It just gets more fun!

I know every mom says this, but it is true. This is my favorite age with Ann Edwards. As we approach her first birthday I willingly admit that its bittersweet. I love being her mama, and absolutely love having a baby. What I'm realizing more and more is that my baby is slowly becoming a little girl right before our eyes. This little being that was once a fragile 4 pound, 9 ounce baby that was wrapped up in blankets and caps in mid July to keep warm is now my busy crawler! I'm amazed and feel like its all gone so fast. I was sharing with my friend Shelley just how bittersweet the reality of her growing up is. She said something so true, that this would be sad, IF it did not get more fun with each new day. Ever since she shared that with me I have awakened to a new chapter with my "baby"...A chapter filled with laughing at her little personality developing, loving the snaggle tooth smiles, catching many near face plants as she thinks she can walk, and just enjoying her growing into a little girl. One of the dearest things lately to watch is her interaction with other children. To see the way she looks at her older cousins and friends is so precious! For months now we have had play dates with Adelaide (Shelley's little girl) and Ann Edwards has looked at her so longing to be big enough to play with her...This past week they made a huge stride in their friendship, and much bonding has taken place over the sharing of food! What funny little interactions they have. Ann Edwards just adores her friend and is so happy to be able to finally partake in an activity with her. So as we get closer and closer to the 1 year mark, I'm loving this age, loving watching my baby become a little person who is having so much fun these days! Look at these two cuties sharing some snacks...How sweet, and what a lucky mama I am that God chose me to get to raise this precious girl and watch her grow!

Hair Issues

It has been brought to my attention that my child has some wild hair. In fact, it was my dad who recently said to me, "Soon enough, you're going to have to decide what look you're going for with her hair". Hmmmm. What look I'm going for? I guess he is implying that this punk rocker/mullet hairdo isn't working for her?

(It's ok Ann Edwards, I'm making the same face as I type this)

I'm also including this picture so you can see what we see after every nap, how the hair looks, and most importantly how prepared she is, just in case one passy isn't cutting it!


Here is a nice shot of the hair over the ears and a glimpse at the mullet...


She has no idea what is wrong with "the look she is currently going for". And frankly, as her face clearly states, she has better things to do...like seek out dangerous objects to grab, plugs to stick her fingers in and delightful things to eat, like you know, Dog Food.


So, here is what we've come up with..Pretty cute, huh?


I think Ann Edwards is happy with it!

Da-Da

That's the most clear word Ann Edwards has been saying lately...And I have to admit I've had a twinge of jealousy, as she has not uttered those syllables I so long to hear "ma-ma"...She has always adored her daddy...He is the recipient of many dear moments with her, quick smiles, easy giggles and lots of open mouth wet kisses, and even if I was timid to admit it, the first to be called by name. It was not until Sunday at Church that I realized truly what a gift this love for her daddy was. Don't get me wrong, I adore seeing them together, and there is no greater sound that hearing her giggle with her Daddy. But, I was brought to a deeper appreciation of this relationship this Father's Day. The sermon Sunday painted a beautiful illustration of the Father's love for us...The pastor spoke of how across all languages and all countries the majority of babies' first word is their form of "Da-Da". In that we see the deep need for Fathers, ultimately for our Heavenly father. He went on to discuss how for most of us we view our relationship with God through the light of how we are loved by our earthly fathers...And it hit me. How beyond blessed Ann Edwards is, that she is so loved and adored by her earthly father...and how by this love of her "da-da" she will one day grasp on to the love of the most high! Rainer is the best daddy to her I could ask for or imagine. Patient, gentle, funny, silly, strong, compassionate, loving, graceful, providing, generous. He is such a gift to me, to her. One day she will say "ma-ma", and that will warm my heart. But, for now I'm just happy to hear that babbling and "Da-Da" all day...as I understand the importance of her love for her Daddy that will take her a step closer to our biggest prayer for her, a heart for Jesus.

Happy Fathers Day Rainer. Thank you for all you do for us, and for working so hard so we can spend our days together. We love you Da-Da!

It's Official

St. Louis is too far away.

I miss this little man


And this Little Mermaid too...


Enough already. Move back home! :)

Post Vacation Blues

I have a serious case of them. In fact with all that has happened it seems as if our week at the Lake was just a dream after all. Good thing I have these pictures to prove that we went!

