Sunday, June 15, 2008

Father's Day




Today is Tim's fist Father's Day. It is so fun to see him melting over our little girl. I don't know which is cuter, when she does cute things, or when Tim gets all gushy over the cute things she does.  I love that he is the daddy of a little girl.  Tim is a wonderful Father for many reasons.  First because in being a dad, he is carrying out the calling God has given him and partly because he had such a wonderful dad who he can look to as a wonderful example. Tim and I both feel we've been blessed with exceptional fathers, and are excited to celebrate them today.























Five Reasons that Tim is a wonderful dad: (in no particular order)
1. He is a good husband first.
2. He hugs and kisses Arie Alex, constantly.  Little girls need affection from their daddies.
3. He encourages her in all the little things she does.
4. He makes a fool out of himself to make her smile and laugh. Recognizing that a daughters laugh is worth doing almost anything, is a great character trait in a man.
5. He loves God more than he loves his baby girl and that is the best way he can love her.

Arie Alex: 3 Months Old





So here is the sweet 3 month old, Airawen Alexandra. No official photo shoot this time, mamma is tired, and swamped, but I got these shots in last weekend. She is our little Cards fan already!

Charlotte's First Birthday

June 6th we went to Columbia for Charlotte Horn's first birthday party.  It was quite the extravaganza, and so fun!

We stopped by to see Grandma Heath and Grandpa Richard before the party!  We love trying to make the baby laugh.
Mamma loves kissing those chubby little cheeks!
Me and my baby girl.  These are the only pictures I've actually been in with my daughter since she was about 3 weeks old.
We cheered Char-Char on as she went to town on that cake! 
She demolished it!  That is my kind of girl!
Arie Alex getting some love from our friend Camryn, Charlotte's cousin.
Baby girls and their daddies.  So special.  Airawen looks a little zoned,  we woke her up from her nap so she could party.  We are terrible parents.  :)  
Char-Char got a little jealous that her daddy was holding Arie Alex.  Someday they'll be able to share more than just clothes.  (Airawen's Baby Gap, party dress on loan from Charlotte Horn's closet.) 
Happy Birthday, Char-Char!
If only we could all express exactly what we wanted like a one year old, the world would be a better place. 
The beautiful birthday girl!  Thanks for inviting us to your party, Char-Char.  We love you!

Airawen's First Trip to the Lake


We went to the Lake for Memorial Day weekend with Tim's parents.  It was Airawen's first time on the water.  She did great on the boat, and loved the one-on-one time with Grandma Bonnie and Grandpa Frank.
Here is our future wake boarder in her little surf girl suit.  She looks thrilled, right?
Hanging with Grandpa, looking out at the water and the boats.  (Thanks to Charlotte Horn for loaning this perfect "weekend away", strawberry onesie.)
It rained most of the weekend, but we got to see this perfect whole rainbow. 

It was even a double rainbow for a while.  So amazing, I don't think I've seen a whole rainbow before.

Tim got to wake board a little bit, play some golf with Frank, and Bonnie and got some great shopping in.  Can't wait to go back.  The Lake is a magical place that is good for the soul.  Thanks to Bonnie and Frank for sharing it with us so generously!  

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Olive came to play




Abby and Olive came over to play last week. King has really lost his place since Arie Alex joined our family, so here are some the pictures of Olive and King hanging out.

Mother's Day





It is still hard to believe that I'm somebody's "mom"! Someone entrusted me with a child? Crazy!

My family came into town for Mother's Day. We ate lunch at Jilly's Cupcake Bar, and then spent time at my Grandparents. It was a good laid back Mother's day. Tim Arie Alex and I came home at watched a movie that evening and went to bed early b/c we were too tired to do anything else.

It has been an interesting chapter entering the circle known as Mothers. Did you know there was a circle? I didn't, not really until I became a mom. I kind of got a glimps of this Motherhood tribe while I was pregnant, just a peek under the curtain, but the curtain came up after Airawen was born. Other mothers smile at us and help us with the cart at the grocery store. They give advice freely when they can tell I don't have a clue what size socks I should be buying for my baby. I get the most encouraging emails and phone calls from my friends who are moms. I joined this sisterhood without even knowing it. The initiation is kind of rough... The toll, the beat-down, the hazing all came in 12 hours of labor that ended in a c-section and going on 3 months now without getting more than 4 hours sleep at a time. The pain I still feel in my body. The payoff is everytime Arie Alex smiles at me. Everytime she nuzzles her face into my shoulder. Watching her sleep. Talking with her and having her coo and goo back in conversation. Watching Tim interact with her and joy on their faces as they get to know each other as Daddy and Daughter. Every time a mom stops us in the store and tells me how adorable my sweet daughter is. I have no problem saying, "This is hard", "I can't do this", "I am weak". But thankfully I am so far from having to do this alone, God has given me those who are stronger, wiser, more patient and graceful, to help me cut a path as a mom.

I've entered this clan of women and they have accepted me with open arms. They tell me I'm mighty and I am not alone. They ask me how I am doing, and say, "You are doing a great job!", when I feel like I'm falling apart. They are the women who also are getting no sleep, haven't showered in days, and have no idea how to make what is required of them fit all into one day. They are the same, these women, who's bodies still hurt from being a mom and who's patience dwindles from time to time. They are the moms who understand and have faired worse and better parts of being "Mom" for years longer than I.

Thank you to the mom who showed me what size socks to buy at Target. Thank you to the mom who showed me what A&D ointment was. Thanks to the mom who texted me while I was in labor. Thanks to the moms who read my blog and the moms who don't have time to read blogs. Thanks to my mom for raising me and praying for me. Thanks to the mom who raised my husband to be a loving and Godly man. Thanks to the mom's who put their wants and needs before their children's and truly know sacrificial love.

I really felt like a mom this Mother's Day. Constantly putting what I want on the back burner for the good of my baby, working until I feel that I might go crazy because I have just that much strength left. Tired, with a list of a million things to get done, but thankful that I have a reason to be tired, and in love with my husband and child. Happy late Mother's Day to all you moms out there.

Tim's Birthday









We celebrated Tim and Tyler's birthday at the beautiful Castlewood Park, here in St. Louis.  Tim raced in a three hour, endurance, mountain bike race.  Then we all gathered for lunch and cake, and presents.  It was a beautiful day and Arie Alex and I were waiting at the finish line for Tim.     He met his goal of doing five laps in the three hours.  We are so proud of him! 
Five things we love about Tim:
1. He loves God and others well
2. He takes care of his family
3. He works hard to make our dreams come true
4. He does what he says he is going to do
5.  I have so much fun with him all the time!

Friday, May 09, 2008

Arie Alex: 2 Months Old

This is a boring photo shoot!  We need to spice it up a bit.
That is what I'm talkin' about!  Now I look awesome!
Thanks to Devin and Drew Lammy for my head band!
I laugh and smile all the time now!
And I get better at lifting my head up everyday. 
She took the head band off.  Boring again.
See isn't this soooo much better?
Okay, I'll be happy because I just remembered I can put my hands in my mouth!
I am getting so good at this.  I rock!
I love being two months old.

I was just thinking, I really am kind of awesome.
The photo shoot is over?  Are you kidding me?  I was just getting the hang of this!  Okay, well tune in next time for when I continue to be cute and wonderful.