Plus One...Anna Faith Garrison

Jesus is good and I am thankful! All babies are miracles and I got to take part in bringing my daughter in to this world...she has been perfectly knit together by her Maker and I cannot wait to get to know who He created her to be.

Anna Faith Garrison is here...she was born on April 13 at 11:41 pm. She weighed 8 pounds 2 ounces, is 21 inches long and is pretty and perfect and loved. She shares a birth day with her brother! Can you imagine how we love April 13 around this house?!!? 2 years ago, to the day, I remember so well, watching Matthew Josiah Garrison come in to this world at 6:30 in the morning. What a wonderful day..

Brian has all the great hospital photos on his camera and computer...will try to post them later, but most of you have probably seen them on Facebook...

Here are some I have of the fam and our "plus one" We love you Anna Banana!






I had a doctors appointment on the morning of April 13...he said, "we will induce you in Thursday"...so Matthew and I headed out for a little birthday lunch date at Chik Fil A (he turned two on April 13) and then headed home for a nap. Well, as I began making cupcakes for his birthday dinner while he slept...I started feeling a little...funny! So, I too laid down for a little rest.

By the time he woke up, I was having pretty bad stomach cramps and as I walked upstairs to get him from his nap, my water broke, and the rest, as they say, is history.

There are many funny stories from that day...like how I was having such intense contractiions as we arrived at the hospital that Brian had to run in and get a wheel chair. Well, the wheel chair was busted and I kept almost falling out. I wish I would have had it on video. I mean I am breathing heavy grabbing my stomach, telling Brian to stop going so fast because the wheel chair is busted as he is telling me to
"be quiet, you are not going to fall out". Oh it was funny!

Or how the little security guard who "escorted" us back to labor and delivery walked about as slow as any turtle you have EVER seen...not kidding! And how he said to the nurses, "we have whose water has broken ladies", and they all looked at me and smiled and went on about their business, until Brian said, "excuse me, do we need to sign in somewhere or something? Do you have a chair or pain medicine you can give my wife real quick?"

Or how I told the doctor who gave me my epidural that I would kiss his face if he'd let me!

Or how my doctor told me I asked 22 times "is she okay? is she breathing" after Anna came out...he finally answered back to me and said, "Courtney, I cannot hear you asking if shes breathing over her loud crying, can you speak up?!"

Or, how I yelled at my poor husband because as I was pushing, he was pushing my forehead down and back into my pillow because he was "convinced it would make my pushing more effective" What?

I am so thankful to my sister and my amazing husband who were by my side the whole time, cheering and praying for us. Brian got to help deliver his daughter...which he loved. It was an amazing day!

I cannot describe how much Matthew loves his "sissy". He asks for her when he wakes up, stops in the middle of his wild and crazy playing to run over to her and give her a "loud kiss"...she is covered in slobber from her brother loving on her. Wants to share all his toys with her...especially his tools! He randomly walks over to her in her cradle and says, "I Nun You" (which means I love you). It is awesome to watch...

We are tired and thankful and FULL of joy!

She's Coming!!!

Hi Everyone! Ok, so this is not Court - it's Linda. We are currently at The Methodist Hospital and all is well. Court just got an epidural and is feelin' fine! She was 5 centimeters last time they checked which was at 6:30 and so I am quite sure she has progressed to a 6! So.....we are all excited and guess what - today is Matthew's Birthday. Amanda is bringing him up in a while to share a cupcake with Mom and Dad - so fun. Court's water broke about 3:30 and then things went quickly. Brian raced home and Court arrived at the hospital in intense labor. Brian is doing a good job keeping up with things and keeping everyone calm. He is the happy, expectant, joy-filled FATHER!!

Ok - UPDATE!!! The nurse just came in to check and Court is 9 centimeters. WHAT????? The doctor went home to rest and so now phone calls are being made and arrangements put in place. SO YOU GUYS PRAY! The doctor told her that he hoped she could deliver naturally since her pelvic bone is on the small side. We are believing for an unbelievably easy delivery!!

