Christmas 2008

Our first Christmas with Sadie was GREAT! We started celebrating a few days before by driving out to Bridgeport to see Jeff's brother and wife and kids. We had a great meal and sat around and talked! They have the cutest kids! Jeff's mom met us out there as well. It was a lot of fun! Then Christmas Eve my family came over and we ate way too many appetizers!!! Then opened presents. We wont have to buy Sadie any clothes, toys, or books for the next 6 months at least!!!Eventually we ate dinner and we were STUFFED! Jeff and I put Sadie to bed while we got everything cleaned up and ready for the next day. Then we stayed up late (for us) and watched movies! Christmas morning we woke up and showed Sadie her new toys and opened gifts. We decided to lounge around all day, watched Season 1 of Friday Night Lights (one of our FAVORITE shows). That night we went and rented Definitely, Maybe and Batman The Dark Knight and we played Seinfeld Scene It.... You can only imagine who won! Jeff is amazing at that game! Oh, speaking of, Jeff got me a great Mom's Devotional Bible... I love it! After doing nothing for an entire day, we decided to get out of the houe and meet Jeff's mom in south Ft. Worth for dinner and to get an ottoman that we can use as a toy chest! It is the only thing that is making our living room not look like Toys R Us.

I hope all of you had a Merry Christmas!!!

6 month visit

We had Sadie's 6 month visit today! AND, it was with her new doctor! I LOVED her! Dr. Mehendale at Willowbend Pediatrics. It is in Plano, but only 30 minutes from our house, so not too bad. It was a nice office, very well organized! Everyone was great! Sadie is growing... even though she's so skinny. She is 14lbs. 14. oz. and she is 25.5 in. long. So, 45% in both areas. She was impressed with how well Sadie was getting around. They had some toys in the room that she was having a ball with. We are starting her on meds for her reflux. She has started refusing bottles a lot within the last week or so. She said that this will help! I'm so happy! I hate to see her spit up SO much! Poor little thing! She got her shots and the flu shot. It was the first time Jeff had to see her get a shot. SHe didn't do as bad as in the past. She still cried, but only a little bit! SHe's a BIG girl :)

Tomorrow we are having Christmas Eve dinner with my side of the family and going to Stonebriar's service. And then Christmas morning we will wake up her and then go down to Stephenville to Jeff's cousin Deanna's and then Jeff grandpa Norris. It will be a VERY busy and fun day! Pictures to come soon!!!

Family pictures

We got our family pictures done today. We go to Portrait Innovations in Plano. I really like that place, but I hate when I get this one specific girl as the photographer. She has no ideas of her own, doesn't really play with the kids to make them smile. The last time we went we had a GREAT photographer, but she was taken today. We still got a few sute pictures anyway... here are a few!

This one is my favorite, but I can't turn it!

What I have to be thankful for...

I have so VERY much to be thankful for this year! We have had the best year of our lives, this far! Sadie is not only a fun, happy baby. She is also healthy! We have a great support system in our family and GREAT friends! I always remember when I was in high school, people asking where do you think you will be in 10 years. I will be honest... I thought I would be married, with at least one child, and staying home. So, it sounds as though I achieved that. BUT, I didn't realize just how abunduntly blessed my life would be! I grow to love my husband more and more every moment. I have married a man that not only loves me and our daughter, but wants to provide for us and wants to show Sadie what kind of husband she needs to find by being that example to me. He is our spiritual leader of the house. He amazes me when I look back over the past 3 1/2 years.

I am also thankful for my mother and sister! We have been each others support in so many ways since my dad passed away. I know God knew we would need each other!!! I miss my dad so much lately. I wish he could have been here to meet Sadie and see me be a mother! So much of what I am to Sadie is because of him... BUT, I know that he is watching down and I know that one day we will all meet in heaven.

I am also thankful for such a great group of friends! It has been so nice to be able to vent and ask SO many questions about life in general to women that have been there, are there, or will be there one day! I love them all, dearly!
Ok... I am done gushing and gushing!

Time for Veggies!!!

Well we started Veggies Monday night. Sadie had been doing really well with her cereal so we decided she was ready! Here's a before picture!

I wish I would have taken a video of it! It was too funny! Every bite she took, she would leave it in her mouth and the scrunch her face up and do a quick shake of her head! Like she was saying YUCK! I hope she likes veggies! Jeff HATES them! I should have probably started with a better veggie! I hope I didn't ruin her eating them! Here are a few more pics!

My newest craft project

I have more to come... but here is the first one I have done!

Sadie's Exersaucer

We put Sadie in her exersaucer for the first time last week! She LOVES it. Here are a few picutres!

She has also figured out how to put her bottle in her mouth when she is hungry... she even recognizes it when I am making it. She just hasn't figured out that you have to tilt the bottle backwards!

