Archived Slideshows and Stories...

I love these slideshows...

I love these stories...

My kids have grown, and it's time to put some new ones up, but I couldn't quite let these go...

To those of you who love and pray for these little people, thank you! I can't even begin to tell you how much it means...

I love these kids...

Lisa

Seth...
First kids really have it rough in a lot of ways. Sure... they get the constant attention of Mommy and Daddy for the first part of their lives, but they are also our guinea pigs. We experiment with first babies, because we've never done this before. I prayed for a baby, and Seth was the answer to that prayer. Seth Matthew means, "God's Appointed Gift". I was only 21 when Seth arrived. I pretty much thought I had it all figured out. I had taken care of other people's babies for years, so I'd had some practice. But it's different when the baby is your own. I am a serious type A personality. I wanted everything to be absolutely perfect, and in the process of trying to make it turn out that way, I made a whole lot of mistakes. Somehow, even though I was extremely comfortable with babies, Seth made me nervous. I guess it doesn't matter so much when you mess up with someone else's baby... but when it's yours... Seth has not one, but TWO baby books. They are both kept meticulously. Seth was a bottle fed baby, because I was afraid I was starving him after just a few days of trying to nurse. While we were waiting for Seth to arrive, we made a list of everything a baby could possibly "need". We had two baby showers and got much of what was on that list. What we didn't get… well… we bought. Phil had to put the crib together twice to get it… uh… "just right"… and by the time Seth actually slept in it, he had a toddler bed. During Seth's first year of life, he was left in a nursery only a handful of times, and he was left with a "babysitter" only once, for a couple of hours... that was Grandma... and I was just down the street. I think I called at least twice. Seth and I took walks often and played at the park... and I'm still kicking myself for selling his stroller in a garage sale... several years later. Seth has always been highly intelligent and extremely passionate. And from the moment he was born, I have had a fierce instinct to protect him from being hurt by others... and I still do…

Grace...
Grace is unique, because she is our only little princess. And even though she's a "girlie-girl"... well... she's tough as nails, too. Grace was born just thirteen months after Seth, and I refer to her as the "greatest surprise of my life". When I say that, I really mean it. I was thrilled about Grace. Grace Anne means, "Gracious Blessing". I was 22 when Grace arrived, and you'd think I would have learned a thing or two. And I thought so, too. I figured that after the first amazing year with Seth, I knew how to do this "Mommy thing". And I still made mistakes. But Grace didn't make me nervous. I figure she's probably saving that for the teenage years. Grace has a beautiful baby book, but I didn't add her birth certificate to it until she was five. That's what happens when you're a PK, nearly from day one, and your birth certificate doesn't get ordered for quite some time and then gets lost in the midst of some move. We had a baby shower for Grace and got tons of beautiful clothes. We knew we were having a girl. We didn't have to buy much, because we had all of Seth's baby things, but we learned pretty quickly that girls are more expensive, anyway. By the time Grace started sleeping in the crib, she was old enough to jump out of it to come find us in the morning. I will always remember the sound of those little feet. Grace "grew up" in church nurseries. She stayed with a babysitter for half a night, an hour away, when she was only 2 months old. It was necessary, but you'd better believe I called... more than once! Grace and I read books... over... and over... and over. And now she reads to me. Grace was independent from the moment she arrived. I have always been captivated by her personality, and I hope the rest of the world is, as well...

Caleb...
Caleb's story has grown to something of epic proportion… at least in my mind. He first "arrived" during one of the most difficult times in my life. He filled me with hope, and I was absolutely in love with him from the moment I laid eyes on him. Caleb Ethan means, "Bold, Faithful, and Strong". I was 24 when Caleb arrived, and I really had learned a few things about life… but not enough to avoid making some mistakes. I was determined to hold Caleb as much as possible and to enjoy every moment. And I did. And I still do. Caleb's baby book was finished a few months ago. It was quite the project, because the hospital lost his wrist band (which I did find later), and the photographer lost his baby pictures (which were never recovered). But we took tons of our own pictures of Caleb, and his baby book is quite complete. Funny, everyone said I wouldn't be able to keep up with it once baby # 3 arrived… Our church gave us a card shower, and we used the money to buy new crib bedding and to replace some of the baby things that had been worn out by Seth and Grace or discarded by us. He loves his "airplane blankie", but I still don't know why I bothered with the rest of the bedding. He slept in our bed (at least part of the night) until Ian arrived. Caleb spent lots of time in the nursery and more time with Grandma (and even other babysitters)… but I still called. Caleb has done most everything right by my side. I love to play with him, but mostly we snuggle. Caleb has always been very sweet, and I hope when he recovers from the "terrible twos" he still will be…

Ian...
Ian... We first learned about him in the midst of getting ready to take our first ever family vacation… to Disney, nonetheless. Looking back on that, it is quite fitting. Although Ian is less than a year old, it feels like he has always been a part of our family. Even from the start, he has simply "belonged" with us, in everything we do. I cannot imagine life without him. Ian Justice means, "God is Gracious and Just". I am now 27, and I've learned more than I ever wanted to in some ways, but I know I have a long way to go, too. I will make mistakes here and there… probably far more than I'd care to admit. But I'm still trying to get everything just perfect. Being the 4^th baby has some perks… at least around here. Digital cameras and technology, for example, have guaranteed that he will be the most photographed baby of all time and that his scrapbook will look quite professional… In fact, he is the only one who has professional pictures from the hospital (as mentioned earlier, Caleb's were lost, and no one ever came to take Seth's or Grace's). There was no shower, but we do have good friends and family who sent gifts. And I think I went a little off the deep end with my own purchases… Ian has a wipes warmer… cloth diapers… and his own little "nest" for sleeping in our bed. He is a pampered baby. The crib is set up, but let's face it… it's just for looks. So far, Ian is a little bit too "Mommy dependent" to enjoy extended time in a nursery or with a babysitter, but when he's ready to branch out a little more, on his own, believe me... I'll call. Ian is blessed with a big brother who makes up creative games to play with him, a big sister who is like a second little mommy, and a best friend who will all too soon be his partner in crime… And although I haven't figured out just what special things he'll like to do, I am sure enjoying just holding him and watching him grow…