Congratulations Papa!!

After his job working for a friend fell through, Darren has scored his first big job in the software industry. He's been working hard all day in front of a computer screen for about 10 days now. He only has a 10 mile south commute which is great. We are here in this area permanently now, and we are both very happy! His team leader is impressed with his software writing skills and abilities. Sabrina and I are impressed with how well he loves and takes care us!! Your girls love you, Papa!!

Another Week Goes By...

Six Months Old

Head held high!
She used to look tiny in this swing...as soon as she can sit up the swing is history!! But she still enjoys it as of right now.
Chewing on her favorite toy, colorful plastic keys, while keeping an eye on Mama making dinner.
She looks delirious with happiness! I love this shirt! And the bow from Aunt Erin.this has been my view daily for the last several months as I've fed our little peanut.

My squirmy girl.
If you look close you'll see her pacifier says "princess."
Good morning, Merry Sunshine!
Hahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!
Where have the last 6 months gone?! Time vanishes like "smoke through a keyhole" as quoted by Jack Nicholson's character in The Bucket List, a movie Darren and I saw on Saturday. All I can say is thank goodness for cameras, camcorders, pictures, and most of all memories. I hope she won't mind me mauling her with kisses when she's eight...and eighteen!! But seriously, I've grown more as a person in the last 6 months than at any other time in my entire life. I love being a mom to this little girl. I am so grateful to be a mother. I've never been happier and I'm so grateful for my wonderful little family. I am one lucky lady!!

First Feeding

What I Wish I'd Known About Feeding a Baby Solids That No One Told Me: It is SOOO messy!! In this picture, Sabrina is having rice cereal for the first time and she loved it. She still does, and now she also LOVES carrots. I can't seem to feed her fast enough! Tomorrow she'll try green beans for the first time. More messy faced feeding pictures to come!

Sabrina's First Christmas

Sabrina with her dolly dressed in a Santa dress, just like her. A perfect gift from Grandpa John and Nana in Louisiana.
Uncle Garth is the photographer, and he is great at getting Sabrina to laugh.
Momma and Sabrina on Christmas Day.
It's been a tradition for Darren and I to drive by this house each Christmastime. We've been together for 5 Christmases, and this year's is our favorite window out of all of them-especially since Darren LOVES golf. This is the living room of this family. Who knows how they got that golf cart in their living room!
Sporting her new jammies from Aunt Rachael.

Had to show off the awesome stocking my mom made for Sabrina. Darren and I have similar ones made by her.
Sabrina with her loot.
Our humble fake Christmas tree. We'll definitely get a big real one when we are in a house, but this one fits nicely in our condo.
The Collins Family with our big gifts--a food processor and air bake cookie sheets. Plus a ball popper and outfits for Sabrina.
A White Christmas at Grandma Elaine and Uncle's Brad's house, where we spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Mama Quotes

Some of my favorite quotes about being a mom...

You are the trip I did not take; You are the pearls I cannot buy; You are my blue Italian lake; You are my piece of foreign sky. (“To My Child,” quoted in Charles L. Wallis, ed., The Treasure Chest [1965], 54)

Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.” Elizabeth Stone