Kate's First Christmas

Christmas 2006 was an incredible celebration of Christ's birth as we watched our daughter with our families. How blessed we are to live so close to both of Kate's grandparents and almost all of her aunts and uncles. We stayed with the Marleys from Wednesday the 20th-Sunday morning the 24th. We had lots of fun with Gram & Grandpa, Aunt Jill, Aunt Laura, and Uncle Daniel. We helped a little with getting things ready and relaxed a whole lot. The church service at First Baptist was really great on Sunday morning and it was fun being there as a family.

We spent Sunday the 24th afternoon through Tuesday afternoon with the Severns. That was really fun too! Lots of pics in front of the tree and a lovely service on Christmas Eve night at Central Christian Church. My cousin Cari and her family came to spend it in Ft. Smith--her two boys helped even the numbers at my parent's house too. haha Jesse, Kelsey, Stephanie, Rachel, Jared, and I all slept in Steph's room Christmas Eve (Kate's bed was down the hall), we played games and wrestled til the wee hours. I felt like I was 12 again. :)

Kate wasn't much for opening gifts on Christmas morning...she was up for a little bit and then slept peacefully on a chair while the rest of us enjoyed opening gifts. Lots of fun stuff! We're pretty spoiled.

Christmas dinner was at Nana Lou's (tradition since I started dating Jared in 2000). This year was 51 people! Talk about crazy. We aren't the only ones who have started a family so each year gets a little bigger. It's fun for the 5 Marley boys to get together at their mother's home with their kids and grandkids but with the growth we had to call 2006 our last. I think Nana Lou let out a huge sigh of relief when the last person went home.:) Next year is already in the works so we'll see what the plans are...

We opened gifts with the Marleys Christmas evening--lots of great stuff! We're pretty much spoiled rotten. And Kate's big gift from them was a Bob Revolution! For those who don't know, it's a stroller! Yippee! I mean, this thing can go anywhere. For those who know me well, you know that Jared does the research and tells me what we need.:) Well, he says we needed this stroller. So I'm excited to try it out. We also got to see the Stuckey family for a couple hours and catch up on the happenings with them. That was fun.

As always, I had fun reading my parent's Christmas cards from our family friends, enjoyed several cozy fires, lost of fudge (Grandma Anne's recipe of course), and a lot of downtime with the ones we love so much. I think Kate has no idea what happened, but someday we pray she'll know and love the Savior whose birth we celebrate each year. Praise Him for coming to earth and the sacrifice God made when He allowed Him to endure this sinful world. I have to admit this year, being a mother, has given me new perspective on the Christmas story. What a mighty God we serve.

I've enjoyed getting Christmas cards from our many friends and family--what fun to see pics and get updates on all the amazing things happening in your lives! Thanks for including us in your mailings! Jared, Kate, and I wish God's perfect will for you all in 2007!

Pro Pics

I scheduled to have Kate's pictures taken with the same gal that took my prego pics before she was even born. I figured the 15th would be the absolute last day she would arrive and so I scheduled them for October 17th...thinking she'd be four weeks and we could capture the newborn stage.

Well, at 3 1/2 weeks she got a terrible rash all over her face, chest, and even some on her legs! Needless to say I cancelled the appointment. Well, the next available appointment was November 30th so I snatched it up thinking all would be clear by then. It was...but if you recall in the last blog that was the day Northwest Arkansas shut down because of the snow. So she asked me if we could do it December 19th...I begged and pleaded because we wanted to have them for Christmas cards. So she worked us in last Saturday. Just thought I'd share some of my favorites with you all.

Let It Snow!

We had an incredible snow storm as many of you know...it started last Thursday with a freezing rain and some light hail. It quickly turned into snow and by Friday morning most of Northwest Arkansas was shut down. Roads were icy and dangerous and being in the south we really don't have the capability to deal with snow like that. So we all just get to stay home--FUN!

