The life of two girls this week - last day of CDO and 5 months!

Every time I blog, I am still surprised this is my life.  It always feels surreal to have two beautiful daughters I get to call mine.  Not a day goes by that I don't thank God for the plans that didn't make sense almost 4 years ago.

This weekend is Memorial Weekend, and Chet's bosses are AWESOME - so he has had all weekend off, even today!!  SURPRISE SURPRISE!  

Rose turned 5 months on Friday!  She is still the happiest baby I have ever known.  Ever.  

Rose, you were not even a thought in our hearts at this time last year, but our home is absolutely so right with you here.  You are joy and beauty in ways I cannot even describe.  You have taught me selflessness through your birth mom.  You have taught me about Jesus' love through plans I never knew could be so amazing.  You have been the easiest, most fun baby to be around, and that just makes everyone adore you.  You wake me up with smiles and no matter WHAT is going on, I just need to be near you to feel your joy.  You are our family's "Baby Rose" forever.  

We love you infinitely, Beautiful.  Love, Daddy & Mommy

 Today is Rose's 22 week birthday :).  We don't have a lot of red, white and blue outfits that fit well, but we found this one.  Nothing like living on a budget...but being SUPER BLESSED by awesome hand-me-downs from the sweetest friends!

 Rose's Milestones at 5 months/22 weeks:

• We finalllllly found a baby food Rose will not gag on: carrots! :)  She is going straight for "real" food, which may not be so bad after all.  She will taste most veggies and fruit I am eating, but gags on nearly ANY and ALL baby food. 
• She is trying to hold her bottles by herself.  She can hold it for most of the feeding already.  
• She can pull toys to her mouth, and even use a spoon "correctly", which amazes us!
• She is still in 6-9 month clothes, but mostly 9 month!  
• She is standing assisted, holding on to stuff.  
• She is attempting to scoot!

Grey had a huge week too!  This first photo is Grey at her friend Pyper's birthday party.  She has had a full calendar of parties this month, and is eating them up.  Cake, cupcakes, icecream, games and friends are right up her alley...

 Grey has obviously had some speech and focusing delays, so we are trying to find things that capture her attention.  Thursday, I decided to paint our little red outdoor table turquoise.  Grey wanted to help, so I allowed her to help...which turned to her doing nearly the WHOLE thing by herself.  (I just assisted.)  We were both in awe at how detail-oriented and on-task she was throughout the entire process.  She loved this project.  I am such a proud mommy, and I cannot wait to find more summer projects to do together.

 Thursday was also Grey's LAST day of regular session CDO!  I cried the whole drive to school.  She has grown up SO much since the first day this fall.  Check out that photo...gasp.  We dropped her off as a baby in August, and picked her up as a little girl on Thursday.  I cannot ever express how much I appreciate teachers who love and teach my daughter.  It'll be nearly impossible to compete with Mrs. Stephanie next year.  Grey has blossomed and adjusted in a way I was not sure would ever happen.  Praise Jesus.
We are enrolling her in a little June school that is mostly a camp-like setting.  She will start in a couple weeks.

We have had the best few days of RAIN!!  Our land was so dry and thirsty.  I am incredibly thankful for the water on our parched land.  We have had several inches of rain during the nights and days, but the afternoons are gorgeous and sunny.  I took my first run in AGES last night.  More like a jog really, but I surprised myself by making it about 4 miles. 

Enjoy your weekend.  Remember freedom is never free.

21 Weeks Update

It feels like Rose has done so much growing overnight!! 

The biggest development of the week:

Rose spent her first night in the crib this weekend (tears on MY part).  She has done pretty good with this transition (better than I have no doubt) and usually lasts until her first feeding (around 1am).  She is such a mover that we always find her with two legs caught in the bars.  I am nervous about allowing her to sleep with the bumpers, but her legs getting caught in the bars is why she constantly wakes up.

My sweet tiny little angel in that big awful crib. Sigh.

Other developments at 21 weeks old:

• Rose graduated to size 3 diapers!  
• She is getting such a humorous personality.  She knows how to make us all laugh and pulls out all the stops. I am adoring this stage tremendously.
• She is teething.  Still.  UGH.
• She is trying to sit up unassisted, but I think we have at least a few more weeks before this is official.
• We moved up to the "big" Tommee Tippee bottles.  She can eat up to 5 oz at each feeding!
• She still hates all baby food we give her.  She may be a little tough when it comes to a healthy diet. ;)  Grey was a much more "needy" baby than her sister, so this one thing Grey has over Rose! :)  Grey would eat anything and everything excitedly. 
• Rose can roll, reach for things and bring a spoon to her mouth.  Her hand/eye coordination is  amazing [according to her parents lol].

My sweet girls on Saturday.

A few family updates:
Chet found out he will only be working in Oklahoma every other week starting soon.  PRAISE THE LORD.  I was about to go straight up batty.  It's been a long five months to say the least.  I can handle every other week.  Phew.

