7 Months with the sweetest girl

We are celebrating 7 months with this beautiful blue eyed girl and I feel like this has been one of the biggest months yet!!

This month we are celebrating the arrival of two new teeth on your top middle gums! It took a week or so for these little teeth to cut through. Now that they have you think it is super fun to grind your matching top and bottom teeth together but it is not fun for anyone around you to hear you do this!

Rory you are now officially a crawler! You are finding your way all over the house crawling on your hands and knees. If I leave you in a room playing with your toys on the floor then its a matter of seconds and you have found me where ever I went in the house, and you are FAST!

You are really discovering more of your voice lately. Making lots of loud babbling noises, screams, and the sweetest laughter ever! I also have year you babble "Bubba" and "Mama" so needless to say Everett and I are very proud to be your first words! Dad may be a little jealous saying that you "dont know what your saying your just making noises" but I hated to tell him that is how all baby talk starts! You have sure started saying Mama when you find me in a room though or when you are wanting me to come get you from your bed!

This month you also had your first major sickness getting RSV over Christmas. You were the most pitiful and saddest thing we had ever seen! Absolutely broke my heart! We temporarily moved you back into your swing to help you stay elevated to get some sleep. After about a good week of sickness you rebounded right back with your precious joyful spirit!

Rory your eyes are still the most piercing blue and they cause strangers in stores to stop and marvel at your beauty! Coupled with your still red tinted hair you have these sweet traits passed down from your Nanas! You are still mostly favoring Everett at this point from when he was a baby also and he is the most proud of it! He loves to come in and say "Hello Beautiful Girl who looks like her Bubba!" It's no wonder you said Bubba first when he constantly showers you with compliments and sweet hugs and kisses! Your Sissy is always soo excited to see you and is so anxious for her chance to play with you she just still has not gotten the hang of gentle play yet. I am so looking forward to the day you two will be the sweetest of friends!

I have tried you in your crib a few times now for naps and they have gone well mostly! Since your crib shares a room with your Sissy I have been less energized about moving you over but you are quickly outgrowing  your bassinet and it feels like a good time to move you. You also recently spent your first time in a nursery at a church we have been trying out. I had a constant nervous feeling all through church and could not wait to get back to you! When Dad and I got back to the nursery we found you soundly asleep on the shoulder of a nursery attendant!

Mealtime is something you are really enjoying these days Rory! We are giving you food 2 times a day and you are devouring most of it! You are a big fan of the squeeze food when we are out and on the go but also like to get down on some regular veggies at the dinner table.

Rory Ashton, what an absolute blessing you are to our lives every single day! You have the most joyful spirit! When we you get excited, which is most of the time, you bounce up and down and pant rapidly! Anyone who comes in to contact with you will have a better day because of it! We love you so much sweet Rory!!

Jan. 18th

This day hit me extra hard this year which caught me off guard. As your heavenly anniversary came I buried my head in the sand a bit not wanting to remember that day one year ago. Your birthday I wanted to really celebrate you! Celebrate your life, your vibrancy, your favorite things, the sweet memories the kids have with you! But it was hard, it was just so hard!

I have started a dozen blog posts about how much I miss you in my head. How big the hole her on earth is without but every time I start to actually write it out the words disappear. It's because there just aren't words to describe it. I could never put into words the magnitude of your loss in my life. All I know to say is I feel it ever day, in just about every moment!

I see so much of you here though Mom! In Rory's bright blue eyes you are looking back at me, in Everett's tender spirit, in Haven's mischievous ways and silly laugh. We see you in the sunsets that you loved to marvel while on Earth and in the moon you knew the power of God's glory in. We talk about you alot and have pictures of you around the house so the kids always know they have a Nana looking over them. Everett sometimes asks to go to Heaven to see you. Every time Haven sees the moon she says look  mom "Solly Moo is right there!" I still wish I could go back and convince you to choose a different grandmother name than Nana because the kids are so confused about Nana even though we have tried to coin the term Gran-Nana for their Nana still her. Mostly they call you Solly Moo because of the time Everett heard me call you that and latched on to it. I have kept it up because it is means only you and doesn't confuse them with their other Nana. I want them to have the stories of you embedded in their hearts and not be confused when the recall them later.

A few weeks ago I was resting on the couch while the kids were napping and had drifted off into my own nap. I felt a pressure on my leg that I immediately recognized as what I can only describe as a loving hold like you would do to someone to wake them up or just acknowledge them. Everett often grabs me in such a way to wake me up in the middle of the night to help him get tucked back in to bed but this was a bigger hand and my head immediately thought "Mom." I quickly opened my eyes hoping to see you sitting on the couch with me but there was no one there. I don't know if it was you but the feeling I had from it has stayed with me and I believe you were there. Watching over me as you are every day watching over all of us.

