Keeping the Faith

Happy New Year and Happy New Pictures!!

2012-01-05T10:37:00.012-05:00

Bad blogger mommy, it's been a minute since I last posted. AND so much to share! First, since we couldn't send our Christmas Card out to EVERYBODY this year, here it is for those of you who didn't get one:

The pictures on the card are from a great session at Roswell Mill back in October. We had an incredible time with Katie, the photog from Minutes of Love Photography. Here are a few more pictures from that shoot (Addy-bug is getting to be such a BIG girl):

And finally (last, but most certainly not least), our BIG news for 2012:

May you be blessed with love and health in the New Year. Thanks for keeping up and "Keeping the Faith" ;)! More updates to come.

Latest Family Pictures

2011-08-24T11:07:00.004-04:00

Enjoy! (Photos courtesy of Steve Pelosi.)

Addy's 1st Georgia Aquarium Trip

2011-08-14T20:40:00.004-04:00

We decided to take an impromptu day off of work and daycare to take Addy for her first trip to the Georgia Aquarium. All in all, she loved it. But she did teach us a few things . . . like the Beluga whales were actually "White Dolphins" and Sea Anemones were "flowers". Gotta LOVE a 2-year old's imagination! Here are some pics:

Two-Years Old!!

2011-05-23T22:34:00.006-04:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY sweet baby girl!!!

Wow, time has just been flying! It feels like we just got done planning her 1st birthday party!

Here are Addy's wellness stats from her two-year appointment today:

1. Weight 27 lbs 4 oz (55-60th percentile)

2. Height 32.5 inches (25th percentile)

3. Head Circumference 50 (87th percentile = that brain continues to dominate! ;)

We had an AMAZING Yo Gabba Gabba-themed birthday party this weekend! Here are some pics:

And we also took the day off from work and daycare today, so that we could spend her actual birthday together as a family. We decided to take her for her first trip to Zoo Atlanta. Here are some pics from today:

New Family Photos!

2011-05-09T18:04:00.003-04:00

I know, I know, it's been a while. So, for Mother's Day, Addy and Daddy took me for new pictures! Enjoy!

CLOSED DaySpring Giveaway and Review

2011-04-15T15:15:00.015-04:00

CONGRATULATIONS! Random.org picked comment #7.
Charity said...
I like the My Beloved Necklace. Please enter me:) Thanks!

It's been far too long, my friends, but keeping up with a toddler is certainly a busy handful! Anyway, I did want to take a minute to introduce you to a great company called DaySpring, known for their "Inspirational Christian Cards, Gifts, Home Decor, and More".

I recently had the opportunity to review one of the beautiful products from their site: the Wonderful Grace - Carved Wooden Serving Tray. When I took it out of the box, I was instantly impressed by the quality and craftmanship. It really is beautiful in person! I took pictures, but they didn't turn out nearly as well as the ones from the DaySpring site:

And check out some of these other great finds:

Faith - Colorful Devotions Sculpture Faith Gallery Wrapped Canvas Print God Bless Our Family 4x6 Frame

So, to say the very least, there's some really cute stuff on their site! And I'm so excited about getting to use the tray. It's as functional as it is beautiful!

WANT IT? Head over to the DaySpring Online Store and purchase the Wonderful Grace - Carved Wooden Serving Tray on sale right now for 50% OFF!

WIN IT! The lovely folks over at DaySpring have generously offered one very lucky winner a $20 Coupon Code to use in their online store (shipping charges will still apply to your order)!

WHAT DO YOU DO? (MANDATORY ENTRY) Visit the DaySpring Online Store. Then come back here and leave a comment on which item(s) you would love to have.

*** You must complete the mandatory entry before any bonus entries count! I reserve the right to delete any comments that do not FOLLOW the directions. Include your e-mail address in your initial comment or be ABSOLUTELY SURE that it's visible in your profile. ***

BONUS Entries (Leave a comment for each entry):

1) 2 Entries: Follow my blog.

2) 2 Entries: Post about this giveaway with a link back to my blog AND a link to DaySpring.

3) Tweet or Facebook about this giveaway for extra entries as well.

Good luck! I will close the giveaway in 1 week (Friday, April 22nd) and choose a winner using Random.org. I will notify the winner via e-mail and will annouce it on this blog shortly thereafter. (Winner will have 48 hours to confirm).

THE FINE PRINT: Please note, DaySpring supplied me this product for review and will be responsible for supplying the coupon code as well. I was not paid for my post, and I provided my honest opinions. The opinions contained here are my own and may vary from others.

See, It Snows in Georgia! (Part Deaux)

2011-01-10T17:22:00.004-05:00

We don't get very much snow here in the South, so when we do, it tends to be an ordeal of sorts. All the news stations disrupt regular programming with "up-to-the-minute" news coverage. And nobody, and I mean nobody, can drive in this weather.

Hence, I got to stay home from work today. But Addy has certainly kept me busy! I tip my hat to all of you stay-at-home moms out there, props! Anyway, here's some pictures of our sweet girl (who is not a fan of the snow AT ALL). When she first saw it out the window this morning, she asked, "Oh no, what is that?" And now, every time she passes a window or catches a glimpse out the back door, she says worriedly, "Oh nooooo!"

Year In Review

2011-01-02T20:35:00.016-05:00

Yikes, no posts since Halloween! Epic fail, I know. It goes without saying that the last couple of months have been BUSY (blessed, but busy). And this post doesn't really count as fresh material either, just kind of a cop-out to update you on Addy's huge year. Oh well, maybe these pictures will make up for my utter lack of blogging responsibility:

JANUARY (just chillin' with Inu)

FEBRUARY (visiting in South Carolina)
MARCH (fancy dinner on the town)
APRIL (celebrating my first Easter)
MAY (celebrating my first BIRTHDAY!!!)
JUNE (all dolled up for Father's Day dinner)
JULY (coloring at a friend's birthday party)
AUGUST (getting big enough to push Inu around!)
SEPTEMBER (lovin' life at another trip to the beach!)
OCTOBER (you've stared at the ladybug pictures long enough, so I'll spare you . . . instead here I am showing off my very first pair of boots -- such a diva!!!)
NOVEMBER (giving Thanks for my family and honing in on my Christmas tree curiosities)
DECEMBER (enjoying some time at the park for Christmas Card pictures)

Finished Product (thanks to SanLori for the beautiful cards -- it's a little washed out from having to scan it, but you get the picture):
Here's hoping that you had a merry and blessed Christmas, and that the New Year treats you all well! Thanks for reading and following along, and we'll try to update a little more often here. :P

Halloween for Addy-BUG!

