Will and Cass... and of course, Miss Ollie Kate

Happy Day!!!

2012-01-28T21:47:00.000-07:00

Happy #3 Olive Kate Hart!!!!!!

A few of her favorite things.

2012-01-28T08:32:00.000-07:00

2012-01-16T10:11:00.000-07:00

So many changes in the Hart house.
I am both elated and sad to say that I left my position at MMC. I have poured a lot of myself into the birth center for the past 6 years..... It became to be too much. The cost to maintain my full time midwife position there became too great for my family. I found that the way I was living/working was speaking something that I never meant to say......that work came first.....that my family needed to wait. I know that I will never regret making this change, never regret speaking MY FAMILY MATTERS MOST.

Change, BIG change is a funny thing. My heart feels pumped up and bruised at the same time. I have to tell you something.
My last day at MMC was Olive's first day of preschool!!!!! She is such a wonderful, delightful and totally insane beauty. I left my last day in a hurry to get to her..... I pulled out of the MMC parking lot feeling like I forgot something there.......feeling so bummed. Then I was totally overwhelmed with excitement and anticipation to see my sweet girl..... to pick her up and hear every detail of her day that she was willing to share with me. It was like Christmas morning.
That day was a BIG day for us.
Lasts.
Firsts.

Here's to more living the way we mean to.

Away in a manger

2011-12-25T09:06:00.001-07:00

Last night at church Ollie went up with the kids to sing Away in a Manger but did not want to stand back with them but in front of them.

CiRCuS fUN!!

2011-11-28T09:19:00.000-07:00

Thanks Mamaw and Papaw Hart!!

San Diego Fun

2011-09-22T16:40:00.006-06:00

Uncle Trav tossing OKH on the beach

Aunt Ky says OKH looks like she has a "Rachel haircut" circa 1994.... What do you think?

This girl has only had 1 haircut in this entire little life of hers...

....and it was just an itty bitty trim in the back....

She comes by this layered do honest.

...friendly reminder......

beauty

2011-08-30T19:28:00.000-06:00

-thanks for the pic lp!

2011-07-27T11:39:00.000-06:00

Summer Fun

2011-07-15T09:51:00.000-06:00

More Dancing in Steamboat

2011-07-01T16:32:00.000-06:00

Dancing in Steamboat Springs

2011-07-01T16:27:00.000-06:00

2011-06-11T19:00:00.000-06:00

2011-06-11T18:51:00.000-06:00

Songs with Ollie

2011-06-11T18:47:00.000-06:00

FIRST haircut!!!!!!!

2011-04-20T08:42:00.000-06:00

Thanks Papaw Hart!

ok.....here she is...the new kitchen!!!

2011-04-18T19:34:00.000-06:00

she's really come a long way..... a mere 3 1/2 months ago she looked like this.....

Goodbye blue, HELLO grey and chartreuse!!!!!

2011-04-18T09:06:00.000-06:00

heading out for a nature walk with mama hart

2011-04-18T09:00:00.000-06:00

2011-04-10T08:33:00.000-06:00

Surprise #32

2011-04-01T08:59:00.001-06:00

thank you will hart and all of our amazing friends for the best surprise party ever!!!! turning 32 is...awesome!

thank you dear L. for the awesome pics!

2011-03-20T15:26:00.000-06:00

there are inevitably set backs when completely renovating a home....
there are inevitably side effects....

....headaches, stress, the hemorrhaging of your savings,......

today's newest set back....

Driving HOMe from church..
mom says, "Ollie we are going home now, Daddy went to work at the new house."

ollie says, "Okay :)"

as we pull in front of the house an eruption of tears from the back car seat.......

ollie says,"NO, the home depot mom!!!!!! I can't go home, its too hard for me!!! I need to go to the home depot!!!!"

....no toddler should be so acquainted or so in love with the home depot.....
:>

we had a great time!!!

2011-03-15T13:47:00.001-06:00

with mamaw hoots!!!

