Sometimes it takes a child

Last year a dear friend of mine told me how her family prays together every night.  I have been wanting to start this with our family but never have.  Sunday night Dannah said, "Momma, I want you to pray with me."  That's all it took.  We have started praying together every night as a family; it is such a blessing to my heart.  It gives us a chance to tell God how thankful we are and to lift others up in prayer.  Dannah insisted that even Day has to have a turn - so, we all bow our heads and after a few moments Dannah says amen for her!  AMAZING!  It has been such a joy that me and the kids started praying together on the drive to school.  I love to hear their sweet voices talking to God.  We have so much to be thankful for!

Lucky number 13

Daylynn Elyse Knighton

September 13, 2011

13 pounds 13 ounces

24 1/2 inches 

Day is such a happy and healthy baby.  She is just above the 50th percentile in every category.  She occassionally will roll over front-to-back and back-to-front.  She smiles and laughs a lot.  She likes to talk to us before she goes to bed.  We fed her baby food for the first time today - bananas and oatmeal cereal.  She LOVED it - not so happy when it was gone though.

Puzzling...

Jameson LOVES puzzles and is great at them.  Every afternoon when he gets home he works on the same 3 puzzles.  He puts them together then takes them apart and puts them back together.  Well, what is puzzling is that my 'big boy' has started having accidents again.  I think he gets into what he is doing that he doesn't want to stop.  We have tried throwing away his underwear thinking he loves his Lightning McQueen ones so much he won't have an accident - didn't work.  And spankings have not helped this situation in the past, so bribery it is!  If we can go five days without an accident he gets a new puzzle.  He is so excited about getting a new puzzle that he says he will not have another accident.  I hope so!  I can deal with a $1.00 puzzle every week if it means no more accidents!!

The happiest baby in the world

I don't know if I have ever seen a baby smile as much as Day does.  She is generally content and smiles and even laughs a good bit.  Her laugh has started sounding more like a laugh and not like a grunt.  

Go REBELS... wait, that's not right!

For anyone who knows us - we are DAWGS, not rebels.  However, our kids attend Tri County Academy, so for the next however many years, the rebels have invaded our home and wardrobe!  Dannah is a Rebelette (the K5 - 3rd grade dance team).  They are the cutest little girls ever!  

Her first game to dance in was August 25, 2011.

SIX years old...

I cannot believe that my 'baby' girl is 6!  It seems like just yesterday we were bringing her home from the hospital.  Last night on the way home from church she was singing, "all together lovely, all together worthy, all together wonderful to me, I'll never know how much it cost to see my sins upon the cross..."  and she stopped and said I'm glad I don't have to.  I said, "have to what?"  She said, "be on the cross."  So naturally I asked her if she knew why she didn't have to be on the cross.  She said, "Because Jesus died on the cross for my sins!"  I am SOOO thankful for God moving in her life and her honesty.  She does not hesitate to tell it like it is!  I love our talks about 'the blood and tomb' and listening to her sing about how much she loves God.  I am so proud of my 'baby' girl!

We had a joint birthday party with two of her classmates - Corenne Thompson and 

Kate Crawford "Shug" Shepherd.  The kids had a blast!  

NICU

When Day was born, she was having a little trouble breathing.  They put her in the NICU on oxygen over night to watch her.  When they took her off early Saturday morning, she had an 'episode' and had to be stimulated.  An episode is when she would stop breathing and her heart rate would drop.  (Anytime a baby has an episode and has to be stimulated, they have to stay in NICU 5 days.)  She was admitted to NICU where  they could monitor her around the clock.  I had seen my nephew in NICU with a feeding tube and it was hard.  But when it is your baby laying there on monitors and a feeding tube, it is even harder.  I am so thankful I had my sister to lean on and talk to!

I got to feed her and hold her.  She was doing so good.  We are so thankful for all of our friends and family that were lifting us up in prayer!  I was discharged from the hospital Sunday evening and had to go home without my baby girl.  When I woke up Monday morning, my eyes were swollen from all the crying.  We stayed at the hospital all day with Day and she was moved to a semi-private room called a step-down room.  I was PUMPED!! The room could be closed off and had a tv and recliner SO I could stay up there around the clock.  David got my things and took me out to dinner.  When I got back I learned that Day had another episode and had to be stimulated.  It was so disheartening.  David and our pastor (Bro. Larry) came to the hospital to pray.  God gave us such peace.  It is so hard when the monitors go off for your heart to not sink and start worrying.  I just had to give it to God.  She belonged to Him - He created her and gave her life.  He is the ultimate heart doctor. So every time her monitor would beep, I would just say, "God that is your child, you are in control of her heart and lungs. You are the only one that can 'fix' the problem." 

She had a few great days and then Thursday, May 19th she had another episode.  David and I were extremely frustrated because most of the time the nurses were at the opposite end of the NICU so if something would happen, by the time they got there Day would 'correct' herself.  Well, Thursday night the nurse happen to be outside her room when her monitor went off.  She walked in and touched her - so she was stimulated - another 5 days in NICU.  We were more than ready to take Day home, BUT we knew that if there was something wrong we needed to be at the hospital.  So, we stopped arguing and getting frustrated and gave it to God.  We knew that when He was ready for her to come home completely well, she would.  And that is exactly what she did.  She did not have another episode and got to come home Tuesday, May 24th.

