Happy 1/2 Birthday!

Happy 1/2 Birthday Mollie!! You are officially 6 months old today, my precious:)

Thinking back on my childhood & some of the normal and abnormal (in a good way!) things I was a part of, most every memory brings a smile to my face. I had a GREAT childhood. One thing that has always been a part of my life are half birthdays...little did I know, this is apparently not the norm. Ha!

With my birthday being January 3, that makes my half birthday July 3- so needless to say around the time of the 4th of July, there is always a party going on! We'd most likely be at the beach (Gulf Shores, AL) and I'd have friends with me & we'd wear ourselves out swimming in the Gulf or pool. Mom would always make a special cake for my half birthday and it was just another sweet day each year to look forward to.

I guess sometimes you don't realize how those simple memories or traditions will seep into your own children, but funny how they do. And yes...you probably WILL turn into your mother at some point:) Lucky for me, I'd be honored.

So, now is the time to celebrate Mollie's first half birthday - cupcakes are on the menu I think! The fun part is that she & I can share our real birthday cakes with each other for their 1/2 birthdays since we're just 3 days different:) If she'll share...

Matt & I have been blessed these past 6 months with a sweet & healthy baby girl, who is just growing before our eyes! At times, I think I cannot wait until she grows up & she can do 'this or that' with me, and then times like last night where she is cuddled in my arms very ready for bed, not too big for me to just sit there & snuggle with her for a bit, I think- wait, I don't want to lose this!! As she rests her head on my shoulder, tousles my hair and touches my skin, I've never felt more content. I know these are the moments I'll miss so much once she grows up.

Can hardly believe we're half-way to 1 year..WOW! She's wonderful & we're blessed to call her ours!

Winter Wonderland

As we headed up to Beech Mountain, NC--about 30 minutes from Boone, we knew we'd get snow, but had no clue so much!! I haven't seen real snow (that sticks to the ground or accumulates) in ages and with it being Mollie's first Christmas, what an awesome memory we'll share:) It started to flutter Christmas Eve and then more & more...over 2ft in less than 3 days! It was awesome.

 Mollie's reach is totally there. The girl wants to reach for everything...and then put whatever it is directly in her mouth. So, unwrapping presents was fun, although she really just wanted to eat the paper. Sorry hun, no can do.

What did Santa bring me?!

Mollie of course was spoiled rotten playing with my sisters and being held all the time, but at the same time was much fussier than usual & her sleeping was horrible. Matt & I are chalking it up to altitude--Beech Mtn is the highest point on the Eastern coast! We also think the 6 month growth spurt could have started then too. She has been eating more frequently and sleeping less. Oh joy for all of us!We've officially deemed Molls a beach baby as opposed to a mountain baby. Overall, I hear ya sista!!

Totally helpless!

The Garrett's had one heck of a 2010 & hard to believe it's already 2011-WOW! Cheers to all of the wonderful people who make our lives so special and cheers to a happy & healthy new year!

Here's some more pics to see:) xoxo

Santa's on his way!

We've been having such a ball decorating for the holidays, shopping, listening to Christmas tunes & eating sweets...and Christmas isn't even here yet! I realized very early on in Mollie's life that I was going to be shopping for her more often than myself! Now with our first gift-giving holiday upon us, I realized that it's not just me. I have in turn given gifts based on Mollie to possibly everyone on both sides of our family. Example: Matt received a new stroller. I know what you all are thinking, 'a stroller?!' Oh joy. But he loved it, as I knew he would!! For the record, he also got other 'cool' stuff so don't poke fun at me. My sister Julie, told me I was lame..maybe so, but I've come to accept it, haha! Don't worry Julie, I didn't get you anything a stroller:)

I love my new stroller, too!

This past weekend we hosted Matt's parents (GiGi & Poppy) and did our Christmas with them. M could not get enough of their dog, Raleigh. She thought he was a hoot and just wanted to keep grabbing at the fur ball!

