Family Thanksgiving on Sunday

We were all pretty spread out for Thanksgiving this year so today we met at my mom's house to eat our Turkey dinner together. Having some of the children's cousins here is such a blessing. They were outside playing before and after lunch all afternoon. Here they are raking leaves and piling them on the hammock. I remember being a child and my imagination would just run wild, it is so much fun to watch the children play like they do when we are at moms.
Hartley has really struggled this weekend. Today I literally held her ALL DAY LONG, this am I held her while I made all the beds, did laundry, cleaned up the house, went to the bathroom, brushed my teeth, makeup on, all clothes except the shirt I was going to wear, jerwly on etc. She can be screaming and screaming and as soon as I tighten her down in the sling she goes right to sleep. Because of the holidays I have been eating a good bit of cooking that I haven't done myself. I think for Christmas I am just going to have to bring my own plate, have I eaten something that had milk products in it? Should I go 100% soy free not just the "big" soy? Could it be the nuts in the Almond milk I am now drinking? Last night she had another mucous poop with probable blood in it. Allergy referral, GI referral, change her reflux meds? I just don't know...
I have a friend who just lost a 30 weaker yesterday while she was at MUSC. Hearing about her loss has just made me sick for the past two days. Although it seems I complain and vent about Hartley daily we are so thankful to God for the blessing she is to Tommy, I and the boys. I know that this too shall pass and before we know it she'll be in kindergarten like Thomas. Lord thank you for my babies:)

Got some sleep last night so feeilng better today. Sweet Hartley has only taken 2 20 minute naps today since she woke up, both of which in the sling, I really didn't want to start that but it is what it is, at least she's sleeping now. I had a fun brunch with my friend Carrie and her baby Caleb today and then did some cooking when we got home, the boys love to cook!

Tis the season!

Yes I went shopping with my 9 week old at midnight for $5 pjs, yes we came home at 3am. Yes I am very tired only going on 4 hours of sleep all day. Yes, unless my child was in my arms she cried a-l-l day long. Yes we bought a Christmas tree in the rain, and had to decorate it tonight, yes, my sweet darling once again screamed the whole time....Tis the season my friends...

Happy Thanksgiving 2010!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with a quick trip to Columbia and back. It was an interesting Thanksgiving because we always have a huge turn out and do it here on James Island. My Aunt who normally host isn't well right now so to Columbia we went. Hartley did ok on the way up as long as I could hold her little hands and touch her face, on the way back she slept nearly all the way home and then I just kept her calm for the last 10 minutes or so. She just woke up so i'll write more soon! Happy Thanksgiving!

West's Thanksgiving feast at school

Thomas' Thanksgiving show!

Thomas had the sweetest little performance at his school today. Afterward they had a fun party in his classroom. These little ones are so precious!

Sunday at Good Shepherd

We spent the morning at The church of the Good Shepherd, where West goes to preschool now and Thomas was last year. We love it there, and enjoyed the children singing for us during the church service. Hartley is over all getting better but the weekend has been rough:( Not sure what is going on but she is having some colic like behaviour at night again, not as bad, which I am thankful for but still not fun. As I have been calling on God more and more throughout this process he keeps teaching me a few things;
When I was pregnant with Hartley, I have a couple of friends who ether lost babies or had them super early because of complications, due to that I was really worried about her and our low fluid, growth issues etc. I vocalized many times that if we could just get her out I knew "I" could take care of her, "I" knew what to do... In my moments of reflection I wonder why I thought God couldn't take care of her in the womb. Certainly was easier when he was doing it! We serve an awesome God in whom I am trusting to equip me to take care of this sweet baby now, no matter how hard it is..
I am also struggling a bit with not being the intentional person that I try to be. Hartley consumes so much of me that I find myself forgetting to ask about others, having trouble sending out baby gifts, write thank you cards, being able to visit with people at parties and get together, bonding with the other preschool mommies, etc. I believe this to be just a season so forgive me friends!! I am learning to be thankful for our baby girl and the ways in which she is stretching and growing me.