What Daniel plans to do in the New Year

I am contemplating my plans for the New Year!

I will take time to work out and exercise

I will sleep - sleep - sleep.

I will be sure to cry for no reason
I will eat my hand
I will play the air guitar

Hone in on my finger counting skills

And make many silly faces like this

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Missy Lou - Not Forgotten!

Some of you have been concerned about our sweet pup and her adjustment to the new baby. Missy has done relatively well. The first day home from the hospital, she was apparently lacking for attention and limped around the living room when I tried to get her to come to me. Fortunately, it was all an act--she is such a drama queen! She doesn't get too close to the baby, but does seem to be interested in his well-being. We have a fancy new monitor (the Angel Care Monitor - thanks for the suggestion Uncle Scotty). It senses the movement everytime Daniel breathes. If he doesn't breathe for 20 seconds or so, an alarm sounds. Every once in a while, we will accidently forget to turn the sensor off when we pick the baby up out of the crib. If the alarm goes off, Missy is the first one in the nursery making sure the little-one is OK!

We love Missy Lou and cannot wait until Daniel is older and see them both together.

Merry Christmas!

We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. We have been so blessed by family and friends and with the birth of our precious son and we are so thankful to you all!

The smartest baby

We knew Daniel would be smart with all the MBA classes he attended while in mommy's tummy. However, we had no idea that he would be able to a) hold a bottle at 10 days old (some help from Daddy...)

and b) roll over at 10 days old!

Baby Hiccuups...

...are so darn cute!

The Nursery

The nursery is 95% complete! The canvases were painted by Emily Wertheim and were replicas of the animals on the quilt. The name of the bedding is, "All Creatures Great and Small" by Land of Nod. My dad helped me hang them in the nursery today. They turned out so much more precious than I expected! All that is left is to hang the quilt.

First few days at home

Daniel is so good. He does not like to get his diaper changed, but I do not know many babies that do. He is very alert for being 2 weeks early, and opens his eyes often. We are so blessed to have such a sweet baby!

Daniel was in the NICU for about 6 hours his first day because he was breathing so fast and they couldn't seem to get him to breathe slower. Thankfully that resolved and has had no residual effects.

Aunt Bonnie came over yesterday and we had a Christmas photo session in front of the tree! Thank goodness we put Christmas decorations up last weekend!

More updates to come!

Daniel Scott Pigford

We promise to post more! These are just a few for now. Thanks for prayers and support!

Just a few more days 'til we meet our buddy!

I realized that I had not taken or posted a pregnancy picture when a friend mentioned last night - you really should do that! We had an ultrasound yesterday and they did some preliminary measurements of the baby because I have been measuring 3 weeks early for the last few visits. Right now, they estimate that he weighs 8 lbs and 4 ozs. So......we will have a baby this time next week!

Welles and I got to see the little one sucking his thumb and the ultrasound tech was sweet enough to change it to 4D so we could get a better look. Unfortunately, he immediately shielded his face with his other hand as if to say, "not today - maybe next week!" It was still a precious shot of "Lucky" and we were excited to see him.

Sausage Stuffed Stuffing

I spent much of Saturday wrapping Christmas gifts in front of the TV and my favorite channel just happened to be on. The topic of the day was Thanksgiving! One of the shows featured the following recipe that could be used for an appetizer or for the main dressing course--I can't wait to try this out!

Ingredients
8-ounce pack spicy sausage (I think I will use mild)
2 cups canola oil, plus 1/4 cup
1 cup all-purpose flour, divided
3 cups chicken stock
1 (6-ounce) box chicken flavored bread stuffing mix (made according to package instructions)
1 tablespoon chopped parsley leaves, plus more for garnish
1 tablespoon chopped thyme leaves
2 tablespoons chopped scallions

Directions
Heat a large skillet over medium heat and drop dime-sized dollops of sausage into the pan. Cook until golden brown, approximately 12 to 15 minutes. Remove from the pan to a plate and set aside.

