Asher Daniel Chappell

she's got legs and she knows how to use them

That's right, she's off and walking! She loves it. She follows me around all day and it's really so cute.  She loves to haul toys around that are really too big for her to carry but she likes to drag them around anyways. :o)  And she learned to sign "more" in sign language. That might be the extent of signing for her or maybe not. But she picked that one up quick. I guess it's because she's loving eating these days. She's funny about texture but she's a good sport about most things. 

We celebrated her #1 birthday with a cupcake and a few gifts (her new baby doll was and still is  HUGE hit! She loves giving her doll kisses and loves!)  but we're waiting on my whole family to get here next weekend for Jeremiah's wedding to have her big birthday party!! It's going to be so much fun. I've loved planning it. 

I can't believe she's #1!! She's so much fun at this age. Love it!! 

 

 
 

She liked playing in it more than eating it. strange woman! 

 

 

 

New clothes. She is growing out of clothes so fast now these were definitely needed. 

 

A doll baby that looks a lot like her! :o) 

 

 

Nothing says I love you like a french kiss from a 1 year old! 

 

So, how does this bottle taste? 

 

Ohhhh... feed the baby! 

 

My baby!

 
 

make new friends... keep the old.

While I don't think I'm doing the former as much as I should since we moved here. I have reconnected with several old friends.   Tiffany is one of those friends. We figured it out that we met when we were both 14 at a conference in Indianapolis. Became pen pals (I'm so going to encourage my daughter to have pen pals) And Tiff was a letter writing machine... long beautiful letters. That's what teens did before facebook/email I guess.  Anyway, then I went and visited her in GA a few years later and then..... we basically didn't reconnect until a year or two ago. She really encouraged me as we lost our son and missed him greatly.  

So, when we found out they were coming to Fort Worth for Thanksgiving. We jumped at the opportunity to get together (they live in CO. right now) So I got to meet her 5 beautiful sons and I couldn't resist but to take some photos of them. Boys are so fun to photograph I think because they warm up so fast and then start showing off and that's FUN to photograph!  

Here is their slideshow: http://www.poiemaphotography.com/flammboyswinter09/

Tiff, You're an amazing mother and I loved meeting your sons and getting to know them. And getting to see you again after all these years. It was as if being 14 and pen pals was just yesterday! 

 

 

 

 
  
 
 

Happy Thanksgiving 2009

Yesterday we made the trip to Austin for the Keathley Family gathering. It was as always so good to see cousins and family that we don't get to see often enough. But it was hard too, because this was the first thanksgiving without my grandfather. And my aunt is having a really tough battle with cancer and though she was there and graciously hosted all of us that day, she was tired and hurting. I think get togethers are important for remembering the past. for celebrating the future,  and for enjoying the moment. We did all of those.  

Here's our annual family photo: (minus Jessica and Craig, Jessica Nichols, Brittany and Bradley and Mabel, We missed you guys!!)   

 

And here's some fun photos from yesterday! 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And here's Zoe all pooped out on the way home. She played so hard all day that I think she fell asleep in the driveway pulling out. 

 
 I hope everyone enjoyed the friends and family you were around yesterday. And I just want you to know that I'm VERY grateful for each and every one of you. It's hard to believe that at Thanksgiving last year We had just heard about a little baby girl that was about to be born and needed a mommy and daddy. This has been another full and abundant year. Full of His mercy and grace. Full of lessons learned. Full of love and new experiences. Full of talks of visions for the future. Full of blessings that are too numerous to count. 

When I'm worried and I can't sleep

I count my blessings instead of sheep

And I fall asleep counting my blessings

When my bankroll is getting small

I think of when I had none at all

And I fall asleep counting my blessings

I think about a nursery and I picture curly heads

And one by one I count them as they slumber in their beds

If you're worried and you can't sleep

Just count your blessings instead of sheep

And you'll fall asleep counting your blessings

* love me some bing crosby! *

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Central Market

This is Dan and my favorite date place as of late.  Of course it's more like a family date place because we just load up the kids and head there and walk around and graze off all their samples and breathe in all the fresh produce. It's the coolest place and we love getting into conversations with people there, usually stopping to talk to Zoe. It's kinda like whole foods and kinda not. It carries the feel of whatever holiday is nearby. 

soul sigh

I've been wanting to share on here some of my mind's thoughts this past week but just haven't had the time or the words to put it in. So when I found myself being able to put it into sentences for a dear friend today I thought that it pretty much summed up the past few days. So I thought I'd just copy and paste it on here for you and just to remember when I look back and read. 

