Free Hugs!

A must watch for this Monday. You can't help but feel good and smile when watching this... Thanks, Mom, for sharing. Hugs!

"For one moment our lives met our souls touched." - Oscar Wilde

angel.

"With moonbeams in hand and stardust in eyes, you're a baby of heaven drifting down from the sky."

i love you, sweet angel.

the prize.

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 3:14 

Tonight, the girls are asleep. They were both tuckered out and bedtime came early at the Branch house. Sean has been in San Fransisco all week and is supposed to be on a plane home tonight, if the weather cooperates. I have a glass of wine. My candle is burning. I just walked in and kissed Saylor's sweet head and said a prayer for the Lord to watch her as she sleeps. 


It's cold outside. I'm snuggled in a blanket as I type. My kitty is curled up next to me. I am counting my blessings. 


I am thankful for tonight, that I can watch Saylor sleep or look into Chloe's room and see her as her night light shines on her. I am thankful for a quiet, clean house. 


I sit at my computer with the lyrics of Jared Anderson, This is Life, playing in the background, and I am moved to tears. It touches me so deep. This road we are walking, it's a gift. I pray we don't lose sight of the prize we have in Christ Jesus. And while we await the prize, may we not miss the moments in between. It's a beautiful life. May we enjoy today. May we give grace and understanding to others. Life is truly bigger when we live for others...  my husband, my sweet little girls, my family and my friends, and ultimately, our God. 

Jared Anderson - "This is Life"

Brace yourself 

This is going to take every part of you

This is going to make God believe in you

And you believe in Him

Pace yourself

Eternity is not a fairy tale

The in between can be your heaven

Or just another day in hell

Cause the road we walk is straight and narrow

And the times we have they're ours to borrow

So give a little understanding

This is life and its hell if you only live for yourself

Calm yourself

The fear that's in your heart must surely die

You always say its hard and you don't know why

Well welcome to everybody else's life

And lift yourself

You're bigger when you're on your knees again

Just look above and look within

Don't look around its all just been

Cause the road we walk is straight and narrow

The times we have they're ours to borrow

So give a little understanding

This is life and its hell if you only live, 

Give a little understanding

This is life and its hell if you only live for yourself

 - Jared Anderson, This is Life

Wordless Wednesday!

today.

my morning devotional.

a hot cup of tea.

my capri blue candle burning.

watching my baby girl sleep.

life is GOOD today.

Wordless Wednesday!

Saylor's 2 month stats

Saylor had her 2 month doctor's appointment yesterday and did so great. She smiled and played while waiting for the doctor and was so good when he was checking her out. He said she looked great, slept perfect and was very healthy. We are so blessed.

She had to get 6 vaccines, which broke this momma's heart, but she did okay. She had a tough evening last night, but has pretty much been sleeping it off.

Saylor's 2 month stats

Weight: 11 lbs - 54th percentile

Height: 22 3/4 in - 63rd percentile

Head Circumference: 15 1/4 in - 48th percentile

Here is how she has grown the past 2 months:

Weight

11/15/10 (when leaving the hospital): 6 lbs 9oz - 21st percentile

11/24/10: 7 lbs 8 oz - 33rd percentile

1/13/11: 11 lbs - 54th percentile

Height

11/15/10: 19 3/4 in - 51st percentile

11/24/10: 20 1/2 in - 59th percentile

1/13/11: 22 3/4 in - 63rd percentile

Head Circumference

11/15/10: 13 1/2 in - 29th percentile

11/24/10: 14 in - 40th percentile

1/13/11: 15 1/4 in - 48th percentile

We love you, sweet girl. Stop growing so fast... :) 

A Saylor's Lullaby

Let's take a trip, let's just pretend,

We'll ask the moon to be our friend;

He'll light the sea for you and me,

So now our voyage can begin.

Just close your eyes, we're on our way,

As all the stars come out to play;

On wind and waves we'll glide and sway

And sail on angels' wings.

Rock-a-bye, sweet little baby child,

We will gently ride;

As you sleep, I will softly sing

A Saylor's lullaby.

