Christmas Eve

We celebrate Christmas Eve with Clint's side of the family..this year it was at our house!  We had a great time.  Usually, we just do munchy type foods, snacks and such, but this year I wanted to do mexican.  We had sour cream/chicken enchiladas, beef enchiladas, taco bar,cheese dip/chips and tortillas rolls.  My mother in law made a Christmas cake and had tons of candy she had made.  It was all so good!

Reese was so excited when we set her by the tree!!

Can I open JUST one??

Reese is the BEST Christmas gift I have ever received!  A few seasons ago, I wasn't sure I would ever get to be "Santa" to my own child.  Don't get me wrong, my step son and daughter were such a blessing to me, they taught me things a lot of Moms don't get to experience, but having a child of my OWN is a dream come true!

Our nephew, B.J. and his wife, Ray-Lee and son Rhyler

Rhyler really enjoyed opening his gifts!! 

My mother in law helped Reese open her gifts while I snapped pictures!!

Later that evening, my brother and sister in law came over to spend the night with us.  My Mom and Dad and `Delena's Mom and Dad and Grandmother were coming over the next morning to see what Santa brought Reese and McKenna and have brunch with us (that post will be tomorrow!)

Sample Family Christmas

For the last 3 years, my Dad's side of the family has gotten together at my cousin's house in Sherman to celebrate Christmas. We eat, laugh and play a funny Sneaky Santa game! This year was Reese's first Sample Family Christmas of course, and she was the center of attention!

My cousin Danita.  She was the hostess with the mostess for the family Christmas celebration!

My Auntie Marsha, she is my dad's youngest sister and she has always spoiled us rotten.  Reese will be no different!

My brother and sister in law, they are expecting a little mean boy in Febuary!  We are all very excited.

My Aunt Marsha gave Reese her first Christmas gift.  She helped me open the gift, but was more interested in chewing on the box.  She was sharpening up those 2 teeth she has now!!  Marsha gave her a Scentsy bear, it smells so good and is so soft.  Reese cuddled with it all the way home!

Clint, Reese and I.  I love my little family!!

These are my cousins kiddos, Ramie and Trent!  They thought Reese was pretty cool. I think the feeling was mutual!!

We had a wonderful time and we are looking forward to next year!!  

Santa Pics

Clint and I took Reese several weeks ago to have her picture made with Santa Claus.  I scheduled an appointment with a local children's boutique in Paris.  They always have a professional photographer come in and set up.  I couldn't be more pleased with her FIRST pics with Santa.  She was hilarious that day, not scared a bit and put on a show for the whole store!  I think the exact words the shop owner used were, "she's killin it up there!"  Such a ham, she is!  I have a sneaking feeling that next year may be a different story!

SUYL - Christmas Card

I am in LOVE with our Christmas card this year!  I did it at TinyPrints.com and had them within a week of ordering!  Great quality too!

Another reason I am in LOVE with the card...Reese, or course!  Her first Christmas should be special, of course, she's too little to remember but I want her to have the memories!!

Merry Christmas from the Pierce's!!

A few favorites...

Since becoming a new mom 6 months ago, I have discovered a whole new world of neat gadgets and whatnot!  I love finding unique, useful things that make my girl happy!!

One of my VERY favorite things is the Nose Frida snot sucker!  Gross, I know, but it works magic on a congested, gunky filled baby!

Another neat thing I have ran across is Bluum.com.  It's a little box that comes monthly with all kinds of neat stuff for new moms and babies to try.  I had a coupon for 3 months at a special price and I think I'm gonna subscribe!  You get a variety of things to try, including baby food, onesies, books, teethers, lotions, stain removers, chapstick, etc.. Each month has a theme.  Pretty neat!

Is there anything out there you've found that is super cool for new moms?

Happy Halloween!

We are a day late...but that's our new normal!!!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Girl!!

Totally over all this camera business!

Happy Halloween!!!

Family Reunion

Every October, the Sample family (my Dad's side) gets together down on our family farm.  It's a wonderful time of year and we usually have a blast!  This year was no different, the weather was perfect, we had a great crowd and we got to show Miss Priss off!!!
Friday night we had a fish fry for the family and close friends.  We had over 100 people there!  It was awesome to see good friends and family that traveled lots of miles to be there!  It was a little cool but we still visited until well after dark.  I took Reese home about 9:00 and Clint and McKenna rolled in after midnight.  Apparently, after most of the crowd went home, a dominoe game pursued!  And they got all the meat on the smoker for Saturday!  Yum-O!