After removing sausage add a 1/4 cup of canola oil to the pan and stir in 1/2 cup of flour. Stir to create a roux, and cook for approximately 3 to 4 minutes. Slowly add the chicken stock, stirring while you pour and let simmer, stirring frequently, until it thickens, approximately 6 to 8 minutes This is your dipping sauce.

In a separate saucepan heat 2 cups of canola oil on medium-high heat until it reaches 350 degrees F.

In a large bowl combine the stuffing, parsley, thyme, and scallions and mix together. Take quarter-sized or 1 tablespoon of stuffing mix and wrap it around the individual sausage balls.

Cover the sausage completely and set aside

Once all of the sausage balls have been coated in stuffing, dredge them in the remaining 1/2 cup of flour. When all the balls are lightly coated in flour, carefully drop them into the hot oil and fry until golden brown, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove them from the oil, to a paper towel lined plate to drain. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve.

NOTE - during the show, they had a cranberry sauce that they dipped them in instead of the gravy. Also, they suggested dredging the stuffing balls once cooked into the gravy and serving - I like the idea of serving them fried and dipping or drizzling gravy or cranberry sauce on them...

Either way - Enjoy, and Happy Thanksgiving!

Where is my belly button?

I love my girlfriends! BUT, there are many things they never told me about pregnancy. I have been so lucky to have had a fairly easy pregnancy with few symptoms (with the exception of that itch that wouldn't go away for 5 weeks.) My migraines are non-existent now! So - here are some funny things that I have noticed during this pregnancy:

1. Your belly button will dissapear. (Can someone tell me if it comes back?)
2. People are so much nicer when you are pregnant! Even the person who works down the hall who would never say, "hello" will suddenly be very interested in your pregnancy, due date, and sex of the baby. Complete strangers will run ahead of you to open a door. People smile at you a lot, too--especially if you tell them this is your first baby.
3. I had always heard about cravings, but didn't really understand. You will crave things that you have never craved before - or that you have not eaten in years! Green onions anyone?
4. Feeling the baby move throughout the day is so incredible! I wish I could explain it. It's like I have my little buddy with me all the time - he goes everywhere I go and is safe and sound.
5. You will experience one day out of every few weeks/months where everything seems to be going great and then - BOOM - the tears start and before long you are sobbing and don't know why.
6. There will come a point when you cannot remove your wedding band/engagement ring. It was hard not to freak out. My recommendation is to just use a lot of soap and water to remove them and then buy a larger fake ring to wear until the baby comes.
7. Heartburn. OUCH! I had not experienced heartburn before, but it is one of the most uncomfortable feelings I have ever had. I now carry TUMS everywhere I go.
8. Colace is also a necessity - that's all I am going to say.

So these are some of the things that I wish I had known - but I guess I really had to experience on my own. I will add more if I think of anything else - and please, if you have been pregnant, feel free to add to the list, too!

What happened to Thanksgiving?

..."We just kind of skipped over it this year..."

Believe it or not, that is the response I got at so many retail stores this past weekend as I was shopping for Thanksgiving things. I could not believe my eyes/ears as I drove from store to store and saw tiny corners with minimal thanksgiving-themed stuff (World Market, Target, TJ Maxx, Home Goods, and even the Dollar General!) Now don't get me wrong, I love, love, love Christmas! BUT, Thanksgiving is 2.5 weeks away. Christmas is 6.5 weeks away. Yet, there were rows and rows and rows of cute Christmas stuff in each of the stores I visited.

Thanksgiving is such a fun holiday, and I love preparing for it. I love preparing and eating the food, watching the Macy's Parade on TV, and the chill in the fall air. This year would have marked the 5th time that Welles and I have hosted Thanksgiving at our house. Every year we switch between hosting my family and his family. With the baby on the way, school, and work commitments, I do not have the energy or time to clean the house to perfection and cook the meal. But, I still had some shopping to do relating to Thanksgiving, and was actually sad when I would leave a store without a cute turkey potholder or an acorn embroidered dishtowel!

