One year ago today.

Lily Eve means Pure Life.
There is no better way to describe her than that. You never know what you're going to get when your baby is born and every day, we feel like we are opening a new gift with Lily. She is so surprising and enchanting. We love knowing her and watching her discover life.

9 days before she arrived.

Jan 2, 2009. 18 minutes after we arrived at the hospital!
I didn't sleep well last night and it made me think of the craziness of that night one year ago when Lily entered this world quickly and hasn't slowed down since.

A few things Lily loves: crazy dancing, animals, outside, cheese, music, "PaPa" (piper), yelling, blankies, mommy, feeding Boone, smiling, boys with dark hair, electronics, life

"Every good and perfect gift is from above." James 1:17

Snowed in

our front yard
We heard the forcast, but never thought that we would actually get 10-12 inches of snow! Well, it happened. It snowed all day pretty hard. Now we can't even get out of our driveway. This is the most snow Black Mountain has seen since the "storm of '94." It's a ton of fun!

back yard- boone doesn't know what to do....


Our porch last night

outtakes.

Here is one series of our photo shoot.
This is what we were up against, people.

114 takes.

I should have know this wasn't going to go well when this was the first picture we took......

Here are the "best" of 114 pictures that Phil took trying to get a picture of the girls in their coordinating Christmas dresses for our family.

Seriously. 114 pictures. Lily did not smile one time.


I would take another 114 though. I never get tired of these faces.....

Giving Thanks.

I don't know what happens, but I get turned inward sometimes where all I can think about is me- what I'm feeling, what I need to be happier, how I don't have time to do this or that... yadda, yadda, yadda.....

So Thanksgiving and this whole holiday season helps me turn outward again- almost inside out- to see family and all of my blessings and the Hope that I have.

This time of year makes me want to be better for my family and friends and job. It makes me want to exercise, read and journal more. So I hope that this year the inwardness....will just stop.

Pictures are the best way for me to give thanks. I am thankful for:

that guy in the stripes & for my sis-in-law & my baby...but esp. for that guy in the stripes
people who drive in the middle of the night

family that would and does do anything for you

the memories of these great older people

people who know me (& like me) no matter what
people who give their lives away

family history and legacy & getting to know people better the older you get
sisters.

these kids. but especially the moms of these kids.
this little girl
and this little girl.
I feel very turned outward now. What a difference not thinking about me can make...... Happy Thanksgiving.

A cool giveaway.

I really love this website- www.simplemom.net and she has a great giveaway that you should check out. The jewelry on this website is beautiful!

Click HERE to read about the giveaway!!!!!!!!

My little diva.

This will make you laugh a lot and maybe cry a little. Our friend, Wayne, is apparently a baby whisperer b/c Piper won't perform for anyone and will do anything he says. All moms should call Wayne to babysit......enjoy.