My Cup Runneth Over

I'll Love You Forever

2012-01-24T21:54:00.000-06:00

Dan is out of state on TDY so I am home alone with the kids. That's normal, and I enjoy my moments post-bed time routine/chaos. I love having the remote in my hand and the computer in my lap as I grade papers (with a glass - or two! - of white wine). It is so relaxing after a crazy day of parenting!!! Noah is a great napper, still - almost 4 years after his birth. He will turn 4 on 12 February and I. Can't. Believe. It. Wow, how time flies.

I have gotten nap time down to a science in this house! There is NO giving up Noah's naps till he goes off to Kindergarten. He and Ellyotte get up at 7:30ish each morning, eat breakfast and Elly and I take Noah to school at 9:00 Mondays-Fridays. Elly and I return home, she naps from 9:30-11:00, then she goes into the jogging stroller, we exercise, then back to pick up Noah at noon. Noah eats in the car on the way home, we play, they wear themselves out and then down for a nap at about 1:30is: Elly in her crib and Noah....... in our bed. I actually started that because it was vital to me when Ellyotte slept, Noah HAD to sleep so I could sleep!

Since she was born, Ellyotte has been a hard and serious, lone sleeper. I never had to rock her to sleep; we just lay her down with her kitty and paci and she's content. Noah, however, has always needed tending to. We had to rock him from day 1 because of colic, then out of habit. He started traveling between Hawaii and the East Coast at 2 months so he got used to being held: in the Bjorn, in the glider, being held period. And that's fine with me! It has required thousands of hours of attention in order to get Noah to sleep deeply - unlike his sister - but we haven't minded it.

Now, he goes to bed in his bed at night and at some point, ends up in our bed! We are convinced we will have to upgrade to a king size because soon Ellyotte is gonna realize that her "Bubba" is in mama's bed and she's not! Dan and I are okay with this - these babies are growing too quickly and we love the red headed bundle that ends up between us each night.

Tonight Noah had been asleep for about 2 hours when I heard him crying. This is unusual. So I go into his room and he holds his arms up - meaning he wants to be held. I gladly picked him up and for the first time in a long time, I was allowed to rock him. I cradled all 50+ pounds in my arms and with the lullaby CD softly playing in the background, I held my "baby" till he fell back to sleep.

As I rocked him, I looked down at that freckle covered, almost 4 year old nose and I was swept away in memory. Can it be that many years ago that we were worried about his eating and sleeping and pooping habits? We were so sleep deprived and clueless. Now, we are thriving parents to an active little man who loves Jesus and protects his sister. And as I rocked him, the sweet book I have read to him countless nights came to mind ("Love You Forever" by Robert Munsch):

"...The baby grew. He grew and he grew and he grew. He grew until he was two years old, and he ran all around the house. He pulled all the books off the shelves. He pulled all the food out of the refrigerator and he took his mother's watch and flushed it down the toilet. Sometimes his mother would say, "this kid is driving me CRAZY!"

But at night time, when that two-year-old was quiet, she opened the door to his room, crawled across the floor, looked up over the side of his bed; and if he was really asleep she picked him up and rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. While she rocked him she sang:

I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be...."

Noah Everard Beall may be that crazy red headed kid in that book, but to me and to his daddy, he is that precious bundle of love we brought home that night almost four years ago.

One of the first of MANY naps together

Daddy loves this red head

Don't judge... I was almost 2 weeks late. - Honolulu, Hawaii

Finally home.

Precious 3 year old

almost 4 years later, a still beautiful sleeper

Noah and "soon to be" Uncle Adam

Uncle Bob, Noah and Graddy in Destin - New Years 2012

Us! Christmas 2012

Ellyotte... Sweet Girl

2012-01-07T21:48:00.001-06:00

I have to admit: I am not as good about documenting our daughter's milestones. And I feel bad... somewhat. Because I really do spend the majority of my time enjoying Ellyotte's minutes and seconds of her days.

She's such an incredible source of joy for Dan and me. We literally delight in everything she does; even the tantrums. She's started throwing serious tantrums when it comes to sharing. It's hilarious!

I took her to her supposed-to-be-15-month-appointment even though she's 17 months... and she was right on track for an 18 month old (because that's what they checked her for!).

At 17 months, Ellyotte:
- weighs in at 25 lbs exactly putting her in the 65th percentile for weight.
- measures in at 32 inches also putting her in the 65th percentile for height.
- wears a 7.5 size shoe!! No surprise because her daddy wears a 14.5 in mens and I'm in a 9.5 womens. She's a long, big foot string bean!
- LOVES her brother. And I mean LOVES him. She kisses him all over as does he with her. And she fights royally with him - they are enemies number 1 when it comes to one another but when someone insults or accidentally injures his sister, Noah Beall will put down someone!
- loves frozen anything; especially ice in her snack cup. She wants "ish" and popsicles and frozen fruit for every "meal."
- wears size 2T solidly. Again, she's tall for her age. I am sure we will see this trend her whole life: her daddy is 6'4" and Im 5'8" and my daddy is also 6'4". Noah's not even 4 yet and is in a 6/7!
- talks all the time - even if we don't know what she's saying. She talks so much, but she will also look at you like you are an idiot if she's not in the mood to be sociable.
- LOVES her Graddy and JanJan! I mean, LOVES them. She goes up to pictures in our home and gets so excited by seeing Graddy and Janjan.
- and LOVES, LOVES, ADORES kitty cats! Not even kidding... she says 'eeeeoww" constantly to anything that even resembles a cat. It is awesome.
- is my Mini-Me. Literally, everything I do is either with her by my side or with her on my hip. She looks like me, acts like me, is my redemption. I adore that baby girl and would die for her, just like I would die for her brother.

I feel so blessed. It is such a cliche to say that but it is true. My kids are perfect, despite the garbage and horrors we had to go through to bring them into life. I love them with my whole being. And Dan and I are still throwing around the idea of having yet a third - even though we have been told that we shouldn't, that it's a risk, that no matter what I'd be a high risk pregnancy, yada-yada. We want a third and maybe fourth. But we also are seriously considering adopting our next babies; please join us in praying for our future "Beall babies."

What a hilarious child!

Mini Katie, right?!

Peek a boo!

Ice Cream with Daddy

And on another note, we are proud to announce the birth of our new and so far, only NIECE Caroline Grace Beall into the world! After 2 trying years, Todd (Dan's only brother) and his sweet wife (one of my best friends) Annie, are finally parents. Annie went into labor with Caroline on her due date, 31 December, and after 30+ hours of hard labor, delivered our sweet baby girl. We are thrilled for them. Caroline Grace is absolutely precious and just perfect. Ellyotte and I will fly up to Ohio (from Louisiana) in a couple of weeks to help Annie and to spend some fun quality time with her and Caroline. I am really excited for that; Noah will have great time with his daddy while Sister and I "get away." Annie was an incredible blessing to me post Ellyotte and post blood clot. She came into our home and without my prompting, she cleaned top to bottom. I hope to do the same for her and to stock her freezer with lots of yummy things so she won't have to cook for a while! I love them so much and can't wait to be there for them like they were here for me in my time of need.

Sweet Caroline

I adore this precious blessing

Still here!

2011-12-19T10:47:00.000-06:00

Fun friends!

My pretty girl

I can't believe that Christmas is in 6 days! This holiday season is flying by. It has been a joyful one for our family. After having Dan's parents here for Thanksgiving, we decorated the house, have had our house full of almost daily play dates, we've baked, watched Christmas movies, made lots of fires in our fireplace - it has been so fun making memories with our babies.

We will spend Christmas in Alabama and New Year's at the condo in Panama City Beach, Florida. I did the majority of our shopping online and had gifts sent to my folks' house - so now all we have to worry about is packing a couple of suitcases and hitting the road! I am excited. Noah has asked Santa for a trombone and a Redskins jersey and helmet. Ellyotte will be getting some kitty cat toys and baby dolls; she is ALL girl and I love it!

I hope that your Christmas season is filled with all of Christ's joy and blessing. It is more clear this time of year than any other that the real joy of the season is giving - not receiving. We have found such happiness in our sponsored family this year; they are a precious group of people who literally didn't have one warm coat between the four children. The excitement Noah has had buying gifts for his new friends has been priceless to experience. We have learned that while we may not be able to make a change in everyone's sadness and burdens, doing what we can for even one family has allowed our children to begin to see that it is so much more beneficial to GIVE rather than receive.

I promise to post updates more frequently! This term with Troy was a tasking one - I had a full class and a LOT of papers and essays to grade. But, I submitted my final grades and can rest a little bit before Term 3, 2012 starts. Thus, no excuse not to blog more frequently!

We love Daddy!

Noah found the perfect tree

Merry Christmas!

Learning about Jesus's birth

Lots of warm nights by the fire

Our tree

At a friend's Christmas party

My mini-me

3 Minutes.

2011-12-11T21:30:00.000-06:00

If you have a few minutes, I encourage you to watch this. I was so moved this morning at church when our pastor said he was at a loss to describe his Savior, then gave way for this pastor - SM Lockridge, many decades ago- to tell of the indescribable love and admiration for his Jesus. We all stood to our feet in praise - the words are exquisite, yet still inadequate.
Enjoy and please share this Christmas season.

A Grateful - and Still - Heart

2011-11-28T10:10:00.002-06:00

It is so hard to be still. And because it is hard to be still, it is hard to maintain a constant, grateful heart. But that is what is required of us: God wants us to be still. And he wants us to be thankful - in every circumstance.

In my "Jesus Calling" devotional this morning, that lesson hit home even more with me today. After this past week of having my sweet in-laws in from D.C. for Thanksgiving, I was worn out. I delighted in having them here but having any kind of company with two babies and two animals underfoot all day is exhausting! We made memories, ate great food - all family recipes! - and just had a great week.

This weekend though, I was left depleted with that sadness of a visit ending, and of cooking and cleaning all week. I found myself complaining inside about how tired I was, how weary and FAT I felt from eating all week. And what I discovered was that my griping spirit was not only making Jesus sad but it was making me even more tired.

So last night, Dan and I went to bed early and I focused on just resting. This morning, I took Noah to school, now have Ellyotte down for a nap and I am drinking coffee and just reflecting on the blessings in my life.

Last night as I unwound, I found myself singing the song "Give Thanks" that we used to sing in our youth group:

GIVE THANKS
WITH A GRATEFUL HEART
GIVE THANKS
TO THE HOLY ONE
GIVE THANKS
FOR HE'S GIVEN
JESUS CHRIST, HIS SON

AND NOW LET THE WEAK SAY
I AM STRONG
LET THE POOR SAY
I AM RICH
BECAUSE OF WHAT
THE LORD HAS DONE
FOR US
GIVE THANKS...

Everytime I started thinking something that was not in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I just started singing those lyrics in my head. And then this morning, wouldn't you know I was led to meditate on being still? By being still, we exercise the spirit of thankfulness that we are called to have. It is so difficult to do but what reward comes with a grateful heart!

Just think about the things that we all have to be thankful for: the majority of us have our health, we have a roof over our heads, we have the arms of our families to embrace us at the end of each day, we have jobs, food to eat, friends to bring us joy. I know so many of my friends and loved ones who have lost someone this year - my friends Janelle and Calvin lost their 3 year old Bella (see previous posts) yet despite their loss, they are choosing to delight in the memories of their daughter and with the upcoming birth of their baby, Noah.

And my school friend Ashley and his wife Bethany welcomed twins: their 4th and 5th children, Abby and Bella, on October 30th. Life couldn't have gotten much more joyful for them. Yet, on November 5th, Bethany died suddenly of a coronary dissection brought on post-birth. So Ashley is left with 5 children and a broken heart. Yet, just last night, he sent out a video of his babies decorating the Christmas tree. For those 10 minutes, he chose to be THANKFUL and allow the joy of the season take over his home. Really, what do we all have to gripe about?

What it comes down to is that the love our Father has for us is so much greater than any complaint we might have in our daily lives.

Ephesians 3:18-19: "may (you) have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."

His love is all encompassing and what He requires of us is to BE STILL and to BE THANKFUL. To have that GRATEFUL HEART that we sang about in youth group.

Today I am challenging myself to stop complaining. And when a gripe enters my mind, I will replace it with a thanksgiving - big or small - so that my heart turns into an ever grateful heart. Today I choose to allow the Lord to delight in me as I delight in Him.

A Few

2011-11-18T17:44:00.003-06:00

Here is the back/side of my hair - just got it cut again yesterday. I actually had Christy (my friend/hairdresser - being HEALED completely, in the name of Jesus, from breast cancer!!) take it as soon as she finished drying it.

Christy did a lot of low lights up top to warm it up and high lights underneath so I no longer look like a skunk with it growing in so dark! I love my hair cut and am very happy with it. Several of you wanted to see the back of it, so here you go :) And as for me going shorter (another thing I have heard several of you say) I likely will in the summer. For right now, I am happy with the length and the color. Maybe once I finish shedding baby weight I will have the confidence to go totally short like I did in college! Stay tuned... :) You guys rock - thanks for flattering me so completely.

And on another note, isn't this military daughter beautiful!? She loves her daddy so much. I am a proud mama.

My Hair Through the Years

2011-11-16T07:42:00.000-06:00

I am overwhelmed by the comments and messages I have gotten about my hair lately! I didn't know I had that many followers who actually cared. Like I said in the last post, I am flattered.

As early as 4, I wanted my hair short. Like most kids, I went and found some scissors and cut my own hair then my mom had to let me keep it. I grew it back out and then started to perm it throughout the 80s. I started to highlight it in the late 90s (it was dirty blonde my whole life till then) and let it grow really long till the summer between my sophomore and junior years of college. I was an AFROTC cadet at Troy University so I kept it long till after I got back from my month and half long field training (officers equivalent of boot camp) in Florida. When I graduated from the training, I came home and chopped off a good 18 inches! See pictures below.

I started to grow it back out the end of my senior year because I was about to enter the active duty Air Force and it is so much easier to put your hair in a bun each day while in uniform.

It was long through my wedding, birth of my babies until August when I got another foot cut off. At the bottom is what it looks like now. I like it a lot and will not likely grow it back out anytime soon. I have several friends suffering through cancer and losing their gorgeous hair because of the chemo - one of them is my girl friend who actually styles my hair - so in support of them and until they can grow their hair back out, I think I am going to keep it short and really blonde :)

Kindergarten 1985

My pre-school portrait, 1984

Phi Mu portrait, 2000

Paris - 2001

Air Force - 2002

Katie and Dan 2003

Hawaii 2009

NYC May 2001

Short again!August 2011

Kind-of a view of the back....

Me and my baby girl - 2011

It's Fall Ya'll!!!

2011-11-13T10:56:00.002-06:00

We are back in Alabama this week because Dan had to go TDY to Europe and because it is Troy's homecoming week. It is peak leave season here in the south and has been a gorgeous week. I'm thankful that I get to celebrate this Veteran's Day with my daddy (USMC) and my husband (USAF). And I'm thankful for the time that I got to serve our great nation. Thank you all who have served and continue to fight the good fight. You are appreciated.

P.S. As for the back of my hair, I WILL have Dan take a picture of it :) I didn't realize so many folks wanted to see it! I am flattered that so many of you want to see it and read my blog.

Halloween Fun 2011

2011-11-03T09:58:00.000-05:00

We had a fun Halloween. Here in Louisiana, we have a great bunch of neighbors and live in a subdivision full of young families so trick-or-treating is always a great experience. This year was awesome because both kids - Noah and Ellyotte - were excited. Well, Noah was over the moon to wear his Power Ranger costume and Ellyotte was just excited because he was so happy. We had a great time. And Dan didn't disappoint with his costume at all, either!

Here, There, just...Everywhere

2011-10-31T22:07:00.000-05:00

These past two months have been INSANE! I literally just unpacked my suitcase for the first time since August. Not kidding. 4 Alabama trips, 1 Florida trip, 1 Ohio trip, and 1 trip to South Louisiana for a Troy game. We are tired. But, we are happy, safe and thriving. I am thankful.

I am back into another school term with Troy University and of course, love it. It is such a nice "adult" outlet for me. I truly don't know what I would do without my link to the world of higher education!