My plan for next year - plan early enough to shop online at CrateandBarrel.com - a store that has an entire section dedicated to THANKSGIVING!

"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever."

Nursery

Welles and I finally got the furniture moved to "Lucky's" room with the help of family and sweet friends. My parents purchased a rocker-recliner for the room--we had been searching high and low for the perfect one, and finally found one we love! Now - all we are waiting for is the bedding and a few canvases that another dear friend is painting for us. See below for pre-bedding/rug and painting pictures. Only 10 weeks now 'til our little buddy joins our family! We can't wait!

Sweet niece!

Scotty and Ashley told us this weekend that Mary Linnley's nickname will be "Dolly" after Nana. She really is a doll!

Mary Linnley Scott

I have a new niece! My brother and his wife welcomed Mary Linnley Scott Monday morning. I can't wait to meet her in person on Saturday! She was born on my paternal grandmother's birthday, and seems to have such a sweet disposition.

Congratulations Scotty and Ashley! We are so excited about our sweet new niece!

Long time - no post

I didn't realize it had been so long since my last post! Time is flying by with work and school commitments. Baby boy is growing very well (I had an appointment this morning) and I passed the glucose tolerance test! We have been making room for the little one and had a garage sale followed by a nice hefty donation to Hannah Home/King's Ranch on Saturday. Things are falling into place now as we await the arrival of "Lucky."***

We hope everyone is doing well, and promise to update more soon!



***I was 10 weeks pregnant on our cruise in May. "Lucky" is a nickname I chose since I won BINGO on our cruise the first night and he was our little "lucky charm."

Mrs. Adams' Sausage and Cheese Crescent Squares

We had a friend stay with us last night, and I was craving some yummy breakfast casserole. I found Mrs. Adams' recipe in the cookbook our church put out a few years ago. It is delicious, easy, and a new favorite!

2 (8 oz) cans refrigerated crescent dinner rolls
1lb mild bulk pork sausage
1 (8oz) pkg cream cheese
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

• Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Unroll 1 can of dough and press into the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish - I always make sure to spray the dish so the crescent rolls do not stick.
• Brown the sausage in a large skillet over medium heat. Remove from the pan and drain off the grease.
• Return the skillet to low heat and melt the cream cheese in it. Add the cooked sausage and stir to coat.
• Spoon this mixture evenly over the dough in the baking dish.
• Sprinkle 2 cups of cheese ( this AM I used a monterrey jack/cheddar mix) and top with the remaining can of dough.
• Place in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Cut into squares, and ENJOY!

It's a...

BOY!!!!

Welles and I are thrilled to announce that we are having a baby boy! See below for some pictures from our ultrasound the other day!

Hey Baby!

A couple of weeks ago we went to Welles' parent's house. His mom pulled out old albums, and I borrowed a few pictures to scan. Welles was a happy baby!

"Skipper"

In college, particularly in the first semester of my freshman year, I was amazed at the freedom that college life provided. I could stay up all night for no other reason than to play go fish with my new friends. Unfortunately, I did not take school seriously. I somehow enrolled the first semester of my first year away from home in a 200 level Biology course. It was too late to drop it by the time I realized that it would not count for my pre-med curriculum. So - I would show up for this 8:00 AM class whenever I wanted. As I recall, it met twice a week and had about 300 students in it. There was also a lab where we disected a sweet furry animal. I attended the lab more often than class simply because I liked the time of day and the students there. One of the cheerleaders for UA was in my lab section, and nicknamed me, "Skipper." It stuck, and the rest of the class did not know my name - but knew me as Skipper. (Side note - when I would go to football games, I would walk down to the fence before the game to get shakers from the cheerleaders and that same cheerleader would yell, "SKIPPER!!!!")

