Happy Thanksgiving!

One year ago today

I almost can't believe I am sitting here typing this.  At this time one year ago today my body was working to deliver a gift so amazing that nothing could have prepared me for it.  I remember at this time in the morning, around 7am, my midwife, Charlee, came over to confirm that I was in active labor.  She told me to go for a walk to make things progress more quickly.  So off Tarren and I set around the neighborhood.  We would walk a few paces and I would have a contraction so I would hang from Tarren's shoulders for support.  People would drive by on their way to work and I can only imagine what they were thinking.  Hopefully they had babies of their own so they understood.  Still, how often do you see a laboring woman on the street on your way to work?  I finally decided I had had enough walking so we went home.  Plus, I was getting cold.  We went back and the next several hours are kind of a blur to me.  I went from laboring in bed to the pool in our room to the shower.  Charlee and Tarren were the only people there with me and they took such good care of me while I concentrated on relaxing while my body worked.  Finally around 2pm it was time for a baby to be born.  We worked and we worked and finally at 310pm Liesel Carmen Condict was placed on my chest; all 9lbs 4oz of beautiful, slimy, wiggling baby.  It was such a miracle.  We had no words to express our awe.  Charlee cleaned us up and put us in bed.  She helped us nurse for the first time.  Liesel was a champ!  She checked Liesel out and weighed and measured her.  Everything went just perfectly.  Tarren went and got us dinner from Sonic.  Then our new family, exhausted from a long day, went to sleep in our own bed.  We knew it was the beginning of a grand adventure.

This is how much she has changed in just one year.  

Liesel, we are so blessed by God to have you as our baby girl.  I never could have imagined that I could have so much love for another person as I have for you.  My heart overflows with it.  You are such a gift to us and I love being your Mama.  Happy Birthday, baby!

Flying

Ahh the 80's...who whould have thought Bernie could be so inspirational?

This is hilarious.  The guy in the purple shirt is the best.

My Halloween craft

I actually made this several weeks ago for my friend Sallie.  I wanted to do a post about it so bad but had to wait until I could give it to her so as not to ruin the surprise.  Well, I finally gave it to her on Saturday so here is the big reveal.  I got this t-shirt at the thrift store (Sallie thinks this mean bunny character is really funny so I had to get it for her).  The shirt was too big for her so I decided to turn it into something else.

 It went from this:

To this (complete with zipper):

I already had the pillow insert.  This was my first pillow cover with a zipper and I think it turned out pretty well for the first time.  I will always make them with zippers from now on.  It is easier to do than I thought it would be.

My favorite little pumpkin

Liesel was your basic pumpkin for Halloween but I think she was the cutest pumpkin I've ever seen! She even surprised me and left her hat on all night.  We went trick-or-treating just to say hello to the neighbors.  Liesel can't eat candy after all but she did get into picking candy out of the bowl for Mommy and Daddy to eat later.  Then Mr. Grant Cliburn came by to say hi.  He was a train engineer.  Liesel loves Grant and chases him as he runs away from her.  Liesel, someday Grant will be more interested in girls.

Unaware of the impending Liesel attack