We have had such fun this Fall. Troy games, lots of laughs and memories at the Waters in Alabama with my family, a GREAT trip north to Ohio for my sister in law, Annie's surprise shower I helped put on (I'm gonna be an AUNT for the first time! Due 31 December! WHOO HOO!), and so many fun moments with our two kiddos. They love each other very much and constantly make each other belly laugh. And having Noah as a big brother, Ellyotte is guaranteed to be a tough child. She gets kicked and rolled around all day! And she loves it.

My beautiful beach girl - 15 months old

Right at home in the sand

Nothing compares to the beauty of the Florida Panhandle

Go Troy!

Two peas

Enjoying the view from the press box at the Troy game

Ellyotte and gorgeous Aunt Kelly

I got to meet up with one of my lifelong friends, Trish, and her kids while at the condo in Panama City Beach. We were supposed to go from Alabama to Nashville but my BFFs kids got sick there and so we postponed our trip and went to the beach with my folks instead. I hadn't seen Trish in ages. She was a cheerleader at Troy back in the 90s and was my gymnastics and cheer coach. We have been friends for 20 years now and I love meeting up with her whenever I can! We flew kites with the kids on the beach and just loved seeing one another. Isn't she a knock out?! And she has three babies!

View from my folks' place

Noah is stll so into the Troy Sound of the South marching band but he's also decided he wants to be a Troy football player when he grows up. So when he's not marching all around the house, he's throwing the football and practicing his hike. And the kid is so entitled: he expects to be on the field constantly when we are at the games. He doesn't understand that normal kids don't get to sit in a luxury box or go down onto the sidelines during the games! He even got to be on the field of the Super Dome in New Orleans last year when Troy played in the NO Bowl! He's a mess.

We are continuing to miss Bella (please see my previous posts), Noah's friend who went to Heaven on 17 September. Her Tiger class is not complete without her there. They talk about her and remember her every day. Today's Halloween festivities were fun but her absence was noticed. Through this tragedy, I have made great friends with her mommy and daddy. It is wild how two babies born worlds away (Noah in Hawaii in Feb 2008 and Bella in England in April 2008) could end up in the same small MDO class in Bossier City, Louisiana and through the passing of one of them, two mommies could become such good friends. I am thankful for the Paquettes and admire them immensely for how they are going on with life without their Bella here on earth. But Janelle is doing well as she can be doing while grieving and yet pregnant with their baby boy, Noah. Please remember her and Calvin in your prayers.

Bella's backpack hook at school

The Tigers miss Bella

Happy Halloween!

I am thankful to have a good friend who lives in England because I am able to avert future crises: Ellyotte has a kitty that was given to her when she was born. To say she can't be separated from that cat for a second is an understatement. Wouldn't you know the cat is no longer made and is out of stock worldwide. I finally tracked ONE down in a boutique in London and my girlfriend ordered it, had it sent to her house and is mailing it to me to save on the astronomical costs of shipping directly from the boutique. The other night, Ellyotte got poop on her kitty right before bed so I had to wash it. Of course it wasn't dry before putting her down so we had to distract her enough to get her ready for bed. We literally watched her sort through all of her passies and babies in her crib (over the video monitor) and start screaming uncontrollably. Elly is not a cryer so it was pitiful. I ran into the laundry room, turned the dryer up to high and prayed the cycle would hurry! I ended up giving her a wet kitty but she fell sound asleep. All was right in her world again. So, if you run across the Gund Huggybuddy Kitty then hook me up! I will pay you back! We need lots of back ups :) And THANK YOU LESLEY! You rock.

Here are some cute pictures from the fall fun we have been having. I love making memories and taking pictures but the uploading and sorting through the pictures is not something I enjoy doing! SO I will post more in the upcoming days.

The Highest Honor

2011-10-10T20:21:00.000-05:00

Genesis 6
7 So the LORD said, "I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth--men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air--for I am grieved that I have made them." 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. 9 This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God.

We knew when we named our Noah that we wanted him to have a Biblical name and a family name. That was the tradition of the Beall side of the family and we wanted to continue it.

We chose the name Noah after the Bible character we all learned about from an early age. He was righteous, blameless among men. And Noah's middle name was after my grandfather who was born in Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland in 1898. We absolutely couldn't think of two more incredible and God fearing men than Noah (Bible) and my Papa Eddie.

When Noah was born - after 41.5 weeks of pregnancy and 36 hours of painful, induced labor that resulted in an emergency C-section (I had a high fever and Noah's heart rate had dropped significantly - a very scary situation) - we knew our baby was special.

I learned at 20 weeks that Noah had a clubbed foot, thus we had to go into Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii for monthly ultrasounds of his foot. We SAW that his foot was deformed. Then at 34 weeks, we SAW that Noah had not one, but two clubbed feet. We met with the pediatric orthapedic specialist and had a follow up set up with him once Noah was born. Through the advances of modern medicine, we SAW our boy's deformity. Because of the visual, we were afforded the opportunity to pray for our boy. We prayed day after day, moment after moment that Noah's feet be "righted."

We had an ultrasound at 36 weeks to confirm the deformity and we actually saw Noah's hair floating in the ultrasound. Our tech (who we loved very much; she helped us through some difficult times) said: "That boy looks like he's on fire!" Low and behold, when he entered this world finally, his head was emblazoned with the most incredible red hair.

Thus, we knew from Noah's entrance into this world - and given the strongest of names - we had a "winner" on our hands.

Fast forward three plus years. Noah is in school in Bossier City, Louisiana 2011 and has been since we moved here in 2009. He loves his class, and we do too. As his mom, I can't imagine a better place to have my kid going day after day. One of Noah's precious little class mates is named Bella Paquette. Her mom and dad are Air Force like us. Noah loved Bella very much - he talked about her daily. Bella went to be with Jesus at the end of September (see my previous posts). She was too sick to remain here on earth with us. Bella's mommy is 5 months plus pregnant with her little boy. Bella was able to know that she would have a little brother before she passed away.

I have been in touch with Janelle, her mommy since Bella went to heaven. While we were visiting Aunt Annie and Uncle Todd in Ohio, Noah ran out to their yard to let his balloon go so Bella could play with it in heaven. He talks to her daily, as well as prays for her and her mommy and daddy.

I got an email from her mommy just 2 days ago letting me know some astounding news: per Bella's request, they are naming her little brother (to be born in March 2012) Noah. Her mommy wanted me to know that Bella loved her friend Noah enough that she wanted her little brother to be named after him. I wept when I read that email. It is one thing to live your whole life and then have a building or a baby named after you. It is an entirely different thing altogether to be only THREE and have a child named after you.

To say that I am a proud mama is an understatement.

Communicating

2011-10-05T10:45:00.000-05:00

Last week, I realized I had 1200 Facebook "friends" and it freaked me out. So I started to go through and delete those I wouldn't even recognize if I ran into them on the street.... Daunting task when there are two babies running around your feet. Then I realized that in the 6 years I have been on Facebook, I had thousands of pictures posted of myself, husband, friends and now kids. Even more overwhelming trying to go through and individually delete pictures.

Thus, I deleted my entire Facebook account. Yep - the whole darn thing. Years of posts, pictures, and friends gone into cyberspace history. It was really a weight off of my shoulders!

I have received some nasty emails from "friends" who thought they were individually deleted. I reassure you, that wasn't the case so please (if you read this) don't send me another email asking me why I deleted you!!!! It hurts my feelings!!!!

If we were Facebook friends and you haven't received a new request from me, please know it isn't personal. I will remain diligent about blogging because it is an outlet for me: writing. But I don't think Facebook will remain something that I am actively participating in; again, don't take it personally! Just find me here if you want an update ;)

A Baby's Grief

2011-09-20T11:44:00.000-05:00

Noah has been going to mother's day out at the same school for 2 years now. He has his little circle of friends and they all love each other so very much.

He is now a member of the Tiger's class in his Pre 3K class and goes 5 days a week. There are only about 7-8 of them in his daily class. In that circle of little, long time friends is a girl named Bella.

Bella is the only child of her mommy and daddy. She is going to be a big sister in about 4 1/2 months. Bella loves Dora and loves to dance. A little over a week ago, Bella got a bug bite that got infected. It resulted in viral encephalitis and she got very, very sick. The doctors did 2 brain surgeries to relieve the swelling and a drain was put in. Just when they thought she was improving, she took a turn for the worst.

By Friday, there was no brain activity and by Saturday evening, the decision was made to take her off of life support. I had prepared Noah that Bella was most likely going to go on to heaven on Friday night so we talked about it. He was a bit familiar with death because my Aunt Mamie went on to be with the Lord last November and he was very close to her. So there has been a lot of open talk about heaven in our home. He was okay after our conversation on Friday night.

Dan is in the middle of an exercise so he's been working long hours and worked all weekend. So when I got the call that she'd passed away on Saturday, I shared it with him and then asked him how he felt. He said, "I'm happy for Bella. She's in Heaven now." and then he went back to playing ball. I was so heartbroken as a parent but happy that he was dealing so well.

All day Sunday, he talked about Bella but never showed any sadness. He even wanted to make her a card so he told me what to write then he colored it. He said "Maybe this will help her mommy and daddy not cry so much."

Even at school yesterday, he only sought to reassure his heartbroken teacher that Bella was in heaven and while we wouldn't see her soon, we would see her again. Ms. Hayley grabbed him tightly and tried not to cry. I was so proud of him.

But when he walked out of the building, he LOST it. He was hysterical. When we got home, I put Ellyotte down for a nap and then just scooped him up and rocked him. He wouldn't let me put him down for over an hour. It was clear that his grief - while delayed - was very real.

I didn't know what to do so while I held him, I called my mom and put her on speaker phone. She reassured Noah that it was okay to be sad and to cry and that Bella was not sick anymore and he would see his friend again. While she talked, I cried with my boy and just held him tightly.

It was a hard experience and while Noah's first experience with losing a close friend was way too young (he's 3.5) , it is not going to be the last time we experience death in our lives.

Please remember Bella's family. The Paquette's will need the prayers for strength and healing mercies as they journey through the rest of their lives without their firstborn.

Love on your babies a little harder today and praise God for the gift of the moment; we never know when we will enter our last here on earth.

Words from a Hero

2011-09-15T21:53:00.001-05:00

The best way to share this is from an email I sent to several folks requesting the transcripts. I went back to Alabama this past weekend - 478 miles - with only Ellyotte in tow just three days after having returned from two weeks there. My best buddy since 1999 was asked to speak as the guest of honor at the 9/11 remembrance ceremony at Troy University. I went back to not only see him, introduce him to Ellyotte but to also introduce him to the hundreds of students and faculty sitting on the floor of an overflowing auditorium. He is a true hero in every sense of the word. Below is the email I sent followed by my introduction/speech and then his brief transcripts.

----------
All,
Jeff provided me with his bullets but I promise, 2/3s of what he said was in the moment. There were some swear words, some mentions of actual kills he's had, he said the one regret he has in life is that he hasn't killed more terrorists, he has killed just at 500 terrorists with his own hands, and he couldn't stress more that we need to be VIGILANT and teaching our children how to be vigilant. Dark days are ahead of us and he looked at everyone and said over and over "they hate you, they want each and every one of you dead. Don't forget that."
He warns that our schools are extremely vulnerable. Said the best thing we can do for our children is order and read "Terror at Beslan: A Russian Tragedy with Lessons for America's Schools" by John Giduck.

He carries a 9mm with him - even sleeps with it. He is an example of paranoia because of experience - we can never be too careful. He spoke of the 22 buddies he lost last month - his best bud was the one who's dog laid at the base of his casket. Jeff was a pallbearer at that funeral. I am sure you all have seen the picutre of Hawkeye, the dog.

I am including my intro to him so you know a little more about him. He's an amazing American, we have no idea how fortunate we are to live in a country where men like Jeff Nichols serve us so selflessly.
Please pass along to those you think would be interested.

__________________________________________________

Good evening. I am Katie Beall, oldest daughter of Chancellor and Mrs. Jack Hawkins. It is my honor to be able to introduce my best friend, Navy SEAL Jeff Nichols, to you all tonight.
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” Those of us who witnessed the horrors of Sept 11, 2001 and then made the difficult choice to serve our nation can best identify with that statement.
The majority of you in the audience tonight were in grade school when the American way of life changed forever. Tonight, you are being introduced to true, selfless American heroes. You are literally in the presence of greatness and of men who have sacrificed so much for your freedoms.
A native of Iowa, Jeff Nichols came to Troy University on a baseball scholarship. He graduated from Troy University in 2002 with a degree in exercise physiology.
Jeff joined the Navy in October 2002 and was chosen to be a candidate for the Basic Underwater Demolition School. He completed Basic Army Air-Born Parachute School and then was sent to SEAL Qualification Training in San Diego where following an intense 6 months, he earned the official title of SEAL in May 2004. Out of 164 SEAL candidates that started the training in Jeff’s class, only 22 completed.
In his 8 years of service, Jeff has completed 12 combat deployments to half a dozen countries. He was deployed 306/365 days in this past year alone. Jeff has been awarded multiple combat awards with valor. He is a SEAL sniper, a SEAL explosives breacher, is a static line and freefall parachute jumpmaster, a Naval master parachutist and he is a certified strength and conditioning specialist.
My friendship with Jeff began when we both transferred to Troy University in 1999. From Day 1 of meeting, Jeff told me that he was going to be a Navy SEAL. There was never any mystery to what he dreamed of becoming.
We immediately bonded over our love for our country and through our shared dreams of serving our great nation. We were kindred spirits from the beginning: we’d go to baseball parties and spend hours in a corner talking about and planning our military futures . I like to remind him that we were the “weird ones” but he thinks we were normal and everyone else was different!
I commissioned as an active duty Air Force intelligence officer through AFROTC here at Troy University in May 2002. Through our years at Troy, Jeff supported me 100% and encouraged me daily to push forward towards my dream of military service. It was during my vulnerable years at Troy University that he became a hero of mine.
Aside from my father, a Vietnam veteran, Marine Corps officer who was awarded 2 purple hearts and a bronze star, and my own husband, a highly decorated Air Force intelligence officer, Jeff is my hero. These three men are examples of true heroes and to be able to call Jeff my friend is an honor. He is loyal; a devoted father to his 4 year old son, Mason; a proud Trojan; and a one of the most amazing Americans I have ever known. Ladies and gentleman, let’s welcome Navy SEAL Jeff Nichols.
_________________________________________
Thank You’s Dr. Hawkins Mrs. Janice Hawkins Troy For Troops Committee All those involved in getting me back to Troy Schaughnessy Introduce Myself Name, 2002 Grad from Troy Navy SEAL w/ numerous combat deployments Numerous awards for Valor Most Importantly I am an AMERICAN and a Father of a 4 year old little angel. Troy for Troops message Before I Proceed I did not come here to recruit for the Navy Comments expressed are not Troy’s, US Gov, or the Navy’s Comments are mine and mine alone If anyone is offended come and see me afterwards and we can talk. Keep in mind if you have enough confidence to come and see me afterwards I have lost 29 of my friends in 4 yrs and 22 last month. We can all guess how that little talk will go. 1. It is often pointed out to me how different a life I live and have lived. Which is why relating you to all became the one question I had. I am not too far removed from you all are. My life was decided while I was here at Troy. I remember where and why I decided to Join the Navy and become a SEAL. WHEN, WHERE, WHY. I AM PRETTY HARD ON MYSELF. I NEEDED THIS CHALLENGE SO I COULD LOOK MYSELF IN THE MIRROR, AND ULTIMATLY LEAVE MY LEGACY TO MY FAMILY, GRANDSON….. I was also here at Troy on Sep. 11th. WHERE AND WHEN. Sept. 11th has lived with me every day since then, TRULY!!! 2. I have two Goals this evening. 1/make a point and not be all over, 2/ Not to package my opinions as fact, but give you a sense of how sep 11 changed lives. 3. I was given guidance in the form of topics to address (which I will) such as +personal experiences +career Experiences +broad effects of 911+why 911 matters. ****Bring light not Darkness***** All good things, but one overriding fact still remained with me through all my soul searching. We were attacked “WE WERE ATTACKED” NO AMOUNT of feel good stories will make up for the anger I have on that topic. Pres Bush Said “we will not make the distinction between those who carried out these terrorist acts and those that Harbor them”. He also said “I can hear you, the rest of the world can hear you, and soon those responsible for knocking down these towers will hear all of us soon” I HAVE LIVED BY THESE QUOTES I HAVE SPENT THE LAST 9 YEARS NOT MAKING THAT DISTINCTION. Because I know you are all thinking one of these questions? 2 most common – breath hold – killed someone – how does it make you feel. 911 is why I am here / why I am always gone/ why I fight / kill / and why my beliefs and values are continually being shaped, and reinforced. And it didn’t end for me when UBL was killed. In the past 9 years. Every time I have bled, every time I have pushed myself to my physical limits, every time I have been scared, and every time I have cried has been because of 911. 4.Broad Effects of 911 5. Perspective on Leadership and World Security. Janet Napalitano. Said “one of our greatest threats to homeland security is our returning vets” and yet we have more than 2 dozen know terrorist training camps inside our boarders right now. Most all of them formally established post 911. Perspective---Weak as it has ever been- we as a country have become so dependent on others (who are not experts) who present their opinions as fact. 911 taught us (or should have) that everyone need to take a proactive and not a reactive stance in protecting and caring for our freedoms so many have bled for. Troy for Troops/ Students/Parents Be Proactive and not reactive Learn to love our country, it’s never too late! Stand up for our Freedoms (not an excuse to be pathetic) Be a good role model for all children (example: national anthem) Conclusion 911 matters to so many. It is my generations Pearl Harbor. For those few who are still alive who lived through that, and the even fewer who were serving or there, my LOVE and ADMIRATION goes out to them. I know how they all felt. This time around my brothers and I were the ones who took up arms. HERE IS WHERE I HAVE A HARD TIME PACKAGING MY THOUGHTS INTO FACT….BECAUSE I JUST CANT. All of you will look back at this statement and remember it. Sep 11th 2001 was just the beginning for us and the world. A lot of eyes have been opened (on both sides) and so many eyes have turned away. Darker days are coming unless we find the love for our country we once had. They are already here, they are just waiting. Waiting for what….Waiting for us to be weak and divided. We are pretty divided right now. So next time someone asks you what your political affiliation is…..say it proud, look them into the eyes and say………… I AM AN AMERICAN.

