Happy New Year!

Well, better late than never, right?! So far, 2012 has been, well...yucky. We haven't exactly rung in the new year with celebrations and fireworks around here. More like Tylenol and Kleenex! We've had a pretty sick big girl and Daddy, and a kinda sick little girl the past several days, so there hasn't been a lot of partying (or sleeping--what's new?) at this house! I'm hoping that chicken pot pie and soup can substitute for cabbage and black eyed peas, because that's as good as it got around here! (We had plans for lunch on New Year's, to include family, football, and the traditional meal, but our girl wasn't up to it.)

I guess, like everybody, I've been reflecting on the past year and pondering what the new one will hold. I must say, 2011 was a pretty wonderful year for the Slaydons!! God has blessed us at every turn, even when we may not have seen it. We've been fortunate to be able to have everything we need and most of the things that we want. Of course, the biggest blessing of 2011 has been our sweet Julianne Kaye! I can't begin to tell you what a blessing she has been in our lives! She makes me smile every day with her sweet personality and her little dimples. She's growing and changing every day, and it's so amazing to watch! She looks so much like her Daddy, but lately her looks are starting to change a little, and she and Abigail are starting to favor more. She is a lovey girl who thinks her big sister is the best thing EVER. Those two love each other so much, and it is such a joy for me to watch them as they begin to interact more and more! :) They love to be around one another and give hugs and kisses. (I know this won't always be the case, so I'm enjoying it while it lasts!) Abigail thinks it's her job to entertain Julianne, and Julianne thinks Abigail is the funniest thing!! I love to hear them laughing together!! Makes this old tired Momma feel like a million bucks!! And Abigail has grown so much this past year! We had our lovely "Terrible Twos" phase, but lately it seems that she's settled down a bit and has been really acting like a big girl! Potty training was, well, a challenge, but my girl's had it down pat for awhile now! I know I say this all the time, but she is SO SMART!! I realize I'm a tad biased, but y'all--she really is!! She talks like a grownup (sometimes too much!), and she comes up with things that are just unbelievable! It's amazing how much and how fast she learns. For example, she was building something the other day, and she told her MyMy that it needed to be symmetrical. And it was. She's also using the word "ridiculous" a lot lately, which is hilarious!! It's so funny the things that she finds "ridiculous"!!

Like I said, 2011 was a blessed year! It also brought with it some sadness, but even that was tempered with joy. I (and so many others) lost a dear friend/wife/Momma/sister in the sweet and beautiful Jenifer Taylor. She was an amazing woman, and I've been blessed to call her my friend. Even in the midst of the heartache of her passing, it was a beautiful sight to watch our community come together and support her and her precious family, surrounding them with love. What a testimony to a person's life when a church is overflowing at their memorial service. I miss my friend and think of her every day, but I know she is lighting up Heaven with her beautiful smile and contagious laughter!

I'm looking forward to 2012 and all that it will hold for my little family! I'm looking forward to gaining a brother-in-law and a new niece or nephew! I'm looking forward to watching my girls continue to grow and learn! I'm looking forward to loving my husband and spending more time with him! I'm praying for grace to be a better wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend. I'm praying for wounds to be healed and relationships to be restored. I'm praying for direction, for doors to be opened or closed as God sees fit. and I'm praying for blessings for all of my friends and family! May you all have a wonderful 2012!!

Christmas Blessings!

I'm sitting here in the quiet of early Christmas morning, with the only lights on coming from the Christmas tree, waiting for Justin to get home from work so we can wake up the girls and see if Santa came. I'm reminded of so many Christmases before...most happy, a few sad (both my Momma and my PawPaw Brown passed away in December), one I don't remember (I had my wisdom teeth out one year), I know once again how blessed I am. Growing up, Christmas was always, for lack of a better word, Magical. My Momma always loved Christmas, and she always made sure it was special for us. It wasn't about the presents (though I'm sure I enjoyed them at the time!) but it was about being together, spending time with family, and celebrating Jesus' birthday. So many of my Christmas mornings were spent in DeQuincy, at Granny and PawPaw's house. We would go the night before to the candlelight service on Christmas Eve, then come home and have a slumber party while we waited for Santa. I remember one particular Christmas when we could hear the reindeer's bells right outside the window!! (Huh, MyMy?!) Somehow Santa always knew we were at Granny's, and you could barely get near her perfectly decorated tree for all the presents!! We girls would sort them out (when we got older) and watch as everybody opened their gifts. So many memories, too many to fit in one post(or two or three)!! Now that I have my girls, I want it to be the same for them--so special and blessed!! Some traditions we'll keep, and we'll start some of our own. I want them to know WHY we celebrate Christmas, that it's Jesus' birthday, and that He was born to save us from our sins. But I also believe in Santa, and I want them to feel that excitement and anticipation of his arrival as well. It's a big job for a Momma, trying to fit all that in, but I'm sure gonna give it a shot!! I had a great teacher, and I just hope I can do as good a job as she did!

Merry Christmas to all of you who take the time to read this little blog! I'm sure sometimes you may think I'm crazy, or long-winded, or both, but I hope what you get most from my posts is how much I love my girls, my family and friends, and my Lord. I am so ridiculously blessed!

I pray that God ridiculously blesses all of you this Christmas, and throughout the new year!! Lots of love from our little home to yours!!

Strong Women

So I know that the purpose of this little blog is to share pictures and stories of our beautiful girls as they grow, so that our family and friends who don't get to see them very often can keep up with what is going on in our little world! And 99% of the time, that's what I try to post. But every once in awhile, I feel like I need to post something that's more FOR them than ABOUT them. There are things that I want to tell them that they may not understand yet, but I want to put these thoughts and feelings down before time passes and I get too busy and forget.

