Limes

After a very trying day (note toliet paper down hall way) I made fish
tacos and margaritas for dinner. Cib LOVES limes! This is him tearing
into his lime.

Big boy choices

I asked Cib what he would like to wear to go see Granny Nanny while
thumbed through his closet. I came out of his room and he announced,
"I ready Granny Nannys!" oh my!

Cib is sharing his snack with his trucks!

He says they like the chocolate cookies best!

A Tower of Two Mothers

Hi, My name is Amber and I have two mothers. I am not, as would unfortunately assumed these days, from a broken home. My parents are happily married, something that makes me proud each time I say it. No, I am not from a broken home but I do have two mothers. My mother, the one who gave birth to me some, um (with sigh) 30 years ago, is this woman. Isn't she beautiful?


She has always been there to listen to me, no matter how big or small the issue.


She taught me to smile, amongst many many other things. I believe that growing up with this smiling support has lent itself to my, generally, cheery disposition. And as a chain event the joy that I see in my sweet child daily.




She made me feel important. Each year as a child and well into adulthood she has made me a beautiful cake. Something I now understand, she stayed up late pouring over because it had to be perfect for her child. This has always made me feel like I am celebrated and loved.



This woman is my mother. Always there for me. Always loving me. Always wanting the best for me.

Almost two years ago I was afforded two blessings in the midst of a tragedy. I almost lost my mother. This is something that most people do not experience until they much older. While I would do anything to undo the effects of that day, it has changed my life in some positive ways along side loss. I sat in a waiting room and had an 'aha! moment'. My mother is my best girlfriend. She loves me and supports me uniquely. She is one of the most amazing people I have ever known. She is caring. She is talented. She is graceful. And I cant live my life without her! That day has helped me move forward in a newly appreciated relationship with my mother. I will strive to appreciate her each day, even if she doesn't always know it. There are days when I care for my own child and I think - wow! I am here loving this baby, in this way, partly because of the amazingly loving way my own mother raised me. Mom, I cant thank you enough!

The second blessing that showed up on September 12, 2008 was a new mother. A mother I had known for 6 years prior but didnt have the sight to acknowledge. Before that day I thought of her as my husband's mother. This woman is also MY mother:



The Lord graciously opened my eyes to her in a time of such uncertainty, such sorrow. It was like a miracle. Some how before that day, I felt anxious to have someone wanting in, watching over and photoing every step of my life. After all, I already had a mother who did all those things.

That day and almost every day since then the Lord has shown me that I can not only stand to have two mothers, but that my life is more full and complete having this new mother watch over me, comfort me, and photo every moment of it!
Nancy, my mother, I thank you for your love and dedication. You are my friend and I love you!

Happy Mother's Day to my Two incredible Mothers!

The Eyes of Texas....

Bluebonnets!

Here is a little sample of some photos Granny Nanny had taken of her two grandbabies - Cib and Caroline.

http://www.mdturnerphotography.com/darkroom/share/?client/Caroline_Et_Al_bb2010

You can click above the slide show to see all the images.

Saturday! Saturday! ...Saturday! Saturday!

Cib lovin on a mango

Thank You!

Wow! I wanted to let you all know how the Lord is using each of you to comfort Austin and I! All of your emails, calls, texts and cookies (my sweet Tashi) have meant so much to us.
It is so comforting to know we are not alone.

The Lord has really blessed me with peace. I pray that one day he presents us another opportunity to expand our family biologically and/or through adoption. Right now, I am concentrating on Cib. This process has really reminded what a miracle his life is! He was once a 'baby-cicle' as I call them. Frozen in a dish....and yet here he is....making each day brighter - if Austin and I were born 30 years earlier we wouldnt have had the option of IVF.
Thank you Lord for this reminder of your grace and glory made new to me every day!

Love each of you!!

Bad News

My pg test was negative. We are thankful this news comes at a time in our journey
when we already have a miracle- Cib. He lights up our life! If this last stretch of the journey was a completion of a race to get Cib I would do it all again. And again. And again.
Thank you all for your prayers and encouragement.

Waiting and more Waiting

My progestrone and estrogen levels continue to look great! So I am down to one shot, one cream and four patches - yea!

Cib has been spending time with Granny Nanny this week.

Here they are looking for bugs and blue bonnets:

Cib loves 'bugga buggas' and loves searching for them!

Reunited st last!