More Summer Fun

2011-08-30T08:51:00.003-05:00

The kids and I are in Alabama currently enjoying grandparents, pool time and fun friends. Dan is going to join us for the long weekend and I am so excited to get him here. Being at my parent's home is a vacation - it is a resort!

We had the Back to School bash here at the Waters in Pike Road, Alabama this past weekend and it was so much fun. The photo of Noah getting a pie in his face was too awesome to not capture. He wanted all day to throw a pie in someone's face so he got his plate loaded up and ran into the crowd with such enthusiasm. While he looked and looked for someone to 'pie,' a 10 year old came out of no where and slammed a pie into his pretty little face. I couldn't help it - I started clicking away as he screamed because I wanted him to have those shots one day (say, Senior yearbook or wedding slideshow!) He wasn't hurt physically but he was SO mad that he got hit - his feelings and pride were hurt. Pitiful, I know but oh so funny!

Both of our children are late walkers. Yesterday, I took Noah down to Troy to see the band practice and visit some friends while my dad took Noah around campus. While I was gone - all of 3 hours - our little girl started walking. Thankfully, she was with my mom when she fully hit this milestone but I wanted to weep because I missed it! One of my best friends, Amy, reassured me that 'firsts' don't really happen unless a parent witnesses it so that helped me to feel better.

Here are some pictures from the week in Alabama thus far.

A Glimpse

2011-08-18T20:32:00.001-05:00

Here is a look into our lives over the past two weeks:

I got almost a foot of my hair cut off! Too many of my friends and loved ones are losing/have lost their hair because of their fights against cancer - plus we are approaching 50 days straight of 100+ degree weather - that I decided it was time to go back to my really short style I had in college!

Noah has started Pre-3 K and goes 5 days a week. LOVING it. He has been in Mother's Day Out for 2 years now but that was only 2 days a week. And after this long hot summer in the Bayou, he and I both have cabin fever from not being able to go outside much. So this new schedule (9-12:15 M-F) is a welcomed change.

Ellyotte has gone from our sweet, passive, quiet baby to a LOUD, aggressive (in a good way!) and opinionated 1 year old. Not kidding - she and Noah will fight all day over a toy and if he has any kind of food in his hand that she wants, she will pull his hair and climb all over him till he caves and shares with her. It is funny to watch now... but it is a glimpse into the future of these two headstrong Beall babies!

(The Beall Band!)

How to Help

2011-08-13T12:02:00.003-05:00

After having read my previous post several people have emailed me to ask how they can help the families of the victims of this past week's Chinook tragedy in Afghanistan.

I spoke with my buddy and he said that since so many men were killed at one time and that bodies are slowly making their ways home for funerals, specific efforts aren't completely underway just yet.

However, there are a few ways you can reach out in the meantime (I promise to let you all know when J. let's me know how we can specifically help), there are a few organizations that are accepting donations for those families left behind:

Naval Special Warfare Foundation/Navy SEAL Foundation
http://nswfoundation.org/

Wounded Warrior Project
https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/Default.aspx?tsid=167&gclid=CPvUwcXfzKoCFUjt7QodTnDczg

And most important, you can continue to pray for the families and friends as they begin the lifelong journey of mourning their soldiers.

Here are some of the pictures of the fine young men that America lost last weekend. 2 of those men were natives of Shreveport, Louisiana - where we are stationed currently. It is a huge "hometown" loss for this patriotic area.

Weariness and Service

2011-08-12T09:24:00.002-05:00

It is amazing what God will whisper to you. He gives me what I need when I need it.

This has been a heartbreaking week for our country. Obviously we have all heard what happened last Saturday when 30 of our troops were killed in a chopper crash in Afghanistan. 3/4 of those men were members of Navy SEAL Team 6.

One of my best friends is also a SEAL. Praise God he was home in the US when this happened (he was relieved from deployment in Afghanistan a few months ago when those killed replaced him and the others); but I am certain there have been many moments this week that he wished it was him and not his fallen brothers. What a burden to think "that could've been me..." when you know you were on countless choppers in countless firefights just like his best buds.

I have been so heavy hearted for those families who lost their men: fathers, husbands, sons, brothers and obviously, friends.

In addition to that, Dan and I learned that two of the pilots Dan used to work with (when he was the intelligence officer for a fighter squadron several years ago) were also killed when a gunman entered the Kabul, AFG airport and opened fire. 9 of our civilians and troops were killed when that happened. 2 of them were fine fighter pilots who were also husbands, fathers, brothers, sons, friends....

War is a terrible thing. It is awful to observe from afar and it is even more painful when there are faces to the names of the fallen.

I haven't been sleeping much and I am not sure why. My doctor gave me a prescription for a sleep aid but that thing makes me crazy! And I mean crazy: I will get up at night and not have any recollection of it. My only clues being that Dan will notice/see me get up and/or things are left out of place letting me know I was roaming. Scary, I know!

So I am trying to avoid taking it. But that means I will wake up in the wee hours and not be able to go back to sleep. Agh, I am tired! Noah doesn't start "school" till Monday so my days have been long with the two babies. Long, but extremely fulfilling. I love being able to stay home with them in these young years.

Last night was another long night for some reason. I woke up at 2 am and didn't go back to sleep at all. Then Noah woke up early to go to the bathroom and then Ellyotte woke up so we were all up way too early! By 8 am, I wanted to go back to bed. It felt like we had had a full day already.

I drank coffee, a Spark energy drink, ate breakfast, took my vitamins. But nothing was working at giving me the pep I needed just to make it to nap time. So, when all else fails: hit the WORD, right?!

I opened up my "Jesus Calling" devotional (awesome. by Sarah Young) and wouldn't you know that August 12th was from Romans 8:26:

"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans."

I didn't even ask Him in advance for food for my weak and weary spirit. Yet, He knew I needed it and gave it to me anyway. The devotion was perfect:

"Come to me when you are weak and weary, Rest snugly in My everlasting arms. ... your weakness draws Me closer to you."

That is so hard to do: draw close to God when you are weak/weary. Because it takes energy to draw close to Him. It takes an effort to go get my Bible and find some quiet moments to spend with just Him. As any mom knows, quiet moments don't exist unless you make time for them. I am so glad that I did this morning. Yes, I am still tired physically but my spirit is energized. Praise God for that!

Hearts will always be broken, our spirits will always be weak but how thankful I am to have a heavenly father who knows my heart and my weakness every minute of my day. I just got an email from a family friend who is deployed in Afghanistan currently. He sent it to his family following the horrible crash. His unit gathered in formation to honor the victims immediately after his commander learned of the accident. In the email, he shared that the co-pilot (CW4 Carter) of the chopper had a tattoo on his arm that said:

"When I get to Heaven, to St. Peter I will tell 'Here I am reporting, sir! I have spent my time in hell."

Don't we all feel like that sometimes? This earth is so temporary and all the trappings of it are so fleeting. I hope that CW4 Carter - and all of the other brave men - now is experiencing the joys of the heaven he longed to receive.

Noah notices the American flag wherever we go. I recite the Pledge of Allegiance to him daily so he will learn it like I learned it at a young age. Yesterday, as we walked into Wal Mart, he asked me why the flag was only "halfway up." I told him - as best as I could - that it was because our country was very sad. I told him that we lost a lot of good soldiers this week. He asked a few questions and then we moved on. When Dan got home, he said "Daddy, our Merican flag isn't all the way up. Merica is sad cause lots of soldiers died." It was a moving moment as I watched my toddler tell his daddy that while Dan was standing there in his uniform.

I am proud of my little family and of my husband who selflessly wears that uniform every day. And while Dan sometimes feels like he's not giving back eternally in the career field he is currently serving, I am proud that he raises his hand every day and says "Here I am Lord, send me" by way of serving his country. And I am honored to be able to raise our children with Dan as he teaches them the meaning of service by doing exactly what he's doing: serving.

So while I am weary, and while my heart is heavy, I am thankful for today. And thankful that God has given me and mine the gift of today because tomorrow is not promised. And because of that, I will find the energy to fully enjoy the moment. One day, we will all find ourselves heartbroken as our loved ones go on before us so today, let's love and be loved and serve and be served and give thanks and be thankful for today.

Happy Sunday

2011-07-31T15:43:00.000-05:00

I couldn't resist sharing these pictures. They make me smile!

Happy girl!

My exercise buddies

My mini-me

I'm not too big for the baby swing...

Daddy, Ellyotte and Noah building forts

Sunday afternoon nap

Thank You.

2011-07-28T16:44:00.001-05:00

This is the letter I sent to my family and a few friends yesterday: the one year anniversary since my pulmonary embolism. The 'thank you' extends much further than those I emailed. I want to thank you all for your prayers and support that literally spared my life. Thank you all so much.

_______________________________________

Family,
One year and six days ago our family welcomed precious Ellyotte. To me, life couldn't get much better than it was holding her in my arms and being surrounded by all of you in the hospital room. But it could get much worse....

One year ago today, 27 July 2010, was the most frightening day of my life, thus far. And having to watch my mom go through it all again (since her brother died from the same thing I had: a pulmonary embolism) was agonizing.

This has been a long, but blessed year. The prayers that Mrs Lucy McKee (who has since gone to become a member of that glorious host of angels advocating and praying on our behalf from above) sent up on my behalf days before the clot even happened, and because she was listening to the Spirit, saved me.

And because my mom also listened to the urging of the Holy Spirit and walked into Noahs room and caught me trying to breathe and forced me to the ER, we were able to catch the PE in time.

The support and prayers lifted up on my behalf after it happened sustained me. I am so thankful to no longer be on blood thinners and able to exercise and travel and enjoy life to the fullest. And it is because of you - blood family and friends - that I am here.

I was at my lowest point ever in that hospital bed in the heart unit - having just spent 3 days in the labor and delivery unit celebrating our new life. Dan had to take new Ellyotte home and be with my mom and noah while I got injections and blood work done all night and several days following. One of my best friends, Amy Hall in Nashville, let me wail and sob and fall apart on the phone while she just listened and prayed for me. She will never know what her quiet strength did for my breaking spirit at that dark hour in my life. And having my dad and sister get right back into the car after having just returned to Alabama following Ellyottes birth, meant the world to me. Then my mother in law and sister in law, Annie, selflessly sacrificing their time and love to come take care of me and the babies while I healed was exactly what I needed.

Most of all, my husband and my mom's support - emotionally, spiritually and physically - through those days following the clot was what initially brought me through and allowed me to get on the road to recovery.
Thank you all for your love and support; you have no idea how much it means to me and Dan. He was facing being a widower and father of two babies - God clearly had a different plan than Satan and I praise him for that. He is worthy and greatly to be praised.

Love,

Katie

Ellyotte's FIRST Birthday Party!

2011-07-25T19:55:00.008-05:00

If you judge by the pictures, this baby girl had a GREAT first birthday! We had about 30 friends over to celebrate her big day this past Saturday. She had cake, ice cream, and tons of fun. Ellyotte got lots of toys and clothes and books - and she was such a sport. She literally enjoyed every minute of the day! And Dan and I did too: we set up a "redneck water park" in the back yard where the bigger kids and men enjoyed the 105 degree heat (!!) and beer, and the ladies and babies stayed inside.

What a fun afternoon! My mom and sister were here and we just had a special, memorable time.

Ellyotte's Invitation

2011-07-24T19:11:00.000-05:00

Here is the cute CUTE invitation we sent out to Ellyotte's friends and family. Her party was yesterday, July 23, 2011, and I am busy uploading the fun pictures from her big day. I will post soon!

Photo Card

View the entire collection of cards.

07.21.2010

2011-07-15T22:22:00.006-05:00

In 5 days, our precious Ellyotte Pierce Beall will be 1. I am dumbfounded by the way the year has gone by and how it is a blur yet a lifetime. There is no way to imagine my life before my daughter entered it. Every smile, laugh, nose crunch, reach for me, whine, word spoken, dirty diaper, roll on the floor with her brother, everything my baby girl does melts me and molds me closer to her. She's my mini me and my fresh start. The innocence that surrounds both of those babies is surreal. I want to keep it that way forever.

The love I have for our first born, Noah, is so different from the love I have for my girl. I don't love him or her more or less; it is just DIFFERENT. Just today, I called Noah my baby. He said "I not a baby. I'm big." Yet he knew when I called him my baby what I meant. He knows he will always be my baby boy. He's my fiesty redhead - a reminder of my very Irish heritage and of my beloved Aunt Mamie who passed onto Heaven in November; he's the antagonist in my days, the one I go head-to-head with constantly; the one I "nap" in "mama's bed" with... even though I rarely sleep, I let him nuzzle in the crook of my arm and I just breathe him in. He still says "I wanna hold you mama." Gah, that melts me and no matter how frustrated I am by him, I let him "hold" me. But Ellyotte.... I look at that face and I am just amazed by how differently I love her.

When she was delivered via scheduled c-section on 21 July 2010 and entered this planet at 8:05 AM, I had no idea how my life would change. Obviously for the better, long term. But within six days - 144 hours - I was back in the hospital facing MY eternity and my babies and husband were facing their lives without me in them. I sat on the phone with one of my best friends on this earth, Amy Hall, all alone in a hospital bed in the heart unit of the same hospital where life had just begun for my daughter and sobbed to the depths of my soul. She just let me and prayed for me because I was at a loss for words.

As I've said in previous posts, all I could hear over and over in my brain were the words Sally Fields screamed in "Steel Magnolias" in the graveyard after her baby was buried: "(Her son) will never know how wonderful his mother was and how much she loved him." I had carried Elly since conception and not for one second - even when we craved sleep in the hospital post surgery and I asked the nurses to take her to the nursery and within 15 minutes, I couldn't stand her being 30 feet away and made them bring her back - had I been away from her.

Yet, I kissed her new head, nursed her and sent her home with the love of my life, the father of my babies, to be with MY mom - who had given me MY life and who was at MY house hysterically crying and praying over HER firstborn. My mom had lost her only brother to a pulmonary embolism following knee surgery so she was my angel in disguise. She found me gasping for air, she forced me to go to the hospital and despite her deepest anguish and fear, she kept my house running and took care of herself, my babies and my husband while I struggled.

