10 Months of precious Rory

Darling girl, what a precious treasure you are to us! 10 months have come so quickly!

This month we have experienced some new things like your finally big and strong enough to ride in the cart basket without your car seat. You often get to sit next to your sister in the seat which can be a good and bad thing because she gets so excited she can't control herself around you not knowing just how strong she is. Mostly though it has been so nice to ditch the carseat and just wheel you around in the basket. I have gotten the Moby wrap back out recently to help carry you that way too when there isn't a basket to put you in. We also tried swinging for the first time at the park across the street and you were not a big fan. You tend to like to be snuggled in close rather than out drifting on your own in something like a swing.

You are loving crawling around and discovering all new things, especially those that are behind cabinet doors  that you shouldn't be into. You are pulling up on everything now and are able to reach a lot more of the things that you shouldn't be into. Somehow you and our puppy Scout can cause quite the mess together in no time flat. Your favorite places to make messes are the bathrooms ripping up toilet paper.

Rory you are eating more and more food and loving trying new things. You don't tend to like anything to chunky but really enjoy eating cheerios and goldfish. You are taking less and less of your formula although we have slipped back into taking a bottle in the middle of the night after you were sick with a cold. I'm now trying to break that habit that I started out of exhaustion.

You have a mouthful of teeth now and everyone who sees you can't believe how many you have. You are really discovering biting anything that comes near  your mouth or when Mom is holding you you try to bite my shoulder and your teeth are very sharp. You are so very strong Rory and when you don't want to do something you but your whole body against it such as when you don't want to take a nap and wiggle or flatten out your body until it's impossible to hold you. You are so never not moving, unless your sleeping, you are constantly on the move or wiggling your body around. You have learned that your head shake "no no no" really means No and use it when you don't want something especially when you are done eating.

You still have the sweetest little smile Rory that just brightens up your whole face! Now there are 10 teeth proudly showing with each smile. Your eyes are still the most beautiful blue! After being in the sun some while playing outside or watching your brother play t-ball your hair seems to be lightening up some. You still favor Everett and look just like he did when he was your age. You have the cutest rolls on your legs that make me just want to eat you up.

Rory we adore you and are so thankful that you are our's!!

8 & 9 Months with Sweet Rory

Rory Ashton we have gotten through 8 & 9 amazing months with you and you are growing up fast!

We officially moved you into your crib full time and you have handled the transition in great stride. I miss having you beside me every night but it's beyond time for you to be in your own crib plus Sissy is loving having you sleeping in "her" room with her. Not sure when she will realize the room belongs to both of you!

Rory you have a few more teeth coming in now and it is causing you some minor discomfort. I took you to the Dr. thinking you maybe had an ear infection after you started waking up during the nights turned out no ear infection but you had 6 teeth coming in so no wonder you weren't too happy! You tend to only want to be in Mom's arms when you are not feeling well and I love getting the extra snuggles.

You are really on the move Rory, crawling very fast now and really flying when wheeling around in your walker. It takes no time at all for you to zip from room to room no matter your mode of movement. You like to get into your brother's room and play with his animal toys or books. The only trouble comes when you get yourself stuck behind a closed door.

Rory your newest trick is shaking your head "no no no." It is pretty cute and your sister thinks it is the absolute most hilarious thing! She tries to get you to do it all the time. Your Sissy also loves giving you hugs and tries to pick you up to carry you around, even after we tell her not to. You are just irresistible to her and she can't wait to play with you.

Food is something you are really enjoying more and more. Your love the baby food crunchies when you are in need of a snack. In the mornings you are really enjoying baby yogurt eating it up in a hurry. For lunch and dinner you are pretty much a big fan of all the other baby food we have tried except banana flavors. We have also tried you with some eggs and avocados neither of which you loved too much.

Rory at your 9 month well child check you weighed at 21 lbs. 7.9 oz (89%), height of 27.8 inches and (58%). Right now you are wearing 12-18 month clothes.

Rory you are an absolute doll to look at and share your smile willingly, if you are feeling good, with all who see you! We absolutely adore you beautiful girl!

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!