Kitchen progress

2011-03-12T08:59:00.000-07:00

fun at the museum

2011-03-12T08:51:00.001-07:00

Making cookies is......

2011-02-23T07:56:00.002-07:00

FUN!!!!!!!

...and apparently exhausting.

reading to a totally enthralled audience....

2011-02-23T07:48:00.000-07:00

latest house pics...

2011-02-23T07:39:00.000-07:00

new paint, new floors, new lights.......

Happy #2 Ollie Kate!!

2011-01-25T13:49:00.000-07:00

Good Morning Birthday Girl!!!

Per the b-day girl's request.... a pink cake!!

Pics from Papaw Hoots' visit.

2011-01-15T17:59:00.000-07:00

Ollie Kate loves her papaw!!!

Check out Ollie's tiny Momo face!!!!!

Awesome kitchen wall.

Will and Dad hard at work.

Bundled up and to the library we went...

2011-01-15T17:51:00.000-07:00

Work- work it guys!!!

2011-01-10T16:38:00.000-07:00

My dad is here from IN for a week!!!!!!! AND he and Will are getting tons done!!!!

plumbing.... check

frame in a few walls....check

drywall.....check

We are soooooo grateful for the help and skill of dad/papaw Hoots!! :>

Here are a few pics of the progress.

This is our future living room... currently it is a dangerous toddler death trap... Ollie is not spending much time at the new house as of late.

Dad and Will hard at work.

Great job guys!

No joke...... my dad's blood. He is really committed to this project- and just worked through the pain... Ok- maybe I'm being a little dramatic. Mom, don't fret.. It was a small scrape that required one band-aide.

Now this is DEMOLITION!!!!

2010-12-24T11:04:00.000-07:00

Last weekend some dear friends helped Will really get to business with this demo stage of our remod.... Our new home is officially uninhabitable:>

Special THANKS to our uber talented modfriend Dallas [MOD inc. ] :>

This now

2010-12-17T21:55:00.000-07:00

Equals this=====

Project TWO

2010-12-17T21:47:00.000-07:00

Let's just go for it and start ripping down walls!!!!!

58 years of dust, etc. falling onto Will's head!!!!

Ollie hanging out in the shell of what will eventually be her room.

PROGRESS!!!

2010-12-17T21:40:00.001-07:00

Will Hart has been working REALLY hard on this new home of ours......
Project ONE: cut down many many years worth of crazy vine/tree mess to uncover a lovely fence.
DONE!!!

Home Owners!!!!

2010-12-09T08:46:00.000-07:00

The Harts just bought a house!!!!!

Yep- we closed on a darling dump tues. Dec 7........

This is going to be such an adventure and Will and I are so freaking excited!!!

Ollie is too,,,,,, she is constantly asking to go to the new house-- it is currently a totally empty playland!

So, here is the scoop- we are moving 5 blocks from Ky, Trav, and Junie. Our new house is FULL OF POTENTIAL :> aka- a total mess,
that with a lot of love and hopefully not as much green will be AWESOME!!

Well...... here she is.....

Please note the gargantuan amounts of wood paneling:>

This pic is specifically for Dad (Hoots) to review..... This is one of the projects we would like to tackle on your visit out in Jan.--- you can barely see it, but there is currently hideous green plastic stuff covering the extended portion of the patio roof.

This is gonna be fun! :>

time is a funny thing.

2010-11-14T19:44:00.001-07:00

Being her mom is the most amazing thing i have ever done in my life.... she is the most brillant, beautiful thing i have ever seen.... how is she this big already?.... How have 21 months passed?... Our baby is totally a little girl. She is hilarious and opinionated, tender and independent, sassy and playful... She is absolutely the best.

I HEART OLLIE KATE.

halloween sheep

2010-11-01T21:04:00.000-06:00

chocolate is AWESOME!

2010-10-17T20:38:00.002-06:00

summer fun.

2010-09-26T17:38:00.003-06:00

oh those garden fresh tomatoes....