That is how Ellyotte's first year on this earth started. The months following her birth, she went with us to internist, OB, hematologist appointments and never cried or protested. God gave us a baby that we needed for the challenges we faced. She's never been a challenge: unlike Noah, no colic, no sleepless nights, no prolonged crying. At one year, she sleeps 14 hours a night and still takes two long naps during the day. But when she misses a nap here and there, she never cries. Dan swears that when she cries, it is because we have done something wrong. And, that is usually the case.

Our Elly Belle is the sweetest, happiest baby we have ever been around. We've been told time and again we should never, ever even consider getting pregnant again (because of my uterine window condition and the clotting disorder I have), and given how good Ellyotte is and how wild Noah is, we might want to consider that advice: nothing gets better than Miss Ellyotte! She's the best baby ever and we would be pressing our luck if we pursued adding any more to our brood. For as good as she is, we'd be begging for one just as bad!

At ONE YEAR, Ellyotte is:
- 22 lbs, 11 ounces and 31" long. She is a LONG string bean!
- Wears size 2T in clothing - because of her length.
- Wears a size 4 shoes. Still a bit big on her but she no longer comfortably fits into a 3...
- Says many things: Cat- eeow (everything animal wise - even our fish - are cats!), bah (for bottle or food), night night (when she's tired at night), nap (yep, she tells me when it is time for nap), buhbuh (for Noah), dah-dah (daddy), maaaahhhhh-maaaahhhh (she's super dramatic when it comes to me!), jah-jah (for her Jan Jan - my mom), gahddy (for my dad, Graddy), dank-eeewwww (thank you).
- she's trying so hard to walk! Not too much longer. We think we inhibited her walking by putting her into her walker - which she's a speed demon in!
- Have I mentioned she's a mama's girl!? Yep, that she is.

We do have an appointment with a specialist on 4 August. It is the "final word" in our reproductive pursuits.... Dr. Groom will tell us once and for all if/when one or both of us should be sterilized. We know the challenges we face should we have more and we know that given how perfect our two existing babies are we shouldn't push our luck. But.... how do we KNOW that we aren't supposed to have more?? Yes. My uterus is a wreck and my blood condition is a mess. But do we trust the 15th "man" that tells us to never have any more children or do we trust God and not do anything to prevent a pregnancy? Is that irresponsible to disregard MY health for the life of another unborn child? Or do we trust the opinion of an extremely well respected high risk OB to be the final judgement call? Please pray for us and for our decision. We want to be responsible: I am a wife and a mother of two first and foremost. I realize what I am looking to risk to bring another life into the world but what am I supposed to do??? Sterilize myself or pursue our desire to add more to our family? Please pray....

Nonetheless, wish our baby girl - our MIRACLE baby, Ellyotte - a happy first birthday. For as many doctors that told me that I shouldn't still be alive, that same number have said that our daughter should have been the first casualty of the blood clot and the uterine window I suffered post-Noah c-section.

God bless this baby as she enters her 2nd year for she blesses so many others with her new and pure and sweet spirit.

Beach Fun

2011-07-12T19:36:00.001-05:00

We had a BLAST at the beach!!! The first few days were just "us" four and then my folks joined us. We were there for 8 days and had a wonderful time. We went putt-putting, swam LOTS (Noah is quite the FISH!), slept and laughed. What an awesome time together and with my folks - and some friends mixed in!

Awesome Children's Clothing

2011-06-24T08:41:00.004-05:00

http://www.twosewcute.com/category_9/All-Designs.htm

If you are a Southerner like me, you love to dress your kids in monogrammed and appliqued EVERYTHING! An old friend of mine, Ginger, and her mom are now making their talents available for totally reasonable prices - and the product is AMAZING.

Check out the above link and put some orders in at Two Sew Cute!

Our Cousin... from the UKRAINE!

2011-06-23T19:14:00.005-05:00

We (on my side - Katie) have a new cousin: Mr. Ivan Kramer! He was born in the Ukraine and has been in an orphanage since his birth. He is now 2 and in the past few days, has met his new mama and daddy - my cousin, Karen, and her sweet husband, Derek. Karen and Derek are in Tennessee with their other 3 children: Emily, Timothy, and baby Stella.

Derek and Karen committed to "love God out loud" and when they learned about baby Ivan, they decided to act. They signed the intent to adopt agreement and will come back to the States, do some final preparations for little Ivan and then will return to the orphanage to bring him "home."

Ivan is 2. He has Down's Syndrome, but unlike every other child on this earth, he deserves to be loved and brought up in God's love from day 1. Ivan spends most of his days in his crib, thus, he doesn't yet sit up on his own, or crawl... or walk. But he will - all because Karen and Derek obeyed God and followed His lead to Russia.

It has been such a blessing to follow the Kramers on their journey to get their boy. We have learned about other special needs/precious babies that need families and have been able to pray for them specifically.

I encourage you all to pray for, follow, and possibly even give to the Kramers and other families as they go "get" their babies from Russia and bring them home.

http://thekramerfamilysite.blogspot.com LOVING GOD OUT LOUD

Summer Fun

2011-06-21T09:17:00.004-05:00

It is insane to me how quickly these days are flying by lately. In one month from today, our sweet Ellyotte Girl will be ONE!!!! We are just floored by how fast this year has gone while also not being able to remember life without her in it.

Noah is turning more and more into a big boy by the minute: he is in Swim School here in Louisiana and although yesterday was his first of five days, the kid is rocking it! He is already swimming, with head under water, ALONE. What?! He's fearless and I am so proud. We wanted him to be fully capable of swimming without floaties for our annual family beach trip this next month. Well, that he will be!

I am doing well. On a quick break from teaching this summer - I will pick up my classes again in August. It is nice not grading papers every day!

My sister turned the big 3-0 last week and it was great being back in Alabama to celebrate with her. I took her, and her friends/my friends, down to the condo in Panama City Beach for an amazing long weekend. We had a blast! And even took a boat out all day on Saturday to swim with the dolphins. It was awesome.

Here are some fun pictures from the month so far. Our girl is standing and cruising - hopefully she will start walking soon. She has 8 teeth, tons of hair and sleeps 14 hours at night! What an incredible baby girl. Whew, I am thankful.

Ellyotte's Invitation!

2011-06-20T08:33:00.002-05:00

Here is the cute CUTE invitation we sent out to Ellyotte's friends and family. Her party was yesterday, July 23, 2011, and I am busy uploading the fun pictures from her big day. I will post soon!

Photo Card

View the entire collection of cards.

Can't Get Enough

2011-06-02T12:24:00.003-05:00

There is so much cuteness happening in our house right now!

Popsicle Time:

Ellyotte's first baby doll:

Sister Whiney Pants:

Hawkins Girls in NYC

2011-05-24T09:02:00.005-05:00

My mom, Kelly and I went to New York City for a fun girls weekend together. And what fun did we have!! Kelly's got a big birthday coming up in June so this was a celebration as well as some much needed time away for us all.

My mom landed us an incredible 3 room suite at the Waldorf Astoria! I hadn't ever stayed there before and after the 5 star treatment we received, I doubt any of us will want to stay anywhere else. It was incredible! INCREDIBLE.

On Thursday night, we went to the Brunello Vineyard wine tasting event/dinner at the Four Seasons restaurant. It was an experience. I think we had 7 courses all pared with delicious red wines from Italy.

Friday, we woke up late, ate breakfast, got dressed and headed out into the drizzly, cold May day to Ground Zero. Both Kelly and Mom had been there since 9/11 but I hadn't. It was sobering, to say the least. And the weather was fitting.

We spent the rest of Friday shopping and then went into Greenwich Village for dinner. Kelly's favorite restaurant in the City is Sushi Samba in the Village so that's where our reservations were. It was so yummy! After dinner, we walked around the village and had a few more drinks then headed back Uptown to the Waldorf.

Saturday was just as awesome. We ate breakfast, shopped, stood in line in Times Square waiting for matinee Broadway tickets. It was totally worth the wait: we saw the Tony Award Winner for Best Show in 2010 "Memphis." SO AWESOME!!!! WOW. I'd never been brought to tears before at a show but "Memphis" had me bawling - Kelly too. It was powerful and I highly recommend it should you find yourself in NYC anytime soon.

Following the show, we shopped some more, stopped by Rockefeller Center, and had a glass of wine. Then we got dressed and headed to dinner at Brasserie - delicious, yet again. For the most part it was just mom and me because Kelly had to meet up with some friends in the Village after dinner. But that was okay - we ate and went back to the hotel! Old ladies, we are... :)

It was such a memorable and fun weekend. I will treasure the memories and pictures always. Each year we try to do a girls trip (usually a ski trip) and this year's weekend did NOT disappoint!

Parallels.

2011-05-17T19:16:00.004-05:00

284 days. That's how long it's been since my world could've and did change forever.

Right after the blood clot "threw" from my leg to my lung, my next door neighboor shared the story of a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend with me. His wife suffered a pulmonary embolism 27 hours post c-section and he'd kept a blog about it since. However, in the haze of blood thinners and anxiety reducers and a brand new screaming baby, I didn't have the capacity or wherewithal to understand what she was telling me. My mission was to survive one hour to the next at that point.

Now, I get it.

That friend of a friend of a friend of a friend (etc) turned that blog into a book.

I was looking for a new book to read on my Nook when I stumbled upon one of the NY Bestsellers. It is called "2 Kisses for Maddy" by Matt Logelin. It didn't ring a bell but it should've. I'd read a review of it a few weeks ago but it was only with half of my attention. But two nights ago, I logged into Barnes and Noble and found "MY STORY."

I began reading it and couldn't put it down. Literally, it was like a car accident you watch - although you don't want to - and you can't turn away. It was our story, my story.

Dan and I began dating when Matt and Liz Logelin began dating; we dated for years upon years long distance; we got engaged at the same time; their wedding happened - lavishly - a month before ours did in 2005; they became pregnant at the same time we did and their first baby was born exactly one month after our Noah was born via c-section.

However... their story ended, while ours continued. She delivered their daughter named Madeline and just 27 hours post c-section, she got up to walk around the hospital room on the way to see her baby girl and literally uttered the same exact words I did when my mom found me struggling to breathe: "I'm light headed." Those were Liz Logelin's last words, but not mine.

My story continued and I went to the hospital to be diagnosed with a massive pulmonary embolism (blood clot in my lung), I walked in with my 6 day old daughter in my arms. She died before ever having held her Madeline in her arms.

To say that this book is rocking me to my core is an understatement. It is my story. Our story. But our's continued. Their's stopped. I told Dan about the book I was reading and he said "What I almost lost is not lost on me." Dan Beall was facing raising two babies alone and I never would've known the joy that Ellyotte Pierce brings to my life. When I say that I am transfixed on that baby girl, I am not exaggerating. She's my world - as is Noah. Not a moment goes by that I don't remember that they were almost without a mommy.

Just a week ago, I had a doctor tell me: "Young lady, you are a walking miracle. I don't have one patient I treated with a pulmonary embolism that survived." Huh?! He couldn't believe that I walked into the ER and was able to tell the personnel that I couldn't breathe... that I was light headed. I love being reminded that my life today, at age 30 (at the time of the PE), is a miracle. That Elly is a miracle; I have heard more than once that the clot should've passed thru her umbilical cord and she should be a stillborn. That I am here to raise a rowdy, accident prone 3 year old is a miracle. And that I am here to love my beloved husband into old age is nothing short of a miracle.

I am reading Matt Logelin's story and thinking of it being my Dan in his position. Laying on that stretcher after kissing my baby girl (6 days old...) and my husband goodbye as they wheeled me to do an immediate ultrasound on my legs to see if there were any additional clots via ultrasound, I thought over and over of that scene from "Steel Magnolias" when Sally Field screams "this baby will NEVER know how wonderful his mother is or how much she loved him." And I thought that Dan would remarry, if I didn't make it. It broke my heart thinking that my babies would never know me or the love I have for their father.

Thankfully, the PE didn't kill me. And I am here. 284 days later. Every moment with Elly is a blessing, every kiss I steal from my redhead is annointed, every secret moment Danny and I have together is sacred. I don't forget to tell my mom and dad how much I love them; my sister hears regularly that I adore her and I am proud of her.

Don't miss the chance to LOVE like you fully can - embrace each moment to love your family and friends like it is your last. Liz Logelin had to leave her legacy for Madeline to learn about through her daddy and her friends. Katie Beall lived - defied the odds - to love like I was born to love. I challenge you to do the same and not leave it to your loved ones to pass along your legacy. Pass along your legacy every moment you are blessed to be on this earth. That is my challenge to you.

Growing, Sweet Girl

2011-05-11T09:04:00.005-05:00

Ellyotte Pierce is SUCH a sweet baby. Have I said that before?! Because she's the most adorable, sweet tempered, rested baby I've ever been around. And is she ever a flirt!! Her daddy walks into the door and she starts giggling as soon as she hears him. Then when he's coming towards her, she will hide her pretty face in my neck and act shy. It is so stinkin cute.

We just had her 9 month check up. She's a long string bean:
Weight: 20 lbs, 9 ounces putting her in the 70th percentile for weight(she was 7 lbs, 14 ounces at birth)
Length: 30 INCHES!!! Putting her in the 90th percentile for length

She's got the most gorgeous gray/blue/greenish eyes. I guess they are considered hazel but they are exquisite. And her hair was dark dark brown when she was born, lightened into a light brown color and now is turning platinum blonde in the summer months! Exactly what my sister, Kelly's hair did. And we all know she's gone back to being a true brunette in her older years.

Ellyotte says "dada," "mama", "hi!" (and waves), "nitenite," "byebye," and "baba" when she's hungry. She's a fast crawler. Although she does crawl traditional style, she's realized she's quicker on her tummy doing her Army low crawl. And when Gumbo the cat or Piper the dog enter the room, she sprints towards them. She's obsessed with those animals.

Her favorite foods are organic banana puffs, yogurt melts, YO Baby yogurts, cheese cubes, sweet potatoes, squash... she's a great eater.

Her favorite time of day is when she gets to swing outside next to her brother. She also adores bathtime with Noah every night. They have a ball splashing each other and "talking" to one another. It is exciting to watch and anticipate how close they will be the older they get.

Her schedule is very predictable:
She wakes about 7:30 am, eats breakfast, plays a minute then goes back to bed for an hour nap about 8:30 am. She will wake about 10:00 am, play, exercise with me and Noah in the jogging stroller, eat lunch and then she and Noah go down for their naps about 12:00. She's still a random late afternoon napper too but if that happens, it is only for about half an hour. She eats dinner at 5:00, waits for daddy to get home to see him, bathes and then is sound asleep by 6:30 pm at the latest! She will then sleep 13 hours straight till 7:30 the next morning! WHAT A BLESSING!

We fall more in love with her as the days pass. She's my little girl completely: she loves her mama. And on my hip doing whatever I am doing is what she prefers these days! She's still a paci girl - if that paci isn't in her mouth during naps or bedtime, she will scream and scream until she either locates it in her crib or you come put it back into her mouth.

Ellyotte Pierce Beall is more precious and we love her more than we ever imagined possible.

Beauty

2011-05-06T20:23:00.002-05:00

Here are our Beall Family Portraits 2011.
One of my closest friends on this planet, Amy H. Hall, photographer from Grace Images took these when we stayed with her family in Nashville during our recent Easter visit.

She's one talented lady!

Mama's Day

2011-05-06T08:55:00.006-05:00

This is a special Mother's Day for me personally: it is the 3rd year that I am a mom to Noah, the 1st year that I am a mom to Ellyotte and the 1st year that I can celebrate being a mama to my precious babies that I am alive to raise. This past year has been so scary for me at times - healthwise - that I am truly, truly thankful to be present on this earth with my children and my husband this mother's day.

Here is a special video that my family really appreciates this year more than ever before. In November, we lost my precious Aunt Mamie (the redhead in the video next to Mrs. Gloria Grant) and just last week, we all lost another lifelong friend, Mrs. Gloria Grant (Amy Grant's mother) in Nashville. Mamie and Gloria and Jeananne (the gorgeous blonde in the video) were inseparable so these past five months have been tough as we said goodbye to two of the threesome.

About 10 years ago, Oprah did a Mother's Day show and invited Amy's mom, Mrs. Gloria, to be on it. Mrs. Glo took her best friends, Mamie (my aunt) and Mrs. Jeananne to the show with her. They are sitting to Mrs. Glo's left.

