Happy Birthday, Miss C!

My baby is 3. I can't believe it...I don't know how the time has gone so quickly. It seems only yesterday I was huge and preggo...as this photo shows (taken a little less than 2 weeks before her birth):

I was on bedrest for about 4 months with Ryan due to preterm labor. I had been very lucky with Caroline...I had tons of contractions for months, but none seemed to do anything. I was at work on 10/10/05, teaching like normal. I was having lots of contractions, but nothing unusual until about lunch time. I remember sitting at the lunch table with my teacher friends and gripping the sides of the table while tears streamed down my face. After arguing for some time, one finally took me to the office and then things got crazy. They put me in the sick room, the school nurse came in, took one look at me, and called my OB. My friends were trying to get Shane, who was out to lunch with a buddy and ignoring the calls from an unknown number. Finally he answered and came to take me to the hospital. The entire time (even with the tears and pain) I was insisting I wanted to go home. I had no bags packed, my 2 year old was at daycare expecting mommy to pick him up, and it just wasn't time. Caroline had other plans...my contractions were real and were making changes...which was dangerous to me because of my placental abruption when Ryan was born by c-section. After a few hours, the doctors decided to perform the c-section and at 6:52pm, Caroline Grace was born. She was about 6 weeks early and had some early trouble with breathing, and for almost 2 weeks, lots of trouble with eating and gaining weight. She was the first NICU baby in our hospital's new NICU unit.

Even thought I got to see Caroline the day she was born, I didn't hold her until 2 days later...here's our very first bonding session.

Here she is, 5 days old, snoozing in the NICU...by that time, I had been release and we were traveling to the hospital 4 times a day so that I could nurse her. It was an exhausting experience, but every day I looked forward to the time I could go hold her close and be with her.

Six months later, Caroline was still a small, but doing great. She was also already incredibly beautiful.

Her first birthday party...Caroline loves being the center of attention and she loved her first party. She also loved her cake!!

Caroline, at her 2nd birthday party, has learned the princess roll quite well. Still loving to be the center of attention, she is smart, funny, and kind.

She had a wonderful year. She grew so much and learned so much. I decided to stay at home in April and I've loved all the time I've gotten to spend with her. She is by far the funniest, silliest, most wonderful little girl I've ever known. I'm so blessed to be her mommy and every day I thank God for the gift of my daughter.

Miss Caroline, newly 3 years old, in the shirt I made her for her birthday. She was so excited when she saw it...pointing to her photo saying "Me on the shirt!!! Me on the shirrrrrrrttttttt!!!! I'm thrilled she loves it...she looks adorable in it and I think her little friends and our family will love it, too.

My special, wonderful 3 year old...I couldn't be more in love with her.

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Thursday's Here!

Have I mentioned I adore Krystal Hartley and all her yummy goodies? Look at this amazing kit being released at Funky Playground today:

It's called Lil' Stinker and it's just too cute for words. For today only, you can get it HERE for only $1.00!!! Quick, go grab it!!!

Here's a layout I did using this kit...I have to say it's one of my favorites. Click on the layout for full credits.

The fonts are both by Darcy Baldwin at Sweet Shoppe...her fonts are the best out there!


In family news, tomorrow is Caroline's third birthday. I will write about it tomorrow, but I'm just amazed that it's here so quickly. She is just the most special little girl and I'm so blessed that she is mine...



Finally, FOB2Y for SSD...today was the Ice Cream Personality Test. Pretty funny! Go try it out! :)

Your Ice Cream Personality:

You are an incredibly modest person. You don't feel comfortable bragging about yourself... or even receiving complements. You have a wild reputation, but you're not as wild as you seem. You take risks, but only measured risks. You are a fairly open minded person with a wide range of tastes. You are quite accepting of unusual ideas and people. You are a natural multitasker. You feel alive when you're doing more than one thing at a time. You can be a big dramatic and over the top sometimes. You are bold in every way

The Ice Cream Personality Test

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Captivating...All Wrapped Up

I finally finished Captivating. It took me a bit longer than usual. For one thing, I didn't ever bring this book inside the house...I read it everyday while waiting in line to pick up Ryan. I was reading in little chunks...a chapter or less a day, which is unusual for me. I also read slowly so I could soak up some of the ideas in the book. There was no rushing through this one for me. There were days I would laugh out loud while sitting in my car...other days I'd cry like a baby. This book touched me on so many levels and really has me reexamining some important parts of my life. I fully intend to reread it...I think it's one of those books that deserve at least 2 readings...but Shane's going to read it first.

As I've said, this book really took me deeper inside myself. A couple of weeks ago, I shared an excerpt of the book. Here's another that really made me pause and realize that maybe I'm doing a better job at this life thing than I thought.

"Carol has a bright mind and a keen intellect. A favorite among her professors, she graduated from an Ivy League university at the top of her class...The sky is the limit for Carol. She reads constantly. She is aware of international events and analyzes world twins...And she just gave up what looked like a golden career move to stay at home full time with her son.

There is nothing on Earth Carol would rather do--yet it was an incredibly difficult decision to make. She has hopes and desires to pursue a higher education. There is much that she wants to do, to learn, to experience. She has given up so much of her own life in order to bring life to her little boy. Learning to mother her child is requiring more of her heart and soul than she thought possible. God called Carol to the high position of mothering, and she is choosing to die a thousand small deaths to her self every single day while at the same time falling ever more in love with her son.

Carol chose to say "yes" to God and followed his lead into the hidden life of a sty-at-home-mom. God is meeting her there. In the hiddenness, she is discovering the holy. And she is playing the most irreplaceable, essential, powerful, life-impacting role imaginable."

