Baby's First Christmas

Round 1: Mane's

Mama and Madison built a gingerbread house

...some of the reason why none of us fit in our clothes anymore

Mama always gives the best expressions

Round 2: Mema/Papa Chandlers's

Daddy's helping her ride her horse

Chillin with Uncle Pooh

Round 3: Christmas morning at home

Getting a lil help from Daddy

Showing off her socks and sun hat

Checking out the big box that Santa left

ooohhhhh, aaaaahhhhh.......earrings

and finger puppet books

and lots of snacks and goodies in the stocking

and Santa brought us all Despicable Me

Round 4: GranGran/Papa Moore's

Looking for one with her name on it (which most of them had)

Checking out the musical donkey with Poppa

and riding her rocking horse with help from Grammie

I believe this is her "What chu talkin bout Willis" look

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. We have been able to see almost all of our family and hope to be able to see those we've missed soon. We even have plans to meet with the Tuckers before Spring! We hope each of you had a great Christmas and will have a Happy New Year too.

Christmas Play

Sunday we had a birthday party for Jesus and JoAnna was in her first Christmas Play. She did really well only whimpering once or twice but was fine after she got her paci.

(She started off in the back admiring baby Jesus)

(Then she got moved to the front where she could play with his hay)

Santa also made an appearance, but she wasn't all that excited to see him. She still not really sure what to think about him yet. At least she just cries and doesn't scream to the top of her lungs!

Now I've got to go get out my pillow that says "Dear Santa, I can explain" so maybe I'll have something under the tree myself. We hope everyone has a Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and safe holiday season.

JoAnna's first Halloween

We've technically been celebrating Halloween for 2 weekends. Last weekend we were at Mane's where JoAnna was teased with candy but then was able to actually enjoy some. Of course the bath had to follow.

Saturday night we trick-or-treated at Grammy's and Poppa's...

then we walked nextdoor to Gran-gran's and Pawpaw's...

after a stop at Teri's we ended our night at Mimi's with trick-or-treating

with Mary Grace and Bethany (and baby boy/pumpkin).

Halloween was finished last night with a trip to see Mema and Pawpaw nextdoor.

She wasn't really sure how to reach to Pawpaw in her costume.

slacker

yes i know i've been a big blog slacker lately. but to be honest, after a day at work (and most of you know ALL about where i work) and coming home to fix supper, do laundry, baths and bed time...well, i'm ready to get in the bed now just talking about it.

we have been doing pretty good lately. papa moore started his chemo treatments a few weeks ago. he's not been too sick from it, but he hasn't been 100% either. he has treatment 2 of 4 today. joanna is growing like a weed. haven't weighed her lately - frankly because i don't want to see what the scale says for me - but i'd guess she's around 20lbs now. eating some table foods and 2nd and 3rd from the jar. she still likes sweet potatoes most, but she doesn't turn away any food. that's probably the reason for all those cheeks, chins and leg rolls.

i've got 2 folks for yall to remember in the coming days, weeks and months. one will be continuing doctor appointments leading up to egg retrieval and invetro soon. she's been dealing with "no" for so long - i sure am praying for a "yes" to come her way. another is still early in the journey and is hoping to not have to go through the shots, pills and doctor appointments. i hope that for her too. praying that good news will be headed her way soon too!

Where does the time go?

Shew, it's been a while! In the last month (plus) we have celebrated Mother's Day and Father's Day, made many trips to the hospital (just to visit~PTL), watched Kelsi graduate high school, attended a wedding and 2 birthday parties, and visited with some people we've not seen in a while. Oh, and had JoAnna's 4 month check-up.   ----    So that's were the time has gotten off to.

And we aren't finished yet. Coming soon we have a - um, excuse me 2 - baby showers, a couples wedding shower, 4th of July, anniversary and birthday get-togethers, and Papa Moore's surgeries in no particular order. Plus, a new arrival in the spring. NO! IT'S NOT ME! I'm as excited as if it were me though. Ashley is expecting Burkett #3.

I had a great Mother's Day. Got to spend the day with my daughter and my mother (and the rest of the fam too). FL gave me flowers and JoAnna gave me a ring. We also purchased a new vehicle, which I consider to be a very big present. Brad enjoyed his first Father's Day as well. He of course wanted fishing stuff. So he got fishing stuff. And we went fishing.

JoAnna had her 4 month check up on the 15th and everything was just great. She weighs 14lbs 6oz and is 24 inches long. She got her second set of shots and only ran a low temp for a little while. Next appointment is in August. We started on baby food recently. That has been interesting! She's done pretty good though. Not too much of it gets splattered all over the place.

Please pray for Papa Moore. Just a little over 20 years ago he had to have his heart valve replaced because it was leaking. They told him that the valve would have to be replaced about every 10 years. Well 20+ years later he goes in for a check-up and they tell him that it's time to be replaced. Sure beat the odds on at one. But before they did the operation they were concerned about a spot they had found on his lung in March. So a couple of weeks ago they did another scan and there were 3 spots. The did a biopsy and found that it is cancer. Now the docs are meeting to figure out which issue needs to be dealt with first - lung or heart. He has an appointment in July at the Montgomery Cancer Center to make a determination. Please keep him and Mema in your prayers. He is a little depressed about it all and extremely worried.

Here are just a few pics from the last month.

Our visit with Jean.

Swinging with Meme and playing with Mary Grace.

Visiting with Seth, Luke and Ally Claire during her first trip to Athens.

Mother's Day weekend in bed with Daddy. (wearing a gown I made before she was born)

Enjoying her new walker even though her feet don't quite touch the floor.

Dear JoAnna,

For so long I wished and prayed and cried for you. Now that you are here I am still praying and crying over you. At times I thought Mother's Day would never come for me. This Sunday, because of you, it will. You have completely changed my life and I am so glad for that. I never thought that I could look at someone smile and have the urge to cry. Watching you grow from a scrawny 5lb 5oz newborn whose ankles were the size of shotgun shells to a 12lb chunky 3 month old who has rolls on her toes has been absolutely amazing. You change right before our eyes each day. I love you so much and feel blessed that God has given me the privilege to be a mother to such an angel.

Mama

JoAnna Lane Chandler

We had these made at Portrait Innovations and they did a great job. I was so glad she stayed alert for the 2.5 hours. Will definately be back for her 3 month pics.

My life changed

at 3:19 pm on Feb 9th.

5 lbs 5oz    19 in

yes, those are tears

yes, he's a little proud

dealt with a little jaundice

at home, sleeping in her daddy's arms

didn't like her first bath...

...until she realized it was ok to suck on mama's arm

(tomorrow i'll post her portraits taken last week)