Photo Shoot

Yesterday, Maggie took some pictures of Shelby out at Michael and Shelley Lincoln's house. She's posted two on her website for a sneak peek. We haven't seen any others, and judging from how these two turned out, it's going to be really difficult to choose which ones we want to order!

Thanks to the Lincolns for letting us come out there for the photo shoot. They have a beautiful place!

Check out the pictures here.

Prayers for Justin

We just wanted to get the word out that Justin is on his way back to Iraq as of yesterday. Please pray that the Lord keeps him safe as he travels and as he carries on with the fight.

Shelby loves eating yogurt. She gets so excited when she sees the container come out of the refrigerator. Yesterday morning she got pretty messy with it. The second picture is when I think it registered how messy she was getting. Our little Shelby is quite a princess and doesn't like getting dirty.

Shelby and Sammie

Shelby and Sammie are doing great together. They follow each other all over the place. Whenever Sammie is sleeping, and I tell Shelby to leave her alone, Shelby will squat down beside Sammie, whispering, "Hey Sammie" over and over. I guess I'm seeing what it would be like to have another baby around here. This morning, I woke up before Shelby did and came out into the living room. Sammie ran up to me, and right after I loved on her for a bit, she whined and went straight to the back of the house to find Shelby. I thought that was pretty cute. We've been going on a couple walks every day, and Sammie runs along side the stroller. Shelby talks to her almost the whole time. I love seeing how much Shelby loves Sammie. What a wonderful gift this has turned out to be for our little girl!

More Sammie pictures

It Still Fits!

Believe it or not, Shelby is wearing the same dress in both of these pictures. This beautiful Feltman Brothers dress was given to her by some ladies from the church in Memphis. She wore it the first time on Easter last year. This past Sunday morning I wasn't sure what Shelby was going to wear to church, and thought I'd give this dress a try. Sure enough, it fit! We thought she was just beautiful! I'm so glad she'll get to wear it a few more times this year!

The Newest Member of the Channing Family

Everybody, meet Sammie. She's a 10-month old hound mix. This picture doesn't do her justice, but it's the only one we have so far. I'll post more later.

We adopted Sammie today at the Animal Shelter. This was a huge spontaneous decision. We wanted a dog - after we had a completely fenced-in backyard. Neither Channing nor I wanted an inside dog. But, we do now!

Here's how it happened. We were out driving today, and I suggested going by the animal shelter just to check things out. I seriously didn't foresee coming home with a dog. Shelby and I had stopped at the first set of kennels, while Channing went further down the row. Next thing I know, a volunteer is getting this little girl out and Channing is beaming. Jordan, the very persuasive volunteer, told us that Sammie was the perfect dog for a family. He'd take her home if he didn't have 8 dogs of his own. (Yes, that's right...8.)

We went outside with her for a walk, and that's when it happened. We were hooked. Well, Channing already was before we got outside, but after I saw how wonderful Sammie is, and how great she is with Shelby...I was hooked too.

It is amazing how much stuff you need for a pet. Our first trip to Wal-mart cost us about $100. That's crazy!

The past few hours have been great. I love our new addition. Sammie is the first dog I've ever had, and I am having so much fun!

The Cutest Girl I Ever Saw...

...was sipping cider through a straw. Anybody out there know that song? Well, today Shelby didn't sip cider through a straw, but she did have some Dr. Pepper. This is a big deal because before today, Shelby hadn't grasped the whole sucking on a straw thing. She loved drinking some of Sarah's Route 44!! We just had to take a couple pictures. Isn't she adorable?!

Best Friends

Shelby and Lily really enjoy playing together. Maggie and I walk together every day, so these girls see a lot of each other. I'm really thankful that Shelby has such a sweet friend. Since we'll all be around here for a while, they'll probably grow up together. I'm so glad Shelby will have the blessing of that kind of friendship.