As you will see in the video, they didn't know that Oprah had Amy and her sisters surprise Mrs. Gloria. She was truly surprised and the whole group had an incredibly memorable time together during the taping and after as they enjoyed Chicago. Aunt Mamie still drank out of her Oprah mug up until her death in November!

This video is priceless to me and to my family because it allows us to see our Mamie and Gloria the way they truly were on this earth: vibrant, happy, alive. I am so thankful that someone saved this clip and posted it onto youtube.

Kelly and I are blessed to have OUR mom love us the way she does. She's truly selfless and is daily pleading the Blood over her girls, husband, and now son-in-law and grandbabies. She's the glue that holds our family together - she always has been. There are no words to describe my gratitude and eternal love for my Mama, Janice Hawkins. She's God's greatest gift to the Hawkins/Beall family. I love you, Mom.

Easter, etc

2011-04-29T18:36:00.011-05:00

What a month. Here are the bullet points:

- Dan got.... PROMOTED TO MAJOR (USAF)!! We are really excited and *interested* to see where God is pointing us towards next... More to come soon.
- Ellyotte hit 9 months. What a precious baby girl. Gah, she melts me. 4 teeth, crawling, sleeping 13 hours straight each night. What a sweet child.
- The kids and I (NO DAN) drove home to Alabama on, noneother, than the prelude to the most intense tornado storm in US history.

On 15 April, we set off for Alabama - despite protests from both of my folks. To sum it up: a normal 7.5 - 8 hour trip took almost 12 hours. We entered Clinton, MS 10 minutes after most of it had been wiped off the face of the earth by a tornado. I20 was shut down and we were detoured through that ravaged town for 2 hours. We then head on towards home (to see my folks). I witnessed firsthand the desparation and devestation in the peoples' faces as they realized they had lost EVERYTHING. Homes, businesses, power, lives.... were gone.

On the way between Jackson, MS and Meridian, MS, I hydroplaned 5 times and we stopped under 5 overpasses as tornados blew behind us and in front of us. The hail was so big that it woke Noah up from his brief nap and threw him into a fit of frightened tears.

We finally make it to Meridian. As we enter the town, I see a funnel cloud in the distance - so I tear into the Chic-Fil-A parking lot, whip Elly's seat out of the car, run towards the LOCKED doors and I hear "Oh my gosh, she's got babies. Let her in." I leave E with them and go back to get Noah. They escorted us into the KITCHEN to wait for the tornado to pass. At this point, I am a wreck and my mom (on the phone) is having a nervous breakdown in Costco back in Bama. My dad tells us to head on out while my mom is begging me to get a room in Meridian (NO CHANCE - a second front was on the way) - I check the doppler on my new iPhone 4 and it looked like we would come right behind the front that was leaving West Alabama and leave before the new front entered Meridian. I put the pedal to the metal and my poor kids were exhausted from driving.

We drove the next 150 miles in heavy rains and got to Demopolis and then Selma and then Montgomery just after tornados touched down in all places. My knuckles were so sore from gripping the steering wheel the next day... And I inhaled several huge glasses of wine that night after kids were put to bed. We had a lot to be thankful for.

- While in Bama, we got to see a lot of friends and took a lot of golf cart rides at my parent's gorgeous home. It was so much fun - there are few places more beautiful than the South in early Spring. The cranes were flying over the water, azaleas were blossoming, just gorgeous. Noah definitely loves getting to go "home" to the Waters - he gets to fish, play with Graddy, feed the horses, drive the golf cart. It is a little boy's paradise.

- We met up with Dan in Nashville, TN for Easter weekend. It was the first time any of us had been back to our second home since my sweet Aunt Mamie went to be with the Lord the night before Thanksgiving. It was bittersweet. We stayed with one of my dearest friends, Amy, and her family and had a blast. We celebrated the Resurrection at Grace Chapel in Franklin, TN - what an incredible service. We adore that church. And what an awesome thing to have JEREMY CAMP sing during the offering!!! Loved it.

After church, we met up at Leigh Ann and Mike's farm in Franklin and had so much fun eating, hunting eggs and enjoying God's gorgeous creation; TN farmland is so beautiful. And the 150 year old barn that is owned by Amy/Vince Gill and my cousins Mike and Leigh Ann is just incredible. It sits on the Natchez Trace and this family has made so many irreplaceable memories there. Weddings, Easters, barbeques, bonfires. Each time we gather there, the memories made only add to the rich history of that old barn.

*Note: the other cute little redhead guy that Noah's hunting eggs with is Olympic ice skater Scott Hamilton's son. I did a double take when I saw Max because he and Noah were so similar; I also did a double take when I realized "Oh, Mike and Leigh Ann's friend is Scott Hamilton... and he's at our Easter Sunday get together!"*

- Dan went onto Knoxville, TN to provide training for a Guard unit and the kids and I drove back to Alabama for a few days before driving the long haul back to Louisiana. We were supposed to leave for Louisiana on Wednesday, 27 April, but we all know what happened to my sweet home State of Alabama that night... This time around, my dad forbid me from driving. I am so glad he did.

We hunkered down in Montgomery, AL for the night and literally had no idea of what was heading our way. No clue. As of this afternoon (Friday), 230 people in Alabama alone have been confirmed killed by the tornados that ripped through Wednesday night. The damage is unimaginable. We have so many friends and friends of friends who lost everything - one girl in particular lost her entire home and every neighbor to her right and her left and across the street. There aren't enough body bags in many of the small towns to keep the victims until emergency relief can take the bodies. They are having to stack the dead in refrigerated trucks. One town lost their grocery store, fire and police stations and only gas station. They also lost over 30 people. Where do you even start to rebuild when you have literally lost everything? My heart is heavy for the loss of life and way of life that Alabama is experiencing right now.

- The kids and I drove back home yesterday - Thursday and are glad to be home. It is always nice to get back into your own bed and your own routine. I am wrapping up Term 4 with Troy University and have lots of papers to grade. Finals week is next week so the deadline lies before me. Feeling the pressure.

Here are some beautiful shots from the past month. I promise to be better about posting now that we are home!
First mac and cheese
First boyfriend: Keegan
First popsicle.....
..... in the bath
Easter Baskets!
Having fun at Uncle Bob's (and Aunt Mamie's) house in Nashville, TN
New cousin, Baby Hank
My gorgeous mom and her new great nephew, Hank
Ellyotte LOVED her first Easter Basket - lots of pacis and yogurt melts
Jan-Jan and Ellyotte making her silly face
Someone loves their Daddy
Fun at the Farm
Happy Girl
"It's EASTER!"
Hangin' with Uncle Bob
My dad and cousin Mark at the barn
Farm time

Riding with "Mee-Ann"
Barn!
Kelly, Elly and Sandy
Kel and Danny
Happy Easter!
Gorgeous
And more beauty

Hunting eggs
Noah and his long, lost twin: Max Hamilton
Mark and Elly
Sweet hugs for Mark
Aunt Kelly and Elly
The Farm
Kristen and Ellyotte comparing pedicures

Getting to know her cousin Stella, born 9 days before Ellyotte
Hunting eggs

Such and Such

2011-04-05T20:27:00.008-05:00

Lately, I've been inspired to write so many blog entries. But, entirely too tired to write even one.

Dan's been out of town with work and Noah had Spring Break from Mother's Day Out last week. I've got a maxxed out class this term and I just can't find the time, energy or desire to get off of my too-busy bum and write OR grade. Grrr.

But, I am finding some time to take some precious pictures in our house. These kids may be a handful but they are delicious; don't you think so, too?!

We've had a major blessing occur this week for us: I had my monthly hemotologist appointment today (my regular follow-up since the pulmonary embolism that nearly ended my life last July) and my weekly blood tests done right before the appointment. The great news is that I AM OFF OF COUMADIN (the daily massive amount of blood thinner I was having to take)!!! We are elated.

I will go back to Dr. V next month and again each month till the one year mark (27 July). But, in the meantime, I don't have to take "rat poison" anymore and I am so thankful.

He has referred us to a high risk OB because of the "uterine window" I have (ruptured/scarred/too thin uterus condition - google it; I had to...) from my c-sections and because of my risk of clotting in pregnancy. We want a final opinion before deciding to have any more children. I have been told many times by my doctors that there should be no more Beall Babies but before we take a drastic step, we want that final say-so.

No date set for that appointment yet but as soon as we know more, I will of course let you, my friends, know. We are just thankful that I am still around to even have the discussion of whether to pursue more children! And if Noah and Ellyotte are the only two blessings we are to have, then so be it: we are satisfied beyond measure.

More on the home front: Noah and Ellyotte cannot get enough of each other and while I've been overwhelmed with trying to entertain both of them while keeping E on a sleep schedule and myself sane, I've managed to remember how precious and fleeting our lives on this earth really are. So, I take that extra minute to nuzzle Noah's neck or to tickle my baby girl to hear her laugh or to kiss my husband one last time.

Life never gets too busy for love. Dare we forget that.

Ready for SUMMER! Grillin' with Daddy

Transfixed on "talking pictures." (movies!)

Little Katie?

"Hey, you, dog. I am talking to you."

"Yeah, so? That's popsicle on my face." Pool time in Louisiana! Watching cartoons together "I love you, Ellyotte." Mmmmm, feet. With painted toes. Don't judge: she was watching a movie and eating a cookie so I could get ready for a date!

Mmm, mmm, love her!

2011-03-25T19:43:00.003-05:00

Can you get enough of this face?!? She's too adorable. And we just can't kiss her face enough. Ellyotte might be the happiest, well adjusted baby on the planet - a far cry from Noah at 8 months... Maybe I am more at ease with being a mom second time around. Who knows. But, she's an easy and sweet baby.

Ellyotte weighs 19 lbs 4 ounces and is in the 75th percentile for weight at 8 months. She has her bottom two teeth and is about to cut her top front teeth. Not fun! She's had two ear infections in the last month... Ahhh. I am praying that it isn't anything serious and we don't have to go the "tubes" route. I am confident we won't though.

Ellyotte is just about to take off into the crawling world - if she sees something she wants, she scoots to it. It is funny to watch. Not too long till she's fully on the move though.

We love this baby - just adore her. She giggles so much when Dan walks into the room and buries her face into my shoulder. It's too cute.

I delight in this baby girl. And I delight in her big brother. God has been good to this family.

Romance

2011-03-19T20:32:00.004-05:00

Dan and I took a much needed and deserved vacation the first week of March. We set off for Paris and then Rome! I had been to Paris 3 times already but Dan had never gone and neither of us had been to Rome. What a time we had... I will let the pictures show for themselves the amount of fun we had and the beautiful sites we saw. It was perfect. And not one day did we have even one cloud in the sky! Literally, it was blue skies all week. What a blessing.

This trip was in honor of our 5 year wedding anniversary (this past October) and in honor of the blood clot (pulmonary embolism I had back in July, post Ellyotte's birth) being removed from my lung. It was a celebration on many fronts.

My mom graciously watched the kids for us (not easy... both were very sick back here in Louisiana the whole time) and we were very thankful.

The food was incredible... AMAZING. Not kidding - Dan and I ate some of the best food we have ever eaten. We followed Rick Steves' suggestions and ate "off the beaten path." In Paris, we had the most amazing breads, cheeses and wines. We ate on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower (reservations we made months ago) at a 4 star restaurant. I've never dreamed there was more divine creme brulee in my LIFE than what we had in Paris!

Then in Rome, the pizza and pastas we had literally melted in our mouths. Oh and the red wine.... amazing. Just order the house wine by the liter and you are set.

Here are our favorite 100+ photos of the 500+ we took! Enjoy :)

Just Have to Share...

2011-03-18T21:43:00.003-05:00

Brittany's sister has taken over her Facebook page and is posting notes about Brittany and Baby Shep and how they are making it through these first heartbreaking weeks.

I read this one in particular and just wept. I thought I would share with all of you who aren't Facebook friends with Brittany, and now, Brooke.

Please continue to pray for that precious and broken family.

********
Sign #7: Monday, March 14, 2011-The 1-week anniversary had arrived, and every minute of every part of that day felt like I was reliving the Monday before so vividly in my mind. Allie had been so sheltered from the devastation of this tragedy the week before, but had been with us all (including Clint) since Saturday. Ryan and I had decided to wait on her lead before we said anything to her about why her baby Shep and BB were not around. I was waiting with anticipation as to when she was going to begin questioning me-I wasn't ready to share the heart-breaking news to her. She had been with her Uncle Nint and never asked us once about BB and Baby Shep. Ryan and I both said it was like she somehow already knew-Finally, on Monday she started to cry, she laid her head on my chest, told me how sad she was and then said, "Momma, BB and Baby Shep aren't coming back are they?" It was like in her little spirit she knew, and it was only after she elaborated more on her dream from the week before about Baby Shep, that Brittany had taken care of letting my Allie know (but more on that tomorrow!!)....Later that evening, we all struggled as the clock turned 5:15, as the pain of what Brittany and Shep experienced at that time rushed over us all-We stayed together like we have every night since the accident until we couldn't anymore. Clint left ahead of us, and we were still with mom and dad at their house. Mom had walked back to Shep's room, and was standing in the doorway when I received a text from Clint. He had gotten back to his mom's house, walked outside only to look up and see the clouds in the shape of a baby with huge angel wings in the night sky. He said he was shaking so badly he could barely text us.....As that text came into me, I was telling everyone-mom heard and came back down the hall crying. She said she had just said, "ok Shep, your momma has been giving us signs all week now, GiGi needs a sign from her sweet baby." At that moment, Shep, our little angel, had given us his first sign.

******

Wow.

Brittany's Facebook Page

2011-03-17T09:58:00.004-05:00

I didn't want to post a status update with this info because I don't feel it is my place to do so there. However, I wanted all of you who are praying for Brittany and Baby Shep's family (and those of you on Facebook) to know that her sister, Brooke, has taken over her Facebook page. She is posting regular "Notes" in Brittany's "Notes" section about how the family is doing, how she's doing, how God is revealing Himself to them all.

She may or may not add you as a friend if you request Brittany's friendship but if she is, then I wanted to let you know so you too can follow them through their journey of grief and healing.

Let's continue to lift that precious family up before the Throne every day.

Blood of the Lamb

2011-03-15T20:23:00.005-05:00

This was shared with me by my mom via email. I encourage all of you (after reading the previous post and the heartbreak that has been caused by the enemy this past week) to read this, print it out and CLAIM IT DAILY over your babies, your spouses and all of those you have authority over - including yourselves.

We stand as one on behalf of our children! The Blood of the Lamb has been applied to the door post of our homes! The spirit of infirmity must pass our homes because of the power of the Blood! No weapon that has been formed against our children will prevail!

The Blood saves (rescues). The Blood redeems (exchanges or converts as in a financial transaction; the Blood of Christ paid the price for our sin). The Blood delivers (liberates and frees). The Blood protects (it is a shield that guards, defends and cares for). The Blood provides (grants and supplies). The Blood heals (makes well). The Blood restores (reinstates, refurbishes, repairs and renovates). The Blood transforms (converts and makes over). The Blood provides everlasting life (eternal, ceaseless, perpetual).

We underestimate the power of the Blood. There is NOTHING that the Blood of Christ can not do.

Satan knows exactly what the Blood of Christ can do; therefore He has no choice but to pass over the household that has applied the Blood of the Lamb on its doorpost. He may growl as he passes but he must pass none the less. As he passes he will hear our roar (the roar of the parents that stand guard over their children); our cry declares Christ as our Redeemer! As for me and my house; the line has been drawn and the Blood of the Sacred Lamb has been applied!

To all that are seeking healing of any kind for their children; Father, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, I know it is Your will, based on Your Word, that the medicine taken or the procedures given by and for our children, will be for their good and not for their harm for blessed is the Healer of the sick, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

I declare that I unite with every mother and father who is interceding for the salvation, redemption, healing and restoration of their children. God has promised strength for the day, rest for the weary, grace for the trials, everlasting and merciful love for our journey and He has promised to hear our cry and answer our prayer! Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers us from them all.

We stand as one; ready to fight, to declare and to receive, May the love of God bless you with everything that is good, may He grant each one of you His supernatural peace and may His favor be upon you and yours.

