money). Thanks Grandma for a nice afternoon!

Looking for eggs with Auntie Jen

Serina concerned with what Ali ba ba is doing

Auntie Jen & Ali

The girls

After Grandma's house, we went over to G-Pa's house, where daddy joined us again along with Aunty Laurie and Uncle Timmy. We barbe-qued carne asada and I made beans and rice. Michelle brought banana splits for dessert and Mikee homemade THE BEST cream puffs I have ever had!! Alison had another egg hunt but this time she had EVERYONE'S ATTENTION. Finding "mina" in the eggs was her favorite. (Note: the candy consumption continued!)

Always enough kisses for dadda!

Easter 2009

Alison with her Auntie Michelle

(note: it is 7 o'clock in the evening…AND SHE IS STILL EATING CANDY!)

As our Easter presents, my dad gave us Mom's diamond rings that she had left for us. WE ARE SO HONORED TO HAVE THEM GIVEN TO US! We will wear them proudly and know she is close to us! Thanks DAD!!! Love you MOM!

We hope you had a great Easter with your family! We love you all!!