So if you'll humor me, that's what I'd like to do today.

Girls, I want to tell you something. You are part of a legacy! You come from a long line of STRONG women, most of whom you'll never meet this side of Heaven, and I want to tell you a little about them, so you'll recognize them when you do see them.

Lula Cooper Hennigan--"Ma"

Girls, let me tell you, there is no one on this Earth like Ma. She is the person the expression "one of a kind" was invented for. Ma is one of your great-great-grandmothers. She is one of the toughest women I've ever known! She lived next door to us when MyMy and I were kids, and we saw her every day. Ma was old when I was born, but she didn't act old! She played baseball with me in the front yard in her housecoat. She never wore pants. (She didn't wear underwear much, unless she was going to town. But that's kind of irrelevant.) She taught me how to climb a tree. She lived through the Great Depression, the loss of her husband and a child, a tornado, and saw things she never thought would come to pass. She ate pork with every meal (Yes, that's where we get it from.) and never had high cholesterol. She always "just started to say..."

Bessie Rhodes Read--"Grandma Read"

Unfortunately, I didn't know your great-great Grandma Read as well as Ma, because she didn't live right next door. But I'll tell you what I do know about her. She was a quiet, gentle lady. She was a faithful member of Macedonia Primitive Baptist Church, where both her husband and one of her sons preached. (Your Uncle Gerald still preaches there.) She also lived through the Great Depression, the loss of her husband and a child, as well as many other trials and hardships. She raised 7 children, one of whom is your great-Grandma Ida Mae--we'll get to her in a minute. These are some of the best people I know. Every summer, we have the Read Reunion in honor and memory of Leon and Bessie Read. I know it makes her happy to know her children, grandchildren, greats, great-greats, etc. still get together to visit and eat, share old memories and make new ones.

Ida Mae Read Hennigan--"Grandma"

If you were to look up "Grandma" in the dictionary, I bet there'd be a picture of your great-Grandma Ida Mae. To me, she was everything a Grandma was supposed to be. She was soft and round and comfortable. She was one of the best cooks I've ever known. She somehow managed to get every bit of batter off the bowl and the spoon, so there was never anything to lick. She taught me how to crochet and quilt and pick peas. She was a hard worker. She kept everything I ever made or gave her. I would stay with her a week or two during the summer, and those are some of my favorite times growing up. She brought me to Singing School and "Sosashun". She even smelled like a Grandma should.

Betty Jo Cockerham Brown--"Granny Brown"

I'm so glad that you know your Granny Brown! She loves you both so much! She and Aunt Mildred don't miss a thing that involves either of you. Granny can tell you exactly how many miles it is from her house in Dequincy to our house, and she will tell you--every time she comes. But, even at 82 years old, she still makes the trip. Even though Granny is a tiny little lady, she is way stronger than she looks. She took care of your PawPaw Brown after he got sick, and showed me what true love and devotion was. Even after he had to go to the nursing home, she was with him all day every day, tending to him and letting him know she loved him. She helped take care of your Memaw, too, when she was sick. Granny always used to have Thanksgiving at her house, and she makes the BEST cornbread dressing. She also makes giblet-less giblet gravy for me every year, because one time I told her that I didn't like the giblets. Granny has lived through the loss of her husband and one of her daughters. She has battled cancer and WON. I have known her for 32 years, and I've never seen a gray hair on her head. She is in better shape than most people half her age, and always gets compliments on how young she looks.

Elizabeth "Sissy" Brown Hennigan--"Memaw"

Girls, I don't know where to begin to tell you about your Memaw. I could go on for days, but since I've already rambled for awhile, I'll try to keep it short. Your Memaw was my Momma, and the best Momma I could ever have. She was kind and generous, patient and loving. She never met a stranger, and everyone that knew her loved her. She was the kind of person who made you feel better just by being around her. She always taught me to work hard and not rely on anyone else to do things for me. She wanted me to go to college, so that I could support myself and my family if need be. She supported me in everything I did, came to all of my games, and made me feel that I could do anything I set my mind to do. When I would come home from college, she always had my favorite meal cooked: fried chicken (hers is the best I've ever had, no contest), mashed potatoes and gravy, and corn. She would pick weeds out of people's yards or ditches and make beautiful arrangements for church. She brought your MyMy and I to 2 churches every Sunday, and called herself a "Hardshell Methodist". She was a faithful wife, loyal friend, and beautiful woman--inside and out. When I was just about to graduate from high school, we found out she had breast cancer. She never complained, never asked why, not even when the cancer came back after the first round of treatments. She worked when she probably shouldn't have, took care of her family, and managed her household, all with amazing grace and dignity. She rode out a tornado that destroyed our house and still managed to find her wig in time to talk to the TV reporters without embarrassing the family too much. She taught me what it means to be a good--Godly--wife and mother, and I only hope I can do half as good a job with you as she did with MyMy and I. Your MyMy is so much like her, and I can see her in each of you, too. My life is so much better because she was my Momma. I wish you could have known her here on Earth, because she would have been the best Memaw and loved you girls so much!

I'm going to stop for now, but this is by far not a complete list. You come from some pretty awesome stock on your Daddy's side, too! You are blessed to still have all of your great-grandmothers on your Daddy's side, as well as a host of other strong women. I'm going to get your Daddy to tell me some of his favorite memories of all of them and write them down for you, too. I want you to know who you come from, who is a part of you. These women, even the ones you've never met, helped to shape who you are and who you will become. You can hold your heads high and be proud, because these are some of the very best women I know. They have overcome trials and tragedies, all with grace and faith that is nothing short of inspiring. I am proud to call them my family, and I hope to raise you girls with the same grace and faith that was shown to me. I love you both forever.

Abigail's First Haircut!!

