Our Old Friend Rob

This weekend we had a visit from our good old friend Robert. Robert was John's roommate in college. They had great times together. To many to name and I defiantly don't want Gianna to read them or hear about them until she is VERY MUCH older!!!

I love old friends. They remind us of who we were and how we acted. Sometimes that is comforting and sometimes it's not! But seeing Robert did remind me of a very different time in our lives. We caught up on friends we used to know and how they are doing. And just how much we've all changed and still stayed the same. I loved the times we would have a big group of our friends sit in the Wall/Gates lobby and he would play his guitar. He would always play the Eagles' Best of my Love just for me. He and John would stay up until dawn debating some minute theology point and they both loved every second of it.

Robert is going to study Russian literature in Chinese! Yes, he is that smart.

We've grown up, with houses, jobs and family. But Robert is a classic! He's a reminder of who we were, witness to who we are now and an encourager for the good times to come.

Tourist in your own backyard

This week has kept Gianna and I very busy. We had a visit from my oldest niece- Grace.

I'll give you an insight into our week with a few lists.

We enjoyed visiting:
George Bush Library- We saw the White House in miniature. It made me want to see the real thing
U Paint It- Grace and I had a blast painting. We picked out things then paint them, and they glaze them for you. I go to pick it up tomorrow.
Saw Hairspray and loved the dancing.
Barnes and Nobel

We cooked:
Blueberry pie
Key lime pie.

We made:
Popsicles
Tacos
Corn on the cob

We ate at:
Olive Garden
Freebirds

We went shopping at:
Hobby Lobby
Post Oak Mall- Didn't find the blue dress we were looking for, but still found surprises for the other nieces.
Grocery Shopping- OK so this this was more of a have to than really cool, but we did get a cookie at Kroger (OK who else gets one too?)

Gianna and I had a good time, but I am exhausted!

Gianna enjoying a popsicle

A year to remember....

Its been about a year now since we have had our blog. It was created for parents and close friends to celebrate the joy of Charissa being pregnant and monitoring the baby's progress. Now the baby has a name, pictures on the blog, and from my Google analytics, apparently a large cult following. To all our readers I say thanks for adding comments and emailing. Its nice to stay in touch in a very high tech way. (Because the phone just won't do).

Please take some time and go through the archives of our blog and comment on your favorite posts.

God is Gracious

Sleep?!?!?!

In an attempt to make up for the days the computer was down- I am blogging again.
So here I am sitting at the computer while my daughter is sitting in her swing trying HARD not to take a nap. Since Granny has left and swim lessons have started she has been sleeping better at night, and she has spontaneously added a mini nap after swim lessons. I guess they really wear her out! But today her third nap in not happening- yet! I'm holding out that she will instantly feel tired and put herself to sleep! HA.
So a while back I shared some insight into my views on shots. I now will share with you my sleep theories. Now mind you I am a sleep expert. My mother says I slept through the night at 2 weeks. So I like sleep. I enjoy sleep. I NEED sleep. But apparently, my extroverted daughter has inherited her daddy's sleep habits and does not fall asleep very easily. Thanks a lot John!

Any way mostly I have a good attitude about her sleep habits as our new mantra is "It's not a problem unless WE say it's a problem." This helps me when other mommies talk about how there sweet darlings sleep from 7 to 7 and get three 2 hour naps a day.

Not my baby!!!!

There are a few books out there to help parents with there little cherubs and how to get them to sleep and most of them have different views.
The No Cry Sleep Solution- our current favorite and the one we use most. Lots of tips on how to get your baby to sleep without wearing you out and without lots of crying.
Baby wise- good tips for scheduling the day that we have used and found helpful, but it suggests to Cry It Out (CIO) and it's not for me. Lots of moms I am currently hanging with use it and it works for them.
Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Child- more good tips on scheduling sleep and naps that we have used, but over all suggests CIO and it scared me that if Gianna wasn't napping properly she would have ADHD!!!
The Happiest Baby on the Block- We used this one allot when Gianna was a newborn. It has 4 s's that you should follow. It was really helpful Especially the SHHHHHH. A little bit of evolution that I don't agree with so take it with a grain of salt. But it WORKS!
The Sleep Book by Dr. Sears- very helpful in thinking that this is only a short period of time that I'll be getting up in the middle of the night and really helped me to adjust my attitude. He stresses "Night Time Parenting" is just as important a day time is. Currently he is my favorite Baby Expert. He is a Christian and I have really enjoyed everything that he has written. (mostly because I agree with it!!!)


