A Case of the Mondays

The past two Monday morning have been quite eventful for Bradley. Both days he had to be at work early...and when I say early, I mean E-A-R-L-Y. Last week he was having breakfast at 5:30 and heard an awful shriek outside. Since it was dark, he had to grab a flashlight to see what was going on. He went to Baxter's dog pen and realized that the chihuahua from down the street had slipped underneath the fence and was hung up on our electric fence. (This is the same electric fence that has killed a squirrel and a weasel). It took him 30 minutes to get that dog out of the dog pen. He kept on backing up into the fence, then Bradley would turn off the fence, then the dog would back himself into the corner. At one point, the dog even got up on top of Baxter's dog house and was trying to jump the privacy fence! And this was all before 6:00 am!! Wow! (The dog is okay).

Well, THIS Monday, Bradley, again, had to be at work early. He left the house a little after 6:00. The phone rang at 6:08 (I looked at the clock) and he was calling to tell me to wake the baby and come and pick him up just down the road...he'd hit 2 deer and totaled his little car. We quickly got off of the phone and I got dressed and found the car keys. Then I called him back and he said that his dad was on the way to pick him up so I could hold tight and I didn't have to wake the baby. (Thank goodness....I sure do hate having to wake her!). Bradley's dad brought him back to the house and Bradley jumped in my Camry and drove to work and his mom and dad pulled the little car back over to the house. The accident was literally just down the road from our house. Wow. What a morning.

Let's hope that next Monday is just a regular Monday. And, thank you, Lord for protecting Bradley! Oh how the memories flooded back from last September when Bradley was in his motorcycle accident. The Lord has protected Bradley from serious injury in two accidents in just one year. Thank you, Lord!

I Think We Have A Problem

For years, I have had many laughs at Papa's expense. My roommates and I have put tape on his paws, put tape on his back, wrapped his body in tin foil, put him in a doggy sweater. You name it, we've done it and had so much fun laughing at my cat. And it is no different now that I have a child.



1 month old


3 months old


4 months old

4 months old!

I wish I'd taken a picture of Claire yesterday. She was 4 months old. My how time has flown! I'm going to steal a little idea from my friend Lesly and list out some of the fun things that Claire can now do at 4 months old:

~Roll over...both from front to back and back to front
~Laugh and giggle when played with
~Sleeping through the night (yes, she just hit the 12 hour mark last weekend!)
~Taking 3 naps a day
~Reach out for toys and other things that she wants to grab
~Is more aware of her surroundings (i.e. she gets distracted if anyone talks to me while she's eating)
~Weighs 15 lbs 4.5 oz (as of today at her doc's appt) and is in the 80th percentile for weight
~Length is 24 3/4 inches and is in the 70th percentile for length
~Is wearing 6 month onesies
~Watches the cat intensely when he walks by her...one of these days he's going to get it! :)
~Scoots around on the floor on both her back and her front

I'm sure there are many more things that I can share that I just can't think of right now. Claire has just been such a joy and a blessing in our life. I fall more and more in love with her everyday.

Barrett's Visit

Claire's friend, Barrett came to our house for a visit the other day. She also tried to hold his hand (like she did with James'). Seriously, melts my heart that she is so sweet. :)


On a different note...we put Claire in her high chair (minus the tray) the other day. Someone from our church gave us the chair and all I had to do was order a new seat belt. (What a blessing that they were so generous!!) After I put it together we sat her in it to see what it would be like (she's still a little bit away from starting solids). She seemed to like it fine. My baby is growing up so fast!

Our Growing Girl

As you can see, we spread out 2 blankets for her to "scoot" around the floor on. But, where does she end up? On the hard floor. Crazy baby!


She LOVES the gloworm that her Nana brought to her from Texas!


Just this week, she's REALLY started to reach out to grab things. I thought this was so, so sweet...she reached out to touch her daddy.

"I want to grab the cat's tail!"

Just chilling.

"I love my feet!"

Hi Butlers!

Sarah, James and Julia came for a visit! James' Daddy and Claire's Daddy grew up together here in Coats and now Claire and James will grow up together. :)


Claire was making the moves on James...she tried to hold his hand! We're gonna have to watch this girl!


Sarah and James, Claire and I. Claire and James are 10 weeks apart!

Poor Girl

This child's hair is W-I-L-D when she wakes up sometimes. I was cracking up when I went to get her this morning.

Baby Milestones

This week Claire has discovered her feet and has rolled over from her back to her front. Bradley and I were fortunate enough to see her roll over. (She's been rolling over from front to back for about a month now). She's also really been responding to us playing with her. She loves to be raised up above our heads and to be swung around in our arms. She also laughs and laughs when you get on the floor with her, get in her face and tickle her. (I guess lots of people would laugh if you do that to them, but this is a first for her). :)

Sometimes when she's on her tummy she moves her legs and arms like she's swimming.

Just chilling with her daddy.

"Look, Mommy...I've got feet!"

Reading a Book