24 Hours of Booty

Chris rode with a team from KPMG in the 24 Hours of Booty this weekend...what the heck is that you say:

24 Hours of Booty is the one and only 24-hour road cycling charity event in the country. The official 24-hour road ride of the Lance Armstrong Foundation, this unique and exciting event is fully supported on a traffic-free loop. The event originated in 2002 when one man set out to cycle for 24 hours to raise money for the LAF. He set his sights on a three-mile loop of roadway, nicknamed the "Booty Loop" by local runners, cyclists and sports enthusiasts, in Charlotte, N.C.'s tree-lined Myers Park neighborhood. He completed his mission and started a movement. The name was inescapable - 24 Hours of Booty was born.

As you can see Dadddy's cheerleaders were there for full support!

"One more thing Mom"

I had to post this picture...it was not intentionally taken, but we were finishing up and changing her clothes and she apparently had "something to say." She was busy talking to me and the photographer happened to snap this picture just as she was making the hand gestures that went along with her story! All I know is whenever she starts to truly talk, she is NEVER going to stop! We're in big trouble!

4 month Portraits

So while Dad was away this week, we decided it was time for another "photo shoot" and time to spend a little $$$. Here are some of the pictures and I bought a just a few, so don't worry you'll all get some!

4 months old

So it's official....Claire is growing up WAY too fast! We can't believe she is already 4 months old and can sit up (with a little support), roll from side to side, and "talks" constantly. She has the cutest little chatter voice you've ever heard! She loves to imitate you and laugh at herself.

She went for her 4 month check up and weighed 11 pounds/9 ounces and was 23 3/4 inches long. Everything checked out great and she is right on track for growth & development. She did however put on a great display of the bottom lip....while laying on the table getting measured and losing site of mom that lip came out immediately! Then of course before, during, and right after her shots!

We tried out her Bumbo seat for the first time this week and it was a hit. She likes being a "big girl" sitting up with us and playing. She has also started noticing the dogs, which she likes keeping an eye on!

Moving on up

Claire has "moved up" to the big bath tub! She doesn't need the infant sling in her tub anymore, so she can sit up and play now. She loves bath time and still screams when it's time to get out!

Food for Thought....

So I had a little time on my hands while the little one naps and Chris is in NY, so I thought I would sit and write out my thoughts and give posting pictures a break (don't worry, not for long).

We had a very interesting day at church yesterday that really put a different perspective into our thoughts and minds.

First, we have been attending the 9:30 service, because we have joined a new Sunday School class which meets at 11:00 and we are loving it! It is a group of 20-30 year olds all with young kids and it has been a great group of people to come into our lives! We have already made some special friendships and the girls get together once a week for lunch, playtime, or whatever we need (sometimes just the mommies)! There are a few women from my mom's bible study group that invited us to come one Sunday and it goes to show God puts people into your lives that he knows will make a difference.

Back to yesterday....one of the couples had their 5 month old twin boys baptized and the dad sings in the band that plays during the service (it is full contemporary with the same sermon as the traditional). So after the baptism Justin (the dad) sang during the offering. Well, not stated which song he was going to sing in the bulletin, it was a complete surprise to us when Amazing Grace started coming out of his mouth and off the notes of his guitar. Wow wasn't even the word to describe the best version of this song we had ever heard, but the tears started flowing down both of our faces as our heart strings we're being pulled along with the song. It was a very powerful moment and it was great to have the support of new friends around us.

Then came the sermon which was "but there was God" and it again touched on certain things in your life that may be scary, painful, and unexpected but during that time no matter how difficult, "there was God." And even though I sometimes still can't except the pain that came our way, I am trying to grasp that God was there and he sent Grace to us as a gift. We wanted her to be a gift of a healthy happy baby girl, but instead she was meant to show us a different road. One that has made us pay special attention to some major things in our life....what kind of parents we want to be, what kind of children we want to raise, what kind of household we give them, and what kind of marriage we want to have. God & Grace (his and ours) showed us to pay attention to the little things in life and focus on what's important that sometimes gets shoved to the back burner in today's busy and stressful days.

To top off the day, our Sunday School class has been doing a series on Life's Visions. What is your vision for the future, in the categories of marriage, career, friendships, finances, and spiritual life. Yesterday finished up the 8 week series and a very interesting quote was used to relay the message. It is found in Nehemiah 6:3, "I am doing great work and I cannot come down." The lesson being, focus on the "picture frame" of your life, present and future and determine what you want inside your frame. And remember all the little things that sometimes don't matter or you have to say no to, it's ok, because you can remind yourself that "I'm doing great work and I cannot come down."

Chris and I both took away that lesson yesterday and applied it to our life. Not only have we been working on writing down our "Vision" but realized that very important quote spoke strongly to us. As a stay at home mom who can get overwhelmed, frustrated, or tired, I have to say, I am doing great work and I cannot come down. While Chris being the sole provider for our family and has stressful decisions and situations at work, he has to remember, I am doing great work and I cannot come down. Because in the end for both of us, we are doing what's best for our family and making progress towards our "picture frame" of our Life's Vision.

SO...to make my point, with the lessons learned yesterday we just find it amazing that the events over the last 14 months have lead us to a very special place in our life and have sent us down a road that we didn't think we were on (especially spiritually), but even more so put people and events in our life that have truly made a difference in who we want to be.


PS Claire also went to the nursery for the first time yesterday. She did fine and even Mom was ok :)

Today Show Junkie

So this morning after getting up and having breakfast, we stayed in bed reading some books and playing (or so I thought)....but someone was too busy watching the Today Show!

Daddy's Little Fish

I know everyone is probably tired of pool pictures, but I just can't help posting a few more from this weekend! She just loves it!

JUMPEROO

Ok, so we decided to try out the Jumperoo and didn't think it would work quite yet (I didn't think she would hold herself up enough to enjoy it).....boy we're we wrong! Someone LOVED it and was completely entertained! She bounced and played, couldn't get the spin part down to see all the other toys on it, but loved the lights & music!

Sitting up

Claire was sitting up on her boppy trying to "reach" for her worm...it was too cute, had to capture the moment!

Pool time with Timmy the Turtle

We hit the pool twice this weekend with Timmy the Turtle (and Auntie Jess) & Claire had a blast! She kicked, played and loved the water....

Date Night

So after 3 1/2 months we got a night out alone! Auntie Jess came to the rescue and stayed with Claire while we went out on Friday. We got a couples massage at the Ballantyne Resort and then stayed for dinner out on the terrace enjoying the Caribbean music and cuisine! It was such a great night and we only checked in at home twice :) Even though we thought about her every minute, it was great to have time together alone and "catch up" on all the little things we don't have time for anymore!

Days of Summer

We had a busy day today....we went to Story Hour at the library where we read books, sang songs, played with hand puppets & BUBBLES!! It was lots of fun and Claire really enjoyed it! Then we went uptown and met Daddy for lunch, what a nice treat for all of us!