IS IT REALLY THE END OF FEBRUARY ALREADY??

It's hard to believe that March is here!  We spent the entire month of February celebrating Brooke's birthday!  Because my family lives an hour or more away, we have a separate birthday party with them.  Here are some pictures of Brooke's party at my parent's house.

Brooke and cousin Sami Jo

Sami Jo laughing because the candles keep lighting back up.  Why?  Because Paw Paw Roger accidentally got trick candles!

My cousin Julie with her twins Nick and David and their friend Tori .

Enjoying her sock monkey and animal crackers from Uncle Mike and Suzanna.

My Aunt Gay who recently moved home from Tennessee - we love having her home so she can enjoy watching the kiddos grow up and so she can come to family functions!

Suzanna and Lexi enjoying some birthday cake.

Brookie enjoying some birthday cake!

The day after her party, we had a pretty decent snow storm.  Here are some pics of that:

Unlike her momma - this little girl seems to really enjoy the snow.  She would play and play out there if I would let her but I get too cold and have to come in!  Jody also loves playing in the snow and as you can see the two of them play pretty well together...most of the time!

This past weekend, Brooke and I had the whole weekend to stay at home and enjoy the quiet!  It was a lot of fun...we had a pajama party on Saturday, followed by a make up session, play dough, bend-a-roos, baking, Barbie Dolls and then House - she was a great big help!  We played "house" and she helped me vacuum, do laundry, make beds, etc.  It was fun!  I like it when we get to stay at home once in a while!

As far as an update on the baby.... I'm trying to figure out how to get copies of the ultra-sound on here!  We found out that "J" is only 17 weeks into the pregnancy so it was too early to tell if the baby is female or male.  The due date is July 28 - that seems like soooo very far away!

Please continue to pray that God shows me the path that's right for me and Brooke and the new baby.  He is working in so many wonderful ways in our lives and I just can't tell you how very blessed I am! 

Sweet Heart Dance

This little girl LOVES to dance and don't think she missed a single song!

She and Paw Paw Jim had their picture made and that was the only time she sat down the whole night!

By the time the night was over Paw Paw was worn out!

~`*^HAPPY BIRTHDAY BROOKE!^*`~

This is how she does "3" :)

We went to Planet Fun this morning for a little birthday gathering for Brookie-doo.  Her cousins Sarah and Jacob and their mom Kim came, her half-sister Rosa (she was adopted by a family in Webster Groves) and Rosa's mom and brother Cole, Maw Maw Karen and "J", and my mom and dad.  It was a lot of fun and as you can see in the pictures...the kids had fun!

Above is Jacob playing on the equipment and below are Brooke and Cole.

She had fun opening presents.

Brooke and Rosa.

Sarah, Jacob, Brooke, Rosa and Cole.

Brooke and "J"

Brooke with Maw Maw Wilda and Maw Maw Karen.

Brooke with Paw Paw Roger and Maw Maw Wilda.

Brooke with Maw Maw Karen and "J"

Rosa and Cole.

Brooke and Mommy... I love you baby girl!  Looking forward to all of the birthdays that are yet to come and all of the joy that comes with having you in my life and watching you grow up!

Watch tomorrow's blog post for pictures of the Daddy's Little Sweetheart Dance.

Look at these pictures....

Where is that beautiful smile?

How come those beautiful eyes look so tired?

Why is that child sitting in the same exact place for three pictures?

Are those the questions you are asking yourself?  It's because this precious baby girl has an ear infection and her head hurts.  She didn't sleep well at all last  night and neither did her momma. 

I want her well RIGHT NOW!  Go away ear infection...someone has a big day planned to celebrate her birthday on Saturday. 

Quote for today:

A happier child you'll never see... ... and to think she's smiling up at me!-- Margie Lundy

Can't wait for this yuck to be gone so my little wild child returns to her happy, healthy, smiling and giggling self.

On another note, a friend I work with lost his job today.  Praying that he can see the opportunities that wait for him.  I know he will find something bigger and better.  Sometimes we just don't understand why things happen but God has a plan... I know it!

Through the years....

tonight I was looking through my photo archives and decided to post some pictures of Brooke over the last three years. 

This picture was taken in May 2007, the first time Brooke came to stay with me.  She was a little over 3 months old at this piont.

This is January 2008, her first steps...can you believe I actually caught it on camera??

This was taken in Janaury 2009, actually I think this was New Year's Eve.

This is January 2010!