Birthday Goodies

Saturday was my birthday. I am now 29...goodness that sounds so old to me! Turning 19 was exciting, because I was so looking forward to leaving the teen years. But the next decade I'll be entering is not so exciting to me.

Anyways, with the birthday money I got, I went to a couple stores and had some fun. I got the third season of Gilmore Girls on dvd, some more perfume (I've been out for about a month), and some decorative stuff for Shelby's room.

Thanks to so many of you who have sent birthday wishes my way these past few days. I appreciate it!

By the way, I learned while looking for my perfume at Dillards, that usually Walgreen's will pick up a fragrance whenever Dillards stops carrying it. My perfume ended up being cheaper since I didn't have to get it at a department store. Good to know!

Another Ice Cream Connoisseur

Shelby loves ice cream, just like her mommy and her Papa. At Nunda's house on Friday, Shelby started freaking out as soon as she heard the words "ice cream" and just had to have some. To keep from making a mess, Daddy fed Shelby a few bites of ice cream. Boy, was she happy!

Yummy!

Wow, that was so cold!

Shelby and her cousins

Friday night my family got together at my sister's house. (Well, everybody but my brother-in-law, who had to work late. We missed you, John!) It was good to see Justin. Shelby had fun with her cousins, pictured below. She spent the most time with Blake, who really likes to tease her. They seem to have a lot of fun together.

Shelby and Justin

Morgan didn't want to take his eyes off the video game for this one.

Morgan finally looked at me, but then Blake was the one with his eyes on the game.

Puppies!

My sister and her family have two dogs, a chihuahua named Lacey and a Jack Russell terrier named Annie. Shelby loves these little dogs, as long as they keep their tongues to themselves!

Here's my dad and Shelby with Annie.

Shelby needed a little encouragement from Aunt Nunda to pet Lacey.
Lacey is a little unsure of Shelby too.

Northwest Passage

Our favorite part of the zoo is the Northwest Passage. That's where you'll find the polar bears, sea lions, black bears, a bald eagle, and a few other animals. Channing spent his high school years living in Alaska, so this area of the zoo makes him homesick. We want to take a trip to Alaska someday, but until then, the Northwest Passage will suffice!

Memphis Zoo

We went to visit my family in Memphis this past weekend. On Friday, we went to the Memphis Zoo. My mom came with us. It was a cool, windy day; however, the four of us had a great time.

This picture was taken as we were leaving. The entrance to the zoo is beautiful, with Egyptian art and several animal statues. Shelby's favorite statues were the gorilla, the elephant, and the lion. We took pictures at each statue.

Thirteen Things I Love About Channing

1. He puts God first.
2. He desires to live life led by the Spirit.
3. He's my best friend.
4. He works hard so that I can stay at home with Shelby.
5. He calls at least once a day to say hi and to tell me he loves me.
6. He's an amazing father.
7. He tries hard to let me have time to myself every day.
8. He's a great cook.
9. He makes breakfast every Saturday morning.
10. He's a good listener and a great adviser, even though he does both all day long at work.
11. He rubs my feet when they hurt really bad.
12. He spoils me by doing things like filling up my car, taking out the trash, and emptying the dishwasher...things that I really don't like to do!
13. He secretly loves to watch the Gilmore Girls with me.

Happy Anniversary, sweetie! The past four years have been wonderful. I love you so much and thank God for you.

A Couple Updates

Justin flew into Memphis around lunchtime today. I talked to him for just a minute or two. It sure was good to hear his voice! He'll be home for two weeks, and will then return to Iraq.

Shelby made it through the night without throwing up anymore. She did wake up quite a bit, wanting some juice. I was a mean ol' mommy and would only let her have a few sips at a time. Around three this morning, she had a low-grade fever. We've had a very lazy day, hanging out mostly on the "sick bed." Fortunately, there has been no more throwing up or fever.

I'm looking forward to getting out tonight or tomorrow. Since Shelby threw up in Hallmark yesterday, I didn't get that errand taken care of. Thankfully, Channing went to Wal-mart last night, so we have food now. But there are a few more things I need to take care of this week.

