And baby makes three...

   

 Stuart and I were high school sweethearts.

We dated while I did the college thing.

He rented ground and started farming. 

We got married, I graduated,

and we wanted a baby.

We had been together a long time, 6 years.

We were ready to be parents.

Our first born came along

1 1/2 years after we said "I DO."

We were a family and beyond happy.

She was a whopping 9lbs. 15oz.

with tons of crazy hair.

I thought she was beautiful.

In truth, she looked like John Belushi.

Her swelling went down.

Then, she really was beautiful.

One week with her and I knew.

I didn't want to leave her

to go back to work.

I was a Family Services major.

It was 1982.

There were no jobs in that field.

I was working as an aide 

for a mainstreamed DS boy

in the first grade.

(God moment, right?)

I was fretting and sad.

Stuart came in one day

and outta the blue said to me

"If you don't want to go back to work,

we will make it work."

I LOVE that man.

So I became a stay at home.

It was the best decision.

I had twin sons 20 mos.later, 

( we lost our twins after they were born, that's another post)

Abbie in the next 12 months,

and Maggie 18 months following Abbie.

5 babies , 4 pregnancies in 4 1/2 years,

is not a boss's dream.

To say she is pretty is an understatement. 

Skin, hair, teeth, and figure.

The kind of girl who makes it look easy.

However, she is also low maintenance.

She is shy, almost to the point 

as being perceived as stand-offish.

She so isn't.

If you get to know her,

she is as nutty as the rest of the clan.

She has always been an over-achiever.

Like her sisters, she was a good student.

Actually,the best of the bunch.

She was sixth in her HS graduating class,

 Summa cum laude at SIU.

She is organized,

very organized.

She is the most type -A 

of all three daughters.

She works hard.

She takes her job as wife, mother,and 

homemaker seriously.

Although, she is a goof.

She is silly too.

She laughs easily

and frequently.

  Most of the time,

she cries from laughing so hard.

Annie dated Jade for a long time. 

They truly grew up together.

High school, then college.

.

They have been married

7 years next month.

Jade is sweet, kind, witty and hard-working.

It feels like he has been around

more, than not.

We call him man-pretty.

He adores it, secretly.

He is a son.

We are blessed to have men who are sons, 
even though we didn't raise them.

Yay, son -in -laws.

The other first Annie gave me,

was being a grandma.

I cannot express how great it is.

It is the best feeling ever, 

to hold your baby's baby.

They are a gift from God.

Aubrie Grace was the first. 

I kept her every day

when Annie returned to work.

She is a mini me.

I am sure her parents are thrilled.

Annie was a buyer for a farm store.

After Aubrie, she went to work doing 

ag accounting software support at

local agriculture software business.

It was a better location, and better hours.

Ev came along just 20 mos. later.

 He is all boy.

He never stops moving.

Seriously, movement constantly.

He is all eyelashes and feet.

 

It was an adjustment 

after having Aubrie 

who is a reader and a crafter.

I had been there before though
with a kid named, Abbie.

And another named, Maggie.

He didn't faze me.

It was old hat.

I just had to get my bearings.

Ru-ru, the other grandma

(Jade's mom), retired when

Ev was 5 months old.

Then we started sitting 3 days/week

and 2 days/week the next.

It is the best job ever.

Helping them grow and sharing the days, 
is a blessing.

The kids built their own home

by themselves with help from

Stuart and family.

It took longer than a contractor would have,

over a year.

It was affordable though, 

and they are young.

They moved into their dream home

when Everett was 1 month old.

Annie is decoratey like me 

and her sisters.

Her house is super cute.

(check out her blog for a tour on her sidebar) 

When Everett was almost 3,

we learned we were getting another

Reid grand baby to love.

Most of you know Miss Ollie.

(click here for Ollie's story) 

She has been a blessing.

Her mommy and daddy

have grown so much 

in their spiritual lives.

Their prayer lives are enriched.

I am so excited to see such growth.

They are a team.

I am delighted to see 

they have a marriage, 

so close and tight.

They have a bright future ahead.

Struggles, strife, joy, and blessings.

I am thrilled to be up close and personal

to behold it all.

That is last post of my daughters.

They are pretty great.
With God's grace and a great husband,

I didn't do too shabby for an amateur.
Annie, Abbie, and Maggie,

this song is for you.

You are my greatest work

and the light of my life.

I love you all.

xoxo