So what is a mommy to do?


Well, What I've been doing is Praying.
First I've been praying for my Mommy Confidence that I won't judge my parenting skills by Gianna's sleep or lack of it!
And that I would rest assured that I'm raising Gianna the way God wants me to, as I know the other mommies are doing what God has called them to.
But from what I hear, it never ends. All mommies will compare and talk about who is doing what, first etc.. for a good long time. My mom says it's just so we can see if we are "doing it right." I'm going to try to not compare and try to just be me!
John and I are so glad we have each other and that we both share the responsibility of parenting. It's helpful to have someone to talk about thing s with and to trade off when we need it.

Now what age did your baby start solids......? :)

Where Have You Been?!?!?!

Well our Internet AND our computer were out for a few days. We just now got it to work again. You never really know how much you use/like/depend/are addicted to something until it is broken! But thankfully we have had swim class to fill our days. Last week and this week we have been swimming! Swim class for a 6 month old?!?!?
Well, it's just for getting exposure to the water and it's tons of fun! We are blowing bubbles, scooping the water, floating. Thursday we go under and the take a picture under the water.
We missed you all! :)

July 4th and other stuff!

Good bye Granny!

We spent July 4th up in Dallas with Gianna's Aunt, Uncle and the cousins.

We had to leave Granny on Friday. But before we left, Granny saw first- before Mommy and Daddy- Gianna roll from her back to her front.

We also saw MY Aunt Mary Ellen, Uncle J. and cousin Kelly:

John also wanted me to include this picture of Gianna's first trip to Fry's:

We spent Saturday just resting and on Sunday we got it in gear and started getting ready for our garage sale this Saturday.

And some more firsts- Gianna is now eating solids!!!!! I had planned to wait until AFTER her 6 months checkup, but she couldn't wait. We were sitting down to eat and she was so interested in what we were doing. She wanted (demanded) to be fed! So I fed her some of my water and she was so happy. Then it was not enough ans she wanted MORE! It was a little hard for me to transition to. From now on (at least until she is 18) I will have to worry if she is eating enough, how the food is cooked and what there is for her to eat. Oh well- if parenting were easy everyone would do it!

O Canada EH!

Sunday evening we celebrated Canada Day with our friends Steve and Shona. We had a trivia contest and prizes were given. I even brought a ringer- my mother. Well.... we ended up third out of 3!!!!!!!!! Quick name three Canadian actors.
Here is a picture of one of Gianna's friends Austin in their matching Canada shirts. Austin and Gianna were supposed to be a week apart. Gianna decided to come early and Austin on time!

We also decided that we did not have enough pictures of our pretty baby in her Dedication gown so we took some more! Look on the link and see them all (and more pics of Canada Day). Mom/Granny and I are so very proud of the dress we made. It literally took blood, sweat and some tears. And just about every seam sewn twice!

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Baby Dedication

Today we dedicated Gianna to the Lord at church. It was an exciting day. It was one of those milestone days. We sat through several dedications over four years with tears and longing and questions to God. But today we finally got to celebrate what God has given us- OUR OWN BABY!!!! We said we would raise her in a Christian home and raise her to love the Lord. We read her verse: Colossians1:9
Our church even set up a special dedication day just so Granny Miller could be here to see it.
Mom and I got her dress and bonnet finished and Gianna looked beautiful! We had SEVERAL people come and tell us what a beautiful baby we have!

We celebrated with Ludlows and Millers. We had a brunch after church. We were so grateful to have family here to celebrate such a special day.