14 Months Old & Incredibly Gabby!

This month was a big month for Rachel. She had her hand surgery and was an absolute champ through the whole thing. She did so well with the cast on and was a very big girl when they took it off for her. Her hand is all healed up now, she may have a scar but I'm so glad that everything went so well for her.
Lately all Rachel has been doing is talking! I mean she just gets on a roll and all she does is say "bababa gaga mama dada" and all other kinds of baby jabber. I really think she wants to talk to us. It's funny when she has a conversation with us. It's like she has something so serious to tell us yet she doesn't have the words to get her point across to us. I love listening to her talk. I really need to get a video of it for you to hear.

She has really become a good cruiser, I hope that one day soon she will figure out how to stand on her own and walk. The other day I noticed that she was scooting on her bum to get somewhere, made me laugh. I think she is really to get places facing them but she is just too scared to walk. I wonder if she is going to wait like I did. I didn't start walking until I was 17 months old. I hope it'll be sooner than that but she will do it when she is ready to.

Well, other than her surgery there really isn't that much to report this month. I hope you enjoyed the pictures!

Rachel LOVES "Law & Oder". I watch it all the time and I watched it a lot when I was pregnant with her. Whenever she hears the theme song she starts dancing to it. I thought you might get a kick out this.

Rachel's Hand Surgery

As you all know Josh and I found what felt like her bone popping out of her hand sometime around July or August. Her doctor suggested we see a specialist. We went to the Orthopedic clinic and she told us that it was a mass of abnormal cells and that we should get it removed. Josh and I opted to have that done.
Today was the big day. We had to be at the hospital at 5:30am, boy, was that early! We got to the hospital on time and checked her in. After a little bit we were taken to a room where they weighed her (19.5 lbs) and checked her blood pressure, she was perfect, well a little cranky. Then we were taken to a room where we waited for the doctors to come in a talk to us. I changed her into her hospital pajamas and watched "Aurthur" while we waited.
The anesthesiologist came in at asked us questions about her medical history and told us the possible side affects that she could experience and asked if we had any questions. Of course Josh did. After he left the assistant surgeon came in and introduced himself to us and looked at Rachel's hand. After him a nurse came in and gave her some "goofy juice" which helped her relax for the anesthesiologist. Right when the medicine was starting to kick in her surgeon, Dr. Theresa Wyrick, came in and talked to us for a little bit. It was so cute, Rachel let her hold her and was talking to her. Then we put her in her little bed and watched her get rolled off to surgery.
While we waited we went and had some breakfast and talked with some other parents who were also waiting on their child. The receptionist at that floor was a gentleman who had been oversees working with the police and was eager to talk with Josh about his experiences. Josh is not a shy person by any means. That hospital was very good and we enjoyed our time there.

When Rachel's surgery was over her doctor came out to us and told us how she did. She said that we was amazing and everything went very smoothly. Josh asked her what she thought the mass was. She told us that is was some kind of cyst, I don't remember the name she used, but she said that in between her tendons there was a tunnel that fluid would run down and an opening was there that caused a build up of fluid and other tissue. They were able to fix it so that it shouldn't happen again.

Once Rachel was awake we were able to see her in the Recovery room. She was still so sleepy. I was shocked to see this massive cast on her little arm. It covers her fingers and goes all the way over her elbow. She'll need to wear it for a week while her wound heals. We moved back to our original room and tried to get her to drink some water. We ended up needed to get a Popsicle for her to take any liquids. She loved that thing. Once she drank water we were good to go. We went and got her pain meds and drove home.
She is now asleep in her crib. Now I am wondering how I'm going to put a shirt on her with this cast. Oh well. Thank you all for your prayers and support.

