Happy New Year!

Christmas Morning 2009

Well January is almost over and I'm just now getting to post Ashley's Christmas pictures and videos...Sorry so late! Better late than never though!!!! Ashley is growing by leaps and bounds! She is becoming the little talker too...she is putting 4 to 5 word sentences together now! I am glad that it has finally kicked in, her doctor had wanted at least 3 to 4 word sentences by December and I think she is doing just fine! She is VERY into Dora, Diego, Blue's Clues, and this week's favorite Wonder Pets! Barney still is requested every once in awhile...she definitely knows what she wants when she is asking for it! One night she woke up in the middle of the night and repeatedly asked "Barney On Mommy, Barney On Mommy." She is so much fun to play with and now have a conversation with. She will actually talk on the phone and answer a couple of questions!

The Christmas holiday went by very quickly but it was very enjoyable. Ashley really got into "Santa" but from afar. She didn't want to get anywhere close to him. She loved to watch him on TV and read books about him. We went to my Mom's office Christmas party where Santa made an appearance. "Santa Santa Santa!" she said very excitedly. And then He walked over to her...it was all over she wanted nothing to do with him up close! NO good pictures, oh well maybe next year!!! We actually got a Very White and Cold Christmas!! Ashley got lots of Dora things but her favorite would be Backpack and Map! She also got her 1st Drum set...too cute and she actually does a good job. Thank goodness they are not very loud and they are Purple!!!

Backyard

Front Porch

"Look My Dora"

Very cute Sweatshirt with her name on it from Aunt Marcia!

Playing the Drums!

Christmas Morning Video Clip

Backpack and Map Video Clip

Playing the Drums Video Clip

Ashley got her 1st haircut on New Year's Eve. I took the camera with us but forgot to check to see if the memory card was in it...it was not! Bad Mommy got no pictures of the actual cutting. She did get her picture taken afterward by the salon and a certificate. I need to scan the picture so I can put it on here. I have a little baggie of her hair that actually has a curl from the back. We are hoping that this will help her hair to get thicker and grow more!

Ashley has been exploring with taking clothing off and putting it back on. Last weekend she found my new package of socks and decided she needed to wear them. She was very proud of herself when she got them both on and walked all over the house!

Look at Me!

Zoo Trip and Halloween

I'm ready for the Zoo!

Sorry in the delay of posting an update! It is very difficult to find the extra time to get this done!

Ashley enjoyed her 1st trip to the Ft. Worth Zoo. She was not so sure of it when we visited the VERY noisy monkeys! By the time we got to the giraffes, she was so excited! :) Other highlights of her visit were the penguins, lions, turtles, and she even got to touch a crab! The zoo even had a merry-go-round...her FAVORITE! She of course rode it 2 times!! :)

Look how close the sleeping kangaroos are!

Hi Giraffes!

Hi "Roars" (Lions)!

I Really Touched that! :)

Penguins!

My Favorite!!!

Ashley was a Princess for Halloween. She got to wear her costume for Fall Festival at our church on Wednesday before Halloween. It was a little overwhelming for her...very crowded. She will enjoy it more next year. They had a petting zoo but Ashley didn't want to pet anything. The theme for the night was board games...our Sunday school class chose "Ants in the Pants". Ashley liked the Chutes and Ladders game...Lots of slides!! :) On Halloween Ashley went to a couple of houses in our neighborhood. After that we decided to go visit a few friends in the car...not an easy task when costume has a hoop skirt! Note to self: Next year car seat friendly costume!! We had to take the dress off every time we put her in the car...NOT FUN!

I'm Ready, I think?

I don't think I want to get down with those animals!

This is more like it!!! :)

Halloween Night 2009
My "crazy hair" Mommy!

Here are some funny videos and pictures of different food Ashley is trying and things she is saying and doing!

My Nap Mat is great on the Kitchen floor!

Look what I can do with my table!!


Trying Hot Dog for the 1st time!


"Funny Thing" she says and does!

Birthday Party Time!

Yummy Cake

Elmo-themed of course!

Ashley had her birthday party at Gatti Town (Pizza place that has games and rides). We picked this place because it has a Carousel that she loves to ride!! Ashley was surrounded with lots of love and presents from her family and our close friends from the NICU: Karl, Carla, and Hannah! We know that there were thoughts of love and birthday wishes from all our extended family and friends that could not attend! Here are several pictures from presents, cake and riding the Carousel (about 5 times)!

