Sweetest Time

"As (we) were snuggling. . .  I breathed in a little,

'this must be like Heaven.'"

~ Jan Denise

The 6:00 hour each evening is typically my very favorite.  And that's true this Sunday as we find ourselves winding down from another busy day that's been full of family and fun.  Molly's no night owl, so she also heads to bed during the 6:00 hour.  And usually, when she's been down for no more than thirty minutes, I miss her already!  How could you not miss this precious face!

But before she goes to bed, we have lots of snuggle time with her. Tonight I grabbed the camera to capture some special moments we'll want to remember forever!

Molly loves to snuggle with her Daddy!  I'm not sure who enjoys this sweet time more:  Molly, her Daddy or me!

'Cause that?  That right there? That's the good stuff, y'all!

So, what's your favorite time of day?

Oh What a Christmas!

Wow!  We had an amazing Christmas around here! 

We celebrated with my family. . . 

Ellie got a nursery from Aunt B and Uncle T.  She loved it. 

And she also decided she could fit in it!?!?!

My sister and I agree that stockings were our favorite part of Christmas growing up.  Santa always rocked the stockings!  So, it's no surprise we go crazy with stockings today.

We also went to visit Tim's parents for a few days and got to celebrate Christmas with lots of family!  It's safe to say Santa found Molly. . . 

We celebrated with good food, lots of laughs and fun for everyone!

Molly was the center of everyone's world. . . . 

CiCi rocked Molly to sleep most nights.

Big Daddy was always a hit with Molly!

Ma, one of Molly's Great-Grandmothers got plenty of sugar!

Grandma, another one of Molly's Great-Grandmothers also loved on Molly!

And, we got SnOw!!!!  It was absolutetly beautiful! 

Molly, however, was not a fan. . . 

Yes, it was indeed a Christmas to remember! 

Molly's Dedication

Yesterday was Molly's dedication at church.  It was a beautiful service where we committed to raising Molly in a Godly home, teaching her about her Heavenly Father, and praying for her as she grows up.

Before we left for church, Tim and I selected Ephesians 3:17 - 19 to pray over Molly before her dedication.

"so that Christ may dwell in Molly's heart through faith.  And we pray that Molly, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that Molly may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."

I was really worried that Molly would have a melt-down on stage.  And I was worried I would just sob up there.  I was super emotional Sunday morning before we left the house, so I just didn't know how I'd keep it together on stage.

Insert reality.

The reality that Molly was seriously on the verge of a melt-down.  As we were about to walk out, I was planning my escape from the stage, in case Molly just began screaming her blood curdling scream.

We went out on stage, shook hands with our pastor and sat with the other families. 

Then, while a solo was sung, the pastor went to each family and prayed with them.  I was so worried I'd just cry, cry, cry all during the solo.  I usually do, and they always sing such sweet songs.  Thankfully I couldn't really understand the words.  And, remember, I was so worried Molly was going to start bawling.

By the time our pastor got to us, Molly was a little fussy, so she cried while we prayed. 

I may have added a P.S. to our prayer:  "Thank you, Lord, for the paci. . . . "

After the service, our family came to our house for lunch.  We had about 20 adults and 5 kids in our home.  And our home isn't big.  At all.  So, we were all cozy!  But it was wonderful to have everyone with us celebrating such a precious time.

Molly was exhausted, but here are a couple of pictures of her in her gown while she was in her Lovie's lap!

It was an incredibly special day full of memories we will cherish for the rest of our lives!

PuMpKiN PaTcH

We went to the Pumpkin Patch the other day!  What fun!  Molly was tired, so we didn't capture many smiles, but we still got some cute pictures of her and Ellie! 

There were pumpkins galore!

I'm slightly obsessed with the funky green and bumpy ones!  We bought a green one, and I love it!

We had so much fun looking at all of the pumpkins!  We ran into some friends, too.  Here are Tim and Molly with one of Tim's fraternity brothers and his girls.  All of Tim's fraternity brothers have daughters.  Seriously!  We found out from this friend that there is finally a brother whose wife is expecting a boy!  It'll be the first boy after about 12 girls.  No joke!

Ellie came for the fun, too!  She was all over the place, checking out the pumpkins, big and small!

Ellie loves giving Molly kisses!

And this picture of Ellie cracks me up!  She sat right up there beside the scarecrow, but she sure is checking him out!