Belated 13 Month Update

So much has been happening since I last wrote I forgot to update. Since Rachel's birthday Josh and I had to move into another house. The one we were living in before the lease was up and the landlords didn't want to work with us on letting us stay longer. Where we are now is a whole lot smaller than what I am used to living in but it is cozy and my home. The landlords are great and very easy to work with. Just this last week they came over and replaced our oven because we could smell gas and then they also worked on the wiring in the living room because some of the plugs weren't working. Even though this house isn't the house that I dreamt about living in, I am glad that we are here. We will be able to catch up financially and be able to save up so that we can build our own house later. Thank you all for praying for us during the last month, I know that your prayers were heard.

Rachel is just growing and growing. I have all her pictures on my computer and the screen saver is a slide show of them. Watching them go back to when she was born up to now is amazing. I can't believe how much she has changed in such a short time. I am really hoping that she will start walking soon. I know I say that now and I will be wishing she was crawling again but she is cruising all over the place. I have a feeling that by the end of the year she will be.

I have a prayer request for all you prayer warriors out there. A week before Rachel's one year appointment I noticed a bump on Rachel's left palm under her joint of her ring finger. I thought that maybe her joint was abnormal in some way and her doctor didn't know what it was so she scheduled Rachel for an appointment with an Orthopedic doctor at Children's. Rachel had her appointment last week. We went from one waiting room to another only to go to another room just to get an x-ray before her appointment. It wasn't until an hour and a half later that she was finally seen. Her x-rays were clean, nothing wrong with her bones. The doctor said that it was a mass that had grown and suggested that we either schedule surgery to remove it or just keep an eye on it. Josh and I talked about it and decided that we would rather just get it removed and taken care of now instead of worry about it later. My prayer request is for Rachel on her surgery day. It's October 14th, I believe it's going to be bright and early in the morning but I'm not sure yet, we'll know the day before. The actual surgery should only be about 15 minutes but they are going to have to put her under for it since she is so little. It's the first time anything like this is happening to her so we don't know how she is going to react to it.

I guess the move and Rachel's doctor appointment made it seem like so much has happened this month but really that was it. I will let you all know how her surgery goes. Thank you all.

Here are some cute pictures of my little girl for you.

Playing at our friend's house on the porch.
Just being pretty.
My friend, Kristi, her dad made this one for her son. I thought it was too cute so I used it for my little one year old.

Rachel's 1st Birthday!

I can't believe that this day has come and gone already. Sunday was my beautiful, little Princess' birthday. This last year has just flown by and I know the next will be just as fast if not faster.

Saturday we had a barbecue with friends to celebrate little Miss Bucket's birthday. I had a lot of fun making her cake and decorating it, it was a momma duck with her baby ducks.
We had friends come over at 4 to hang out and have dinner. One point our friend, Kristi, was holding Rachel and Josh wanted to see how many stuffed animals she would hold. It was great, I think she ended up having 5 in her little arms.
For dinner we had hamburgers, hot dogs, and I made a hash brown casserole which turned out really good, Rachel seemed to like it. Then it was time for Rachel to open her gifts. It was fun watching her pull the paper and want to play with her new toys. She got some block, ringer stacker, and her favorite a ball popper or spinner. She just loves playing with the balls.
Rachel also got some really cute clothes.

After gifts was cupcake time! Oh my, I know she would tear into that thing, she has momma's sweet tooth already. Rachel absolutely loved her cupcake. So over all it was a fun time with family and friends.
Rachel cut another tooth this month and I she is working on another one. They are her top canines I believe. She's just getting so big. She also is starting to walk around the couch and places when she pulls herself up, it won't be too long before she starts walking for real. I'm excited!

*****
I love you my little Princess, God has truly blessed me and your daddy. We are so grateful for you. You have made our lives a lot more fun and worth living for. I love it when daddy comes home and you throw yourself at him with happiness. I can't wait to see what this next year will bring. I love you Love Bug.

