We took Jerra to the Waco zoo one afternoon and my parents met us there. she had so much fun seeing all the animals - especially the ones she knows the 'sounds' for! it was HOT HOT HOT, but we still had fun...I am sure we will be spending many more days at the zoo - it was always one of my fave places to go as a kid...

I need one of these rockin' chairs!!

Flamingos!!!
checking out the meercats...
thats a leopard!


SO big! walking the zoo by herself!

updates, updates, updates!!!

I have so many pictures to update everyone on....
so, i guess I will just start from a couple weeks ago and move forward...

Here is JJ looking cute in a 'cowgirl-ish' outfit...nothing special going on, just thought she was adorable this day:


here she is trying on my big girl shoes! she thought she was sooo funny clapping around in my heels...a few days later, Nala ate these shoes....

i left her alone for a few minutes one morning in our game room area...she found the box of wipes and pulled them ALL out! Thats what I get for leaving her alone for just a minute...

Here's just one way I know our baby is growing up....we have retired the high chair and now she eats at the table with us....(sigh)....

Jerra's portraits...

being a photographer myself, I know that your own children never 'pose' for you in the same way they pose for others....SO, I had Jerra's photos done by a fellow photographer/friend (B4 photography - we actually went to high school together, her link is on my list) - these are from back in april, but I was keeping them a secret from Geoff as I did a big framed collage for him for father's day....and I just haven't had time to upload them since...so, here they are! I LOVE them! there are many more...this is just a preview of my fave's!!!

Happy 18 months!!!

On July 10th, our little one turned 18 months! where has the time gone?!

She is so much fun these days (and A LOT of work, as anyone who has a toddler well knows!)

- she loves going to the park (swinging and the slides are her faves), she LOVES swimming and playing with the neighborhood girls...she can point to her: head, nose, ears, eyes, mouth, elbow, belly, knees and toes when asked and can point to them on us as well. she says: mommy, daddy, buh-buh (bye-bye), nana (banana), wa-wa (water), mils-mils (milk), ball, book, Nala, nak-nak (snack), and a few more...she also can tell you what a cow says (booooooo); duck (wak-wak); monkey (oo--ooo); snake (ss-ssss), she bounces up and down when asked what a horse says (giddy up), she wags her finger back and forth when asked 'what does mommy say' (no-no-no) - thats really funny. and if you ask her what her fave team is she says 'ah-gees' (aggies)....

She is growing so fast and just the light of our lives!

saying goodbye...

Yesterday, I said goodbye to an angel...

Julia Mae was born on April 21st, and in her too short time here with us, she affected everyone around her. We are so blessed and lucky to have known you sweet baby. Thank you for reminding us of how precious life is, and how blessed we are too have those we love with us. You taught me to appreciate the little things in life, and to never take for granted the people I have in my life. You had the most amazing parents and I know God choose them for you because He knew they would treasure you the most.

Don't weep at my grave,
For I am not there,
I've a date with a butterfly
To dance in the air.
I'll be singing in the sunshine,
Wild and free,
Playing tag with the wind,
While I'm waiting for thee.

Sweet baby, sleep in peace our angel...

For more infomation on Trisomy 18, please visit the Foundations website: http://www.trisomy18.org/

and visit Julia's page: http://www.trisomy18.org/site/TR/Events/General?px=1139221&pg=fund&fr_id=1070

Watching daddy play music!

Geoff still plays anywhere from 2-4 times a week, but most of those gigs are in bars and late night...he recently had a weekend afternoon show that was outside, so Jerra and I had the chance to go and watch! Jerra gets excited when she sees daddy playing and she likes to dance dance dance to the music! she's so adorable!

Play time!

Jerra loves play time! She loves playing in her playroom with all the toys we spoil her with, she loves playing outside, especially when her neighbor friends are out and she LOVES playing in the pool!

loves playing at the park!

having fun learning to color!

more swimming with daddy!

A Moment you'll never forget...

Yesterday I went and visited a friend from college...Her baby turns 2 months tomorrow and I have been wanting to visit for weeks....last night I tried to come up with the words to describe my visit and I just couldn't seem to find the right ones...until today and I read the blog of another good friend who had made the trip with me....she found the right words - and so, since I can not seem to perfect them anymore - I am "stealing" her blog...yep, stealing it word for word. Taylor, you have said it best...it is through eyes filled with tears that I read and read this:

It is not often that you meet royalty.

Truth be known, I am confident I was not deserving of the honor that was bestowed to me today.

I believe passionately that I met a princess.

I do not know that I have met, or will ever meet for that matter, someone who has impacted so many people in such profound ways...A long time ago I was told many people will come and go in your lives, but only a few will touch you...will impact you...will change you...will make you a better person simply by knowing them. I remember challenging myself those many years ago to work each and every day striving to make a difference. I know it was for this reason that I entered the education profession... And, when I think about it, most of us spend the better part of a century hoping, praying that we might achieve this one goal - to make a positive difference in the life of just one person.

Ironically, this little princess has achieved this sometimes unattainable goal in the shortest amount of time.

And while it angers me to screams, hurts me to the core, and perplexes me beyond comprehension that this little princess was chosen not to live beyond my years, I am comforted in my confidence that He had a perfect plan when He chose to put her in this world.

Little princess, thank you for reminding me of my blessings and for teaching me to cherish them as I have failed to do before. Thank you for renewing the friendships I hold so dear. Thank you for placing me in a position that I might come to respect your parents in a way I have respected no other. Thank you for allowing me an insight into motherhood I needed to know. Thank you for showing me what it means to be grateful. Thank you for proving that even in the darkest of hours there IS light. And thank you most of all for making me open my heart so that I might believe in Him the way He has instructed me to do. Thank you...

As your incredible mother said tonight, you will never experience the joys and sadness that we have come to know; however, because of you we will forever find joy even in our saddest hours.

No matter how long your future may measure, little princess, you have already made quite the difference in mine.

You WILL live long...

It was my greatest honor to meet you today.

With love beyond words...

Julia and me

Taylor and Julia

Mommy and Julia

Sweet baby face

Julia trying hard to stay awake after a big lunch

(you can visit Taylors blog at: http://cokerfamilyupdates.blogspot.com/)

summer time!!! in texas = HOT!

summer has officially hit and we have already reached the 100 degree mark! It makes for some really really really HOT afternoons....so we have taken to the pool! Jerra LOVES it!!!!! she gets soooo excited when the pool comes into view...

I got a few snapshots the other day at our neigborhood pool and some in our front yard - I will get more the next time!

Memorial Day.....

what memorial day means....

We need to remember with sincere respect those who paid the price for our freedoms; we need to keep in sacred remembrance those who died serving their country.

And this is what Memorial Day commemorates: The brave men and women who lie underneath the Earth just so that we may stay proud on the ground above. These men and women gave their lives selflessly, thinking of not themselves but the future of us...the future of the citizens of the United States of America.

On Memorial Day we need to stop and pay with sincere conviction our respects for those who died protecting and preserving the freedoms we enjoy, for we owe those honored dead more than we can ever repay.

A new favorite!

I've tried giving Jerra Blueberries in the past, but she just was never interested...until this weekend! she started eating them like crazy! and boy do they make a MESS!!!! she has also discovered a love of watermelon...she likes walking around outside carrying her slide and chopping down on it...It's very cute!