My Nerium team is still growing, and I am hoping to become a National Marketing Director soon in our company.  A $50,000 bonus will help us get out of debt!!

Rose's adoption is next month, and we are counting down the days.  It is surreal and more too wonderful for words.  She has always been ours according to us.  We are planning a little dinner that next weekend with family and close friends to celebrate.  Such a GIFT.

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.  James 3:17-18

Grey's 2 year old shoot/family photos by Alexi Cait Photography

 

Alexi is Tisha and Jimmy Jim's former assistant when they did photography.  We were thrilled when she agreed to come to Lubbock to snap some family photos and Grey's 2 year old shoot.  Of course we would have the coldest spring morning ever, which made for an unhappy Rose (rare mood - can we blame her though?), but Alexi still captured some sweet ones.  

Thank you very much Alexi! :)

Mother's Day 2014 - Dedicating Rose Catherine Erwin to the Lord

This year's Mother's Day was the simply the best.  I am in awe still that God would allow me to have a precious son awaiting me in Glory, and two beautiful daughters to raise on earth.  The day was extra emotional as Chet and I dedicated Rose to the Lord at church.

Our church home, Hillside Christian, had the parents who were dedicating their babies attend a parenting sermon last Monday evening.  We were also given CDs to listen to during the week - and asked to read several Scriptures about parenting our children in a Godly manner.  I loved that they didn't just allow anyone and everyone to dedicate their babies because it was the "thing" to do.  They know this matter is the most important in all of our life as parents.

Both girls did so good at the dedication (Rose fell asleep).  I choked back tears the entire time.  Such a humbling, amazing experience.  Chet and I both could not stop praying for and thinking about Rose's birth mom yesterday too.  Such a gift.

My sweet friend Vanessa delivered this to me yesterday.  Oh my heart.

 

Chet and the girls spoiled me.:)

God has some BIG plans for this happy girl!!

 

We spent Mother's Day evening with our dear friends the Allens.  Such a great ending to a special day.

20 weeks of precious today.

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.  Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.  Deuteronomy 6:4-9

And we have a ROLLER!

Not only do we have a roller, but now that Rose discovered she can roll this morning, she has been rolling every time I set her on the floor. :)  She has already realized she can use her new development to get places.  We are MOBILE!  With two kids on the move, I may be in for it.  Yikes.

I will do my best to video our rolling soon!

Last week was absolutely exhausting, so in my haste to blog, I forgot to include one of Rose's FIRST BITES of food!!  What?!  I know.  Life with two becomes more and more evident.  Here is a glimpse into those first tastes.

ahhhh...where did time go?

Any ways, since this photo, Rose has experienced oatmeal cereal on several occasions and has even ventured into organic peas.  She hasn't been a fan of either, so we are going to wait a couple weeks and try again.  She is still young, and I am not too concerned.  We are mostly just getting her used to new textures and tastes.

This weekend was the most productive and wonderful family weekend we probably have ever had.  We cleaned out the girls' closets, reorganized both of their rooms, Chet built Grey (and Rose) a play kitchen that she ADORES!!, I added a cubicle shelf for toys in Grey's room, finally completed the nursery (or as complete as it will be until we have more $), sorted and washed all the hand me downs we have been given for the girls, took family walks, built dining room chairs (about time), planted flowers and shrubs, mowed the lawn, etc etc. 

WONDERFUL!

 

We grilled out Friday and Saturday on Chet's new toy. :)

 

All I wanted for Mother's Day was to plant flowers.  Since Rose is getting dedicated at church next Sunday, and we have plans with friends that afternoon, we decided to plant them yesterday.  I absolutely love fresh flowers in pots.  I really do think it makes my mood better. :)  I am so grateful for this treat! 

 

Grey's room will be more of the "playroom" eventually.  I am so relieved to have all her toys stored away with a "place to belong".  Grey is such a huge helper and already knows exactly where they all go.  She hasn't even complained yet about picking up her room.  She may have inherited my cleaning tendencies lol. (Thank you Target for cheap shelving and cubes!) 

 

We moved the bookshelf into Rose's room.  The gray colors clash a little, but one day she'll get to choose her own colors and make a special toddler room.  Second kiddos (or third) get hand-me-downs.  What was once Holden's bedroom set, that was painted gray and white for Grey, is now our sweet Rose's.  It makes sense.  For now I am satisfied and think it turned out pretty sweet.  I know a PERFECT nursery is not what really matters in life.  We pray our daughters grow up understanding things are not what give us true joy and happiness, so we save money when we can!

Oh, and I know the Rose Catherine canvas above the changing table is too high.  It had to be moved since a certain unnamed 2 year old kept kicking it down.  That little 2 year old is begging to be potty trained. ;)

Rose's big milestones this week:

ROLLING OVER

Tasting real food

Crip napping - this is always harder on me than them!

Drinking from stage two nipples

Wearing 6-9 month outifts

Wearing size 2 diapers

Pulling things to her

LOTS of drooling and teething

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,  made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.  Ephesians 2:4-5