It's been awhile coming--like about 2 years--but Miss Abigail finally got her first haircut this past Saturday! Her hair is so gorgeous, I almost hated to cut it, but it was getting so long and was too hard to deal with. She doesn't like to wear it in a ponytail all the time, but Momma doesn't like constantly having it end up in her food!! Here are a few pics of the process:

BEFORE

You can tell she was a little nervous, but she did really well overall!

And Aunt Candice was very patient with her!!

Her new bangs!! We've all decided that they are just perfect for her!!

Don't know why I didn't think of that earlier!!

Just a little trim in the back!

I thought I wanted to cut it OFF, but I just couldn't do it when the time came!

And Daddy was NOT in favor of that, either!

AFTER

Isn't she beautiful?!

So Thankful...

I know that I have so much to be thankful for, every day day of the year, but given that today is a day especially set apart for remembering my many blessings, I thought I'd list just a few things here.

I am SO very thankful for my Savior, my Father, my Lord. I am so thankful that he saved a wretch like me. His grace is truly Amazing.

I am so thankful for my little family. I remember praying as a teenager that God would send me a man who fit all the little criteria in my mind of what a good husband and father should be. He far exceeded my silly little list when He sent me Justin. Our journey has not always been easy, but it was what got us to where we are now. Our marriage is not perfect, and we have our rough times, but I am so thankful to have him as my husband. He is my love, my friend, my helper, and the BEST Daddy my two girls could ever have. I'm so blessed to have his last name.

(I can't even get through this without crying. Give me a second to wipe my eyes so I can see....Okay, back now.)

I am so thankful for my beautiful girls. I cannot believe I have been blessed to be their Momma. They are the most amazing gifts in this world. They make me smile bigger, hurt deeper, and laugh harder than anyone or anything in this world. Abigail is the smartest kid I know. (Don't anybody take offense. She's mine, I can say that. :)) She amazes me every day with the things she says and does. She's such a funny combination of Justin and I, plus her own little (big!) personality thrown in there, too! She is beautiful and confident. She loves her little sister and her Hopper. She can count and read and dance and spin. She eats deer jerky with her chocolate milk for breakfast. She thinks that everybody loves her and her chickens. She believes in accessorizing for any occasion. She can (and will) argue with a post, and she will always win. She is my big girl, my snuggle bunny, my princess. I love her with all my heart.

I believe that ALL children are a miracle, sent straight from God. But I believe that Julianne is our special miracle, given what we went through after having Abigail. I did not know if we would be able to have another child, and I hoped and prayed so hard for this little girl. It was one of those hopes that you don't dare speak out loud, because it's too sacred. It was just before Thanksgiving last year that I found out I was pregnant, and I could barely contain myself!! And now look at my big ol' Chunky Monkey!! She had a bit of a rough start, and I worried at first that she'd always be skinny and orange, but my, how things have changed!! She is the sweetest, happiest baby I know! She can kick her chubby legs like nobody's business. She loves her big sister and snuggling on Momma's shoulder. She can light up a room with her dimpled smile. She eats green beans and squash like they're going out of style. She gives me sugar even without me asking, and she loves playing peek-a-boo with her Daddy. She is my baby girl, my snuggle bug, my princess. I love her with my whole heart.

I am thankful for so many other things in my life. I have been blessed beyond measure. I am thankful for my family, who has raised me and stood by me through thick and thin. I am thankful for my Momma, who will forever be my role model and inspiration. She taught me what it means to be a good Momma and showed me how to love. I miss her everyday. I am thankful for my Daddy. We have come a long way, and nothing warms my heart more than to see him playing with his girls. He is such a wonderful PawPaw. I am thankful for my sister. She is one of the very best people I know on this earth. She is patient and kind, gives of herself constantly, and is so very smart. She makes me so proud. She is the best sister, friend, and MyMy that anyone could ask for. I don't know what I'd ever do without her. I am thankful for the family I inherited when I married Justin. I am thankful for in-laws who love me and treat me as their own. I am thankful for friends made at different times in my life who will always be my family. I am thankful for my church family, who lifts me up and cares for me, and misses me when I'm away. I'm thankful for our little house, cramped though it is, because it keeps us dry and warm. I am thankful that I live in a tiny little place called Cole Central, where it's quiet and peaceful and safe. I will choose (at least for today!) to be thankful for my job, as hard as things may be right now, and as rough as they're still gonna get, because it helps put food on the table and clothes on our backs. I am very fortunate to have a job that pays well enough to have everything I need and many things I want, and I am blessed to work with some good people who can make the tough days a little easier. I am thankful for vehicles that get us where we need to go. I am thankful for a freezer full of meat and a refrigerator full of fresh eggs! I am thankful for the job Justin has and the family that we have gained there. I am thankful for bacon, Ranch dressing, chicken and dumplings, and sweet tea. I am thankful for flat irons, baggy pants, and ponytail holders. (See, there's always something to be thankful for!) I'm thankful for the trials that I have been through, because without the dark days, the sun wouldn't shine as bright. I am thankful for my freedom, and for all of those who sacrifice so that I can have all of these things to be thankful for. I am thankful for each of you who took the time to read this novel of thankfulness. It's certainly not an all-encompassing list, but it's after 3am, and I'd like to get a little more sleep before I have to get up for real and cook! I'm thankful that I am going to be rushing around today, because it means that I have more than one Thanksgiving to go to, and lots of family to visit with! I don't like that Justin's working, but I'm thankful for the holiday pay on next week's check.

Okay, okay, enough. But it's really hard to stop once you start being thankful. Counting your blessings is always a good way to lift your spirits, and maybe someone else's. I pray that each of you have a blessed Thanksgiving, and get to enjoy a day of family, food, and friends.

Lots of love from our home to yours!

4 months old!!

