Thursday, February 27, 2014

Vann Dean Holland

Born February 27th, Milly & Lance's perfect new little son!

Welcome baby Vann, we can't wait to meet you! And special Congratulations to Big Sister Morgan!

Friday, February 7, 2014

Feb 7th catch-up

I just spent my half-day Friday catching up on posts since November. I love having this Blog as my own personal journal and keepsake, it's just that I never seem to find the time to keep it up. Oh well ...

Vann


I'm so excited to post this one! As I sit here typing, we are all eagerly anticipating the arrival of baby Vann! He should literally be here within days or weeks. First sibling for Morgan, first son for Milly & Lance, first grandson for Grandma Sharon, first boy to add to the Madonna gang when we visit!

We CANNOT WAIT to meet you little one - how much excitement and chaos you're going to add to Grandma's house when you come :) Four grandchildren, three dogs, toys, diapers, bottles, crying, I can't wait!

Father Daughter Dance



I know I've said it before but my daughters have the BEST dad in the world, beside my own ;)

Sad



Well, this post is hard to type. Gulp. And not something people put out there very often. But I'm going to. I actually think it'll be therapeutic for me.

The day before New Years Eve (is that New Years Eve Eve? Ha, I dunno), we were surprised to find out that we were expecting a Mini-Madonna #3! I say surprised. Other words might be thrilled, shocked, giddy, exhilarated, nervous, overwhelmed. But happy and excited definitely! Three children - how lucky! What I've always wanted, and what a wild ride we're going to be in for!

I then spent all of January sick with morning sickness. Really sick, just like my prior pregnancies. Jake was a CHAMP and did EVERYTHING for the girls because I couldn't stand any smell even remotely near a kitchen. It was rough. And I need to plan something special for Valentines Day this year to thank him for that time.

And then came our confirmation doctors appointment. We had waited a month to reach this point - we couldn't wait to see our little bean on ultrasound and then announce our news to friends and family. Especially the Big Sisters to be!

But, we did not have a good appointment. In a nutshell, our baby was measuring correctly but did not have a heartbeat. It was, obviously, very sad. I keep using the word 'sad' because I can think of no other better. Disappointing, heartbreaking - many others are close, but truthfully, just sad.

I'm going to sign off now. I could start to go on about how I'm doing both physically and emotionally, but I won't. Know that I'm OK. Jake and I BOTH suffered a loss, but we're OK. We're so eternally grateful for the beautiful, healthy, happy children we DO have that it feels wrong to sit around and cry over this one. But, nevertheless, it was a sad loss.

Goodbye my little bean, you will be in my heart forever   xxxx

Cookie Selling


 
We are in the thick of Girl Scout Cookie Selling Season! They do not have this in England (at least, they didn't when I was growing up) so I had no idea what a huge multi-million dollar GIRL-run business it is! My Troop is up to almost $4000 in cookies. That's 7 girls under 7 years old in a week and half! Future Sales Managers, no? Unbelievable. And they're not done. We will be selling until the end of February. Call me if you are interested in Do-Si-Dos, Samoas, Thin Mints, Savannah Smiles, Trefoils or Tagalongs. And I will have you speak to my In-House Sales Gal, Abigail. I'm serious - the girls have to do the work, not the mothers. Go Girl Scouts!

My Nephews

Look how big Nathan & Cameron are getting! Miss you both   xxxxxxx
 
 

Just Let Me Lie Down by Kristin van Ogtrop

 
A lot of the 'mummy' books I read are silly, simple and stereotypical. This one avoided that curse. It was really funny, genuine and relatable. I would recommend to ALL my mum friends, working or not. I might even read it again, and I never do that. Great read to end 2013!