2010-10-31T21:47:00.005-04:00

Are You Ready For Some . . .

2010-09-09T22:09:00.002-04:00

. . . FOOTBALL!?!?!?!?!

15-Months Old

2010-08-24T22:20:00.002-04:00

This is Addy at her 15 month appointment yesterday; here are her wellness stats:

1. Weight 22 lbs 6 oz (50th percentile)

2. Height 30.5 inches (50th percentile)

3. Head Circumference 48 (95th percentile)

And just a few more pictures of our ever-growing girl:

(Daddy just LOVES putting pigtails in her hair!)

14-Month Photo Shoot

2010-08-03T20:49:00.005-04:00

These are mostly "just because" pictures, and we also happened to have our Goddaughter Isabel (who's 3y) with us. They haven't had many pictures taken together, so it seemed like a good time.

One-Year Photo Shoot

2010-06-24T20:35:00.006-04:00

These are from one of our favorite photographers, James Adam Hill:

One-Year Old!

2010-06-02T21:32:00.003-04:00

Here are Faith's wellness stats from her one-year appointment:

1. Weight 21 lbs (50th percentile)

2. Height 29 inches (50th percentile)

3. Head Circumference 47 (90-95th percentile, again . . . BIG brain, we hope! ;)

And, as promised, a few more of the many great pics from her party:

Happy Birthday Faith!

2010-05-23T22:39:00.006-04:00

We had an amazing day yesterday at Faith's first birthday party. I can't believe how quickly the last few months have flown by! We're so blessed by this beautiful baby girl and are amazed at how quickly her personality is developing each and every day. Anyway, here's a quick video of pics from her first year and also a few pictures from her birthday party (I'll try to get more up when I have more time), enjoy and HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY!

CLOSED Hair Coverings.com Giveaway and Review

2010-04-30T17:41:00.004-04:00

CONGRATULATIONS! Random.org picked comment #19.
geniuswaitress said...
Follow 5.

What's my latest Faith-obsession? Hair accessories! I love to put clippies and headbands and bows in our little girl's hair. But I can't let her have all the fun now can I? If you haven't heard about The Hair Coverings Store yet, you should definitely go check them out!

They carry Hair Clips, Headbands (with my personal favorite being the Feather Headbands!!!), Ponytail Holders, and much, much more!

I had the opportunity to review their Peach Flower Applique Headband, and it's very cute!

Pleasant Surprise: I like that the band is adjustable, making it easier to put on and take off.

Not Too Sure: The band itself is satin, which never stays on my stick straight hair all that well, but it does make for a dressier look.

WANT IT? Head over to The Hair Coverings Store and purchase your very own Peach Flower Applique Headband for $18.99!

WIN IT! HairCoverings.com has generously offered one very lucky winner a free $25 box of surprise Hair Accessories!

WHAT DO YOU DO? (MANDATORY ENTRY) Visit www.HairCoverings.com. Then come back here and leave a comment on which item(s) you would love to have.

*** You must complete the mandatory entry before any bonus entries count! I reserve the right to delete any comments that do not FOLLOW the directions.

Include your e-mail address in your initial comment or be ABSOLUTELY SURE that it's visible in your profile. ***

BONUS Entries (Leave a comment for each entry):

5 Entries: Follow my blog.

7 Entries: Post about this contest with a link back to my blog AND a link to HairCoverings.com

For additional entries (Support the Sponsor!):

1) Bookmark us on Delicious
http://delicious.com/save?url=http://www.haircoverings.com

2) Follow us on Networked Blogs,
Go to http://www.haircoverings.com/blog and click "Follow This Blog" on the Networked Blog box.

3) Follow us on twitter:
Click http://twitter.com/haircoverings

4) Subscribe to our our Blog feed
Click http://feeds.feedburner.com/haircoverings

5) Add "http://www.HairCoverings.com" to your blogroll

6) Fan us on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/hairaccessory

7) Stumble us on Stumble Upon
http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http://www.haircoverings.com

8) Join our Google Friend Connect:
Go to http://www.haircoverings.com/blog Click "Join This Site" in the Google Friend Connect box.

Good luck! I will close this contest on May 19th at midnight EST. I will use Random.org to choose a winner and will e-mail the winner and annouce it here on this blog shortly thereafter. (Winner will have 48 hours to confirm).

THE FINE PRINT: Please note, HairCoverings.com supplied me this product for review and will be responsible for supplying the winner the surprise prize box as well. I was not paid for my post, and I provided my honest opinions. The opinions contained here are my own and may vary from others.

11-Months Old

2010-04-24T13:00:00.004-04:00

Yesterday marked 11-months from my birth, and one month 'til my first birthday! Mommy celebrated by ordering invitations to my first birthday party and starting her ongoing lists of guests and supplies. See, my parents just don't know how to do small gatherings. Well, in any case, I'm sure you'll be getting a party report card and pictures in about a month or so. I'll leave you with some pictures in the meantime (these were from my 9-month shoot with Ms. Andrea):

Faith's First Easter

2010-04-05T22:40:00.004-04:00

(Not too sure about that Easter Bunny, I couldn't get away fast enough!)

(My first Easter basket full of goodies thanks to Conrad and Grandma!)

(I even got a special visit from Aunt Ronnie and Uncle Will!)(It was a long, and tiring, weekend!)

