We Will Always Remember...

"Bonfire wasn't what gave A&M its spirit, The A&M spirit made Bonfire." 
                                                                                                                                   ~ Tim Sweeney

http://www.thebatt.com/12-years-12-aggies-1.2703447#.Tsb0ymBj4yE

To Bean #2

Sweet baby, I know it's been a couple weeks since I wrote to you, but please don't think that is because we haven't been thinking about you!  I think about you every single second of the day ~ especially when I'm sick or having awful indigestion :)  But truth be told, I wouldn't trade one symptom for anything in the world.  I love every one of them with all my heart ~ here is why...

On October 24th, I truly thought we were losing you.  I spotted only once with your sister and that was at 26ish weeks or so...but NEVER this early.  My heart was broken into a million pieces and yet, I knew the Lord was in control of whatever we were being dealt.  Your Daddy, called the doctor who called back and said to come in and let's see what was going on.  While Daddy took your sister to school, your Aunt Jaja was my rock (as always).  She drove me to the doctor and sat with your Daddy and I the entire time.  And can I just tell you, when we saw your sweet perfect heartbeat on the monitor, I'm not sure there was one dry eye in the room.  You were perfectly fine and healthy!  Praise the Lord...our sweet baby was just perfect.

I can't remember too many moments in my life where my I truly felt that sense of intense relief, joy, happiness and unconditional love.  It didn't matter what the doctor told me at that point - if I had to sit still for the next 33 weeks, I would do just that.  You were my baby and you were ok...nothing else mattered.

It was also on this day that your grandparents and aunts/uncles found out about you.  We needed prayers and we knew they would stop everything and anything to pray for you because they too love you with all their hearts.

A week later, we had a follow-up appointment to make sure you were growing just as you should be and the Lord continued to bless us beyond words.  You were measuring exactly 8 weeks 1 day which is exactly what you should have been at that point!  I go back in two weeks, on November 17th, for another follow-up and while there is always a bit of nervousness, based on the growth and symptoms and of course my mother's instinct, I truly believe you are absolutely ok.

Speaking of growth - WOWZERS!  I know Dr. Tran said that I would show faster...but still...I had NO idea.  I feel like I look now, at nine weeks, the same as I did at 15/16 weeks the first time.  Still worth it though, ABSOLUTELY worth it!

On another note, we welcomed two of your future friends into the world this past Saturday (November 5th).  I can't wait for you all to grow up together.  I am sure the four of you (plus any additional babies to come in the future) will all be the best of friends.  Oh sure, you will fight, rough house, get on each other's nerves...but at the end of the day, I know you will remember that you all love each other and would do anything you can for one another.  That's what families and friends do.  And you sweet Bean, are unbelievably blessed with so many people who will support you, believe in you, and most importantly love you.  

But know this, no one other than the Lord, will ever love you the way your Mommy and Daddy do.  You are our sweet baby, and we will always, always, always, ALWAYS love you!  

Hugs, kisses and all the love in the world,

Mommy and Daddy

EIGHTEEN MONTHS!!!!!!

If I only knew how to slow time down...and yet, I think this is every mother's plea as her gorgeous, sweet, precious infant grows into an adorable, active, full of life TODDLER!  (And probably for every other moment of their lives.)

But you know what, each stage has been such an amazing experience...different changes, milestones, and yes, trials.  None of which I would change for anything...ok most things.  I would probably change the whole acid reflux stage if I could ~ if only because I know it was so painful for her :(

I continue to be amazed almost daily by our sweet girl...her vocabulary, her independent mind, her smiles, hugs, kisses and unconditional love.  I tried at one point to write down her words as they came but it turned out I'm not that efficient...or she is just brilliant and learns too quickly :)  However, for the sake of documentation, I will attempt to write it all down!

At 18 Months Sophia...

