Family Photos- "Love You"

"Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward." Psalm 127:3

I love these photos taken this last Sunday, during Grammie and Grandad's visit! I was on the floor changing one of Faith's "nappies"/ diapers, when Jillian came up behind me, put her arm around my neck and said "Love you". It was the very FIRST time Jillian has ever iniated saying something like that to me. I often (at least a few times a day) will tell Jillian "Mommy loves you, Jillian" and she will respond "Love you!". But this time, out of the blue, Jillian came up to me and said "Love you!". It was one of the sweetest moments for me and I have photos that capture it. WOW! God is so good. :) Even when I am overwhelmed by the number of dirty diapers I am changing, and the many night-time feedings I am doing, God gives me a glimpse of the "reward" of loving and taking care of my children! :) And I have to say, there is nothing more worthwhile!

P.S. We captured some great pictures with Daddy and his two girls too!

Grammie and Grandad's Visit

"Grammie" and "Grandad" (both names Jillian is now able to say successfully!) arrived in Cambridge at eleven on Saturday morning! And they immediately blew us away (with their energy level) by wanting to take us out to eat at the Eagle pub for LUNCH. So we went to the Eagle for lunch, ran to Boots (the "chemist"/ pharmacy) to get my prescription, and then we all "came home" (my parents, as well as Brad's parents have stayed in college accomodations) and we all laid down for naps. Sunday, we got all ready to go to church, but the weather turned really nasty, so we decided to rest inside. That afternoon, the "boys" went to Sainsbury's and stocked up on lots of groceries for us...including some sirloin steak! So that night, my dad grilled and marinated (what turned out to be some terrific) steaks. In the mean time, Marilyn made some of her delicious spaghetti sauce with fresh basil, and some vegetable soup (for us to freeze for future use). That early evening, Brad took my dad and Marilyn on a tour of one of the neighboring colleges that has beautiful gardens (some pictures are included below). Monday morning, before their departure, Grammie and Grandad took Jillian on a special grandparents excursion to town. They bought Jillian a new Cambridge t-shirt with the spending money Normie and MiMi Ellis sent to Jillian (for her special "Big Sis" treat) and they surprised us with some of our favorite shortbreads from Marks and Spencers!

It was amazing to see how quickly Jillian re-bonded with her grandparents! She loves them so much! They read stories together, played with her cars, purse, babies, and blocks (while reviewiing her colors at the same time-- so far, she has down ORANGE, her Daddy's favorite color), and they took walks, baths and naps together too! It was really sad for us to have to say good-bye! But Jillian has had many conversations on her play phone with them since they have gone home! And I know she can't wait to see them again! As for me and Brad, we felt very loved that they came so far and were thrilled that they were able to meet Faith for the first time (while at the same time showing Jillian and the two of us some special attention) :).

(P.S. I LOVE all the pictures we captured while Grammie and Grandad were here-- Jillian had so many BIG smiles to show the camera and everyone else!)

An American Citizen and More...

This last week has been a bit crazy.

Monday, we registered Faith's birth in the city of Cambridge. And Brad, being quick on his toes, ordered three additional birth certificates, to save us the inconvenience of trying to get additional certificates in the future (if the need were ever to arise). That same day, we had an appt. with the Health Advisor (she comes to your home the first few weeks, as does the mid-wife) who told us that Faith had gained 6 oz in her first 12 days of life and was in the 80th percentile! :)

Tuesday, was Brad's first day back at work and we had a super day at home. Jillian did (and has done) really well with staying inside and being more "low key" with our activities. She has been a sensitive big sister too, whenever Faith cries, she will say "Mommy, HELP!".

Wednesday, I tried the impossible...I tried to get out with the two girls. I bundled them up in the double stroller and Faith immediately started crying. I thought she would stop after a while, but she didn't, so I stopped on the side of the side-walk and was nursing her (even though I nursed here right before we left too). And Jillian, then wanted out too! But I told her, Jillian we are going to the store to get you grapes (she LOVES grapes!). And, so she said "GRAPES" and was really excited about that. And when I finished nursing Faith, I placed her back into the stroller and she started WAILING again. And I thought, this is not going to work and this certainly isn't worth it. So I turned right back around to go back home. It was so sad! Jillian cried out "GRAPES" in her most distressed voice! But I reassured her that Daddy would go get her some grapes that night and that we would have a frozen "pop" when we got home (our friend Ruth gave us lots of pops when Jillian was sick with the stomach bug)! Faith still cried, so I ended up holding Faith in on arm and pushing the stroller with the other! Not the image of "super mom" I had envisioned for myself!
Wednesday night we went to the GP (General Practitioner/ Doctor) because I was having considerable pain from breastfeeding and we discovered I had developed a cyst! The doctor was able to "fix it" and reassured me that any pain I was having, should reside that night! But, of course, it didn't.