Ten-Months Old

2010-03-30T18:30:00.009-04:00

Parents aren't kidding when they say, "They grow so fast!" I can't even keep up with once-monthly updates for Faith. She was 10-months last Tuesday! Speaking of keeping up, she's gone mobile (and, no, I'm not just talking about her afinity for our iPhones):

All this time, we were saying that she'd probably just go straight to walking and skip the crawling part altogether, but low and behold, this girl has come to the realization that she can get around this way:

The old "be careful what you ask for" adage has never rung so true! Now, she just wants to be up and about all the time and getting into anything and everything within arms reach! Yippee!

Anyway, here are some more pictures to get you through another month (or so ;):

(I just love that look of determination that she gets on her face when she's discovering something new OR trying to get her socks off! I just wish I could capture it better.)

(Her socks-off victorious smirk.)

(Probably tuckered herself out in her hard-earned efforts to take those socks off!)

CLOSED Skip Hop Giveaway and Review

2010-03-30T17:14:00.010-04:00

CONGRATULATIONS! Random.org picked comment #111.
Marci J said...
I'd love to buy the Rachel Ray orange skillet set #1

I know it's only a matter of time before we have to start looking through toddler beds for Faith, and, naturally, I'm inclined to check out the many options at CSN Stores. Why, you ask? Well, because the options are wide, the site is easy to navigate, and you can narrow down your choices easily based on things like price range, finish, material, brand, and customer rating. I mean, if you can't find just what you're looking for on this site, you'll be hard-pressed to find it elsewhere!

Among the many on their site, I like this one (but I'm telling you, there are ALOT on there, and if you can't find at least one that you like, well . . .):

But, I digress. I'm really here to share about what the fine people of CSN Stores sent me (and, stay tuned, because you're getting a chance to win 1 as well)! I love modern decor, and the Skip Hop brand really stands out as far as baby stuff that's both modern and functional. Faith has a collapsable hamper from Skip Hop in her nursery, and we just love it!

The Skip Hop Mod Dot Organizer is roomy, sturdy, and is a fabulous organizer. One of the great things about it is that because it does not blatantly scream "baby" or "nursery", your can hang it just about anywhere! The print, fabric, and colors of this product would work perfectly in an office or kitchen. We did end up hanging it in Faith's nursery, right above her changing table, giving us easy access to her diapers, cream, lotion, etc. You can see that alot of these items were beginning to clutter up behind her changing pad:

Pleasant Surprise: I like that the item included the fancy hooks that are shown in the picture (I was afraid those were just "for show"), and, for the most part, it was quick and easy to hang.

Not Too Sure: The screws that came with the item were not very good at all, and we ended up having to use our own, but the fancy hooks were sturdy enough to use stronger screws with.

WANT IT? Head over to CSN and purchase your very own Skip Hop Mod Dot Organizer on sale right now for $18.98!

WIN IT! CSN Stores has generously offered to give a Skip Hop Mod Dot Organizer, just like the one I reviewed, to one very lucky winner!

WHAT DO YOU DO? (MANDATORY ENTRY) Leave a comment telling me why you want to win this prize and where you would hang it.

*** You must complete the mandatory entry before any bonus entries count! I reserve the right to delete any comments that do not FOLLOW the directions.

Include your e-mail address in your initial comment or be ABSOLUTELY SURE that it's visible in your profile. ***

BONUS Entries (Leave a comment for each entry):

3 Entries: Head over to CSN Stores.com and tell me something you'd love to own

5 Entries: Follow my blog.

7 Entries: Post about this contest with a link back to my blog AND a link to CSN Stores.com

Good luck! I will close this contest on April 19th at midnight EST. I will use Random.org to choose a winner and will e-mail the winner and annouce it here on this blog shortly thereafter. (Winner will have 48 hours to confirm). This item only ships to the US.

THE FINE PRINT: Please note, CSN supplied me this product for review and will be responsible for supplying the winner the product as well. I was not paid for my post, and I provided my honest opinions. The opinions contained here are my own and may vary from others.

Nine-Months Old

2010-03-07T20:24:00.005-05:00

Sorry about the delay on this post; I do realize it's been over a week since she turned 9 months (2/23). We had some photographs taken and were waiting on those to get back before posting, but in the meantime, I'll give you her wellness stats:

1. Weight 19 lbs 9 oz. (50-75th percentile)

2. Height 27 1/2 inches (50th percentile)

3. Head Circumference 46 (90-95th percentile, which I hope just means that she has a big brain brewing in there!)

Here's what she's got going on:

1. We've officially counted her first word as "Hi", which she said a couple of times about a month ago and now she's actually associating it with holding her hand up and waving

2. She's still not a crawler, although she does tolerate tummy-time better (probably hard to hold that huge head of hers ;)

3. She loves to walk: she loves her walker; she loves holding our fingers and just making a mad-dash across the room (we think that she may forego crawling and just go straight to walking)

4. She pulls up on her own

5. She knows (and hates) the word "No". When you tell her "No" she yells back and protests (it's like having a teenage girl already!)

6. She's eaten puffs, her first official solid, which she didn't know what to make of at first but now she holds them in her hand, puts them in her mouth, and chews on them:

7. She's cutting her first teeth (the bottom front 2; finally, it feels like she's been teething forever!)

8. A new one that Lola just showed me today: she'll touch her face or lips to your face if you ask for a kiss (awww!)

9. She's had her first snow:

For Your Consideration

2010-03-07T11:40:00.007-05:00

Okay, in honor of the Oscars, this is a "teaser trailer" for my very first giveaway and review. Being the goober that I am, I'm pretty excited about this opportunity. A little while ago I wrote a post of my Top 7 Mommy Must-Haves. I've actually e-mailed this list out to girlfriends of mine who are now pregnant and just want my advice on these things. Now, I can also add that they should check out the OVER 200 stores of CSN, where they can shop for toddler beds to toys and everything in between (and I mean everything - it's literally a one stop shop)!

I mean, wouldn't Addybug just LOVE this:

So back to this special opportunity of mine. CSN Stores want to up the ante on my Top 7 and have offered me a Skip Hop Mod Dot Organizer for my consideration. Isn't it cute:

I can't wait to get it and use it, so stay tuned for my take on it and my VERY FIRST giveaway. See, I told you I was excited!

