What Child is This?

So there are no pictures for this blog, but don't worry. Christmas pictures will be uploaded next time. I have not had a chance yet to upload them on the computer. Our Christmas was a blast. We saw a side of Sarah Beth we had never seen. She absolutely refused to miss a beat and tried to stay awake for all the festivities. With 3 families, that was no easy task. By Sunday though, she crashed. Honestly, I was impressed she made it without a meltdown. We left Tuesday night for Tifton. We visited the Great-grandmothers and friends. We had "Christmas morning" Wednesday afternoon. All of our families open gifts one at a time. You can imagine how long that took. Sarah Beth received her first cell phone and set of keys. My dad has a rich history of buying those singing stuffed animals from Cracker Barrel for Christmas. She also received her first singing animal. She likes it now, but the first time we played it for her it scared her to death and put her in a crying, hot mess. Then it was back home for the Christmas Eve church service. She was so tired from playing with Papa George, Mimi and Aunt Teensy that she slept through the service. She didn't even stir when I got up with her to get communion. Christmas morning was amazing. There is something to be said for children and Christmas. Even though Sarah Beth didn't get it this year, spending the morning with her made it magical for Dutch and myself. Then we were off again to Dutch's dad's house for lunch and gifts. Sarah Beth did not get a wink of a nap until about 4:00 thanks to Aunt Laura and Aunt Amanda. She played and laughed with them all afternoon. The snow began to fall and we left to have Christmas Supper at home. That is right, I said it... snow. Sarah Beth's first Christmas became a white one!! By about 9 pm the ground was covered. Our Sunday included playing in the snow and a visit from Grandy!! Gifts were once again exchanged and Sarah Beth played with Grandy all night Sunday and Monday. We are finally back to normal and while I LOVE family and Christmas I think we are enjoying finally relaxking. After Sarah Beth's Crash on Sunday and again on Tuesday I think she is finally back to her routine as well. Hope everyone had a merry Christmas and will enjoy the new year!

It's a Wonderful Life

Sarah Beth is sitting in my lap as I write this. She can sit up just fairly good now, until she gets tired. Crawling is a different thing, she has decided that she prefers being on her back which means that now matter how often I put her on her stomach, she rolls over and does somewhat of a crab crawl on her back. Aunt Teensy says it resembles the excorsist, which it does, but it is still exciting to see her move. Christmas is a week away which is exciting for every one especially me. I have enjoyed all the lights, festivities, and music as always. Sarah Beth enjoys the lights most of all and Dutch is just enjoying spending his time off with Sarah Beth. She has truly made this a special Christmas for us.

Santa was exciting... more for Dutch and myself than Sarah Beth I think. Much more will be posted on the festivus this year but I wanted to update yall on life here and mainly post her Santa picture. We are heading to Tifton this week and then back home for Christmas day. It will be a fun filled week for sure! This is by far my favorite holiday.

On a different note, I decided that you know you are a mom when you put on your sunglasses and you cannot see because they are covered in crusty something and you dont know where it came from or how long it has been there!

Much Love, Mary Beth

Fall is my favorite season

So much has happened since my last post. It always seems that the fall just flies by and now Christmas is on its way. For those of you who do not know, I am a holiday nut... and my favorite is Christmas! I moved the furniture for the tree on Friday by myself in anticipation of Dutch getting the decorations. He got the tree and decorations down Sunday and by Monday, I had it all out! I think if Dutch would let me I would have it out before Thanksgiving. But we have a rule...

In the past month, Sarah Beth was christened. She new it was her day and enjoyed every moment of the attention. She sat right up in the preacher's arms and just looked from side to side of the isle happy as a lark. We have celebrated Halloween. Sarah Beth was a lady bug and we took her to pick out a pumpkin in her outfit. We had her 3 month pictures taken a week before she turned 4 months. A little late I know, but it was within the month. She did so well. We got 5 outfit changes in but she is asleep in every halloween picture. She met her future boyfriend, James Fresh. She has a lot. Most people we know have boys, but thanks to my college friends she has a couple of girls and girls on the way! James was 13 months at the time and was interested until she cried. James is the first child of one of my oldest friends, Lauren. Lauren and Eddie live near Warner Robbins so it is always a treat to see them. Melissa had her senior art exhibit. Sarah Beth hated the noise and all the people but Melissa's work was amazing. I am not sure where her talent came from, but it always amazes me. I wish I had even a pinch of her talent. Sarah Beth's would have a lot more homemade keepsakes if I did. Both of my grandmothers visited Athens to see Melissa's exhibit and visit Sarah Beth. They babysat one night and witnessed a meltdown. Sarah Beth never dissapoints :). Dutch and I celebrated our 2 year anniversary with a surprise night out in Atlanta to Bones Steakhouse. Dutch decided after everything we have been through in the past year, something special was necessary. He surprised me with 3 longstem roses and dinner. I could not have asked for a better husband. It was amazing and definately my highlight from the month. Our anniversary was quickly followed by Thanksgiving with the Guests (and all of Dutch's female cousins), Thanksgiving with Vicki (very low key), and a celebration of Dad's 60th birthday (thats right, I said it - 60) at the UGA-GT tailgate. This was also Sarah Beth's first tailgate. She was such a trouper and handled each event like the amazing lady she is. This Thanksgiving season was a great reminder of EVERYTHING we have been blessed with this past year.

So after an EXTREMELY busy November, we are relaxing and getting ready for Christmas. Every winter we have spent in our house, we have experienced a major snowstorm (for Georgia). I am hoping this year does not dissapoint. Here is to hoping each of you have a wonderful holiday season and have had a blessed year!