"Jack is getting cuter and cuter by the day. He's eating like a champ finally so I think that will put some baby chub on him hopefully.  I hope we get to keep him forever and always!!! But I just keep asking God to give him to us but that He knows what will best glorify His name in our  lives and Jack's. That's helped me not to fear the unknown. And I told Dan the other day. I mean even if he does go back to his mom or dad... this will have been a year that at most we've given up sleep, conveinence, and some grocery budget for formula and diapers. But to give him a sweet start to life... that's nothing in the grand scheme of things. It's not like he's making us put our life on hold.  But girl, I love me some JACK! I am smitten already in ways it took a lot longer with Zoe. Maybe that's because I know what to do and how to feel because of her. Maybe it's because she was such a "village baby" meaning so many people were involved that first month of her coming to us and so I sorta shared her with A lot of others,  (and that was a joy seeing her bring healing and happiness to so many who shared our hurt and sorrow as well) whereas with Jack it's just been me + dan + zoe + him most of the time. 

And of course looking back, I'm sure being 4 months out from having lost a baby probably did effect me  more than I realized then in those first few months of having a baby in the home. I feel so much more grounded now, more settled in my heart. it's like when my soul sighs (and it does often) it says "it is well with my soul". There is still a sadness that I don't know if it will ever go away much like I think the guys who penned it is well with my soul did so with deep intense understanding of sorrow and probably felt it while being able to say those words.  It's like my insides have a depth that wasn't there before so, while I will ache always down there.... it allows me to feel other things with a depth that I never had before as well. I still have a hard time crying over things not related to death, so sometimes I feel hardened. But I think maybe there might be life experiences coming that I might need that toughness for. Or maybe God will eventually soften that in me.  I will also say, that I am glad we had Zoe first because Jack can instantly touch areas in my heart because he's such a peanut like Asher was and he's so similar to him being a tiny white boy and the way his skin is and the way his lips are... so yeah, I don't think my heart would have been healed enough to do this a year ago. But now, it's just so easy to love him." 

God is good. 

 Defnition:  sigh

Pronunciation: \ˈsī\

Function: verb

A sigh is an audible/bearable exhalation of air arising from tiredness or from an emotion, usually sadness/tiredness, which could be stemming from feelings of sadness or simple futility

 to take a deep audible breath (as in weariness or relief)

 to make a sound like sighing <wind sighing in the branches>

 grieve, yearn <sighing for days gone by>

My note: A soul sigh is the above but directed towards God and something that no one else may see or be aware of. Sort of like a pause in the moment and letting your soul feel deeply and admit it's weariness to the Lord. And also it's yearning for the day where it won't be bound in this earthly shell and in this world of sorrow and pain.

snips and snails

I love all his little newborn baby parts. :o) 

Jack is such a good baby...... he Sleeps ALL THE TIME! which is great seeing as how he wasn't supposed to be born for another two weeks. He's eating okay but still needs to develop more in that area, we do a lot of coaxing for most bottles.  And he LOVES to be held, it's almost like I can see him relaxing as soon as I put him in my arms, so in my arms he stays a lot of the time right now. :o)
Zoe's doing great with him. The only thing is, that we're reducing the number of bottles she has a day and when I feed him his "baba" she starts this whining sound and wants to get in my lap for a baba.... thank goodness for those baby puff cereal things, they often do the trick of diversion for now.  But we still make sure she gets lots of cuddle time and interaction with us. :o) 

Anyway, soak up some baby sweetness: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...............and her highness: 

 

Meet Little Man Jack

Jack... it means God is Gracious. And indeed He is and undoubtably will prove so in the months to come as we parent this little one and watch where the Lord places him long term. 

This is a special name that we named him. We choose a different name than what's on his birth certificate for several reasons. 1. For Privacy reasons, If I'm blogging about him online I'd rather not use a name that other's might want to look up for any reason regarding his foster time here or long term placement. 2. We really love the name, and if we do adopt him it will be his name forever. 3. We love this name and meaning paired with his name his mother gave him. 

