And... Away she goes

OK had her 9 month checkup earlier this month(weighing in at 17lbs 1 oz). The doctor asked if we had any concerns and my only concern was that she wasn't crawling and all of the kids her age were. The doctor told us that it was totally normal and some kids never crawl, the go straight to walking. Within a few days she took off and hasn't stopped yet. Now she is getting into everything and pulling up on the couch. I can't believe how time flies. Make sure to treasure all of the moments all of you new moms out there. Check-out this footage. We are so proud of her. The doctors were scared she wouldn't develop on track but she has. She is definitely our little miracle.

Christmas Fun

Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your friends. Okay, here's what you're supposed to do, and try not to be a SCROOGE!!! Just copy this entire post and paste it into your own post. Change all the answers so that they apply to you. Then tag someone else!If you haven't already done this, consider yourself tagged!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper

2. Real or artificial tree? Artificial trees aren't as messy. We never had a real tree growing up, maybe one day we will let OK pick one out.

3. When do you put up the tree? Black Friday

4. When do you take the tree down? New Years Eve or New Years Day

5. Do you like eggnog? Never had it before

6. Favorite gift received as a child? I got a ruby birthstone ring that I still have.

7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, my Willow Tree Nativity was completed this year by my dear husband and I keep it out all year.

8. Hardest person to buy for? CTW's family

9. The easiest to buy for? William

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I can't think of one

11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? I guess Charlie Brown's Christmas or Rudolph

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I start as soon as I receive lists.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yep

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? My mom's dressing

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear/white

17. Favorite Christmas song? What Child is This?

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? We travel to both parents house. CTW's family on Christmas Eve, my family on Christmas Day

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? dasher,dancer,prancer,vixen,comet,cupid,donner,blitzen,RUDOLPH

20. What's on the tree top? A plaid Bow

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning? Christmas Day

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Trying to accomodate both families

23. Do you decorate your tree in any specific theme or color? No

24. What do/did you leave for Santa? Cookies and milk

25. What were any traditions you had growing up? Christmas Eve at Mema and Pepa's house, then we would go to MawMaw Dillard's for more gift exchanging with my Mom's family. Christmas Day was spent at Nannie and Papa's. My dad's whole family came in from all over the country. We would have the annual Carolina's vs Texas football game in the field by my house. Then we would open gifts and the adults would play cards until late. Usually the kids played with our new toys or watched Christmas movies. We had so much fun.

Update

Okay, so I am a blog slacker. Sorry that it has taken me so long to post. Things have been a little crazy lately as most of you know.

CTW lost his grandfather earlier this month. A few days later I left my job due to some issues. CTW has been working like a mad man to make up for time he missed when OK was born. OK is still battling an ear infection and Christmas activities have taken over our life.

I am hoping that now that Christmas has come and gone, that things will slow down a little. I am busy adjusting to being home(but loving every minute). CTW is adjusting to me being home as well. Please pray for us as we make these adjustments. I hope to post a few more entries in the next couple of days. OK has conquered some new milestones and of course there are tons of pictures from Christmas.

We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and are looking forward to the New Year!!

Leaves, Leaves, Everywhere

One thing that I love and hate about fall is the leaves. When Chad and I were looking for a house, we wanted a neighborhood with trees. Little did we know that we would have the cutest house with the most leaves in the neighborhood. Check out a few pictures of our yard.

I'm a Big Girl Now

Since Mommy is such a blog slacker, I have picked up where she left off. Look how grown-up I am. Standing on the outside of the exersaucer is my favorite thing these days.

I Know Where that Piece Goes

While Mommy was sick, Grandma, Aunt K, and CPW came over to take care of me(Daddy had to work late). CPW started putting puzzles together and got destracted by her favorite purple dinosaur, so I decided to help Grandma finish the the puzzle. Mommy was so proud of my accomplishment. She thinks that I am the smartest girl around.

My First Cracker

A few weeks ago Mommy had the stomach flu, so Daddy brought home some saltines and guess what, they gave me one. Once I figured out that I could eat it, yummy. Check out these lovely pictures. How could you not love that face.

Look What I Found

Fall Fun

So, it finally feels like fall outside. I can't believe how much it has cooled off outside. I am so excited to see OK enjoy the change of season. She absolutely loves to be outside and Wed before trick and treating began we had a photo shoot outside. She discovered the pumpkins and the leaves. She loved every minute of the cooler weather and the changing colors. Having a little one is such a blessing and the blessing is more evident when she looks up at you with such amazement in her eyes.