Brand New!

Four months old!!

Hard to believe that my skinny, orange baby is now a pasty, chubby 4 month old!! She is just the sweetest, happiest baby ever!! She had her 4 month checkup today, and she got an A+!! She weighs a whopping 14 lbs and 3.3 oz and is 24 inches long/tall!! I am so proud of my big girl!! She had a rough start, but she's doing so well now!! Still pukes all the time, but it's not holding her back, that's for sure!! I am so proud of my big little girl!!

Sick House :(

Sorry for the lack of posts lately, the busy season has begun around our house!! It seems like all we've been doing lately is running. I remarked to Justin the other day about how much trash we had this week, since I had brought several bags out to the trash can. He semi-jokingly said, "We've finally been home long enough to make some trash!" We've made up for that the last few days, though. I took off a little early last Friday, and we all went out to CM Farms to play around, walk through the corn maze, etc. Then I was off on Monday for Justin's birthday--Happy 31st Birthday, Honey!! And then we all got sick!! Well, actually we started getting sick before that, but it all came to a head Monday night/Tuesday morning. Poor Abigail seems to have had the worst of it, with a horrible cough and a fever that comes and goes. I've felt worse today than yesterday, but Justin seems to be better today. We're hoping and praying sweet Julianne doesn't get sick, but so far she's been her normal pukey, happy self!! She's just the best baby, always smiling and laughing. I think she's going to be more laid back than Abigail, but we'll see! She's gonna be tough for sure, I can tell you that! Abigail flipped her out of her swing the other day (it's a little travel sized swing) and she hardly even flinched!! Poor kid!! And as I type this, Abigail is going to town on her feet with the Ped Egg. God love her!! Never a dull moment around this house, even when we're ailing!!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Abigail!!

Happy, Happy Birthday to Miss Abigail!!

I can't believe she is three years old today!! Time sure flies when you're chasing a princess!! Since her party isn't until next Saturday, we took her to the park today so she could play and enjoy this wonderful day!!

Here are a few pics:

She loves to kiss all over Sister! (We all do, really!)

Poor Julianne was worn out from all that playing!!

AWANA!!

I might've mentioned it before, but this is Abigail's first year of AWANA at church.

In case you aren't familiar, AWANA is a Bible club where the children memorize scripture and learn about Jesus. It's still pretty basic at Abigail's age, but they are learning a lot!! She's so excited to go and say her verse (and play with her friends and eat!)!!

Here are a few pics of tonight's activities:

Saying the pledges!

(It was "Crazy Hair" night tonight--hence the getups!)

Cheering for her friends as they got their vests and bags!

Putting on her vest!

My big girl all decked out in her AWANA uniform!! Isn't she precious?!

Happy Birthday, PawPaw Jerry!

Happy Birthday, PawPaw Jerry!!

We hope you enjoyed your lunch and your sprinkle cupcakes!!

We love you bunches!!

I remember...

I had just graduated from Tech and promptly moved to San Antonio in hopes of finding my way. We'd just lost Momma not even a year before, and I knew I couldn't go home just then. I was still crashing on Em's couch, looking for jobs and getting to know my way around the big ol' city. I had slept late that morning and Em had left for work earlier. The phone rang, and she said, "Turn on the TV!! The world's going to hell in a hand basket!!" She briefly explained what had happened, that a plane had hit one of the towers of the World Trade Center. I quickly turned on the TV, just in time to see the second plane hit. I don't remember what we said or when we hung up, but I know she came home shortly after that. We didn't talk much, just watched the news in shock. I think I called home to check on my family, even though I knew they were fine, just to tell them I loved them. The rest of the day was a blur. I remember going to church the following night with thousands of others, praying for the victims, their families, the first responders...all the while hoping and praying that whoever did this would be caught quickly and punished. Little did we all know what the next ten years would hold.

Ten years ago, I hadn't even met Justin, let alone dreamed that I would ever marry a fire fighter/EMT. (Pretty sure he didn't think that's what he'd be doing at that time, either!) I'm certainly not trying to suggest that being a fireman in DeRidder, LA, is exactly the same as being a fireman in New York City, but the risks are ultimately the same. As a firefighter's wife, I worry about my husband from time to time, even though I don't usually know about the calls until afterwards. I've been in the station once when the tones have gone off, and my heart dropped a little watching him drive off in the truck. I also worry about the things he has seen, especially the medical calls involving children. Those bother him the most, and stay with him long after the incident is over. I am so proud of him for who he is and what he does. He goes in when everyone else goes out. It's as simple as that. He is truly a Hero.

I hope and pray that my children don't ever have to experience anything like what happened on September 11, 2001, though I know the reality of that is not likely. When they're older, I'll tell them about it, about how horrible and scary it was, and about how men and women just like their Daddy gave their lives to save others. I'll tell them how, at least for a little while, the whole nation came together, to grieve and cry, and to help and support.

Today I pray again for all of those directly affected by the attacks of 9/11, those who lost family and friends, those who gave their lives trying to save others, those who tried to stop the hijackers...

I pray for our nation, that we will get it together and do the RIGHT things.

I pray for our military and their families, for all of the sacrifices that they make to keep the fight away from our homes.

I pray for the first responders, the men and women who keep us safe here at home.

I'm thankful today and every day for my family, my friends, and my freedom.

And I'm thankful that God still blesses America.

Happy Labor Day!

Today we went to PawPaw Jerry's for a Labor Day shindig and the girls had so much fun playing with everybody! I think we're all gonna sleep good tonight!!

Abigail and Aunt Deb--just a swangin'!!

PawPaw Jerry and his girls!

Julianne was thinking really hard about something!
Love that sweet face!!

Visiting and getting some good sugar!

