Brazil Bound

I’m just going to jump right in here and pretend it hasn’t been literally YEARS since I’ve blogged with any kind of consistency.  Ok, then.

 

My whole family, as in my husband and all 3 kids, and me, is going to Brazil for the month of July.  I know what you’re thinking. Yes, we may very well have lost our minds. It’s something we’ve thought about and talked about casually for years but, I for one never thought it would happen.  I mean, how could Daniel take a whole month off of work? Well, apparently he’s worked it out because we’re going.

 

We’re taking a friend of ours with us, a teenager who has gone on mission trips with us in the past.  He’s the best kid and he’s great with our kids.  It’s going to be very helpful to have another set of hands to help!  I’m going to be the mom of a teenager for a month! Yikes!

 

We’ll be staying in a small town that we fell in love with on our first visit there years ago.  It is always our favorite place and we wish we could stay longer every time.  The people are kind and excited to see us and we’ve watched the kids grow up.  A family is letting us stay in a little house that isn’t being used right now. I have no idea how the sleeping arrangements will work, but we’ll figure it out.

 

I’m not really worried about anything other than the flight.  Ten hours on a plane with a 1 year old? Yeah.  I think after that we’ll be able to handle anything. We’ve had one set back after another in getting Jillian’s paperwork for this trip.  But we’re finally in the last stage (visas) and we should be fine.

 

I’m planning to blog while we’re in Brazil.  We should have internet access but I’m not sure how reliable it will be.  Goodness knows, I should have plenty to share!

Happy Birthday Jillian!!

This girl

 

is 1 year old today!!

 

One year ago today, we didn’t even know she existed.  Now we can’t imagine life without her.  She’s crawling around like a crazy girl and is into everything.  Not quite ready to walk, but she’s pulling up on furniture and cruising around.  She’s a little shy around strangers or groups of people and is pretty serious and solemn.  But when she smiles, she lights up the room and you’d do anything to get her to do it again.

It’s safe to say the whole family is in love with Jillian.  I think we have some friends who are too.

 

 

*While our adoption is final, we have not gotten her birth certificate yet. We need that ASAP to get her passport for our trip to Brazil this summer.  (The whole family is going for the month of July.)  After that we have to get visas as well.  We’d appreciate prayers for paperwork to come through as quickly as possible.  God has given me tremendous peace about this and I know He is in control.

Planning to blog during our trip as well!  Prayers for motivation for that too! ha!

Baby update

Jillian is 4 months old!  Who can believe that?  I thought I’d do a little update, partly for people who have been giving me a hard time about not blogging and partly for our memories, which are slowly fading with age. ha!

 

At her 4 mo. doctor’s appointment on the Sept 2, Jillian was 12 lbs. 13 oz. She is 4 times the size she was at birth!  She’s doing really well as far as development goes.  A little behind, but considering she was 7 weeks early, she’s moving right along.  The doctor took her off the high calorie formula, which is great as it was messing with her tummy. 

 

Here are a few semi-recent pictures of the little sweetie. 

end of May (4 wks. old)

July (10 wks. old)

Today (4 mos. old)

I would do just about anything to see this smile.

The girls

I picked up crocheting again (Just call me Memaw)

Date night w/ Daniel & Jillian at Sweet Frog (fro yo)

This is how she will look tomorrow at her first State game

Tummy time

Faith took family pics for us. One of my favorites.

 

We are pretty much settled in and in a routine with 3 kids now.  Personally, I am enjoying this stage tremendously more with Jillian than with the other two.  I think it’s mostly because I haven’t had to deal with the hormones and recovery of childbirth & 9 mos. of pregnancy.  This is the way to do it!   We are blessed beyond measure to have Jillian in our family.  She has an ahh-mazing testimony already and I’m excited to see what else He will do in her life.

Sorry for the baby overload…

Our baby girl came home on Monday!  It is so nice not to have to drive 30 min. both ways to see her.  And to all be able to see her at one time, any time of day.  She’s eating well and still gaining about an ounce a day. 

 

Here she is having her car seat test before she could leave.  (If you aren’t familiar with that, she just had to sit in her seat for about 30 min., still on the monitor, to make sure she could tolerate that position. And she did great!)