Granni and Glenna got a little Reese "lovins"

Delena (and my future nephew) visiting with Misty

Granni enjoyed showing Reese off to everyone!

Saturday, it was mostly family for the day.  We had around 65 people show up!  We get together on my Dad's ranch in an old hunting cabin that was originally built in the 1940's, some additions were made in the 60's but hardly any since then!  We still have hunters that come and stay there and, of course, our boys use it during deer season and for fish camp in the summer.  It has a wall that kids have measured on and signed for lots and lots of years!  Of course, Miss Priss had to get her name on "the wall."

Clint and my Aunt Connie measured Reese!

My sister and her family came from Wichita Falls, they had not seen Reese since she was a few weeks old, so needless to say, Aunt Tina and cousins Sydney and Nicole were "Reese hogs!"

Sydney and Nicole love their cousin!!

I love my Sydney!  She's a "mini=me"

Uncle Carl meeting Reese for the first time!

 My Grandfather had 10 brothers and sisters, there are 2 left and they came to the reunion.  Our family has always been close and get together at least once a year, sometimes twice.  We love having everyone come, lots of food, fun and good times!

My Dad giving his "welcome address"  He loves having his family get together!

Reese kept everyone entertained!!

4 months

Reese, you are 4 months old!!  Where has the time gone??  You continue to be the light of our life!  I can't imagine my life without you now!

You weigh probably close to 16 pounds!  We will find out tomorrow!  I bet you have grown in length too!  Can't wait to find out, but am sad you have to get shots!

Your growth could be a result of your awesome eating!  You still nurse 2 or 3 times a day (when Mommy works) you take 4 to 5 bottles and you eat cereal and fruit 3 times a day.  And, you love it all!  You are such a great eater!

I still love to nurse you though.  I never thought I would enjoy breastfeeding, but it seemed such an easy decision when I had you to try it.  It was so easy for us!  I am thankful, especially with all the horror stories out there!

You wear a size 2 diaper.  We are on our last package from all my showers, I think that's a good time to go to a size 3.  We will be in that size a while!  

Your clothes are all at least 6 months.  You have a few things that are 3 months that you can still wear, but not many.  

You sleep well through the night.  You have a bath and a warm, bed-time bottle around 8 and then you go to sleep and sleep until 4 - 6 a.m.  I am one blessed Mommy!  Your naps are so-so.  You sleep sometimes 30 minutes and sometimes 2 hours!  It all depends on you.  You do sleep well in my lap or Granni's.  It's hard to put you down when you are sleeping so good in our laps.  Pepaw says, "I think she's spoiled."  How dare he!!  Haha

Your loves right now are:  your feet and getting them in your mouth, your Baby Einstein activity center, eating out of a spoon, your pallet and rolling over on it, sitting out in the porch swing with Grannie, Winnie the Pooh and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on TV.

You rolled over the first time on October 8, 2012.  You did it at Granni and Pepaw's.  We were all so excited!  Granni called me at work and told me!  She videoed it and posted it on Facebook so Daddy could see!  It was so cute!

I can't believe you are one-third of a year!  What a ride it has been.  We wouldn't trade anything for you!  I can't wait to share with you someday "your story" and what  a miracle you are!  Daddy and I love you so much and we look forward to each day and seeing what you will learn next!  We love you Reese!

 I took some Halloween pics of you last week!  I thought they were so cute!

Silent Auction item - Boutique Bows

I'm joining in on a huge Blogger event, in case you don't know the story, you can read about it here...please, please, please help this family out!

For the silent auction benefiting the Turner family, I am auctioning off 2 of my Polka Dot Factory double boutique bows and accessories to match.


The first bow is a "Fall" colored bow, includes brown biggie dots, orange biggie dots, cheetah and orange and brown solid grosgrain ribbon. Along with the bow, there is a brown crocheted kufi hat (fits up to teen-ish size) and an orange headband.

The second bow is a Christmas bow. It has red, red biggie dot, lime, lime biggie dot, white with red biggie dot....so cute! It has 2 matching headbands.

 Both bow are on alligator clips and are made with high end grosgrain ribbon and heat sealed. The retail price is $45.00, if the auction reaches 50.00, I will "gift" sweet Preslee these bows also!

Here are the rules! 