Abigail took this picture of Daddy and Granny visiting. She did a pretty good job!!

It's back to work for me tomorrow morning, and then Julianne has her 2 month checkup tomorrow afternoon! I can't wait to see how much she's grown!!

Rainy Day Fun!

Today was the first day in forever that we've been stuck inside the house because of RAIN!!!

I am SO not complaining--it was wonderful and very much needed here! We were pretty sad because TS Lee ruined our plans to visit with the Rhodes crew this weekend, but they just couldn't chance being stuck over here if the weather got really bad. Hopefully we'll get to see them soon, though--we sure do miss them!! Julianne was all excited to meet her cousins! :(

But since we were homebound and stuck inside, we tried to make the best of it! We had a good breakfast and Justin and I actually got to enjoy our coffee in peace while the girls slept in a little!

Here's a few pics of our day:

Putting together puzzles with Daddy!

I've got to get her some harder ones--she's got these down pat!

Poor Daddy is such a good sport--he still has stickers on the back of his head!

Julianne has been talking so much lately!! She loves to talk and smile at her Daddy!

Jammin' out on Daddy's I-Pod! I think we have a dancer on our hands!!

All in all, it was a nice, relaxing day, just hanging around with the family!

We needed one of these days, and we definitely needed the rain!!

Thank You, Lord!!

Back in the Saddle Again...

Well, I made it through my first week back at work without too many breakdowns! And of course the girls did fine with their Daddy and the babysitter. I'm pretty sure I'm the only one that was having a rough week...although just about any week at my job is, well, interesting. I was glad to see my coworkers and clients and get back in the swing of things, though. Seems like I'm even more anal than before, and I've been on a bit of a cleaning out and organizing kick lately. We're running out of room with two princesses and all of their STUFF!! They're just about pushing Justin and I out of the house!! I figure if I stay on top of things and keep the chaos to a minimum (ha), maybe we can get into a good routine around here!

Photo Shoot!

It's been crazy as usual around here lately, but I thought I'd take a minute to catch up on what's going on in our little world! I'm sure you're all just hanging onto the edge of your seats...:)

Abigail is doing great at her big sister duties and is a really big helper to Momma and Daddy! She is very protective of Sister and always makes sure she's doing okay! It's so sweet to see her loving on her, and I can't wait til Julianne gets bigger to see them really interact!! (Actually, I CAN wait, not trying to rush the "growing up" at all!!)

Julianne is doing much better and is really starting to fill out! She doesn't look quite as much like a brand-new baby anymore, which is good, because she's almost 2 months old!! I can hardly believe it! I just thought that the time flew by with one princess--it's twice as fast with two!!

Today, we went to visit Daddy at work, and had a VERY amateur photo shoot. I'd seen some sweet pictures that I wanted to try and recreate before Julianne got too big, so we gave it a shot. I think they turned out pretty good, not because of my photography skills, but because of my subjects! Here are a few of the pics:

One of my favorites! She loves her Daddy!

Little Boot Baby! She wasn't too sure about this pose, but she was a trooper!!

She looks just like her Daddy, except for all that red hair!!

Bless her heart, I guess one of my babies had to have the curse...

Big Sister had to join in the fun, of course!

She loves to hold "her" baby and give her LOTS of kisses!

And here's a REAL picture of our lives...

Ahhh, never a dull moment!!

Monday I'll head back to work (very grudgingly), so this is our last weekend before real life sets in. I'm hoping we'll get into a good routine soon. I'm so thankful that I have an AMAZING husband who is such a wonderful partner and helper (not to mention the BEST Daddy!)!! That makes the going back to work a little easier....

Chillin' at the Creek!

All summer long, our eldest princess has been wanting to wear a bathing suit EVERY day. Literally. That's all she wants to put on.

And since we got rid of our pool, had a kid, etc., this summer, we haven't been able to take her swimming at all. Her Daddy promised her a few days ago that when he got off work, we would go swimming somewhere. So this morning, after Julianne's umpteenth doctor appointment (Abigail was a year old before she'd been to the doctor this much.), we headed out to the creek!!

And oh, what fun she had!!

Julianne enjoyed it too.

This is what she did the whole time:

(Yes, I did fix her neck after taking the pic.)

We got Abigail one of those bathing suits with the floaties on the inside, and she was loving it!

She was swimming all over the place!

Splashing around with Daddy!

Needless to say, she crashed on the way home and took a good long nap!

Looks like we'll be heading back out pretty soon to cool off in this hot weather!

One Month!!

Today our sweet Julianne is one month old!! Man, how time flies!!

What a month it has been, too!! Poor little thing has had a rough time of it so far, but hopefully we're on the uphill side of it!

Things we've learned this month:

1. Julianne has TWO dimples, not just one, like we first thought! I love baby dimples!!

(Maybe one day when she's feeling better she'll smile for us!)

2. Julianne does NOT like the dark. At all.

We've actually tested this theory and proved it as fact.

3. A snuggly baby on your shoulder/chest is the best sleep aid there is! :)

I could sleep for hours like that, if only she would let me!!

4. Every child is different.

We knew this, but it has been proven to us time and again this month. And I don't mean different in a bad way--just different. Julianne already has her own little personality, and I can't wait to see her in action!! I think she's gonna give her sister a run for her money!!

Happy 1 Month Birthday, Sweet Julianne!!

We love you bunches and bunches!!

Lately...

...things have been, well, chaotic.

I've taken a little "technology break" for about a week or so to sort of disconnect from certain things, but it hasn't been much of a break in any other ways. We've been going back and forth to Lake Charles several times a week to get Julianne's bilirubin levels checked, as her jaundice still isn't completely gone. Her levels have sort of fluctuated lately, so she's had to have her poor little heels stuck so many times lately--no fun, for her or for Momma, who has to hold her while they do it. Hopefully, today was the last time. Let me rephrase that--today was the last time. If we have to go back, we'll be doing something different. It's time for my baby to be getting better. She's still dealing with the reflux and colic, as well. The meds she has have helped some, but the side effects aren't great. I just hope she can get lined out soon. We're so tired of her feeling bad, and I know she is, too.