Sometimes I wish I could make time stand still...other times I just wish I could make her stand still! :) 

Quote of the day:

While we try to teach our children all about life, Our children teach us what life is all about.~Angela Schwindt

Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings :) 

A Matter of Perspective?

Can you believe I am blogging two days in a row?  I am really trying to get more consistent with this but sometimes it's just hard to find the time!

So about the title....

I am on my way home, you know the 25 minute drive that I absolutely dread every morning and night?  Anyway, when I have to work late or stay in Wentzville past 6pm or so, I rarely pass a car on some of these back roads.  I have never paid attention to the posted speed limits.  I am very careful and slow down for the curves and such but can you believe that there was a police officer hiding on one of the dark driveways and he pulled me over??? First of all, it scared me becauase I wasn't even sure it was a cop, second of all...surely he can find more business on a busier road somewhere!  Anyway, I am cursing at myself as he comes up to the car...oh one important note... I had no idea where to pull over at.  I mean there aren't any sides to these country roads, it just drops off in a ditch!  I have been pulled over and been given my share of tickets but it's always been on the interstate!  So I turn on my blinker and slow down but continue driving looking for a safe place to pull over.  The police officer pulls right up on my bumper and shines his spot light and turns on his sirens.  I stopped..he gets out and starts lecturing me about how I need to pull over right away or they could assume I was hiding drugs or a gun.  ARE YOU SERIOUS??? LOL Anyway, I was very nice to him and he didn't give me a ticket.  WHEW!  I was going 44 in a 30.  Do you know how slow 30 is when you are driving home after a 10 hour day and there are no other cars on the road??  Anyway...so after I drove off, or should I say crawled off... I was thinking, I should be grateful he pulled me over and I wasn't involved in an accident that took my own life or someone else's.  It's all a matter of perspective.

And so is the beauty of the dark skies out here in the middle of no where!  I have to walk about 100 yards to the mail box and to get the trash can.  I usually leave the mail and get it in the mornings but tonight I had to get the trash can from the corner of the road.  It's dark out there...and my first thought was "this is NOT safe".  LOL  As if there is anyone else out here???  Then as I was walking and realized how nice and peaceful it was, I looked up into the sky and saw the constellations and thought.... It's all a matter of perspective. 

Not sure why that phrase has been coming up so much.  I guess it's true though - we can choose to see things in a negative way or a positive way, it's up to us to decide.  That is also how I am looking at this situation with "J" and the new baby and Brooke.  We went to the doctor today and up until this appointment, I think I was keeping my guard up.  Not sure I was ready to do this again.  Not sure the baby was okay.  Not trusting "J" to be making good and healthy decisions for herself and the baby.  Today the doctor couldn't find the baby's heartbeat so they decided to look for it on the ultra-sound.  I GOT TO SEE MY BABY FOR THE FIRST TIME!  It was the coolest thing ever to see the head and the doctor pointed out the heartbeat.  My heart melted, my eyes teared up and I think I fell in love with that little alien looking thing!  Couldn't see much else at this point but what I did see was enough to take my breath away. We go back to the doctor on February 18 for the ultra-sound that will be more thorough and will be able to give us a better due date and hopefully the gender of the baby.  I can't wait!

The matter of perspective phrase applies to the situation with Brooke as well.  I don't know what's going to happen.  I can choose to be frustrated with the whole thing or I can choose to "Let Go and Let God".  I can surrender the power to Him and trust that He is leading us down the path that He has chosen and in the mean time, I CHOOSE to just enjoy this little girl who has brought so much happiness to my life.  Every day I am blessed that she is in my life and calls me mommy.  I just want to enjoy every second of it and not miss a moment of happiness with her worrying about what tomorrow might bring. 

How can I not smile and enjoy every day of my life with this goofy little angel in it?

Is January really over already??

I can't believe it is already February.  We've been busy this month and man are we having a great time! 

We brought in the new year by going to the hockey game with some friends.  Brooke loved it and even danced on the jumbo tron for about 45 seconds.  She says, "Yep, I shake my booty at the hockey game."

The rest of our month has consisted of playing with lots of new toys that Santa brought.  Brooke's very favorite thing to do is play with her play dough (MESSY!)

Her next favorite activity is probably a tie between this:

and this:

Brooke turns THREE years old on February 6th - I can't believe she is already going to be three.  Where does the time go?

That's all for now!  Hope to blog again real soon with birthday pictures!