But We are soooooo happy to have him in our home. We had a great night lat night and the little guy is eating well. He's pretty content and loves to be held and rocked. And Praise the Lord he takes a pacifier really well. Something Zoe never did. (she sucks her tongue when she has something soft next to her face...it's so interesting.) 

Here are some photos I took this morning. He's still  tiny and really hasn't grown into his own body yet, but he's a handsome guy.  

 

Little Man

 I'm coming to get you today!! 

You just got out of the hospital yesterday, Grandma Joy came to pick you up and she spent the day and last night with you. Her voice was full of that "newborn giddiness" that just happens when you have a baby around you for any length of time. Yesterday was also your original due date. You were born quite early and the Doctors think you were even earlier than thought. But you proved to be a fighter. And God was gracious to you and helped you grow and become stronger and learn those basic things. We are so grateful to Him and those things are answered prayers for many. 

I couldn't sleep last night because I was excited. It seriously felt just like Christmas Eve, you can't go to sleep but you know if you just could tomorrow would come so much faster. And then I woke up this morning I bounded out of bed to get ready. I'm coming to get you today!! You have so many new aunts and uncles and grandparents ready to meet you when you get here. And so many more ready to love you when they see you for the first time.  

God created you at the perfect time in history. You weren't an accident of nature, you were ordained by a King. You have undoubtably changed lives already. I know your mother thought so much about you as you grew in her tummy. I know you helped bring joy into her life as she is going through a hard time right now. You probably reminded her often that God is the creator of life and that He is in charge of all things. Your father has already written me and told me how much he loves you and can't wait to see you. You have also been a great encouragement to him as well and I think he's going to be a good father to you even if he can't hold you or take care of you right now. 

You aren't mine. or your daddy's. But we will love you as our own until God allows you to become ours forever or till you go to live with your mother or father... and even then we'll still love you.  We are thankful that God is bringing you into our life and home. I know you will teach us so much about love and parenting and about being patient and selfless... and a host of other things. 

You have a big sister who doesn't really understand you're coming. She will soon enough. She's amazing and I hope you grow to be good friends and very close. She'll need a brother to help look after her when she's older and I know she'll love on you a lot... she's getting really good at giving kisses. You have a sister and a brother who live far away but I know they will want to know you as they get older as well. So, little man. You are loved and will be loved well.  

So, Let me just say that your mommy and daddy are glad you are coming to live with us and know that you will change our lives. We can't wait to meet you and are giddy with excitement as most new parents are. I pray that God uses you in all kinds of people's lives to show His Love and graciousness to. 

Love, 

Your Mommy for now and maybe always.   

P.S. I'm coming to get you today!! 

wrapping up a great season

Poiema Photography had a great year this year. When I was looking at our summer and throwing in moving halfway across the country, I was wondering how it would all happen. But week by week and wedding by wedding it came together and we were able to be a part of so many beautiful family celebrations!! And I just wanted to give you some links of some of the weddings we've done and show you just a little of what we've been up to all summer. So you know what I'm talking about when I'm going on and on about having so much editing to catch up on.  These aren't all the weddings just a few to show you. You might want to pause the music player on the side of the blog before playing these slideshows. Enjoy! And if you know of anyone getting married in 2010... send them our way! 

Britney and Brennan's Wedding in Raleigh

 

 

 

 

Tina and Danny's Wedding in Florida

 

 

Ginny and Stephen's Wedding in Texas 

 

 

Heather and Brian's Wedding in Raleigh 

 

Genna and Clark's Wedding in Louisburg

 

 

My 11 month old sweetheart

She truly is a sweetheart. Loves to give kisses whenever we ask for them and wakes up happy every morning ready to snuggle with her mom.  Yesterday she was taking a nap and I couldn't help but to take these pics of her sweet feet under her sweet bum. 

 

 

And yes, Girls are so much fun to dress up and so Dan and I LOVE getting her all dolled up to go anywhere. If we find ourselves in a Baby Gap... it's over. She just is so much fun to get stuff for. So every now and then we'll get her an outfit and Grandma Judy bought her these cute crocheted hats with bows and OMG does she ever look precious in them.... especially since she doesn't have much hair to keep her warm these days. 

 

Check out those two front teeth! She now has 3 on top and 1 on the bottom.