I hear Haven mention "Solly Moo" in her daily play as if she is talking to you on the phone or your just there playing with her on the trampoline with her dolls and it warms my heart because I know she could really be seeing  you. She was so little that I worry so much about her not having any memories with you and am hoping that in those moments she is making her own new memories with you.

I grieve for Rory never having gotten the chance to be held by you, kissed by you, loved by you. Then I look in her eyes and see so much of you there I know she knows you in her own way. She is such a gift to us I know you helped craft her specially once you got to Heaven.

This year for your to celebrate your birthday the kids and I baked cookies. They picked out shapes special of their love and memories for you! They chose hearts, the letter M, a duck and Everett chose a dinosaur because "he loves dinosaurs and he loves Solly Moo!" We ate Outback steakhouse with Lane and Neeley's family and finished with hot fudge Sundays. We missed you but we celebrated you Mom!

A Christmas to Remember

This was our first Christmas in Midland and in our very own owned home! I had been so looking forward to experiencing all sorts of fun new Christmas things as well as continuing traditions that we are passing down from our childhoods. We were so excited to be back together with our cousins and family for Christmas and having all that much more magic and wonder during this magical season. Most of all I felt like we won the lottery this Christmas because Nana was coming to Midland and staying with us! I was beyond excited for getting to have Nana in our home for several days and having morning, afternoon and evening coffee with her. I have greatly missed just getting to sit in a room with her and talk and was overjoyed at the chance to get that time back for several days. The kids were also so anxious to get to have their Gran-Nana here for Christmas and were hoping to get some chocolate pies out of the deal. They are convinced that Nana just spends her days backing chocolate pies and they have been missing time with her and her pies since moving away.







Drew had Christmas week off and after what has been a rough job transition regarding time away from home it was such a relief to have him home with us during this week especially. Nana got in with Aunt Tammy and Kelsey on Saturday for Tuesday Christmas. I had prepared Everett's room for her to have the maximum comfort a room full of dinosaurs and other beastly creatures could allow anyone. Sunday morning we awoke at our usual early hour all waiting anxiously for Nana to wake up. When she did we took the morning slowly eating cinnamon rolls and drinking coffee in the kitchen just enjoying being together. Around 10 Nana left for a Christmas tree with the Schmidt families as we kept ourselves busy baking treats awaiting her return. Nana got back and rested for a bit then she and I made chocolate fudge and began preparing her new favorite tomato soup recipe to have family over for dinner with grilled cheese sandwiches. It was such a wonderful day and one just full of happiness and the feeling of home.




It was obvious come Sunday evening that Everett was just not quite feeling himself. Desperate to not have an ill baby for Christmas we began pumping him full of all the meds we had to try and get him over the little cold I thought he had gotten. Everyone went to bed with full bellies from delicious soup and Christmas treats excited for Christmas Eve the next day. Everett didn't last long in bed though and was up most of the night running fever and feeling all over sick. By 5 am we decided to get him in to an urgent care clinic asap and by 7 am we got the news I was praying against as soon as he started to sniffle, he had RSV. Although it would not be too bad for him to get over it with just some coughing and lethargy for a few days (perfect for Christmas)  it was especially bad for Children under 1, Rory, children with asthma, Haven, and elderly adults with heart problems, Nana! In our house we had all three of the highly susceptible people for getting complications from RSV, GREAT!

Immediatly we quarantined Everett from Everyone else, lysoled everything and put on mask on him but it was clear it was too high of a risk for Nana to remain in our house and risk her getting seriously ill from it, had she not already gotten it that is from comforting Everett in the wee hours of the morning. Nana had been questioning whether to even come to Midland and at that how to long to actually stay so when it was apparent she couldn't stay at our home any longer she took it as a sign to just head back home to spend Christmas in Amarillo. Although I knew there was absolutely no way she could be in our home I felt gutted knowing our plans would no longer be! I was so sad that poor Everett was feeling so yucky and would not be in the best spirits for Christmas. After Nana left our home on Christmas Eve morning we canceled our plans to for the day not wanting to risk infecting anyone else and stayed home watching movies trying to keep the girls separated from Everett. The kids went to bed with excitement for the hopes of the mornings surprises.