Fall Festival and Halloween

Sunday was our church's fall festival. We had a great time. KCW and CPW came and went with us. Daddy was even able to make it after a crazy week of work. Our church goes all out with fun blow-up obstacle courses and slides, a train ride, great carnival food and wonderful Christian fellowship. We got to visit with a lot of friends that we don't get to see every Sunday since I work in the Nursery. OK slept through most of the events, but CPW got to really enjoy everything.
Halloween also has special meaning to us because 29 years ago Uncle J was born. We love him so much and are so glad that we got to enjoy some time with him during his Birthday week.
On Wed we celebrated Halloween by having Grandma, Papa, Aunt K, and CPW over for dinner and some trick and treating. We had so much fun!! We hope you and your family enjoyed the fun of Halloween,

WJC

CTW and I have been in WJC's life since hours after he was born. Oh, How I love this little boy(we are kinda fond of his parents and grandparents too)! He melts my heart with those big brown eyes. He has had hold of my heart since the first moment I saw him. As he has grown, I have watched his huge personality develop. He is one of the funniest kids I know. I would like to take a little credit into making him who he is, but he has two wonderful parents that have taught him all of the basics. I can remember the first time he said lawnmo(lawnmower) and when CTW taught him Mamacita(excuse the spelling). I cried while walking in the mall when he turned to me and said BeBe. He is one incredible little boy. He helped lay the foundation that I use as I care for OKW. Thanks to his mommy for all of the advice and prayers.

When we told him that I was pregnant, he was so excited about the baby in my tummy. He told us all along that it would be a girl. I do think I remember him saying that her name would be Fred though. I hope that he will be the big brother that OKW will never have. I hope he watches over her and protects her from the bullies. He is a little bit older so he may just think that she is dumb, but I hope he has a special place in his heart for her. Growing up one of my best friends was a boy and he took care of me.

I look forward to being around for the next 50 years of his life. I can't wait to see him give his life to Christ. I can imagine him playing baseball for RHS. I see him driving a car similar to his mom's 'Fritz'. I see him dating and going to his first prom. I hope to be front and center at his wedding(when he's 30). There are so many wonderful things in front of him.

We love him and his family so much. Attached is a picture of OKW and him at his house. He loves to make her laugh and just recently started to want to hold her. She follows him around the room with her eyes and waits anxiously for him to return when he runs out of the room. What admiration already.

Congratulations to the Crenshaws

Several months ago, one of my best friends from college called to let me know that they were expecting their second child. They have a beautiful daughter and I think their being around OK made them want another. CC is one of those friends that will be there always. We can go weeks without talking and pick right up where we left off. She is an amazing mother, wife, and friend. So now that I am crying, they called a couple of weeks ago to let us know that their new little bundle of joy will be a "HE"(no name decided on yet). She sent me the ultrasound picture of his beautiful profile and okayed it for me to blog about it. Congratulations, I can't wait to meet this little man. We love you guys!!!

Who My Child Looks Like

To all of those who think that OK looks exactly like Chad. She does have a little of me. Thanks to K for the cute website.

Laughter

Oh, how I love that sound. CTW and I were playing with OK in the floor the other day and throwing the ball in the air. She was loving every minute of it. Praise God that she is here with us today. The smile on her face melts my heart. There could have been so many things wrong with her early entrance into the world. I hope you enjoy the clip of her laughing her heart out. I can't believe she is 7 months old already.

Kiawah Island

CTW's best friend from high school works at Turtle Point Golf Course on Kiawah Island. He invited us down to visit a month ago. We invited a couple of friends to go with us for a couple of days. We drove to Columbia on Thursday night and stayed with AP's parents. The Beasleys are great and we were so glad to spend time with them. They were able to get some grandparent practice with OK. I think they will have lots of love to give the twins scheduled to arrive in 2008. Friday we headed down to Kiawah. CTW, GP, and BB played golf while AP, OK, and I shopped in downtown Charleston. We all met up and ate Pizza with BB and his wife KB. This was the first time that BB and KB had met OK. I almost cried!! Go figure!

Saturday morning we got up and ate Breakfast and then went to the Beach. After the Beach we went to the room and took a nap. After our nap, we ventured downtown and ate at AP and GP's favorite restaurant, Hyman's. It was so yummy. Then we drove down to the battery and walked around a little.