Sweet Candace is here and doing a great job coaching - and Kristin - they are missing you! Ok! Gotta Run! Will keep you updated! Love, Linda

Celebrating Baby Girl...

Over the last few weeks, I have had the chance to be with great friends and family at dinners and showers to celebrate our baby girl! NO - she does not have a name yet. We are still thinking...and praying...Brian insists he has to see her first.

I have been REALLY overwhelmed by how fun it has been to be with my sweet friends and family. THANKS to each of you who came and who hosted these celebrations! I am one blessed girl...okay, well, right now, I guess I am 2 blessed girls! HA! :-)

An update on baby girl...we had a sonogram last Monday. I was 34 weeks at the sonogram and our girl measured "just right" She weighs 5 pounds 8 ounces. Everything looks great. So, my next appointment is this coming Monday. I will be 36 weeks at that point and that means we only have about 3 or 4 weeks left until we meet her.

Lots of pink clothes have been washed, teeny tiny diapers have been purchased, and Matthew talks about his "baby sister" all the time. We are all ready! :=)

Here I am with my friend Cathi...my fellow pregnant friend! So thankful for the many conversations we have had over the last 7 or 8 months!

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My sweet friends from church - I love these girls!



Tenley Sue, my precious niece came to one of my showers. Isnt she adorable!??! I loved having her there to help open gifts and be excited about her baby cousin.



My college buddies came in for a shower...love you girls!!



Check out these flowers...beautiful!



More friends I love and am so thankful for.



Kara and Bridget working away in the kitchen.



It has been so fun to sit amongst friends and oogle over pink stuff for our baby!




Love you all!

Happy Birthday Tenley Sue!

It has been YEARS since I have been to a roller skating rink...whoa! It was SO fun! Brian actually put roller skates on and went around with Matthew. I, being huge and pregnant played chase with Matthew on the roller rink in regular shoes...it was so fun! Happy Birthday my sweet niece...I love you!

The funniest thing was all the adults on roller skates...and ALL the major spills that took place. Many Moms and Dads woke up VERY sore the next day I am sure.


Dinner with our Aunt Charlene after the party!


Matty, Daddy and Uncle JT


Matthew and the birthday girl with a little cupcake evidence on the face...

Facebook versus The Blog

Okay, enough said. I know - 6 weeks since the last post is ridiculous! I am trying people, but Facebook sucks me in and I neglect the Blog. The Blog sucks me in and I neglect Facebook! AGH! I need more blogger discipline!

Anyway, we have a lot of catching up to do to cover the last 6 weeks of life since our adoption update, but we will start there and I will work on getting us up to date in the next few weeks.

First, on the adoption front, we have passed our "30 day waiting period" since our trial. So, it is DONE AND DONE! We got Matthews new birth certificate in the mail...we cried again! It said Matthew Josiah Garrison and had our names as Mother and Father. WOW! Here are the pics we never posted from the big day!

The pics posted in RANDOM order, sorry...

Here we are at the "After Party" with Linda and some of The Heare's....Linda had the babies playing in the water!



The Fam at The Party...what a day!



The first "official" picture with the judge - this was right after the adoption was finished. Brian asked if we could take a picture with him so he graciously came down from behind the bench and could've just kissed him! The who is not in the "robe"is our wonderful lawyer Victor! This man was a gift straight from God throughout this whole process!



This is the actual moment when the judge was saying, "Matthew Josiah Zaimon" will now and forever be "Matthew Josiah Garrison"...can we all breathe a collective sigh... :)



Yes, Brian is entertaining Matthew with my eye lash curler. Sweet boy could've cared less where he was or who he was in front of. He was an almost 2 year old going on no nap...enough said!



Hanging with Jenny outside the courtroom...thanks for loving me Jen!



Just threw this pic in because I think he is the cutest thing ever! :)



Two of our favorite people at the "After Party". Thanks for praying for me Hinks!