Not only do I purchase things to give based around Mollie, but we also receive! Not that I can think of anything I'd rather get than things for her, but it is pretty funny:) Although, maybe a nice spa day certificate thrown in for me is awesome- thank you Matt, you're the best! One gift from Matt says 'To: Leigh Ann' and inside is a Lands End tote with Mollie's initials. Another says 'From: Santa' and it's a steamer basket for making Mollie's food--actually that one was FROM Matt TO Matt, in reality! Sneaky..
GiGi & Poppy gave her a sweet new high chair seat, which we of course put to use that day. Special on the menu that day: Avocado--her new favorite! The girl ate 1/2 an avocado Saturday and the other 1/2 Sunday! Yummm I adore them too.

Lil bird

Matt, Mollie and I are all headed in the direction of Beech Mountain, NC (just outside of Boone) this Thursday. Mom, Dad & Jane have been there for a few days and Julie & Stephen are arriving today! They arrived with 4+ft of snow on the ground and it's not going anywhere. We can't wait...forecast is calling for snow mid-week and then big time on Friday. Yayyy for a White Christmas! We're keeping our fingers crossed & how cool for M's 1st Christmas!! I look forward to snuggling in with all of my favorite people, laughing, making memories and cooking yummy stuff.

Merry Christmas to you & your family. Have a blessed holiday and safe New Year!

A new world is born!

“Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.”  Anais Nin

As I opened my email this morning, I read this quote. On so many levels this was perfect timing. Our dear friends welcomed a new baby into their lives yesterday! Some might have thought maybe they would never have children & heck, they might have even thought that themselves. When Matt & I learned of their pregnancy we were, of course, beyond excited. Mollie wasn't even born yet, but we just knew that including a child into our lives would make a new world possible and we were so happy our great friends would share in that experience with us.

The Haskins have been such wonderful friends to both Matt & I over the past few years. I love that in due time, people meant to be together do find each other. Mike & Kendra met 'later' in life and have such an awesome, authentic relationship. They are best of friends and work well together in so many different circumstances. As wonderful as they are just the two of them, I truly believe that sweet baby Colin will take their love for each other to the next level.

The day Mollie was born, Matt & I looked at each other with a mix of emotions, mostly tearful smiles of pure happiness knowing our lives would forever be changed. We were so blessed to be given a perfect newborn baby girl and to be given the responsibility to be her parents.

As Kendra & Mike got to experience that first moment of pure love with their new baby yesterday, I cannot WAIT to see & hear about what's to come for them. Friends, it only gets better & your new world has just been born when Colin Michael Haskins arrived:) Congrats!!

It's December!

November sure did come and GO! We had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday in Myrtle Beach with us 3, Matt's parents, 1 brother, aunt & uncle, sister-in-law & 2 nieces..and a partridge in a pear tree:)

Mollie enjoyed her first turkey day and celebrated with some yummy sweet potatoes! As I told my co-workers earlier this week, I'm not sure Molls will meet a food she does NOT like. 2 for 2 so far and going strong!!

Who took my sweet 'tators away?!

 Matt created her first menu last night of roasted squash & zucchini. Think we'll try that this weekend!

Mollie also got to meet Santa last weekend!!! Luckily (as of now) we have no issues with friends, etc holding Mollie or her being weird about who she gets held by if not mom & dad, so that's good! We didn't quite know what she'd do with Santa, but her classic expression of 'What the &^%$' came to face...

My parents arrive in Charleston tomorrow & we cannot wait for them to see M and show off all of her new tricks! It's just insane how quickly babies learn things and these early months it almost seems like daily something new happens or changes. Tuesday the girl will already be 5 months!! Wowsa.