DISCLAIMER: Please note, CSN will supply me this product for review. I will not be paid for my post, and I will in turn provide my honest opinions. The opinions will be solely my own and may vary from others.

Eight-Months Old

2010-01-25T16:20:00.005-05:00

Eight-months this past Saturday and no pediatrician's appointment this month again! But, I'll make up for it with my monthly pics (for your enjoyment):

Seven-Months Old and My First Christmas

2009-12-27T21:36:00.005-05:00

Seven-months this past Wednesday and no pediatrician's appointment this month (yay!). Here are some pics though (among the MANY that mommy and daddy took):

Laughter is Contagious!

2009-12-21T23:09:00.002-05:00

Addy is easily amused! She's cracking up over the sweet sounds of a . . . zipper, of all things!

Six-Months Old

2009-12-02T22:45:00.000-05:00

Six-months old last Monday and finally went in for my pediatrician's appointment this morning. Here are my stats (I'm definitely a healthy girl!):

1. Weight 17 lbs 14 oz.

2. Height 26 1/2 inches

3. Head Circumference 44

They had me do a vision screening (for lazy eye) today, and I passed. AND I took my shots like a champ! Here are some pics from the past month (ENJOY):

Seven and Seven

2009-11-18T12:55:00.002-05:00

A big thank you to Cherish this Baby for giving me a Kreativ Blogger Award.

Here are The Rules:

1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award.

2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.

3. Link to the person who nominated you for this award.
4. Write 7 things about yourself that people may not know (BONUS: My 7 Favorite Things List follows).
5. Nominate 7 Kreativ Bloggers.
6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.
7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs, letting them know they’ve been nominated.

Since this is Faith’s Blog, this will be 7 things about her (she told me what to write ;)

1. I am officially eating food now. I’d say “real” food, but it sure doesn’t look anything like mommy’s and daddy’s. I started off with Rice Cereal, then went to Oatmeal. I’ve also eaten carrots, bananas, apples, and prunes. My favorite so far are apples. Looks like I’ve inherited mommy’s sweet tooth!

2. The time change did affect me a little, but I am still sleeping through the night, and can usually fall asleep without needing a nighttime bottle.

3. I enjoy bath time and have recently become fascinated with putting my feet in my mouth. Those 2 thoughts go together because I usually stick my feet in my mouth while I’m in the tub.

4. I’m currently wearing Size 3 diapers and anywhere from 3-9 months in clothes (it’s amazing how the different brands range). Mommy is always on the lookout for the perfect pair of shoes for me (apparently shoe sizes for infants vary across the board by brand as well); she’s already taught me that a girl can never have enough shoes. Can you say Mini-Blahniks? Or Children-Louboutins?

5. While we’re on the subject of footwear, I am the master sock-houdini. Those things have practically no chance of staying on my feet. Maybe mommy and daddy should try these Stay With Me Socks:

6. I enjoy sitting up on my own and standing up with a little help. I am still not a big fan of tummy time. Whenever they try to put me on my tummy, I just roll myself over to my back because I like it better that way!

7. Mommy and daddy have tried pacifier after pacifier but I only have 1 favorite (it's not even the fancy kind), and I spit the others out because I know the difference. They always think they can get away with giving me another pacifier, but they finally buckled down and bought me some more of the one I like! And because my cheeks are so chubby, the plastic leaves a ring around my mouth but it goes away.

While I’m on the subject of things I like, for my second list of seven I’m going to share my favorite things list (these are things that I have used and have really helped mommy and daddy along the way so far):

1. Bouncer (also dubbed my "Poo Chair", mine wasn't even one of the fancy kinds)

2. Diaper Genie (they forget how great this thing is because they're not always surrounded by my smell ;)

3. Itzbeen (because neither mommy nor daddy have any concept of time!)

4. Miracle Blanket (or as they have dubbed it, The Baby Straightjacket)

5. Germ Guardian Nursery Sanitizer (has been great for my bottles, pacifiers, and toys)

6. Umbrella Stroller (again, nothing fancy here, but this thing's a great ride)

7. Wipe Warmer (makes getting my bottom wiped so much easier!)

And I nominate:

1. Dee @ Two of a Kind Working on a Full House

2. Holly @ Caring for Carleigh

3. Jackie @ Starting Over in New Orleans

4. Kate @ When Hello Means Goodbye

5. Kirsten @ Just The 3 Of Us

6. Lea @ Nicholas' Touch

7. Sara @ Life Goes On

If You Weren't An LSU Fan Before . . .

2009-11-17T12:22:00.002-05:00

. . . You should be one now!

A big thank you to Stephanie at Geezees Custom Canvas for making this gorgeous canvas of our little Addy-tiger! Feel free to check out her blog or her Etsy Shop. She's got some great gift ideas, and hey, it's just in time for the holidays (hint-hint, wink-wink)!

Faith's First Halloween

2009-11-01T20:57:00.003-05:00

Five-Months Old

2009-10-26T22:51:00.006-04:00

Five-months old already (last Friday), and it seems like time is just flying by so fast! No pediatrician's appointment AND no pesky needles this month (yay)! I did, however, get to meet my cousins for the first time and join mommy and daddy at the Walk to Remember. Here are some pics:

Not Me! Monday

2009-10-12T17:32:00.006-04:00

This is ALL mommy right here (because, you know, Faith is so perfect and all):

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

It's been awhile since my last Not Me! Monday! post because it seems that I'm more off my game when I'm pregnant and totally losing it (if by 'it' I'm referring to brain cells).

I did not go shopping during my 'lunch' break at work last week. I shouldn't shop when I'm supposed to be eating lunch, right? And since I didn't go shopping, I did not get more than a handful of stuff to the register only to discover that I'd misplaced my wallet.

I did not run to through the store like a mad woman trying to figure out where I would've set my wallet down (because I didn't go shopping, remember). And I did not run frantically back up to the cashier to tell him that I still couldn't find my wallet only to look down and see it on the ground in front of the register.

I will not go shopping during my lunch break again . . . EVER!

While we're on the subject of shopping, I did not start [online] shopping for a dress to wear to a wedding that I may or may not be invited to. The couple just got engaged and haven't even started planning yet! That would be silly of me, now wouldn't it?

