big boy Grant

It seems like overnight my baby turned into a big boy.  For a while there I was concerned with his speech because he didn't seem to be talking as much as all the other kids his age.  One night last week he went to bed and woke up and suddenly he doesn't stop talking!  He says so many more words and repeats (clearly I might add) everything we say.  So, time to start spelling I guess!  My favorite new word of his is the way he says thank you.  He says "welcome mama" every time I give him something he has asked for or do something that makes him happy.  It is the cutest thing ever! I just love this little guy so much!

Overall, we had a good weekend.  There were a lot of memories as we thought of what we were doing three years ago with our precious girls, but we tried to focus on the present with Grant and the future with this baby boy.

Sunday we headed out for a fun day trip to a beach about a half hour away.  It was a beautiful, hot summer day and was the picture perfect family day that I had been longing for.  We set up camp right by the water's edge so Grant could run in and out without us having to chase him too far.  The water was unseasonable cold, but he didn't seem to mind at all!  After a full day at the beach we stopped for some delicious ice cream and then took the scenic way home looking at houses and dreaming of the day that we are blessed enough to build our own.

On Monday we did the usual balloon launch at the cemetery with just our family and then came home and honored the girls birthday by eating a delicious cookie cake.

 

Grant started talking a ton more this week so I kept trying to get him to say the girls names.  He couldn't quite get them out, but he did say a very toddlerish version of sisters that just made my heart melt.  It is so important to me that Grant and his brother always know the story of their sisters and how they are a part of our family.  I hope that 10 years from now we are still honoring this day with a cookie cake with their names on it!

Grant got to pick out a few things for his sisters when we went to get the balloons.  He chose a heart shaped slinky and a pink and blue bouncy ball.

Grant decorated his own balloon- can you tell???

Thank you for all of you who lifted us up in your thoughts and prayers this past week.  We could definitely tell that three years into this process, the overwhelming sadness is there, but it is not as intense.  However, the longing for them to be here in our arms will never go away.

July 18

I Only Wanted You
They say memories are golden, well, maybe that is true.

I never wanted memories, I only wanted you.
A million times I cried.
If love alone could have saved you, you never would have died.
In life I loved you dearly, in death I love you still.
In my heart you hold a place no one else could fill.
If tears could build a stairway and heartache make a lane.
I'd walk the path to Heaven and bring you back again.
Our family chain is broken, and nothing seems the same.
But as God calls us back one by one, the chain will link again.
Vicky Holder

 Brooke Janae 

July 18, 2008 

 &

Alexcyn Grace 

July 18 - 21, 2008

Happy 3rd Birthday in heaven baby girls.  We love you and miss you so much.  
~mommy, daddy, grant and baby brother

 

July 16

Time is such a funny thing.... some days it feels like it was just yesterday and other days it feels like a lifetime has passed since that moment that my water broke and our lives changed forever.

thankful...

Today our little town experienced some crazy storms.  Of course, due to the fact that Disney channel does not interrupt regularly scheduled programs to give weather updates, I was completely oblivious to the fact that a monsoon was coming across the lake and headed right for us.  I was running errands and was in a small local store when the storm hit.  Luckily they locked us in and told us to step away from the windows. I did get a chance to watch it all blow in and it was intense to say the least.  As I drove home, I realized how lucky we were to not be on the road when the storm hit.  Trees were down everywhere, including this beautiful tree that crossed the road right into our yard.

J and G and I headed out to the cemetery tonight because it was right in the path of destruction.  I was overwhelmed with fear as I drove in and saw all the damage. Thankfully our girls monument was spared.  It was actually shifted off its base a little which we still can't figure out how that happened, but considering all the damage around us, we were so blessed.  I don't know what I would have done had their beautiful monument been crushed by a tree the week before their 3rd birthday!  I am just so thankful the tree next to them did not fall and I am praying for all those that went to the cemetery tonight and saw their loved ones markers crushed or broken.

June Recipe

I would definitely recommend this recipe for anyone that enjoys pork chops.  I love that it is super simple and although it is a Paula Dean recipe, it isn't even that unhealthy.  Of course, I can't leave a recipe alone so I did add a few things to pump up the flavor a bit based on the reviews.  Let me know if you make these delicious pork chops!


Double Orange Glazed Pork Chops

Ingredients

• 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1/3 cup orange marmalade
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 4 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 4 (8-ounce) center-cut, bone-in pork loin chops, 1/2-inch thick
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions

In a small bowl, mix together the orange juice and marmalade.