Our FIRST Halloween

I was looking forward to Halloween for a solid 2 months. Jeff and I get Sadie a ladybug costume when she was only 1 month old!! HA! My mom made her several cute onesies and I even bought one! The day before Halloween we went to a playdate at Molly & Kaitlin's house. Then that night we went to the Carter Ranch Fall Festival. I didn't think to dress her up that night, so she wore one of her onesies (that she will never be able to wear again... hopefully the next one will be born around the same time as Sadie!). Then on Halloween I had my Encouragment Friday at church with my Mom2 Mom group. I didn't hear much of the speaker because Sadie decided to fight her nap the ENTIRE time. Afterwards we came home and Jeff took off a half day. We hung around the house then went to trick or treat on the square here in Celina and walked around for awhile.Afterwards we went to the Big Orange Pumkin Farm in Celina. This place is SO neat. They have a petting zoo, hayrides, and you get to pick your own pumkin. Jeff said this HAS to be a tradition we do every year!

We even go a great family picture with Sadie smiling... if only I was having a better hair day!!!

We headed home from there to hand out candy in the neighborhood. We sat out on our front porch (one of our favorite things to do when its nice out) and got to see all the different costumes. Some were so creative and cute!!! By the end of the night, Sadie was Wiped Out!

OH! And, we already have next years costume planned... that will be a surprise, BUT if you know us, you know what she will be!!!

She's 4 months!!!

Sadie had her 4 month visit and shots. She is now 24.5 inches long and 13 lbs. She is still wearing 0-3 month clothes, but the length is too short on her! We always so she's waiting on a flood! She can hold her head steady, roll over one way, reach things, bable like you wouldn't believe, hold things... its amazing! Monday morning we started cereal for the first time. It wasn't awful, but no 1st time successes.... we'll keep working on it.

Last weekend

Last weekend Jef and I, and our friends Dan and Amy, went camping out at Dinasour Valley State Park in Glen Rose. Thank you Mom and Shannon for watching Sadie for the weekend! It was such a perfect camping weekend. We set our camper up Friday night, cooked dinner and then hung around a campfire. Then Saturday got up and cooked breakfast and went for a 2 hour hike. I don't know that my body was quite ready for some of the hiking, or I chould say climbing, that was going on since my c-section... but I did it! Then we came back, got showered up, had lunch and then went to Fossil Rim. Fossil Rim is a wildlife deal that you can drive through and see all the animals. You can even feed a giraffe out of your hand!!! So neat! THen when we were done we headed back and got dinner started, made smores, and relaxed. Sunday when we were heading back we were listening to our voicemails... my sister called and said Sadie rolled over 4 times! I cried because I missed it!!! But as soon as I got there to pick her up I got to see her do it myself! We, or I should say, I forgot my camera. SO... no pictures!

I need to do better!

I realized today, I haven't posted in a few weeks!

Well, last weekend we went down to Stephenville for the Griffin Family Reunion. It was such a nice weekend. We enjoyed seeing everyone and not to mention having some time to get away and be out in the country! Sadie got to meet her great grandpa Whitt and her newest cousin Hadley, she's 3 weeks in this picture.

Then, Monday Jeff left for Austin for the week. It was a long week, with Sadie teething, it got rough a few times. But, Thursday Jeff got back and we had a great weekend! Yesterday we wnt and signed up for a gym membership. LA Fitness offers childcare for 3 months and up!!!! YEAH! When my frien Tawny came in town this past week and I saw how great she looked, she had a baby 3 days after me, I was motivated!!!! We start tomorrow!!!! Saturday morning, Jeff kept Sadie while I got my hair cut and colored. I hadn't had it colored since Oct. of LAST year! Then we went and hung around Frisco and had BBQ at Spring Creek! YUM! When we got home I had to take Sadie's picture on our door step. She looked too cute in the onesie my mom made!

Today we went to church, had Quizno's and home to watch the Cowboys!!! Wish me luck tomorrow! I'm sure I'll be sore!

3 Month Pictures

Here are Sadie's 3 month pictures. They turned out MUCH better than her 1 month. I think I bought way too many!!!! But, she did such a great job! She's cooing at us (and by herself for that matter) a lot. To hear her little laugh is hillarious! She is sleeping great at night! Usually 8 hours and then takes a bottle and back down for 2-3 more. Its wonderful! We have joined a mommy and me group and have been staying pretty busy between that and I'm working on starting my own business. I've been just trying to get stuff together before I give it a go. It will be an embroidery and fashions boutique. I'd love to one day open a shop.... but that is SO far down the road, I'll just be doing it through my website for now... which I'll have more to come on that! For now, take a look at our little bug!!!

Celina Football

We took Sadie to her first Celina game last night! I'm so mad because I forgot my camera and then by the time we got home she was so tired I didn't take any then! But, she was decked out in her orange! :) I'll take some next time! Anyway... she did great! Celina has this HUGE horn thing... its like 8 horns all in one on the platform they drive and and guy sits on it and blows it every time they make a touch down. Well we got there at 6:30 (you have to get there early to sit, we were told) and it was time for her to eat. I was feeding her when all of the sudden they blew that horn for a long time! It startled her pretty badly! But, then the rest of the game when they blew it, we just covered her ears and she paid no attention to it. She loved looking around the whole time and seeing everything! We sat in front of a baby that was 11 months old. I can't believe she will ever be that big!!! We stayed until half time and that was about the time she let us know she had enough. When we got home we gave her a bath and then started her bedtime bottle. She struggled through it... wanted to sleep! BUT, guess what!!!! She slept for 10 straight hours! I couldn't believe it!