And since I hate shopping so much, I have not been frequenting Etsy for weeks on end and found yet another online shopping obssession. As if I needed help in that department . . .

I did not replace working out this weekend with Wii bowling and Wii tennis instead. Video games most certainly do not count as exercise.

I did not sit in pajama pants for the majority of the morning (and afternoon) yesterday. That's just lazy! And I, for one, never sleep in on the weekend!

Not Just Another Picture Post

2009-10-09T09:40:00.008-04:00

Okay, I'm starting to get a big head (literally AND figuratively) because mommy and daddy tell me how pretty I am all the time. They decided that it would be a good idea to enter me into the Gap Casting Call. My entries are below, if you want to take a look at them. And, if you feel so inclined, feel free to Vote for ME! There are clickable links above each picture. At least that way, I know other people think that I'm pretty too! Spread the word, tell a friend. You can vote on EACH picture once every 24-hour period, through November 17th. Thank you, and I'm ready for my close-up:

Vote for Me

Vote for Me Vote for Me

Random Pic of the Day

2009-10-05T23:17:00.004-04:00

Mommy is teaching herself Photoshop, but can you really improve on something so cute (sorry, I digress):

Four-Months Old

2009-10-02T23:22:00.004-04:00

Four-months old last Wednesday, and I've had yet another BUSY month. Another trip to the pediatrician's office last week with some incredible highlights:

1. Weight 14 lbs 11 oz.

2. Height 23 3/4 inches

3. Head Circumference 41.5

I am growing faster than mommy and daddy ever imagined. I did really well with my shots again too! So, without further adieu, here's my month in pictures:

Getting more comfortable with tummy time

and have become a pro at rolling over:

Had some visits with Aunt Liz and Uncle Mike:

And Aunt Nat (who is now officially an Aunt):

My second trip to the beach (and if you can remember my green bathing suit from my first beach trip, I don't fit into it anymore . . . surprise, surprise):

My first time touching the ocean:

Three-Months Old

2009-08-29T22:42:00.004-04:00

Three-months old last Saturday and yet another busy month. No pediatrician's appointment, however, I can't seem to escape the pesky needles (I got my ears pierced last Sunday and have now been dubbed Fatty McEarrings)! Face it, adorable just got more adorable. Enjoy my month in pictures:

Met my doppelganger:

Went to dinner for daddy's birthday:

Got geared up for football season
(with a little help from Aunt Jackie, thank you):

I'm such a diva:

Two-Months Old

2009-07-30T17:50:00.004-04:00

Two-months old last Thursday, and where do I begin? I've had a BUSY month, but first, the highlights from my pediatrician's visit yesterday:

1. Weight 10 lbs 13 oz.

2. Height 21 1/4 inches

3. Head Circumference 38.5

I am still a Chunky Brewster! And I did really well with all the shots they gave me. All in all, another routine visit to the doctor's office.

Now, for my month in pictures:

My first trip to the beach (Destin):

My Christening Day:

My great-grandparents:

My Godparents (Uncle Will, Tita Glor, and Tita Kristia):

One-Month Old

2009-06-25T16:37:00.005-04:00

Pic of the Week (Inu looks miserable . . . so does Faith for that matter):

More Pics of the Week (Because it's so hard to choose just one!):

I celebrated my one-month on Tuesday and went in for my one-month check-up at the pediatrician's office yesterday. Here are my official stats at one month:

1. Weight 7 lbs 8 oz.

2. Height 19 1/2 inches

3. Head Circumference 35.3

This Chunky Brewster is moving on up! They had to repeat my PKU screening at the doctor (heel prick that they usually do in the hospital - repeated due to low birth weight). But because I did so well during my appointment, my mommy bought me my very first pair of shoes (watch out Imelda!):

Three-Weeks Old

2009-06-13T23:03:00.005-04:00

Pic of the Week:

Guest Pics of the Week (Thanks Auntie Crystal for visiting me today!):

Week 3 Milestones:

I'm officially out of my premie coveralls and am mostly wearing Newborn sizes now.

My daddy has dubbed me "Chunky Brewster" because I can down between 2.5 and 3.5 oz on my feedings like a champ!

I get hiccups almost daily, and I don't like them at all (I blame my mommy and daddy for giving them to me by yelling at them incessantly).

Thank You

2009-06-06T16:42:00.003-04:00

You know who you are, and I know you're reading . . . :)

Two-Weeks Old

2009-06-06T16:12:00.002-04:00

Pic of the Week:

Week 2 Milestones:

The rest of my cord fell off!

I can hold my head up for short periods of time.

I am getting closer to rolling over on my own.

I am almost too tall for my premie coveralls.

I'm up to 60+ CCs (2 oz) on my feedings and have graduated from the premie bottles.

Introducing . . .

2009-05-30T22:45:00.004-04:00

Faith Addyson Brooks!

Today marked week 1. Here are some week 1 milestones:
1. She's had her first pediatrician's appointment and is already back up to birth weight.
2. We're slowly starting her on some tummy time.
3. She can hold her own pacifier in her mouth (and can bat it out of her mouth as well).
4. She's almost rolled over a couple of times.

And here are some "Day 7" pictures that I snapped (she even went to her very first mass today):

Quick Update and More Pictures!

2009-05-03T21:42:00.004-04:00

As of Friday, we were 34 weeks along! Baby is looking good and growing well (4 lbs 5 oz - 45th percentile). Baby's HR was 163. My BP has been up (150/80), so I had to do my first 24-hour urine this weekend (I'd already done like 5 of these things by the time I was this far along with Dylan, so that's good). All in all, I still feel great.

Philipeanut's totally smirking in this picture:

Hand in the face, totally our kid:

Our luau-themed couples' shower:

Chugging Right Along

2009-04-21T10:33:00.002-04:00

32 weeks and counting. I had my first fetal non-stress test (NST) at the OB's office this morning. We were in and out of the office in a half-hour, so that's a good thing. My BP was high (148/102), but it's been wavering up and down so much that I guess until it remains consistenly high, I won't start freaking out. On Friday at Maternal Fetal, my BP was great, "textbook" even (120/80), so the doctors and I will just keep watching it closely.