Heat the butter and vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Season the pork chops with the salt and pepper. Add the chops and cook, turning once, until just cooked through, 6 to 8 minutes total. Transfer the chops to a platter and cover loosely with aluminum foil.
Pour off all but 3 tablespoons of drippings from the skillet and add the orange juice mixture. Raise the heat to medium-high and stir, scraping up the brown bits on the bottom of the pan, until the sauce is reduced and slightly syrupy, 6 to 8 minutes. Return the pork chops to the pan, reduce the heat to medium, and cook, turning the pork chops a few times in the sauce.
Transfer the chops to serving dishes and drizzle with some of the sauce. Pour the remaining sauce into a bowl and serve alongside the chops.

I added a sliced onion and some chopped garlic to the oil and butter while the pork chops were in the pan.  I also added some orange zest to the juice and marmalade mixture just because I love any excuse to use my microplane!  I am sure it would be fine without the extras, I just can't seem to follow a recipe without adding something fun to it!

24 Weeks

I made it to 24 weeks!!!!  I know it sounds silly to be excited for such a thing, but it really does let me take a deep breath knowing that I have passed that first milestone in this pregnancy.  Thanks for all your support last week!

This may be a boring post for most of you.  I am basically doing this for my records so that when I go to make a pregnancy book for this baby, I don't forget everything like I did when I went to make Grant's book!


How Far Along: 24 weeks.


Weight Gain: up 9 pounds already!  By 16 weeks, I had lost a pound but I made up for it by gaining 6 pounds at my last appt!  It was quite a shocker to see the scale at that appt, but I know it is a good thing.

Belly:  no good maternity pic at the moment, but will post one in a week or two.  Still just growing everyday.

Maternity Clothes: I started wearing maternity clothes early on this time around (13 weeks).  I found that I wore regular clothes too long with Grant and stretched out a lot of my favorites so I didn't want to do that again.  And, I just felt really uncomfy in my regular clothes this time so I was happy to make the switch.

Stretch Marks: None.  Didn't get any with the girls or Grant so I am crossing my fingers it is the same this time around!

Sleep: I haven't had a huge issue sleeping yet.  I do have days where I am wide awake at 4 am and can't go back to sleep, but luckily that doesn't happen too often!

Best Moment of the Week: Seeing my dr. and hearing the babes heartbeat- it always gives me the boost of confidence I need to get through this!

Movement: Very sporadic.  Movement started around 18 weeks but it was very weak.  I was told that my placenta is in the front and that the movement was being cushioned.  There were a few days about a week ago that I felt him a ton, but really he is not a very active baby.  It is not usually until I lay on the couch at the end of the day to relax that I finally feel a little kick here and there.

Symptoms: First trimester was not half as bad as it was with Grant.  I was only sick for a couple weeks.  Still felt exhausted and had a huge aversion to any food though.  Energy and appetite came back around 12 weeks.  More recently I developed a sciatic nerve pain in my lower back.  I had this my first trimester with Grant so I was thrilled when I didn't get it this time around.  No such luck for me.  The worst part about this pain is that it strikes anytime and it litterally brings you down to your knees it hurts so bad.  Hoping it goes away soon.

Food Cravings: Cheesecake.  I am usually a person that can eat cake for breakfast and be ok with it so this is not a huge surprise, but it still does amaze me how I can suddenly NEED a cheesecake so badly.  Good thing we don't have a Cheesecake Factory close to us or I would probably be up 20 pounds by now! 

What I Miss: Sleeping on my stomach.  I love going to the beach and digging a hole in the sand for my belly so I can get  little tummy time in.  Also, singing in church is a huge issue for me.  Unfortunately, I had this with the girls and with Grant.  Every time I stand up to sing, my heart races, I start to loose my breath, I break out in sweat all over and my body tingles.  With Grant, I was seconds away from passing out once and even had to leave church and go lay down in the car just to feel better!  My dr says it has to do with my oxygen levels when standing and singing.  Now, I just stay seated or lip sinc.  I love worship time at our church so I definitely miss being able to give it my all!

What I'm Looking Forward to: Obviously, October when I have this baby!  But for now, I am looking forward to getting through all the milestones.  Made it through week 23.  Now we are at the earliest possibility for viability.  Next stop, 28 weeks.

Emotions: Up and down.  Thankful that I have an amazing dr that takes care of me and knows when I need extra attention.  At this point, I am going every other week which should help with my anxiety levels.

I do have to say that this pregnancy is definitely different that Grant's.  It seems to be going by so much faster now that I have G to fill up most of my time.  For that, I am thankful!