Sunday morning CTW and GP got up and went to play golf again. AP, OK, and I spent the day by the pool. We went back to the room a little while later and got ready to leave. After spending some time walking around the golf course and having a photo shoot we headed home. BB has told us about a huge oak tree that was close by so we stopped and took a look. It was huge. I have never seen anything like it.

We stopped in Columbia to pick up Lucy(AP and GP's dog) and continued the rest of the way home. We had such a wonderful time and it was great to spend some time with our new friends. We hope to get to go back soon and take some of our other friends with us as well.

A Nun and Her Student

My sister passed this along to me and I thought it was hilarious. I thought I would share with everyone. It gave me a good laugh and it made me stop and think about how things can get jumbled up so easily.

Imagine yourself to be the nun that is sitting at her desk grading these papers all the while trying to keep a straight face and maintain her composure !

PAYSPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE WORDING AND SPELLING. IF YOU ARE EVEN REMOTELY FAMILIAR WITH HOLY SCRIPTURE, YOU'LL FIND THIS HILARIOUS.
IT COMES FROM A ROMAN CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEST. KIDS WERE ASKED QUESTIONSABOUT THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS ABOUT THE BIBLE WERE WRITTEN BY CHILDREN. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN RETOUCHED OR CORRECTED. INCORRECT SPELLING HAS BEEN LEFT IN.


1. IN THE FIRST BOOK OF THE BIBLE, GUINESSIS. GOD GOT TIRED OF CREATING THE WORLD SO HE TOOK THE SABBATH OFF.

2. ADAM AND EVE WERE CREATED FROM AN APPLE TREE. NOAH'S WIFE WAS JOAN OF ARK. NOAH BUILT AND ARK AND THE ANIMALS CAME ON IN PEARS.

3. LOTS WIFE WAS A PILLAR OF SALT DURING THE DAY, BUT A BALL OF FIRE DURINGTHE NIGHT.

4. THE JEWS WERE A PROUD PEOPLE AND THROUGHOUT HISTORY THEY HAD TROUBLE WITH UNSYMPATHETIC GENITALS.

5. SAMPSON WAS A STRONGMAN WHO LET HIMSELF BE LED ASTRAY BY A JEZEBEL LIKE DELILAH.

6. SAMSON SLAYED THE PHILISTINES WITH THE AXE OF THE APOSTLES.

7. MOSES LED THE JEWS TO THE RED SEA WHERE THEY MADE UNLEAVENED BREAD, WHICH IS BREAD WITHOUT ANY INGREDIENTS .

8. THE EGYPTIANS WERE ALL DROWNED IN THE DESSERT. AFTERWARDS, MOSES WENT UP TO MOUNT CYANIDE TO GET THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.

9. THE FIRST COMMANDMENTS WAS WHEN EVE TOLD ADAM TO EAT THE APPLE.

10. THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT IS THOU SHALT NOT ADMIT ADULTERY.

11. MOSES DIED BEFORE HE EVER REACHED CANADA . THEN JOSHUA LED THE HEBREWS IN THE BATTLE OF GERITOL.

12. THE GREATEST MIRICLE IN THE BIBLE IS WHEN JOSHUA TOLD HIS SON TO STAND STILL AND HE OBEYED HIM.

13. DAVID WAS A HEBREW KING WHO WAS SKILLED AT PLAYING THE LIAR. HE FOUGHT THE FINKELSTEINS, A RACE OF PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN BIBLICAL TIMES.

14. SOLOMON, ONE OF DAVIDS SONS, HAD 300 WIVES AND 700 PORCUPINES.

15. WHEN MARY HEARD SHE WAS THE MOTHER OF JESUS, SHE SANG THE MAGNA CARTA.

16. WHEN THE THREE WISE GUYS FROM THE EAST SIDE ARRIVED THEY FOUND JESUS IN THE MANAGER.

17. JESUS WAS BORN BECAUSE MARY HAD AN IMMACULATE CONTRAPTION.

18. ST. JOHN THE BLACKSMITH DUMPED WATER ON HIS HEAD.

19. JESUS ENUNCIATED THE GOLDEN RULE, WHICH SAYS TO DO UNTO OTHERS BEFORE THEY DO ONE TO YOU. HE ALSO EXPLAINED A MAN DOTH NOT LIVE BY SWEAT ALONE.