HOW TO BID:

• Place your bid in the comments section of this blog post.
• Leave NAME, EMAIL, and BID.
• All bids must be made in $1 increments. If the last bid is $9 then your bid must be $10.

Bidding will close on Friday night at 10:00pm(EST)

Highest bidder will be the winner.

Payment will be accepted via PayPal. Winner will be emailed a paypal invoice and once paypal payment has been made, I will put you in contact with the donor. 

PLEASE NOTE: Auction open to US residents only, will ship to US only. All payments must be received by October 31, 2012. These payments are not considered tax deductible.

To see what else is up for auction - Check here:

 http://www.lifeinthegreenhouse.com

http://www.lifesweetlifeblog.com

http://www.biggest-blessings.com

http://sheshebows.blogspot.com

http://www.jennifergetts.blogspot.com

Strange, yet sad....

The blog world is strange....you read a blog for months or years and you get a "feel" for a person.  Good things happen, you cheer...bad things happen, and you are heartbroken.  Over the past few years, I've read a lot of blogs, a lot!  I love coming across blogs about things I am interested in...I love blogs with good decorators, I love blogs with sports loving southern girls, and I love blogs about infertility, well, not love, but it's interesting to read other's facing the same realities I am.
Along with many of you, I am a follower of Kelly's Korner, as a result of this, I started reading The Turner Channel.  I feel like I know all these girls, I've felt the sadness of trying for years to have a child, and I've rejoiced along with them when the miracle of seeing the dream become a reality.  When I was visiting Clint in Ft. Smith, I felt like I should jump on over to NW Arkansas and visit them!  Crazy, I know.
And, along with many of you, I was devastated on Sunday to learn of Julee's husbands accident and death.  I was sick to my stomach.  I am just sad that it happened and sad that such a sweet family is having to deal with such a tragedy.  Kelly had a great post today about dealing with hard things as Christians, it is beautiful and I plan to refer to it often over the coming days and weeks.

So friends, whether you know the Turner's or not, please blanket them with prayer this week.....

Basketball

Friday night we had a little FUNdraiser at the gym to raise some money for the high school boys basketball team. It was a boys alumni basketball game. Clint graduated in 1993 and there were 3 from his team that came back to play, that's almost 20 years ago! There was only 1 player older than them. It was hilarious to watch! They actually played well for a bunch of "old guys", Clint's team scored 100 points! Several retired teachers came to watch also, it was a fun successful night! Reese and I manned the t-shirt booth and Kirsten
helped us!

Reese looked really excited, huh?  I so hope she likes to play basketball someday! 

Clint hopes she'll play on the same court as her him someday, as for me, my alma mater is 10 miles down the road...I'd love to see her be a Lady Bear like her Mama and Aunt Tina!

3 months old

*I started this post on her 3 month birthday, but am just now getting it posted!  Haha


Reese!  You are 3 months old!  How can it be?  This month proved to be just like the other two, you consistently learned new things and have changed Mommy and Daddy's life for the better!  You are growing like a weed!

You weigh 14 pounds and 8 ounces!  Your auntie Pam weighed you at her office one day when she kept you.  You have definately grown in length, we will know for sure in October at your 4 month check-up.

You are nursing like a champ still...in a few weeks we are going to start giving you cereal from a spoon.  You take a bottle before bed with cereal mixed in.  We have a whole bedtime routine that allows you to calm down from the day.  Mommy enjoys it too!  It's a warm bath, which you LOVE!  You kick the water so cute when you are in the water.  Then we lay on Mommy's bed and get lathered up with baby lotion (which makes me want to eat you up! I love the smell of a clean baby all lotioned up!)  Then we put on comfy jammies and go to the rocking chair and have our warm bottle.  You are usually soooo sleepy by this point, but I rock you with your blanket until you fall good and asleep.  Then I lay you down and say a prayer over you....we are so thankful for you!

You are in a size 2 diaper....we like Huggies and Pampers!  You have been known to have a few "accidents".  I don't think there's a diaper big enough for some of your "bowel habits"!   You are quite the gassy girl!  You have to work on manners in this category!  Haha

You are in size 3-6 months clothes...there's a lot of stuff we've moved up to 6 month but you can still wear quite a bit of the 3 month stuff.