2010-09-26T17:31:00.002-06:00

seattle/olympic peninsula vacation

2010-09-11T19:57:00.005-06:00

Juniper Ryan Hays

2010-07-10T12:20:00.005-06:00

JUNIE is HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Juniper Ryan Hays arrived 7.7.10 at 3:55pm. My sister Kylee was an absolute rock star and worked so hard and long to bring this little love into the world. Her and Trav were an amazing team and i had the privilege of being with them for the entire labor/birth. Here is the link to their blog to hear Ky's version of the amazing journey.....

backyard fun

2010-05-26T21:08:00.003-06:00

doggie doo-doo on the bottom of your gold gladiator sandals......whats a girl to do.......

baKinG Is FuN

2010-05-26T20:57:00.005-06:00

Kylee's Babe Shower in IN

2010-03-26T10:11:00.003-06:00

The lady of the hour, Aunt Kylee, and OKH.Cass, Ollie, Aunt Courtenay (please note her gorgeous figure... she has recently lost a lot of weight!!) Aunt Kylee and her baby bump, Grandma Hicks, and Mom.
A cookie bar... so cute (Courtenay's idea of course :>)
The cute tables:>
A shout out to Katie Carol!!!!

ollie's b-day party

2010-03-26T09:59:00.003-06:00

we had a lovely little celebration for ollie's b-day....... here are some pics...,,,better late than never, right??.... :>

the spread...yum!!!!!!!ollie loved that cake!
mama, ollie, and mamaw hart.....and A LOT of lovely confections.
ollie and isaiah are crazy about eachother!
so cute!

Happy 1st Birthday Ollie Kate!!!!

2010-02-01T09:49:00.002-07:00

January 22 2010 Ollie turned 1!!!! I could say a million seemingly cliche things about how fast the year has gone, how life is much more rich and beautiful with our sweet babe than we could ever have imagined, how parenting this girlfriend this past year has left us feeling constantly clueless and grateful, etc., etc., etc...... ok, cliche=truth. Ollie Kate- you are the dreamiest dream ever!!!!!

Let me explain..... :>

2010-02-01T09:42:00.003-07:00

I know it appears we took Ollie to a questionable establishment for her 1 yr b-day..... Actually we went to a great little Mediterranean restaurant in our neighborhood. Much to our delight there was a lovely belly dancer performing :> Ollie was mesmerized and had a wonderful time enjoying the entertainment and chowing down on pita and hummus.
Mamaw Hoots and Aunt Courtenay came to town to visit for the big birthday!!

Ollie has her first tooth!!!!!!!!!!

2010-01-03T20:28:00.003-07:00

Her bottom left front tooth FINALLY made its appearance..... so cute :>

11 month pics

2010-01-03T20:18:00.002-07:00

Merry Christmas!!!

2010-01-03T20:12:00.003-07:00

Ollie got a great little kitchen set for Christmas---- (Santa got a lucky find at the goodwill for this one!!!! :>)
She is lovin' it TONS!!!!!

Cozy afternoon

2009-12-20T10:35:00.004-07:00

After the Santa no show we all headed back to the Bowker's house to make cookies and sip some coffee while the kiddos played.

Where's Santa?........

2009-12-20T10:21:00.002-07:00

We took the sweet kiddos (Isaiah B., India J., and Ollie) to see Santa---- he was a no show!!!!!
In his defense, there was an electrical fire at the mall and lots of electricity was not working....

oh the weather outside was frightful......

2009-12-20T09:56:00.004-07:00

These pics are from our evening at the Denver Botanical Garden's "Blossoms of lights."
It was a chilly..... actually FREEZING evening.
ps- Ollie is wearing Will's 30-something year old snow suit from when he was a babe :>

10 month pics

2009-12-20T09:42:00.003-07:00

These pics are from Nov.-- Ollie was feeling rough about not getting to eat those 10 cupcakes....

Happy Thanksgiving- Southern Indiana Style

2009-12-04T20:37:00.003-07:00

So- basically we had a wonderful time celebrating Thanksgiving with our families back in Indiana.