I know these things aren't really huge, and lots of parents have much more difficult things to deal with, but I think that any Mommas (and Daddys) out there would agree that, whatever the situation, it's hard having a sick baby and not being able to do anything to make them better.

Abigail is, well, still Abigail!! She's such a sweet, attentive big sister!! She just dotes on Julianne and wants to hold her and do everything for her. I think she's starting to settle in for the most part and get used to having another Princess in the house. She still cracks us up all the time with the random (and genius) things she comes up with!! I really need to get better about writing them down so I won't forget them. You never know what is going to come out of that mouth!!

Hopefully things will start to line out around here, and the next post will be a happy update on how well Julianne is doing!! Until then, please continue to pray for my sweet girl, that she'll feel better and be able to eat and rest well. Thank y'all!!

What do you run on when the fumes run out??

It's 3:46am.

Why in the world am I typing something at this hour, you ask?? Good question.

Because I'm up, and I can't go back to sleep. Everyone else in my house is currently asleep, two of them in my bed. The other is in her car seat next to me, and I'm watching her to make sure she's not spitting up and getting choked again. Poor baby sleeps so peacefully during the day, but her nights are full of fussing and fidgeting. She just started her antacid meds yesterday, so hopefully they'll help, although so far I'm not impressed...

We go back to the doctor in a few hours for them to stick her foot again to check her bilirubin (jaundice) levels. Yesterday they were at 17.5. 20 is hospital time, so we're hoping they're coming down. Not looking forward to this little trip, especially since it'll just be the two of us. I guess we lucked out (read: were VERY blessed) with Abigail--she's been healthy as a horse except for the occasional cold and allergies. I hate it when my baby is sick and it seems like I can't do anything to help her. Please pray for Julianne, that she'll start improving and feeling better soon. And, if you wouldn't mind, pray for me, too. I haven't slept in days, and it's beginning to show...:)
And let me just say again how thankful we are for all of our wonderful family and friends!! The phone calls, cards, and visits mean so much to all of us and are greatly appreciated!! Love y'all!!

2 Weeks Old!

My, how time flies!! I can't believe it's already been 2 weeks since we got our newest ladybug!!

We've been doing lots of visiting, snuggling, eating, and napping when we can!!

I think we're maybe getting settled in a bit around here and getting into a routine. It's definitely been an adjustment for us all, but I'd say we're getting there.

Abigail is an awesome big sister! She loves Julianne so much and is such a good helper! I know she's anxious to play with her, but she's been really sweet and gentle so far.

We've been making an extra effort to show Abigail attention so she doesn't get too jealous of her baby sister. She loves snuggling with her Daddy right before bed, watching cartoons and drinking her chocolate milk. Lately, they've added pickles to their evening snack--what a combo!! She's also been going to VBS this week, which she loves!! That gives Momma and Daddy a little break as well, which is nice!!

Miss Julianne is just growing and changing every day! She's been eating really well, and--like her Momma--she loves her naps!! We're still working on getting our days and nights straight, but I think we'll get there! She's not so fond of having her diaper changed or taking a bath, so she may not be wearing her high heels and taking her purse to get the chicken eggs!! She definitely has her own little personality, and I can't wait to see how different--and alike--she and her sister will be!

Daddy goes back to work tomorrow, which makes me sad, but I'm glad he got to be off for this long. And he'll be back home Friday morning, just in time for Julianne's first checkup!!

Settling In

We are starting to get settled in here at the house, and getting used to having two princesses around instead of just one! It's a bit of an adjustment for all of us, but I'd say we're doing pretty well overall! Miss Julianne seems to have her days and nights mixed up just a tad, so that's made for some interesting nights! Our first night home, she and I just stayed up and talked all night. It was sweet, if exhausting, but I wouldn't trade it for anything!

And this is what she does all day...:)

She's so sweet and snuggly, though, so Momma doesn't mind too much!

Abigail is doing a great job helping out with her baby sister! She's starting to interact with her more and will just give her hugs and kisses all day long. She likes to bring her lots of toys to snuggle with in her bouncy!

After church today, Abigail decided she wanted to put on some makey and have her picture taken, so here she is:

And here's another of what I can only assume will be millions of "Sweet Sisters" pictures:

I can't help it--they're just so photogenic!! Love my sweet girls!!

Hi, I'm new around here...

Please allow me to introduce myself:

My name is Julianne Kaye Slaydon, and I was born on July 6, 2011 at 1:58pm.

I weighed 7 pounds and 8 ounces and was 19 3/4 inches long when I got here.

I look just like my Daddy, except I have lots of red hair, like my Momma.

So far, my favorite thing about being born is the eating part. Momma and Daddy say I'm already a pro at that!

This is me and my big sister, Abigail. I think you already know her.

She is very sweet to me and likes to give me lots of sugar and sing to me!

I really like it when she sings "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star"! It's my favorite!

She also likes to bring me my blankets and pacifier, before I ever even have to ask!!

She's just really sweet like that!

I just finished eating, so it's time for me and Momma to rest for awhile!

I love company and meeting all of my friends and family, so come see me when you can!!

