Welcome Carissa Joy!

"The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry...."

We had a plan...
We were plugging away getting ready for our baby girl, due on February 19th...
God and Carissa Joy had other plans....
And we couldn't be happier!

This past Monday night my water broke. It took me a while to figure out what was going on since most of my experience has been with scheduled c-sections. I wish I had video of mine and my husband's discussion about whether or not it was the real thing or I was just peeing my pants!

My doctor had discussed what to do if I went into labor early - but to be honest, I didn't pay much attention. (sorry, Dr. P!) I figured I never needed the information before, why would I now?
Besides, I really needed as much of that last month of pregnancy as possible to get ready....
We still had boxes to unpack after our move, laundry piles were growing, baby supplies needed to be bought, and there was a suitcase to pack. The baby was due February 19th, we had a c-section scheduled for February 12th, and I needed every last bit of those 24 days to get everything in order!

Carissa Joy arrived early Tuesday morning this week. Exactly one month to the day from her due date. Everything went well and we have a beautifully healthy baby girl! The hospital is treating her as a premature baby delivered at 35 weeks, but her tests all along the way have been fine!

We stayed in the hospital until Friday afternoon and we are being released in a couple of hours. This morning the baby's bilirubin levels were slightly high and we will be treating her with a special light blanket at home for a couple of days (which is common). With all of the things that could be a concern with an early baby, we are blessed that there has been only one small issue. Thank you God!

So, as far as those 'best laid plans' are concerned....
Yes, I wish I had finished unpacking boxes and that we were completely settled in our new home.
I would like to have a couch to sit on and a dining room table to eat at.
I am wishing I had washed the baby clothes last week.
And why didn't I buy a nursing bra when I was at the store weeks ago?

Those things all pale in comparison to the "joy" that has been added to our lives this week!

Carissa Joy
Born Tuesday, January 19th, 2010
6:38am
6lbs 3oz
19 inches

My husband brought me my computer last night, but I forgot about the cords for uploading the photos!
This is the only picture I have on my computer at the moment. I'll be posting more from home very soon.
We had to take our kids to the hospital with us at 1am on Monday night and then get a friend to sit with them while we were finally in surgery at 6am...This is the exhausted family after sleeping for just a couple hours over the course of two days!!

20/52: Old Fort Jackson, Savannah, GA

I know the point of this challenge is to get a WEEKLY picture, and I did (really!), but have no way to upload right now.
We are in the process of moving and I packed my cords.

Moving when you are 8 months pregnant is not my idea of fun. But, for the past 8 months we have been in temporary corporate housing and getting out of the townhouse we have been calling home makes the stress of a move well worth it!

We picked up the keys to our house today and the craziness has already begun! The movers come tomorrow to move our things from storage - it will be great to be reunited with all of our own furniture and belongings!!

Since I can't get to this week's pictures - here our some more from our Thanksgiving trip to Savannah. We visited Old Fort Jackson about 5 years ago, so we decided to return now that the kids are a little bit older....they loved it!

Here we are 5 years ago. It was August and it was SO hot and humid...


And now-much cooler in November....and my how we have changed!

Kylie at 2 years old.....

Kylie now....7 years old.....


Our little confederate soldiers....


Off to get some sleep before the "moving fun" begins again tomorrow!

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52 Weeks is a year long challenge for YOU to be in a picture once a week for 52 weeks. Moms are typically the ones behind the camera, this is OUR chance to get out in front and be in the pictures with our family.

So, get yourself in the picture every week for 52 Weeks. Be in a picture with one or more or your children and post your "family photo" on your blog every Thursday - don't forget to list your post on MckLinky on Carin's blog

Making Memories Watching History - WW

New Years Resolutions....To the little ones, it's the little things that count

I haven't posted any New Year's Resolutions...but will.
My first Resolution is to write some Resolutions.
I would laugh if that was funny.

I can be such a procrastinator.

I do well to switch the calendar in my kitchen to January.
(I won't admit that beautiful the whiteboard calendar /organizer from Pottery Barn that I desperately wanted and promised my husband I would "SO TOTALLY USE ALL THE TIME" still reads "September")

I do have goals for this coming year; I'm still processing them.
That could be code for I really am thinking seriously about them - or I've just procrastinated again.

Usually, in place of typical "New Year's Resolutions" I spend some time in November taking stock of where I'm at in life (sort of like life-spring-cleaning-in-the-fall) and try to get my act together.

Perhaps that's my way of giving myself a head start and not 'officially' feeling like a failure when I don't stick to my New Year List.

November has come and gone and I just didn't get around to it this year.
I did think about it a lot. (enter that procrastination thing again)

Anyhow, I'll share one of my goals I have processed....
I want to be more pro-active about making sure the things that are important to our kids happen.
That is, not just the things I think should be important to my kids.

I've noticed that it truly is the small things that make a difference and form an imprint in their memories.

I don't know why if it takes such little effort to please them, I don't spend more time doing those little things I know make them happy.

Like letting them stir the ingredients in when I'm making macaroni & cheese,

taking just one of them walk with me to the mailbox,

choosing one of them to stay up late and help me fold the laundry (that's one I should be jumping on!)

And the list goes on.

It's amazing how they are able to keep track of who did what last, and whose turn it is to do those little things.
They can tell you who went to 7-eleven with Daddy last,
whose turn it is to go scrapbooking with me,
who got to take a shower/bath in our bathroom last weekend....

I often see the record-keeping as annoying (it really is)
But I want to see it as a reminder that the little things really do count in their eyes.

My husband's time with the girls is more limited (with work and all)
But, because of that he tends to be more proactive with those little things that make a big difference, where I get into a daily rut.

So, this morning, as my husband takes our seven-year old to work with him (He's off today but had to go in for a few hours), I will try to find a couple of things that will be a big deal to our other two.
It may be painting nails or coloring in a coloring book. But it will be 30 minutes that will be worth hours to them.

And as part of my New Year's Resolutions that I hope to have on paper by February, I will make a note to put some thought each week into what I can do with each child to create some personalized memories for them.

At least I can count on them to keep track of whose turn it is!

Samantha and Daddy off to deliver pies to Daddy's employees on Thanksgiving Day 2008

Savannah and Daddy golfing on Thanksgiving Day this year