Leaf Looking

We're loving Georgia in the fall! Here are some pictures of Calla on our back deck. Hope to take other pictures of leaf-looking soon!

Use Shutterfly for Your Christmas Cards (And if you're a blogger, find out how you can get 50 free)!

Most of my family is very familiar with my love for and use of Shutterfly.  I have given lots of gifts that originated from Shutterfly.  Once you start having kids, ideas of gifts to give family is pretty endless!  I have given Shutterfly pictures, calendars, birthday cards, thank you cards, holiday cards, coffee mugs, birthday invitations, and photo books (I love love love their photo books!!!).  I usually pick Shutterfly over other photo service companies because the quality for the price is hard to beat.  Now that it's November, I'm starting to think about getting a family photo that would look great on a Christmas card.  And, I'm starting to think about which one to choose from!  You can browse their selection of Christmas cards here and if you're late to send out Christmas cards, they have a great selection of New Year's cards that you can find here.

This is one of my favorite Christmas cards.  I like the brown, red, and green colors, as well as the simplicity of one family photo and room for a message.  Or since this is the last year we will have only one child on Christmas, maybe Calla will take up the photo slot!   Since we've recently moved into a new house, we might be able to use this as a new address announcement as well!  You can view this card on Shutterfly's site by clicking here. You can also check out address labels to go on your cards.  These always add a nice touch! 

Part of why I love Shutterfly is that they have great promotions, sales, and often offer free stuff.  You know how much I like free stuff!  Right now, cards are 25% off.  Also, if you are a blogger, they are doing a promotion where you write up a post and you can get 50 free Shutterfly holiday cards.  I heard about this and didn't think they meant it for a family blog like mine, but I applied anyways and got an email the next day asking me to write up this post and get 50 free cards.  So you should apply, too!  If you're an interested blogger, fill out the form at this link. 

*This post reflects my true opinion and love for Shutterfly, but was written for Shutterfly as a promotion of their holiday cards for an incentive of 50 free cards.

My sweet little Callabug

Remember some of those past posts where I tell you about some cool giveaways? Well, I've won some in the past few weeks: a $75 gift card to Zutano for Calla or baby boy clothing, a $25 gift card to The Chic Monkey for something cute and handmade, something I won't name here because it would make a great Christmas gift for someone special, a $20 gift card to The Baby Store Plus with a Medela gift set, a hands-free nursing bra from The Baby Store Plus, a $40 gift card to Studio JK Vinyl for some fun house decor, and definitely my favorite - a Doodlebug Boutique ladybug costume for Calla with a free photo shoot from Clear Creek Images. My Callabug got all dressed up last week for a photo shoot, and here are some of the adorable pictures that resulted. Lots of credit to Linda @ Clear Creek for taking these pictures - a 17-month old is not easy! Calla started off crying, then when she was finally happy, she just wanted to crawl and move and wouldn't sit still! I'm impressed that so many good pictures were taken!
 

Time to put away the bows!

Baseball hats.  Dirt.  Bugs.  Blue.  Rough-housing. <-- Some of the things I have not yet imagined for our future, but I guess I'll need to get used to it!  We are excited to know God's plan for our family!  Our 20-week sonogram revealed a wiggly little boy as the next kiddo.  Can't wait to meet him!

19-Week-Old Mango

Yes, that's right, I have a mango in my tummy.  My little baby should now be about 6-inches long and a half a pound.  He or She is now really developing and organizing a sensory system, growing hair, and moving a lot.  I feel the baby move a lot throughout the day, but Daddy has not been able to feel it yet.  Next Friday, we have our big 20-week sonogram.  Please pray that our baby is healthy. 

And, as part of that sonogram, we will be finding out if our baby is a boy or girl! What do you think?  Vote in our poll! Check out the poll on the right of our blog to vote.  Check back sometime soon to find out how God has designed our family!

First Steps!

Just this week, Calla decided to surprise us by taking some steps by herself.  We are so proud of her, and you can tell by our cheers in the video.  She's so cute-- after walking to the couch, she would shout, "Yay God!!"  (Last month in Sunday School, she was learning about how God made everything, and we've been talking about it at home and saying, "yay God," and now that's what she says anytime she cheers!)

Flashback pick - Calla's first day of Sunday School!

Pumpkin Patch

We drove up to Jasper, GA to take Calla to her first Pumpkin Patch. It was a surprisingly warm day, and the sun was bright, so it was difficult to get this little one to smile!  She did have fun though, especially when she saw the horsies and goats!

 

Summer and fall weather have been duking it out these past few weeks, but hopefully fall is winning!  We woke up this morning to a chilly house, blowing trees, and the feel of fall.  The leaves are beginning to change, so check back soon for some leaf-lookin' pics! 

A few great giveaways...

