I am on a roll today, and I just HAVE to share this picture. We have been working on self-feeding a lot lately, mostly because Laura Grace is very independent and anxious to learn. However, it seems that Ms Sara is the only one, patient enough to "let loose!" Isn't she precious?

The weather has been amazing here in North Carolina, and we have spent several weekends at the beach lately. Here is a picture of "my little angel!"

Catching up . . .

The holidays have kept me busy as usual, and my blog has taken the hit for it! I am back now, but for how long, no one knows . . .
My mom has been very sick, and it has been difficult not being "home" to help her with the holiday festivities. Josh and I will fly home on Christmas Day, and we are both looking forward to our vacation there!
Laura Grace is as precious as ever, growing so quickly--I cannot get enough of her. A week away from her at Christmas is going to nearly kill me, though I will be with family--bittersweet, I suppose.
Our nephew, James is home and doing well. They are planning a visit down in April at which time we will be able to meet this little guy!
Josh is busy coaching, and I am busy shopping, wrapping, baking, cooking, and taking care of Laura Grace and two households! I love every second of it too!

Our newest family member . . .
Josh's youngest brother, JJ and sister in law, Amy had a baby boy on Sunday, October 29! His name is James Joseph. He was a full six weeks early, but weighed 5 lbs 6oz, and is still in the hospital but doing well! Isn't he precious? That leaves only Josh and me without children on either side of the family! Yikes! We now have six nephews and two nieces--every one as precious as can be! Can't wait to meet this little guy!

If only more people would take this to heart . . .
I have read this poem before, and I wanted to post it for all of the "Moms" out there!

If I Had My Child To Raise Over Again

“If I had my child to raise all over again,
I’d finger paint more and point the finger less.
I’d do less correcting, and more connecting.
I’d take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.
I would care to know less, and know to care more.
I’d take more hikes and fly more kites.
I’d stop playing serious, and seriously play.
I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars.
I’d do more hugging, and less tugging.
I would be firm less often, and affirm much more.
I’d build self-esteem first, and the house later.
I’d teach less about the love of power
And more about the power of love”
-Diane Loomans

SO sweet!!
Isn't this the most precious thing you have ever seen?!?!?! My nephew, Cade apparently thinks quite a bit of Laura Grace!!

The joys of North Carolina . . .
We spent last weekend at the beach. Some friends of ours have a beach house about an hour away, and they invited us to come spend the weekend with them, so we did! Josh's brother and sister in law and our two nephews came as well, and we enjoyed spending a late October weekend at the beach. It wasn't swimming weather (of course my nephews thought 70 degrees was perfectly fine for swimming:), but I think that it is the prettiest time of year down there! Had a ball!

Brrrr . . .
I had forgotten how cold Michigan is this time of year,until I went home this past weekend. However, it was worth every chill! My nephews (Stephen and Preston), and niece (Chae) made it all worth it, for sure!
They seem to grow so much more quickly when I'm not there to see them on a regular basis. It is definitely hard not being there to see them change.
The occassion was Stephen's tenth birthday, and it was certainly fun. He has a special place in my heart as do Chae and now, Preston--something that just cannot be put into words.
I was also able to visit with my nearly ninety-year-old grandmother, who is certainly one of my greatest heros!
And thanks to my two "sisters," I was treated like royalty--such a blessing to have them in my family! Thanks everyone for making every bit of my trip a success!

My man . . .

Josh has been so amazing with Laura Grace! It makes me all the more certain that he is going to someday make a terrific father (not that I didn't already know that). Not only is he SO great with her, and the love is certainly reciprocated (all I have heard today is "Jo . . . shshshshsh!"), but he shares a lot of ME with her, and I appreciate that. We both have fairly demanding jobs at times, and he is always understanding and sacrificial of the demands of mine.

Yep, her again . . .
We had her again this weekend, and we just happened to visit Barnes and Noble at storytime with Maisy! I thought for certain she was too young for this experience, since it involved coloring with crayons, a joy to which she had not yet been introduced and a big giant mouse of whom I was sure she would be scared.
Well, my good sense was proven wrong. She actually LOVED coloring with crayons (and even kept them out of her mouth), and as for Maisy, she couldn't get enough . . .

Pumpkin Patch
Josh and I had Laura Grace this weekend, so we decided to take her to a pumpkin patch--we knew this would be a great world of orange "balls" for her, since "ball" was her first word and is by far her favorite one! Anything that resembles anything close to a ball is in fact just that, and she will tell you that until you acknowledge that she is correct.
Anyway, she had a great time, and we had just as much fun, I think.

My newest love . . . Laura Grace is 14 months old--she isn't ours ( we don't have any kids yet), but we often forget she isn't! I started nannying for her when she was ten days old. She is absolutely amazing! To know her is to love her--she has changed our world. Josh and I have become family to hers, and they have become the same to us. I work a regular 8-5 shift, but it is certainly not uncommon to keep her overnight, or stay the night with her (if Mommy and Daddy need some rest). Josh and I have spent numerous weekends with them at the beach cottage, and we fall more in love with her every second we spend with her.