Friday, August 29, 2008

Amazing

A friend of mine shared on her blog, a fun website (http://wordle.net/). So, of course I had to try it out. Basically, it takes a collection of words and makes them into art. The words that are used most frequently are made the largest with less frequently used words tucked between. I used Emma's blog to generate the following two images.

I can't but help notice that the words that are most noticeable are Emma and God. Amazing.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Whoa...Horsey...

In Darren's pursuit of making his little girl a cowgirl.

Emma has begun to ride horse.
Well sort of...






Seven Months...Already....

Happy Seventh Month Birthday Miss Emma!

Accomplishments/milestones of the month:
  • No more preemie formula. Emma has advanced from Similac Neosure to Similac Advance (a regular formula). Yeah!!!!!
  • BACK to TUMMY! Emma can roll from her back to her tummy. She has also discovered that she can do this as she falls asleep and loves sleeping on her tummy. Did I mention she loves sleeping on tummy? If not, she really loves sleeping on her tummy.
  • She's an all-nighter. That is, she sleeps from approx 8 in the evening to 5 in the morning. Thank goodness Daddy is a morning person.
  • She had her first true road trips. We stayed in San Antonio for 4 days 3 nights in the Westin Riverwalk. There she got to spend some valuable time with Great Grandma and Great PoPo.
  • She also spent the night in Waco on another road trip. There she got to spend time with Granny and PawPaw.
  • She has begun solid foods. I'll have some pictures posted later.
  • She has survived her first Tropical Storm (Edouard). She was absolutely smashing and wonderful throughout the day. What can we say? She's a survivor.
  • She has started to giggle and laugh. Hopefully, soon I will have the audio clip for everyone to here.
  • Has fallen in love with her bug (stuffed pink and yellow toy with bell, not pictured) and her beloved Dotty (the polka dot blanket in the majority of pictures.

And now for what everyone is really here for....

pictures, pictures, pictures.

My apologies if you have a slow connection, but you asked for these.















Such a big girl...

Thursday, August 7, 2008

A Thought for All Preemie Moms

This message was shared on one of the numerous preemie message and support groups that I joined. It's beautiful, so I thought I would share.

Did you ever wonder how the mothers of premature babies are chosen?

Somehow, I visualize God hovering over Earth, selecting hisinstruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As he observes, he instructs his angels to take notes in a giant ledger.

"Armstrong, Beth, son. Patron Saint, Matthew.Forrest, Marjorie, daughter. Patron Saint, Celia.Rutledge, Carrie, twins. Patron Saint...give her Gerard. He's used to profanity.

"Finally, he passes a name to an angel and smiles."Give her a preemie."

The angel is curious. "Why this one, God? She's so happy."

"Exactly," smiles God. "Could I give a premature baby a mother who knows no laughter? That would be cruel."

"But does she have the patience?" asks the angel.

"I don't want her to have too much patience, or she'll drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wear off, she'll handle it.I watched her today. She has that sense of self and independence so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm going to give her has a world of its own. She has to make it live in her world, and that's not going to be easy."

"But Lord, I don't think she even believes in you."

God smiles. "No matter, I can fix that. This one is perfect She has just the right amount of selfishness."

The angel gasps, "Selfishness?! Is that a virtue?"

God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she will never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn't know it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take for granted a spoken word. She will never consider a step ordinary.When her child says momma for the first time, she will be witness to a miracle and know it. I will permit her to see clearly the things I see-- ignorance, cruelty, prejudice-- and allow her to rise above them. She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life because she is doing my work as surely as she is here by my side."

"And what about her Patron Saint?" asks the angel, his pen poised in the air.

God smiles. "A mirror will suffice."