These are a few pics of the Southern IN portion of the trip--- Ollie Kate is crazy in love with her mamaw and papaw Hart......and they absolutely feel the same way about her.

I will say, as a mama- there is something so amazing about being around people that love your daughter as much as you do....... Grandparents are GREAT!!!!!!!!!!

we luv the webbs!!!

2009-11-17T20:30:00.003-07:00

so, our dear friends jeff and monica and sweet little blythe just came to town for a visit---basically we have missed the trio ever since they left on sunday back to houston........ dear friends.....nothin' better!!!!!

the girls had a delightful time playing together....
shopping on old south pearl street in denver- so fun!

look at those beauties!!ollie kate asleep next to me-----oh my------ my heart was so happy!!!!!!!
the girls hanging out playing in their pj's together!! :>

friends.....

2009-11-17T20:23:00.003-07:00

the harts and webbs spent a little day together enjoying the boulder colorado scene..... it was a dreamy winter wonderland! :>

Boo at the Zoo.

2009-11-04T14:50:00.005-07:00

Ollie and a few of her closest friends went trick or treating at the Denver Zoo's "Boo at the Zoo."

they had a great time together!

ps- Ollie was a snowy owl!!! :>

Ollie went on her first carousel ride!!! Jenah and Indi are on the baboon beside us, and Em and Isaiah are on the hippo behind us. SO FUN!

babies don't like feather boas........

2009-11-04T14:47:00.003-07:00

happy 9 months ollie kate!!!!

ollie sported her Halloween costume for her 9 month pics-
[she was the cutest little snowy owl you've ever seen!!!!!!]
uhh- there is a very good reason that you don't see many babies wearing feather boas...they hate them..... who knew?

8 months....

2009-10-24T21:44:00.004-06:00

so now that ollie is 9 months old, i thought it high time to post her 8 month pics!!!! :}
we are having a cupcake/picture fest tomorrow for her 9 month bday (a few days late, in true mama hart fashion), but in the meantime here are her pics from last month......

so cute!!!!............

2009-10-24T21:40:00.002-06:00

happy 7 months Ollie Kate!!!!

2009-09-03T19:15:00.001-06:00

summer sale

2009-09-03T18:54:00.003-06:00

so- we had a major garage sale a few weekends ago.....
yikes.... that was a lot of work and unless i suffer some tragic form of amnesia i will NEVER do that again...... 2 hours into it Kylee and i were asking, is it 3pm yet.... sadly it was 9am.
but we stayed strong and got rid of a lot of our excess stuff.... here are some picks of the babe enjoying her sweet little self at the sale :>

the BEST 75cents i've ever spent!

2009-09-03T18:21:00.002-06:00

picked up this little johnny jumper at one of the many summer garage sales Kylee and i visited this season.......
i am not kidding- at least once a day Will and i comment on how its purchase was absolutely one of the best 75 cents EVER spent!!! she loves it and jumps like a fool multiple times a day in it. :>

first bites.

2009-08-04T20:46:00.010-06:00

Here are some shots of our little love's first bites of rice cereal. She did surprisingly well...the first time...and actually since, has not been so keen on the whole eating from a spoon thing.... Also, her introduction to cereal has unfortunately coincided with her fake sneezing talent (see earlier post)- which has made for some messy meals :>

Fake sneezing

2009-08-04T20:35:00.008-06:00

so, Ollie Kate has been developing lots of talents!! one of which- is fake sneezing.... it is freakin' adorable!!!!

happy 6 months

2009-07-23T22:21:00.002-06:00

so..... the 6 month cupcake photo shoot was a little tough...... Ollie is now old enough to really be interested in those cakes, and she immediately smooshed one:> so, not many shots of her with the sweet treats- but some great pics of our little love!!!!!

just jumpin'

2009-07-19T21:26:00.002-06:00

-sorry for the sideways camera shot-

We know just what you've been wondering....