Now... how do I get a football game every night :)

Labor Day Weekend

We had such a great Labor Day Weekend... probably my best ever! Close is last year's Red Dirt Roundup :)

Anyways... Jeff and I were going to take Sadie to a football game Friday night but his boss called and gave us Rough Rider tickets... ALL YOU CAN EAT & DRINK. So, we packed up the stroller and took Sadie. We laid her down in the stroller and sat at a picnic table and watched the game. Then we walked around and looked at the gift shop... Sadie got a stuffed animal, of course! She loved the game... just laid in the stroller. She loves being outside!

Then Saturday we woke up packed the car and headed to my sister's house, picked them up and headed to Bunny and Jerry's Lake house to meet my mom and Jim for the night. When we got there Mom told us that Bunny & Jerry had already let people use the bottom bar/dance area for the night for a wedding reception... oops! THe people were really nice though and didn't mind us hanging out up top and even invited us down to join them. We were celebrating my sister's 40th birthday and i kept telling her she got the best birthday... a dj was there! It was really great until about 11:00 when we were all wanting to go to bed and the party below was just starting!!! HA! The next morning we all got up, cooked breakfast, Patrick and Steve went fishing and then Shannon and Steve rode the Trike. It was really fun!

Then as we were packing up and leaving, Jeff and I decided since we were already half way to Hico, we would go ahead and head downt here. It had been a little over a month since we had been down there. We drove down and stayed at his grandpa's. His grandpa lives in the country out on a TON of land. Its so peaceful. He wasn't there... him and his new wife, Anastatia were in Houston. Jeff's mom met us and we went to dinner. Then we came back to the house, got Sadie ready for bed and then sat in the hot tub outside... SO NICE!!!!

On our way home Monday, we stopped off at saw Cynthia... a close family friend. She hadn't seen Sadie. Then we drove through Glen Rose and stopped at the State Park. We have a park pass and thougt why not look around. We are staying there in October and I'd never been so I wanted to check it out. After taht we headed home! I can't wait until next year! When Sadie is older she will get to actually enjoy all that stuff with us!!! Not just sit there and look around! :)

Alaskan Cruise

We had the best time on our cruise! Jeff works for sucha great company... to send us on a trip that was so amazing! We left out of Seattle Saturday afternoon then ported in Junea, Sitka, and Ketchican, Alaska, and then Victoria Canada. It was my very first cruise and I was terrified! The first few days I kept thinking we would flip over or sink. It was very rocky water part of the time. But, during my pedicure the girl doing it told me that there are stabalizers underneath and that the ship is designed to not sink more than the bottom 2 decks! That made me feel so much better. We had an amazing room... and even better, a HUGE patio outside the room. The weather was great. Every where we went the people told us it was the nicest weather they had all year. One day when we were setting sail again, it was so nice that Jeff and I sat out on our balcony and took a nap on the lounge chairs! It was awesome! They told us that after we left Sitka, the next day there were 60 miles per hour winds. The ships couldn't even turn off their motors and the people couldn't get off the ship! We were very lucky. I think my favorite places were Ketchican and Victoria! I would love to go back to those places and stay longer sometime! You can have Sitka... its wasn't anything spectacular. On board, Jeff and I pampered ourselves to the extreme! His company gave us ship credit, so I got a pedicure, hour massage, and my hair done the first formal night. Then later in the week, Lori, another agents wife, talked me into doing this huge package special with her. I felt like a queen all week!

When we got home, My mom and Jim met us at the airport to bring us Sadie. SHe looked so much bigger to me. And she was so alert! We missed her so much... but, it was so good for us to get away and have a little refresher! Plus, my family LOVED spoiling her!!!

Now the countdown begins.... We are going to New York in April!

He never ceases to crack me up...

Last night Jeff comes in the room and asks if I've seen his cell phone. I said no. He said he'd looked in his car and could find it there and that he'd looked all over the house. I said to take mine and call it. We did but never heard it. He kept looking. Then he went back out to the car. he called it again. All of the sudden I started hearing it. He opened the garage door and asked me to come outside. The cell phone was ringing from the garbage can!!! He had thrown it away when he threw his trash away on his way inside from work... ha!!!

We went camping!!!

We hadn't used our camper since last October at TSU Homecoming... a few days later we found out I was pregnant and the idea of camping was not my favorite. We finally decided to go again this past weekend. I was excited, but nervous at the same time. I mean, a newborn camping??? But, our camper is air conditioned and it couldn't be too awful, right? Honestly, it wasn't. Despite a few mishaps, all just because we had forgot how to set things up since we hadn't in so long, it was great! We went to Lake Ray Roberts, only 20 minutes from here. Our site was right behind the restrooms. The campsites were really nice, clean, and right on the lake! We only stayed one night for practice, but we are going back next month with my sister and brother-in-law and their kids! Sadie loves to be outside so I think she will grow up enjoying this a lot!!!!