Spring has Sprung!

Oh how I love these two little blossoms!!!

Party Prep (AKA longest post ever)

Last year we skipped out on a big party for Halle Claire. It just seemed like we had a lot going on. We had just brought Kerrigan home in January, after a long crazy pregnancy and NICU stay. Anyhow, I was just worn out and didn't have the energy to put anything together. We just ended up doing two small family parties for her. I really don't think she noticed, but I knew that this year I wanted to do something big for her. We have attended several birthday parties at Pump It Up, and always have had a great time . . . so we decided that would be a good place for her 4th birthday bash! Even though Pump It Up makes it pretty easy to host a party, there was still a little prep work to be done. Halle had decided that she wanted to wear a tutu for her princess party, so my mom graciously made those for the girls. I think they turned out nicely! I really love the satin sash!

I had Karen Norman make birthday shirts for the girls (which were perfect!)

The White Market's Princess bottle cap bow was perfect as well!

We stuffed goodie bags, and ordered the largest, tackiest (oops, I mean most beautiful) Disney Princess cake we could find. HC picked it out all by herself from the Publix bakery. :)

Not too much work . . . it was nice. We enjoyed a wild night of bouncing and sliding!

To celebrate with her preschool class, I made princess cupcakes. I think the princess toppers were a hit! (found this little kit at Williams-Sonoma)

And finally for her actual birthday, we went to church and the headed out to the zoo afterward. It was a nice day together! I can't believe my baby is 4!

Happy 4th Birthday Halle Claire!!!

Four whole years . . . Wow!!! How did that happen??? Sweet Halle, I'm so thrilled God allowed me to be your mommy! You are witty, so smart, fun, loving, and opinionated . . . you keep us on our toes, but we wouldn't have it any other way!

We love you from the very depths of our hearts! Thank you for an amazing fours years! We pray nothing but God's very best for all of your years to come. Happy Birthday, Sweet Girl!

Love, Mommy and Daddy

What are you up to these days?

* You no longer take naps. Probably haven't for about the past 6 months.

* You go to bed around 8 pm and wake around 7:15 am.

* You still LOVE to drink milk! You would live off of it if we would let you.

* You love to go to school!

* You take ballet and tap on Tuesday afternoon and seem to really be enjoying it!

* Daddy has been showing you flash cards of certain words for about a month - you can recognize about 35 words.

* Kerrigan loves you, and you are a GREAT big sister. You love her, and are very sweet with her.

* Your best friends are Ellie Hogan and Jackson Smith.

* Purple is your favorite color!

* You're wearing a size 4t in clothes, and a size 10 shoe.

* You are all girl - you love jewelry, dress up, purses, nail polish, princesses, etc. It lots of fun!

* You are a good girl, and a good helper - we are still working on perfecting your listening skills at times though. :)

* Painting, coloring, drawing, and working through pre-school workbooks are favorite pastimes of yours.

* You still sleep in a toddler bed, but mommy and daddy have been looking all over town for the perfect "bed with a ladder" for you!

* As of today, you no longer use a sippy cup. Only regular "big girl" cups for you.

Ugh!

I have been doing a terrible job keeping up with this blog. Mostly because the month of February was consumed with fevers, coughing, runny noses, visits to the pediatrician's office, vaporizers, tissues, tylenol, motrin, etc, etc, etc. And sadly, that theme has carried over into March (just add vomiting and a stay at Wolfson Children's Hospital to the list!). If we ever get healthy in this house for more than a few days at a time, I don't think I'll know what to do with myself!

I do have pictures to post of my Valentine sweeties, and a special heart shaped crayon making project that Halle Claire and I did together. It was lots of fun!

I also have other fun things to post about like a mini-vacation to Hilton Head Island, Mickey's Rockin' Road Show, and preparations for Halle Claire's 4th birthday party . . . I am planning to jump back on the blogging wagon very soon! Stay tuned!