I am telling you this random story because I will have accomplished something amazing tonight at 9:45 PM...I have not skipped one of my MBA Finance classes for this summer term - not a one! The truly amazing part is that this class has been in session since June 1st, and meets 4 nights a week from 7:45 to 9:45! I have to say that I really am proud of myself for making it this far, coming from someone who would much rather be curled up on the couch at home watching the Food Network.

There are two very important people that I must mention for helping me attain this lofty goal.

1. Professor Walker gives 2 bonus points for each class attended
2. Welles drives me and picks me up. It gives him an opportunity to work out at the Campus Recreation Center for 2 hours while I am in class.

So, thank you Professor Walker and thank you especially to Welles for helping me reach the status of my first course EVER to attend every class.

Praising God in the Storm

I have been reading the blog of a young mother (MckMama) for the last 3 months or so. I can't remember how I started reading this blog, but it is addictive. Jennifer Mckinney has 4 children, the youngest of whom has a heart condition called SVT that was diagnosed in the womb. She was told that her son would not be born alive, but hers and her husband's decision at the time was to glorify God no matter what. He was born healthy and without cardiac symptoms, and they named their child Stellan which means "calm". Unfortunately, at 4 months old, he began to have chronic SVT, and has been in and out of the hospital since (he is 8 months old now).

The entry that she posted the other day as her son had been hospitalized speaks depths of our relationship with our Heavenly Father, and I wanted to share some of it with those who read our blog. She is a wonderful writer and very strong in her faith, and I appreciate the life lessons that she shares through the struggles with an infant diagnosed with a life threatening illness.

What I'm about to say may or may not ring true to you. Just as everyone's DNA is different, so is everyone's walk with God. Maybe you know Him personally, and maybe you don't. Maybe what I say strikes a chord, perhaps not. In fact, 1 Corinthians 1:18 says that "the message of the cross is foolishness to those" who don't know Him. But for Christians, "it is the power of God." And even Christians view things differently.

I definitely don't fancy myself a preacher by any means. I simply love to talk about what I love. And I love my husband, our children, my camera, bright colors, healthy food, mothering, and most of all, God. And, have you noticed, I seem to talk more passionately about Him, more often, when our family is in crisis mode? Part of that is too bad, I think. I wish I was so on fire about God all the time. But on the other hand, I really think that's how it is. At least for me; I don't know about you. The times in my life when I've been in the lowest valleys are also the times in which I have experienced the heights of spiritual growth.

Think about it. I know I have been; The times when it feels like the bottom is dropping out of my life, such as now with our son Stellan back in the PICU at Children's Hospital, are the times when I try to cling to Jesus the most. When I feel helpless, what other choice do I have than to cry out "Lord, help me! Lord, help me! Lord, help me!" And as I frantically grasp for Jesus' hand with my own, clawing to get a grip as I'm gasping for breath in the darkness of the valley I find myself plummeting into, God meets me. As I grope about in my darkest hours, God lights a lamp of hope. And only then is there light enough for me to see that, although I am searching with my hands to find God's so that I won't fall any further, He already has me.

His powerful, righteous hand is always holding me, and not just by the hand, either. He has such a tight grip on me that there is no way I'll fall where He can't reach me. In the past year most notably, God has proven that He meets me in my valley experiences.

So, even now here in the PICU, as I am "hard pressed on every side," I am "not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." 2 Corinthians 4:8-9. And never am I so aware of God 's presence in my life, and in my desperate, continual need for Him, as I am when the going gets tough. And let me tell you, the going has gotten tough.

As humans, we often tend to think, "Okay, it's okay God, I got this," when life is easy. But when we truly need help because we feel we are at a dead end, we often cry out, perhaps to Him. Ought I to constantly be aware that God is holding me each and every day, and strive to be in His Word and to draw near to Him all the time, even when the biggest stress of the day is running out of hummus? Absolutely! It's just as one of my favorites hymns sings, "I need Thee every hour." When life is peachy keen, I still have a need to keep Jesus at the forefront of my life.

