"God Loves Us"

The other morning Emma Claire and I were getting ready to go to school and before we headed out the door I told her we needed to go try to potty before we leave. As she is sitting on the potty she looked up at me with her sweet face and said "Mommy, I tell you a secret." I leaned over, gave her my ear, and she said, "God Loves Us.........AND.........He gave His ONLY Son, Jesus." She was so sweet and so serious all at the same time. I am so excited to already see the work He has begun on her little heart.

Preparing for Camp's Arrival

Well, it's almost time for Camp to make his arrival and I have been working like a mad woman to prepare. This week, the floors have been vacuumed, the clothes have all been washed, the tubs have been cleaned, the house has been dusted, the silverware drawer has been cleaned, the kitchen has been detailed, the bathrooms have been scrubbed, all of our files and financial documents have been reorganized and cleaned out, we are stocked up on all our personal care items, all of our medications have been filled, everyone's bag is packed and in the van for the hospital, Camp's room is complete, the carseat is in the van, the van has been washed, the refridgerator has been cleaned out, and I am ready for this Baby to COME!!!


As of this morning, I am 1 cm dilated and measuring one week ahead of where I am suppose to be. From my original due date I should be measuring at 36 weeks, but I am measuring to be 37. Which could mean one of two things. One, Camp is going to be a big baby or two, I am further along than what they originally thought. If I am 37 weeks rather than 36 weeks that means Camp could be coming to visit us very soon. YEA!!!! I delivered Emma Claire at 37 weeks and a couple of days so, hopefully, he will follow in his big sister's footsteps.

As we approach Camp's arrival please remember to keep Emma Claire in your prayers. She will beginning school next week with new teachers and new classmates and also welcoming the arrival of her new baby brother very soon. This will be a very big transition for her and for mommy and daddy. For us, please pray that we have wisdom in parenting two children rather than one, patience, and endurance to keep up with them both.

We can't wait for Baby Camp to get here!!!

Comments:


comment by RaRa and Pepaw on 08/20/2009

Sounds like Camp is ready to make his arrival. Emma Claire, you are going to be such a special sister . . . We can't wait to watch the two of you grow up together. There are soooo many things for you to show Camp and people for you to tell him all about. We are so thankful to be RaRa and Pepaw to you and soon to Camp. Wow... 2 bundles of adventure!! We love YOU and CAMP!! Come on Camp, WE ARE READY TO SEE YOU!

Two Cute Bedtime Stories

Two cute stories from bedtime with Emma Claire....


A couple of nights ago we were getting Emma Claire into the bed and doing bedtime prayers. After prayer time Benjamin was picking on Emma Claire just like he does every night before she goes to bed. He was giving her kisses and saying that she was Daddy's Baby and not Mommy's. She rolled over, looked at him, and said, "No Way, DUDE!!". Who knows where that came from, but we both fell out in a laugh.

About two nights later we again did our bedtime routine. We did prayer, kisses, snuggle buggled, and talked about what we were going to do the next day. As we were walking out the door Emma Claire yelled, "Love You, Guys!!!!" Whose kid is this??

We are always amazed at what comes out of her mouth next!!!

Comments:


comment by RaRa on 08/21/2009

TOOOOOO Funny! So glad you are entering all these sweet memories. They will be so fun to look back at when she is all grown up. Thanks Mommy!!!

Random August Photos

Camp's baby shower at Holly Grove Baptist in Spring Hope, NC. We shared the shower with the pastor's wife, Ashley. She is 28 weeks pregnant with a little girl in October and I'm 37 weeks preggo due in September.

 We got lots of great gifts! It was a diapers, wipes, and gift card shower.

 Right: Emma Claire and Silas enjoying their cake.




 I told Emma Claire to go get in the van because it was time to go to school and this is what I found when I came outside.

Left: An afternoon walk with Daddy. Right: Visiting with our neighbor, Mr. Terry.

Left: She has on her rock climbing shoes as she calls them! : ) Right: Mommy finally felt good enough to take a walk out to the rock Emma Claire had been climbing all week with GG. It's at the front of our neighborhood and she and daddy have to make a visit to it on their afternoon walks.

Right: She thinks she has to wear it when she hangs out with Daddy. Emma Claire loves this hat PePaw got her from CAT where he works.

Left: Picking flowers for Mommy! Right: We took Daddy to get some new shoes at Triangle Town Center and Emma Claire just had to play around the fountain.