We are officially on the twice-a-week plan. I go to my OB's office on Tuesday mornings for NSTs and to Maternal Fetal on Friday afternoons for biophysical scans (and more pictures). We got to see Philipeanut last Friday, but when I went to upload the pictures from the CD the tech had burned for us, there was only 1 picture on there, and it wasn't even ours . . . oh well. We'll probably get new pictures this Friday (depending on which tech we get), so I won't worry about it too much. So that's that for the update! Keep praying.

30 Week Update

2009-04-05T23:21:00.007-04:00

We had a maternal fetal appointment on Friday, and the current stats are:

1. My BP was 143/85 (slightly lower than it was last time, but the doctor that we saw in the office proactively decided to add 1 more Labetalol to my regimen . . . woo-hoo!) BTW, I don't think I've mentioned yet that I had some "routine bloodwork" done at my OB's office, and they called me the next day to tell me that I'm anemic (baby's taking all my good blood . . . and that also makes me extremely tired ALL THE TIME) . . . so I'm taking 3 OTC iron supplements on top of everything else! It's okay, though, Philipeanut's worth it!

2. Baby's HR was 145

3. Baby weighed 2 pounds 10 ounces (still doing well in the 34th percentile . . . hey, what can I say, Justin and I are hobbits, and we're just breeding another hobbit!)

So everything looks good, and we had our favorite tech snap some fabulous shots for us:

Oh, and since I haven't done this in a while, my Random Cravings of the moment: brownies and Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs (makes you wish it were Easter all year long)!

Not Me! Monday

2009-03-16T11:29:00.011-04:00

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

I did not skip lunch on Friday so that I would have time to get my nails done instead. A pregnant woman would NEVER choose a French Manicure over French Fries. Not me at least!

I totally did not forget to bring the beautifully wrapped gift to the wedding we'd been planning on going to for over a month now! And I definitely do not have a Type A personality that would allow me to be anxious about forgetting this present and keep me off the dance floor for a majority of the night. Not me!

It most certainly did not help that I thought I could fit my 6+ month pregnant body into an ill-fitting non-maternity dress. I don't think like that at all, not me! And since I would never think about squeezing myself into this non-maternity dress, I would definitely not have the pictures to prove it:

I would never think to ask Justin to cut me out of the dress at the end of the night because the zipper broke, and I didn't have the patience to wait for him to figure out how else to get me out of the extremely uncomfortable, non-maternity dress. I wouldn't just buy a dress to wear for one, single, solitary occasion . . . totally NOT ME!

Finally, I did not make Justin drive all the way to the mall yesterday, just a half-hour before closing, so that I could satisfy my craving for pretzel sticks. Those things are pure, buttery goodness . . . er, I mean evil! And I don't crave anything that is the least bit unhealthy, not me!

26 Weeks = New Pics and New 'Do!

2009-03-15T21:22:00.016-04:00

I'm a little over a week late on this, but I was just waiting to have new pictures taken so I could post everything at once. Anyway, our latest maternal fetal appointment went really well. I wish the tech got some better pictures, but I'll share what I have anyway. Also, the current stats are:

1. My BP was 155/82 (starting to creep up steadily, but I was expecting that as I head into the 3rd trimester here . . . will probably be upping the meds soon) 138/100 at the OB's office less than a week later (it's a little all over the place, but they'll keep watching it closely)

2. Baby's HR was 156 (strong and steady!)

3. Baby weighed 1.5 lbs (35th percentile = on the small end of normal)

4. Baby's foot measured 2 cm (just under an inch)

5. They were able to look at the heart more closely again this time and were able to see everything that they couldn't see before. The doctor said "the heart is perfect", so yay! As always, a big THANK YOU to everyone who is continuing to pray for us and this baby.

See, It Snows in Georgia!

2009-03-01T19:37:00.007-05:00

Okay, so it is starting to melt already, but we did manage to go out this afternoon and snap a few shots:

Pica

2009-02-19T14:05:00.004-05:00

Pica is the persistent craving and compulsive eating of nonfood substances.

I read about this condition, or disorder, when I was pregnant with Dylan. It made me chuckle a little, but apparently it often happens to pregnant women. Now I'm not saying that I am craving inedible foods per se, but (I have to take a pause here to chuckle at myself, and perhaps I should be saving this for a Not Me! Monday post) . . . I have been craving malt powder.

If you're not sure what it is, think about the middle of a Whopper but in powder form.

Oh man, just the mere mention of it makes me want to go home right now and sneak a spoonful. And I want to sprinkle it on everything I eat, like it's a condiment or something. Last night, I had a small bowl of ice cream with a little chocolate sauce drizzled on top . . . and YES, I finished it off with a dusting of malt powder. I didn't even know they sold this stuff in stores. Curse Justin for knowing this kind of stuff! Anyway, I guess you can call it my "Random (And Completely Strange) Craving of the moment".

Not Me! Monday

2009-02-09T10:33:00.003-05:00

So I will totally try this for the first time:

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

I did not go to McDonald's last week for a free fry promotion because I've promised Justin that I will not eat McDonald's anymore, and I most certainly do not break promises to my husband. Who does that? And I definitely did not get hit by karma when on this supposed McDonald's trip, I totally got charged for the free fries (which is the only reason I would've gone there to begin with). And then I would never be the type of person to rush back to the office with my McDonald's lunch and promptly log onto their website to complain. Not me!

I did not forget to put my memory card back into my camera before leaving the house the other day. I would never leave my memory card sitting out on my desk, especially when we were making a special trip to the park just to take pictures. Forget? No way! Not me!

I did not go to the grocery store and buy reduced sugar cupcake mix and reduced sugar chocolate icing thinking that would get me out of having to worry about my gestational diabetes. I would never indulge in cupcakes or any other sweets while on my diabetic diet. Not me! That would be cheating!

Finally, I did not, even for a second, get excited about winning a photo caption contest on MckMama's blog last week. Why would I be the least bit excited about getting a quick mention on someone else's blog? That's ridiculous! I'm so not that easily amused. Not me!

