EASTER!

We had a fabulous Easter! For starters, Truett got to come home. Abby Anne enjoyed spendingd time with her Uncle T-but didn't get quite enough time in. She looks forward to seeing him again in a couple of weeks. We dyed Easter eggs at Emmie's house on Good Friday. Abby Anne was very "into it." She loved it. She hasn't quite got the concet of how fragile the eggs are though. She enjoyed PLOPPING them down into the dye...so a few eggs were a little cracked...no big deal! Just adds a little character-right?

On Saturday, we went to the Easter Egg hunt that our church has every year. It was a blast! Abby Anne loved sitting in the Easter Bunny's lap and kept wanting to go back to visit every few minutes. (Which I found to be a bit strange since she was terrifed of Santa....but whatever!) She did great hunting the eggs...unlike her mommy when she was a little girl. Hopefully Abby Anne picked up Stephen's Easter egg hunting skills! I will say-that Abby Anne had found one more last egg at the hunt and a bigger boy came and grabbed it right up from under her. I guess I had flashbacks from my childhood, but I was ready to let that boy have it...who cares that he was four and I am 28...he stole my baby's egg!!! Stephen told me I had to let it go-but I am still bitter-can you tell?

On Easter Sunday, the Easter Bunny left Abby Anne an Easter basket full of goodies right outside her bedroom door. It was so exciting. Then, Abby Anne got all dressed up in her beautiful Easter dress, and we went to church to celebrate the resurrection of our Savior. On the way to church, I took the opportunity to talk to Abby Anne about what Easter really means. in the process, I asked her, "Isn't it exciting and wonderful that Jesus did for you and rose three days later?" She responded by saying very excitedly, "BUNNY!" Oh dear!! We might have a little more work to do in that area!! But she is only 2 years old after all. I know the Lord will work in her sweet, tender heart as the days go by. She already enjoys singing about Jesus all of the time! (Some of her favorites are Jesus Loves Me an The B-I-B-L-E.) After church, we went in the HORRIBLE weather (it was pouring cats and dogs!) to go eat with Weezie and Pops and then had an indoor egg hunt at their house. Once again- Abby Anne loved it...and this time I didn't feel the need to threaten or beat up any small children-since she was the only one hunting eggs!

Easter was wonderful. The Lord is so good...what a gift!! It truly is amazing...what He did for us on the cross!

"Night Night Babies!"

Abby Anne is quite the talker these days. She makes me laugh each day. She says some of the funniest things. She is starting to make the connection that maybe Mommy's belly is getting bigger for a reason. She knows the babies are in there, and she will talk to them from time to time. Last night, Abby Anne was sitting in my lap, and she patted my tummy and said, "Night Night Babies!" That was hilarious-but then she followed that up with, "You want an assy?" (FYI- assy is what she calls passy-as in pacifier!!- No Stephen has not taught her any bad words!! HAHA!) I very politely explained that the babies didn't need a passy yet- but maybe a little later they would need one!! See- she is already a good big sister, looking out after her baby brothers/sisters/both!!

She also said something else last night that was just hysterical! She pointed to the freckel on her leg and said, "Mommy, booger!!" I told her that wasn't a booger, but a cute little freckel! I love more than anything being a Mom to Abby Anne. Life has such meaning and joy...and laughter.

A DOUBLE BLESSING!!!!

Stephen, Abby Anne, and I are so excited to announce that we are expecting 2 BABIES!! That is right- TWINS!!!! We are still completely overwhelmed by the whole thing!!! We are so excited, though. As most of you know, we went through a hard time in October when we lost our baby. The Lord has now blessed us, doubly!! We went for our first doctor's visit today. I was so anxious to see that heartbeat since the last experience we had in an ultrasound room did not end the way we had planned. Not only did we see one healthy heartbeat...WE SAW TWO!! The first thing the ultrasound technician said to us was, "Guess what?" I honestly had no idea what she was about to say. Then she said, "There are two in there!!" I just smiled so big in disbelief! Stephen's mouth literally dropped to floor-where it still remains 12 hours later! I am not sure it has really sunk in yet. Stephen told me I need to let off some of my praying because the Lord is answering them double time!! haha! The ultrasound tech also had to label the babies baby A or baby B. She said the way they normally do this is by labeling the one on bottom A and the one on top B. Well- our babies were side by side...these two are already making things difficult!! I have a feeling this is just a small glimpse of how my life will be from now on....these twins in to everything TOGETHER!!! Oh my goodness!!! What are we going to do?!?! (Not to mention our Abby Anne!!!) I feel more blessed today than ever before. Please pray for a healthy pregnancy and for our two babies in what will soon be my BIG OLE BELLY!!!

"Every good and perfect gift is from above." James 1:17

Shud-uh, Mommy!