Doodlebug Bows Giveaway
First of all, I want to encourage everyone with a little girl or who knowns someone with a little girl to enter this giveaway!  My friend Emily @ Doodlebug Bows is my official bow person.  We have bought lots of Calla-bows from her, and I can't wait to buy my next fall clippies -a pumpkin and a turkey!  The prices are all reasonable (which encourages me even more!) and they are great quality and very cute. 

So, Doodlebug has a great giveaway, which at this point has low entries so far & lots of ways to enter, so that means great odds!!!  She is giving away one of her adorable hand-made costumes (I'm hoping I win the ladybug, something Calla can use for dress-up any time of year!), a $40 value, and has paired up with an awesome photographer, Clear Creek Images, who is giving away a mini photo shoot.  Check out the giveaway by clicking this link:  Doodlebug Bows Awesome Giveaway!

The Baby Store Plus Giveaways
There are several giveaways I'm entering at the Baby Store Plus.  I already blogged about one that is for a Medela pump.  Still hoping to win that one!  I already won one of their giveaways last week for a Medela gift set and gift card to the Baby Store Plus and received it in the mail soon after. 

* The first giveaway is Phase 2 of the one I already won.  It is for an Easy Expression Pumping Bustier.  Any of you nursing or someday nursing mommmies would love to win this one - it has low entries and great odds of winning.  Check it out here:  http://thebabystoreplus.blogspot.com/2010/09/phase-2-blog-hop-with-easy-expression.html

*The next one is for an Undercover Mama nursing shirt, which looks like something I'd love!  It makes any shirt a nursing shirt!  Check it out here: http://thebabystoreplus.blogspot.com/2010/09/undercover-mama-makes-any-shirt-nursing.html#comment-form

Survey Junkie Review & Giveaways

The last giveaway I'm hoping to win (for the moment!) is at the Survey Junkie's site.  They are giving away a Medela Pump in Style Advanced.  Can you tell I'm preparing for a little someone to bless my life soon?!? 

Check out the giveaway here:  Win a Medela Pump in Style Advanced Pump

Check out Medela here:  Medela Rocks!  

Medela Giveaways @ The Baby Store Plus

Now I don't usually post about other people's giveaways, but I'm super excited about this one and hoping that I have a shot at winning!  The Baby Store Plus is having an awesome giveaway event for the month of September, called "Breastfeeding is Best for All Babies," where they are giving away several breastfeeding items - a Medela Pump in Style Breastpump, a Medela Giftset & Giftcard to the Baby Store Plus, as well as other accessories.  Now that baby number two is on its way, I'm starting to think about nursing and stuff we will need.  I encourage all you mommies and mommy-to-be's to enter the giveaways, because there are lots of ways to earn entries.  I have to tell you that I have won LOTS of stuff from entering blog giveaways.   I haven't entered any in a while, been too busy, but this is worth it!  Checkout this event at this link: The Baby Store Plus Breastfeeding Event

So part of entering is me telling you why I think that "Breastfeeding is Best for All Babies."  I am a little uncomfortable with saying, "all babies," because I have heard of lots of situations where it was best not to breastfeed. I am just thankful that the Lord gave me 9 months of nursing Calla.  It was not easy.  Especially the first month.  We struggled.  I cried.  A lot.  Calla had to be supplemented.  But with a supporting husband and Mom and church friends, Calla and I were able to figure it out.  I think it was best for us, primarily for the special Mommy/Baby time we got together, as it was a role that only I could fill, and I think I really got to know Calla during those months.  Also, the cost - it's free!  When I finally had to start giving her formula, it was about $75 a month or so, depending on coupons.  Calla never got sick while nursing - I'm sure from the benefit of my immunities.  I have friends who couldn't breastfeed and spend every few hours hooked up to a pump.  Not fun. But I admire their resolve!   I hope that with the new little baby, I can have a good pump, so that even if I can't nurse, my baby can still benefit! 

To enter the giveaways:
1) Medela Pump in Style Giveaway
2) Medela Breast Care Pack & $20 gift card to The Baby Store Plus

                   

My Little Lemon - 14 Weeks

We have a lemon!  Our little growing baby is now the size of a lemon.  It was a peach last week, and I guess a lemon is bigger then a peach?  Maybe I buy big peaches and small lemons.  Anyways, it is now about 3 1/2 inches.  Big events in the life of the baby this week: growing hair and a roof of the mouth.  I am officially in my second trimester!  It goes by more quickly with your second, I think! 

Berp and Ernie

Calla has been watching Sesame Street every morning with Mommy.  She learned Elmo right away, and started getting excited and saying his name every time she would see him anywhere.  Well, she has Sesame Street characters on her diapers, and since the day she discovered this, she started replacing the previously-used word "diaper" with "Elmo."  She surprised me this week when she named two of the other characters on the diaper.  Bert and Ernie!  Except she is overusing what speech therapists would call the "final p."  This means she is putting the "p" sound at the end of a lot of words.  So, "Bert" sounds like "Berp," which I don't think I am going to encourage her to change for a while!  Too cute! 