You still sleep in your Pack n Play beside my bed.  I love having you close to me at night.  You sleep through the night most nights.  I can't complain at all about your sleep habits!  You've done well since you were born.  You usually take a good morning nap and a good afternoon nap.  Sometimes it 30 minutes, sometimes 2 hours!

You love your "sooby" still, but not as much now that you've found your fingers!  We still do not leave home without it!!

Your tummy time is still something you don't like.  You are doing so good with it though.  You love the bouncy seat too, but you're not fond of the swing because is doesn't let you set up enough.  You like to be up and looking around!

Mommy went back to work this month and you stay with your Granni and Pepaw!  I'm not sure who is more in love with who!  Pepaw comes over and picks you up about 6:30 a.m. before he goes to feed the cows.  Granni loves on you all day and you play and play over there with lots of new toys.  You are doing super eating from a bottle and napping.  I am so lucky that they keep you and you don't have to go to daycare.

Reesie, you continue to amaze me daily.  We fall deeper and deeper in love with you each day.  I am so blessed that God is letting me be your Mommy!  You are definately the light of my life.  I just pray each day for your health and happiness and that you will always know you are God's child and that you will develop a love for your Savior and a desire to serve Him.

Mommy loves you!

Pinterest tested, People approved!

The Red Velvet Poke cake was a hit!  and so easy to make.

You start out with a Red velvet cake mix, made according to box instructions.  After taking it out of the oven, poke holes with the end of a wooden spoon (you want pretty big holes).  Mix up two boxes of cheesecake instant pudding, pour IMMEDIATELY over cake, don't let it set up or it won't soak into cake.  I spread the pudding out a little with a spoon.  Refridgerate at least 2 hours.  Cover with 8 oz. carton of cool whip before serving.  You can crush 10 oreos and sprinkle on top also, but I didn't do this because they would get soggy before serving.  I crushed the cookies and had them in a bowl beside the cake to sprinkle on it you wanted.

I've read on Pinterest about several differnt options with this cake..I'm definately going to try the banana pudding version!

The "Pinterest test"

We are going to some friends house tonight for an "August birthdays" dinner.  We are grilling steaks, so I searched Pinterest for some "steakhouse style" recipes since I was bringing a side and a dessert.  For the side, I chose "Cheesy Corn Casserole" and the dessert is "Red Velvet Poke Cake."

**Photos courtesy of Pinterest**

I'll let ya know the verdict of the "taste test."  Happy Saturday!!!

2 months!

Reese Pierce!  You are 2 months old!  I can't believe it's been that long!  I am thankful everyday that God chose me to be your mommy!  I am the luckiest girl in the world!  You are the light of mine and Daddy's life and we look forward to every second with you!

You now weigh 12 pounds and 8 ounces!  You've gained almost 4 pounds since you were born!

You are 23" long!  A full 2" you've grown!  Mommy is still holding out for a basketball player!  But I'd take a long jumper or high jumper!!!  You know, we watched a lot of the Olympics this summer!!

You are in the 80th percentile in height and weight and the 95th on head circumfrence!  Again, I'm thankful for a c-section!  Haha

You are still doing great with nursing!  I have started giving you a warm bottle with some rice right before bedtime!  I also give you a couple of bottles during the day to help you transition for your daily feedings since I'm headed back to work soon!  I think you are doing better than I am with that!  I just fell in love with nursing and love the closeness we get during that time!  You seem to enjoy when I talk to you and rub your head!!   You are eating about every 3.5 hours during the day and 4-6 hours at night!  I pinch myself sometime because you are so good!

You wear a size 1 diaper still....a few more pounds and we will be going to the 2's.

You wear mostly 3 month size clothes...again, a few more pounds and we'll be moving on to the next size!

You still sleep in your pack and play next to my bed.  You do nap in your crib in the nursery but having you in my room at night gives me a piece of mind because I wake up and look at you at least 5 times a night.  It's pretty easy to scoop you out of it and nurse during the night too!  Eventually, you will sleep in your crib, but I don't know when that will be!  You take about 2 good naps a day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.  You "cat nap" after each feeding for 15-20 minutes.

We still love "sooby", the bouncy seat and the boppy.  You have gotten where you sit in the boppy beside me on the couch if I am sewing or pumping!  You look so grown up when you do it!

We do tummy time several times a day.  You are doing super good with that!  Your head control has always amazed me, even when you were a newborn!  Dr. Gibbs says you are right on track with your head control!