22 Week Baby + Belly Pictures

2009-02-08T17:22:00.008-05:00

We had a Maternal Fetal appointment on Friday. My bp was 140/90. Baby's HR was good. Baby currently weighs 13 ounces = good. The tech attempted a complete echocardiogram today, taking as many pictures of baby's heart as she could manage. Of course, baby was not cooperating (we were joking with the tech that Dylan's been giving Philipeanut some pointers). But every heart shot that they did manage to take looked fine. Here are some pics, as promised:

Half Way There

2009-01-28T12:24:00.002-05:00

I had a quickie doctor's appointment at my OB this morning (just the usual: pee in a cup, stand on a scale, check my bp, measure my belly, and check baby's hr with the doppler).

My BP was good (again, "good" is relative to me): 138/90

Baby's HR was normal: 155-160 (and alot of movement going on down there, might I add)

The doctor told me before I left, "You're halfway there." I'm currently 20 weeks (21 weeks this Friday). I'm amazed, that's great! If Bon Jovi was right (and was he ever wrong?), I'm definitely "Living on a Prayer". Cheesy, I know, but as always thank you to everyone who's been thinking about us and praying for us. Please keep it up.

Random Craving of the moment: popcorn.

Blood Tests Results

2009-01-22T18:00:00.003-05:00

The DNA confirms that it is Justin's baby . . . JUST KIDDING!

But to update those of you who are keeping up. The second round of our sequential screen blood test came back fine. We also elected to have some additional blood tests run for Cystic Fibrosis, Fragile X, and there was a 3rd one which my pregnancy memory has allowed to slip my mind, but all of those came back Negative too. (And Negative here is good).

And rather than leave you with such a short (and fairly uneventful) post, I'll fill the space with some nonsense. The following is an ongoing list of some random things I've had cravings for:

Oreos
Baked Potatoes
Clementines
Strawberries and Blueberries
Pears
Arugula
Godiva Creme Brule Chocolate (anything chocolate really)
Meat
Chili
Rice
Rice Crispy Treats
Cereal

And believe me, this girl (*me; NO, we're not having a girl . . . that we know of . . . so don't even think about reading into that) can eat! Although, right now, the whole Gestational Diabetes thing is keeping me disciplined. I guess that's a good thing . . .

Also, for a little laugh, I've been keeping an ongoing list of relevant words that I've made up during my pregnancies.

Hormotional - It's the crazy level of emotional that a pregnant woman (including myself) can tend towards
Sneed - (This one is probably TMI for most, but if you've ever been pregnant, you know exactly what I mean . . . go on, admit it) It's when you sneeze and pee a little . . . I do it all the time, even right after I've used the bathroom!

18 Week Update

2009-01-09T23:53:00.016-05:00

Okay, some not-so-good news first. Don't fret, I was kind of expecting it. The nurse from my OB's office called today to let me know that I do, in fact, have Gestational Diabetes . . . AGAIN. Oh well (Liz, I guess your offer for Sweet Potato Casserole is no longer valid?) 60% recurrence rate, and all (and you know how our luck is with odds).

Anyway, now that that's out of the way, we had an AWESOME Maternal Fetal appointment today. First off, my blood pressure was 133/83 (which is slightly high for the average person but is out-freakin-standing for me)! And it's so difficult not to walk into this place an absolute ball of nerves for every appointment. In fact, when we first got into the U/S room today, I told Justin, "Wow, this is the same room we were in when we found out about Dylan's heart and had to do the amnio!" So our technician walked in and just started working away. She was great. I'm pretty sure they've got the words nervy or sensitive black-markered all over our file, so she talked us through everything. I remember how last time, alot of the techs we got never really talked to us or told us anything. Well, our tech today would find something, tell us what it was [sidenote: it amazes me how much/how well the U/S techs can decipher everything they're looking at; I'd have a better chance trying to stare at one of those pictures at the mall and finding the dolphins . . . but anyway, I digress], and immediately follow it up with, "and that looks good". Justin was cheering as if LSU just won the National Championship or something (goober).

So, as we stand right now, heart looks good (heartrate today was 161 = good), kidneys look good, bladder looks good, spine looks good, umbilical cord looks good, 2 hands/10 fingers, probably no cleft lip (still too small to tell for sure), fluid level was good, stomach was good and full (big, fat belly -- current weight is 6 oz.) etc. and so on. Bottom line, everything that we got to see today looks good. They'll probably do an echocardiogram at our next appointment to take a closer look at baby's heart, but so far so good! It felt almost like being in foreign territory. Our Maternal Fetal experiences with Dylan were so far removed from this (it felt like "bad news central" most of the time).

Well, one of the "benefits" of being deemed a high-risk pregnancy is PICTURES, so without futher adieu (I apologize the pictures are kind of blurry, the first 2 are 3-D, and I'm pretty sure there's some thumb-sucking going on in the last 2!):

Initial Glucose Screen

2008-12-30T10:35:00.003-05:00

D'oh! 139 max. Mine was . . . wait for it, wait for it . . . 145! Again, I reiterate, d'oh!

Because I had Gestational Diabetes with Dylan, and the recurrence rate is pretty high, my nurse decided to go ahead and do an early screen yesterday. She called me with the results this morning as I was driving to work. I have the dreaded 3-hour Glucose test scheduled next Wednesday morning. Wish me well . . . I just need to pass 2 out of those 3 tests!

And, as if I needed a cherry on top, my blood pressure was really high yesterday (165/120), so more drugs for me, yay! I'm already taking 1 Labetalol 3 times a day. Now I have to take 1 Procardia in the morning ON TOP OF that. So, here we go again. Ho-hum, just another routine appointment for me. At least Philipeanut's heartrate was good: 155-165.

Everyone have a safe and Happy New Year! See you in 2009!

15 Weeks Today

2008-12-19T23:47:00.003-05:00

“Try to enjoy it”, my primary-care physician told me when I told her that we were pregnant again. I could tell that she sensed my hesitation and my avoiding the giddiness. It’s been the best advice for this pregnancy that I’ve gotten so far, but still difficult to do.