Christmas morning we awoke to all the magical gifts Santa had left which included  a trampoline for outside along with bikes the big kids got from Mom and Dad. However No one felt like trying out the new outside toys and it was clear that Haven and Rory both were going down with RSV. We stayed inside all Christmas day hunkered down alternating pushing liquids, giving out meds, cradling sick kids and resting. First thing the day after Christmas we got the girls both in with their pediatrician to confirm RSV. The most bummer thing about RSV is that it is a virus and antibiotics will not help it we just had to "help them through it." So the rest of our Christmas week was spent doing just that. Sick kids is the saddest most pitiful thing ever, sick kids at Christmas is just extra extra sad and pitiful. By Thursday we felt ok enough to venture out to Lane and Neeley's to do a tree with their family along with Mimi and Aunt Kelsey who had delayed leaving an extra day to share the tree with us. It was by far the most special time of our week but we left their house with a very sick Rory who was extremely labored in her breathing and causing alot of anxiety for her Dad and I. With another trip to the doctor the next day for her we decided that our plans to go to Amarillo for the weekend for White family Christmas celebrations must be canceled. It took several more days before anyone felt much better and wanted anything to do with their new toys.


Our first Christmas in Midland was certainly one we will remember! Although nothing went quite as we planned and hoped for we still were blessed beyond what we deserved! We still got to cherish one another and reflect on the true meaning of Christmas and the biggest gift of all, Jesus' birth into our broken world! Here is to hoping next Christmas is full of health though!!

Half a year with Rory!

Rory is 6 months old and I Can Not Believe it!!!!

Rory you are soooo sweet! I mean just the sweetest!!! You have now gone to 3 movies, The Grinch twice and Ralph breaks the internet and you slept through them all in Mom's arms. You run all over town with me  just happy as can be especially when you are bundled up in the moby wrap around me!

At your 6 month well child check, the Dr. was impressed with your mobility and attention to what's around you. You weighed in at 18 lbs. 7.6 oz (87%) with a height of 26.6 inches (75%).  You are our beautiful girl with the sweetest leg rolls and cheeks that I could literally just eat up!

Your hair is continuing to come in thicker and it looks like it keeps darkening in color. Your eyes are still the most striking blue and I am hoping they never change! Rory if you can't be in someone's arms and you aren't sleeping then your favorite place to be is in your walker. You have somehow managed to find pathways all over the house and we find you in the funniest places, like your brother's room where you walk over the rug to get into his closet. Haven likes to help you menauvere around the house and often gives you little rides where shes pushes you, too fast, from room to room. Your sister loves to give you lots of hugs and kisses and she gets the urge to just squeeze you, much like I do however I manage to refrain myself and Sissy doesn't. So you cry most often at the hands of your Sissy right now but I look forward to the day you two play together on more equal levels and both love it!

Rory you are still sleeping in your bassinet in Mom and Dad's room but we are about at the limit for that because you are about to outgrow it. I am equally dreading and looking forward to the day we move you into your crib in the room with Haven because I fear she won't let you get much sleep. We have continued to give you a few solid foods but you don't seem to love any of them. I did get you some apple and sweet potato teething wafers and you can't get enough of them! You were not a big fan of the banana flavored ones though.

You have discovered how to roll over from your back to your front now and your really having a good time with it! You have mastered rolling across rooms to get to where you want to go now. You keep getting up on your arms and knees and rocking back and forth so I know that you will be crawling any day now! We are so looking forward to your first Christmas and watching you as you grow and learn even more new tricks!
We love you sweet sweet angel girl!!

Halloween 2018

Halloween took me a little bit to get into this year as days before it came the one year anniversary of my Mom. Having just moved to a new city and trying to find our groove in a new home and routine also added a little bit of hesitancy to get into the spirit. I put out a few decorations after I nested into our new home with our usual decor and Everett came out to see it and said " Ohh Mom, Thank you so much for decorating like this for Halloween!" I was a little shocked he noticed, to be honest but also that it meant so much to him because it paled in comparison to what I would normally do. It made me remember though that these sweet children don't know all the aches and pains that come with anniversaries or celebrating holidays without my Mom. What they see if their Mom and Dad happy and wanting to celebrate with them! From that moment on I kicked my Halloween festive mode into higher gear!






I always loved the families whose Halloween costumes all coordinated with Mom and Dad all dressing up together to celebrate. However fantasy and reality don't always align and I have yet to pull off the ultimate family costumes. I was going to settle on the kids all coordinating and was hoping this year would find Everett dressed as The Beast, Haven as Belle, and Rory as a Chip the teacup. I mean how adorable right?! Well my sweet little girl Haven would have absolutely Nothing to do with her Belle dress and I couldn't find a Beast costume in Everett's size. Once again fantasy shot and reality wound up being 3 adorable kids in 3 costumes not at all coordinating!