Stomach Bug

Well, Shelby is sick. She's been throwing up a good part of the afternoon/evening. She did it the first time while we were in Hallmark. Yeah, that's right...Hallmark. It's been so sad to watch her be so miserable! She and I are camping out tonight on what now called the sick bed (pull-out sofa) in the living room. I'm very thankful for the laminate flooring we have in here!

Once again, I am asking for your prayers. Please pray that Shelby will be feeling better in the morning. Pray that Channing and I will not come down with this bug as well.

Good Friends

We were blessed to see a few good friends this weekend. There was a wedding on Saturday that brought several people to town. After the wedding, the Kisers came over for a little while before their team meeting. It was great catching up with Charles and Julie and really good to meet their little boy! The team all came to Downtown for services this morning, so we also got to see Elizabeth Reding, a good friend of mine from Chi Omega Pi. The three of us joined everyone for lunch at Mi Ranchito. After lunch, Elizabeth and I spent a couple of hours together catching up over coffee. It had been a while since she and I have had an opportunity like that, and I really enjoyed the afternoon. Hopefully we'll be able to get together with the Kisers and Elizabeth again before long.

Celebrating Early

Last night, Channing and I went out to celebrate our anniversary and my birthday. We had dinner at Red Lobster, spent way too much money at Target, and then went to Barnes & Noble for coffee, where we also ended up buying a new cd.

Our experience at Red Lobster wasn't as good as it usually is. They've gotten new menus since we were there last, and what we normally get wasn't on the menu anymore. I found a hair in my salad. They brought me the wrong thing, so Channing got to eat his main course while I ate my second bowl of salad. So much for eating together! Hopefully our next visit will be better!

At Target we found an Easter dress for Shelby. It's sleeveless, so she might have to wear a sweater with it. It sure is pretty! While we were there, Channing also bought me the second season of Gilmore Girls on dvd. I'm going to enjoy watching those! We picked up a few other items that were on sale while we were there. I'm glad there's not a Target here. I'd be in trouble if we did.

When we got home, I gave Channing his anniversary presents. I got him two movies that he'd really been wanting, The Gospel and X-Men 3. I know we'll watch both of those several times. (Have any of you seen The Gospel? It's a modern-day portrayal of the prodigal son. We love it! The soundtrack is great, too!)

Shelby had a good time with the babysitter. They colored a lot together and read several books.

Ten Questions

Here's another survey for you. I tried to do some questions that aren't always on those e-mail surveys we all love filling out! It sure would be nice to get answers from some of you who rarely comment! Thanks in advance for participating. I always love reading your answers!

1. What's your favorite candy bar?
2. What are your favorite shoes?
3. What's your favorite music genre?
4. What's the most embarrassing CD you own?
5. What's your favorite soda?
6. Have you ever had braces?
7. What's your favorite breakfast food?
8. What was your favorite toy as a child?
9. Who was your childhood hero?
10. What class in high school was totally useless?

Early Departure

Justin called home this morning to let us all know he has already left camp. There are a couple stops along the way, but we expect him home with his family as early as Monday, maybe as late as Wednesday. My sister is pretty much on stand-by, just waiting for a call to know when he'll arrive in Memphis. Please pray for his safety while flying. Please pray also for his time at home...that he'll get the rest and relaxation he needs. Thanks!

Thursday Thirteen

This week's Thursday Thirteen will be thirteen things I'm excited about.

1. I talked to my friend Jenelle for the first time in quite a while yesterday.
2. Also yesterday, I got an encouraging note in the mail from a dear friend from HU.
3. Blue Cross is covering the medical bills from Channing's back problems.
4. I'm going through the video series/Bible study done by Abiding Life Ministries with my friend Heidi.
5. Justin is leaving Iraq on Sunday for two weeks.
6. We're going to visit my family next weekend.
7. We're going to the Memphis Zoo next weekend
8. Channing and I are going on a date tomorrow night.
9. My anniversary and my birthday are coming up.
10. Shelby and I are spending the morning with Heidi.
11. I should be able to attend the MOPS meeting next week. I haven't been to one since December! (MOPS = Mothers of Pre-Schoolers)
12. Channing is cooking pork chops tonight!
13. Maggie and I are going to start walking together everyday to get in shape.