Dutch and I at one of the games I was able to watch


Sarah Beth's Christening


Sarah Beth's first encounter with solids.
At her 4 month checkup she was 14lbs 3.5 oz and 28 inches. She fell in the 95% in length which excited her dad and her Guest family. Looks like she got their height and not mine!

"Shes Got A Way"

I know it has been quite a while since I blogged, and a lot has happened in the past 3 months! So I will quickly sum it up and then get to what you want to see anyway, pictures. Sarah Beth was born on July 9 at 7:12 pm. She weighed 7 lbs even and was 18.5 inches. She had a good bit of dark hair which has now left her everywhere but the back of her head. Dutch calls it her mullet. It is slowly starting to grow back though. She was delivered via c section. I had some complications. To explain simply, my uterus did not respond after delivery as it should and caused a major hemorrhage. This led to 5 days in the hospital and 2 transfusions. However, I am recovering and we could not have asked for a better baby. Sarah Beth is truly a blessing. I am now at home with Sarah Beth full time after the grant for my job was not renewed, but am loving getting to spend all day with her!! Dutch is busy working and we now appreciate weekends more than ever! Sarah Beth is sleeping all night and is generally very content. She is the apple of all of her grandparents eyes and has now officially met both great grand mothers. We took her to Mexico Beach at 2 months for a MUCH needed vacation and did not want to come back. She has not been tailgating yet but wears her red and black every Saturday. 12:30 kick offs do not let us get ready in time for all of us to tailgate. But Mimi has been very gracious and babysat for 2 games so Dutch and I could go together. Her baptism was on 10/10/10 and she made it through the service and baptism without screaming or spitting up on the preacher so it was a major success for us. She also made her first trip to Tifton this past weekend and we were kept very busy visiting. Major milestones to date include: smiling, laughing, holding her head up and halfway turning over. She also loves to stand and has just discovered her tongue so it spends most its time out now! Now that we have a pretty basic routine, the blogging should become more consistent.

Much Love, MB


Our new family leaving the hospital

Sarah Beth at home in her going home outfit

Dad getting to hold her for the first time

One of her first smiles

Mexico Beach Sunset

One of her first official pictures at the hospital

First bath after blowing out on Aunt Laura

Getting to be with mom for the first time!

The Waiting Game

It has been almost 2 months since our last post and much has changed. We are now 37 weeks which means full term. I cannot believe it. It seems like forever since we just found out. Now we are on her schedule. The doctor said to expect her to be around 6 1/2 lbs. She was 5 lbs 15 oz at my visit last Monday. They did an ultrasound which was amazing. She no longer fits in 1 screen. We saw her head, then her body, then her legs. We also got to see her eyes!

We have finished her nursery and thanks to our last shower in Watkinsville, we have most of the basics we need. Pictures will be posted soon of the final nursery. Our family and friends have been SO WONDERFUL in helping us! So there is no more stressing about what needs to be done! Dutch and I are both anxious all the time just waiting. He is a wonderful man who has almost completely taken over the house and me without me even having to ask for help. She could not ask for a better father! I on the other hand spend most of my time inside with my feet propped up drinking gallons of water. What are the odds that I would be 9 months pregnant during a heat wave anyway? I am hoping this heat will encourage her to go ahead and make her appearance. Despite the heat, we are enjoying our last days as a twosome and cannot wait for our family to grow!! But until then - we wait!

Much Love,
MB and Dutch

30 Weeks and Counting

It has been a while since the last post, but the spring has kept us pretty busy. From Easter to baby showers to trips, Dutch and I have been on the go the past two months. This picture is our family Easter picture (a tradition from both families) and was taken at 26 weeks. We just had a 30 week checkup and things are still going great! Everything is normal and she appears to still be right on time. My belly is growing very fast and we start our classes at the hospital tomorrow.

Dutch, almost singlehandedly, put our entire nursery together in one weekend. I tried to help a little but ended up only providing moral support. He was Superman with the paint and after the crib, changing table and daybed we both think he can put anything together! She is going to be daddy's little girl! She already tends to get very active when she hears his voice. We both are very happy with how the room turned out and cannot wait to put it to use!

Baby Guest had her first 2 showers April 24 in Tifton where some had not seen me with my new belly! She got lots of goodies that I know she will enjoy (and I got to visit with old friends - my favorite part). We had a brunch with friends of my mother's followed by a shower with my high school friends that afternoon. My grandmother Mema was the hit of the party with the story of my dad's birthday told as we have never heard. Aunt Teensie (my sister) was also able to make it at the last minute, making it a great weekend.

Dutch and I took what may be our last trip before the baby to Brasstown Valley. The scenery was amazing and the stop in Helen at the candy store was even better! We had an great weekend trip relaxing in the mountains! Dutch and I are looking forward to everything slowing down before she gets here. Beginning nursery pictures and our first baby shower pictures have been posted as well. We are now on the home stretch and are 10 weeks and counting!!

Much Love, Dutch and MB

Halfway There and It's a Girl!

We are 18 weeks pregnant and decided we would try our first blog to make it easier for family and friends to stay updated. We will see how long this last :) Our family is changing from 3 to 4 on July 12, 2010 with our first child and we are tickled pink... on that note

It is official, we are having a beautiful baby girl!! She weighs 8 oz and has a strong hearbeat. We visited Dr. Rosemond, the "hi def" doctor according to Dutch, and he did a full ultrasound. He measured her head, stomach, arms, legs, etc and everything is right on track. Dr. Rosemond had to move her around a good bit, she kept trying to hide from us - modest! We still have lots of great pictures though. All of the grandparents are thrilled for the first grandchild for everyone. She waved at us for the first time! Our next big project - the nursery!! Pictures to come.

Much Love,
Dutch and Mary Beth