Thanking God for family and friends that pray and for a beautiful and healthy baby girl!

Big sister and big brother

Dannah and Jameson are so proud of their baby sister.  They got to come to the NICU Friday, May 20th when Day was 1 week old and hold her for the first time.  They love on her ALL the time.  It warms my heart to see them care for her.  When she cries, they make up songs to sing to her - she smiles so big at them.  They had such a big part in praying for a healthy baby sister.  Daylynn has the best 'Big sissy' and 'Big brudder' in the world.

Bed rest and delivery

At 34 weeks of pregnancy, I was put on bed rest.  Who knew that laying in bed and doing nothing could be so hard.  I had dilated 1 cm and the doctor was worried I would go into labor before 36 weeks.  On Wednesday,May 11th (36 weeks) I was having contractions so we headed to the hospital.  They kept me over night and the contractions stopped.  My doctor wanted me to come in for a check up Friday to make sure everything was ok.  On the way, I started having contractions again.  I was admitted to the hospital and the contractions stopped.  I was so frustrated - I wanted Daylynn to come when it was her time, but I was hurting.  After the doctor discharged me, he checked me just to make sure.  We were all shocked - I was 3 cm!  It was baby time.  Everyone got to the hospital in time for Daylynn's birth!  Friday, May 13, 2011 at 7:56 pm 7 pounds 4 ounces 19 1/2 inches long

Graduation

It is hard to believe that our 'little' girl graduated from kindergarten- time has flown by.  Tri County had graduation and the K5 play on the same night.  Dannah dressed up as Cat in the Hat for the play-she did great!  What a wonderful job everyone did!  It was the cutest thing ever.  We are so proud of our graduate!

My little 'ballplayer'...

or dirt player...

Jameson had his first t-ball game and well, let's just say he likes to hit, run around the bases, and play in the dirt.  At least he is out there and he looks sooo cute in his uniform :)

First Game

Last night Dannah had her first ball game.  So proud of all the girls on her team.  

They did great!  And looked too cute!  

One of the sweet moms had matching hair bows made for all the girls!

http://www.urpaperdolls.com/

She had a blast!!

He's a showboat!

One thing is for sure - he is not afraid to dive for the ball.  

The problem is he dives for EVERYTHING! :)

 

Jameson's first tee ball practice

Sports

Sports are a huge part of my family and David's.  I think everyone at some point has played something - especially softball/baseball.  This year is the year Dannah and Jameson join in the family tradition.  Dannah had her first practice Tuesday and another today.  Jameson has his first practice Friday.  I can't wait for their first game!  So much fun!

Showing Love

The kids have learned at church how important it is to show love to people.  So showing love has been a main topic at our house - it can apply to everything!  And it is so important in all the relationships that we have.  David is GREAT about telling me how much he loves me.  Today he SHOWED LOVE!

I am not much of a flower kind of girl, but every once in a while it is nice.  And I loved this arrangement!  They were so bright and cheerful!
I love my sweet and thoughtful husband!  :)

Spring Break 2011

I was extremely productive this year!  I managed to get all of Daylynn's things washed and put together :)  I guess I was in my nesting phase!  I also managed to clean out the majority of our house - David hauled away sooo  much garbage. It is amazing how much junk we (David would say it was all mine) have accumulated.  I 'nested' early with Dannah and Jameson also, but this time I wanted to make sure everything was ready before David began farming.  The next few weeks he is going to be extremely busy at work which means he will be exhausted when he gets home - no "honey do's"!

Birthday Party

This past weekend we celebrated Ayden's 4th birthday.  (We were supposed to celebrate Carson's 3rd also, but due to illness, they couldn't make the trip from GA.  :(  We really missed them!)

Jameson and Ayden - BUDDIES

Spring Picture Day

My sweet 'babies' are getting so big! 

Just the 2 of us

It's not very often David and I get a picture of just the two of us.  He says he loves this picture because it looks like I am really listening to him....  

Maybe not for the same reason, but I love this picture also!  So thankful Lacy took it without us knowing :)

Before we become a family of 5...

Ever since we found out we would be growing to a family of 5, I have wanted a family picture.
I finally got my picture!

Lillie's 1st Birthday

 

The sweet birthday girl

 The girls

Ashton, Lillie, and Dannah

The Moore, Shuman, and Knighton kids

Lillie, Jameson, Dannah, Tanner, Ashton, Corey, and Rylan

Cakes

Cooper's 1st Birthday cake

Jameson's 4th Birthday

Monogram Cake for Bridal Shower

Side of monogram cake

Monogram cookies to match cake

Close-up of monogram cookies

Princess cake and cupcakes

Princess cake and cupcakes

Oldie but goodie

Last night I was going through pictures on my phone and found this one.  I teared up.  Jameson was one and a half and Dannah was close to 3.  PRECIOUS!

Our bundle of joy...

is going to be a sweet little girl!  We are so excited!  With each one of our kids, the day we have found out what we are having we buy their coming home from the hospital outfit.  So, last night we got Baby Knighton some gifts.  Her BIG SISTER was such a big help picking everything out.