Dear Julianne,

Hi, honey! This is your Momma--you know, the one you've been camped out inside for the past 9+ months! Don't worry, in just a few hours (hopefully) you'll be on the outside of my belly, but I just wanted to tell you a few things before then. First of all, and most importantly, YOU ARE LOVED--more than you will ever know, by more people than you'll ever be able to count--but most especially by God and your Daddy and I. You have the COOLEST big sister who can't wait to teach you how to raise chickens and be a princess--at the same time. You have wonderful grandparents, both on this earth, and in Heaven watching over you, not to mention all the awesome aunts, uncles, cousins, and extended family members and friends. You may not know it yet, but you are one blessed little girl!! You were wanted and prayed for so much before this day ever came. One day, when you're bigger, I'll tell you the whole story. But for now, just know that your Daddy and I (and a whole bunch of other people) can't wait to meet you and hold you and kiss you and love on you. We're far from perfect, baby, but we're going to do our best by you and your big sister. We'll see you in a little while, love, so get ready!!
Love you forever, Momma

Hurry up...and wait.

Yesterday was quite an interesting, nerve-wracking, and slightly disappointing day for us Slaydons. To tell you the truth, I'm pretty glad it's over! I'd begun having some painful contractions Wednesday evening, and they'd gotten worse by yesterday morning. (A few other pre-labor things had happened as well, which I will not mention in polite company! :)) I went on in to work, thinking I'd call the doctor when I got the chance. Apparently I "looked bad" when I got there, because I was promptly escorted home by two sweet, if terrified, co-workers. I called Dr. G on the way home, but service isn't that great (or existent) in our neck of the woods, so I didn't hear back for several hours. Meanwhile, I got some more cleaning and straightening done, loaded the suitcases, etc. And waited.

Finally, about 2 hours later, I heard from the nurse.

(Apparently they'd been trying to call back since I'd called the first time, but both phones went straight to voicemail. Thanks, Cameron and Centennial, way to be there.) Mrs. Karen instructed me to go straight to labor and delivery. I told her that I didn't want to come in for nothing and be sent home, so if all was fine, I'd just hang out at home. "No, come on in. She's not gonna send you home." To me, that meant a kid was coming, one way or another. After a few panicked phone calls and waiting on Justin to get home from work, we were on our way.

Only to be told after 3 hours at the hospital to go home. Gee, thanks.

Long story short, the contractions weren't exactly being productive, and since I won't be 38 weeks until Sunday, there was nothing the doctor could do to "hurry things up". So, feeling like an idiot, I headed back home. Having been induced with Abigail, I didn't have a lot of pre- or early labor stuff happening, so I wasn't exactly sure what I needed to wait for. Plus, we live almost an hour and a half from the hospital; plus I've heard that the second child generally comes faster...Either way, that's why I wanted to check with the doctor first, but oh, well.

It was basically a big letdown that we weren't able to meet our girl yesterday. I was a tad terrified at first, especially after going through a neat, successful induction the first time. But then I was just excited to hold and kiss this tiny thing that's been lodged in my left lung for the past few months. I just keep telling myself that she WILL come out when it's time, and that I don't want her to come before she's ready. And so we wait...

(But I'm totally waiting until she's halfway out before I call ANYBODY next time.)

We're still scheduled to induce on the 6th, if she doesn't decide to come before then.

Keep us in your prayers, please. We just want a healthy baby out of the deal!

Change of Plans!

Now y'all know that I'm a planner. I like to know the when, where, and how in plenty of time to be ready for whatever "it" is. I like to be prepared, have everything lined out, etc. It's just my nature. So when the doctor suggested inducing with Julianne, I was perfectly pleased. (It worked incredibly well with Abigail, so why not do it again?!) We scheduled the induction for July 11th about a month or so ago. Perfect. Plenty of time to do last minute stuff and get ready for baby.

Plus, Dr. Guidry was planning on being out of town the week before that, and we were both (well all 3 of us, including Justin) pretty adamant that only she would be "catching" Julianne when she was born!! So on we went with the plan. Until today.

Today she informs us that she is no longer going on vacation next week (Yay!), and that she'd like to induce on the 6th or the 7th. Um, okay. Change of plans. No biggie, I'm flexible, right?! Right?????

So, until further notice, Miss Julianne Kaye Slaydon will be making her debut on July 6!!

Which means Momma's gotta get busy!!

Whew!!

The first thing I want to say is Thank You, Lord!!

Thank You for loving us, forgiving us, providing for us, and protecting us.

It has been a rough few days in our little world, but once again, God has been with us through everything. I am exhausted, drained, but most of all, I'm thankful!

This past weekend we had a great time at the Read Reunion (or "meryoonyun", as Abigail called it!)!! She got to play with lots of her cousins and aunts and uncles, and of course, PawPaw Jerry! We enjoyed visiting and catching up, eating and laughing with everyone! It was a busy but fun weekend, and we're looking forward to next year already!!

And then we got home Sunday afternoon. It was 103.5 outside, and 94.3 in our living room.

Yep, the A/C went out.

I can't begin to tell you how hot it is in and around my body when it's 103.5 outside. YIKES!!!

Since no one wants to fix air conditioners (much less answer their phones) on a Sunday evening, we made do. Thankfully, we had one window unit for our bedroom, and Nana and PawPaw let us borrow theirs for the living room until we could come up with a more permanent solution.

Monday morning, the A/C man came and confirmed what we already suspected--the outside unit was shot. Fried. No good. Not fixable. Lovely.

Trying to make the best of a not-so-great situation, we began to get ready for a trip to Lake Charles for another doctor's appointment for Julianne.

Unfortunately for me, that included feeding Hopper some scraps.

