Now

Natalie: "Now how exactly do you spell dog groomer?"

"Ah, yes there it is."

Mocha: "Now, how do you spell summer camp?"

Easter Egg Hunt

We had so much fun hunting Easter Eggs yesterday at the church. Natalie was really into it. We've carried her basket full of plastic eggs around since then and had several more hunts. Here are a few pictures from the hunt.





These next few pictures of are Natalie, Avery, and Emma. Emma is in the middle and Avery is on the right. I couldn't decide which picture to use, so here are several of them. I've been saying these girls are Natalie's future BFF's, but the way she lights up when she sees both of them I think it is safe to say they are already her BFF's. Parker is the boy we believe they will all fight over in youth group some day. He was not too thrilled to be in the picture. The group shot is the girls with their parents, we had to get in at least one. :-) The last picture is after the hunt is over, Natalie had to count her treasure while holding her basket in her lap for the ride home. Good times!








PS. Thanks Sabrina for some of your pictures, you have some great ones.

Imagine

She is surrounded by feces. She has cleaned it to the best of her ability, but she knows it will happen again. Her mom is dying of AIDS and she is caring for her. She is hungry. The only clothes she owns are the ones she is wearing. She is not currently receiving an education. She has tears just underneath the surface of her eyelids. When her mom sees them, she tells her to stop. Her mother considers her grown at the age of 16. You guess, Africa? Nope, this isn't another link to any other site or organization. I just wanted to share with you my hospice job today, here, in America.

Confessions Of A CF Husband

Confessions Of A CF Husband: White Rose Blooming (2 Months)#links

Here is a video update for those who want to see, or who have asked about baby Gwyneth. You can check out Nate's blog, it's linked to mine on the right side.

My wish list for Tricia

I'm always up for a challenge. The CF blog that I told you about last week had a great idea. One of the comment's was from a mom and she challenged all mom's to make a list of things they cannot wait for Tricia to experience. At different points of everyday since hearing their story I have thought about this for Tricia. She has forced me to rethink my parenting, because I know she would give anything to have some of these experiences right now. So Tricia, this is my wish list for you:

1. Reading bedtimes stories snuggled next to Gwyneth.

2. Hearing her clap, dance, and say yea!!! for daddy when he gets through singing at church on Sunday morning.

3. Watching Gwyneth torment your poor pug, but watching the same dog protect her from the world whenever possible.

4. Having her run to you when daddy tells her no, just to see if you'll agree with him.

5. Watching daddy melt long before you do because she bats her eyes and says, "daddy peeaas..."

6. Getting thrown up on and peed on all on the same day.

7. Not remembering what you used to carry in your bag/purse before it was full of cheerios, toys, stickers, crayons, dog biscuits, and the tv remote you have been looking for the last few days.

8. Hearing "mama" for the first time.

9. Watching Gwyneth care for her baby doll, you get a glimpse into how she thinks you care for her.

10. Feeling tiny fingers curled around yours as you pray together.

11. Dancing all the time, to made up songs that you will only sing for her, and maybe Nate. :-)

12. Putting your head on the pillow, knowing that when you close your eyes, she will cry...finally you give up, get comfy and close them, sure enough, she cries.

13. Endless trips to the potty for nothing.

14. Snuggle time at the end of the day.

15. The first time she tries to hit an old lady at church for getting way too close to her face, way too many times.

16. Reminding yourself everyday that she is God's child just like you are. He knows what is best for her. He does not have any grandchildren.

We are praying for you!!!

A photo update

Natalie is doing so many new things these days that it's hard to keep up with her. She is talking more and more each day. She sings the "clean up" song, patty cake (usually with her feet), and any other song we teach her that day. She definitely has an opinion about most anything and is not afraid to share that with us. I have no idea where her stubbornness comes from. :-) One of her new things is that she has graduated to a big girl bed. She has been out of her crib for a while. She just wouldn't rest comfortably in it. So we moved her to a toddler bed that she kept falling out of because we couldn't put rails on it. Poor girl slept on a mattress in the floor. Finally she stayed in it more nights then not, so we got her a twin. We can put a rail on it and life has been much quieter at night. It's nice for me because she looks small again in such a big bed. She loves it. Here are a few pics of her...



Natalie also LOVES to read. She reads by herself, she reads to us, she lets us read to her, she just loves it. Chris managed to capture this picture today before she saw the camera...it's a good picture of her love...

And the famous "cheeeeese" after she saw the camera...

Of course, the endless pursuit of Lexi and Mocha continues. Natalie firmly believes they should participate in her activities. If she eats, they do. She tells them when to go "night night" and when to wake up. They tolerate blankets on their heads, sunglasses over their eyes and being fed one morsel of food at a time when she decides to "help" them eat. They even get the pleasure of speaking on my phone when she lets them.



Amidst all the torture, as I type, Mocha is laying outside of Natalie's bedroom guarding her from the world. That, my friends is true love.
And, last, but not least, Natalie got her first tattoo a few weeks ago. I think it rather suits her personality. Don't you???

A NC miracle...

She weighs in at 1 lb 10 oz and growing. Her mom, Tricia, is on a vent waiting for a lung transplant. You see, Tricia has CF and this transplant will save her life. Baby Gwyneth is their miracle. Her dad has this faith that never ceases to amaze me. He started blogging long before she was born; but the blog has turned into a daily chapter of their lives. Megan showed me the blog and I have been captivated by their story since then. Look when you have a chance. All I ask is that if you look, you pray. This is their life. I find myself thinking and praying for them throughout the day. I've never met them, and, I probably never will on this side of eternity. Nevertheless, their family has stolen my heart. Maybe it's because it is a story of love. Maybe because it's a story of openness and authenticity. Maybe it's because I'm a new mom and I just desperately wish that Tricia could hold Gwyneth. Or, maybe it's because, in Christ, they are a part of my family, and you always, always, love and support your family. I am praying for you all Nate!!!

Here's the blog address:
http://cfhusband.blogspot.com/

Here is a link to a video of Gwyneth after she was born:
http://cfhusband.blogspot.com/2008/02/safe-and-sound.html#links