Thoughts on 2011

I'm feeling rather sentimental when I think back on 2011.  In many ways it has been the most difficult year of Larry's and my life, and in many more ways it has been the year of infinite blessings!  Its funny how those things often go hand in hand. 

If I'm honest, I slept through the first half of 2011 and don't really have many thoughts there.  Pregnancy was NOT easy on me.  I praised God each day (well almost) of my morning sickness as I knew that baby was growing strong inside of me.  We made up for the abundance of sleep by the lack of it in the second half!  Praise the Lord though, Reagan is sleeping through the night in good 7-9 hour stretches now.

I can't believe I'm a mother.  I feel 100% different now and completely humbled by this precious gift I did not deserve.  One of my favorite things about parenthood is seeing Larry love our little one.  He is an AMAZING father.  Reagan is so lucky to have such a strong man of God as her daddy. 

 Our little 4lb 4oz miracle

So tiny!

This year has kept us on our knees and it has been a true joy to see how our Father answered our prayers so faithfully.   I have started keeping a prayer journal and writing the date next to answered prayers.  I highly recommend this!  I can be so dense sometimes and forget to thank God when he demonstrates his faithfulness to me.

We lost the patriarch and dear mentor of our family Wilburn Tullar.  This has been such a tough time especially for Larry.  Because Larry spent so much of his time in the NICU with Reagan and I, he wasn't able to go see his grandfather before he passed.  I know God has an immaculate plan and this was part of it, but we lost "Whit" 3 days after we brought Reagan home.

I pray that 2012 will be a year in which we grow closer to God and one another.  My New Year's resolutions can be summed up in 2 words:  Patience and Discipline.  Pretty much name any area of my life and I would like to apply those two words to each situation.

I can't thank all of our friends and family enough for the support and encouragement you all have given us over the past year.  We love each and every one of you tremendously and want to wish all of you a blessed New Year!

Holiday Wrap Up

What a really fun time to be a new parent!  The holiday season is filled with so much love and joy and we are so blessed to have such incredible people to share it with.  I find myself so excited and optimistic for the future and feel so humbled God has given us so much to be thankful for!

We have been keeping Reagan pretty buttoned down as RSV season is gearing up.  Getting RSV is dangerous for any baby, but Reagan being a preemie puts her at a higher risk and we are doing everything we can to keep sickness at bay.  It is so easy to forget because she is doing so well!  At her 3 month appointment she was 11lbs and 23 inches! 

We did manage to spend as much time as possible with our families.  I'm so grateful to have such an amazing support system.  Everyone got flu shots and put up with our endless "is anyone sick" questions.  THANK YOU!

Our holidays can be best summed up in photos:

Reagan met her friend Tate!  We could hope for a marriage here but most likely these two will grow up more like brother and sister =).  Reagan had a hard time staying awake.

Mom got to go to the (disappointing) Texas A&M UT game so we had a little Thanksgiving at home

We also made it to Mimi and Papa's for a beautiful Thanksgiving and got a picture with our Nana(great-grandma) and cousins

 Grant and Katelyn came for a visit and Reagan finally fit into the hat Kate made her!  Check out her Etsy store...she has such precious stuff!

 I love this picture cause you can see Kate taking pictures.  She is so good at documenting her life...something I aspire to in 2012!

Bekki and Sara came to see us twice.  I treasure these two more than I can express in words.  They are my sisters....'nuff said.

Beautiful Bekki.  Reagan and her had a special bond.  I can't wait to see her and Alan as parents one day!

I love this picture of Sara!  Fits her perfectly!!

Reagan at 3 months old

 Merry Christmas Everyone!

My sweet friend Mary Kathryn had the great idea to make ornaments for the grandparents...it wasn't easy with a 2 month old but we got a few!

Nothing will make you appreciate your mom like having a new baby around.  She has been an overwhelming blessing to us!

Mom, Trevor, and his beautiful girlfriend Martha.  We love spending time with these guys!

As per tradition I read the story of Jesus' birth Christmas Eve.  I found myself overwhelmed with emotion this year as the story brought on a whole new meaning having a child of my own. 

"But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." - Luke 2:19

How Mary must have felt looking down on THE perfect baby.

What a blessed holiday season!

3 months

Wow how time is flying by.  Reagan is already 3 months old!  People are so right when they say the first year goes by fast.  I feel like she was just born a couple of weeks ago!

Reagan had a RSV vaccine appointment where we learned that she is now 11lbs and 23 inches!  She is growing really well and is slowly but surely catching up in size to other babies her age.  We are still going by her adjusted age (1 month) as far as milestones go, but for the most part she's right on schedule.

She absolutely loves her paci still.  This wubanubb is a fantastic invention.  It gives her something to hold on to so she can't spit it out as easily.

Praise the Lord she is sleeping through the night!!!  Just when I felt like I couldn't do one more sleepless night that angel decided to sleep...good girl!

She loves to sleep with her head and feet touching the side of her bassinet.  This makes me so nervous, but no matter how I re-position her, she always ends up this way.

This past month she has really become so much more aware.  In the past week she has gotten so smiley!  Such a happy baby, and it absolutely melts our hearts!

We are getting some use out of the bumbo seat, but we're not really feeling the whole sitting up thing....we'd much rather stand.

I finally got her to wear shoes!  Happy Day =)

Little Reagan you are a treasure and a joy.  You have made our lives so much richer just by being in it.  We love you!