3 posts in one day - this one is for Anna Faith...

The other 2 new posts are below and dedicated just to Matthew, so I figured I better do an Anna update as well...

Daddy's girl! 19 days old! She has already changed SO much!





A little play time on my mat...



My sister sent this picture to me. Its me as a baby. She thinks Anna Faith looks just like me. What do you think?!? I cant decide!!!



Anna Faith at 1 week old. Sweet sleeping baby. Love her big cheeks!

On Matthew's Actual Birthday...

As most of you know, Anna Faith was born ON her brothers birthday! The moment I found out I was pregnant with her, I said, "she can have any day but April 13! Thats Matthews day!" Well, thank goodness, God knew better, because now, I think it is sweet and perfect that they share their big days! So here is a little catch up on Matthews 2nd birthday! Check out the party pics in the post below for some Chuck E Cheese action...

HAPPY 2nd Birthday Baby Boy! We love you more than anything in this world. You are an angel and a gift straight from Heaven!

Here, Matthew is pulling up his shirt telling me baby sister is about to come out of his tummy! I told him, I promise you baby, she is coming out of Mommy's tummy...AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! HA!


This is Matthew's "coy" face...he does it ALL the time now when is being shy or flirty! So cute! He is making this face here because everyone in the room...nurses, friends, everyone was singing him "Happy Birthday" - you can see the cupcake in Daddy's hand!



Happy Birthday Matthew Josiah! Can we all please ignore that I am so swollen, when I smile, you cannot see my eyes!! WHOA! So, here is the proof for his whole life...a cupcake in the labor and delivery room for his 2nd birthday! Unforgettable for Brian and I for sure! So funny!



Okay, so I am SO thankful for my precious friend Amanda! She came and got Matthew when my water broke and then she and her family took him to the park for pizza and cupcakes to celebrate his birthday. She waited until I had gotten my epidural to bring him to the hospital so I could sing to my baby boy! Oh I cannot tell you how much I appreciate the Miller Family - especially on this day! They made my baby boys day a special one just for him! What precious friends!



A 2 year old Matthew update...

- Matthew LOVES "Appa Juice"
- Matthew LOVES his new "sissy"
- Matthew still loves balls...baseballs, soccer balls, footballs, etc...
Everytime we pass a baseball field, he says, "Mommy, Baseball hat, baseball glove, baseball bat, play Mommy, play"
- This morning, while he was playing with his baseball bat, I told him, "Daddy played football and Mommy played tennis, which one do you wanna play? He stopped, really thought and said, "baseball Mommy" The boy LOVES everything baseball!
- Matthew LOVES to tell stories...he will go on and on and we only understand about half of it, but half is usually enough to understand he is talking about what we did yesterday or whatever. Its very cute.
- Matthew is shy all of the sudden...he giggles and makes this shy little face when he sees new people. So funny! The funny part is he isnt really shy at all, he is just flirting and being silly!
- When Matthew hits, he spanks his own bottom and says, "time out" - its hard not to laugh.
- Matthew is very active, still! He falls and rolls and takes some tumbles that I am CONVINCED will end in stitches. Instead, he stands up and keeps going like NOTHING happened.
- Matthew loves to read, "Thomas books", "Elmo books", "The Bible", "Tractor Book", etc...he just LOVES to read period.
- Matthew has the "fake cry" down pat! He can turn it on and off...ugh! Not so cute!
- Matthew calls me "Mom" all of the sudden - ummmm - can we please take it back to "Mommy". I mean he is only 2! Is this suppose to happen so soon!?!?
- Matthew LOVES his "friends" and often does "roll call" naming them all and saying he wants to play!
- Matthews favorite word is still "no" - again, not so cute.
- Matthew loves to take baths and when they are over, Daddy wraps him in a towel and Matthew says, "Burrito Baby. Mommy take a bite". Obviously, we have told him that for a long time every time we wrap him up, and now, he says it, and giggles so hard asking for me to take a bite of "Burrito Baby".
- Matthew is starting to ask to go pee pee and poo poo on the potty. Mommy is not really ready to take this on right now with a 2 week old...so for now, we will just let the diapers stay! :-) Although we did buy our first pack of big boy underwear! His 2 year old little body in a pair of "tidy whities" is the cutest thing you have ever seen. You just wanna pinch that little butt!

There is much more, but thats a pretty big update. If anyone has made it all the way to the bottom and read all of this, you are awesome!

Happy 2nd Birthday to my sweet baby boy! We love you!

I love me some Chuck E Cheese!

Happy Birthday Baby boy! Chuck E Cheese was a hit for your 2nd birthday party!

The party was a week before his actual birthday...I figured since I was 9 months pregnant, we could fudge a little..and can I say, thank the Lord for Chuck E Cheese! I never thought I would say that in my life, but there it is! They did EVERYTHING! All you do is show up with your birthday boy, and pay the bill! WHOO HOO! It was great being that I was sitting 99% of the time because I was having such major contractions!

Matthew had SO much fun that I could not get a single pic of him looking at the camera! A good sign that fun was had by all I think!

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...