Baron's Showers

A few weeks ago my wonderful friends hosted a shower for Baron. We have no boy stuff and I've been very hesitant to buy anything. I want to celebrate him for as long as we may have him (prayerfully it's for a lifetime!), so we did a shower. We got some beautiful and handsome things for our baby boy! The decorations were so cute and go with his room so well!

Diaper Motorcycle made by Hilary! 

Diaper Tricycle made by Nannie!

I had lots of helpers throughout the present opening! Andi and Sophie got into helping as well.

Taylor even got some "big sister" presents!

 

Getting the bedding!

And the quilt!

And an amazing picture Mama Donna made for Baron

Taylor is explaining each elephant--Daddy, Mommy, Taylor, Baron and Leah in heaven.

Taylor enjoyed showing everyone the gifts!

Got lots of Alabama stuff for Baron! Even from my Auburn friends! 

All the gifts!

My wonderful hostesses!

Some friends at work threw a shower for me too. I only got pics of the tables, but it was very cute with more decorations that matched his room!

Ice cream bar, baby bites and punch!

Super cute elephant to use as a door hanger at the hospital!

Diaper cake made by April!

We got lots of wonderful things between the two showers. I've pulled out a few things and washed for the hospital. The rest will get washed and put away when he's here and healthy! Maybe in as little as 11 days!

Tour of Fire Station No. 1

Taylor has been saying she wants to be a firefighter when she grows up. She even had the local firemen visit her school with their truck. We also have a couple of friends that are firefighters. Several months ago, I talked with one of them and asked if there would be a good time to visit her husband's fire station. We finally got to go a couple of weeks ago and Taylor LOVED it! 

Taylor and Andi getting ready to listen to the fireman.

Andi was very attentive during this part!

All the gear!

Then, we got to go see the firetruck!

The fireman explained all the parts of the truck to them!

Then, they got to ride around the block in the truck! 

Then, we watched Mr. Derek and Mrs. Katy climb the ladder and it lift them over 100 ft!

 

And, it swung them to the side!

Then, all the kids got to put out a "fire"!

 A BIG THANKS to the fireman at Tuscaloosa Fire Station No. 1! Taylor had a blast!

Letter to Leah - Happy 18 months!

My dearest Leah,

Today you turn 18 months old. I'm not sure why, but this somewhat random anniversary has been hard for me. I was thinking last night about writing you this letter and ended up crying myself to sleep. I have missed you so much over these past 18 months. I've missed every milestone you would have hit by now--nursing, smiling, eating homemade baby food, sitting up, crawling, walking, talking and everything in between. As much as I love of all our pictures of Taylor during her first 18 months, each one of them reminds of a picture we didn't get to take of you. I wonder what you would look like today, I wonder what your personality would be like, I wonder so many things.

We've had a fun weekend over this 4th of July holiday, and I've missed you every minute, just like I always do. We've been to Splash Adventure Waterpark twice, and Taylor has realized she likes riding the big slides. She gets so excited about it. I can't ride with her because I'm pregnant with your little brother, so I sit down at the bottom of the slide waiting on her and your daddy. I have a lot of time to think during that waiting, and I'm usually thinking about you. I think about how I wouldn't be waiting on them to get down the slide, but you and I would be playing over in the baby area. You and me would be sliding down the little slides together and you'd be laughing and loving it, just like Taylor did when she was your age.

Taylor would be such a good big sister to you. She loves you so much and misses you so much. She tells me all the time how much she misses you. She even gets to dream about you, and I'm a little jealous about that.

It's so funny to watch her and Andi together, but I can't help but think about how you should be right there with them. Andi loves Taylor so much and just screams and laughs whenever she sees her. I know you would be the same way, you would love your sister so much. You and Andi would be thick as thieves too! You three girls would have so much fun together.

My sweet girl, I miss you more than I can ever put into words. I know you've missed a lot of pain in this world, and I know you are loving your time in heaven with Jesus. As I told you when you died, there are a lot of people jealous of  you. But, it doesn't take away my pain of not getting to love you and experience you here on Earth. I can't wait for the day when Jesus comes back so we can all be together again. Until that day baby girl, I love you and miss you!

4th of July Weekend Fun!

We started our holiday weekend off on Thursday afternoon by taking Taylor to Splash Adventure. It was her third time to go this year, but her first time to go with Daddy! The new owners have opened up the dry rides again, and Taylor enjoys those just as much as the water park! 

Taylor's favorite ride is the Caterpillar ride. She could ride this over and over, Daddy could only go twice!

I rode this kiddie slide a couple of times and couldn't do it anymore. It goes fast enough to push you back, and I just don't have the ab muscles!

After riding the black slides with Aunt Hilary one time and not liking them, Daddy had a lot of convincing to do to get her to ride them. She decided to try it one time with him and ended up riding 5 times! She now loves the big, black slides! It's too hard to get a picture of that though!

On Friday we went to Aunt Karen's and had fun with family! Taylor swam for nearly 5 hours straight! This girl has become such a fish! She was swimming under water and jumping off the diving board. We've been meaning to sign her up for swim lessons this summer, and we finally did on Saturday after watching her on Friday.

Saturday was a fun and relaxing day! Adam had gotten Taylor a Slip N Slide, and we set it up in the backyard. Adam even got in on the fun!

Taylor got a little frustrated that she couldn't make it all the way to the end of the slide, so we set the water up on the slide and she had a blast. Before long, she asked for the slip n slide to be put below her slide and she went crazy! 

After church on Sunday, we took her back to Splash Adventure (we've had season passes for 3 years!). On our way home from the waterpark, Taylor asked if we could set up the slide again, and she spent almost another hour in our backyard. I can't believe how much this girl loves to play in the water! She spent 4 days in the water and would go back for more if Adam and I had her energy level!