2009-07-19T21:11:00.003-06:00

...what will Ollie look like with hair?......... the suspense is over :>

Violent Raspberries...

2009-07-12T20:52:00.002-06:00

This was taken on Will's cell phone and is not very good quality but it is funny. Ollie was really tired and was telling us about it...Enjoy!

time flies........

2009-07-05T15:09:00.006-06:00

we have been having tons of fun this summer- so much so, that i haven't found the time to update the blog :>
but here we go. ollie kate celebrated her 5 month bday at mamaw and papaw hoots' house in indiana. here are some pics of our lovely little peach.

in fact, the hart family had a lovely little indiana visit in june. spending some much needed QT with the hart and hoots families!!
more recently (yesterday in fact) we had a nice hike up to st. mary glacier here in co. it was ollie's first real deal hike. she loved it. cooed and giggled the entire way up....and slept the entire way down :>

raspberries.

2009-06-11T21:20:00.004-06:00

new discoveries

2009-06-08T10:22:00.003-06:00

So, watching our daughter grow and change so much each day is absolutely amazing!!! She is more and more aware of her surroundings each day.....
Here are a few videos-
First- she has been equally amazed (and slightly confused :>) with her new abilities, such as waving around her bink.....
Second- she is such a joyful little bean. Especially in the mornings- its smiles all around :>

Indy visit

2009-06-08T10:08:00.002-06:00

In early May Kylee, Ollie and I went to Indiana to visit (and Kylee ran the Indy mini :> )
Here are some pics....

This is nearing the end of a clearly exhausting photo shoot :>
Dad, Katherine, Lee and Ollie..... we went hunting for mushrooms in the woods behind my parents house- no mushrooms, but a great adventure none the less :>
Mamaw and Papaw Hoots holding the little bean :>

oh happy day

2009-05-30T16:51:00.004-06:00

Ollie Kate turned 4 months old last week!!!!!

check out those sweet little leggies!!!
and that smile........ :>

a new hat...

2009-05-24T19:57:00.003-06:00

Mamaw Hart's friend sent a special little gift in the mail.... this adorable hat!!! Ollie really loves it :>

not recent, but so stinkin' cute

2009-05-20T17:35:00.003-06:00

so these are more 3 month pics... better late than never :>

3 month bday.....

2009-05-12T17:02:00.004-06:00

so as our daughter is quickly approaching her 4 month bday, i thought it best to post her 3 month pics :>
(check out those lovely confections......mmw eat your heart out:)

ollie thought this cupcake business was pretty funny :>

Happy Easter!!!!

2009-04-17T10:52:00.003-06:00

Mamaw Hoots sent a little dress that worked perfect for Easter!!! Ollie was basically too delicious for words in it!!!

Not so happy Easter....

2009-04-17T09:26:00.002-06:00

These ears are too much mama!!!!!

I mean it... get them off!!!
thanks, much better :>

2am diaper change....

2009-04-14T09:23:00.004-06:00

So a few nights ago our little love had a diaper disaster that managed to wake her up..... Usually if this happens i try to remain as low key as possible and put her right back to bed--- well..... she was too irresistible!!!! I had to get out the camera :>

i did manage to leave the lights low---- so sorry the pics are so dark :>

umm.... are you kidding me mom?.....

2009-04-09T12:11:00.007-06:00

so basically i feel my daughter is now old enough and sturdy enough to withstand a little fashion.... as a newborn i really felt like only the softest and comfiest clothes could touch her little bod...... times are a changin' :>

jeans, skirts, tights etc... yep- it's all fair game :>

exhibit A:.......

hey no problem mama... i don't mind this dress :>

wait a second.... this hat is crazy!!!

how embarrassing......

but... it's so cute from the side :>

so cute!!!!!

okay- we can be done...

but wait, another day, another outfit.... how about jeans!

so sweet!!

2009-04-07T21:49:00.004-06:00

The Ritchey family just made a visit from Tennessee!!! We had a great time- here are a few pics of the kiddos!!

