Beach Baby

We spent all of last week in Hilton Head with my extended family. This annual beach trip with them is one of the highlights of my year! I'm continually amazed at the effort we all put forth to get together several times a year, and marvel at the fact that we've done so for over 25 years!!..This is such a special group that loves to be together and share and love on one another! Tradition runs deeply in this family and I'm so glad I was able to bring Ann Edwards in on this special time this year, I only wish Rainer had felt well enough to go! We still can't seem to get EVERYONE together, but considering we span from several states including Missouri, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, and now even have 2 family members in Japan, we do well to get at least 20+ together! We missed those of you that weren't there... And next year I'm hoping for ALL of us to come, then we'll really be the Griswolds!!

Here are some of my favorite pictures from the week... Oh and as you'll see Ann Edwards LOVED the beach, and playing in the water!

I could just gobble up this little face!




Ann Edwards learned to climb stairs while we were there! Here she is climbing in and out of the pool (over and over).


Here she is with my sweet grandmother, "Momdoni"


There aren't many shots that show her 2 teeth and that dimple that makes my heart melt, so I couldn't resist posting this one!




Here is a favorite that my cousin Jason took. He is a great photographer, and you can see his work here


Playing with her Minnie


Us with her Aunt Emily and Uncle Patrick


This just made me laugh, oh that hair!...The only part about the beach she hated was getting sunscreen put on, Here she is tolerating me...


Here are the precious pirates she chased after all week!


The whole gang!

Until Christmas when we can see you again, we'll me missing you all!

Polka Dots and Lollipops..

O' What fun! We had a party & Ann Edwards turned One!!

We had a great time with friends and family for Ann Edwards' First Birthday Party. You view (way too many pictures) on our picture site (yes we are first time parents and like taking pictures of our child...) But here are a few highlights of the party and her special day.




Also, she had a great 1 year appointment. She is still tiny, weighing in at a whopping 16 lbs 8 oz..But hey, thats more than triple her birth weight! She is more precious everyday and showing interest in everything it seems! She says several "words" that mostly we can understand; daddy, mama, dog, baby, bye-bye, hey and she is working on saying Ginger. She makes our hearts melt with her hugs and open mouth kisses and now makes a hilarious frown face thats pretty pitiful actually. These days she loves rocking in her little rocking chair, wagon rides, puzzles, books, dancing and playing on her musical activity table, any dogs! and rolling around on the bed or the sofa like a wild woman. Seriously, you let her up there and its like wrestle mania! She's a busy little one, I have people tell me daily that I'm going to have my hands full...I wonder what they think I do all day now?




We (minus Rainer) are headed to Hilton Head for a week with my whole side of the family, like 20+ people. It should be a blast, I can't wait to see Ann Edwards chasing all her older cousins. I'll take lots of pictures, I'm sure you're worried.

A year ago today...

My sweet baby, my joy, our little bit. How our lives were forever changed when you arrived just a year ago today. I always wanted to be a mama, and the moment God gave me that gift in you I have never been the same. You have forever captured my heart like only a daughter can capture a mother's heart...You have shown me grace and love and taught me more than I can fathom..But you've also been gracious to me on the days, (ok everyday), when I don't always get it right, you still reach for me with your sweet hands and it never ceases to amaze me that you love me... that you crawl and tug at my feet, that you find rest and peace in my arms..That I get to be your mama. What a gift. So, today on your birthday, as I should be giving you a gift, I'm overwhelmed at what all you've given me...Annie, you are so loved, so adored by all of us. Happy Birthday!

Update on Rainer

For those of you who missed it, its been a long month or so for Rainer. You can catch up on what happened here.

Since then he has been laying low and focusing on getting better. We have had wonderful friends and family who have prayed for us, helped with Ann Edwards and brought food and we are so thankful. We went to the Cardiologist for his follow up visit this past Thursday and got a good report. His doctor listened to his heart and confirmed that it is healing, and is on the track to recovery! He did not run the tests to check his heart function, or do a heart scan as Rainer is still on the mend. He has an appointment in a month for those tests. Rainer's blood pressure has crept up some, (which shows that his body has adjusted to the medicine) So, they are doubling his blood pressure medicine. This is all good news and the doctor seemed encouraged at Rainer's progress, the goal is to get the meds at their maximum dosage to ease the load off his heart, so its a good sign that his body is ready for them to already increase the dosage. However, this medicine really takes a toll on Rainer's energy level and generally makes him very weak as it is, so we ask for your prayers that God will continue to restore him and give him endurance as the dosage increases.

Here is a sweet shot of my loves at the lake, doing what we've been doing a lot of these days...resting.



Rainer is so blessed to have so many people that love him and are praying for him! Especially this little one, who couldn't be happier that her daddy is healing so she can have many, many more moments like this with him!

Best Friends Forever

Here is Ann Edwards with Ginger our yorkie. They are both small and fast so catching their interactions on film is tough. These two really love one another. Actually, Ann Edwards really loves her, and Ginger really loves food. Match made in Heaven! Here she is giving Ginger a hug. Notice how she closes her eyes to brace for the licking that always follows.

And then its over, Ginger is off to harass the neighbors with more barking.

You just never know..

What you'll find when you get me up from my nap. (We've discussed my wild hair before). Man how I love playing in my crib! This particular afternoon I had some crazy fun playing in my new dress Spot made for me!