Cib had a wonderful time with Nana, Papa, papaw and Mamaw this week.
He is plum tuckered out.

Homeward bound!

We are headed to get Bits and should be home this afternoon.
Thank you to all my family who have been taking great care of Cib this
week!!

Thank you so much to our gracious hosts - Dale and Paige - for opening
your home to us and feeding us well!!

I am off of full bedrest but modified bedrest will continue until
Friday, when we have our first pg test. Granny Nanny is coming to help
with Cibbers for this second leg.

Continued Prayers are greatly appreciated. Specifically for good
hormone levels at our check this morning on the way out of town. If
progestrone looks good then I can replace one of my two daily hip
injections with a cream.

Let the cravings begin!

Yummy!! This box is full of our fav Dallas faijtas!!!

Austin all suited up

This is the outfit Austin had to wear to go into the transfer, sexy -
right? :)

Transfer

The transfer is over and Amber is resting. One of our littest ones
survived the thaw and is now resting in Amber doing what embryos do.
In the doctor's words the transfer was 'perfect'. He prescribed rest
and praying like crazy.

And we're off!

Headed to the hospital. Check in at 11 and transfer scheduled for
noon. We will be given an update when we arrive at the hosptial about
how the embryos look post thaw. Prayers for peace are appreciated.
Prayers for our little ones to have life and health! And prayers for
Cibbers- his sweet voice this morning reminded me of what a true
miracle he is!

Easter Video for Granny Nanny

Easter Sunday

Easter was a good and lazy day out in East Texas.
Cib is into all things Elmo these days so his Easter basket was and was filled with Elmo!

Thanks Granny Nanny for his ADORABLE Easter outfit!

Is it because he is mine, or is he not beautiful!?

I love this picture. It is one of the first times he has smiled for the camera.
I hope you all had a great Easter. He is Risen!!!

Easter Picnic

Saturday we spent outside enjoying this beautiful Spring weather and hunting Easter Eggs!

Nana and Aunt Trisha

Cib discovered that some of the eggs had chocolate gold fish inside - yum!

Cib laughed and smiled lots yesterday!

This is Cib telling the Ants, "No No Bugga Bugga" for biting him.

Playing 'Get you Get you' with Papa

Honey Fried Chicken - Yummy!

So blessed to enjoy a day with family and baby Bits!

Dying Easter Eggs with Nana

We dyed eggs with my mom on Friday.
At first Cib thought we were hurting the eggs.

Then as he saw them come out of the dye, he was shocked!

My mom explained the best you can to a 21 month old.

And I think he got it!

All in all it was one of those wonderment moments of childhood.

Playing Catch up

The last month I have not been good about emptying my camera and blogging. Here are some super fun times over the last month.

During Spring Break Natasha and I took the kids to the Children's Museum:

A tea party!

Aunt Tashi, Saige and Cib sliding.

Cib loves to ring the doorbell!

Isnt my baby looking like a big boy?!

Here is Rodeo 2010:

Every Cowboy needs his Lovey

These are his daddy's boots from when he was a little buckaroo!

Correction: All systems are go!

Retract. The nurse just called and she screwed up my calendar. I
should have started projestrone yesterday for a day 5 FET (my embryos
were frozen at day 5). My transfer is now on Thursday.
I could really use your prayers. I immediately lost it and went off on
the new nurse and now can't seem to stop crying. Ugh. I know we have
prayed for God to orchestrate every detail of this process and for
whatever reason He wants this done on Thursday. Please pray there have
been no other mistakes or oversights. That God will continue to remind
me that He alone gives life and is in complete control.
>

All Systems Are a Go!

We just left our doctors office and everything looks good! We are set
for this coming Tuesday.

Prayer requests: please pray that the begining of projestrone
injections will go well (these are done in my hip twice daily for two
weeks, then down to once daily) I still have some nerve damage from
last time so I am feeling a little nervous about this. Also prayers
for the dethawing process of our remaining two embryos. We will not
know if or how many made it through the process until we arrive at the
hospital. Finally please pray for our peace and patience over the
weekend and through the next two weeks as we await results. We pray
that we can focus on celebrating Easter and loving on Cibbers.

Off to Kingston!

Here is Cib chillin in holiday rush hour traffic as we try to leave
town. Kingston is what we called Dallas when we first moved there. It
sounded less scary to leave our home and friends to head to a magical
land named Kingston.