Matthew's scowling because Mommy just told him he cannot play with the knife! Sorry to be so mean son!




Here we are holding the Adoption Decree in our hands for the very first time right after the trial! Again, a collective sigh of relief and thankfulness! :)



Things That are Hard to Believe These Days...

1. My baby is almost 2!
2. Matthew just moved to a "big boy" bed on Friday night. Night 1 - awful...3 hours of battling. Nights 2 - great! Did not get up once. Night 3 - the verdict is still out...been up twice while I have been blogging.
3. Matthew is talking SO much! New words and phrases all the time:

"Hod it" (hold it),
"ed cocs" (red crocs),
baseball,
"fooball" (football)
"hoop hoop" (which is basketball),
"eese" (Reese, which is a possible name for the baby in Mommy's tummy),
"milt" (milk),
"peese" (please, and usually said in a really high pitched voice...like if he says it sweeter, he will probably get what he wants)
"boobies" (while holding up his shirt and laughing)
"Jacky" (Jackson Patchell)
"banky" (blanket)
"NUN YOU" (I Love you...and he says it on his own now which is the sweetest thing this Mommy and Daddy have ever heard!)

And lots of other cute words...he LOVES to tell us stories now about things we did the day before or earlier that day! He just loves talking to us all the time.

MY FAVORITE MOMENT AS OF LATE: Before we eat, he holds out his hands and says, "Pay" (which means pray). On more than once occasion, we have forgotten and he reminds us demandingly that we must pray. And at bedtime, Brian has taught Matthew the scripture from Dueteronomy that says, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might." And he says it every night with hand motions and all that Brian taught him! WOW! Love those moments.

Will continue to try to catch everyone up and post some belly pics! I am 31 weeks today and counting...our little girl will arrive soon! :) We cant wait!

ADOPTION DAY!

There is much to share and pictures to see which I will post soon. But TODAY needs to be marked! TODAY my baby boy's name has been officially changed to GARRISON! Today, we stood before a judge that said, "Courtney and Brian Garrison will forever and always be the parents of Matthew Josiah Garrison. Congratulations to his forever family!"

Praise be to God! "FOR YOU DID NOT RECEIVE A SPIRIT THAT MAKES YOU A SLAVE AGAIN TO FEAR BUT YOU RECEIVED THE SPIRIT OF SONSHIP." AND BY HIM WE CRY 'ABBA FATHER'" So thankful we are called sons and daughters of an amazing God.

We are overjoyed. We are breathing more deeply. We are exhausted. It is done...on earth at it has been done in Heaven.

Thanks for your prayers, love and friendship.

Christmas Party...

We got to go to a Christmas Party at Matthews school today! Its actually a Mothers Day Out sort of deal, but we call it school! :) It was so fun to play with him in his own classroom! He is so full of joy and brings us so many smiles and hard laughs these days!

First, this pic is really for my sister in Australia...per your request...a bump pic :) She's growing! And so am I ...



Matthew LOVES to play with baseballs, basketballs, footballs, you name it. ALL BOY!



Matthew meets the "big guy" who was actually our next door neighbor! He was the only kid in his class that didnt SCREAM with terror when he saw him. He actually liked the jolly old guy!



So excited to help pass out everyones gifts...or maybe he thought they were ALL for him! HA...



So I caught Matthew about to perform one of his two favorite things to do...jump off anything, no matter how tall. His other favorite thing to do these days is head butt everything...balls, the couch, the wall, his Daddy! We do not encourage this, however, this is him. He is rough and tough! A friend asked me laughing the other day after watching him play, "does he have that condition where you cant feel pain?" He plays rough and we tell him, "No, no, that will hurt you" way too many times a day, and yet, as the kids started crying in his class today, he went around patting them on the face and hugged them and in a sweet voice said, "no cy, no cy" He is a gentle giant just like his Daddy. It was a sweet parent moment to watch him be so tender to his friends today!



Playing with friends!



Could we have a longhorn on our hands?!? HMMMMM!??!