BIG Bday Weekend!

We had the BEST time this weekend celebrating our big girl...still can't believe she's one! The past couple of days have been full of family, friends, priceless moments and lots of cake!!!! We are tired but wouldn't change on minute of this celebration. Pardon the order of the pictures, they are in no order (things got jumbled as I uploaded). Once again, Happy Birthday precious girl, Daddy and I love you so very much!

She got a lot, I mean a lot, of wonderful toys, but those that light up and "talk" have become an obsession. They are especially fun when played over and over and over :)

After all that cake, a girls gotta chug some ice cold milk

Aunt Lou Lou gave her a tutu for her birthday that was absolutely precious. We didn't waste a minute putting it on her!

Home-made Banner

Her dress was really pretty but not conducive for crawling, so we tied it up :)

Smiling and showing those teeth

Toys are fun but cards are the best!

Boxes rate up there with cards, this chick has an affection for paper goods!

Are these for me?!?!

L.O.V.I.N.G. the riding toy that Brun and Ellie gave her!

And she literally has not stopped playing with B and SanSan's gift!

Family Pic from the fun day!

Sweet Birthday girl!

xoxo

Birthday Eve!

So, the trip down memory lane continues :) This time I am going to share the fun from the present day and then I'll reminisce. We had a little "Playgroup Birthday" today to celebrate and it was so much fun. Sweet Aunt Haines made the cupcakes, which are always the hit of the party, and it was so much fun to see Betsy Grace and her buds together.

Here she is with her oldest and best friend Margaret Blount, sharing...so sweet!

Tracking those cupcakes like little hawks...let's all sing "Happy Birthday"

oooo...what I am supposed to do with that?!?!

Y.U.M.

It's my party and I'll scream if I want to!

Oh my goodness, I don't think I can finish it all!

My sweet, sweet girl! Everything about her is joyful, she is going to be a birthday queen for sure!

Now for the reminiscing...

This came easy because I wrote a journal entry the night before she was born. That's one of the wonderful things about a scheduled C Section, you can dot your "i's" and cross your "t's" :)

7/22/09 (really 7/23/09 because it's 12:15 in the am. but we are calling this the day before)

3 weeks ago we found out that our sweet BG would be joining us early and now we have arrived at her Birthday Eve. Mac and I took it easy today, just did a couple of errands, rested, and Dad, Mom and Sandy came over early evening to visit. Everyone is so excited for Betsy Grace to get here, we can hardly stand it! We ate an early dinner, went to Dairy Queen (a pregnancy staple), watched the Pink Panther(there is something wrong with you if it doesn't make you laugh) and ate waffles at 11:00 pm. Starting at midnight, I am not allowed to eat or drink anything. My bag is already packed so all I have to do is get up, take a shower and straighten up around the house. It is so weird to think that the next time I will be here, I will have my baby...I am thinking only good thoughts! We are to check in at the hospital at 11:00 am and my C section is scheduled for 1:30 pm. Dr. Clarke is bringing our baby girl into the world and we are so anxious to meet her. We are not sure how much she will weigh but we know that no matter the situation, God is right there and he will be right next to me in the operating room offering complete protection. Mac has been the most amazing and incredible husband throughout these past 9 months, Betsy Grace will be the most blessed little girl to have such a wonderful daddy! She is moving in my belly as I write, I think she knows it's about to be her birthday!

If I could look at her right now, this is what I would say:

Betsy Grace, I love you! God spent the last 37 weeks knitting you and I know that you are beautifully perfect! I promise to be the best mommy to you and care for you, love you and protect you for the rest of your life. There are so many wonderful people praying for you right now and tomorrow, you will never know how much you are loved! I can't wait to meet you in 13 hours!

Until tomorrow, xoxo!

This time last year....

As we left lunch today, I took a detour around Presbyterian Hospital and found myself tearing up, or more bawling...let's be honest, thinking about this time last year. Here I was in the moment, July 21st 2010, with my soon to be one year old in the car babbling away in the back and my thoughts were consumed with 1 year ago...

Starting at the beginning of July 2009, we knew that Betsy Grace could come any day. Yes, she was early but we knew that she was perfect and had doctors testing and monitoring every other day to ensure her health. The goal was to make it to 37 weeks and we were almost there. My C Section was scheduled for Thursday the 23rd at 1:00 pm with my doctor, Noelle Clarke. So on this day, 2 days before, I was eagerly anticipating the arrival of my little girl. We didn't know if she would have to go to the NICU or if we were going to be able to take her home when I was ready to leave but the bottom line was that she was about to enter the world and she was ours. No matter what the journey held, we were prepared and we were so excited to kiss our little girl's face, hands, toes, every little piece of her! I was on semi bedrest, so was not working and trying my best to rest and relax. I had a nice day and my aunt brought dinner for us. I remember trying to cherish every movement I felt in my belly, knowing that there were only a couple more days. I remember trying to imagine what it would be like with her here, really having not a clue about newborns, sleepless nights, feedings, etc. But none of the hard stuff mattered, I just wanted her here, so that I could hold her and love her.

