Swimming, Father's Day, and NC Trip

Can she get any cuter?

Margaret's First Swim

Wearing her adorable Strawberry Swimsuit and Hat
Swimming at G G Ma's House with Daddy

Wade's wonderful Great Uncle Neil passed away a few weeks ago.

After a family graveside service, we gathered at G G Ma's House for a luncheon.

Margaret joined us for lunch and enjoyed sitting with Great Aunt Libby!

Almost every evening, Margaret and Daddy go for a walk outside.

She is usually a little bit fussy and in need of some attention and distractions,

so Wade enjoys walking her around the trees and flower beds.

She is going to know all of the scientific plant names by age 2!

Happy Father's Day 2009!

Here we are at the end of a long, special day.

Margaret and Daddy have fallen asleep.

Wade's favorite thing to do is smell Maggie Moo's head.

She has the best smell--I don't know how she gets it,

but Wade thinks that it is the best Father's Day gift of all!

We started out the day opening gifts from Margaret

and making Daddy a special Father's Day breakfast.

Then we headed over to Grandpa Rick's House

for a delicious lunch with Wade's favorite, lamb chops.

Great Grandpa Rick was even there!

We spent the afternoon out at Arrington Vineyards celebrating the birthday of our good friend, Linsay Ozier. It was hot out there but a good time to get together and celebrate!

Then we traveled back into town to eat dinner at Mama Susie's house and wish Daddaddy and Great Grandaddy Bob a Happy Father's Day!

Mama Susie even made a yummy cherry pie, another one of Wade's favorites!

A few days later my good friend, Marie Anderson, stopped by for a visit.

She is living in New York, acting and teaching drama.

We had such a fun visit; Margaret just loved her!

Driving to North Carolina to see Aunt Lolli, Uncle Michael, and the Cousins!

Cousin Charlie fed Margaret a bottle at Cousin Hudson's Baseball Game.

Cousin Hudson took good care of little Maggie Moo.

He loved to entertain her, and she loved all of the attention!

Cousins are so much fun--we love them!

(Charlie, otherwise known as Batman, wore his Batman PJs all week!)

Aunt Lolli loving on Margaret--we can't wait to meet the baby girl coming in July!

Kissy Time with Aunt Lolli

(Aunt Lolli is wearing the prayer necklace we made for her.)

Kissy Time with Mama Susie

Margaret was such a good baby on this long trip. We had to stop many times to feed her, but other than that she was pretty happy. Mom and I spent four days up in North Carolina. We enjoyed wonderful food, a day trip to Asheville, and spending time with Laura before she gives birth to her baby girl.

Over the past month, we collected beads and sweet notes from family and friends and made Laura a prayer necklace to wear during labor. We presented the necklace to her during this trip along with an album full of letters, poems, scriptures, and wishes. It was a very special trip, and the next time we see them they will be a family of five!

Margaret continues to grow and make the most incredible accomplishments. Lately she is reaching for objects and pulling everything close to her mouth, especially her hands. She likes to grab her ears and yesterday she almost had her toes! I caught this cute video on my phone last night---she loves to spit and make noises with her mouth, so Daddy and Maggie Moo were copying each other--what fun!

5 Months Old!!!

Margaret is 5 months old today! We have no idea her current weight or length, but she is definitely filling out her 3 month outfits. Hopefully, she will wear some more 3-6 month clothes before she actually turns 6 months. To be honest, I hate to see her grow too quickly, because I love this little infant stage.

She continues to battle reflux, but we haven't seen many eruptions in the last week or so. We just have to use all of our little tricks to keep the milk down. She still sleeps in her car-seat at night. We tried using a wedge again in her crib, but with all of the extra room she wakes herself up and doesn't know how to soothe herself back to sleep. We'll get there---it's just a process.

Margaret and one of her first boyfriends, Crosby, at the mall--what a cute couple!!!

One of the best discoveries of the week was Margaret's tongue. She found it, and it makes noises! At first, I thought she was hungry and offered her a few varieties of milk. She wasn't hungry at all; she just wanted to make some noise---so enjoy!

(Sorry about the picture--I used my phone to take this video.)

Photo Time

My favorite photo---so far!

SMILES

Love the bottom lip

She was pushing up on her arms.

(Alternative Tummy Time)

Margarita

The start of a great friendship

Sugar Pie

Bubbles

Beautiful Girl

These photos are some of my new favorites of Miss Margaret. I finally found a way to copy them from my phone!

