Preparing to be a Big Sister

Annelise has been practicing to be a big sister for some time now. She learned to say, "Baby," and she pats my tummy. She has several babies that she cares for. She gives them a bottle of milk or a sippy cup and pushes them around in their stroller. She's so sweet and we're just hoping she is sweet to Alice Claire too!

Our original due date was August 20, but I was scheduled to be induced on Monday, August 16. However, after today's doctor's appointment it looks like Alice Claire is ready to come a little early! We are scheduled to arrive at the hospital on Wednesday morning, August 11, for her birthday. So, we're now in a hurry to get ready for her arrival!


We haven't finished decorating her room, but it's ready for her regardless. Her bed is made (and Annelise has tried it out for her several times) and all of her new clothes are clean. Her bag for the hospital is packed and she has a beautiful dress ready to wear home from the hospital.

Birth announcement for hospital door

Proof that PINK is our signature color.

Below are a few more pictures of Annelise before she has to share the limelight...

Eating spaghetti pasta for the first time!

Mommy giving a back ride at 39 weeks pregnant!

Such a Daddy's girl!

Please keep us in your prayers for a safe delivery and a healthy Alice Claire!

Tupelo Honeys

We made it to Tupelo! Friday morning, July 9, I put Annelise asleep in my car at 5am in the hopes that she would sleep all the way to Tupelo (no such luck). The night before Bryan and I packed our cars and a U-Haul trailer and prepared for our move from my friend Haley's house (that we've been renting) to our new home. Our closing couldn't have gone any smoother (about 15 minutes!) and we drove to our new address: 1531 Sunflower Circle.

We were very excited to be there, but unfortunately our movers couldn't deliver any of our furniture until the following Monday. We had Annelise's crib, but Bryan and I slept on an air mattress all weekend and ordered take-out. He had to be back in Jackson Monday morning, so Annelise and I dealt with the movers. It was a DIFFICULT week to say the least! Boxes were stacked to the ceiling in some rooms and there wasn't walking space anywhere. Annelise and I got to work quickly, but I don't ever remember being as exhausted as I was at the end of each day. Bryan has been living with a friend in Jackson so he could finish his fellowship, but he's driven the 3 hours from Jackson to Tupelo each weekend to be with us. His fellowship ends on Sunday, so Monday he will make the trip one last time and we will all be together again as a family...finally. I CAN'T WAIT!!!

Here's a photo of Annelise and "Nay-Nay" the neighbor's cat, who isn't sure where his/her home is. Annelise gets so excited to see Nay-Nay outside!

Got my purse and sunglasses, and I'm ready to go!

Mom and Granny Ruth heard the desperation in my voice over the phone too many times, and they knew I could use a girls weekend of nesting. So, they came for a visit last weekend. They played with Annelise and sewed curtains for the girls' rooms, and gave me time to relax. Bryan and I even got to go on a date by ourselves! Of course, Annelise was spoiled getting to do just about whatever she wanted. She convinced my grandmother that 98 degrees wasn't too hot for blowing bubbles on the front porch.

Annelise and Granny Ruth

Happy 1st Birthday, Annelise!

Isn't it amazing what one year and one little girl can do to your heart? Life changed forever for Bryan and I one year ago today. No one could have ever prepared us for the past 12 months and for the joy she has brought into our lives. I will never forget the surreal moment of holding her just seconds after she was born. Nor will I forget the look on Bryan's face when he held his little girl for the first time. Precious moments.

The birthday fairy showed up overnight in Annelise's room and delivered 16 pink balloons. She was SO excited to see them when she woke up this morning!

Here are a couple of pictures from birthday morning (with Miss Katie, of course).

So excited to be 1!

Daddy got me a pink car for my 1st birthday! Hmmm...what will I get for my 16th birthday?

Even though we celebrated Annelise's birthday at the beach with family, we wanted to do something special on the actual day anyway. (And honestly, I'll do anything as an excuse for cupcakes!) So we had Dreamcakes make us special cupcakes (they made our wedding cupcakes too!) and we invited friends to Corner Bakery for a birthday dinner.

Clapping after the Birthday song! Yay for me!!
The Bourgs: Collins, Christy, and Mary Francis

The Malones: Roman, Tonya, Sophie, and Mia

Yummy!

Family Beach Trip

May 23-27, 2010

For Christmas, Bryan and I wanted to give our family the gift of being together--which is very difficult to do since we are spread out from South Mississippi to Northeast Arkansas. But we thought a beach vacation would be fun for everybody. We've all been counting the months, weeks, and days until this trip! This was no ordinary family trip! We're talking 17 family members in two condos. And yes, we all survived and even managed to relax some too! Since Annelise's 1st birthday is only a few weeks away and we knew we'd never get all of this family together again to celebrate, we cheated and celebrated a little early!

Prettiest little swimsuit model, ever!

First time in a swimming pool...and not so sure about it.

Annelise loved the beach and especially playing with the seashells her cousins brought her!

Mommy and Annelise (as Mommy hides the fashionable maternity swimsuit!)

The beach can really wear a girl out!

Daddy was kind enough to take everyone's family portrait!

Poor Annelise! I'm sure she's starting to think we are going to live out of suitcases forever!