20. IT WAS A MIRICLE WHEN JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD AND MANAGED TO GET THE TOMBSTONE OFF THE ENTRANCE.

21. THE PEOPLE WHO FOLLOWED THE LORD WERE CALLED THE 12 DECIBELS.

22. THE EPISTELS WERE THE WIVES OF THE APOSTLES.

23. ONE OF THE OPPOSSUMS WAS ST. MATTHEW WHO WAS ALSO A TAXIMAN.

24. ST. PAUL CAVORTED TO CHRISTIANITY, HE PREACHED HOLY ACRIMONY WHICH IS ANOTHER NAME FOR MARRAIGE.

25. CHRISTIANS HAVE ONLY ONE SPOUSE . THIS IS CALLED MONOTONY.

We're Rolling

A couple of months ago, OK finally decided to become mobile. Check out this fun shot of her rolling over. (Forgive me, I have had a hard time trying to figure out how to upload a video.)

Family Photos

Tonight my whole family got together to take our first full family photo. We all dressed in white and denim. We had such a great time. Portrait Innovations is our favorite spot to take pictures because we get to take the pictures home with us the same day. Here are a couple of shots of the fam. We also took OK's 6 month picture.

4 Amazing Years

Yesterday CTW and I celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary(We have been together a total of 8 years). I can't believe that it has been 4 years since we said I do. We both had to work yesterday, but CTW did a great job of making it special with flowers waiting on me when I got home and tickets to see Beauty and the Beast. We celebrated by going to dinner at High Cotton downtown just the two of us(thanks A & G for watching OKW for us). We had a great time. They seated us in a private dining room and gave us free dessert. The meal was so yummy. Afterwards we went for a stroll downtown. They were having an outdoor concert that we stopped and listened to. Downtown Greenville is so beautiful and has definitely improved since I was a little girl. We had such a great time.

We discussed everything that we have gone through in what seems like the shortest 4 years. We couldn't believe everything that has happened. Here are just a few of the things that we mentioned. I have lost two family members. We bought a house. Chad's dad, grandfather, and grandmother have had major trials with health issues. I lost my job. We found a wonderful church to worship in with wonderful friends. Our best friends lost two babies. My sister got divorced and then brought our wonderful neice into the world. My parents have been to Hawaii for their second trip. We have visited San Francisco, Orlando, Asheville, and Jamaica. The highlight of our four years of married life has to be the birth of our daughter. We can not even begin to express the love for her and the change in our love for each other that she brought. Thanks CTW for giving me the best gift you could ever give. Our love has deepened so much over the last 4 years. It is hard to imagine that it will continue to grow. We hope we have a 100 more anniversaries to celebrate. I love you CTW and can't wait to see where life takes us from here.

6 months continued....

OKW went to the doctor for her 6 month check-up on Tuesday. She weighs 13 lbs 14 ozs and is 24 1/2 inches long. She definitely has grown a lot since she was born. She has gained almost 10 lbs and 6 1/2 inches. I can't believe how fast it has gone by and how much she has developed. The doctor says that she is advanced in her development. He was definitely pleased. He switched her off of the crazy expensive formula. She got 4 shots(ew!!) that I have to say LR did a great job of administering. She ran a fever all day Wed, which was stressful but wonderful because all she wanted to do was cuddle. Thanks to all of our friends for the prayers and keep them coming. It is so scary being a parent and I didn't have the best start at it.

Six Months

Today is OK's 6 month birthday. Can you believe it has been 6 months? The time has really flown by. She has grown so much and has been such a blessing. She has tripled in size. We can't wait to see what the next 6 months hold. OK on 2\27\07

OK on 8/27/07

Serving

Since Bible Study is starting up soon, I decided that I needed to find somewhere to serve within the church. So I have signed up to work in the preschool area on Sunday mornings. When OK came along, CTW and I got out of the habit of going to church on Sunday mornings. At first we were too exhausted to eat, and then we just got into a habit of sleeping through service. Thanks to a couple of really good friends(who kept us accountable), we are finally getting back in the groove. God has been laying the responsibility of serving on me for a while now. I had thought about serving in the Preschool Music ministry, but Wed nights don't really work out for me. CTW and I worked in the Children's department on Wed night for the past two years and loved it, but we decided that it would be too much now with our addition to the family. I am so excited about working in the nursery, I requested the baby room because I love them so much and they definitely need workers. In our worship service alone, there were 10 babies dedicated and not to mention all of the pregnant or soon to be pregnant people in SS. I can't wait to love on those babies so their parents can go and worship without worrying about there not being enough people to love on their precious little ones. I am sad that I will be missing SS. We have kinda fell out of the loop of most things and their are so many new faces in there that I hate I won't see them every week, but isn't that what socials, Bible Study, and Dinner groups are for. Please pray for me as I start this new venture.