And now, skip forward one year, I know....I know the love, I know the joy, I know the cries, I know the laughter, I know the hardships and I know that we have a very special little girl who is a true gift from God. I am overwhelmed with emotion writing this because I had no clue, no clue, all of the blessings that would unfold in Betsy Grace. She is our angel and we can't wait to celebrate her first year in 2 days!!!

Ellen goes to Haiti

My stepsister, Betsy Grace's sweet Aunt Ellen, left for Haiti on Saturday. She just graduated from Chapel Hill Undergrad this spring and passed her Nursing Boards a couple of weeks ago. She is going to work with a small organization called Materials Management Relief Corps (MMRC), which was started by two Americans shortly after the earthquake hit in January. Their focus is on providing medical supplies to many of the larger organizations that still have a presence in Haiti, as well as patient transport and emergency management. Her plan is to stay 3 months and we are so proud of her selfless and willing ability to serve those in need.

Here's a link to her blog:

http://ellengoestohaiti.blogspot.com

Follow her but more importantly...PRAY FOR HER! We can't wait to witness her life changing experience!

This picture was taken the first time Ellen met Betsy Grace, almost this time last year! Ellen was a natural, she is going to be a wonderful nurse!!!

xoxo

All things small and cozy

Betsy Grace is ALL over the place and her favorite thing is to hide in little nooks around the house. It's quite comical because even if I step out of the room for a second, she will have disappeared and I can hear her but not necessarily see her. Luckily, her "go to" spots are predictable...here are a few :)

Spot #1: Under the table, behind her baskets, next to some larger but facinating piece of stereo equipment.

I think she is still trying to view the TV from her little nook.

Spot #2: Underneath and in between the barstools. She stands up under them and chews the legs, lovely! Plus, it is very hard for mommy to get her out, so she is able to have a little uninterrupted BG time.

Spot #3: The drawer under the stove. Not so small and cozy but she definitely has a thing for ovens. She pulls on on it, walks it out and looks at all the goodies inside. Don't worry, I am not a negligent baby proofer...there is nothing in her that will hurt her, just a bunch of loud pots and pans.

It never gets old :)

Welcome to the Girls Club Isabelle!

Isabelle Goodwin Barksdale entered the world on July 2 and we just can't get enough of this sweet little muffin! She is yet another girl in this family and we couldn't be happier! I know that she and Betsy Grace will always be close and will probably grow up more like sisters than cousins. Isabelle, welcome to the family!

Here she is, just one day old!

Admiring our beautiful niece, I forgot how small newborns are!

Betsy Grace didn't get to meet Isabelle in the hospital,

so we anxiously awaited her homecoming :)

Sweet and snuggly in her mama's arms

Daddies and their girls...melts my heart!

Thinking Isabelle is one of her dolls...

can't tell you how many times we repeated "GENTLE"

The proud Grandmothers

...and Grandfathers!

Haines and her daddy

Holding hands, precious moment! Love it!

and here's a little something for my little niece...

Dear Isabelle,

I have loved you from the start. I prayed for you before you were created and I cried tears of joy when I knew you were on the way. For the past 9 months we have talked about who you would look like, the places you will go, how you will change all of our lives, etc...the excitement over your birth has been incredible! And now you are here and for this moment, life is complete. The love that we have for you will grow everyday and we are so blessed to have you as the newest member of our family!

You are a child of God and the parents he entrusted you to are so amazing! Your mommy is honestly one of the most beautiful people, inside and out, that I have ever met! The love in her eyes for you speaks her heart and it is breathtaking. I know the incredible joy that belongs to mothers of little girls and I am over the moon in delight that your mommy now knows the same. And your daddy, your sweet daddy...when I married your uncle Mac, I received the brother I never had yet always hoped for, he is one of the most thoughtful, caring and patient men that I know. You already have him wrapped around your finger and you will always be his little girl, no matter how old you are! Sweet Isabelle, you hit the parent jackpot!

As your aunt, I promise to love you like my own. I promise to guide you, protect you, teach you, and pray for you everyday. We will have lots of laughs and probably lots of tears but I will always be there for you. You have a beautiful spirit and I can't wait to see you grow. Looking at you reminds me that God is constantly at work. I will love you forever!

Love,

your aunt Libby

Hooray for the Sippy Cup!

After trying, trying and trying some more, Betsy Grace has finally mastered the art of drinking from her sippy cup. I honestly thought we would be stuck on bottles forever but my smart little chick has it all figured out now and she loves it! Next child, I will introduce it much earlier but how was I to know?!? We are sticking to water for right now, especially in all of this heat but starting on the 23rd, it will be milk because there will be no more bottles (or so I bravely say right now). She is no longer eating formula, we have started on whole milk and she is not really thrilled with the change. But just like anything, she will get it :)

Such a big girl!

After all this training, we are pooped! Nap time!

Betsy Grace did not want to nap in her bed on this particular day,

so mommy got to snuggle and nap too!

Love these sweet moments!

xoxo