We are all doing well. Margaret surprises us each day with new tricks: giggles, jibber-jabber, rolling over from stomach to back (I can't seem to catch it on camera!), batting at objects, taking naps, sleeping through the night, pushing up on her arms, and SMILES, SMILES, SMILES!!! I weighed her last week on a puppy scale at my friend's vet clinic (I was desperate to know), she was 10 pounds, 12.5 ounces---what a big girl!

Enjoy this adorable video of Margaret and her jibber-jabber taken the first week of May!

Baptism and Mother's Day

Holding our little blessing on her Baptism Day!

Happy Mother's Day, Mommy!

Safe in Daddy's Arms

Margaret wore the same dress that her mother, grandmother, aunt and uncle wore.

Margaret's new friend, Billings. It was his special day too!

Cousin Hudson is so much fun!

Wow--Our family photo . . . and this wasn't even all of them.

Margaret's Uncle Michael baptized her.

What a special memory!

Margaret with Grandma and Grandpa Rick

Happy Mother's Day!

Margaret with Daddaddy and Mama Susie

Happy Mother's Day!

After the ceremony, we went to G-G-Ma's for a reception.

Margaret changed into her father's christening gown- what a beautiful antique!

Margaret with Grandaddy Bob

Margaret with Great Grandma Rick

Happy Mother's Day!

Margaret with G-G-Ma and a 100 year old bonnet!

Happy Mother's Day!

She looked like a little doll!

This Mother's Day was very different than my first one. Last year I was a mother, but I was not filled with joy and happiness on this day. I was full of sorrow over the loss of James. Friends and family didn't know what to say to me. Was it my first Mother's Day or not? So I spent most of the day hidden away inside my home crying and wandering why this horrible thing happened to me.

This year I woke up to the sound of my beautiful daughter. We enjoyed a peaceful morning of breakfast in bed and many sweet kisses. Wade even gave me a beautiful strand of sea pearls (Margaret means pearl)!

Then we traveled to church for Margaret's Baptism. We arrived early and fed her in the nursery. Wade, Margaret, and I sat in the parlor during the first half of the service and slowly dressed Margaret in her baptism gown. After the homily, we entered the sanctuary for the baptism. The church was full of many family members and friends. Uncle Michael (my brother-in-law) baptized Margaret. She was so calm during the baptism looking around with this curious expression and moving her hands. Michael did such a wonderful job and held her so carefully in his arms. My father was the assisting elder, so he walked Margaret around the church during the anthem proudly showing her to the congregation and little children sitting in the front. Wade and I received a candle and certificate to remember this blessed day. Then we left with our little miracle.

After church, we traveled to Wade's grandmother's home for a brunch with family and friends. Margaret wore her daddy's christening gown at the party. There was delicious food, special little petit fours with pale pink crosses, beautiful flowers, and many proud mothers. We enjoyed watching our nephews play, Margaret sleep, and our loved ones socialize.

I am so blessed to have little Margaret in my life. I hope that she will always know God's love. Wade and I will share these stories and memories with her in the many years to come, so that she can remember her baptism. I can't believe that I am her mother. I am a mother--wow! I think it is finally starting to sink in---I thank God for my two gorgeous children!

Margaret celebrated four months last Saturday! She went to the doctor today for her check-up. She weighed almost 10 pounds and was 21.5 inches long. Her head circumference was actually on the curve for a four month old--20% percentile! She must have a brilliant brain in there! It was a wonderful appointment, and we don't have to go back for two more months.

By the way, the last two evenings Margaret slept 9 hours straight--what a thoughtful Mother's Day gift!

Enough Said

LOVE

Happy Easter

Margaret's first visit from the Easter Bunny!

Naturally, Grandma Rick and Mama Susie wanted to assist the Easter Bunny in providing even more Easter fun!

Easter Morning at Westminster

Our first Easter with Margaret Belle was wonderful. We made it to church on time and excused ourselves right after the sermon (someone was hungry!) Then we gathered with Wade's family at g-g ma's house for some fun on the patio. Later that afternoon my mother made a delicious meal with Wade's favorite, lamb chops. All in all it was a delightful day!

The Congregational Cross Celebrating the Resurrection

The congregation adorned the cross with flowers on Easter morning to remember Jesus and the Resurrection.

A Rose for James Walter

We brought a rose for each member of our family.


A few days earlier Mommy turned 30! Yikes!

(I already had the best gift in the world!)