You learned your first "trick" with your Daddy.  He holds you real close to his face and sticks out his tongue and makes a smacking noise and you laugh and stick your tongue out back at him!!  You are so cute when you do this and we clap and cheer for you, you just smile!  Sometimes I think you are probably thinking, "look at these crazy people, I have them right where I want them."

You took your first "vacation" this month!  We went with Daddy to Arkansas where he was working for a week.  You were a champ!  You slept so good while we were gone.  Ate and napped well too!  It seemed as if you were made to travel!  Daddy enjoyed showing you off to all the men he works with!  They fell for you too!!  I don't know how such a little girl can cast a spell over SO many people!!!

Reese, you will someday know how much I love you!!  I tell you a hundred times a day how special you are!  I am in complete amazement of you on a daily basis and just sit and stare at you!  I can't believe you are mine!!  You are such a delite to the WHOLE family, we all turn to complete idiots when you are around!!!  We love you so much!!!

Reese is 1 month old!!

Sweet Reese! You are 1 month old!! Me and Daddy (along with everyone else!) can't believe it's been a whole month since you were born!! You have been an absolute joy to have in our home! I can't imagine my life without you. You are a miracle from God and we thank him everyday for you!!

* At birth you weighed 8 pounds and 13 ounces....after 1 month you are 10 pounds and 14 ounces!! Dr. Gibbs is very pleased with your growth.

* You are now 22" long! You've grown 1 inch this month! Mommy is very excited about this and hopeful that you are going to be tall like Daddy! Crossing my fingers for a basketball star!

* You are in the 90th percentile on height, weight, and head circumference. Again, Dr. Gibbs said you were perfect!

* You have beautiful skin, everyone talks about your complexion and how pretty it is..again, you got it from Daddy! Mommy is happy about this too, glad you didn't get my pasty white skin!

* You are totally breast fed right now. We had to give you formula for 3 feedings when you were 10 days old. Mommy had a kidney stone and was on high doses of pain meds for about 24 hours. You were a champ and took the bottle then went right back to the breast when I was ready! I was so proud of you! You love to eat! You eat daily every 2-2.5 hours and 3-4 hours at night. I am amazed at how easy it has been. I was nervous about breastfeeding but you took to it right away and made it super easy on Mommy. I love the bond we have from the feedings, even in the middle of the night, I talk to you while you eat and you just coo like you know what I am saying. You seem to be so satisfied after a feeding and you make the funniest faces when you are full. You are hard to burp, and it takes about 15 minutes before I can lay you down so you don't reflux.

* You wear a size 1 diaper, we tried to use newborn diapers when you came home from the hospital but it was only a couple of days before we switched to one's.

* You wear mostly 3 months clothes...you have a few things that are 0-3 that you can wear.

* You sleep beside our bed in a bassinet. You have slept with us several times but you are so hot natured...with the heavy cover, you just don't sleep well. Your bassinet has a little light on it and I can see you all night long! Daddy and I sleep well too. We are very proud of you for sleeping good. You nap daily several times but are starting to stay awake more and more.

* You are a very content baby. You have a "sooby" (pacifier) that we use to soothe you and get you to sleep then you spit it out. I can usually soothe you by stroking your cheek or rubbing your back. You love to snuggle too!

* You love your bouncy seat and swing. You are really good to sit it either while Mommy does laundry or the dishes or showers!

*You have great head control for an infant!  We do tummy time for 3-5 minutes everyday!  Dr. Gibbs said you are advanced in that area, similar to a 2 month old.

*You love taking a bath!  We just sponged you off until your cord fell off, but once we put you in your baby tub, you were in love!  You don't make a peep while bathing!  That's something you take after me!!  I love bubble baths!

*You went on your first all day shopping trip with Granni Pat and I.  You did fantastic!  You never got fussy until you were hungry!  We look forward to many more shopping sprees ahead!

*You were dedicated at church this past Sunday...it was beautiful!  Bro. Steve Buchanan did a wonderful job!  You were given a little pink Bible and a little stuffed lamb.  Its our prayer that you grow into a lovely young lady with a desire to serve the Lord and love Him.

Reese, one day you will realize what a miracle you really are!  Daddy and I could not be happier!  We just set and look at you!  You are so beautiful!  We can't believe you are really ours!  We can't wait to watch you grow each month!

She's here!!

Kodi Reese Pierce

8 lb 13 oz

21" long

8:02 a.m.

June 12, 2012