March of Dimes

Most everyone knows that both of my girls were born prematurely. My Halle girl was born on her 34 week "marker day" and was in the worst shape of both my girls, requiring the ventilator and as many dosages of artificial surfactant as possible.

My sweet Kerrigan was born at 33 weeks, and was always on room air, but was aided by warmers, NG tubes, PICC lines, etc. - as was her sister. Thanks to modern medicine (and a gracious Father), my girls' premature arrivals were no where near as daunting as they would have been only years ago.

The March of Dimes has played a vital role in education and research allowing thousands of babies, just like mine, to have a healthier start and brighter future! Phillip, myself, and the girls will be walking in the March for Babies in April. Would you please consider sponsoring the team we have joined to help support the March of Dimes. You can click the link to the right to donate directly to team Lady Love!

13 months

Kerrigan Grace, you are 13 months old! I'm not exactly sure how big you are, but I know you continue to be looong and lean. You have 2 teeth on the bottom and the top 2 are trying to poke their way through - it should be any day now. You wear a size 3 diaper, you're crawling everywhere and cruising like a champ. You will "walk" if someone is holding your hands, but you're still pretty wobbly - it's fine with me - you just take your time big girl! You LOVE turkey lunch meat! You get very excited when you see me get it out of the fridge for you. You will still eat sweet potatoes and squash out of the jar, but that's it . . . you prefer to pick all other food up and feed yourself.

Daddy just turned your car seat around to face forward and you love it! You've started using a sippy cup full time - no more bottles. I have mixed emotions about that. You are sleeping through the night, and napping well during the day. You continue to be a mommy's girl - this is also fine with me - we worked so very hard to get you here, I will hold you and cuddle you every chance I get! :)

back in the swing of things . . .

This week has been hectic - but in a good way (minus Kerrigan being sick). Halle Claire went back to preschool after what seemed like a forever long winter break, dance started back up this week, and it was back to work at Eagle's View for me.

Kerrigan was also sick with a cold plus teething so it was interesting from that standpoint - she's feeling much better today! I think we'll be able to stop running the vaporizer, and discontinue the use of the Vicks Vapor Rub . . . although I'm sure my Halle girl will still ask me to put it on her chest tonight! She loves that stuff! :)

It's been kinda fun getting out this week in the frigid weather . . . highs only in the 40's and 50's all week . . . so crazy for us Floridians! I've actually enjoyed bundling up the girls, starting the car early to warm up, and all that comes along with these colder temps!

So, this has been a week to get "back in the swing of things" - nothing too exciting, but back to routine which I adore!

Sisterly Love

Halle Claire LOVES her little sister . . .

a little too much at times . . .

can you tell?!?!?

Chili

Tonight we had chili. It just seems right to fix a big ol' pot of chili when the weather is so cold. I'm definitely NOT a cook . . . lover of all things clean, neat, and ironed - yes . . . someone who knows what they're doing in the kitchen . . . not so much! (thankfully Phillip knew this when he married me!) That being said, my family gets the "back of the Publix Chili Powder package recipe" with an added diced onion.

I love to add sour cream to my bowl, and Phillip adds shredded cheese and hot sauce to his.

What's your chili recipe/add ons?

Home Sweet Home!

One year ago today, after a 3 week NICU stay, I was able to bring my sweet Kerrigan home! These pictures show just how tiny she was at the time. Her little head didn't even come up to the newborn headrest, and she required 4 receiving blankets behind her to get her into proper position to be buckled. Also pictured, is the first time that her VERY proud big sister was able to see her in person. (Halle Claire was too young to be permitted into the NICU.) Kerrigan was under the care of amazing neonatologists, and nurses at St. Vincent's, but I could not have been more excited to bring her home! Gone were the IV's, NG tubes, PICC lines, incubators, round the clock drives up to the hospital for feedings, nightly sobs on the way home due to having an empty belly, and empty arms, and after a month of my family being apart (I was admitted 1 week before K was born), it was THE BEST feeling in the world to be with both of my babies (and my hubby) at the same time! I cannot believe this all happened a whole year ago - where does the time go?!?!