It's "WINTER!"

We have a happy girl!! "Mommy! It's my Christmas tree! It's WINTER!!!" (& when I asked Wesley to bring the big tree from the attic, I said I just wanted that one & hk said, "ALL of them Mommy!! ALL of them!") 

Thankful day 27:

I am thankful for the opportunity to visit my family & for all of my brethren who are are going to pray for my kids to travel & sleep well!! 

Thankful day 26

I am thankful for the Bible. 

Thankful Day 25/NICU Care Packages

I am SO thankful that we are not spending Thanksgiving in the NICU, for the wonderful response to Micaiah's birthday project & that we delivered care packages & visited with his NICU doctor & nurses today!! Praying that these families will be encouraged & see the love of God this Thanksgiving! Thanks to everyone who helped!

Thanks to everyone for your support! We assembled 27 Family Care Packages that included 2 receiving blankets (a couple had 1 big blanket & 1 receiving blanket), tissues, chapstick, hand sanitizer, snacks, candy, note pad, pen, a "wash your hands" car seat sign, & a note from us. We also took several bags of preemie clothes that were donated as well as LOTS of hats, a few extra blankets, 5 sibling coloring packs, & since so many people donated money & we had a lot left over.....we got 5 $20 gift cards to Cracker Barrel for the NICU staff to give to 5 families who needed it most. They have 15 babies in the NICU as of this morning & were expecting more. I was hoping to have extra care packages so they could use them as needed & we did. THANK YOU to everyone who donated items & money to help celebrate Micaiah's birthday this way!!!!!

Thankful Day 24-I am thankful our church family at Elizabethton. We miss them soooo much & were so thankful to visit with them this weekend!

Thankful Day 23

I am thankful that my kids took naps today & did awesome for Santa pictures. Thankful for wonderful people like Rebecca Marr who document sweet memories. 

Thankful Day 22

I am thankful for Christian family near & far & that in Heaven we never have to leave each other!

Thankful day 21

Thankful day 21: I am thankful that God blessed us with this precious, happy boy. Can't wait til Wesley gets home for more birthday fun! 

Thankful day 20

Thankful day 20: I am thankful that my sweet husband, father in love & neighbor were able to fix our tire super fast when this giant THING went in it tonight. I am thankful that even though this will be the third tire we have replaced in the past year or so that we are blessed with a car (& lots of new tires). 

I am also very thankful for this precious baby. It's my last night to put an 11 month old Micaiah to bed :( 

Thankful day 19:

I am thankful for quiet time at the end of the day with my sweet husband. 

Thankful Day 18

I am thankful for the opportunity to give. Look at my little helper! 

I was tearing up as I filled these NICU care bags with your donations. I distinctly remember being at VCH with Hannah Kate & Nurse Scarlett brought me a little gift that someone had donated for a NICU mom. It was something small, but I was so touched that someone would think of us. I wish we could be there to see the families' faces when they receive their gifts, but I know they will love them. I am praying that hearts will be touched & brought closer to God through this service. Thank you to everyone who has helped in any way with Micaiah's birthday project! 

Galatians 6:9-10 ESV

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith."

Micaiah 11 Months

I just knew I had done Micaiah's 11 Month post....and I haven't.  I hope I can remember what things he was doing at the right time!

Diaper Size: 3 Pampers, medium cloth

Clothing Size: 9-12 month, size 3 shoe

Food Fun:

~He regularly eats peas, carrots, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, applesauce.  He hates pureed green beans & is a big fan of feeding himself.  He loves Cheerios, bread, & bananas.

~He can drink from straws & still doesn't like drinking from a sippy cup.

 

Fun Facts:
~He is still the fastest crawler! 

~He is a climber! He climbs on Hannah Kate's little chair & couch & tries to climb on big things too!

~He will not really stand up if we try to stand him up, but he loves to pull up on things & play 

~He babbles dada, baba, nana, /s/....only "mama" when he is crying & crawling to me.

Things Micaiah LOVES:

~trying to steal Hannah Kate's snacks

~Mr. Ernest J at our congregation

~Mommy!!!

~trying to pull up on the potty-GROSS!

~balls & big puzzle pieces

~our chickens

~riding in the wagon or stroller

~having his teeth brushed

~pulling things out of the diaper bag & playing with them 

~eating!

~playing in the fridge, playing in Hannah Kate's play kitchen (he really loves that!)

 

Things Micaiah Does Not Love:
~Diaper changes

~Clothing changes

~Being away from Mommy for too long

World Prematurity Day

Today is World Prematurity Day. I'm thankful for our preemies (Hannah Kate, Rachel, & Leah 28w1d & Micaiah 36w), but I will be even more thankful if any future babies will just be "normal!" :) 

I am thankful we got to celebrate this sweet boy's birthday today! 

Thankful day 15: I am thankful for my family-wish we got to see each other more often!! 

Thankful day 14...#2: She fell asleep around 4 & just woke up. She was crying so I sat down with her & then realized she was really quiet....thankful for snuggles. 

Thankful day 14

 I am thankful for our "chickie chickies" as Hannah Kate calls them. I am thankful that we only lost one in the great dog attack of 2013 (yesterday). They are fun & give us eggs & our kids love them! 

Thankful Day 13

I am thankful that my sweet husband loves the Word of God. 

Counting our blessings tree

Thankful Day 12

I am thankful for date day! 

Thankful Day 11

I am thankful BOTH kids slept all night without a peep! This means I slept ALL night. I can't remember the last time that happened! 

Thankful Day 10

 I am thankful for a little girl who knows how important it is to pray. She heard me telling Wesley that Edy was sick & she immediately folded her hands & said, "I want to pray for her to feel better." 

Thankful day 9

 I am thankful for hayrides, bonfires, & singing around the fire with my Christian family. 

NICU Care Bags

Several people have asked what items are still needed for the NICU Thanksgiving Care Bags. I looks like we need:

-receiving blankets

-10 small packs of tissues

-individually wrapped ... make that 11...Micaiah just opened & chewed one 

-snacks/candy (one family sent fruit cups packed in 100% juice!-good idea!)

-lovey blankets

-knit or crochet hats (newborn or just a tad bigger size-we have plenty of tiny ones) 

-any preemie or newborn size clothes (new or gently used-we will donate those to the general NICU stash) 

*If anyone wants to write a note of encouragement to include in the bags, please feel free to do so!

Thankful day

 I am thankful that 11 years ago today Wesley took me out on our first date! 

Thankful Day 7

 I'm thankful for Heaven. 

Thankful Day 6

Thankful day 6: I'm thankful that our kids get to experience farm life!

Psalm 50:10

"For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills."

Thankful Day 5

Thankful Day 5: I am thankful that all good things The Lord speaks come to pass. 

Joshua 23:15 

Thankful Day 4

I am thankful for a faithful Christian husband who loves me & loves our kids but loves God the most. He makes me a better person each day. We have been through so much & I cannot imagine life with anyone but him. What a blessing! 

(Thanks to Rebecca Marr Photography for the picture!) 

Thankful Day 3

I am thankful for the blessing of the Bible, the church, & the opportunity to worship on the first day of the week. 

Thankful Day 2

Day 2: I am thankful for the beauty of God's creation that we enjoyed on our walk yesterday. I love fall! 

Thankful-Day 1

I am thankful for two precious kids....particularly one who has talked nonstop since yesterday after nap. I have never seen someone so excited to play with Playdough. "Hey, wook Mommy! It won't get my hands dirty!"