Thanks (for) giving

Thanksgiving is really my favorite holiday and this year was no exception ! It's all about family, friends and food....really, what more could you want? This year, I really felt like it was a Thanks for giving......

Dad and I the oppportunity to be grandparents....Levi is a blessing to us and our family ! THANKS , Mel and Jason for GIVING our family this beautiful little boy to love and watch grow !
Our sweet Selena....THANKS for GIVING, Chad and all the rest of us, the opportunity to be together for the holiday. We missed you terribly, and are grateful for your love and understanding in the happiness Chads' being with us brought ! We are grateful for all you did to make it all happen.
Jason and Chad, THANKS for GIVING all of us a wonderfully, tasty turkey, cooked on a cold and very rainy day...you guys make quite the team !

THANKS for GIVING Levi, the opportunity to meet his Uncle Chad ! Chad, we're so thankful that you were able to be with us ! You are a wonderful Uncle, Levi loves you !!

And Oh my gosh.........a WONDERFUL THANKS for GIVING me and dad an incredible

surprise....... Our Murtaugh grandbaby will be born in June !!! We can't wait !!! Thank you

for the happiness and joy that your wonderful news has already brought to our lives. We look forward to watching your little family grow and being a part of your baby's life !!

Really, it was all about family, friends and food and we couldn't be more thankful !!

New Love

Seems like just yesterday......I was holding my own little Lovey, who is now a sweet little mommy to her own little Love ! Many years of holding my own little babies, watching them grow, learning many lessons along the way.....then the years of seeing them make their own way in the world and for me; trying to forge my own new path...have all led to this wonderful time in MY life as well as theirs! I see the contentment in her eyes...and remember so well,the feelings of just sheer happiness in holding a sweet new baby of my own ! I love this picture!! When I tell her how content she looks, she's quick to say, "This is all I've ever wanted" I can see that in her eyes and in her smile and in the way she looks at her sweet baby !!!The miracle of it all.... the anticipation, the working together as a team like never before.THe newness of every day. A little smile, the eye contact and the extra new little chin :)
The knowing, as a mom, that you are "growing" a healthy, happy child. That every day, you will be this childs' mommy and all the joys that come with that! Truly a dream come true !

A man to celebrate

A man to celebrate.....He was the FIRST born. An absolutely beautiful baby with big dimples, long eyelashes and so photogenic...but he was also the first baby, so we grew up together in a sense. I was so blessed, he grew so beautifully and was so sweet and loving ! Today, I see the man, and I once again, can't believe how incredibly lucky and blessed that I am, to have such a wonderful son !!!

He loves his family
He loves sharing with his family

He makes me proud to be his mom, today and every day !

He loves learning....from his dad, learning about fixing things . He loves his home

If there are children around, you'll find him playing, wrestling or just holding them on his lap...he loves kids and he loves his pets. He's kind, and loving...children are drawn to him.

What an incredible daddy he will make some day !

He is so many "things", but I'm so very very glad that he's my son ! A son that I adore and cherish and today I wish him the very best birthday and today I thank him for making me a mom

32 years ago ! I love you Chad, today and always !!!

Just can't help myself

I just can't help myself......everytime I see these pictures of Chad and Selena, I can't help but smile !! They are adorable ! I can't say which is my favorite picture....they're all beautiful to me.

Everytime I see pictures of these two, I think about how they met....and the coincidence that brought them together.

I give Selena so much credit for making such a big leap of faith....moving across country, leaving all that she had known, to be with Chad.

I LOVED (and still do) watching Chad grow into an incredible man, who could suddenly see his future; a wonderful future, knowing that beautiful and loving Selena wanted to be with HIM, and loved HIM ! Chad wanted to be everything he could be so that he could make a good life with Selena; to make her proud and to make her happy that she would be his wife.
I just can't help myself.... I LOVE that Selena is my sons' wife, and I LOVE that she loves our family and shares her wonderful family with us ! I LOVE that Chad is Selena husband because I know how much he loves and adores her. And I know how much we love and adore her too.

I just can't help myself....I LOVE that they have each other and that they have brought so much happiness to my life !! I just can't help myself....thinking of these two makes me smile !

So many "firsts"

In anyone and everyone's life, there are FIRST experiences that will stand out in your lifes' memory forever. Some of the FIRSTS that we experience are challenges, some FIRSTS are funny little experiences and then there are the FIRSTS that change us forever by giving our life direction, purpose and meaning.

Levi Andrew is now a month old..and although he's still very new to this life, he has given so many people new FIRSTS !!!

For Melissa and Jason, a chance to see their future in the eyes of their beautiful son ! A future

that will be measured in hugs, smiles, and lessons learned for them all !! Such timy hands that have captures us all !!

A FIRST family "date". Just everyday events are more fun, because they're done together!

Levi makes Melissa and Jason a family with so much to look forward to !

Traditions that have been a part of Jasons' family , now have even more meaning . Again, Melissa and Jason are experiencing a FIRST in Levi's traditions and many more as the years

go by.

Grandpa Rick and I experience being FIRST time Grandparents. A gift that we receive with all of our hearts !

