No sweeter Words!

Several weeks ago, Anslee started repeating "I love you" back to us when we said it to her. Now, she says it fairly clearly...and does not have to repeat it! She will just walk up to us and say it! You can imagine how special this is for a parent to hear from their baby. There are no sweeter words!

I love you too, my sweet Anslee!

Fashionably L&D

Of course you can carry out good style and give birth all at the same time!





I found lots of different patterns of these maternity hospital gowns to wear during labor and delivery on etsy and will certainly be purchasing one for delivery day. I think I will feel a LITTLE bit better about being in pictures if I am wearing one of these rather than those not so cute ones that give you at the hospital :)

A capacity for Love

Although I was on a lot of drugs and coming off of general anesthesia after my C-section, I can vividly remember the tremendous amount of love I felt when holding Anslee for the very first time. I remember thinking, I don't think its possible that I could ever feel this love for anyone else ever. It was overwhelming emotion. The kind that takes your breath away. The kind that makes the minutes draw out into hours without you knowing. I literally felt like the rest of the world had stopped spinning.

So, is it true that I have the blessing and honor of feeling that way all over again? Even though I know exactly what it feels like, to love that much, I still just can't believe that it will happen again. I love no one like I do Anslee, and so it just does not seem like it could be real that I will love like that for another. I know full well that its real, and that the exact same rush of emotion will come right back over me. I can't fully prepare for it though. You can't. I look forward to it. I look forward to reliving that emotion that only a mother knows all over again.

Just look at this sweet baby growing in me. This will be the object of my love just months from now. We are so very excited. We feel so blessed. God is so good to give us the precious gift of life!







Our capacity for Love is about to grow! By leaps and bounds!

Another GiveAway! :)

The babywise mom is doing another giveaway! She does them a lot, which I think is really awesome.

This particular item is one that her husband invented to help their baby girl sleep better. It worked for them, and I am a mom who clearly will go to wits end to help baby to sleep with ease! In other words, I want this item!!

Here is a link to her blog, and the giveaway of the SnuggleU!

Tyler

I never did a Father's Day Post, because I was waiting on this article about Tyler and his dad to be published so that I could include it as a part of the post.

I thought this article, published in the Texas State Troopers Association monthly newsletter, would sum up what Tyler is all about and where he learned how to be the man he is today!

We are so proud of you Tyler! Anslee and I just may be the 2 luckiest girls in the whole world because we have you!

Scroll down to page 11 after clicking this link to view the article!

Tyler and the DPS

What I have been reading!

Most of you know that ever since I got pregnant with Anslee, I have buried myself in books, blogs, and internet articles that offer child rearing advice. (We all know that I need every bit of expert opinion or thought on anything that has to do with parenting!) So, I thought it was only appropriate that I blog about the great reads that I have found!

I am always reading...(Or always referencing)



I am preparing now, and reading:


Another one always good for referecning is:


In more recent news, it looks like I will be needing to RE-Read the following:


and...



Clearly its a good thing we saved a ton of money on the following:



And I just HAD to buy Anslee this new shirt....


Because this little blessing will be joining us as the newest Moses in January!

2 word phrases!

Anslee has started putting words together this past month! Its a little step closer to more clear communication with her, so that makes me this mama so excited :) I remember thinking that when kiddos started putting words together they were officially big kids!

She says:

Thank you - and so clearly too! this is my favorite phrase to hear come out of her mouth!

All Done - She will sign and say this one at the same time. We can communicate!

Oh No - This has almost replaced "uh oh".

I know - Not sure if she knows what this means, but she says it after we do.



I have also started counting to 3 when I want her to come to me. My friend Cindy does this and her little one cooperates, so I thought I would try. We are doing pretty good! By 2, she starts walking toward me!

I have also started requiring "please" or at least the sign for please before giving her what she wants. I would say she certainly understands and does it without thinking, but other times it can be what causes a fit. A work in progress is what we will always be anyway...

I have also realized just HOW MUCH she understands, even if she can't verbalize that she does. She knows what "stay in here", "do not touch", "bring me your shoes", "lets go", and "come on" mean and will follow the instruction pretty consistently. s

Now that I know she understands more, I can expect that she is able to follow directions and therefore a whole new world of fun can be had :)

She wears pig tails and ponytails now. She is a big girl.