Lately she has been sleeping less & less-- Over Thanksgiving & now this week too, she wakes up multiple times in the night just talking or laughing even! It really is funny, but not necessarily after the 4th time..Matt went in there the other night about 4:30am and she just laughed at him. Literally laughed at him. We joked that Matt had to bust the after-hours party she had going on, although it was a party of ONE! I've heard babies have some sleep regression before a new skill or a tooth...so not sure what her poison will be, but momma is ready for some decent shut eye:)

Time to Reflect

"Don't pray when it rains, if you don't pray when the sun shines."  

As we get older, responsibilities change, as do our priorities. Thanksgiving is always a wonderful reminder to look back on the year and be grateful for all that we've been blessed with and the people in our lives, more importantly. Praying when things are good is not my strong suit. I've always been the one to lean on God and ask for help or strength when I need it, just bad with saying thanks for when I do actually have the answers!

As I've come to see with Mollie, material items sure do mean a whole lot less than being able to spend time with each other. I love that Matt is an awesome dad and looks forward to spending time with his wife & daughter. I think it's safe to say it might be his favorite thing to do. I for sure can say, spending time with those 2 people sure is MY favorite thing to do:)

2 years ago this week, I was sleeping on the floor of the ICU waiting room with my mom & sisters, watching my dad cling to life. I always knew my family was the core of my existence, but going through something so bad, sure can bring you closer to one another..as can sharing your Thanksgiving meal in a hospital cafeteria. No fancy serving ware. No cooking in the kitchen for days. No real holiday decor. We were just grateful to be with each other. We were grateful to be eating warm food and have chairs to sit on. We were grateful that our dad was going to make it at least one more day. Those simple joys in life that don't cost a dime will ALWAYS outshine anything that has a dollar value. Nothing will ever compare to those moments and honestly, I'm glad it happened over Thanksgiving to really let us see all that we have been given in this life, all that we've worked towards & then be the most humbled I've ever known.

This past year at Thanksgiving, my family & Matt's family were all gathered in Myrtle Beach. Dad was also still a living miracle at that time, too! Thanksgiving day, Matt and I had the great honor of announcing to our families the coming addition to our family, now affectionately known as Mollie:) Only then, we had no clue boy/girl or anything else-we hadn't even been to the doctor or seen an ultrasound! We had known for a couple weeks if I remember correctly, but we stayed hush hush about it until we knew they'd all be together. It was one exciting day that's for sure!

Here we are in 2010 & we'll actually be able to celebrate Mollie here with us & also feed her her first REAL food-yummy sweet potatoes! My dad is truly a miracle. He survived 3 major surgeries and 74 days in the hospital with doctors not knowing exactly what would come next.

Not only does Thanksgiving bring us the natural meaning of thanks, but it's also a nice reminder to not only pray when it rains, but also pray when the sun shines! Be thankful everyday of the year, not just Thanksgiving. Happy Thanksgiving to you & all the wonderful people in your lives!

Its easy to pray when times are tough...and just as easy to pray when life is good and say, "Thanks" :) ~compliments of my friend Alaina

Grub time!

I swear Mollie was born a foodie. First, she took her sweet time nursing...no rush, just wanted to savour every bit. Then, with a bottle she wants to chug it. If you take it from her and she is not done or you might by chance need to wipe her face a bit, she'll cry and/or squeal to let you know you better give that back to her ASAP. Don't mess with this chick at meal time.

Now, onto the food!! Matt and I had no clue what to expect when feeding her for the first time with a spoon. Would she open up? Would she eat/swallow it? Would she love it? YES to all of the above!!

She already wants to 'help'

She seriously opened her mouth and ate her rice cereal off the spoon with no hesitation--she did make a slight squirmy face when she first tasted the rice cereal, but it could not have gone smoother. She polished off her entire (little) bowl and just loved it!!!

So, we'll be on rice cereal for a little while, but Matt's dad 'Poppy' is going to fix her some sweet potatoes for Thanksgiving!! YUMMMMY! Haha, we cannot wait to see the look on her face when it's actually something delicious she's eating:)