Happy Birthday, Dean!

Well, another year older, honey! That's right, those birthdays just keep on coming!

We had a good day, full of rest for Dean! Because of all the snow we've had, he was catching up on his rest after working about 36 hours straight this week. He also had about 4-5 more hours early Saturday morning. So, we both slept in and then dozed most of the day.

This evening, we had dinner over at Mom and Dad's. Chicken pot pie, Dean's favorite, and chicken and dumplings. Of course, a chocolate cake with cream cheese icing and pure sugar decorations. The happy birthday candles didn't stand a chance - he must have made a big wish!

Big Brother and Big (Little) Sister

Of course, we think of our animals as family members around our home. Waverly's big brother Axel will have some practice behind him for getting used to a new baby. Crissy is just like his own little baby! He is super gentle with her and allows her to cuddle and play rough with him without any retaliation.

Water Bottles - the cheapest Christmas gift I ever bought. LOL. :)

Taking a break - we have been playing hard!

Axel had his first birthday on January 4, 2010! At one year old, he weighs in at 85 pounds. He has done very well in his training, excelling at obedience and protection work. We are very happy to have such a smart puppy! One of our many blessings, Axel is the true definition of 'Man's best friend'. He loves to play and run but also to come over and give you a big lick of hello. Not much of a cuddler, but those moments when he limbers over to ya and lays his big head in your lap are simply precious. Even though we know he's awesome, we are still surprised at how well he has done with our little Crissy.

A little bit country

My first dress - inherited from Big Sis Prissy

Out like a light!

Crissy is now 12 weeks old! She is growing so much and changing everyday. She weighed 3 pounds when we took her to the vet last weekend. Her hair has began to lose some of the puppy fuzz and she is getting silkier. I do believe she is teething now! She has no hesitation in biting and chewing on us and Axel. We are trying to encourage her to chew on a teether and stop the other biting. She is very smart and learning her tricks. She can sit and dance, but is still working on lay down. It is very cute when she copies what Axel is doing, especially his favorite trick - look out the window. She is still too little to see out! I know I'm prejudiced because she is mine, but she gives the best welcome I have ever received. Whenever I come home, she is so excited! She is jumping and running and wiggling. I always give her a hug hello and her tail is just wagging away. She plays and plays until she just crashes for a nap, often choosing to snuggle up with Axel.

Playing with daddy's sock. Crissy is mid-jump here.

Our little Waverly will be here before we know it. Only a little more than 7 weeks left! I'm sure her big bro and tiny, but older, big sis will be happy to have her around, especially when she is old enough to play! I was a little hesitant about getting a new puppy before the baby came, but now I think it really was the best plan. We can have her all trained before Waverly arrives, so that will be one hurdle down. It has also shown us how great Axel is at adjusting to new situations in the home and how wonderful he is at caring for others. I am so blessed to have a happy home, a loving husband, a house full of pets, and my little one on the way!

A Cancellation

As scheduled, we loaded up last night and rushed off to Lexington to attend another maternity course offered at Central Baptist Hospital. The class is called Great Expectations and is all about the things we need to know for having our baby at this facility. The class is supposed to be very informative and addressing questions like, How do I know I'm in labor? and When do I go to the hospital? It also gives directions and a tour so that we will all be prepared and know where to go and what to do when the time comes.

Well, I was so excited to take this course in particular. Unfortunately, the class was cancelled last night due to inclement weather. I must note here that the weather, though very cold, was just fine! There was no snow or ice or anything! They rescheduled the class date so we will try again on January 31!

The Big Day Care Search

With only 8 weeks to go, I am beginning to feel anxious. Wondering if 'nesting' is just a myth? Well, its not for me! I feel pressured to get the house clean, the addition finished and the baby's room started. It all makes me a bit nervous, and I'm also beginning to be a bit uncomfortable!

Well, I am trying to tackle the big day care search. Deciding who will take care of little Waverly when I return to work is a big decision. As much as I would like to stay home with her, it just wasn't in the cards for us. So, I have began calling local day cares and sitters. Honestly, I have put this off for awhile, just being pouty and grumpy that I can't stay home with the baby. Now its getting to be crunch time.

The wonderful world of day cares is a short list! I've called several and any that will not allow the parent to observe a day has been marked off my list. One thing I especially liked when I worked at the Montessori school was that all parents were welcome to stop by and observe their child at any given time. The good news is that many of the local day cares accept newborns, do not currently have wait lists and have low adult-child ratios (usually about 1 adult per 4 newborns).

The search continues, so if you have a recommendation, please email me!!!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, friends and family!

Dean and I spent a quiet new year's eve together. We had a nice dinner out and then rented some movies. We watched the puppies playing - they enjoy each other so much!



I actually fell asleep in my excitement for the new year, but I did wake up a little while before the big moment. We watched the ball drop and rang in the new year with kisses. Both our little Crissy and Axel slept right on, never missing a beat!