Picture time..... involved trying to get Ollie to not lose it, and keeping Clinton on the couch :>
Ollie smiling at Olivia....
Clinton and Ollie holding hands!!!!.....cute!

conversations with daddy....

2009-03-23T12:17:00.004-06:00

Happy 2 month bday Ollie!!!!

2009-03-22T17:19:00.005-06:00

We had a wonderful day celebrating Ollie's 2 month b-day!! First of all, she wore a skirt for the first time today...adorable!!!! We had a picnic at the botanical gardens with Aunt Kylee and Uncle Travis- followed by a trip to Lovely Confections (my absolute FAVORITE cupcake shop!!). She wasn't very into the photo shoot, which honestly allowed me to eat that cupcake sooner than later :>

2009-03-22T11:29:00.005-06:00

We just had a wonderful visit with our dear friends the Webbs -Jeff, Monica and Blythe- they bravely made the looooooong car ride up from Houston so that our little families could hang out for a bit. Here are a few pics of the girls :>

:>

2009-03-21T10:58:00.000-06:00

Is there even a word for this level of cuteness??!!!!!!

2009-03-16T21:06:00.006-06:00

twins?....

Wearing shoes for the first time :>

busy tongue and quiet protests.....

baby talk

2009-03-14T12:43:00.004-06:00

this past tuesday Ollie started cooing....
Will and I stood above her-- ewwing and ahhing-- with tears running down our cheeks....
Whatever has happened to us is....... beautiful.

For the love....

2009-03-06T16:43:00.004-07:00

it's been a while since we posted :(
-which is sadder than ever before because our daughter is the cutest thing we've ever seen!!!

Ollie is 6 weeks old!!! We can't believe it! She is changing like crazy everyday- plumping up, smiling, following her mama and daddy wherever we are in the room, and just generally capturing our hearts every second of the day!!!

Here are some recent pics.
ps- our daughter is basically the most animated babe I've ever seen- her faces are stinkin adorable and VERY photographed :>

This is her "poopin face" :>

Taking her first bottle- she did great.
Just hangin out.

Sweet smiles!!!

Adventures of Miss Ollie Kate

2009-02-15T21:11:00.007-07:00

The past 3 weeks have flown!!! Miss Ollie Kate is a little dream and we have been having the time of our life with her!! Mamaw Hoots and Aunt Courtenay came out for a visit which was wonderful!! Our time together included lots of staring at Miss Ollie and commenting on her extreme cuteness and how much we love her, baking, crafting, and going out to to lunch :> Here are a few pics of the past few weeks....

Ollie sporting a new pair of homemade leggings made by Mamaw Hoots and Aunt Kylee :>

Miss Ollie's first "play date" with Asher and Indi...

Shopping at Telulah Jones.....

Our introduction to the "bink".... she loves it!!
Our sweet little bundle of love!!!

hmmmm.... we love her lots!!

She's HERE!!!!!!

2009-01-28T20:02:00.010-07:00

Olive Kate Hart has arrived!!!!! Check out those cheeks!!!....and those lips!!!!! Needless to say we have fallen hard and fast for her!!!!!! I mean we are TOTALLY in LUV!!!!!!!

Oh my, I really don't even know where to start.... I feel I should give a quick recap of the days leading up to her birth and our sweet and beautiful 6 days since.....

So on Monday the 19th, I thought for sure she was on her way.... she wasn't. However I was elated to find out at my appointment with Sarit (my midwife) that I was already dilated to 5cm!!! Yeah, a bit of a head start :>
Anyway, Tues the 20th Kylee and I spent the day celebrating yet another predicted "Labor Day," we had a delicious breakfast at devils food bakery, watched the inaugration, napped and waited....

Wed the 21st I awoke at 5am and felt a rib on my right side pop and I could hardly breathe/move without some pretty intense pain.... Yikes, I was worried how this would impact my true "Labor Day." I made an appt. first thing that day with a Doctor of Osteopathy who helped to realign my ribs and gave me a bunch remedies to try to speed healing (the cartilage between 2 of my ribs had apparently separated and those ribs were sort of just floating around...)