So it was Kate's first snow...we took her out in the neighborhood (she's wearing my ghetto bunting from 1981--don't knock it haha), we sat her in it, we even put some on her tongue and she seemed to kind of like it. What an honor to be the first ones to get to show her things like snow for the first time. I love being her Mama.

She started giggling as of last Thursday too. It was really cool because Jared was home from work and we were on the couch playing with her so we both got to be there to hear it the first time!

We get to spend this weekend in Branson with my parents and grandparents from Washington and cousins...a little family reunion. Should be a blast and will post pics when we get back. Hope you are all enjoying the holiday season. Hopefully will get Christmas cards out soon...can't wait to hear from you too!

Big Foot

Kate is discovering her hands, feet, and all sorts of things...a couple of days ago, Jared got her talking. I mean literally they had a conversation of sounds for like 20 minutes. It was amazing, and it just makes me more anxious to get to know her and really see her personality come out. She used to hate her tummy time but is really enjoying it now. Just changing every day.

Tickled Pink

Aunt KeKe (Kelsey) and Uncle Jep (Jesse) watched Kate for an hour or so the other night and snapped this cute pic...this is the closest we have to a giggle yet! Kate loves her KeKe and Jep...and is so lucky to spend so much time with them.

Great time with Great Grandparents

Kate got to meet her Great Grandma Katie and Great Grandpa John yesterday for the very first time. Katie is short for Kathryn Virginia...we're hoping Baby Kate will be able to live up to her beautiful name. We think she will.

Katie & John live in Rockford, IL so it's a real treat to have them here for Thanksgiving. Aunt Ste-B is flying in tonight as well for the holiday and will see Baby Kate for the first time in 7 weeks--they have a lot of catching up to do. haha

Thanksgiving is one of my very favorite holidays...we get all the good eats without the huge to-do about gifts.:) Although I enjoy doing the Christmas shopping too.:)

What a fun time of year as the weather gets colder and Christmas lights are hung and cozy fires in the evenings, and puffy jackets, and snuggling on the couch, cruchy leaves on the sidewalk, Hog football games, getting the whole family together, God is just so good.

My my my...

Our sweet Kate Virginia is 2 months old tomorrow!!! She is all over the place already! Rolling over (at 5 weeks), cooing, smiling, clasping her hands in delight. Her little personality is coming out and boy is it fun! We are loving every minute of parenting (except the middle of the night minutes haha).

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween from a serious milk-addict. :)

Family Times

Baby Kate loves her time with daddy. She loves bathtime too, but when it comes time to get out of the bath she's not too happy (as you can see). :) Our time as a family is so precious to me.

Gummy Grins

Lazy Autumn Days

First Date Post Baby--The Dyer Wedding

October 2006

We've had quite a busy month!

Kate is changing so fast! We were at the pediatrician on October 17th and she is weighing in at 11 1/2 pounds--growing like a weed! She started rolling over last week (5 1/2 weeks old). Jared and I aren't quite sure what we're in for, but it's sure to be a ride.

We've spent quite a few days in Fort Smith lately as Jared's been out of town on business, and had some great nights sleep there. Two nights in a row she slept from 10:30pm-5:30am and then 6:00am-10:30am. Talk about a miracle. Kind of cruel though because it didn't last.:)

She's really smiling now and cooing a lot. We are just enjoying our sweet baby and the blessing that she is. Hope you enjoy the pictures!

Time for her close-up!

Sip the moments...

It is so hard to believe that she is going to be three weeks old on Friday! As suggested by a dear friend, I'm trying my very best to sip these moments...you don't get them back.

Daddy's lil CupKate

Jared has started calling our daughter CupKate...sweetest lil nickname ever (literally)!!!:)

The worries of motherhood...