Two Visits to the Hospital with Kidney Stones

The Wednesday before we planned to travel to Mississippi I got a sharp unbearable pain in the right side of my back. I had not ever felt anything like that before and hadn't done anything to cause it. After trying to live through the pain, it became unbearable and we headed to the hospital not knowing what was going on. After several tests and ultrasounds they found that I had a kidney infection and a possible kidney stone. It was the worst pain I had ever experienced including having a baby. They tried giving me morphine every two hours but it did not touch the pain AT ALL. They ended up giving me a very strong narcotic called Dilaudid. The medicine made me feel like I was in a coma. I could see everyone, but I could not respnd or talk to them. Actually, it was great because it was the first time I had gotten any relief. They kept us in the hospital for 24 hours of observation to make sure that I could handle the pain meds and to see if I passed any stones. Benjamin was such a trooper, even through me getting sick because of the pain, and took excellent care of me. They sent us home on Thursday night with strong pain meds and orders to rest. Praise the Lord, when I got up Friday morning I went to the bathroom and passed the stone. It was immediate relief in my back, but I was very sore for several days until all the pain worked itself out. I was so excited that this was over and thought I was done.....


Boy was I surprised when I woke up this Friday night with the same pain but in my left side. This time a lot worse than before. Not only was I having sharp pains in my back but i was also have very bad cramps, which felt like contractions, in my stomach. We again headed to the hospital not knowing if I was in labor or was having another kidney stone. They ruled that I had another kidney stone although I was dilated a bit and was having a few contractions. They gave me the same pain meds and had us stay for 24 hours for observation. As of now I am still at home waiting to pass the stone and spending a lot of time relaxing.

Both times we have gone to the hospital the people at Rex have been amazing. The doctors, nurses, staff and everyone else were so sweet and did everything they could to make sure we had everything we needed and that I was not in any unneeded pain. They monitored me several times and I was having some contractions so they told me that if Camp decided to come anytime soon they were not going to stop him. I am so proud because I would much rather go through labor than have another kidney stone. Maybe it won't be too much longer till I get to see my sweet baby boy and all this will seem worth it. : )

Comments:



comment by GG on 08/16/2009

Emma Claire: GG was so happy she got to spend this week playing with you and letting Mommy get some rest. I wish there were pictures or videos of us and all the fun things we did together like Exploring, Rock Climbing, Swinging, digging in the Dirt, playing in your Swimming Pool and making dessert together(Chocolate Delight)BUT...I will keep the memories close in my heart and we'll talk about them often so you don't forget how much GG loved spending special time with you. I love you SO BIG.

The Big, White Hairbow and the Doctor's Office

Today Emma Claire and I had to make a quick trip into Wal-Mart on our way to the Doctor's office to return something for Daddy. We made our return and then Emma Claire told me she needed to go potty before we left the store. We ran into the bathroom and let Emma Claire make her selection of which potty she wanted to use.


On a side note, Emma Claire thinks that public restrooms are dirty. She will only use them if she just has too and it takes her several minutes to examine which potty is the cleanest and which she will use. I have no clue where she got this because to me, a potty is a potty, unless it is just nasty. Anyway, she sat on the potty, did her business and then got up to flush it away. As she flushed she leaned over to see it go away and her hairbow fell right out of her hair, down into the potty, and right down into the drain. She became very upset. "Mommy, my hairbow. My hairbow went in the potty. My hairbow is gone, gone. Mommy it's my big white hairbow. It's okay, Mommy? We get me another one, Mommy?" I felt so bad for her because she was so upset, but I just wanted to laugh at the whole situation. How many chances were there this would have happened?

After I got her calmed down, we had to quickly leave the store because I had a doctors appointment to get to. BUT, I never thought this hairbow would have upset her so much. She had to stop every person we saw and tell them about her experience. She would say, "My big hairbow went down potty, and went gone, gone, gone". Then I would have to explain to a complete stranger what had happened. Then once we made it to the car she thought she just needed to call RaRa and tell her what had happened and ask her to get her another "Big, White Hairbow". It wasn't just any hairbow, but her big white one. : )

By the time we made it to the doctors office I thought it would be over. Boy, was I wrong. She walked right up to the receptionist and told her the whole story over. Of course, the receptionist went right on with the story and listened to everything she had to say so intently. She told her she was so sorry and that she just knew that her mommy would get her a new one. At our doctors office the nurses just love when Emma Claire comes to visit because they know she is going to give them some kind of show. So, when the nurse came out front to call me back, it wasn't just one nurse, but FIVE!!! They wanted to see if Emma Claire had come with me and what story she had to tell them that day. She began by telling them ALL about the hairbow story and they each squatted down to hear what she had to say. When she finally finished her story she picked one of the nurses out and told her "You go check my mommy's tummy, so I can hear baby boy". She picked another nurse out pointed to the scale and said, "You get me up here and I take my shoes off." The nurses are so sweet to do everything that mommy does with Emma Claire. Of course she just puts on a show when we go. As we ended the appointment and I thought we finally were going to get to go four more nurses came out to tell Emma Claire their Good-Bye's. One nurse even took her from me and said you come with me and she took her off somewhere while I was finishing up.

