And We're off...

Well actually tomorrow.  We are leaving early afternoon and driving to probably Mobile to stop for the night.  Tuesday is our actual check in day in Florida...and then the real fun will begin! So good bye for now...

Next time I post will be from Florida...Have a great Thanksgiving everyone!

Brown Eyed Girl

Look at those eyes!

Look at that face!

The start of decorating for Christmas!

Whew!! I have been super busy these past few days.  I'm trying to catch up on all my domestic duties before we go on vacation next week.  This includes washing endless loads of laundry at our local laundry mat because of course my washer went out, and dusting every nook and cranny in the house.  So,  I was really wanting and in need of a nice relaxing evening with my family tonight, so what better way than to decorate the Christmas tree.  I climbed into the attic and began bringing down decorations after decorations.  Soon the living room was full of all the things I love about Christmas.  I made hot chocolate and played Christmas music and the girls and I got to decorating.  Lilah and Celeste decorated the small pink tree in their room while I started the big tree in the living room.  Trinity didn't know what to think of all the decorating.  Last year she was just a baby so this is all new to her.  My camera is MIA again, but the camera that I have been waiting for, dreaming about, and admiring for the past year and a half will hopefully be mine in the next couple of days.  I can't wait.  I took one picture of the tree and my little girl with my cell phone.  I will soon post better pictures of all the decorations in the house and the girl's pink tree in their room which they decorated all by themselves.  So funny.  Have you started decorating for Christmas yet?

Praying for Fort Hood

My thoughts and prayers go out to all the families involved in the Fort Hood tragedy that happened on Thursday.  Fort Hood is only a few hours north of where we live, so it feels close to home.  I'm so thankful for what all the soldiers do for our country, and I think they are more brave than I could ever be.  It saddens me that theses brave men and women were attacked and hurt by one of their own.  While watching the news I heard a quote from a young woman who was getting ready for deployment say, "They shot me, and I'm still in my own country".  I pray that God comforts the hearts and minds of the wounded, and the familes of those who lost their lives.  Thank you again to the soldiers for all you do for our country.   

Extended Breastfeeding

I love nursing my newborns.  There is just something about it that is so special.  Their sweet smell, little hands, and tiny heads all bundled up into one precious package swaddled in a warm blanket. 

Ahh...I look back on those days and smile.  Two of my girls have never drank a bottle, only nursed.  I'm proud that I stuck with it, and didn't give up especially during the first 2 weeks.  But when is it time to stop?  I stopped nursing Celeste when she was 17 months because I found out baby #3 was on the way. 

I have heard that you can nurse while pregnant, but I have a really good friend, who is an L&D nurse, tell me it was a risk.  One that I wasn't willing to take.  So weaned at 17 months was my sweet Celeste.  She was not happy for the first 2 days, but after that she was just fine with her sippy cup, which by the way is filled everynight with warm milk.  When Trinity came she was in the NICU for a few days so nursing was a challenge with a tube down her throat, and a nasal cannula.  I was determined to nurse her, and after a while she did great.   Now she is almost 19 months, and still nurses.

I was at the doctor yesterday, and he was writing out my prescription for an antibiotic, and he said, "Your not breastfeeding right now are you?"  I said, "Uh....yes".  He said, "Well do you want to stop because the antibiotic I'm about to perscribe you will start making you feel better faster but you can't breastfeed."  I thought well, yeah I want to stop,  who wants a big girl always pulling on your shirt in public, or calling out to the entire church that she wants to nurse, or a big girl who wakes me up all night because she is thirsty.  But then I thought, what about all those nights she isn't feeling well, and nursing soothes her, or when she is completely exhausted and just wants to be close to mom, or on a cold night when we snuggle and she breastfeeds?  It's not that I don't want to stop because I know I can't nurse forever (like the eskimos who nurse till their children are 15, or that lady in Europe who nurses her 9 year old).  "We are just not ready"  I told the doctor.  He said, "No YOU are not ready".  So true.  I want to keep my baby girl a baby.  I want to hold her at night and watch her fall asleep while nursing.  I want to still wrap her up in that warm blanket that she had as a newborn (feet sticking out and all).  I want to remember the "last time".  May sound crazy to some, but you will never know hard it really is to stop until you have nursed your baby.  One day she will be 16 and driving me crazy, and I know I will look at my husband, and say, "I wish she was still a baby".  So when we are ready, and yes I said WE, WE will stop, and hopefully later on down the road the Lord will bless us with another one that I can share that special bond with.   

Countdown Begins!

Well, October flew by like the wind.  Today is November 1st and only 22 more days until we take a vacation!  We usually take about 2 big vacations a year.  One in the Summer and one during Christmas, but we were sooooo busy this summer we just couldn't get away.  So we are ready and excited to finally take a break.   Where are we going?  Well one of our favorite places that I have vacationed at my entire life.  Here is a hint....we were there in the Summer of 08...and here are some pictures of the  last time we were there...

Have you guessed yet?  We are going to Sandestin, FL.  I can't wait to go and enjoy time with my family, shopping with my mom, and getting some much needed rest and relaxation...

I will be cooking Thanksgiving dinner at our condo, and enjoying all the momemts and memories being made with our girls.  I bought some really cute Christmas shirts from gymboree for the girls last week.

                                   
I'm going to pair them up with jean skirts and take their picture on the beach to make a great Christmas card.  I always get a little Christmas card crazy every year.  I stress (I know I shouldn't) about the girls smiling all at once, the actual design of the card, and if I placed my order in time.  I'll be sure to show you the winning pic when I get it!  What are your plans this Thanksgiving?