Everett insisted on if he was not to be the Beast he would be Buzz Lightyear and he looked adorable! I found a super cute swan costume for Haven to wear that I somehow managed to get her to love as well! Precious Rory as easy going as she is was happy to be put into a snow owl costume!


Drew and I enjoyed our first school party with Everett on Halloween at his pre-k class. He was proud to have his parent's and sisters there with him to show us his desk and the boys and girls around him he plays with although he didn't know their names yet. Halloween night we found ourselves celebrating at Erich & Ginna's house with Nicholas & Gaylen, Uncle Lane & Aunt Nene and all their kids! It was a fun dinner with finger foods and yummy desserts before we ran out into the cold night to try our hand at trick or treating until we got rained out. It was so much fun to be with so many cousins all running around the streets in their costumes trying to corral the littlest ones together. Rory and I spent most of the time watching all the excited chaos from the seat of a golf cart snuggled up together staying warm.




We missed seeing Gran-Nana, Mimi, and Aunt Kelsey on Halloween but had so much fun being a part of the festivities here in Midland. It was a wonderful way to spend our first holiday here!

Rory is 5 months old

We have now been blessed with our sweet Rory for 5 whole months now and we could not be happier about it!

She is the sweetest most snuggly little chunky girl! Rory's bright blue eyes just light up when she sees anyone doting on her which is most often her big brother and sister. They fight over who gets to say "Hello pretty girl" to her first in the mornings and after her naps and over who gets to be the first one to give her sugars. Rory is working on cutting a few more teeth and She has regressed a little between 7-10 of falling back into her colicky habits wanting only to be held by mom and bounced in a specific way during this time. She is very keen on her Mama right now and prefers to be in my arms above anyone else's. Dad recently had a full day alone with all the kids and Rory was not a fan, crying and screaming the entire time.




Rory is completely over her swing and never wants to be put in it. We moved it out to the garage and it made my heart break a little that she was already big enough to be done with it. She has discovered her exersaucer though and LOVES it! She is just like her sister in this way. She is having so much fun discovering the different textures and toys while spinning around in it. We have also put Rory in the walker and although she has some limited room to move in she is loving scooting around the house on her own in it. She has also really discovered her voice and makes the sweetest noises. Her laughter is such a joyful sound amongst all the chaos around her! 




Rory has had a few rough nights not sleeping through the night recently and I am thinking this is just due to a growth spurt. She is still sleeping by our bed in her bassinet but she has taken a few naps in her crib. Rory doesn't always need to be rocked to sleep as long as she is swaddled and her white noise is on she will fall asleep on her own. The girl is now continually wearing 9-12 month clothes and even some 18 month items! Her cousin Emma who is 14 months older, is outgrowing clothes that Rory is moving right into! Rory is not a fan of her bows, as she pulls them down over her eyes constantly. She is taking formula 6-7 ounces every 5-6 hours now. We have tried some banana flavored teether foods but she was not a fan!


We are all such huge fans of you Rory and are so thankful God put you in our lives!! 

Rory's 4 Month Update

We have had a lot of transition heading into Rory's 4th month of life. We moved from her birthplace and the town Drew and I met in and lived in for over 10 years Amarillo, to Midland, TX. Moving to a new town, house, life 3 and a half months after having a baby is a little challenging. Luckily our little Rory made her part of the transition seamless and even kicked some of her colicky habits.




Rory continues to sleep swaddled in her bassinet in our room. She is sleeping from her last bottle at 11 pm until close to 9 am! This sweet girl also takes a really great nap in the afternoon for roughly 3 hours along with a few catnaps in the morning. Rory continues to find amusement in her siblings and loves to watch what they are doing around her.

Rory finally cut two teeth in her front bottom gum and we are soo thankful!! She struggled with some pain getting these two teeth in but they are the cutest little teeth ever! It seems like they were trying to come in for a long time and just popped up overnight. Rory is still incredibly generous with her smiles and now she is proud to show off her two new teeth.

We had Rory's 4 month appointment with a our new pediatrician in Midland and he was very impressed with her strength and head control already. She has stayed right on track growth wise and is very "proportionate." Rory is 24.8 in long putting her in the 66%, 15lbs. 15 oz keeping her in the 89% weight percentile and has a 41.4 head circumference.

We were given the OK to start Rory on her first foods and so we started with carrots. She was not a big fan. She just spit it all right back out of her mouth but she was sure cute doing it!

Rory Ashton you are just the sweetest and we adore you!!