Thursday, was our big day to go the American Embassy. Originally, we were only able to make an appt January 17th (because all of the spots were filling up as quickly they become available). But we contacted the Embassy and told them that we were in a dilemma. At the end of March, beginning of April, Brad's parents, his sister (her husband and their son) are all coming over and we are going to Paris for three days. But it takes three weeks to process a passport and then another 4 to 14 weeks to process the UK Visa, which we need to have to travel with Faith. So after several e-mails back and forth, the Embassy showed us compassion and gave us an emergency appt for Thursday. It was a long day for us. We left at 10:30 and didn't get home until 5:00 PM. After taking the train to London, we transferred on the tube for a total of five times (don't ask why it was an odd number) and went up many flights of stairs (with a stroller and a car seat), as well walked quite a while to get to the Embassy! Thankfully, we left Jillian with Jen and they had a fun day going to the park, eating pizza, and watching Boz!

After over $1000 in expenses, Faith will soon be a legal "American" residing in the UK! We discovered upon our visit, that just this year (2007), a law has been passed by Congress that has clarified what a "natural born citizen is and Faith will be considered one! So she can run for president if she wants to someday! :) The stinky news is, we discovered our English birth-certificates will do us no good in the US! Instead we must have our "Consular Report of Birth Abroad" certificate (which isn't actually a birth certificate, but states that Faith is a citizen of the US). At the end of the day, we got home, and discovered Jililan had a fever of a 103! We monitored her fever all through the night and gave her Ibuprofen and she is doing alright now. The good news is that night we had American lasagna for dinner (English lasagna is very different)!

The next day, Friday, I had an appt with the mid-wife at our flat, which I was thrilled about, because I thought that she would be able to help with the pain I was experiencing and I was concerned about the "poo" (that's what they call it here) in Faith's diaper. So I saved one of the diapers for the mid-wife to see. (I have definitely felt like a mother these last few weeks, I have combed vomit from my daughter's hair, and most recently, saved poopy diapers and examined them closely myself). But the mid-wife said that was a "medical" issue, I am not sure what that means, because I thought she was some sort of medical person herself! Oh well, so yet again, I had to make another emergency appt with the GP at the surgery (clinic)! So I saved another diaper for the GP to see, and she reassured me, she thought it was nothing (I was concerned it was blood), but at the same time, I found out that I have mastitis!

Last time, I had mastitis (with Jillian), I had a fever of a 105 and was in absolute misery. So, I am thankful that we have caught as soon as we have! I had a small fever today and took a nap this afternoon after our pub adventure. But I am really enjoying this time with my family (who just arrived today, Saturday) :)

I thought I would "spill my guts" because someday, when a friend of mine has their second child, and my memory has faded, I will look at this post and REMEMBER that this is super hard work! :) I am just thankful I have such a supportive husband who loves all three of his girls so much! :) And God really has been so gracious! May I never forget the miracle and gift of LIFE! :)


Brad is so excited to have 2 LITTLE GIRLS!!! :)

The American Embassy in London

Our Little American- on the train back to Cambridge

SURPRISE!

We have been so blessed by our friends here in Cambridge! I wish I could include all the photos and stories, but I randomnly have chosen just a few. These last two weeks, our church has brought us dinners, which has been a tremendous help! And next week, our college neighbors are going to be helping out with meals too.


Jon and Maria, some of our sweet neighbors from New Zealand have been such a help. Maria has gone grocery shopping for me, and brought over several desserts for us, as well as a dinner. They are some of the most godly people and truly have their eyes fixed on Jesus. Jon is a graduate student studying engineering and they previously were missionaries in Peru. They have really encouraged us in some of our questions and struggles. All to Jesus, they have surrendered their present and future. Whatever, God has in store for them, they willlingly walk in it and what an inspiration it is to see that in someone's life! They have a precious little girl, who is just a month younger than Jillian!


Last Friday, someone rang our doorbell, ran away, and left a package at our front door! Next thing we know, there were nearly a dozen children (our neighbors from across the world) yelling "SURPRISE". They were so sweet, and prepared 20-30 home-made cards for the arrival of Faith and they bought Jillian a special treat as well (modeling clay with lots of fun gadgets to go along with it). EVERYONE has done a superb job of including Jillian in this special event! Nearly, everytime, someone comes by with a gift for Faith, they have a gift for Jillian to open too! She is one blessed little girl to have so many people remembering the important "BIG SIS". :)



The O'Sheas came to see us from London last weekend! The O'Sheas were our neighbors (down the "corridor" when we lived in Maryland and they moved back to England shortly after we did). When we first met them a little over two years ago...there was only one child (Erin!), and now, there are 5 little ones between our two families! We had a great visit with them, they brought some beautiful clothes for Jillain and Faith and SURPRISED us with a dozen Krispy Kreme DONUTS! I won't tell you how quickly Brad and I ate them up, they were so, so good that I didnt' even feel that guilty about eating them.