Poor Emma Claire had such and eventful day and it was only 11:30. She is definantly entertaining and I can't wait to see what else I can expect today!!!! : )

Comments:


comment by RaRa on 08/18/2009

Got you a new hairbow on the way Emma Claire! You are soooo funny! I love you!

comment by Rachael Davis on 08/14/2009

Won't it be so fun to see what Camp's personality is like and how he & Emma Claire interact?!?

July/August Trip to MS

What a great trip we had to Mississippi!!!!

Pepaw actually came up to North Carolina to visit for the week before he drove Emma Claire and I down to MS for some relaxation. We got up early on July 25th and started on the long drive. Emma Claire did great!! She was so excited to get to ride in the front of Pepaw's truck that she didn't fuss much at all.

Our friends Ross, Katie, Leah, & Jacob Parker met us there on Sunday to visit with us before they moved to Texas for Ross to finish school. The girls had a WONDERFUL time playing and getting to spend some time together. We are so sad to see them go, but are blessed that we got to visit with them one more time before they moved.

After a long week of traveling here and there to visit with family the plan was to go to Tad's Pizza to let Emma Claire play with all her cousins. Tad's is kinda like a lower scale Chuckie Cheese with pizza and games. Little did I know that when I got there it was actually a surprise shower for Mommy and baby Camp. All of our family and closest friends were there. We had such a wonderful time and Camp got so many great things. I love our family so much!!

Left: The kids had a wonderful time playing while we had the shower. Right: Look at all the wonderful friends and family that came to celebrate Camp.

 Left: Our little cousin Hayden. Right: My brother and niece came in town from Virginia to surprise my dad for his 60th birthday.




 Left: Campbell Schafers Quinn. Right: Pops and Emma Claire.


 Left: Mallie, Branna, Emma Claire, Clara Tatum, and Kalei. Right: Janie, who made the cake, and our aunt, Na-Na. So Serious watching all the presents.


 Left: Emma Claire's cousin, Branna. Right: Emma Claire decided to help.


 Left: Emma Claire, Aunt Hannah, & Branna. Right: Can you believe my mom got Camp and Alabama outfit?!?!

My cousin, Chelsey, is amazing at painting!. She painted several pictures on canvas to match Camp's bedding. They will look great in his room!!

 Left: Kalei, Emma Claire, & Mommy. Right: Getting ready to go "Glow in the Dark Putt-Putt".

Left: Chelsey, Mommy, April, & Uncle Bruce. Right: Clara Tatum, Mallie, Kalei, Emma Claire, John Rilee, & Haydon

The purpose of the whole trip to MS was for Emma Claire and I to go home for Pepaw's 60th birthday. His birthday was on Friday, but we had him a surprise party on Saturday night at my grandfather's church. He was more than surprised! We just knew that somewhere someone had to spill the beans to him, but he promised that he had no clue. We were so excited that we got to be there and can't wait to spend 60 more birthday's with him!! We love you, Pepaw!!

Left: When he realized he had been 'had' he turned around and walked back out the door.

 All the kiddos made up a cheer and did it for Pepaw after he finished opening presents.




On Saturday before the surprise party Emma Claire and I made a quick trip to Alabama to visit with Benjamin's family at their family reunion. It was so great for Emma Claire to get to see all her cousins and spend some time with them. We got to meet the new additions and catch up with everyone since we hadn't seen them since Christmas. Maybe next time it won't be so long before we see them!

Left: Emma Claire and her cousins, Kenzie, Parker, and Hannah Grace. Left: The newest addition, Josie Kate.

Left: Jacob. Right: Emma Claire and Nicole.

Left: Can you tell she liked the chocolate cake? Right: Trying to decide if she really wants to get into that water.

Emma Claire and I stayed in Mississippi from July 25th till August 5th. We were so ready to get home and see our "Daddy" but had a great time getting to see everyone before we got home for Camp's arrival. Next time we go home we will have a new addition for everyone to meet! I can't wait!!!!!