Last Friday was our first appointment at Maternal Fetal. Oh how we dread this place, the place where Dylan’s heart condition was first detected and where the walls came crashing down on us. I sat in the waiting room, trying to read random magazines to pass the time.

When the tech finally called my name, she walked us to the ultrasound room and began the usual routine. We were going in for an NTS or Nuchal Translucency Screening, where they measure the back of the baby’s neck. That, in combination with a blood test, can be used to determine whether there is a higher risk for certain birth defects such as Down’s Syndrome, Trisomy 18, or a Neural Tube Defect. And wouldn’t you know it, the tech had a difficult time getting that measurement. We were on the cusp of being able to get that measurement in the first place (the screen must be performed between 11 and 14 weeks – I was 14 weeks to the day).

She excused herself out of the room to see if one of the other techs would have better luck getting the measurement. I glanced across the room at the nervousness all over Justin’s face. I called him over to me and held his hand. I know we were both thinking the same thing, “Here we go again. This can’t be good.” The second tech came in and was able to get a few measurements that she was satisfied with. She informed our original tech to take them to the doctor and see if they would be good enough to work with. Our tech excused herself again. She said, “Either the doctor or I will be back in here shortly.” She didn’t tell us anything else, not whether the measurements were good or bad, whether they were in range or not, whether she saw anything else on the ultrasound. Nothing.

So we waited. This time, the doctor entered the room. Again, I thought to myself, “This can’t be good.” She smiled and welcomed us back to the office. This was the doctor who originally suspected that Dylan had a heart condition. As she sat down, she asked how we were doing. I didn’t want to get unnecessarily worked up, so I just started talking away. I was able to tell her how anxious we were and how nerve-racking it is to be back in this position. She told us that, of course, that was understandable and that everything looked good. Whew, a sigh of relief. Another hurdle crossed.

I got a call from the office yesterday giving me the results of the sequential screen blood test. I didn’t jot the specific numbers down, but she told me everything was in range and looked good. They will perform a second round of blood testing in a few weeks.

Of course, we are no where near being “in the clear”. Because of Dylan’s heart condition, she told us, they will be looking at this baby’s heart closely as well. And because of my blood pressure, our Maternal Fetal visits will still be necessary too. She was kind enough to add that if we ever wanted to come in for an ultrasound, even if we didn’t have an appointment, to just call the office for a visit. At the very least, it’s reassuring and may help with all the anxiety that I feel in between doctors’ visits.

Philipeanut's First Pictures

2008-12-09T18:55:00.004-05:00

Incidentally, my first appointment with my doctor was back on November 21st, my mom's birthday (we actually surprised her and told her for the first time at her birthday party the next evening). When we saw our little lima bean, we were overjoyed (of course), but getting to that first appointment was a hurdle. I think we waited with bated breath until we were actually able to see the munchkin on screen. Again, I was amazed at how much the little guy (or girl) was moving. And we got to hear the heartbeat (a strong and solid 170 bpm)!

Here are the particulars:

1. My estimated due date is June 12th (one day after Dylan's birthday).

2. I will be 14 weeks this Friday.

3. We will not be finding out the sex . . . that is, if we can hold out!

Here are the pictures:

Confession

2008-12-09T14:48:00.003-05:00

Yes, I admit it, here I am pregnant again! When I first came across the term “Rainbow Baby”, I wasn’t certain of the root of that terminology. And the only decent explanation I could think of was when I look at the magnificent beauty of a rainbow, I am reminded of God’s gifts and I will always think of Dylan. But I will also know, that at the end of that rainbow, another perfect prize awaits me and I am so blessed with the opportunity to go through these motions again.

Being pregnant after losing an infant comes with a barrage of emotions attached:
Excited, Nervous, Anxious, Paranoid, Cautious, Subdued, Judged, Joyful, Scared. It’s a real roller coaster of emotions to face, but it’s a ride that I take eagerly.

I desire to remind people not to forget about Dylan. And not to think, even for a second, that we have. For even in our joy, there will always be a little bit of grief attached. In our excitement, a little bit of fear. I know that prayers are coming in already, and every night I pray as well. We must put stock in that blind faith that God is here, walking this path with us and that this baby is already so loved and so tremendously cared for. And that's what we continue to do, day in and day out, KEEP THE FAITH.

Keeping the Faith

Happy New Year and Happy New Pictures!!

Latest Family Pictures

Addy's 1st Georgia Aquarium Trip

Two-Years Old!!

New Family Photos!

***CLOSED*** DaySpring Giveaway and Review

See, It Snows in Georgia! (Part Deaux)

Year In Review

Halloween for Addy-BUG!

Are You Ready For Some . . .

15-Months Old

14-Month Photo Shoot

One-Year Photo Shoot

One-Year Old!

Happy Birthday Faith!

***CLOSED*** Hair Coverings.com Giveaway and Review

11-Months Old

Faith's First Easter

Ten-Months Old

***CLOSED*** Skip Hop Giveaway and Review

Nine-Months Old

For Your Consideration

Eight-Months Old

Seven-Months Old and My First Christmas

Laughter is Contagious!

Six-Months Old

Seven and Seven

If You Weren't An LSU Fan Before . . .

Faith's First Halloween

Five-Months Old

Not Me! Monday

Not Just Another Picture Post

Random Pic of the Day

Four-Months Old

Three-Months Old

Two-Months Old

One-Month Old

Three-Weeks Old

Thank You

Two-Weeks Old

Introducing . . .

Quick Update and More Pictures!

Chugging Right Along

30 Week Update

Not Me! Monday

26 Weeks = New Pics and New 'Do!

See, It Snows in Georgia!

Pica

Not Me! Monday

22 Week Baby + Belly Pictures

Half Way There

Blood Tests Results

18 Week Update

Initial Glucose Screen

15 Weeks Today

Philipeanut's First Pictures

Confession

CLOSED DaySpring Giveaway and Review

CLOSED Hair Coverings.com Giveaway and Review

CLOSED Skip Hop Giveaway and Review