What is something you're excited about?

Happy Birthday, Laura!

*This isn't the most flattering picture that ever was, but it sure makes me smile. I went hunting for this one!

Laura and I were in the same club at Harding, and were in a prayer group together for part of that time. We lived together in an apartment dorm our junior year. She was also in my wedding. I am very blessed to call her friend.

Looking back, there are two memories that stick out the most. As roommates, Laura and I prayed a lot together. Those prayer times were really special. Laura was someone who would often pray for me as soon as I asked her to. I really appreciated that about her. Another memory was when we were staying up really late one night. The two of us (maybe Jen and Christie too?) had done face masks. Laura fell asleep while waiting to take it off. When I tried to wake her up, she said she couldn't get up off the couch because her face was stuck to the afghan. She was obviously totally out of it. I actually think about that night pretty often. It gives me a good laugh.

Laura, I hope you have a blessed birthday! I love you and thank God for you.

Getting Her Second Wind

Well, little Miss Shelby didn't get her normal nap today since she had to go to the doctor this afternoon. She didn't go to sleep until around 3:00. I probably should have just tried to keep her up, but she was just so tired. In the future, I'll just try to deal with a fussy toddler. After tonight, I've definitely learned my lesson! Shelby only slept for about an hour and a half. And she still seemed tired. So I gave no thought to putting her down for bed at the usual time, around 8:00. She wouldn't have that! She was wired and was giggling and laughing until after 10:00. Yep, I learned my lesson today.

Shelby's Doctor Visit

Shelby had a doctor's appointment today. This morning, we were playing with her doctor's kit and I told her that we were going to see Dr. Moore after lunch. She wasn't very excited about it. Her response was, "Oh dear!" When we got there, she did great stepping on the scale. But when Dr. Moore walked in the room, she wasn't happy! She had to be reassured quite a bit while he was examining her. Hopefully the next appointment will be better.

By the way, Shelby weighed 27 pounds today. She is just under 33 inches long. The pair of 2T jeans she's wearing today are just about too short for her. They'll make great capri pants this summer!

Channing Update

Before Friday's procedure, Channing's leg would bother him from time to time. It often hurt when he stood too long. Now it's tingly all the time. So hopefully relief will come soon, if not then definitely after the second appointment on the 19th. Please be praying!

Any Excuse for a Party

We went to a Lunar Eclipse Party on Saturday. Counting the children, there were fifteen of us. We didn't get to see it for long, but sure had a good time fellowshipping together! It was good to see several friends from a home Bible study group we used to be a part of. Thanks, John and Maggie, for hosting!

A Big Hallelujah!

I have not told you guys about all that has been going on with our health insurance company since Channing started having the back problems. Sometime last year, Channing complained of a sore back while seeing his doctor for a migraine. Since then, we changed insurance policies (still with the same company). So when Channing was diagnosed with the herniated discs and stuff, the insurance company said it was a pre-existing condition. At first, they refused to pay for any treatment that would follow. We were pretty stressed when we got that piece of news!

I am happy to report, however, that after months of reviewing his medical records, our insurance company has realized that these back problems did not exist at the time of the doctor's appointment for the migraines. We were told yesterday that everything associated with the herniated discs would be covered, minus our portion! What a blessing it was to get news like that!

Channing's Appointment

Well, the first of three steroid shots took place today. Channing was very groggy afterwards, and has been asleep since we got home. On the way home from Little Rock, he said that he was feeling okay, but very tired. I will post another update when Channing wakes up. We'll go back in two weeks for the second shot.

Thank you for your continued prayers.