Looking into a Grandchilds' eyes for the FIRST time.....Priceless !

Experiencing seeing our children become parents for the FIRST time and being able to share

the meaning of being a mother is something that my heart has been aching for....I've so missed my own mother for so many years and now I feel like my life has come full circle as I am so blessed to be able to share those "mom" moments with Melissa that have been missing in my life ! I can't explain the happiness and contentment that that gives me ! I love watching Melissa as she comforts her sweet baby Levi! She's a natural at mommyhood !!

A FIRST Halloween for Levi....

Being Levi's Grandmother with fun, cute Grandma Cheryl is wonderful !!!

FIRST walks with Levi.....I know that they will have many adventures to come.....How fun it will be to see this cute little family as they continue with many more FIRSTS !!

One of "THOSE" times

It's just one of those times, when I sit back and am amazed at all the goodness in my life !! First of all, I'm so grateful to have a mate to share all of this goodness with. Someone who has seen the worst in me, and still loves me; someone who knows that even in those "worst" parts of me, is a person worth loving :) !

There's the couple who have shown me new ways to grow, learn and become "whoever" you want to be.

The incredible friends who always make even the simplest of times, a special time, just because they share so eagerly and lovingly !

The couple who have taught me to never give up on what you're wanting ! Their persistence and support of one another always amazes me !!!

The beautiful little star in my life, who gives new meaning to the word LOVE....

It's just one of "those" times when I have to pinch myself to see if I'm dreaming.....

Just one of "those" times when I can't believe how very lucky I am !!!

Levi has "Landed"

Our precious little Levi Andrew, has arrived. He decided to check out of his "womb", (sorry, couldn't resist) a little early. Early as in about 5 weeks! Mom and dad arrived at the hospital after Melissa's water broke early Monday 10/11/2010. It's safe to say that Jason and Missy were much surprised as they hadn't planned on babys' arrival for some time yet. But they just

decided to go with the flow, change their plans somewhat and "get to work" getting this baby born ! The babys' early decision to arrive wasn't the only surprise. Is the baby a girl or a boy, was the other big question !! Jason and Missy did a lot of walking around the hospital to try and get labor moving along at a good pace. What a cute mom and dad !!
Surprise - the baby is a BOY ! And his name is Levi Andrew ! He arrived after a long day of waiting, contracting and waiting some more. Levi arrived at 1:23 a.m. on Tuesday, October 12, 2010. A forever special day in our lives !
Since Levi arrived early, he is in the Neo Natal Unit until he can be checked over and be approved to move on ! Not only are his parents such troopers, but Levi is as well! He is a "preemie" but is on task for so many mile stones ....he is breathing on his own, is taking to breastfeeding well, and he is maintaining his body temp. He is awesome ! And of course, beautiful too ! We couldn't believe all the hair that he has ! He found his fingers right away...
Mom and Dad make a great team ! It was a long, full and emotional day for them...but they have their beautiful baby boy , such a wonderful surprise, and many more adventures and surprises to come....

MOM SQUAD

A baby is coming to Melissa and Jason....and the "MOM squad" came to help with preparations. Diana, Debbie and sister-in-law, Selena, travelled for girls weekend, to see the home where the new baby will be residing, as well as CRAFT, and enjoy each others' company. There's just nothing like having your "special people" with you to make memories !

Debbie, Diana, Melissa worked on a whimsical tree in the nursery. Selena was working on some beautiful plaques with the words: EXPLORE, WISH and (my favorite), GIGGLE !

A plain dresser became a wonderful array of color and patterns to match the whimsical tone of the room....just another crafty idea that makes the room so unique and colorful !

It's not easy being in a house filled with 5 very ambitious and determined, crafty women. The goal of the weekend was to have all the finishing touches completed in the baby's room! This is a sight that you will not often see....Jason resting... a wonderful sight !

And this is the group, minus one VERY important person: DIANA ! Diana is a photographer extraordinaire which is great for documenting occasions, but not so great when you're wanting pictures of the whole group ! Diana, if I knew how...I'd super-impose your cute little face right

in the middle of the group...

Selena and Melissa. I'm always so happy when I can see them together, celebrating special moments and enjoying their time to share! Such cuties !

OK, this is a picture from the incredible baby shower that Debbie and Diana hosted a couple of weeks ago..but just wanted it to be a part of this "grouping" :)

Here's Diana !!! Crafting away on the dresser drawers . She's always busy capturing the action with her camera, so it's fun to be able to "capture " her occasionally !

Debbie and Diana . They make a great team no matter what they're doing ! Lucky are we to have such talented and loving friends !!!

Selena was busy (as I mentioned before) making the baby, word plaques, but she also did all the work in plastering Melissa's baby bump. A messy but wonderful "keepsake".

Melissa , resting her arms, and taking in all the fun and activity........

And the sweet mommy and daddy to be ! Oh, the adventures and experiences about to come into their lives ! Their house will truly be a home with little hands to hold ...

Thank you Debbie, Diana and Selena for your gift of time and talents! We cherish the memories made this weekend !!!