2 COR 2:14 NOW THANKS BE TO GOD WHO ALWAYS CAUSES US TO TRIUMPH IN CHRIST JESUS

I am learning more and more that we have been given POWER and DOMINION and AUTHORITY by God. To say "God is in control" is a cop out, of sorts. If He was in total control, tragedies (like what happened to Brittany and Baby Shep) wouldn't happen. He has given us the authority, and the total CONTROL, to plead the Blood of the Lamb, His own Son, over all of the earth. And especially over those we have been given authority over. (Reference Matthew 12:29).

Satan comes to "kill, steal, and destroy" (John 10:10). Not God. He does not want us to suffer, nor do I believe he allows bad things to happen to us. But because of the sin of man in the Garden of Eden, Satan has been given a foothold in all of humanity. Thus, the most unbearable and unthinkable things happen to even the strongest of believers. Claim the authority you have been given today.

Brittany and Baby Shep

2011-03-12T14:00:00.006-06:00

Most of you who read my blog know about what happened to our friend, Brittany Shepard Pugh, and her sweet boy, Shep, but there are many of you out there who do not.

Dan and I were in Paris and Rome without much communication back home (except for talking to my folks, who had our babies)so it wasn't till we landed in Atlanta on Thursday that I learned.

I grew up with the Pugh boys: Dax, Clint and Tyson and went to college with Brittany. Brittany married Clint 3 years ago and they had Shep 15 months ago. We communicated a LOT about 'mommy issues' and our friendship over the distance grew that way.

Last Monday, Brittany picked up her baby boy from her mom's house and was heading home (in Troy, Alabama - my hometown). Another car crossed the median and struck Brittany's. She was killed immediately and Baby Shep was lifeflighted to Children's. His daddy, Clint, was able to kiss him once more before they put him on the plane. They worked tirelessly to keep him alive but his heart wasn't strong enough for all of the trauma he sustained. He died Monday night a few hours after his mommy.

The lady who struck them also died that night.

Brittany and Shep were buried yesterday in Troy, Alabama: they are in the casket together. She was buried holding her baby boy in her arms.

I canNOT begin to imagine what Clint, her husband, and what her family is going through. Life is not supposed to end like this - babies are not supposed to die so tragically; mommies aren't supposed to be taken from their children - or WITH their children - nor away from their husbands so young.

I share this with you all - near and wide - so you can be praying for the Pugh and Shepard families. Nothing will bring them back, but our prayers for mercy, strength and grace through this time will help in the smallest ways.

Brittany loved Jesus, so we can be certain that she is holding her sweet Shep in her arms in heaven and dancing with her Savior.

What happened to them is so tragic and so heartbreaking. I encourage us all to love on our children a little more, kiss our husbands a little longer, and be certain - like Brittany was - that we will spend eternity with Jesus when that uncertain moment comes for us too.

Weeds

2011-02-22T21:31:00.004-06:00

Weeds grow fast... as is Ellyotte Beall!

She turned 7 months on 21 February and must be going through a growth spurt because that baby is giving me a run for my money in the napping or, not napping, department.

Some facts about Miss EPB at 7 months: she weighs a solid 19 lbs. She's grown tremendously since she started eating solid foods. She also has 2 teeth! And there are several more coming in because sucking on a bottle is painful for her so she's preferring to eat more solids. Thus, more weight gain.

Ellyotte (on most normal days) gets up about 7:30 am. She then plays and goes back down for a nap about 9 or 9:30. Typically, she will take 3 naps: 2 short ones and 1 long nap. She goes to bed at 6:30 and will sleep all night most nights. But sometimes, she's up for a bottle about 3:30 or so. Then, she puts her paci back in her mouth, rolls back onto her belly and sleeps soundly.

Her hair is growing very long on top and the sides. It is hilarious because if we don't put it into a pigtail on top of her head, it will stand STRAIGHT UP!

She watches Noah constantly. They are so sweet together - she literally laughs uncontrollably at anything he does. They will eat lunch and dinner together and "talk."

She loves (well, we all know it is because her mommy loves) to have her toenails painted hot red :) They are so cute!

She eats a lot. She loves the baby Mum-Mums, wagon wheels, arrowroot cookies, and the organic cereal puffs. She's discovered that she likes yogurt and most baby foods. Ellyotte doesn't prefer green beans or sweet peas though so we stay away from those. She's also a fan of the yogurt melts - it is so cute to watch her self feed. She gets about 50% of it into her mouth and it is hilarious to see the mess she makes!

Ellyotte is a joy. She smiles constantly and is just the happiest little love. We are having a good time watching her grow.

A Friend of a Friend...

2011-02-16T12:26:00.002-06:00

Our cousin, Sarah (on Dan's side), is good friends with a beautiful, young newlywed also named Sarah. She has kept a blog about her journey. And this morning, she passed from this life into eternity as a result of her battle with cancer. I thought many of you would like to read the beautiful words that her husband wrote about her imminent passing. What a true Valentine.

Vera

2011-02-10T10:56:00.004-06:00

Oh my goodness, wow. God knows just how to bring me to my knees. When I feel like complaining about something related to parenting, I come across something that shakes me to the core.

I was reading my cousin, Karen's blog. I posted about her and their journey to adopt baby Ivan from Russia. She posted about Vera. I encourage you to check out this site and get the word about Vera and the other two little boys out there. This is her Reece's Rainbow site, too.

Our children living in our homes and sleeping in their own beds and feeling the love of their parents are blessed more than they can comprehend right now. There are so many lost children out there in this big world WAITING to be held and to be loved.

Growing Pains

2011-02-09T21:29:00.003-06:00

Here we are: just over 2 days before my little Noah Man turns 3.

I can think back to 3 years ago... I was so far past my due date that it was no longer laughable. My mom and I prayed constantly that he would come on his own. However, I was induced 10 days past my due date (Feb 2, 2008) and after 36 hours, our stubborn red head made his dramatic debut via an emergency c-section.

When he entered this world in a hospital in Hawaii on February 12, 2008 at 7:15 pm, I was depleted. He - and my experience - had depleted my energy, my excitement, and all of my dreams for a natural childbirth. I do think that coupled with my horrible birthing experience and Dan working 15 hour nightshifts for Noah's first 15 months, I entered a dark, dark time of post-partum depression.

He wasn't easy - not for a second: he had colic, he never slept, I was clueless, he wouldn't breastfeed, he wouldn't self-soothe, I could NOT calm him... the list goes on and on.

Nonetheless, his little stubborn spirit was the sweetest of any I had ever encountered. I loved him with a love that I never dreamed was possible. My life meant nothing in the face of his; Dan and I were blinded by our passion for the little soul that had entered our home.

And here we are three years later; reeling from how fast his first years have flown by. I look into his green eyes - the biggest eyes and longest lashes we have ever seen - and I have such hope. Hope for the man of God he will become, hope for the family he will one day love more than his next breath, and hope for how he will contribute to the Eternity I believe he will inherit one day.

My little red head has sent my life as I knew it into a tailspin. He makes parenting Ellyotte seem a cakewalk. We skipped Noah's terrible twos and have gone straight into the terrible threes. I spend hours on end each day trying to figure out my next move. He constantly wants to be entertained, wants to be held, wants to be mean - he's a mixture of so much agression and love that it is terribly confusing when Dan or I try to parent him. The emotions swirling inside his little body are out of control and he doesn't know how to express himself. Thus, he ends up behaving so badly that I am embarrassed. For him and for us as his parents.

Just today, I was crying to my mom that I am so torn. I spend all day each day in almost hand-to-hand combat with him; I haven't met anyone else as strong willed as Noah. He wears me out to the point that I am in tears. I told my mom that I feel such guilt: guilt because the coveted moments I finally get to myself, I miss him. But when we are together, it is an absolute WAR of wills. I feel bad that I can't entertain him like he wants to be entertained. I feel guilty that I want to be away from him but then I miss him on the rare occasion that we are apart.

My mom reminded me that it is not my job to "enjoy" Noah 24 hours a day. My job is to PARENT him. He is my responsibility and when we are able to enjoy each other, I should count it a blessing. That was exactly what I needed to hear. I want to delight in both of my children every minute of each day but that isn't realistic. It IS realistic that I am responsible to parent them both to the best of my ability and in the process, God will bless me/Dan with the enjoyment and delight we so crave.

My prayer is that we are able to embrace this year ahead of us. We are sad as we enter our third year as Noah's parents because he is growing so fast. He is becoming a little boy capable of making his own decisions and having an opinion. But, in the quiet nap hour in my bed each day, I am able to cuddle with that little man and inhale his sweet scent and cuddle the baby that he still is to me and to his daddy.

It is in those quiet moments that I am reminded of the precious, sacred love that God has for each of us. To think of how much I love my children and compare it to the love our Father has for us is hard to comprehend.

To our Noah Everard Beall: Happy 3rd Birthday. You are the blessing we feel so undeserving of and we treasure you and your sister above all else.

Answered Prayers

2011-01-31T10:29:00.001-06:00

Friends,
Thank you for your prayers! THEY WERE HEARD: I am clot free! The blood clot has cleared from my lung and I am beside myself with humility and gratefulness. Thank you so much for keeping me lifted up - obviously the prayers of the faithful were heard and I am breathing free and clear of any clots.

God is so good. And I am so, so thankful. Thankful for life, for breath, for friends that have been beside me every step of the way lifting me and and my family up. These have been a tough and fragile 6 months.

Now I will be seen by a hematologist soon and will find out if this is a clotting condition or a one time thing. I am praying that this is not a condition and that I will no longer have to take blood thinners on a daily basis.

Nonetheless, I am clot free and incredibly grateful.

Love, Katie

And Yet Another...

2011-01-28T20:49:00.003-06:00

... Prayer request.

I just got an email from one of my best friends, Amy Hall, and she's begging us "prayer warriors" to pray for a dear friend of hers. Here is the email that Amy sent out:

"I am sending out a Prayer Need for your hearts. Our neighbor at our old house lost a sweet baby girl 39 weeks into her pregnancy. They named her Anna. Since then Sara has been having some pain in her abdomen so she went to the hospital. They found out she has stage 4 colon cancer that has spread to her liver and lymph nodes. She has two sons, one older than Ava and one younger. SHE IS 33! They are starting a very aggressive chemo treatment plan Monday and they need prayer. Her Caringbridge site is www.caringbridge.org/visit/sarawalker ! Please pray passionately for her and her husband Brian and their two sons! "

Let's join together to pray for this precious mommy who is already suffering the loss of her baby girl and who is so needed by her sons and her husband. I will keep you all posted as I hear more updates on Sara.

Blood Clot Update

2011-01-27T15:29:00.002-06:00

I am asking for prayer. Tomorrow (Friday) morning, I have the 'big' CAT scan to determine if the blood clot in my lung has dissolved. This is a big deal - I have been on multiple miligrams of blood thinners for 6 months now in the hopes of making this clot dissolve.

I cannot believe that it has been 6 months and 6 days since Ellyotte entered the world... And I cannot believe that it has been 6 months TODAY since I re-entered the hospital with a pulmonary embolism.

To date, 27 July 2010 was the worst day of my life. I will never, ever, never forget the loneliness and fear that I felt as they wheeled me into the heart unit into an empty hospital room and having to say goodbye to my newborn baby girl and my husband. In those first hours, we honestly didn't know if I would survive the clot and I was petrified that I wouldn't see them again. I wept openly on the phone with one of my best friends, Amy Henderson Hall, as she prayed for me and passed out updates to our friends and families. The memories of those hours spent alone in that hospital room are still as fresh and as raw as if the event happened yesterday.

But God is good and has a mighty plan for my life and for the lives of my children. We heard time and again that Ellyotte should NOT be alive - that due to the uterine damage I had (didn't know about till Ellyotte's c-section) and due to the fact that the blood clot likely developed while I was pregnant - she is by every meaning of the word, an absolute "MIRACLE."

Had my mom not been with me on 27 July 2010 and had she not lived through the same thing with her brother, my Uncle George, and known to send me right to the hospital, I wouldn't be here typing this today. My Uncle passed away following surgery from a pulmonary embolism so my mom was familiar with the symptoms - Dan and I were not.

I am anxious for tomorrow's procedure because we want nothing more than for this clot to be gone. I want to return to normal life: no more blood thinners everyday at 4:00 pm, no more trips to the hospital to get my blood tested every 10 days, no more visits with an internist I don't really like, and no more fear that this clot is dwelling in my lung and that any minute, I could "throw" it and drop dead. I am sick of the drama that has come with this clot and am ready to hear the words "It is gone."

Sometime within the next week, I will stop my thinner regimen long enough to be seen by a hematologist. He will do full blood testing to determine if this is a clotting condition or a one-time occurrence. Please join us in praying that this was a one time thing and that we never have to worry about this happening again.

I will let you know the results of the scan as soon as possible tomorrow. Thanks, everyone.

Another First

2011-01-23T16:57:00.002-06:00

Ellyotte's first visit to our neighborhood park. She is six months old now and is the most precious and (as my dad calls her) PLEASANT baby I've ever been around. She takes everything in stride and when she's had enough, she settles back down for one of her THREE long naps during the day.

Ahhh, I just adore this precious bundle.

Baby Ivan

2011-01-21T21:29:00.003-06:00

This is serving as a shout out and request for prayers and funds for my awesome cousins, Karen and Derek Kramer. They are allowing God to work in incredible ways in their lives: they are a family of FIVE (the youngest being about 7 months old) and are following God's calling by adopting a sweet baby boy, Ivan, from Russia. He's got Down Syndrome and they have no idea when he will be placed in their home, but he will be their son soon.

I ask for prayer for them as they follow the calling that has been placed in their hearts. And should you want to donate to their adoption fund, here is the link to their site.

Bless them, Lord, as they strive to fulfill the plans you have for their family.

It's a New Year

2011-01-20T21:14:00.007-06:00

Praise God for new years and new beginnings. 2010 was a whirlwind, crazy, beautiful year but I am so glad it is over.

Some 2010 highlights (some wonderful, some heartbreaking):
- We had Ellyotte. What a perfect baby girl. I am so in love with her.
- I had a pulmonary embolism. 6 days post c-section, my life flashed before my eyes and I was back in the heart unit of the same hospital I had just given birth in. With continued care from my internist 6 months later, I am ready to be OFF of blood thinners and told that this was a one time deal. We shall see in the next few months.
- We lost a lot of our precious loved ones:
-- My sweet friend, Tim Ward, passed away from an accidental shooting October 16, 2010.
-- My redheaded, incredible Aunt Mamie Mason succumbed to bone and brain cancer on November 24, 2010.
-- My mom's dear, life long friend, Lucy McKee, succumbed to brain cancer 2 weeks following my aunt's death and after only weeks of fighting the disease. Her death was so sudden and heart breaking for those of us who knew and loved her. My mom's heart is understandably broken.
-- Not a person, but an integral member of the Hawkins family: Mitzi, our Persian cat, had to be put down 2 days before Christmas. She was 17.

The year had a lot of heartache included in it, but the greatest blessing was bringing precious Ellyotte Pierce Beall into the world. I'd live through the sadness and challenge of this past year a million times over if I had to - she is worth all of it.

God is good and greatly to be praised. We are together, we are healthy, we are beautifully blessed and I am so thankful. It will be awesome seeing what He has in store for us in 2011!

My "Soldiers"

2011-01-14T19:19:00.001-06:00

New Orleans Bowl 2010

2011-01-10T22:12:00.008-06:00

Troy University played Ohio University in the R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. And we won! It is always awesome to play in the New Orleans Saints Dome and sit in the sky boxes. There is such a history in that stadium and especially in that city. We love any opportunity that will take us to the Big Easy.

We had a fabulous time. Stayed in a suite with my parents and sister and loved cheering on the Trojans with all of our fellow Troy fans.

That Hair

2011-01-09T17:14:00.003-06:00

My sister, Aunt Kelly, always jokes that my children robbed Don King of his hairstyle. She might be onto something.

Above is Ellyotte (5 months). Now you understand why she rarely leaves the house without a bow! If I don't put a rubberband and bow in it, it stands straight up.

Below is Noah at 5 months old. I think he was about 5-6 months old when he had to have his first haircut. Poor thing.... no bow could help his hair!

Boys Will Be Boys

2011-01-05T22:41:00.002-06:00

What a DAY!