                                                                               

 

Becca & Hayes made her a sign

                                                                                 

 

This is the only picture I have of all of us.  Huh, guess I could have cropped it or something. Oh well.

                                                                               

 

The girls in their frog pajamas.

                                                                                          

 

 

In other kid news, Becca had her end of year art show last night.

 

Hers is the light brown dog in the middle.

 

Her art work

 

Hayes in the batting cage

Baseball is over except for Becca’s tournament that continues next week.  It will be nice to not have commitments during the week and on weekends for a while.  AND today was our last day of school!  Yay for summer!!!

Update on Little Bit

Jillian is trucking right along.  She’s up to 3 lbs 12 oz!  Consistently gaining about an ounce a day.  Jilly Boo (I’ve got a million of them) is taking 3 bottles a day and will probably add another one tomorrow.  The rest of the feedings are given through the tube.  And she’s getting so much better at the bottle!  This weekend it was taking her 40 min to take one ounce.  This morning she drank it in 25 min for Daniel.  And at 2p, Little Peanut gulped it down in 17 min for me! (yes, I was totally trying to beat Daniel’s record!)

Here’s a peek at her little scrawny arms and legs:

Look how big that hat is on her!  And believe me, it is a really small hat.  I just knew it would fit! ha! (I should have put my hand beside her so you could get some perspective on how little she is!)

So, just a little news….

Introducing our newest little one:

Jillian Mae Bridges was born on 5-2-2011, weighing a whopping 3 lbs 5 oz.  She joined our family on 5-7-2011.  Little Jillian is now learning to eat and gain weight in the hospital so she can come home.  We’re looking at a few weeks before that happens. 

Today she weighed 3lbs 7.9 oz and was moved into a regular bassinet from her warming isolette.  She also took 13 cc’s of formula from a bottle, which is the most she’s taken.  Otherwise, she gets her food through the tube. 

God has a plan for her life and He knew her before she was born.  We are so blessed and excited to be given the opportunity to adopt and parent this little girl.

Please join us in praying for her growth and development.  I’ll keep you posted!

Thankful Month–Day 29

After a fun 5 day birthday/Thanksgiving celebration, I am full (in more ways than one!) of thankfulness!  And links to share!  In list format!
--my favorite pie

Oatmeal Pie made by my SIL, Cissy.  This is all that was left of 2 pies and I got to bring it home.  I'll post the recipe later, maybe tomorrow.  It tastes like pecan pie, without the pecans.  Oh my word.  And oh my hips.

--my new boots

My kids got me these cute rain boots for my birthday.  I’ve been wanting some forever and they finally got the hint. ha!  And it’s supposed to rain tomorrow!

--my new purse

My friend Kristin blogged about her cute new purse the other week and I was introduced to this site.  I mean, who wouldn’t love a site called Handbag Heaven?  Love!  So I passed on a few links to my mom for ideas for birthday presents (she asked!) and she got this purse!  I didn’t realize it was quite as big as it is, but it’s growing on me. 

--winning a cute necklace!


This morning I found out I won this necklace from Fun Fabulous Finds!  It’s from a cute etsy shop called Bohemia Jewellery.  I’m in love with all of their stuff!

So today, I’m thankful for material things and pie.  All the important things.  The end.

Thankful For the Birthday Girl!!

Ten years ago today I became a mom.  Now that little baby girl is 10!  What in the world? 

Becca Boo, I am so proud of you.  Your sweet spirit is a blessing to our family.  You’re a little cuddle bug and while I know that probably won’t be the case in a few years, a Mama can hope!

Artistic and athletic, sweet and sassy.  That’s you in a nutshell. 

We love you and can’t wait to see what the Lord will do in your life!

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you.  Plans to give you a hope and a future.”  Jeremiah 29:11

 

 

Month of Thankfulness - Day 24

Today I'm thankful for my family.  We came to my parents' house last night (my 38th birthday, hello! I'm old.).  We're here for a few days and then go to Daniel's parents'.  Traveling for the holidays is a little bit hectic, but I wouldn't have it any other way. 