11 Months Old! - The Year is Almost Gone!

Chilling with Daddy

I'm sorry I'm so late on an update, I totally blanked. Rachel is 11 months old and I can't believe that I am going to be planning her birthday in the next couple weeks. We are just going to have a little get together, a barbecue with some friends and a cake of course. I'm thinking of making a really cute little rubber ducky cake but I can't find a 8 inch circular cake pan, only 9 inches and I need both. Oh well, I'll figure something out.

Rachel is starting to graduate from a baby to a toddler. She is pulling herself up onto everything, I have a feeling she will be standing soon. Sometimes when she is crawling she will get up onto her hands and feet and stick her cute little booty in the air. I wonder if she is trying to figure out that she can stand a lone on her feet. It's too cute. Another thing that we are working on is going from the bottle to the sippy cup. She is having her lunch bottle in a sippy cup and her breakfast and dinner are still in bottles. Soon we are going to go to just a breakfast bottle to no bottle. I know it's time to switch because she is now only drinking her bottle sitting up and tilting it so she can get it. My baby is growing up!
She now has 2 bottom teeth and top teeth are no where in sight. I hope they come soon because she wants to eat with us so badly. She is a really good chewer now but I'm worried about somethings since she doesn't have those top chompers.
Well, other then being the cutest little girl in the world! (biased I know) she is growing like a weed and I can't wait to see what the next year is going to be like. I thank God everyday for blessing me with this amazing gift of a daughter.

Until next month, this is Mommy signing off!

10 Months Old Already!

Rachel turned 10 months old on Tuesday. I can't believe were only 2 months away from her first birthday! I know I say this every time but I still can't believe how fast the time is going by.

Big things that happened this month: Rachel has her first tooth. It came in the beginning of the month and I'm pretty sure her second one is going to be making it's debut anytime.

She starting to stand a little bit now. We've been working with her and she is now holding herself up at the coffee table, so it's a start at least.

Rachel also loves to lick everything! The other day she was crawling around and she decided to lick my foot, she licks Josh's legs and arms as well. We went to a Chinese Buffet last night and she was licking the table (don't worry I wash it) but still. Whenever she is at my desk with me and I am working on the computer she thinks she needs to lick the monitor. Too cute. What's really cute is when she sees something that she wants to taste and she moves towards it with her tongue sticking out like to the cats' tail.

Rachel has a new play buddy. Josh is apart of a bowling league on Tuesdays and there is a mom there who has a baby boy, Kaedan, who is 5 days older than her. They love playing together. Kaedan spots her the second we walk into the room. I'm glad that there is someone that she can spend some time with. Especially since she isn't apart of a daycare.



That's about it with Rachel. I do have a prayer request for you guys. Josh and I are need of finding a new place to live. Our lease is up in August and the rent is WAY to much for us to sign on for another year. If you would keep us in your prayers that would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

9 Months Old & Crawling!

I can't believe that it has already been 9 months since I had my little Rachel. Time is sure going by quicker. She is growing bigger everyday and learning more or more. Right now she is sitting on the desk with me and gabbering away and trying to help me type.


Rachel has finally learned how to crawl! She is the master AT THE aRMY CRAWL (she pressed the Caps Lock) Now instead of staying in one room and playing she is now going all over the place to play. I love the fact that she figured this out, it means more work for me but it also means that she is learning and becoming the big girl that she is supposed to be.

We went over to Ryan and Kati's (my brother and sister-in-law) for a Craw Fish Boil this past weekend and Rachel had a lot of fun dancing with daddy and sitting on Aunt Kati's lap.

Rachel has been talking a lot more. She is saying "mama" and "dada" all the time now. She loves to watch us talk. You can tell that she is trying to figure out how to say something back to us. Today she has been "whispering" to me. She leans in and says something in baby talk very quitely to me, melts me heart. I also have been teaching her how to clap. She gets excited when I clap and then tries to copy it. She almost has it!


Rachel is so obsessed with this little lamb that her Granma Roggasch gave her. She takes it everywhere with her.There really isn't too much to say other then she is growing and growing. Here's to another month.