Future Furman Fan?

Sunday night B and J decided that W should give his much too tight Furman shirt a rest, so to show him that it was too little for him, we tried it on OK. I think that W really wants her to enjoy Furman Football, Baseball, Soccer, etc .. as much as he does. CTW is convinced that she is going to love sports(which she will not get from me). He says she loves to sit with him and watch sports and Sports Center(I think it is the constant movement that she watches), but these pictures are too cute for words.

Congratulations G & A

Recently two of our friends found out that they were expecting. A week ago they called to tell us that they are having twins!!! Can you believe it TWINS? Two babies to love, change, feed, and raise. How exciting and what a blessing. They will be the best parents. They are so comfortable around OK and they love her so much. It has been such a tough journey for them, but God is so faithful. We wish you the best of luck and we can't wait to love the two little miracles. Here is a picture of the happy couple with our little bundle of joy a few weeks after she was born.

Mr. G Changes A Diaper

After much persuasion, we convinced GP to change his very first diaper. He did such a wonderful job and both were smiling at the end.

Birthday Week Continued

I am so sorry it has taken me so long to update but things have been crazy at the Wells house. Birthday Week was great. CTW and OKW bought me a new camera. I am so excited because it has a whole lot of features I don't know how to use. I got a lot of happy wishes and some fun birthday cards. Thanks to everyone for the fun! I hope that my 27th year will be as great as my 26th. Here are a couple of pics from the celebration thrown for me by the Caskeys and Pierces.

Birthday Week

Birthday Week has officially begun!!! As most of you know I will be 27 next Tuesday, July 24th. Birthday week is something that we adopted from the Caskeys(thanks BAC). I like to think of it as a celebration of life(or maybe I just like to party). I kicked off my week by having lunch with some former co-workers. They are a great group of women and I miss working with them so much. The rest of the week consists of a few dinners to celebrate and a few quiet family nights. My 26th year will be hard to let go of since so much happened. OK had to be the highlight, but there were so many other things that happened: New friends, new family members, new love, new feelings, new struggles, loss, deaths, and so many more. I thank God for another year and for so much to celebrate as this year comes to an end and another begins.

Working

Being a working mom is really hard. I hate to leave OK in the morning and desperately want the day to go by so I can see her sweet face in the afternoon, but daycare has been good for her. I feel like she has become a little bit more independant. I wish that I could stay at home with her all the time, but unfortunately that doesn't work for our family. A friend sent me an email about buying bows(thanks AM), and little did she know that it was going to have so much meaning to me. At the bottom there was a verse that really convicted me since my attitude about working isn't the best. Colossians 3: 23-24 says,"Whatever I do, I must work at it with all my heart. I am working for the Lord, not for men. I know that I will receive an inheritance from the Lord as my reward. It is the Lord Christ I am serving." I guess God has me working for some reason other than financial stuff or he would open up the opportunity for me to stay home. I think he wanted me to see that no matter what I do in this life, stay at home, work, etc..I must do it to the Glory of God and realize my reward will come later on. His plans are so much better than ours anyway, which he has proven over and over again.

Beach Trip 2007

We went to the Beach June 25 through June 30. O.K. loved the water as long as we held her. She really enjoyed the pool. Mom and Dad got some much need rest under the umbrella and on the golf course. We managed to avoid getting sunburned, thanks to SPF 50. We went with my mom and dad, sister, and neice. We had a great time. CPW really enjoyed herself this year and loved going out into the ocean. Here are a few pictures from our trip.

So I Gave In to Peer Pressure

Who thought that I would finally create a blog? I finally gave in to the pressure from all the other bloggers I know. CTW says that I look like Doogie Howser as I type this post. How many of you remember Doogie ? I hope this site will help keep everyone updated as to what the Wells Family is doing these days. Mainly we change diapers and feed OK. I hope you enjoy.