It's just that, for me, that takes more work. A concerted effort. That, too often, I don't put in. But when I'm up against a brick wall like I am tonight, worried sick about Stellan, his racing heart, and what will become of this hospitalization, I "do not lose heart. Though outwardly [I am] wasting away, inwardly [I am] being renewed day by day." 2 Corinthians 4:16. I feel I have no other options any longer. I am keenly aware of my desperate need for God tonight. In a way I can almost say I'm thankful to be in this place of desperation. Out of this ripping open of the soil of my being, a seed will be planted.

God is faithful like that. The molding God wants to do in our lives in our valley experiences may not be fun or painless. Indeed, it will be neither. But the spiritual growth and accompanying peace that follow are enough treasure to make the trials worth it.

As we watch Stellan walk this road, and our family walks it along with him, I am trying to remember that "our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." 2 Corinthians 4:17. A closer, more personal, deeper walk with the Lord is an amazing relationship that, at times, seems to grown and thrive best in seasons of deep pain and hurt.

I choose to praise God in this storm. In fact, I will praise Him for this storm.

Good News

Just a few days before Christmas in 2009,

A gift will be delivered, but not by Santa this time!

A precious baby, a gift from above;

A sweet little blessing for us to love.

We don't know yet if it is a girl or a boy;

But we know this child will bring so much joy!

So whether or not we buy pinks or blues,

Rejoice with us as we share this good news!

What our dogs can teach us

Last week I "won" a new devotional at a silent auction that was planned to raise money for some friends who will be missionaries in China for the next couple of years. I love this new devotional! See below for the lesson I read this week - I have changed it up a bit to read "Lessons from Missy."

When you're happy, let the world know. Missy is a cute little corgi-beagle, and it is not hard to tell when she is happy. I love when Welles comes home from work because I get to see Missy's reaction. She barks, leads me to the door, and wags her tail like it might just fall off - she is so happy! Her joy is contagious, and there is no reason to keep it in!

Hold your tail up. Dogs exhibit confidence by walking with their tails held high. Missy is a confident dog, and when we used to take her to daycare regularly, the petkeepers there would place her in a kennel with dogs that were sad or needed to hang out with a balanced dog. We should hold our heads high with confidence.

Play, Play, Play. Missy reminds us that we should always take time to play and enjoy the moment.

Be thankful. Last night, we had some pretty bad storms in Birmingham. If you know Missy, you know that she was under the bed for a good portion of the night. In the midst of the storms, we must have forgotten to feed her! Aroud 2:00 in the morning when the coast was clear of storms, Missy rang her bell wildly - wanting us to feed her. After I fed her, she came back to bed and licked the back of my hand, "Thanks, Mom!" We should be thankful for every meal, every walk, every nap, and every friend.

Stay in the now! Missy greets each day as if it is the greatest adventure of her life. If we even go near our tennis shoes, she is whining for a walk. In fact, today Welles and I were planning to go to Dawson to work out today. We put on our shoes, and Missy sat at the top of the stairs while we picked up fallen branches in the driveway. We just couldn't leave her! So - we took that sweet puppy on a walk. Staying in the moment is the only way to experience God in my life. He is here now, in the moment, the greatest adventure life holds.

Thank you, God, for Missy and all the ways you use her to teach us life lessons!

Part IV: Reasons to Cruise

1. Chocolate Melting Cake - the best dessert and I had it almost every night!

2. Food is available at all times and is very good; and the best part is - you don't have to cook it!

3. You don't have to worry about cleaning your room. If you leave the room for 20 minutes - come back and it will magically be spotless.

4. Towel Animals on your bed every night

5. Meeting new people - we met some really fun friends on the cruise.

6. Travelling to new and exciting places in the same trip

7. So many activities on board the ship - Welles took golf lessons, I went to the spa, and there were great shows every night!

8. Opportunities to participate in contests. Welles won a trophy on a game-show and we entered a put-put competition one morning. Also - I won $250 playing BINGO the first night.

9. Beautiful Sunsets

10. Waterslides