First Haircut

Tuesday Hope went with me to see Krystal and get her first haircut. It was really just trimming her hair out of her eyes and trimming the back a bit. Even though Hope LOVES to comb and brush her hair, she didn't like Krystal messing with it at all. She kept giving her dirty looks the whole time. It didn't take very long and we put the small pieces of hair into a bag for her baby book.











Here is the before, a bit shaggy and in her eyes.









And here is the after. Now you can see those beautiful baby blues. Subtle change, I know, but certainly better!





Yesterday, I took a much needed day off work and Wayne, Hope and I had a family day in Austin and she was an ANGEL all day! We couldn't have planned a more wonderful day! She was in and out of the carseat a good portion of the day, but she did great! We had several errands to run at different stores and then had yummy lunch at a nice restaurant. We got back home around 3 and then went to Granny and Popo's to say Happy Birthday to Granny. Then we went to the local nursury and used a gift card that we have had since Hope's birth. We got Hope a bright yellow (her favorite color) rose bush to plant in the front flowerbed. We left the house at 9am and got home around 5:25- just before the storm blew in. Here are the photos of the storm damage we received with last night's storm. We didn't notice it until this morning. Can you believe we never heard it fall? 1/2 of this tree broke about 3-4 years ago in another storm and the other 1/2 fell last night. We were very lucky as the dogs were in the house and it didn't hit the storage building or the fence. Now it is just a huge mess in the yard! Anyone need any firewood or pecan wood for the bbq pit?? I made Tank sit in front of the tree so you could see how big the tree really is!!

Bluebonnets

Saturday, March 21st~
Hope and I went to a baby shower this past Saturday and took these photos just before we left. I absolutely LOVE the one of she and I together!! I just am not sure if I see a resemblance yet or not?? What do you think??







Sunday, March 22nd~
The bluebonnets are beautiful and of course, we had to take Hope out for her first photo shoot in them. We took these yesterday at Huette's place on the way to Weimar and I think they turned out pretty cute considering we can't get Hope to sit for more than a second! Remember you can click on the photos to see an enlarged version.








Here are Granny and PoPo's little bunnies. They have a bunny for each grandchild and here is Hope with hers. Then the last photo is of Hope as we were leaving to go home. She loves her hat and her telephone!! Too cute!!






Here is the cooler some friends made me as a thank you for selling their property. Isn't it neat? Hope really likes it too!!

March 8th ~ Grandma Judy & Grandma Sherry

Sunday, March 8th ~
We took Hope to meet "Grandma" Judy and "Grandma" Sherry. Sherry is Judy's daughter and also the one who made the beautiful Christmas stockings you saw photos of a few months back. We met Judy many years ago when I sold their farm. We became fast friends and are now like family. Many of you know Baxter, our lab chow mix that we had. He was Judy's dog before she moved. They couldn't take Baxter with them, so we adopted him and so glad we did. He was such a good dog!! We still miss him.
So Sunday, we went to Sherry and Warren's home for a wonderful lunch and visited. I didn't get the camera out and wish now I had so I could have gotten a photo with Hope and Sherry. Then we headed over to the nursing home to see Judy. She looked so beautiful and we all teared up as we got there. I was so excited for her to meet my daughter. This day was long overdue for all of us. When I was pregnant, Judy dreamt I was having a little girl and she was going to have blond curly hair just like Shirley Temple. She was right about the girl part, but Hope has board straight hair... no curls anywhere. Judy took us to her room where we visited for about an hour. At first, Hope didn't want to go to her, but then Judy started feeding her Cheerios and they were fast friends!! It was a wonderful visit. I just wished we all lived closer.
After visiting with Judy and Sherry, we went over to Uncle Mark and Aunt Jennifer's house as they live literally minutes away. We saw their beautiful place and then went out to eat Sushi!! I haven't eaten sushi since before Hope was born and knowing I want to get pregnant soon, I thought I had better get my fill soon before I can't eat it for a while. It was so yummy!! I ate more than my fill and then we headed home. The only downside is that Hope was in a carseat for 2 hours to get there and 2 hours to get home. She only slept about 40 minutes on the way there and none on the way home. She was anxious to get out a good portion of the time, which I don't blame her. I guess we are going to have to invest in a DVD player for the vehicle to keep her occupied. Other than that, it was a truly wonderful day! We are going to have to go back and visit more often!!