Yes, this is one of the chapters that made me cry right there in the line to pick up Ryan. I didn't graduate from an Ivy League college, but from a pretty darn good one. I had a career I loved. Even though I'd had my two children, I continued working. Until April, when it seemed that God gave me no choice other than to follow his lead. I knew, as did Shane, that I had to leave my work and stay home with the children. So I did. Do I want more? Sometimes. There are things I want to do, learn, experience, just like Carol. But I know there will be time for all that later. Right now, I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be. And even on days when I'm pulling my hair out because the house is a mess, toys are everywhere, kids are fighting, and I'm exhausted, I still believe I am playing the most irreplaceable, essential, powerful, life-impacting role imaginable. It doesn't get any better than that.

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Show off!

It's all mine. Woot! I'm so excited because Krystal really rocks. I'm also thrilled because some of my favorite girls are joining me on Krystal's CT...it's so much fun! Krystal is selling at Faith Sisters and Funky Playground. Here is a new layout using her gorgeous collab kit with Zoe Pearn, Fall Splendour. Click on the LO for full credits.

I missed Truthful Tuesday...I guess I'll do Truthful Wednesday instead!

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Free Gift on the PM Blog and More!!!

Today was my first time posting on the Penny's Miscellany blog, and I'm so excited! I created 2 sports themed QPs for a free gift on her blog. Here's the post...go grab the gift and leave a comment on the PM blog letting me know how you'll use them.

Here they are:

Go get them while they're hot!!!

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Bree also came out with the fab Inspired by Kasia Launchpads this week.

Here's a LO I did using one of them:

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Darcy has a couple of new font sets in the store, as well. I used the new font Merry in the layout above. Here are her font packs, linked. Darcy's fonts are the best, so if you don't have them, run out and get some now!!!

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Have a great Sunday! :)

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Sneakie Peaks!

Hi, everyone! It's Friday!!! At Sweet Shoppe, that means it's sneak peak day...the most wonderful day.

Penny has an amazing new kit coming out...it is just awesome. Here's a sneak for you:Here is my LO with it...I just love it!

She also has some really cool calendar things coming out...2 different kinds, in fact!!! Here's a calendar topper I did for the month of November. If you love calendars, you have to have these!!!

Bree also has an amazing new set of Inspired by...Launchpads coming. I'll have a LO to share using one of those tomorrow.

Darcy has a few great new goodies, too! I'll link everything up tomorrow, when SSD is live!

Have a happy Friday!

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Thinking Thursday and More

Yesterday was just a crazy day. Good, bad, and all in between. One of those that starts off poorly, but ends on a high note. So, I'm going to only share the good stuff!!! We took the kids bowling for the first time ever. They were so funny! We were shocked that they had shoes small enough for Caroline, but they about did! They were a tad big, but just adorable. Ryan loved it, but the ball was still heavy for him. Caroline wasn't so into the bowling part, but loved watching the ball roll down the lane. All in all, it was a huge success.
(PS. As usual, the photos aren't edited yet!)

So after bowling, we went to do putt-putt. That was also a huge hit with the kids! Caroline said over and over, "I love you, red ball!" They enjoyed running around on the course more than actually trying to play, but it was just a great time.

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So, on another note, yesterday I saw something pretty cool!!! One of my LOs was on the Sweet Shoppe Blog!!! Bree Clarkson did Workin' It Wednesday for the blog and she used one of my LOs to showcase how to make templates work in any size. Check it out HERE. I was pretty excited!!!

Speaking of SSD, both Bree and Penny have some awesome stuff coming this Saturday! I'm not going to share any layouts quite yet, but be looking for them tomorrow!

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FOB2Y:

On the SS blog today is the latest FOB2Y...the question is… "what is YOUR favorite fast food and how often do you eat there?" Hmm...I'm not a fast food fan. I suppose Wendy's, just because the kids like it. We go once a week, probably. Some weeks more, some not at all. It just depends on what's going on.

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My friend Lou asked a group of us to do a Thinking Thursday kind of post...and ask a thought provoking question at the end. Since I couldn't come up with anything on my own, I chose one of my favorite quotes by Carrie on Sex and the City: "Can you make a mistake and miss your fate?" Now, if that's not thought provoking, I don't know what is.

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Have a good day!

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Such a Soccer Mom...

I'm so proud of Ryan! He's doing great with soccer. He's still a tad...ummm...aggressive and we're working on that, but otherwise, he's awesome. Just want to share a few shots of him (they aren't edited yet...lighting was horrible and I was using an older camera b/c it was drizzly, so just bear with me).


And of course I have to show off his biggest fan!

My babies are growing up...I can't believe they're so big! Time really flies.

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Truthful Tuesday?

So another Truthful Tuesday is here. I don't think I have anything earth-shattering to say today. I was just on top of the world yesterday after getting the invite to join Penny's CT. I'm really just so excited. I love her stuff and her forum is awesome. There are so many great girls there! I just finished up 2 guest spots and will miss them both. Mikkel Paige moved over to Digichick and is awesome. Chrissy W. is at Elemental Scraps, so I still get to work w/ her through my site CT spot. Both ladies were great to work with.

I'm doing the Skinny Jeans Experiment and can't wait to see the results. I'm having a blast in the forum and am loving getting to know these girls better. Here's hoping my skinny jeans look hot in 6 weeks!

My truth for the day is that some days I really, really like me. Other days...not so much. Self esteem is a tricky thing, and mine is like a roller coaster. Today is one of the not so much days, so I know I should go shower, paint my nails, and try to "pretty up." That always helps. Too bad I don't think Miss C is going to cooperate with my plans! Maybe if I offer to paint her nails, too...that usually works!

Ok, that's all for now. I have a ton to do today! Happy Tuesday!

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