The past few months... cousin fun

Claribel is growing up so fast and we are having such a blast!  Her vocabulary is exploding and she is trying to say everything.  She now sings with me at night and has been practicing her ABC's and counting to 10.  What a joy she is to Ray and I... we are so blessed.

We also had the pleasure of cousing visits in May.  At the first of the month, Rebecca, Tucker T, and Lizette came to visit- it was pretty funny because the day they got in town my parent's left about 15 mins after they got here because Allison was going into labor in Abilene.  We had a really nice visit and were definitely spolied by all of the one-on-one time with them!  It was so great to enjoy Lizette and Claribel interacting and I know it will be more and more fun as they get older.

 first bath time together- so fun!

 Then, at the end of the month we were able to meet the BOY in the family- Aiden Clifton!  We had such a nice visit with them and I was able to get some good infant snuggle time with that sweet almost 3 week old. 

Claribel enjoyed reading a book with her lion in Abilene

 and of course getting to meet Aiden.  She was really sweet with him which made me so excited about seeing her with our new little one coming in October

 What a sweet little thing!  I hate living so far away...

rips at my heart strings with all of these rapidly growing babies!

Claribel is gonna have a baby

SISTER!!!  We are so excited to have a second little girl and know that Claribel will love having a sister as much I have!  So blessed...

Family Pics

The day before celebrating our Savior conquering death we had the pleasure of taking some family photos with Shannon in downtown Bryan.  I can't wait to get some of them printed out... I have not printed or framed any pictures since Claribel has been born (and that is NOT because of a lack of ones to print)!  Ridiculous!

 This was one of the last shots which was only possible because of smarties candy... and you can totally tell she is savoring every sugar crystal...

Guess who's gonna be a big sister?

Claribel is!
We are so excited to be welcoming a new little T in October! Praise the Lord for that beautiful little flickering heartbeat we were able to see last Thursday. So happy for a new bebe!

Love is in the air

 This year, I really wanted to decorate for Valentine's Day.  Somewhere on the www I found some links for valentine's day banners and it got my creative juices going.  So I gathered all of my pink and red fabrics and went to town.  This was a nice quick project after all of the baby goodies (and a nice way to use some fabrics I already had).

LOVE Martha Stewart glitter... although it is a mess (so fine!)  Karen- I have some in the mail for you- and i didn't shake off the loose glitter first (haha just kidding, or am I?)

I also got these great tinsel hearts at King Dollar that I am hanging in all of our windows with valentiney ribbon... love them... finally, I made some crayon hearts which resulted in a blister on my finger (using a pocket knife on the crayons to get shavings).  They look really cute, but I have to get a picture in daylight because they look so much better than at night.

Some Dailies from January and Early February

  LOVE you daddy! 

 YES!  I can cross my fingers!

 Curly head

 Bath time is the BEST!

 Frannie- where is your bellybutton?

 does this hurt?

Yikes!!

  Love you too Frannie!

Banana- can't believe my mama doesn't like them!

Gifts for Aiden and his Mama...

From Aunt Melissa and Aunt Rebecca...

 "Pleated Beauty Bag" from Amy Karol (Angry Chicken's) Sewing book "Bend the Rules Sewing".  Loved how it turned out and can't wait to make one for me!  LOVE this Michael Miller Fabric line- if we ever have a baby boy...

 little taggie blanket with navy satin on one side and yellow minky on the other

 burp cloths (i loved buying some boy fabric finally :) )

 baby log to keep track of those first few months (modeled after the Secrets of the Baby Whisperer- FAVE baby book!)

 clips to hook blankets to the carseat, stroller, etc and a band to put around a few diapers and wipes case to fit in diaper bag

nursing cover with a terry cloth corner and pocket for nursing pads on the inside

hooded towel

infant carseat carrier tent (FIRST PROJECT sewn by Rebecca on her new Christmas machine- She did an amazing job)

We also gave Allison some milk diapers nursing pads.  For all you nursing or soon to be nursing mama's out there- these are amazing for oh so many reasons!

Baby Shower Post No. 2- The fun!

 More Shower pics of people and fun!

 There were of course several baseball touches which Andrew (the daddy who played baseball at A&M) LOVES!

 Baldwin Family attendees

Becca (sister-in-law) and Allie-cat

  

 The hostesses (L-R: Monie, Melissa, Melody, Donna)

Proud Papa to be...

Sweet Baby Aiden- we can't wait to meet you!

My Baby Sister's Baby Shower

Yesterday was my sister Allison's Baby Shower.  We are so excited that she is having a BOY (WTG Andrew!).  He will be 11 months younger than Rebecca's Lizette who is 11 months younger than Claribel... so fun!  I wanted to share some photos of all of the details first (just for you Rebs).  FYI... I was not a hostess and can not take any credit for the beautiful shower that it was.  The flowers are by Last Petal who also did my wedding and Rebecca's baby shower flowers.  Melanie is so talented!

 lovely, just lovely... Wonderful job- Monie, Melody, Melissa and Donna