Our (almost) 3 year old, Noah, and I had a long day: he was obsessed with making me his playmate all day. I don't mean at different times throughout the day - I mean, he made me play with him all day. And after a long month of traveling and parenting without the help of Mother's Day Out, one could say that I was moderately exhausted and ready for him to go back to school.

I had just gotten Ellyotte down for a late afternoon nap and was playing on the floor with Noah and his magnetic numbers when he popped up and ran out our back door (which was open because it was a gorgeous day outside). Within 15 seconds, I hear a crash followed by Noah hysterically crying.

He came running inside and was gushing blood from his chin. I didn't know what to do: Ellyotte had begun to scream from her room, Dan was still at work and there was blood everywhere.

Long story short, I called my neighbor Michelle to come keep Ellyotte, I called my friend Season - who is a nurse - to come check out the injury before Dan got home and I got my things together because I knew we'd be heading to the ER!

We waited for about 3 hours before getting a room (crazy Wednesday night in the ER, apparantly...) and Noah was far past his bedtime at that point. The doc came in and told us that he would definitely need stitches and we chose to not put him completely under and do local anesthesia. Good long term option, but terrible for the short term.

They wrapped his little body in a sheet to keep him from hitting, a nurse held his legs, another held his head, the doctor did the stitches and to top off the horror of it all, they covered his face completely with a sheet. He was beside himself. And so were we. The doc looked up mid-stitch to make sure I was okay (I wasn't).

I wanted to claw my skin off with each terrified scream from Noah. He screamed for me, for his daddy, for it to stop and when all else failed, he pulled out his super defiant "Go AWAY!" and yelled it at the doctor. It was so pitiful. When it was over, his little face was swollen and his eyes almost swollen shut from his hysterics.

But, he's home, got some Tylenol in him (and some ice cream) and is finally asleep. He will have his stitches for a week before getting them removed. Boys will definitely be boys... Noah proved that tonight when - after recieving his stitches - he asked if he could be wrapped up like a "burrito" again!

Needless to say, Dan and I each had a stiff drink when we got home and got the sweet little man and his sister to bed :)

I'm Back... Almost

2011-01-05T10:19:00.003-06:00

So sorry I have been out of touch lately. We have JUST returned home after being gone most of November and most of December. We had a fabulous time in Alabama, Florida then the D.C. area over the holidays. But, man... it is good to be home.

I have lots to blog about but will have to get to it once we are settled back into a routine. My term started and I have a maxxed out class so that will be most time consuming but I promise to update, update more soon.

Till then, here are some more beautiful shots from the holiday season.

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-26T21:02:00.000-06:00

Christmas 1984

2010-12-14T20:48:00.001-06:00

We lived in Talladega, Alabama and my mom had paid a fortune for these dresses. It was pouring rain outside and Kelly wanted NO PART of meeting Santa Claus.

On the way into the boutique where we were to have our picture made with Santa, Kelly ate it in the middle of a huge mud puddle. I mean, she got muddy water in her face and all over the beautiful smocked gowns my mom had dressed us in.

She cried the whole time I told Santa my "list" of toys that I wanted that year. Little sisters...

Another Ellyotte "First"

2010-12-12T20:41:00.001-06:00

Getting Ready for Christmas!

2010-12-09T20:34:00.003-06:00

Hi All! Sorry I have been a lazy blogger lately. Things are going well... But Dan's been in Europe (only for a week, but still) and being a mom of two 24 hours a day with no break is taking it's toll on me! This week I had to finish up my grades for my students and get them submitted. I had seriously fallen behind because of Aunt Mamie's death - I took about 2 weeks off when I went to Nashville to be with our family.

I also have been doing a 3 day strict cleanse and am just finishing up day 2. So that has been hard to do while Dan's been away. Yet, I HAVE to lose this baby weight so I am doing the CoolerCleanse to jump start the weight loss regimen. Not fun, and I am hungry. However, the 6 fresh pressed juices have been pretty yummy and satisfying. I am looking forward to Saturday though when I can eat solids again!

Ellyotte is 4.5 months and is just a DOLL BABY. She's started teething so she's drooling non-stop and I think she might be dropping one of her 3 naps right now. But she still sleeps so much: she goes to bed at 6:15 pm each night, wakes maybe once (sometimes twice but I will just put her paci back in and she's good) to eat about 3 am, then will sleep tll about 7:30-8:00 am. Then she goes back down an hour after waking up, take a 2-3 hour nap at lunchtime (when Noah naps - WHOO HOO!)and then another short nap around 4 pm.

I am not sure how much she weighs right now because we haven't had her 4 month check up yet, but she's a big girl. Really long and getting some cute rolls!

Her hair is just as out of control as Noah's was at this age - it stands straight up and straight out. She has a legitimate mohawk. Her eyes are a beautiful blue and her hair is brown with some auburn highlights. She's a gorgeous girl and I am so in love with her. She cries only when she is hungry or tired - a far cry from the kind of baby Noah was! He was a hard baby so I am welcoming this break with Ellyotte.

Here are some cute pictures. We are ready for Christmas in this house and can't wait to celebrate it with our families!

Baby Love

2010-12-02T17:48:00.002-06:00

Here are some cute videos of our babies! They are so precious and we are really loving every moment with them.

Noah "Conducting"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VHkJoraBWA

Noah and Ellyotte having some crib time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4BZGHnFDrQ

A Nashville Family Thanksgiving and Celebration

2010-11-29T20:54:00.007-06:00

As you all know from my previous posts, my precious Aunt Mamie went to be with Jesus on Wednesday night at 10:15, 24 November. It was 3 years to the day that her granddaughter and my cousin Shannon got married. I was a very pregnant bridesmaid and my Aunt Mamie did the flowers and planning. It was over the top beautiful. And I can honestly say, Mamie hadn't ever looked more radient. She was glowing. Little did we know that exactly three years later, we'd say goodbye to her.

Her service Saturday was a celebration. We had family who had driven 2.5 days to be with us from California; people from all walks of life gathered to pay tribute to an extraordinary woman of God.

We had the service at Belmont Church in Nashville, just off of Music Row. She and Bob had been integral in the founding of that church back in the '80s. Don Finto and Steve Fry presided over it, her grandchildren, Shannon and Will, and her best friend, Jeananne, eulogized her and lifelong family friends Amy Grant Gill and Vince Gill sang. Amy sang hymns and Vince sang "Give me Jesus."

We wept while watching her slide show but rejoiced for we know where she is now and she is no longer suffering.

Following the service, we had a "party" at Amy and Vince's barn on Leigh Ann (Mamie's daughter, my cousin) and Mike's farm (they have two barns there. The one we had the party at was where Shannon's reception/party had been just three years before). We had a bonfire, lots of food and stood around space heaters. There was laughter and there were tears - Mamie would have loved being there with all of the people she loved most in her life.

Here are some pictures.

Our Loss...

2010-11-27T08:46:00.003-06:00

... Is Heaven's gain.

Mamie Evelyn Mason, my mom's older sister and my beloved aunt, succombed to brain and bone cancer just as Dan, Noah, Ellyotte and I were pulling into the Nashville city limits on Wednesday night at 10:15 pm. It was the night before Thanksgiving so it has been a particularly hard holiday.

We knew how sick Mamie was, but that doesn't make losing her any easier. She's no longer suffering so we are relieved but the hole left in our family by her passing is massive. We are heartbroken to be without her. But the rewards she is recieving in Heaven right now are probably mind blowing. She fought the good fight and she's dancing in the presence of her Savior now. She's been restored to the fiery redheaded beauty she once was and she's pain free.

This is brief because we are getting ready to leave for her funeral. We will celebrate her life today surrounded by our friends and family. Her oldest grandchildren, Shannon Jones Banks and Will Jones along with her best friend, Jeananne, will share memories of her. Her lifelong friend, Don Finto, and Steve Fry will lead the service and our family friend, Vince Gill, will sing "Give Me Jesus."

Remember our family in your prayers. We are celebrating while crying - and that isn't easy to do. She and her love, Uncle Bob, were married almost 56 years - remember him as he learns to live life without his earthly partner.

Redheaded Aunt

2010-11-18T20:06:00.005-06:00

These are some gorgeous photos from my wedding day and my cousin Shannon's wedding day (her granddaughter) of my precious Aunt Mamie. She planned/coordinated/provided flowers for my special day. She's the redhead my Noah got his beautiful coloring from.

Please remember her in your prayers. She's finishing her valiant fight against bone and brain cancer right now. She's so close to Eternity and I am thrilled by the reward that awaits her in Heaven but I am heartbroken by the void that will be left when she leaves us.

Videos

2010-11-18T19:10:00.002-06:00

Noah with Amy and Vince Gill's horses at the farm in Franklin, TN
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_2JNEsHjL0

Ellyotte's first fire in the fireplace - she's captivated
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvzxlI5N6ro

Ellyotte and my best friend's baby boy, Cy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiMCGw0Ae_Y

Homecoming 2010

2010-11-16T19:37:00.002-06:00

Following an emotional week in Nashville, TN, it was wonderful to be able to celebrate my school's Homecoming. Troy always does homecoming right: parade, tailgating, game. It is so much fun. Ellyotte stayed home with our sweet housekeeper (she's been with us since 1989) Mary and slept a lot. But Noah was there all day and was ready to play with the band at every turn! Kel and I got to catch up with a lot of old friends and it was a really special day.

Nashville Visit

2010-11-16T19:14:00.002-06:00

I cannot begin to express how special this visit was for me, my mom and dad and sister. We got to spend some wonderful time with my precious Aunt Mamie. She's been battling bone and brain cancer since 2004 and has been incredibly brave.

In May, they stopped treatment on her and told her that she may not live longer than 8 weeks... here we are in November and she's done great. However, she is tired, she is in pain and she's ready to meet Jesus.

We are heartbroken by the amount of pain Aunt Mamie is in right now but we are overjoyed by what waits for her when she decides to give up her valiant fight. I am honored to be the niece of Mamie Evelyn Grindley Mason. She is the fiery redhead my own boy inherited his good looks from, she's the woman who grandmothered us when our own grandmother was too tired (she died at 102 years), she is the woman who has a kitchen that is so full of warmth and good smells that you are overwhelmed, she is the woman who orchestrated my entire wedding, and she's the woman of God I so long to be like.

There aren't enough words to express my love and admiration for her and for Uncle Bob. So, I will let you see the love we have for her in these pictures - she is "Nashville" to me. And Nashville is my second home....

Sweet Talk

2010-10-24T20:39:00.001-05:00

Cute milestone #1

2010-10-23T19:01:00.002-05:00

Ellyotte sleeps on her tummy and while I was out for a run, she woke up from her nap. So Dan went in to her room to get her and she had rolled from her tummy to her back. He said she looked totally confused. Milestones are so much fun!

2 (but really 3...) Month Appointment

2010-10-19T19:12:00.002-05:00

Sweet Ellyotte Pierce will be 3 months on Thursday. It is hard to believe, but... not really. These three months have seemed to have an eternity packed into them.

She's a precious girl. Today at her appointment, she weighed 12 lbs, 14 ounces (exactly 5 lbs more than her birth weight) putting her in the 50th percentile for weight. She was 23 1/4 inches long putting her also in the 50th percentile for length. And her sweet little head is just that: little! It was in the 25th percentile for circumference!

Ellyotte sleeps a LOT. She goes to bed at 6:30 pm, wakes about midnight to eat, again at 4:00 am, then she will sleep till I usually wake her about 8:00 am. She will get up, eat breakfast (4 ounces each bottle) and then goes back down for a nap about 8:45 or 9:00 am. She will take an hour and a half nap, get up, eat lunch, play then goes back to napping at about 12:00 pm. She will sleep about 2-3 hours, then the same routine: eat, play then one more nap mid-late afternoon. What a wonderful schedule!

But, it is tough to keep her well rested on days that Noah has school. I hate waking her to take him/pick him up but it has to be done. She sleeps on her tummy and loves her paci. Noah wasn't ever a paci baby so this is new to me - she spits it out, I have to run in and put it back in her mouth. But, it is nice having something that helps to soothe her. And I am glad I discovered that she liked sleeping on her tummy - what a difference that has made in her sleeping habits.

She's such a sweet baby. She nuzzles my neck and I just can't get enough of her. Everyday with this baby girl is a blessing.

In the Blink of an Eye

2010-10-17T19:54:00.003-05:00

One thing that has become abundantly clear to me this year is that life on this earth is so fleeting, so non-permanent. Until the blood clot in my lung in July, I woke up each day thinking about my immediate issues: Noah, teaching, finances, laundry.

But post 27 July, my outlook changed. I will never, ever forget laying on that hospital table in the emergency room after having found out I had a blood clot in my lung, then saying goodbye to Dan and Ellyotte as they wheeled me to my hospital room in the ICU unit only DAYS after I had left the same hospital after Ellyotte's birth. I laid on that table while having my leg ultrasound and wept; I was quietly crying my eyes out.

I kept thinking about the scene in "Steel Magonolias" when Sally Field was screaming in the cemetary "...that baby will never know how wonderful his mother was and how much she loved him." I realized that had I not gone into the emergency room when I did, my babies wouldn't have a mother. Dan wouldn't have a wife. My parents would be planning my funeral and my sister would be heartbroken.

But what I also realized 100% was how short life on this earth is; how fleeting our moments as humans really are. In the blink of an eye, we are dust in the wind. What matters in this life is our relationship with Jesus and our relationships with others. That's it. Money, material things, nothing besides those two things matter.

This has been a tough year for me and those that I love: we lost my dear friend, Chris Patterson (age 32) to H1N1 last November. My Aunt Mamie is struggling to fight the viscious bone cancer that is ravaging her body. My grandmother is debilitated by unbearable back pain and nothing is helping her - her quality of life is so bad. And just yesterday, one of my dear friends from Troy University, Tim Ward, was tragically killed. Tim was cleaning his pistol before heading to the Alabama game and it accidentally discharged into his abdomen. Tim died shortly after.

All day, I have just wept. Yes, life is short, we aren't promised tomorrow, "To live is Christ and to die is gain," but none of that eases the pain that comes with death or dying. We will all go at some point and if we are believers, we have so much to look forward to once we have left our shells. But the ones left behind are left with hearts breaking.

My mom lost her brother from the same thing that happened to me. He had knee surgery at the age of 36 and went home to recover. He started having shortness of breath and dropped dead from a pulmonary embolism. My mom has never gotten over losing her brother - he had a young wife and two pre-teen boys and a family who adored him. That's what has happened with Tim: he has left behind so many people who love him. His daddy, and two sisters. I am friends with his sister, Jill (she lives next to my parents at the Waters) and she is understandably devestated. I hope that my mom can minister to her in her time of loss, grief and one day, recovery since my mom experienced the same thing in losing her only brother.

I knew Tim for almost 2 decades and there isn't one time that I was in his presence that he didn't make me laugh hysterically. I saw him just a few weeks ago when I was home visiting. He got to see Noah and meet Ellyotte. I told him about what happened to me right after I had Ellyotte. We talked about how short and unpredictable life can be. We hugged, laughed and he reassured me of his happiness and said "life is GOOD." That's how I will always remember my dear friend, Tim Ward. He was FULL of life and never left a person without a smile. Bottom line: Tim brought joy wherever he went and he will be so, so missed. But I look forward to that day that our friendship can continue in Heaven.

Fall Fun!

2010-10-14T20:53:00.003-05:00

We have really made some wonderful friends here in Louisiana. Among them is my dear friend, Season. We have LOTS of playdates together because a) we enjoy each others' company and b) Addison (4) and Noah play so well together and we have new babies born within 6 weeks of each other.

Today we met at the Pumpkin Patch and the kids had a great time putting pumpkins into the wagon. It was a beautiful fall afternoon and we got some sweet pictures!

Beauties

2010-10-14T20:44:00.001-05:00

Little Moments

2010-10-14T20:28:00.002-05:00

These are some cute pictures I have uploaded on my phone and wanted to share with you all! Noah and Ellyotte are growing by the day. And there is NEVER a dull moment in this house! I had no idea how busy I would be once baby #2 came along.

