Visitors

Aunt Therese & Drew

Sizzle & Choodle

We had some visitors in Charleston recently and Mati had a blast. Stacey & Adam brought their new Wii, and that is pretty much all we did the entire weekend. (We might have to purchase one in the near future. They are so much fun!) We even gave Mati a turn. I think she is hooked, or at least the TV is keeping her interest now.

It Wont Be Like This For Long

Talk about a tear-jerker! Mati is only 11 weeks old and I am already crying about her growing up. This song is so true, though. I cherish every moment God has given me to spend with this miraculous little child.

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So Many GREAT Grandparents

Mati is blessed to have so many wonderful people in her life. She is surrounded by family that loves and adores her. Just look at the faces of all her Great Grandparents. What priceless memories these photos are!

Great Grandma (Gigi) & Grandpa Williams

(Mati's cousin Alexis found her way into this photo, too. Don't they look like best friends already?)

Great Grandma & Grandpa Price

Great Grandpa Sandhoff

Great Grandma & Grandpa Westra

The girls are finally together!

Mati has been waiting so patiently for her new baby cousin to be born. And now, she is finally here! Brooke Elizabeth Alley was born on Tuesday, October 27th weighing in at 6lbs 4oz, 19 1/2 in. (Just a little bit bigger than Mati.) She is a beautiful, healthy little girl with a full head of dark hair and great big eyes.

As you can see, Mati and her cousin Alexis are already great friends...

And they welcomed Brooke to the bunch (dont they look excited to be together?)...

Best friends in the making...

We are so blessed to have such great friends (and family)...

...And Then There Were Three

Matilda Lynn Westra was born September 3, 2009 at 12:15PM weighing 5lbs 15oz and 18 inches long. She did such a great job, and didnt make her mommy labor long. This is her very first picture. She is about a minute old. Beautiful and perfect from the start, wasnt she? And that's Doctor Turner in the background. He is the best doctor of all time!

I knew that Mati was a miracle from the day we found out I was pregnant, but I was not in the least bit prepared for how special this moment would be. Nothing compares to the feeling of holding her in my arms for the first time.

Our first family photo...

What a magnificent gift from God children are! I think he gives us a taste of what it is to create life because He so loved creating us. And what a miracle it is!

(See all of Mati's first photos on facebook)

In the Beginning There Were Two

This is where it all began.

My cousin and Blake's college roommate got married (thanks Jaimie & Matt!). Blake was the best looking guy in the wedding party, and immediately caught my eye. I planted a kiss on him before the night was through and 2 1/2 years later we were here... on the alter. He took my breath away then, and he still does now.

God's plan was unfolding, and Mati was known only to Him.

Fast forward 2 1/2 more years, and we are here. The night before Mati was born.

I love this picture, and I cannot wait until Mati is old enough to understand it. I think it is the perfect picture of how much we loved her, even before she was born.

Jumping on the Bandwagon

Blogging - its the thing to do if you have kids, apparently. I figured I might as well, too.

...and yes, I would jump off the bridge if everybody else did.

So, to start, here is my favorite picture of our little family.