Annabelle and the Giant

Giant? What kind of a giant, you ask? Well, a basket ball giant, of course!

Yes, that would be Annabelle and myself with the former Maverick, Eric Dampier. It's so incredibly random, but he was at our good friend, Rusty's 30th birthday party. Apparently, Rusty's in-laws met him through their fun hobby of Coke collecting. I thought it would be fun for AB (to show her later) that she had her picture taken with an NBA star when she was three years old. Of course, when I wanted her to have her picture taken with him, she wanted nothing to do with it. He held his hands out to hold her for the picture - but I guess a seven foot giant to a tiny three year old, seemed rather intimidating. So, I just grabbed her and jumped in the picture, myself. You wouldn't be able to tell by the look on her face that she didn't want to take a picture with him - little stinker!

My next favorite picture that was taken that night was with my two best buddies from high school. We all go way back! I wish I had a picture from high school to put with this one, but regardless, here are Rusty, Kyle and I. 

Happy 30th, Rusty!!!

Paci Face

After trying to help Landree keep her paci in her mouth more easily, I changed the size paci she was taking. AB didn't take this size paci until after she turned one. So, you can imagine how the biggest MAM paci looks huge on her tiny little face, but I'm so in love with this sweet little paci face! I can't get over how sweet her little paci face is. I think I'm going to have an even harder time with Landree losing the paci than I did with AB. So sweet.

Landree's Dedication

Even before Landree was born, I was looking forward to having her dedicated. When Landree was in the NICU and the outpouring of support, prayers and love from our faith family was overwhelming, I couldn't wait to have her dedicated at our new church home. So, five months later, we had her dedicated. 

Pastor D presented her dedication and it couldn't have meant more to me. He had used Landree and our experience in his sermon a time or two. His heart was really weak when it came to her. So, his sweet words and tears for our baby girl meant so much.  

It was amazing to have our family there, as well.

As well as our CG family.

And just the love we feel from our faith family. I can't be more grateful for them and I love that these pictures captured the love and support we have from them.

This day is the next to most important day in Landree's life. This day is our promise to raise her in a Christ-centered home and to be living examples of the Gospel. The most important day is when she makes the decision herself to accept Christ as her personal Lord and Savior, and to go and make much of His name. My prayer is that us as parents, do the best we can to make much of His name ourselves. I already know that God is going to do big things with Landree. I can just feel it.

Once in a Blue Moon...

...this happens. 

For those of you who know my child, sleeping for her would be optional. Now, when she does it, she's a champion sleeper...but getting her to lay down and sleep is usually a fight. So, lying still enough on the couch and just falling asleep NEVER happens. So, not only was it picture-worthy, but most definitely blog-worthy. I'll document this every time it happens!

State Fair 2012 (AKA) R.I.P Big Tex

My absolute favorite time of the year is fall. Fall kicks-off the holiday season for me. What makes it "official" in my mind is the great State Fair of Texas. I have loved the fair since I was a little girl. As a matter of fact, I have a routine of where I go, eat and see at the fair every year. My poor family has to fall in line with my State Fair agenda, but they just go along with it. 

This year was a little different, because for the first time Austin and I went just by ourselves, first. I had a few extra tickets this year because of a sweet hook-up I got from one of my friends in the district. So, Austin and I had already been, but Miss AB who talks about the fair and Big Tex, year-round, hadn't been yet. So, we planned to go back on Friday, October 19th. I remember the date, clearly, because this was the day of Landree's geneticist appointment. Since Austin could not get off for my fair day, we had planned to go after Landree's appointment, since we both took that day off. Well, little did we know that October 19, 2012 would go down in the history books for the State Fair of Texas. This is the day that Big Tex...burned up. 

I remember we had left Medical City and had to run back home, because genius me left the fair tickets at home. So, I remember waiting in the car while Austin ran inside and I was checking my Facebook. All of a sudden, status after status was something about Big Tex on fire. I instantly googled it, sure enough it was all over the news...Big Tex was on fire. What?? How could that happen?? What was I going to tell the three year old in the back seat who had been told all morning that's who we were going to see? 

Austin and I decided to not let her know he burned up. We told her instead he got a boo boo and was taken down, but would be back next year. I don't think her little mind wrapped around the fact that she still wouldn't see him. 

This was hard for me, too. I'd been to the fair for at least 20 years straight and the first stop (after the petting zoo...and maybe the tater twisters stand) was Fletcher's corny dogs, right there in front of Big Tex.

I remember when we turned the corner to first spot Big Tex. He wasn't there. This was such a strange sight for me. He should have been in the middle, straight back, in this picture.

I was relieved, though, that he was taken down and his burnt frame wasn't standing there for AB to see. All that was left was some charred metal, but very hard for AB to see.

However, the confused and disappointed look on her face was too much. We told her not to worry, that he would get well soon and be back next year. She had question after question, but seemed to take it well.

So, we went on about our day stuffing our faces and doing what we do at the fair - EAT! 

AB enjoyed the day still and continued on in her parents tradition of eating all of our favorite foods. I loved her sweet little happy face this day.

As for Miss Landree, we can always tell her that her first visit to the fair was a historical one! She was her normal happy self on this day. She's an Aldrich/Hamlin for sure...loves the Fair, already.

Smiling at her Daddy!

Our last stop was the Creative Arts building to see Krista's amazing photography talents. A picture she had taken of her beautiful baby niece, Kylie, placed in the category she entered it in. This was Annabelle's favorite part of the day. Krista had come to play with AB earlier in the month and told her to go look for the picture of Kylie. AB spotted it herself and was so excited when she did! 

October 19, 2012...RIP Big Tex. We'll miss the old you, but look forward to the new improved you for the following year.

Nine Months Old

Nine Months Old!! Nine Months Old??

Man. Time flies, sweet Landree. But how much fun you are!

This month was exciting! No more NG tube! You got to lose that annoying tube and got a g-tube instead. Mommy and Daddy like this one much better and we think you do, too. You adjusted perfectly to it and with little complaining. That's not in your nature anyway - to complain.

You've started sitting up with support and holding your head up for much longer periods of time! Good job, sister!! So proud of your strength!

Oh. And this month your first little toofies started poking through. I thought I was going to cry when I didn't see your infamous gums, but your teeth are just as stinkin' cute. I can't get enough of your smile.

Your personality is radiating! You touch everyone's lives you come in contact with. There's not one person who isn't enamored with you. Thank you for being such a bright spot in our lives. You bless us tremendously. I love you, my sweet, sweet angel!

Love you SO much,

Mommy

Halloween 2012

What a blessed Halloween this was! It was super fun dressing up two little ones than just one! This year I ordered the girls Halloween dresses to wear during the season. I adore them! They looked so precious.

Pumpkin patch pictures were fun this year with our sweet little family of four.

For Halloween, LC was a pumpkin and AB was Tinkerbelle. I found LC's costume when she was only a month or two old, and Britny made AB's Tinkerbelle like she did last year! I couldn't get over my sweet little pumpkin!!

Annabelle fit the Tinkerbelle mold very well, I thought! She looked precious and owned that sweet little costume, too!

I loved our family picture at our church's Trunk or Treat. My favorite part: Landree's missing pumpkin booty. And the expression on both of the girls' faces is priceless. 

Since LC is so tiny, I put her in AB's first Halloween outfit...and it fit!! Mind you, Landree is seven months old here and AB was two months!! Does that tell you how tiny she is?? Here is a side by side comparison.