Well- if you haven't guessed already- the title of this post is Abby Anne's version of "Shut up, Mommy!" You got it- our sweet, innocent little angel has told Mommy to shud-uh! The first time we heard this come out of her mouth- Stephen and I were watching American Idol- and we, along with the people actually auditioning, were singing very loudly and very obnoxiously! Abby Anne yelled at the top of her lungs, "SHUD-UH!" Stephen and I instantly looked at each other and questioned whether she actually said what we thought she had said...she said it a few more times...but then we didn't hear it again until the following week, during American Idol! I once again, decided to sing in my loudest, most obnoxious voice. This time, Abby Anne looked up at me, smiled, and most politely said, "Shud-uh, Mommy!" I had to straighten my face, and tell Abby Anne that she could not say that! (It was very hard to keep a straight face!) And if you are wondering- NO! Stephen and I DO NOT USE THAT WORD IN OUR HOUSE!! I will not tell you who I think she learned it from- but I will say it was being said to a dog- not a person! (You know who you are- you can thank me later for keeping your identity confidential!! haha!)

Abby Anne says sweet things, too! I gave her her supper the other night and walked across the room to continue gathering everything up, and she reached out her hand and said, "Mommy, Pray!" It is amazing how I can learn a lesson from my 2 year old. Even she, at the age of 2, knows how important it is to thank the Lord for the things He has blessed us with. Let's just hope that is what sticks with her, and not SHUD-UH!!

Peppermint Candy Canes

On December 20th, Abby Anne made her debut in her first dance recital. She started taking dance at the ripe old age 2...actually a month before she turned 2!!! Abby Anne danced to "Peppermint Candy Canes." She did such a wonderful job. Her daddy, Weezie, Pops, Emmie, and I were all there to see her in the spotlight. The rest of the family was so sad they missed it, but everyone has watched the video time and time again. Abby Anne also enjoys watching the video, and each time it comes on, does the dance and sings the song all over again! We were so proud of her. Emmie gave her a bouqet of flowers after the recital....because every dancer deserves flowers after she performs!!! Abby Anne has turned into quite the little dancer- I was a little worried at first- but she loves it now! We can't wait to see her in her spring recital!

Christmas at Big Cedar Lodge

It has been brought to my attention that I need to post something or give up this whole blog thing...thank you Effie, for letting Molly know who let me know!!! haha!! Anyway- the first weekend of December, Stephen, Abby Anne and I made a trip to Big Cedar Lodge in Branson. This has become a Christmas tradition of ours. This year, Wendy, Ryan, and Aislynn joined us. We had such a great time. We hung out in our beautiful cabin and just relaxed. We also went on a carriage ride. The whole time all Abby Anne would say is. "WHOA!!!! WHOA!!" It was a beautiful ride that took us all around the resort. We also got our picture taken with Santa at the Landing. Abby Anne refused to sit on Santa's lap by herself- so the whole family had to...that's right!! THE WHOLE FAMILY SAT ON SANTA'S LAP!! What we will do for a good photo op! We plan on returning next year- with the Farrells- and perhaps inviting Emmie and Papa to go along, too!!! To spend some quality time with the grandkids!! (I know they are already looking forward to that peaceful, quiet weekend!!)

My Abby Anne

It has been a long time since I have posted anything. Life has been somewhat crazy the last month or so. As you know, we lost our precious baby when we I was 10 weeks pregnant. We found out it was a girl. We already had her name picked out- Josie Lee. I have always looked upon Heaven as a wonderful place. But I can not even express to you how my thoughts have changed about Heaven since I lost my baby. I am more excited now than ever before to get there. I know when I get there- my baby girl will be waiting for me with open arms, running around crazy- just like her big sister, Abby Anne. Life on earth will never be complete, but when I get to my real home, with my Savior, he will have yet one more gift for this undeserving mommy. I will proudly get to hold and kiss my Josie Lee. As David said in the book of Samuel, my child will not return to me, but I WILL GO TO MY CHILD!!! And I look forward to that day!

Til then, life here goes on, and I enjoy each moment. I treasure Abby Anne even more now than ever. She is such a vibrant, energetic girl. She loves every moment of life. Yesterday, we took Abby Anne to the ER. She had a seizure. She has had 3 "febrile" seizures in the past year (fever related.) We have had an MRI and EEG and both came up clear. I can not explain what a helpless feeling it is to see your baby like that and not be able to help or protect her...that goes against everything I am as a Mommy. The doctors were great and have put Abby Anne on seizure medication for the next year or two in hopes that she will not have anymore- and that she will grow out of this. Please join me in praying that the medication will work and we won't have to experience anymore of those horrible seizures!!

I realize each day, more and more, that life is a gift from the Lord. He has blessed me beyond belief!! And I am so thankful for Stephen (what a great Daddy!!) and my precious Abby Anne!