12 Month Check Up

Yesterday, Hope had her 12 month check up and shots. While in the waiting room, she played with two other girls and shared her toys so nicely which made me so proud.
Then as we were walking down the hallway to the exam room, she realized where she was and got upset. I think she knew she might get poked and prodded and she was right.
She weighs 21 pounds and is right at the 50th percentile for weight. She is 29 1/2 inches long and is right at the 75th percentile in height. She has 5 teeth, two on bottom and three on top. Dr. said she doesn't have any food limitations, just to introduce new foods or potentially allergenic foods one at a time to see if there is any reaction. We have been waiting to introduce her to shrimp, tomatoes and peanut butter for this reason. As part of the 12 month check up, the Dr. asks questions about her development such as when did she start walking, does she say any words and if so, what words. She took her first steps at 9 months and was completely walking by 10 months. She says Mama, Dada, Quack-Quack, Arf-Arf, Bye-Bye, Moo and the other night while on the phone with Grammy, I think she repeated "love-you", but it was hard to tell. Then I told her she also knows sign language and probably knows about 10-15 words. I started to say some of the words she knows in sign language and as I said each word, Hope did each sign. I must have run thru about 7 or 8 words and as if on cue, she did the sign for each and every one. Dr. was impressed and I was beaming!! She has only done this one other time for Uncle Mikey and Aunt Silvia. It is amazing at one year, what she knows!! Then last night as I was getting the milk out of the refrigerator, she did the sign for milk without any prompting. We have been trying to teach her this sign for about a week now, so it is exciting when she knows a new word. The weather is starting to show signs that spring is around the corner and we are all excited. Hope loves to be outside and weather permitting, we try to do as much outside as we can. She is at such a fun age and every day is a new adventure. We are continually amazed at our little doodle bug and even after a year we are still in awe she is really ours!!

More words to Live By

My mother just sent me another profound email and I wanted to share it with you (and with Hope). This blog is not only to share with all of you the wonderful updates and photos of Hope, it is also a little scrapbook I am creating for Hope. I print out each month's blog and put it in a binder for Hope to have as a keepsake/scrapbook/journal of her life as a baby thru her mother's eyes. I want her to be able to read my thoughts and words and see photos as each milestone happens. So to all of you and to my precious Hope, here are some wonderful words to live by.

A Birth Certificate shows that we were born
A Death Certificate shows that we died
Pictures show that we lived!
Have a seat . . . Relax . . .
And read this slowly.

I Believe...
That just because two people argue,
It doesn't mean they don't love each other.
And just because they don't argue,
It doesn't mean they do love each other.


I Believe...
That we don't have to change friends if
We understand that friends change.


I Believe....
That no matter how good a friend is,
they're going to hurt you every once in a while
and you must forgive them for that.


I Believe...
That true friendship continues to grow,
even over the longest distance.
Same goes for true love.

I Believe...
That you can do something in an instant
That will give you heartache for life.


I Believe....
That it's taking me a long time
To become the person I want to be.


I Believe...
That you should always leave loved ones with
Loving words. It may be the last time you see them.


I Believe....
That you can keep going long after you think you can't.


I Believe....
That we are responsible for what
We do, no matter how we feel.


I Believe...
That either you control your attitude or it controls you.


I Believe...
That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.


I Believe...
That money is a lousy way of keeping score.


I Believe....
That my best friend and I, can do anything, or nothing and have the best time.


I Believe....
That sometimes the people you expect to kick you When you're down, will be the ones to help you get back up.


I Believe...
That sometimes when I'm angry
I have the right to be angry,
But that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.


I Believe....
That maturity has more to do with
what types of experiences you've had
And what you've learned from them
and less to do with
how many birthdays you've celebrated.


I Believe....
That it isn't always enough,
to be forgiven by others.
Sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself.


I Believe...
That no matter how bad your heart is broken
the world doesn't stop for your grief.


I Believe....
That our background and circumstances
may have influenced who we are,
But, we are responsible for who we become.


I Believe...
That you shouldn't be so eager to find
Out a secret. It could change your life Forever.


I Believe....
Two people can look at the exact same
Thing and see something totally different.


I Believe...
That your life can be changed in a matter of
Hours by people who don't even know you.


I Believe...
That even when you think you have no more to give,
when
A friend cries out to you -
you will find the strength to help.


I Believe...
That credentials on the wall
do not make you a decent human being.


I Believe...
That the people you care about most in life
are taken from you too soon.


'The happiest of people don't necessarily
have the best of everything;
They just make the most of everything.


Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass; It's about learning how to dance in the rain.