Love Sent Across the Ocean

I love flowers!!! :) There is something about flowers, that just makes it feel like its a special time/ event. I can still remember when I got my first bouquet of flowers ( I think they were carnations?), it was on the occasion of my induction into NJHS (National Junior Honor Society) and they were from my dad! I felt like such a queen on that occasion.

Unfortunately, both of these beautiful arrangements that I have photographed have gone to "Flower Heaven". But the same day that I threw these away, my friend Helen brought me a new bouquet! And yesterday, Jess stopped by with another bouquet and some "American cookies"! :) So the "specialness" of Faith's birth is still living on! :)


"Annie and Papa" sent us flowers from the States. We are anticipating their arrival next Sunday. Gary and Mary Ann Davis are two of the of the people who know my family best. Together, our families vacationed together and my mom was very best friends with Mary Ann. I have been so blessed to have her in my life. Everytime that she prays for her two children and their families, she prays for our family too. She has been a prayer warrior in my life and has loved me without condition! I can hardly wait for both Annie and Papa to meet Faith and to see Jillian again (they visited us in Maryland when Jillian was born too)!


Grammie and Grandad are HERE right now, but they also sent their love across the ocean upon Faith's arrival with these beautiful flowers! :) We are having an incredible time with them, today, upon their arrival, we went back to the infamous pub the Eagle (More to come on that...).

Faith Photos!

An Update on us. Its been a crazy couple of days in the Holmes Household. Brad's parents left to go back to Texas on Monday and then Monday night Jillian got sick with a stomach bug. It was a rough couple of days feeding Jillian only Rice Krispies and chicken noodle soup broth. And just today, as Jillian has begun to feel like herself again, Brad got sick with the same thing! We are praying that Faith and I won't get it too!

Its amazing already the differences that Brad and I can see in our daughter's personalities. Faith is a cuddler and constantly wants to be held and close to her mommy (I think she would nurse 24 hours a day too, if given the opportunity). With Jillian, we had a fairly easy time putting her on a schedule of feeding every 3 to 4 hours and she had no qualms about sleeping anywhere we put her! But Faith will cry and cry until she is in my arms again.

The first couple of nights after Faith was born, I stayed up nearly the whole night, holding her on my chest. And more recently, after attempting to have other people take shifts unsuccessfully, we decided to temporarily try out co-sleeping. The first night was pretty difficult, I woke up with lots of aches and pains because I tried to stay absolutely still the whole night. Its gotten a little better subsequent nights, but we plan on trying to move Faith to the moses basket very soon!

Brad and I are trying to give ourselves plenty of grace as we adjust to our new baby girl. Its amazing to me how uncertain I feel about doing this for a second time! But Faith is a completely unique child. God has made her special, just like He has made Jillian special. Brad and I just need to keep praying for wisdom as to how we can best raise our daughters!

My Baby's Toes- A Mother's Reflection

ITS AMAZING FOR ME TO FINALLY SEE THE TOES THAT HAVE BEEN KICKING ME THESE LAST FEW MONTHS (HER FEET AND TOES ARE LIKE HER DADDY'S)! GOD HAS RICHLY BLESSED US WITH THIS LITTLE MIRACLE!

***THIS WAS TYPED WITH ONE HAND. MY LITTLE MIRACLE WAS ASLEEP ON MY CHEST!*** :)

Jillian and Faith

Jillian is doing really well in her new role of Big Sister! Every morning, she wakes up and runs to try to find "baby"! There have only been a few times when she has wanted mommy to put Faith down, and she says "I hold you!" (so mommy will hold her instead). But she seems overall very proud of her sister. All of the kids at the college ask us, "is that Jillian's baby?" and we answer "YES! Its Jillian's baby sister!". :)

Paw Paw's Pictures

Church on the Sunday before Faith's Arrival (October 7th):





One of Jillian's absolute favorite games to play is building a tower and then knocking it over, but before the big knock-down, she will put her hands out and say "no, no", as in don't touch...it may fall! Its quite funny to watch her! :)


Paw Paw has taken Jillian to the park twice since Faith's birth and they have had so much fun together. We have been very appreciative of both Mimi and Paw Paw's help with Jillian and with the grocery shopping!




Paw Paw with both of his grand-daugthers!


Faith and Paw Paw Time!