Catching Fish off the Dock..Yes, Ava Belle was, as usual, cautious of getting too close to the fish



Feeling the wind in our hair...(AE has aspirations of becoming a Price is Right Model if you cannot tell)


I found Paul's old wetsuit...from when he was like 12. Naturally I had to put it on, with goggles and run from the house to the slide...Here is Paul giving me a "friendly" splash to improve my sliding speed. We don't take ourselves too seriously, thank goodness!



Dr. Paul, takes a break from his usual past time of saving lives (still in the 12 year old's wetsuit, mind you)



Emmett discovering his LOVE for Black Bean Salsa. He is the messiest little eater. Ever.


Going for a boat ride to get pizza...(T minus 2 hours before Coxsakie Virus hits)


It appears the Littlest Ones have inherited the Holcombe Competitive Gene. They wanted to play a mean game of ping pong, but the height barrier was just too much to overcome


We even had Kid's date night (I went stag since my partner in crime had started the Coxsakie trend, don't worry I got it later that night) Thanks Minnie and T for watching the Kiddos so we could go have a wonderful dinner!



It was a wonderful week, and I'm ready to go back! We missed you Patrick and Emily!!

Just in case you didn't know..

As I didn't, that the best, and frankly the only, way to show that you love your cousin is to put them in a loving Head Lock. Evidence is documented below....

Reid loving on "Ewards" (please note the smiles) For some reason Spot is breaking up the pow-wow in the second image, I can't imagine why.




Ava Belle loving on "Edwards"...



And Apparently it works to show affection to younger brothers as well...Sweet Ava Belle and Emmett

Fun....and Not so Fun

So its been awhile since we spoke and much has been going on! We had a baby shower preparing for our new cousin Mitchell, a week long trip to the lake...and a stay in the Hospital for Rainer! All is well now and we are resting settled back in at home. Ann Edwards is so happy to have her daddy home and healthy (and so is mama!)

Here is a little catch up of the Hospital fiasco in case you missed it...

Rainer and I both caught a virus the end of last week on our vacation that we thought was just a normal crummy stomach bug. However, Rainer continued to feel badly through the weekend and on Monday early am he started to have chest pains and shortness of breath. After 2 trips to the ER and many heart tests the doctors found that the virus has caused myocarditis. Basically, there is infection around Rainer's heart that is causing inflammation to the walls of his heart.. His heart ultrasound showed damage to the lower right side of his heart and his Ejection Fraction was at 35% when normal is 60%, so his heart was not pumping as it should. The virus he has is called coxsackie b and there is no antibiotic to cure it, so we have to wait for it to run its course and assess the damage on his heart after the virus has subsided. He is on medicine to ease the work load on his heart so he can heal and begin the restoration process. He was in the Cardio ICU since Monday, then in a private room Wednesday & Thursday, but we got to come home Thursday! Yeah!! He is feeling great, no more chest pain or discomfort, just tired. The doctors are encouraged by his progress. He will continue on his heart meds and have limited physical activity. We go back to the cardiologist in 3 weeks for another Heart Ultra Sound to assess the damage. Though we believe that God will completely heal and restore his heart. We would ask that you join us in that prayer/praise that the scans would show NO trace of damage to his heart!

First and foremost we want to give God the Glory for the healing he has done in Rainer so far!! What could have been a very grave outlook is looking up. We know that it is nothing short of the power of God and all the prayers you all have sent up on our behalf. We are overwhelmed and humbled at the out pouring of Love that you all have given. From the many, many prayer lists at Churches Rainer has been added to, our PRECIOUS small group, friends and family who have been on their knees for us, all the emails, texts & calls...we are SO very appreciative. We are so blessed to have you all walk through this time with us, and now we just feel renewed and excited that we have such an audience to watch God heal Rainer and bring His Glory. Rainer and I have had a supernatural peace throughout this time that we know is the unmistakable peace of our Father. We are finding great comfort in the cross...that when Jesus died his heart was pierced, as His word tells us that the blood and water separated. We know because of this that His heart was pierced so that all our hearts, and Rainer's heart may become PERFECT, without blemish. That is the miracle that we are believing for now. That His heart will be completely restored beyond what heart ultrasounds and doctors have found.


Meanwhile, Ann Edwards was content and happy playing each day with her grandmothers so that I was able to be with Rainer in the hospital.....and even got her first baby doll (Thanks Shelley!) so our little angel did wonderfully throughout the whole week, but missed her daddy.

The next post will be more fun I promise...pictures of the lake week are coming :) Until then, here is a little preview.