Goodbye to Whippoorwill Drive

We put our house on the market in early April so we didn't miss the prime selling period--late Spring/early Summer. Based on the current market, we anticipated that it may take a while to sell and we didn't want to have to face having to pay a mortgage in both Jackson and Tupelo. So, a sign went in the yard and we crossed our fingers. The first weekend we had lots of passersby drive slowly and check it out. Bryan and I were glued to the window driving ourselves crazy watching! The next week he moved to New Orleans for his 6-weeks there and Annelise and I tried hard to keep the house clean. Less than 2 weeks after we put it on the market, our real estate agent called and said someone wanted to see the house (finally!)...but, in about 15 mintues. Yikes! So I scrambled around to pick up clothes, dog hair, toys, and peas, and Annelise and Shelby and I jumped in the car. The next day we had a fair offer on our house and within a few days, a closing date set for May 17--the Monday after Bryan comes home from New Orleans.

So then we were in a mad dash to find a place to live through August and to figure out all of the logistics of two moves. I am so very fortunate to have a special friend, Haley Lambright, who offered to move out of her house in Brandon and in with her parents, so we would have a place to stay. "Generous" doesn't even begin to describe what she's doing for us. We are so grateful!



Below are the last pictures we took in front of our house on Whippoorwill Drive, on Mother's Day. Although we will both be so thankful that we don't have to spell "Whippoorwill" for anyone anymore, we both have special memories of this house: the 1st house Bryan ever bought, we drank wine on the back porch together the night of our 1st date in 2004, moved in together here after we got married, and brought Annelise home to this address. Goodbye to Barnett Bend, and thanks for giving us our first home together.

Spring has sprung!

I hate that it has been so long since I've updated the blog, but we've been SO busy! Our big news is that Baby Fagan #2 is a GIRL!!! We are all so excited that our ultrasound in mid-March showed us a perfectly healthy little girl. What a blessing! I am feeling pretty good, after a rough start as most pregnancies begin, and everything with the baby is great. We are racking our brains for another baby girl name--Julia, Alexis, Corinne, Ava Claire--all on the list as of right now.

We have made several trips to Tupelo, our future home! Speaking of home...we are looking hard for the perfect house there. We have several options but haven't made a decision yet. We did put our housee in Brandon on the market and it sold in less than 2 weeks--yikes! We are grateful, but have no place to live until the move to Tupelo! So, as most moves are stressful, this one will be also. We are looking for something to rent for June and July here in the Jackson area now and feeling like we are in a pinch! The closing date for our house is May 17--our 2 year anniversary! But, things could be worse, and this is a temporary situation. We will soon be settled.

Bryan is in New Orleans right now, until May 15. (Notice that's 2 DAYS before our house closes!) Annelise and I miss him terribly, but it's part of the fellowship and another hurdle for Bryan to jump through to complete it. He is coming home as often as possible and we will visit him some there too.

Annelise is growing up so fast! She is probably weeks away from walking. She stands up on her own and has tried to take a few steps on her own. She has turned into a very picky eater (but loves chocolate popsicles as you will see below). She seems to love animals, even Shelby who doesn't exactly love her! She is picking up some of the sign language we're teaching her, but also learned that if she points and says, "dat" we will follow her sweet finger and she gets what she wants. She is such an amazing joy to us and we can't imagine what having another little girl will be like. We have been blessed beyond measure.

Playing Peek-a-Boo with Daddy

Sharing her first chocolate popsicle with Mommy

St. Patrick's Day--Lucky girl; Lucky parents :)

Easter Morning

Macaroni and Cheese--favorite meal, but it hurts when it gets in your eyes!

Surprise News from Annelise!

Annelise has special news to share... SURPRISE! Quite a surprise to us, but a welcomed blessing nonetheless. And just when we think we have things figured out with Annelise! Our sweet little ones will be only 14 months apart! Yikes! Busy times ahead in the Fagan household. Baby #2 is due on August 20, which means he/she will probably be born in Tupelo. New house, new town, new job for Bryan, AND a new baby! But, those of you who know us well know that this is just how we do things!
When I was still working and Annelise was going to day care, the ladies at her school often said to me, "She's getting out of the way." They said she was ahead of other babies her same age in milestones because "she's getting out of the way" for another baby. I always laughed and thought they were nuts. Well...looks like there's somthing to that old saying!

Annelise is now 7 months old and crawling everywhere. She says, "Mama," "Dada," and something close to "Bye, Bye." She pulls up and crawls on everything she can and she's curious about everything! She gives hugs and open mouth kisses, and is such a joy. I can't wait to have another one just like her...even if it comes in "boy" form! :)

Telling Gran and Papa the big news

Please keep our little family in your prayers for a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby.

Happy New Year!

It's amazing how much more special little ones make the holidays. Annelise's first Christmas was wonderful! We spent a lot of time on the road, but it was worth it to share her with our families, even as spread out as they are. She was so much fun! She did a great job at opening presents, but she just wanted to eat the paper. So, most of the photos she has a pacifier because we were trying to prevent paper-eating!

Lilah and Annelise on Christmas morning

Annelise had Christmas in Bogalusa, LA, Hattiesburg, Jackson, and then Batesville, AR. Whew! All that opening gifts can really wear a girl out!

Santa left a Radio Flyer in Jackson!

Christmas in Arkansas with Tolly and Maw

Fagan Family Christmas
Keeping warm in their Snuggies

Happy New Year, everyone! Hope you ate your cabbage!