Class (I am still teaching in the poli sci department for Troy) started again for me this week and it is the first term I am teaching with Ellyotte here. Whew... it adds a whole lotta extra work to this tired mommy. By the end of the day, I want to crash yet I still have discussion board questions to address and papers to grade. However, I am not complaining: it is a great outlet for me to be able to teach. Makes me still feel like a smart, free thinking woman instead of the "baby/toddler" talking wierdo I feel like most days!

Nap Time

2010-10-07T21:03:00.003-05:00

Let me just toot my own horn here because I realize that I might be one of the luckier chicks I know: my toddler and my newborn nap together! It is the most special time of my day.

We all load up in our bed and all three of us (well, sometimes I just lay there watching them) sleep and it is beautiful. I am making memories with these two little ones that I will cherish for the rest of my life.

Everyday at noon, Noah says "I'm tired." And I tell him that it is nap time. His response is always the same: "In Mama's bed?" Then I respond, "OF COURSE!" He then says "Yay!" Our routine never varies on the days that he's home from Mother's Day Out.

Ellyotte is catching on beautifully: she takes 3-4 naps in the day still and I coordinate the 2nd one to be when Noah takes his. What a blessing nap time is turning out to be - in so many ways.

Video Time!

2010-10-06T09:33:00.003-05:00

Pretty Ellyotte - 10 weeks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMmNIyud4Jo

Noah at the Aquarium - New Orleans
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DcD1cf--3k

Noah playing sax on Riverwalk - New Orleans
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1Eqhl-5-CM

Elly's Birth Story and Some Painful Realizations

2010-10-03T21:20:00.003-05:00

I have been meaning to write about the events of Ellyotte's birth day but obviously have been a tad busy lately...! So, here it goes:

My mom and dad had been here for a few days before my scheduled c-section. We had a wonderful time of fellowship with them and our family of three before Ellyotte's arrival. The night before I went in for her birth, my sweet mom made a fabulous dinner (my request) of raspberry chicken and jasmine rice. I could've licked my plate! It would be the last meal I was allowed for at least the next 24-36 hours.

That night, I packed my bag, took a long shower and scrubbed with the hospital issued soap and iodine (in prep for surgery), did the doctor issued enema (UGH!), talked to my sister and then my sister in law for some final encouragement, and went to bed to try to sleep. The sleep portion didn't happen - fell asleep about 1:30 am and had to be up at 4 am!! My surgery prep was to begin after check in at 5:30 am on the 21st of July.

We got up, left Noah in the hands of my parents and headed to the hospital. I wasn't nervous but was so extremely tired. So tired - and maybe a bit stressed out - that I kept falling asleep while the anesthesiologist tried to talk to me and while the nurse tried to fill out paperwork. It was so bad that Dan had to keep waking me to finish answering necessary questions pre-surgery.

They started the IV and before I knew it, we were heading into the operating room. Once there, the nurses all were so funny and sweet and we joked as they prepped me. I was strapped to the table with my arms stretched out and laughing for a bit. But, then the anesthesiologist came back in to do the spinal block! NOT FUN. It stung but because it works immediately, you feel like you are drowning and can't move a muscle. Inevitably, you start to panic and that is coupled with an instant drop in blood pressure. I kept saying "I'm gonna puke, I'm gonna pass out." The doctor tilted the table and injected some meds in me to stabilize my blood pressure. That helped right away and I started to doze again.

Soon after, my wonderful doctor, Dr. Gina Gomez, came in and with Dan at my right side and sitting behind the "curtain" with me, she started making the incisions to get to Baby Ellyotte. I was calm and it was going smoothly - everyone was lauging and there was a joyous spirit in the air.

However, once Dr. Gomez got to my uterus, she freaked. She leaned over the curtain and said "You have a uterine window... your uterus is stretched so thin that I can see Ellyotte's face through it." WHAT?! How did that happen?? She went on to say "If you had gone into labor on your own, it would've been fatal to Ellyotte and maybe to you." That's a lot to take in while your bladder is laying on a table next to you and you are cut open wide waiting to meet your little girl.

Not 30 seconds later though, Ellyotte's sweet cries pierced the air and all was right. With a c-section, you don't usually get to hold or really see your baby for at least 30 - 45 minutes after she's born because you have to be sewn up while they clean the baby and take her to the nursery. I think she was almost an hour old before I actually met her.

When they wheeled me to recovery, my mom, dad, Dan and Noah were waiting on me. They'd been watching Ellyotte through the window of the nursery as she got her first bath and got ready to come see her mommy! My dad had gone down to buy a beautiful feather wreathe to put on my hospital door. He and Noah had had a wonderful morning at McDonald's eating breakfast before coming to the hospital to meet Ellyotte!

Before they brought her to me, I got to spend some sweet moments with Noah and hear his thoughts about Baby Sister. He was excited but was wearing thin - he needed a nap! But, he was excited about his new sibling and that warmed my heart.

Finally Dan brought Ellyotte to me and I was overjoyed to hold her in my arms. The thoughts of what the doctor had said about the condition of my uterus were far from me in the moments that I was first spending with my daughter. She looked just like Noah had (minus the red hair!) and she was perfect.

At my six week post-op appointment, my doctor told me again what she'd found when she delivered Ellyotte. I was one of the unlucky ones in that I would never have gone into labor and had her naturally. My body wasn't capable of that and had I gone into labor, it could've been fatal for us both because my uterus would have ruptured. That was a lot to take in. She told me that following my first c-section with Noah, I hadn't healed properly so most of the tissue on my uterus was either too thin or basically 'dead.' She sewed the healthy tissue she could and then sewed my bladder ONTO my uterus to strengthen it. That was crazy to hear....

Obviously, you all know that six days later, I had a pulmonary embolism (blood clot in my lung) and was hospitalized again. The sad thing for us is that because of the condition of my uterus and the blood clot issue (possible life condition), I have been advised that more children is not a wise thing to pursue. IF we decide to think about more, we are now considered 'high risk' and I will be seen only by a specialist.

I have the paraguard IUD to prevent future pregnancies and that is our method of birth control because my body cannot handle hormones from birth control because of the clotting issue. That's not a comfortable BC method, by the way!

I don't know how to pray about our future; I have always wanted 3-4 children but it doesn't look like that will happen for us. If it does, it has to be planned and monitored and that still may not be enough to prevent some serious heartache. We (Dan, me, my mom, friends) question if the 'what if' factor is worth the risk that pregnancy could bring.

So, we have begun praying about adoption. I haven't ever had a heart for it but Dan has. And I just finished Mary Beth Chapman's book "Choosing to SEE" and it only confirmed for me that adoption just might be something God is calling us to consider. Yes, Ellyotte's only 2 months old, but that hasn't stopped us from talking about the possibility of expanding our family in an untraditional way.

I have reached the semi-bitter stage of what my body's gone through. Pregnancy and childbirth shouldn't be so hard - and I am angry that my body has 'failed' me in the possibility that future pregnancies may be out of the question. But, God is God and His plan is far better than ANY I could fathom. So, if we can't have more of our own flesh and blood babies, then we will continue to pray that the road to adoption might make itself visible to us.

Ellyotte Pierce Beall is a miracle. My internist (blood clot doctor) said: "You should be thankful: that baby shouldn't be here given what you've gone through." WOW. I look at Elly in absolute wonder. She looks so much like I did as a child yet she is identical to her daddy. She's perfect and precious in every way and I adore her. And there isn't a moment that passes that we aren't overjoyed by the fact that we have two perfect babies in our home right now. Yes, we'd like to add more children to our brood but these two are so awesome and perfect that we thank God constantly for them.

Her birth story is one I will remember and cherish always. I chose to be present and conscious of every moment of her arrival. I am so thankful I did - there's nothing greater and more miraculous than the birth of a child.

Just a Hello

2010-09-29T21:00:00.003-05:00

I haven't been great about blogging lately and I apologize. My days get away from me and I don't seem to have much time to myself!

We are doing well. I had a visit from homehealthcare today and my nurse drew my "numbers." Unfortunately, I was a bit low - meaning my blood wasn't thin enough. I need to be between 2.5-3.5 and I was a 2.0... I knew I was a bit thick when she poked my finger to draw the blood and I clotted immediately. But, that's okay. I will continue to do what I am supposed to do and continue to cover myself in the BLOOD OF JESUS each day and I believe that clot will go away as soon as possible. No matter how thin my blood is.

Ellyotte is doing great. She's such a precious baby. I mean it: she never cries unless she's famished or just exhausted. Her bedtime is between 6:30 and 7 each night, she sleeps till about 1-2 am and then sleeps till morning. It is wonderful. But even when she wakes, I run in to hold her. I just can't get enough of her smell and her sweet baby girl noises.

I stopped nursing her last week. I was the worst quitter ever! I think I "quit" nursing about 4 times before I actually stuck with it... I couldn't let any of the last times be the last time. I just wasn't producing enough and was supplementing about 3 ounces of formula each feeding. With a toddler running around, it became too much. But I did nurse her for 8 weeks and am so thankful that I was able to do that - it was much more than I was able to do for Noah and I am grateful. Drying up was not fun at all... extremely painful. But I was glad I made the decision to go to strictly formula. Nursing exclusively isn't for everyone and I did give it my best shot. We are much happier now that everyone can be included on the feeding of Baby Ellyotte.

Noah continues to amaze us each day. He's wearing 5T clothing! He's huge. People can't believe he's only 2 1/2. He's such a big kid and talks so much. His vocabulary is incredible. I love being with my little guy as much as possible. He helps a lot with his baby sister and showers her with kisses. He's done great - never been rough with her and the only thing we have to watch is that he doesn't hug her too hard! Noah's been a great big brother so far.

Things are going well here. We are looking forward to fall - it's been in the 50s the last few mornings and is so gorgeous. I am slowly hitting the pavement again. I never exert myself too much but am grateful for the ability to get out and push the jogging stroller. I look forward to that each day.

I start work again next week. My Term 2 class with Troy University begins. I took Term 1 off because of Ellyotte's birth and I am excited to get started again next week. New term, new students!

Till next time!

Tummy Time!

2010-09-26T21:24:00.001-05:00

Roller Coaster

2010-09-24T20:57:00.005-05:00

Maybe the exhaustion of the past 2 months is just catching up with me finally, or maybe I am just hormonal, or maybe I am just thankful... Maybe it is all of the above? Whatever it is, I am a roller coaster of emotions right now.

I think my kids are both going through massive growth spurts right now. Noah's sleeping 13-14 hours at night and Ellyotte is waking up constantly (after sleeping 8 hours earlier this week...) and refuses to go into a deep sleep. It is leaving me wasted tired.

However, this time around, I am not stressed or negative or put out by her wakefulness. With Noah, I was constantly tired and complaining. But after surviving the blood clot, I have come to realize that each moment with my babies matters - even the late night, constant feedings. I delight in this baby girl God's given us and I might crawl out of bed, but you will not hear me complain. Praise Him for that strength and joy this time around. I wish I had had it with Noah.

Yet, I am still emotional - and probably a lot of that has to do with the exhaustion. This morning, Noah and I started our day by watching some old videos of him when he was a baby. I was overcome with sadness at how FAST time has gone since he was learning to roll over, stand, walk, talk. Even in a year, it is remarkable how much he has changed. We watched "talking pictures" (what he called the videos!) for about an hour and I just got more and more melancholy. It is unfair how fast life changes. And yet, I am overjoyed by the new life in our house and the stage of growth Noah is in right now.

Tonight was my first time trying to get both kids to bed alone! Dan had to volunteer out in Shreveport leaving me at the end of a long day with both of them hanging on me all day. I couldn't figure out how to bathe Elly, dress her, feed her all while bathing Noah, doing our bedtime routine that he will not allow to be changed in the slightest! Whew... two kids is SO much more challenging than one! If those mommies-of-one realized how much easier it is with one, they might put off having a second one for a bit longer (I might have been one of those mommies!).

It was quite a stressful first time for me - but I have a great sleeper in my firstborn and he was out for the count as soon as he laid down. I then had to spend the next 2 hours getting my secondborn to sleep! I had forgotten how incredibly unpredictable newborns can be in EVERY single thing that they do - including bedtimes. But, I was successful and am now officially going to bed an hour after Ellyotte :)

I have to remind myself constantly that things should be a lot different for our family - had Satan had his way on 27 July, I wouldn't be here to be tired, happy, hungry, in love, a mommy.... Complain? I will not - I might be super sleepy but the elation of being a mommy to these babies (sleeping or not) counters any negativity that creeps into my spirit.

"This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live." - Deuteronomy 30:19

Videos of Ellyotte (a few days old)

2010-09-22T19:57:00.003-05:00

Baby Sister Ellyotte 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZmZcpKuqPA
Baby Sister Ellyotte 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTtbUb-tH98

Let Fall Begin!

2010-09-21T20:37:00.003-05:00

We had a wonderful time in Alabama these last two and a half weeks. Dan had to go TDY to D.C. and to Nebraska so he drove us home to Bama over the Labor Day weekend then travelled from there while we visited my family and many, many friends.

We went to TROY football games, visited friends, had playdates, rode the golf cart, went out to eat, and overall just had a joyous time. I needed the help with the kiddos as I continue to heal from the clot.

My girl friend, Amy Hall, and her kids, Ava and Cy, came down to see us from Nashville. We had SO much fun! Amy is a talented photographer (Grace Images) and she took Ellyotte's newborn portraits while we were at my parent's house. I am very proud of those pics - see post below for a few of the best ones.

Ellyotte is growing so fast. And is a delight - just pure joy. She eats 3-4 ounces every 3 hours and is a long string bean with the longest toes and fingers we have ever seen! She's very predictable - the only time she cries is when she's hungry, her pacifier falls out or when she's ready for bed.

She goes to bed each night at 6:30-7:00 and sleeps for about 7-8 hours before waking for a feeding. Then she goes back to sleep for 3-4 hours then wakes for a little bit if it is morning. And if not, she goes right back to bed. Her nap schedule isn't so much a schedule... she still sleeps soooo much. Literally, she naps for the majority of the day. Whoo hoo!

We are back home and slowly getting back into the swing of things. It is nice to be back in our own home and have our animals back from the boarder where they stayed for 2.5 weeks. It is still hot here in the Bayou and we are ready for FALL weather!

Enjoy the pictures. More to come.

Newborn Portraits

2010-09-11T22:27:00.004-05:00

Little Miss Ellyotte Pierce is 7 weeks old now and my very talented girlfriend, Amy Henderson Hall, took some beautiful shots of her when she was visiting us this past week. What a blessing it is to have Amy as one of my dearest friends - and what a cool thing to have her be so extremely talented with the camera!!!

Ellyotte is one of the sweetest babies I have ever experienced. She sleeps so much and when she's awake, she is so happy and observant - we are overwhelmed by our love for her. And isn't she so beautiful?!

Trojan Boy

2010-09-11T22:12:00.004-05:00

At the Troy University/Bowling Green game last Saturday, my dad took our little band boy to the sidelines for the pre-game show. To say he had fun is an understatement. There were several times Dad took his eye off of him for a few seconds and Noah ran onto the field to march with the band.

He even got to get some shots made with former Trojan/Dallas Cowboy Demarcus Ware but Noah couldn't have cared less: he was first and foremost concerned with the band. He's a musical little guy!

One Month Update

2010-08-28T10:19:00.002-05:00

Ellyotte had her one month appointment yesterday. She's growing so fast and is doing so well.
~ Weight: 9.9 pounds (50th percentile)
~ Length: 22" (75th percentile)
~ Head circumference: 14 centimeters (25th percentile)

Her head is a little bitty one but don't worry: I told her that she was still extremely smart despite having a tiny head!

She's still being supplemented on formula because my milk production isn't what it needs to be to sustain her at this point. I am still nursing but am taking it a day at a time and will see how long I can continue to do both nursing and formula - doing both is a pain.

We had to try two different formulas this week to help her out - she's been getting so gassy that she just screams in agony. And this is a baby that rarely cries - only if she's hungry or sleepy. So, we are now trying the Similac Sensitive stomach and so far, so good.

Everything else is going well in our house. Dan's busy with work and I am definitely busy being a mommy to two beautiful ones. I continue to take it easy because of the blood clot but am feeling pretty good. Still get a bit short of breath which scares me but I am trusting God that this thing isn't going to travel and will dissolve soon. But, man... I MISS my daily runs! It is driving me bananas not to be able to exercise. Oh well....

Here are some pretty shots from our house this week!