2008 in review

2008 started out with a wonderful miracle of Hope's birth. She has been a joy this entire year. She is such a good baby. The word to wrap 2008 up would be, "Hope". It was a year full of it! Bring on 2009!! I know that God will carry us through another year. 

January

I started 2008 out pregnant with only 8 days to go until Hope would be born.

Here she is!

The moment she was born, it overwhelmed me how good God was for blessing me with one more miracle!

After being on bedrest for most of my pregnancy with Hope, seeing her cry and wiggle was so amazing to me. 

This moment right here will forever be etched in my heart. The moment she grabbed my finger. 

She HATED her first bath at home. But, loves them now.

My precious, precious baby Hope. 

February

Daddy doing homework and bonding with baby Hope.

Look at all those toes. WOW, we are blessed.

Hope's first Valentine's Day. 

March

Grace's snowtoddler. She loved him. Still she will say, "I can't WAIT until it snows so I can build another snowman." 

One of the first smiles! Awwwww

Enjoying one of the first warmer days at the park. 

April

Happy Easter!

Went to the zoo in Little Rock, AR. Hope and the giraffe had a special moment! 

May

Mother's Day with Hope was a joy! I love my girls. 

Grace turns THREE! We had a princess party. Even Daddy joined in.

First taste of rice cereal. Never really liked it that much. Loved oatmeal, though.

June

Love to be at the park. The geese are crazy if you have bread!

Loves to swing.

July

Pulling up!!

At Cider Days. Grace making a funny face.

August

Bryan playing a concern in Willard. Fun times. 

The first family pic since Hope was born. I took all of these. Pretty proud of myself.

Hope is crawling like a pro! 

September

Enjoying one of the last days of warm weather at the park. So cute. 

funny girl at the Kidgits play area in the mall. 

October

Hope and her first Halloween. We are at the pumpkin patch.

Grace wasn't so sure of "Bible Expert Man" aka Daddy! She was a princess.

Grocery shopping wore them out that day. I was able to take my time shopping, though!

November

Loving those smiles from my baby girl @ 10 months old

Hope's first Thanksgiving. She loved it!

December

Vacation in FL

Picture with Santa, Hope's first Christmas

Been awhile

Grace at the beach! She loved it.

Hope and I. Hope really liked the sand. I was surprised.

My little family! I love them so much. They are my world. 

The Thompson Family. So glad we were able to get a photo done.

The girls playing around at their great grandparents house in Panama City, FL

Grace and Daddy flying in an airplane. Grace loved flying.

A pizza place we ate at in Pier Park at Panama City Beach. It was so good. 

Bryan and I at Pier Park in front of a huge Christmas tree. Fun day.

It's been a really long time since I've updated. It isn't because I haven't gotten on here and tried to write something down. I just never really seemed to have anything worth saying. Exhaustion played a lot into this. 

We went to Florida to visit my husband's family for a whole 7 days. It was good for him and the girls to get to spend some time with the Thompson side of the family. We did learn just a few things NOT do the next time when using our ONLY vacation time for the year. 

1) DO NOT, no matter who gets mad, let family dictate your schedule and your time! 

2) If we have a whole week, then we need to establish at least 3 of those days as just OUR family time and relaxation time.

3) Minimize driving! We do enough of that here, why would be want to do it the entire time we are on vacation. 

4) Save up enough money to spend a few nights in a nice hotel so it seems more like a vacation. One with a pool and hot tub! Or one with a hot tub IN THE ROOM! 

I am very grateful that my girls were able to really get some quality time with their grandparents, great grandparents, and others. Family is so important, but so is rest.  We got home from that trip so extremely exhausted that it took us ANOTHER week to just recover from.  It wasn't all bad, we had some fun. The girls loved the beach. I wish we had made more family time to go there and really play in the sand. Next time, people! 

My youngest daughter, Hope. She is one happy baby and oh so cute in her Christmas outfit.

This is Grace, my oldest. She has this fake smile thing going on. Hope she grows out of it. 

My little girls at Christmas