One Year

I have not been able to stop thinking about all the many things that have happened in our lives as a little family this past year.

Yesterday was Hannah Kate's 1st Birthday! Saturday is her party and I'll post another blog after that but before all the hoopla and celebrations, I've had some quiet moments to play a memory wheel in my head.

I was talking with Ryan about it just last night. About the day HK was born. And yesterday I kept looking at the clock and thinking back to where I was at that specific moment. Even now I still know I was in the hospital trying to settle down for the night... and I can't help but feeling the world is not right; that I get to look back at these precious memories in light of my family's recent loss.

God is so good to love on my family the way he has. And to be so present in Joe and Sara as they rejoice in my sister's pregnancy and Hannah Kate's first birthday. I love my family so much! And am always reminded why and how much I love them when we have to come together because of something terrible.
I see God in so many ways in the lives of my family and those around us. And I am blessed.

Hannah Kate is developing like crazy! She can walk now though she tends to choose to fall towards her target or crawl more than walk.
She LOVES the park and to swing and be outside. And much to Mommy's dismay, her favorite way to explore the world is to taste it! Sand, grass, leaves, dirt, whatever she can get a hold of goes in her mouth!

She is talking a lot more. She says "Mama" "Dada" "Bye-Bye" "Ba" (Bath) Makes lamb/goat noises and proclaims "Ta-da!" as well as imitates most sounds she hears.

Her hair is growing long and thick and curly! It's beautiful and she is getting better and better at sitting through her daily hair-do! :)

She has become VERY affectionate lately and I am just soaking it all up! She loves to give hugs and kisses and pats. She picked up on us patting her back to get her to sleep and to comfort her when she cries and when she is comforted enough she pats my back and giggles. She pats the dogs as she has noticed Ryan and I doing that but she hasn't quite made the connection that people don't like to be patted in the face. Even if you just can't reach their head or back!

I love my sweet baby girl, and cannot believe it has been a year since she was born. Time really does go by so fast! I'm trying to take it all in and not miss anything and I hope keeping up with this blog more frequently will help me do that.

Here's To Hannah Kathryn Anders! Now one year old!

Precious Baby Naomi

On February 7th we were gifted with a brand new baby niece. She entered this world in body only, her sweet little spirit already in heaven with Jesus.
My amazing Sister-in-law shares her story in her blog: Feels Like Home


There are so many questions in my mind to our great God and I know nobody really has those answers.
I have been blessed to see my family come together, lean on each other and grieve together.

My heart aches for my little niece and breaks for my brother and his precious family.
I wish there were words I could say, things I could do... but I know there is nothing.

The siblings created a small reflection area in Joe and Sara's back yard with my parents the other day. My brother Justin felt like the tree we needed in Naomi's honor should be an olive tree. I found the very last one in the area and it is perfect. Justin and Kim found a strong and handsome wrought iron bench and Bethany is working on a plaque for it.
I wish I would have taken a picture. It was beautiful.. It IS beautiful and peaceful just as intended. There is a little dove wind chime in the pot where the tree is that makes a sweet little tinkling song.

Justin had mentioned that Olive trees were full of meaning and symbolism and he was right. I did some research and Olive trees are full of hope, prosperity, faithfulness, light etc. And it's all very Biblical.
But the most symbolic, perfect little picture that I found the other day was straight from scripture.

Psalm 52:8 says:
"But I am like an olive tree, THRIVING in the House of God!
I will forever trust in God's unfailing love"

A Bible commentary I was reading even expounded in this way:
"I am safe and happy, notwithstanding the effort made by the enemy, the informer, to secure my destruction. I have been kept unharmed, like a green and flourishing tree, an olive tree protected in the very courts of the sanctuary, safe under the care and the eyes of God."

This brought me to many tears, feeling as though the words could have come from sweet Naomi. Reminding us that she was taken directly into the arms of Christ, spared completely from the imperfections and darkness that dwells in our world. Completely pure and untouched, unharmed, safe in the arms of our dear Savior.
I picture her there with Jesus. Giggling and smiling, loved even more than we can imagine.

My heart is still heavy as I know many others are as well and we still grieve in Naomi's absence but I am comforted to know that she is THRIVING like the olive tree in the presence of God in Heaven, though forever in our hearts here on earth.

A Quick Recap and Update!

I'm Back!

The Holidays were super busy and them life just got away from my so here is a brief recap!

Christmas in Houston:

We have a new Nephew! Matthew!

Ryan and I celebrated our Birthdays a few weekends ago!

And Hannah Kate is Almost ONE!

This last thing is just so crazy to me! We did same awesome art for her upcoming party this evening and I made a million little sunshine confettis! I'm about to order invitations and food (Yes you can do it that far in advance.) I have all the decorations and matching "Mommy and Me" outfits :) And I'll soon be prepping the house for My sweet Mother-in-law and sister-in-law to stay with us over that weekend. And tomorrow I think I'm going to attempt a birthday photo shoot with my little angel! :) She is SO active and constantly babbling these days. She is getting very good at parroting back similar sounds and words and just growing up so fast in so many ways.
I can't believe it's almost been a year!
Her gorgeous curly hair is starting to lay down and is still as bouncy and curly as ever! Just getting longer! I am thrilled! She is beautiful and just grows more lovely everyday. She is VERY social and quite the performer! She loves to get out of the house and show off all her tricks to whomever will pay attention in grocery stores and restaurants etc.

She is quite the little escape artist! Even buckled in as tightly as possible she can manage to wiggle around and stand up in grocery carts and restaurant high chairs and is even getting closer and closer to wiggling out of her highchair straps at home!
I just ordered a chair from Buy Buy Baby that secures to the table that I'm hoping will keep her contained long enough for meals. LOL
She explores by tasting things and LOVES food! Especially pizza, blue berries, and Greek yogurt!

Well, that's all I have time for right now. I'll get better at updating from now on. I want to be able to look back at all my blog posts as the moments with my precious daughter just seem to fly by!