Heidi's 9 months!

Heidi is: -17 lbs and in the 25th percentile for height and weight. She's a petite little girl. -still not a great sleeper. The past month has been interesting, to say the least. Until three nights ago, she would wake an average of four times a night. I've tried everything...closing her door, turning up her sound machine, changing the sound on her machine, letting her cry it out, rocking her, feeding her, patting her back. Nothing seemed to work. Until I finally decided to try Tylenol before bed because I think she may be getting all four top teeth at once. She only woke once that night, but the nights since she's been waking twice, which is normal for her. I'll take that, though, because it's predictable and I know that at some point she'll start sleeping through the night. -teething. Two teeth on bottom and top side tooth. I expect to see the other top teeth anytime now. -still in love with her sister. I love watching them play and giggle at each other. Heidi especially loves playing chase. She will turn around to see if you're chasing her and then wheel around to crawl away, laughing hysterically. -standing on her own for a few seconds. -walking along furniture and while holding someone's hand. -eating mostly only the food we eat, cut into small pieces. When I try to feed her with a spoon she swats it away and flings food all over the place. She loves blueberries, avacado, string cheese, and grilled chicken. She's still nursing every four hours, too. -trying to use the sippy cup to drink water. -taking naps around 9 and 1:00. -in love with the Minnie Mouse doll my sister got her for Christmas. I often find her hugging it while asleep. -very, very, very active. The girl is only still when she's asleep. -saying momma while she follows me around the house. Almost one year old. How did that happen so quickly? It seems like I should still be pregnant with Ansley, still be carrying our first daughter. The last three years have been a blur and I cannot believe that I'll soon be 28 years old with two daughters, three and one. It's incredible to think about the way the Lord has blessed me beyond what I could have asked Him for. I can't wait to see what He has in store for us in years to come.

You Could Save a Life

This is a post I've been meaning to write for almost 9 months now. I just got caught up in life with two little ones and forgot how passionate I was about the topic of cord blood donation until I saw a news article on it last week. So here's the story of how I got involved with it.

Before having Ansley, my first daughter, I had never heard of cord blood donation at all. I had, however, received many pamphlets and emails about cord blood banking and how the valuable stem cells found in the umbilical cord blood could be saved (for thousands of dollars) and used in the future by our family to treat diseases. Not only was that out of the question financially, I just felt like I wanted to trust the Lord rather than investing in something we may never even need to use. But, a few months after Ansley was born I saw a story on the morning news by a doctor who was encouraging women to consider donating their cord blood to a bank, where the stem cells could potentially be used to save the lives of people who were suffering from diseases. I didn't realize that this was even an option or that the blood was so valuable and there are so many possibilities for it. But, if the parents don't wish to bank or donate, the blood is thrown away by the hospital.

When I became pregnant with Heidi, I decided to investigate a little further to find out what all went into the donation. I got my information from The South Texas Blood & Tissue Center and found out that there really wasn't anything too difficult at all. I simply made the decision to donate, informed my doctor, sent an email to the center, and filled out the paperwork they sent. They mailed a box to me including everything that would be needed by the nurses and doctor and I took that with me to the hospital. They looked over it and just followed the directions immediately following Heidi's delivery. A few hours later, Jeff called FedEx to have them pick up the box at the hospital for delivery and we were done. And all of this cost us absolutely NOTHING. I'm not sure how the blood was used as some is not suitable for recipients and is used in research instead. But, I think it's such an easy thing to do and there is such potential for this cord blood to be used in so many wonderful ways. And because the stem cells come from the umbilical cord of healthy newborn babies and not from embryos, I am a big supporter.

So, this sweet little girl of mine may have saved another life.

What we've been up to...

Ansley's first horseback ride.



Bike riding with Momma.



Swingin' at the park.


And totally exhausted from all the fun.

8 months (a little late)

My precious Heidi,

Here's a little about you at 8 months and one week old...
-Not sure of your weight, but you still seem to be average and your clothing size is right on target with your age.
-You still have just the two bottom teeth.
-Sleep is not your favorite thing to do. In fact, I think you hate it. On a good night you wake twice to nurse, at 1 and 4. We're down to two naps a day, at 9 and 1.
-You are nursing every 3-4 hours and consistently eat breakfast and dinner. We're now working lunch into the daily meals. For breakfast you usually have cereal with a little fruit or yogurt with cereal. For dinner you eat a jar of meat/some sort of sweet veggie or fruit and half a jar of fruit.
-You crawl so fast and love to be chased. You will turn to practically beg me to chase you and then take off, laughing and squealing until I catch you.
-Your favorite place to play in the house is Ansley's room.
-You have started letting go of the furniture you're holding while standing. You can't stand on your own yet, but it won't be long. You seem to be very daring.
-You love for me to carry you all over the place and fuss when I walk away from you. I think you may be a momma's girl and that's okay with me.
-And the most exciting news of the month is that you were dedicated at church.

You've made it through your first holiday season. Each of them was so much fun with our two little girls, especially Christmas. I'm so looking forward to many more years of sweet memories with you and Ansley. Love you, Heidi!

Merry Christmas!

Digital scrapbooking design created with Smilebox

Photo update for the fam

Ansley pulled every toy out of her toy box during naptime and just played too hard. She fell asleep right where she was playing.


She also has a new hairstyle. She asked this morning if I would put her "hair" in a ponytail. She loved it and I was afraid she would insist on wearing it out in public. I'm afraid the day is coming...


And what a cutie Heidi is! Doesn't she look mischievous?

Happy 7 months!

My sweet Heidi,

For seven months now you have been our precious second daughter and Ansley's little sister. You are such a joy and your personality is becoming more evident. What you're up to these days:
-You have your first two teeth (which explains the lack of sleep a couple of weeks ago)
-You crawl crazy fast and love to explore the house all by yourself. I find you playing in Ansley's room often.
-You started pulling up to standing about two weeks ago and have had a few crashes since your balance is not great. But, you're getting stronger each day and more coordinated.
-You eat cereal and a fruit for breakfast and a meat and veggie for dinner. We will begin lunch this week.
-Your sleep is still unpredictable. You usually wake twice in the night to eat, but have started waking up a third time in the last few nights and I've had to let you cry yourself to sleep. I hate doing that, but I want you to learn to soothe yourself back to sleep and that it's not okay to get up to play in the middle of the night.
-You absolutely will not take a bottle or be fed by anyone but mommy. We found out the hard way when Daddy and I tried to go to a football game a couple weeks ago. You refused to eat even the baby food you're used to. You definitely know what you want and refuse to give in.
-Car rides are much easier now. You like to watch Ansley sing and talk to you from her seat next to yours and you even sleep sometimes.
-Your personality so far seems to be that you like to be in the middle of everything. You love to explore, learn, try new things early, and be independent. i think that you and Ansley will be great friends because you both have this in common.

My favorite things about you:
-Your smile absolutely melts my heart. Your eyes twinkle, your dimple is the sweetest thing ever, and your two new little teeth peak out when you smile. I love walking into your room in the mornings and after naps because that's when you flash a big one. Or when you're nursing and you pause to look up and grin at me. Or when I catch your attention from across the room and you smile at me like I'm the best thing in the world.
-I love the way you play with your sister and that you absolutely adore her. You still think she's the funniest person ever.
-I love the way you like to hold onto my fingers when I reach back to your carseat to put the paci in your mouth.
-And I love the way you chase me around the house and pull up on my legs when I'm standing in the kitchen cooking. Even though it's difficult not to trip over you, it's so precious to have you in there with me.

We sure do love you, sweet little girl. I especially love having two daughters and a wonderful husband to share these holidays with.