• Can "say" the following words (and their translation): Mama, Dada, Bubba, Mimi, Nana, Grama (Grandpa), PopPop, PawPaw, PaPa, JaJa (Aunt Jaime), JuJu (Julian), Char-Char (Charlotte), Emo (Elmo), Owside (Outside), Mine, Me, Bite, More, Peas (Please), Eeese (Cheese), Tank Oo (Thank You), Nanna (Banana), Ock Me (Rock Me), Night Night, Uh-Oh, No, Go, Ow, Bye-Bye,  Eddy (Teddy), Dolly, Cacker (Cracker), Shoes, Ocks (Socks), Fork, Oon (Spoon), Up, Down, Baby, Poo-Poo, Apple, Flower, Ball, Yea, Whoa, Ite (Sprite), Book, Ickle-Ickle (Tickle-Tickle), Ingy (Slinky), Pity (Pretty), Uit Oop (Fruit Loop), Gin (Again), Juice, Bump (Fist Bump), Uck (Truck), It (Sit)

Ok, seriously, how many of you actually read that ENTIRE paragraph?!  And scanning doesn't count ;)  I'm sure I missed a few and of course there is a whole slew of babble that we just nod and pretend to understand!

• Doesn't use signs as much since she is more verbal but still uses "please" and "thank you" regularly. Her newest sign is "wait".  This is by far NOT her favorite concept.
• Loves music and dancing.  Her favorite songs right now are Bringing Home a Baby Bumble Bee, Are You Happy and You Know It and You Are My Sunshine
• Has become quite an independent little girl
• Will win you over almost every time with her cute little grin, dimples and gorgeous blue eyes
• Still loves, and I do mean LOVES, outside.  Her teacher at school told me she has never seen a child love outside as much as Sophie.  She doesn't even mind if she has to play by herself as long as she is outside ~ it's the cure all I tell you!
• Follows directions very well (most of the time)
• Enjoys playing chase around the house and pretending to scare you
• Has an annoying habit of throwing all the bath toys out of the tub.  We are now in the discipline/training stage of breaking this habit.
• Is a great sleeper and only wakes up on very random occasions.  Her bedtime is somewhere between 7:45-8:00.  Wake-up time is around 6:45-7:15 depending on how much of a sleepy head she wants to be :)
• Had stopped wanting to be rocked but the past couple of weeks she wants to snuggle before bedtime and we are relishing the sweetness.
• Is starting to tell us "poo-poo" when she needs to potty.  So far, that has not resulted in any successful potty trips but it's a start!
• Adores other kids
• Seems to get bullied at school sometimes :(  This clearly makes us not happy parents!!!!  However, she did hit one kid after getting bit to which we were quite proud...maybe we shouldn't have been, but oh well!  Has also been hit in the cheek with a toy to which she told the little boy "NO, NO, NO!!!"  I think eventually she will get all of them in-line :)
• Wears Size 3 diapers but can wear Size 4.  This is definitely our last round of Size 3 I think.
• Is in 18-month or 2T jeans simply for the length.  We have been buying 2T so that we can the adjustable waist, which we have to pull as tightly as possible.  Also, in an 18-month to 2T shirt.
• Size 5 1/2 to 6 shoe.  This makes me happy because they have more fun options in these sizes :)
• Loves necklaces and bracelets and anything she can pretend is a necklace or bracelet
• Plays with her small kitchen, ball popper and slinky more than anything else
• Still sleeps with Teddy and a blanket (sometimes two...one to snuggle and one to actually use)
• Can sometimes be shy and other times a little too "adventurous"
• Likes to help in the kitchen...I think we are going to request that Santa bring her an actual play kitchen this year instead of the small "baby" one she currently has.
• Will SOMETIMES sit still and actually watch a cartoon/movie...mostly when it involves her beloved Elmo
• Adores art - our collection is growing rapidly!
• Gives the best hugs, best kisses and cutest bye-bye's of any kid I know...but then I am prejudice :)
• Will always be one of the biggest blessings of our entire lives
• And I'm sure a million other things that I just totally couldn't think of at the time of this post...but whatever those things might be, they only add to the amount of love and awe we have for this sweet, precious girl.
• We love you, Peanut!  Always and forever!!!

And since I know this is what you were all hoping for, here is a sneak peek of our 18-month photo session with Sabrina!  This sweet lady has captured such amazing moments of our family and has taken up a place in our hearts and lives.  So happy to have her as not only a photographer, but a friend! We love you and are so grateful for your amazing talent!!!