Our Precious Gift

Without a doubt, our little girl is the most precious gift James and I have ever received. These past two weeks with my folks have really enhanced her cuteness-factor. She just loves attention from the people who love her! How we love her! Of course, every day is soaked with thoughts of Bitty, with that certain longing, but I rest my eyes on my daughter, delight in her exuberance, and am reminded that God indeed loves me so much and has already given me a beautiful child out of my womb. I am a mother. That I am a mother is a miracle I shall never take for granted.

Glory Baby

I have some sad news today, but I find comfort in the knowledge and confidence that God is sovereign, and that our trials and tragedies are not pointless. He is in fact shaping our characters, pulling us closer to Himself, and equipping us to better empathize with each other in times of sorrow.
We had our first ultrasound today, and my mother and James were with me. We saw the baby, a roughly 10-week-old baby, but there was no heartbeat. The technician was silent. She returned with my doctor on the phone. We'll go in and see her tomorrow to figure out the near future. I'm just trying to absorb this news. I think of Watermark's song, Glory Baby, and I know that our baby is being held by God in Heaven, and that he or she will just have to know Heaven before we do.
Love to All,
Laurel

Mimi and Granddaddy's Visit So Far!

It's Wed. and I'm just now posting some pictures from my folks visit so far. Here are the events in chronological order!
I picked my folks up at the airport Friday evening. We grabbed fish n' chips and headed to James' softball games. It was chilly and we had to wrap Wendy in my dad's large t-shirt, but it was so fun. Got to chat with friends Theresa, Shaunna and Sarah. It was a great way to kick off their visit! Saturday we went on a lunch cruise down the Willamette River. That night we went to Officer's Row and ate at the Historic Reserve Restaurant. Wendy learned how to step on and off the step without "crawling it," and she was so proud of herself! Sunday was church, lunch at El Presedente and a bbq at our house with friends Mike, Luz and dtr. Elizabeth Mabel. I'll attach those pictures in a different post above this one. My dad's taken tons of really good pictures with his fancier camera, so I'll have to get those too! Let's see, okay so Monday we ...I can't remember but I know I made a chicken dinner! Yesterday we went to the OMSI and I made spaghetti. Check out a few extra special shots in the post to follow (which will be above this one.)

Wonderful Summer Days

Here's my girl, taking a break from the splash ground at Firstenburg, in a car ride at the mall, swimming at Peninsula Park with Hayden, and playing in a fun play structure!

Our Circle

We live on a circle, and there are quite a few 2-year-olds as you can see! The funny thing is, one 2-year-old, yet another girl, is missing in this picture. Incredible, huh?

"I'm proud to be an American!!!"

We had a very full and fun 4th of July, although I did feel a bit blue, (not red, white and blue), because we were not able to join family in Texas for the holiday. I miss my Aunt Karen's American flag cake with blueberries. Anyhoo, we started out our day with a neighborhood parade to the park for free hot dogs, chips, cookies, pop, inflated jumping house, etc. We visited with neighbors Julie, her boys, Colleen, Troy and their kiddos, etc. Wendy got a big kick out of it. Then we went to Vancouver Park for festivities and live music. Finally a neighborhood association-paid-for par-tay and lastly, a block party. Ah, fun but tiring for this pregnant mom of a 2-year-old.

Oh my.

At Cafe Sip N' Play, my Wendy found this flexible blue part of a toy, and pinched her face with it and insisted they were glasses and WORE this silly THING on her FACE all afternoon! If it squeezed itself off of her face, she simply forced it back on! Funny thing is that another little girl pulled on my shorts and pointed to Wendy's "glasses" and said it was HER turn to wear it! I was in a giggly mood, so this just had me in stitches repeatedly.

Wendy's Artistic Pursuits

Wendy, the artist...Thank you Leslie for the paper!
Wendy, the pianist. Thank you sweet neighbors!

Wendy's Funny Ways of Late

Wendy likes to crawl up into her jogging stroller when it's in the house, and she grabs her "banket," and "pooh bear," and "sippy up," and whatever else and is just sooooooooo content, it's so dang cute. I stroll her to the TV for Sesame Street. On these two days, I happened to snap two cute shots!

James' Hanging Baskets

They've gotten even "GINORMOUS-ER" this week! He's got a green thumb alright. I'm sure glad cuz sometimes, I'm barely keeping my kitchen plants peppy!

Wendy the Cap-Snatcher

The night following the OMSI day, we headed to our mom's group at the church, and Wendy snatched little David's cap cuz she LOVES caps. Wears her daddy's all the time. Below are friends and their munchkins.

OMSI Day with Wendy

Ha ha. This one's cute, eh? I'm behind on blogging, so this lil' trip was a bit ago. Cute shots though, so I'm posting them!