Molly and her Daddy enjoyed the beautiful afternoon and pumpkins!

Molly chilled with some pumpkins for a few pictures!

We had a great time in the pumpkin patch!  Love these sweet traditions with our family!

Many Faces of Molly

Molly is so much more alert these days, and we are seeing more and more of her personality.  So far, she's quite serious.  She's smiled a few times at us, but she certainly doesn't give out smiles freely.  More often than not, she has her brow furrowed like she's very perplexed.  It reminds me so much of her Daddy!  Here are a few pictures of Molly with captions Tim and I created; they make us laugh!

Boo!

Um, excuse me, waiter?  May I have some more tea please?

Hmm. . . . let me think....

Whatchu want?

What tha ?????

What are you sayin, Lovie?

I can't believe Molly will be two months old on Thursday!  She's growing sooooooo fast!

KiSsInG cOuSiNs

"Cousins are friends that will love you forever."

~ Constance Richards

"A cousin is a ready made friend for life." ~ Author Unknown

"Cousin to cousin we'll always be,

special friends from the same family tree."

~ Author Unknown

"In the sweetness of friendship

let there be laughter and sharing of pleasure."

~ Kahlil Gibran

"Cousins are those childhood playmates

who grow up to be forever friends." ~ Author Unknown

It's Time!!!

There's a scene towards the end of Steel Magnolias when they're at an Easter Egg hunt and Annelle is big and pregnant.  She starts having contractions and everyone runs around hollering, "It's time!  It's time!" 

We are almost there ourselves around here....

Well, Tuesday we went to the doctor and found out I am 3 - 4 cm dilated and 70% effaced.  My OB was not in the office last week, so the OB we saw made an appointment for us to come back this coming week, "if you make it that far."  He also went through the run down of "if you start having steady contractions, call us; if your water breaks, go to the hospital immediately.  I don't think you'll labor long."

I was hoping for some progress.  You know, to hear my body was getting ready for delivering.  THAT was more than I expected!  We were beside ourselves! 

Later in the week, my doctor's office called and said my OB had called to check in and has scheduled me for an induction on Tuesday, if I don't go before then on my own.

Our bags are packed and in Tim's office (he works at the hospital).

Car seats have been installed.

Treat bags* have been made.

Yes, we are ready for Miss Molly Miller!

*A few weeks ago, Tim came to me and said, "Hey, I have kind of a cheesy idea.  What if we gave out M&Ms when Molly's born since her initials are MM?"  I loved it!  It's perfect, especially considering M&Ms are Tim's all-time favorite candy!  The little tags on the baggies say "Enjoy these M&Ms in celebration of our MM. . .  Molly Miller Slocum"

Molly's First Shower

My first baby shower was this morning, and I cannot begin to describe how loved Molly is already!  My best friend Jodi hosted the shower in her home, and my family was there to help shower Molly with love and precious gifts.

My sister and mom were the photographers, and I don't yet have the pictures saved on my computer to show you. 

But I do have pictures of Molly's things!  Here's a picture of everything, as best I could get it.....

Molly got some precious outfits, dresses and bubble suits, a beautiful, soft blanket, a precious sign with her name and a Bible verse, a monogrammed baby pillow, and a water temp duck. . .

books, a baby book, teething ring, a precious lamb, more clothes . . .

a precious hooded towel, bath letters and bath supplies, burp cloths, a soft green frog and blanket, precious maryjane socks, more clothes.......

a bubble outfit for her first birthday and a pack and play. . .

a precious sign, sweet picture frame, and a moses basket that my sister gave me that was filled - I mean filled! - with goodies!  Monogrammed burp cloths and bibs galore, socks, many of the items I have listed and shown above, and even a monogrammed sheet in the basket! 

Tim and I are so thankful to our family and friends who came to today's shower.  It was an amazing morning, and Molly definitely got many, many precious things!

One more thing we received was a beautiful lamp from my grandmother.  I couldn't wait to get it home and set up!  The first bulb I put in the lamp blew immediately.  So, I grabbed a second bulb.  It also blew.  And smelled like it was burning.  So we had to take the lamp back this afternoon ~ bummer!  And an even bigger bummer is that the store no longer carries that line anymore, so I had to pick out another lamp.  The new lamp had to be ordered, and it's just as cute, so I'll be sure to show it to y'all when it comes in. 

Now, I've got some organizing to do!!!