I think I can open this all by myself!

I got it!

Is that Elmo???

Wow it sings to me!

This is A LOT of FUN!!

Clap for me - I blew out the candle!

I am so excited!

Hannah and Karl

Happy Birthday Ashley!

Oct. 2007

Oct. 2008

Sept. 2009

It is hard to believe that 2 years ago today that God gave us a wonderful Blessing!!! Ashley is such a joy each and every day!

I will post recent pictures this weekend after her birthday party!

Mommy just wanted to take a few moments to Thank God for His wonderful gift to me!! :)

Busy Month...Lots of Events!

Finale at Craig Ranch

4th of July

We spent the 4th of July at Billy's cousin's house and Ashley swam for the 1st time of this summer. She loved getting in the pool. The thing she enjoyed the most was their dog swimming in the pool too! The evening was spent in McKinney at Craig Ranch to watch fireworks with Granny and Grandpa. Ashley loved eating her Sonic cheeseburger and fries outside on a blanket. The fireworks were amazing and we were so close we could almost touch them! She wasn't even scared with all the loud booms...very surprised! :)

Daddy and Ashley


Splashing Daddy

Mommy and Ashley

Daddy and Ashley

Carter's Birthday Party

We were pleased to be able to attend our very special friend's 2nd birthday party! It was at a pool in McKinney. Ashley had a good time in the pool!! We even ran into one of Billy's cousin and her family at the pool...nice surprise! If you haven't heard us talk about Carter and his amazing life then you need to check out his website. Just click on his name. He is always in need of prayers!!

Chillin' out with Daddy!

Swimming with the girls!

Ball Pit of Fun

We got a little pool for Ashley to use while Mommy and Daddy were out of town. Well after we inflated it we decided it had another use than swimming...a home for all the balls we bought at the beginning of the summer!!! Ashley loves it! We have caught her many times just sitting in there watching either Jack's Big Music Show or Barney...her new found favorite shows!

Balls of Fun!

Aunt Mary's Surprise Birthday Party

This was a fun experience for the whole family as it was a dress-up 50's party! Granny was busy on her sewing machine and made all the girls poodle skirts to match! I think we were the best dressed family for sure!!!! :) Ashley had a blast especially with the hula hoops. It is funny how she knew what to do with them without being shown at all!!

What a Good Looking Family

Great-Grandma and the girls

Look at Me!

So Many Don't Know What to Do!

Cute Animal Noises and New Bed!

Big Girl in her Big Bed!

Ashley has been working on making animal noises lately. Her very first animal noise to make is not the typical one...it is the noise of a Sheep! It is so cute!!! Mommy has been working on the cow noise but she has decided that a cow says "Me" instead of "Moo". Enjoy the video clip!!! :) We will post 4th of July pictures later this weekend...can't wait to see how she does with the fireworks this year!!

Cow and Sheep noises

Ashley now has 2 beds in her room...her crib and a cute little toddler bed. Aunt Lori and cousin Ryan decided that Ashley would love this little bed...and she does! Ammie made Ashley her very own cute little pink pillow to go with the bed. She has been napping during the day in her Big Girl bed but sleeping at night in her crib. She is growing up way to fast...21 months already!!!!

Napping in the new bed!

Ashley has been having fun playing with the dogs lately. She has gotten faster and stronger so it is a challenge for Bailey the dog to get away! The big green pool is now on the back patio instead of the living room. Cute video to watch!! :)

Video Clip #1

Video Clip #2

GREAT NEWS TODAY!

Ashley's neurologist called with the results of her CT scan from last Thursday... "It looks slightly better from the last scan so the doctor does not need to see her unless she develops any future problems!" Our prayers have been answered!!!! She does not look or act like a child with head issues so it has been hard to put her through the tests every 6 to 8 months. Here are some pictures that Daddy took while we were at the last CT scan.

My Sleeping Angel

Look how long she has gotten!

For Father's Day we went to have dinner at Ammie and Papa's house. Ashley really enjoyed the cake. She especially enjoyed looking at her messy self in a mirror!!! The pictures were taken with Daddy's cellphone.

Hands and Face! Yummy!!!

Wow, don't I look so funny!