13 Weeks

Today, the little person growing inside me has reached the size of a little peach.  How fitting for my little Georgia peach!  The baby is hard at work, this week making little bones and vocal cords.*  The baby already has fingerprints, veins, and if it is a girl, she has more than 2 million eggs in her ovaries!**  I am feeling so much better this week - I actually cleaned and did dishes yesterday, talk about progress!

*http://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/week-by-week/week-13.aspx

**http://www.babycenter.com/6_your-pregnancy-13-weeks_1102.bc

Wordless Wednesday

121

... The number of holes on a Chinese checker board ...

...  11 squared ...

... A highway in Texas that takes you to DFW Airport ...

... The atomic number of the chemical element Unbiunium ...

...The number of words that my 15-month old currently uses ...

Some of my favorites:

• Mommy
• Choo choo
• Cheeks
• Button
• Bless you
• Hair clip
• Thunder
• Yummy
• Hippo
• Eyebrow
• Beep beep

May - June - July

I have been horrible at keeping this blog updated! I am just going to post a few things about the last few months so you know what's been going on and can see the big changes in our lives!
MAY
After blogging about my sweet little blessing for most of her life, I failed to post anything when Calla had her FIRST birthday! We were in the midst of moving and house-hunting and traveling a lot, so those are my feeble attempts at excuses to make myself feel better. Still, we were so proud of our Calla Grace as we celebrated her joyful & sweet little life.

Calla has always loved music, so we did a special circle time with Daddy playing guitar and everyone singing. The kids were able to suggest some of Calla's favorite songs, such as "Do Your Ears Hang Low," "Old MacDonald," and "Row, Row, Row Your Boat."

Before everyone but Calla blew out the candles, we had a special time sharing what we love about Calla. We shared that we love how easy & flexible she is, and how she is just so full of joy about life. She has changed her Mommy and Daddy and it has been a special blessing to see how her cousins especially just love her to death!

JUNE

June was filled with swimming, house-hunting, and Darby starting his new job. Though Calla crawled one day right after her first birthday in May to show off for her cousins at their house, she stopped crawling for the rest of the month, and officially started crawling in June at 13 months old. Her strength is her language though, for at 13 months to have 40-50 words is quite amazing! Calla loves swimming! She will say "kick kick kick" and kick her legs as we hold her on her tummy.

JULY

The day before it turned July, we closed on our house! We moved in the first weekend in July. We are so thrilled to own a house, as coming from California it is not even in your radar that you could afford a house for a long, long time. Hey all you Californian friends & family - follow us to Georgia!! :0) Aside from that, Calla is now 14-months old and is pulling herself up to standing. She did it for the first time when in her pack & play at the new house while we were unpacking. She has 50 words for sure, and is saying many animal sounds and pointing to her body parts. We had an evaluation by a physical therapist finally, who basically said that her tone looks good and she will just be a late walker. Here's our new house! 2-stories, finished basement, cherry hardwood floors. 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, and my favorite appliance - an ice dispenser! :0)

Calla's grammy wrote a sweet and sad little caption for this picture. She wrote, "Our sweet little Calla is looking out the window just wondering where all her family is. She can't see them anywhere!"

Her first smooshy-nosed picture!

April, 2010 - Moving to Georgia

April was the month that the Lord took us across the country! We were so blessed to have had the time between seminary and moving to be with our families. That time will always be treasured.

This picture is of Calla at 11 months old.

The timing worked out perfectly to stop in Fort Worth along the way for Darby to receive his President's Scholar award. It was also fun to briefly see some of our dear friends.

We had to take a picture of our little Texas baby in a field of Texas bluebonnets! Calla was so great in the car. She was pretty content to make it for 6-7 hour travel days. We are so thankful for a baby who travels easily. In our trip, we drove through California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia!

On Saturday April 24, we finally drove past this sign.

We arrived to Woodstock, GA to be welcomed by our new pastor and his dear family, who allowed us to stay in their basement while we searched for housing.

We found an apartment and moved in on Tuesday! The Lord provided quickly! We have a 2-bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment that is bigger than any apartment we have ever lived in. The trees are beautiful, and the people are so friendly. All of our neighbors have dogs. Georgia folks love dogs!

This is Darby and Calla in front of our new church, Faith Community Church. The church family was so welcoming to us, and we instantly had a full calendar, being invited over to meet many people. They were so kind to help us move in and unpack and feel at home pretty quickly.

4 Months Later....

Our last blog post was March 18! That was when Calla turned 10-months old. It has been nearly 4 months of silence on the blog, but orderly chaos in our lives! So what has happened in 4 months? Instead of writing one gigantic post, I am going to write a few posts looking back over the things that the Lord has done in our lives. He is faithful and good!