So rest here safely through the night;

I'll set the sails, the wind's just right

For dreams of love sent from above

Until the morning light.

Rock-a-bye, sweet little baby child,

We will the gently ride;

As you sleep, I will softly sing

A Saylor's lullaby.

(Words by Marcia Minton, A Sailor's Lullaby)

2 months old!

Happy 2 months, sweet Saylor!

I can't believe how fast time is going and how quickly you are growing. I looked back on your newborn pictures the other day and my eyes filled with tears. You were so tiny and now you are just a growing!

 You were supposed to have your 2 month checkup this past monday (the 10th), but due to us being snowed in (we still are, actually), we had to reschedule. I don't know how much you weigh now, but my guess would be about 11 lbs. 

You have outgrown all your newborn clothes and now wear 0-3 month and 3 month clothes. You are still in size 1 diapers.

Every night before bed we give you a bath and you absolutely love it. You get so excited!

You are sleeping from 9 pm to about 5 am, getting up to eat for a few minutes then go back to sleep until about 8 or 8:30. You are still breastfeeding exclusively. You also still sleep in our room in your moses basket and you love to sleep swaddled up.

This month was your first Christmas and New Years. We were in Greensboro for part of it then Santa came to visit you at our house in Columbia. Christmas day, Shu Shu and Gbake came down for the night. 

You love to smile and play and it just melts mommy's heart. You try to talk and make the most precious little sounds.

You are such an easy going baby and you are such a joy to be around.

We had your first snow in Columbia on Christmas... you were dressed in your snow suit :)

You love your momma so much and your momma loves you! Daddy says for me to enjoy it now because pretty soon you'll be a daddy's girl :).

Things you love:

your paci

your swing

riding in the car

watching the ceiling fan

taking a bath

being in the sling on me

being patted

Things you don't love:

getting your diaper changed

having your clothes off

Happy 2 months, my sweet angel. You are the best gift the Lord has given us and we are so proud to be your parents. Love you forever, sweet girl.

Our newborn angel...

If one feels the need of something grand, something infinite, something that makes one feel aware of God, one need not go far to find it. I think that I see something deeper, more infinite, more eternal than the ocean in the expression of the eyes of a little baby when it wakes in the morning and coos or laughs because it sees the sun shining on its cradle. -Vincent Van Gogh

Ten fingers, Ten toes

She's laughter and teardrops
So small and brand new
And amazingly angelic
She's sent to bless you
She's one special Baby
The best of life's treasure
And will grant and bless you
Many hours of great pleasure.-Author Unknown

When the first baby laughed for the first time, the laugh broke into a thousand pieces and they all went skipping about, and that was the beginning of fairies. And now when every new baby is born its first laugh becomes a fairy.  -James Matthew Barrie

Making the decision to have a child - it's momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking outside your body. 

-Elizabeth Stone

The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new. -Rajneesh

Any man can be a father. It takes someone special to be a dad. 

-Unknown

A sister is a gift to the heart, a friend to the spirit, a golden thread to the meaning of life.  -Isadora James

Happy 2011...

We had a great New Years... so relaxing and low key, right up our alley! :) We headed to my parents lake house Thursday evening and spent a great weekend with family and friends. Courtney and Rob joined us for the weekend and it was so great to spend time with such an old and dear friend.

Saylor loved Court and Rob too!

We played lots of corn hole, sat by the fire, saw a beautiful sunset, watched movies, drank wine and enjoyed some down time! We were such party animals, we managed to stay up until 12:07am  after watching the ball drop :)!

The whole group...

Saylor had a great weekend, as well. She laughed with her Shu Shu, slept like a charm and snuggled with everyone :)

Say Say even gave everyone a precious, Happy New Year smile, as we were leaving...

Here's to 2011... may it be filled with infectious laughter, the upmost joy, hope, faith as big as mountains, smiles as wide as the seas and beautiful sunsets to end each day...

"Cheers to a new year, and another chance to get it all right." - Oprah