Now, those of you who know me well (or know me any at all) know that I am not nearly as graceful as my Granny always wanted me to be. Long story short, I sort of fell off the back steps. But before I did that, I slammed into the side of the house a few times trying to catch myself. (Didn't work.) I didn't land on my belly, but I'm pretty sure Miss Priss was a tad shaken up in there. We went on to the doctor that afternoon at 1:00 for my regular appointment. She fussed at me for not coming in earlier, but then told me to monitor her movements and call if there were any changes or problems. When she didn't move for several hours Monday night and again Tuesday morning, I got pretty worried. We headed back to Lake Charles yesterday morning, and they put me on a monitor at the hospital for a few hours to make sure everything was okay. Everything looked good and she finally started moving like normal again--Praise the Lord!!

I guess she figured she'd give me a scare like I did to her on Monday. Little Stinker!!

It has been a very emotional few days here, and we've all been pretty stressed out, but we're so thankful that our littlest princess is just fine in there! Now, if she'll continue to cooperate, we'll get to meet her on July 11th!!

Making Room for Baby!

What a busy weekend we've had--and it's only the first in a series of several!!

We spent the better part of the weekend getting ready for what has apparently become our annual Memorial Day Picnic! We had over 30 people here for lunch yesterday and had a wonderful time! We are so blessed to have such a big, wonderful family! A big thanks to all who attended--it was a great day!!

We were also able to do some work in the girls' room this weekend to get it ready for Little Sister! It's a tad "full" in there, but we'll make it work for now! Abigail was pretty excited about her "new room", although it was hard to get furniture rearranged with her underfoot! She rediscovered some of her "favorite" toys that she hadn't seen in awhile, and decided to play with every last one of them. Here are a few pics of the redesigned room. Still have to hang pictures and stuff, but that's stuff I can do by myself!

We're waiting to "move" some of the toys out when Miss Priss isn't around. That's one battle I'm not willing to fight with her here.

It's not perfect, but it'll do for now. Now if I can rest up for a few days, we'll be all ready for the Read Reunion this weekend! Looking forward to good food and good times with the fam!!

Nesting...

Can anybody tell me why the "nesting phase" comes at the END of pregnancy??? I don't know about you, but I think that's completely backwards. It should hit at the beginning, when you're still able to do stuff, instead of when you're so big and uncomfortable that breathing is a challenge. When I take a notion to do something, I want to do it NOW, and not wait on someone else to help or do it for me. Patience is not one of my stronger virtues...

Since Julianne and Abigail will be sharing a room, at least for awhile, we're having to make room in the bedroom for 2 princesses...not an easy challenge when the first one has already staked her claim!! Space is somewhat at a premium, so we're having to be creative in the furniture placement. Right now, the room basically just looks like a bomb went off in there. And since Justin's at work and I've been forbidden to move furniture (I know, I know.), I can't do much about it right now. Hopefully when he and MyMy get here tomorrow, we can restore a little order.

And then we can get down all of the clothes and "baby stuff" out of the shed, so the fun can really begin! I can't believe that Abigail wore those teeny tiny clothes, and I really can't believe that we're gonna have such a big girl and such a little girl soon! In about 6 weeks, more or less, Miss Julianne will be here!! I'm so anxious to see what she will look like and what her little personality will be! It won't be much longer now!!

Still Here...Barely!

Sorry for not posting in awhile--we've been pretty busy lately, with no signs of things letting up anytime soon!! I guess this is just a small taste of the next 18-ish years!

This weekend, Granny Brown and I traveled to Ruston (along with the rest of the fam) to see MyMy graduate again--this time with her Masters of Science! We are so proud of her!! She has worked long and hard for this, and she's done a great job! We also got to celebrate Courtney's graduation from ULM later that evening. We're very proud of Aunt Courtney, too!!

And I can't begin to tell you how excited Abigail and I are that MyMy will be home for the summer before she heads off to learn more stuff in Oklahoma. I don't even want to think about her leaving in the fall, so we'll just focus on the summer for now...

Abigail has been working hard on her potty-training lately, and she's doing pretty well overall. She can totally go to the potty all by herself (for the most part), but she sometimes just doesn't want to stop what she's doing and take care of her business. She will have really good days and then not-so-good days. She is such a mess, though, and usually keeps us laughing at the crazy things she says! Right now, she's sitting in her Daddy's lap watching cartoons. Every now and then, she looks up at him and says, "Dad, you're killing me." Pretty sure she's getting that from me, 'cause I've been telling her that a lot lately...You really gotta watch what you say around that kid!! You can bet that she's gonna repeat it at some point or another!!

It won't be much longer until our newest Princess joins us! As of now, the plan is to induce on July 11, if she doesn't decide to come before then. We had another checkup today, and things are looking good. She is moving and wiggling around in there as I type! She is very active and is growing right on schedule! I've had some minor contractions, but they seem to be a result of me doing things I probably shouldn't be doing anymore. It's just different the second time, since I don't have the luxury of resting whenever I want. I'm not complaining though, it's just part of it!! I'm getting into the "nesting phase" I think, so we'll soon be ready for her arrival!! Did I mention that we're getting excited?!

It seems like there's something going on every weekend for the next several weeks until she gets here! Just hope I can get everything done before then!!

Happy Mother's Day!

Just want to wish a Happy Mother's Day to all of the special women in our lives!

From Moms to Sisters, to Aunts and Cousins, Family Members and Friends, we are so blessed to have such wonderful examples of selflessness and love!

I want to wish a very Happy Mother's Day to my Momma in Heaven. I miss you everyday, but Mother's Day is not as sad as it would be if I had never had you as a Momma. Thank you for all you gave, for all you taught me, and for loving me always, no matter what. I can't wait for that first hug when I see you again--it's gonna be a good 'un!

And I want to say a special thank you my sweet husband--I wouldn't be a Momma without you!!

Thank you for giving me the most precious gifts I could ever have. I love you forever!

The best Mother's Day gift in the world--a beautiful, healthy, smart little girl!

And next year, my lap will still be full!

Happy Mother's Day to all, with love from the Slaydons!