I should note that during all of these days I was not having any painful contractions, just my regular ones that I had had since 33 weeks, noticable but not at all uncomfortable.

It was on on this day, Wed, that I decided to let go.... I thought I had done this, but after a visit to the birth center and a good cry I realized that I was in constant ready mode..... I kept living in the anticipation of "When are we gonna get this show on the road????"....... So that was it, I was done with predictions and ready to truly surrender to our story----where ever it was going from that moment.
At 6am Thurs morning my water broke :>
I had still not had a single painful contraction, and Will and I responded very calmly and cooly to this event. In fact, we decided he best go to work, as we didn't know when the true work of birthing our girl would start (at the birth center the policy is that if a mama's water brakes she needs to be in active labor within 24 hrs).... however, within the hour my contractions made a bit of a change and started to be a bit uncomfortable, I called Sarit and she wanted us to come into the birth center to be checked. Will called in a substitute teacher and we leisurely got things together...... by the time we left for the birth center my contractions were getting significantly more intense....

---on our way out the door----

---a minute later, whoaaaa things are changin'----

We arrived at the birth center around 8am and it definitely seemed that this day- Thurs Jan 22, 2009- was to be Ollie's birthday.
YEAH!!!!
So, the hard work of birthing our daughter was on. Our experience was absolutely amazing- I had made a mix of my favorite music that we played, everyone in the room was calm and affirming and my body and our daughter were doing the work of birth. I labored in the tub for about 2 hours and then felt like I wanted to push... could it really be true??

..... don't get me wrong, birthing our daughter was intense and the hardest work I have ever done, but it was also fast---- very fast for a first time mama. From my first painful contraction until we got our first look at our daughter's face was about 3 1/2 hours...... Our daughter's face..... stunning.....
Miss Ollie is 6 days old today and I have been absolutely intoxicated with gratitude since her arrival..... It is crazy to remember the conversation Will and I had a year and a half ago while sitting on the back porch at 7027 Cabriolet Drive......a beautiful July night.... the decision to surrender..... the intention to let go..... then our sweet little twins that we lost a year ago...... and now our daughter- the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. I love our story....... you know we did not decide to have kids, I did not have a burning desire to be a mother-- we decided to surrender to what our Father was inviting us into-- thank you Jesus for our baby and all that you have taught us along this journey.

family

2009-01-16T13:47:00.002-07:00

The Hoots Family has grown!!!! Lee and Kathryn are officially a part of the Hoots family, we are forever family!!!!
The pic above is the current lot of us (note ollie under my scarf :>) We were able to spend a week together at Christmas which was wild and wonderful!! I am pretty certain that no one would have predicted my parents adopting at this time in their lives, but Lee and Kathryn are our family- they have been for quite some time now... it was really just time to make it official.

When?

2009-01-16T13:35:00.004-07:00

So..... i wonder when Ollie will arrive.....
We are hoping to see her face this weekend.
1 year ago sunday we lost our sweet babes- how baffling that today i sit in anticipation of the arrival of my little olive..... this life is such a crazy mix of coming and going.
i want to give ollie space to come when she's ready--- i really hope its soon :>

Christmas Morn'

2008-12-25T16:06:00.015-07:00

Kylee and I slave over breakfast.

Ky and Trav in front of the Christmas Tree.

The Hart family.... our sweet crazy pups!!!! :>

Little loves...

Silly Sisters...

2008-12-25T16:01:00.003-07:00

Ky and I bursting with Christmas spirit-- dancing and making hot cocoa!!

Christmas Tree Hunt

2008-12-25T15:41:00.006-07:00

Don't know if any of you remember the tree drama from last year...
Quick recap: we nearly flipped the truck...
This year did not involve near the pain and suffering.... it was however a little chilly!!

Baby showers and family time in Indiana

2008-12-25T15:26:00.005-07:00