We're just hanging out, playing games, talking, being lazy, and enjoying each other.  And tonight Daniel and I are taking advantage of free babysitting and going out to eat for my birthday.  So yay!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

A Month of Thankfulness–Day 16

I’m thankful for a few things today.  Becca has been sick for a few days and she’s feeling better today.  So far only the kids have had this cold.  Thankful that the adults are still well!

My mom is visiting today!  Dad has a meeting in town and she came along.  Right now she is doing school with Hayes.

Thankful for my sweet mama and that she lives close enough to visit for the day!  We are blessed!

Thankfulness Day 12

The kids and I had a spontaneous field trip to Discovery Place today.  I love my city and am thankful for all the fun things there are to do here! 

Here’s a little look at our day via iPhone pics.

Thankfulness Day 11

I’m thankful for homeschooling today. I’m not the perfect mom (who is?) and I’m definitely not the perfect homeschool mom. I get frustrated and worn out. I snap at the kids, have unrealistic expectations, and doubt my abilities.

And then I have a morning like today.

Here’s what I saw when I got up this morning. (My kids are EARLY risers and their mother is not.)

Not sure about the trashcan, but they were coloring together.

And then this happened.

 

Kind of makes it all worth it to see them learn.

Still Thankful!! Day 8

Today I’m thankful for my little guy.  We had a date night tonight at McDonald’s (his choice).  Then we went shopping for his sister’s birthday present.  He’s a pretty fun date.

 

 

I have to tell you what he did today.  (Sorry for the repeat, FB friends!)  We went to the gym this morning and as we pulled into the lot, I hear this from the backseat: Uh, mom?  I forgot my shoes!

So I did what any mom would do.  I carried him on my back into the gym and worked out!  And then I posted about it on Facebook and blogged about it.

A Month of Thankfulness–Day 7

Today I am thankful for my dad.  He recently had a pretty serious surgery and I am so happy to report that he won’t have to have any further treatment.  So now he recovers and my mom drives him around, which I know he LOVES.  (Sorry mom!)  heehee

I don’t know that I’m necessarily a “daddy’s girl.”  I think I’m probably equally a “daddy’s girl” and a “mama’s girl.”    But I love my daddy.  We are pretty close and I can talk to him about anything.  He’s got a fun/silly side and a serious/straight-laced side.  I think I got a little of both of those.  He’ll tell a joke he likes 50 times, until he’s told everyone he knows and will laugh just as hard the first time as the 50th.  Usually laughing till he’s crying and can’t even get the words out.  That always cracks me up. 

Growing up, my dad was strict and no-nonsense, while also being loving, gentle, and fun.  I always knew he loved me, even when he was upset with me or disappointed in my decisions.  My dad (and my mom) led me to Christ at a young age by their actions and their lives, not just with their words.  I wanted to love and serve the God they loved and served.  I had no problem believing that my Heavenly Father loved me because my earthly father pointed me to Him.

Aw, I didn’t know I was going to get all sappy when I started this!  So anyway, here’s my dad.  (My mom will probably kill me for posting this, but it’s literally the only one I could find!)

A Month of Thankfulness

Happy Saturday!! 
Right now I’m thankful for a full, fun day with friends.  We drove a few hours southwest to watch the NC State/Clemson football game.  And although it didn’t turn out like we wanted it to, I’m so glad we went.  It was a gorgeous day, not as cold as we thought it would be.  The kids were well-behaved!  And we got to see an old friend and his daughters and catch up a bit.  On top of all that, we got to spend some long overdue quality time with Chad and Faith, who are always a blast.
So to sum up:  thankful for my family, my friends, a fun day. 
Not so thankful for the Wolfpack.  Or that I didn’t take any pictures.
OH! And thankful for an extra hour of SLEEP!!!!!

A Month of Thankfulness – Day 5

Today I’m just thankful it’s Friday.  I’m not trying to wish my life away, but sometimes I find myself living for the weekends!  And we haven’t even had a rough week! 

I just like spending time my family.  And although I’m with the kids all the time, it’s different when Daniel is here too.  It’s better when the team is all together, you know?

Random pics of the kids hyped up on sugar last weekend. 

Giggle-fest 2010

 

Have any fun plans for the weekend?