Yet another amazing week...Kate saw the pediatrician yesterday, and he looked a tad amused as I pulled out my written list of questions. I start to tell him everything I've been keeping track of for this very special occasion. She twitches in her sleep, she has chronic hiccups every time she eats, she has these hives that pop up out of the blue, how do I get her situated into a routine that we can at least get a couple hours sleep each night, her umbilical cord still hasn't fallen off and it looks infected, she eats so fast that she chokes almost once every time she feeds, and how do I even know that she's getting enough to eat??? It's all perfectly normal he calmly says to me as we set her on the scale...9 lbs!!! And I take a deep breath.:)

Arkansas Razorbacks

Kate watched her first big game last Saturday!!! She was decked out in HOG apparrel and seemed very excited when the Razorbacks won 24-23 in double overtime!!! GO HOGS GO!

Daddy & Kate...

Definitely getting more sleep than mommy!!!:) Not fair!

First Days

Kate Virginia Marley

She's here!!! She's here!!! She's finally arrived!!! We are so excited--a beautiful little girl. We named her Kate Virginia Marley after some more debate.:) She was born at 7:36pm on Friday September 15th, 2006. She was 7 lbs. 11 oz. and 20 1/2 inches long...just perfect.

Our doctor decided to begin induction on Thursday the 14th...after 13 hours and no progression, they took me off of the Pitocin and Jared and I slept for about 5 hours. Then we started it up again early on the 15th...we were at serious risk of a C-section and thank the Lord for answering our prayers for a natural birth. It was pretty scary and definitely a long two days but OH SO WORTH IT! Jared was an amazing coach and I know that had a lot to do with our success. And our sweet Doctor and nurse were both supposed to be gone by 7:00pm that evening and stayed to see us through--they were wonderful.

Jared and I are just in disbelief that we have a daughter. The Lord has just truly blessed us with her already, and we feel an awesome responsibility for this great gift. We know she belongs to Him but are so thrilled that we were blessed to be her parents.

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers over the next few weeks as we learn what it takes!:) We love you all!

Nine Months & Counting...

Some of you have wondered from across the country or state just how big I've gotten...so this pic is for all of you!:) This pic was taken a week ago...yup, I'm about ready to pop!:) But more anxious to meet our sweet baby...

Baby Dreamland

Well, it's official, two days post due date, our nursery is complete! Grandma and Grandpa Marley completely surprised me with my dream crib on Mother's Day back in May. It is wrought iron, antique bronze and completely perfect. In keeping with the style of this beautiful crib, my goal all along has been a vintage nursery full of antiques and character. With the help of Grandma Severns (who has had enough of fabrics and antiques for a lifetime), it has all come together exactly as hoped...an antique ladder to hang and display all of our beautiful blankets, a sweet bookshelf with the most perfect of curves, a perfect dresser that we are using as a changing table, a shadow box (quite a find by Aunt Kelsey) to hang above the dresser to store the essetials within arm's reach, a darling mission style side table to sit next to a perfectly re-upholstered Lane rocker/recliner we found at a little hold in the wall last weekend. The pictures, frankly, don't do the room justice...but when you all come and visit our little one...you'll have to experience it for yourself!:) We are just so excited, and I'm sure baby has just been waiting patiently for all of this to come together in order to make his or her grand entrance. Hopefully, tonight!



By the way, the names are................................. Boy: Hudson Reed Marley .................................. Girl: Kate Isabelle Marley. We are reserving the right to look this little one in the face before committing to a name, but the compromise has been reached! Yippee!

July 16, 2006

Soooooooooooooooooo dreamy. My friend Kristi, my sister Kelsey, and my Mom all threw a beautiful shower at Kristi's house in Fayetteville on July 16th. So many special people got to be there...and everything was absolutely beautiful. Since our nursery is cream, chocolate brown, and sour-apple green, they decorated everything in theme with the nursery! The food was delicious and Baby Marley's nursery began to fill up that day! So many special memories.

July 26, 2006

Our Community Group Family hosted a baby shower for us on July 24th...amazing. We are so truly blessed by these friendships and are so excited to be joining the world of parents. Only 6 1/2 weeks until we meet our precious baby.

Jared and I are still back and forth about names, but we are doing our best to come up with one for both a boy and a girl since we don't know what we're having. If anyone has any suggestions, we will certainly look at them.:)

We can't wait for Baby Marley to meet all of you!