Picture #19

We just love picture day.

It's not just about keeping record of the growing belly, 

which has been great fun.

But it is also about keeping Phillip updated. 

Although he and Katie talk, face-time, and text daily,

I email him the picture every Thursday after I edit it. 

I try to get it emailed before they have their 

goodmorning/goodnight 

call. 

He calls the girls every morning when he wakes up to tell them good night. 

Tomorrow night, he will spend his first night in their new, old house! 

I can't wait to get pictures of the house after they have their stuff moved in. 

Until next time

God Bless!!

Picture #16

WOW!!

It has been a VERY busy week.

Monday we celebrated Memorial Day. 

Well, celebrate isn't exactly the right word to use. 

We remembered all those that have given their all for this wonderful country we live in, 

and we also said goodbye to Phillip. 

He has moved to Germany. 

He is anxiously waiting for the rest of his family to arrive. 

Katie and Mattie spent one last night in the apartment before the movers came in and started packing everything up. 

The have moved in with Mom and will stay there until time for them to leave. 

They have almost got a schedule down to FaceTime with Phillip but it will be a little easier once school is out. 

Which is tomorrow!!

Mattie has one more day as a 3rd grader!!! 

She is growing way too fast!!

Next week she has two days at Maker Academy at ACU. 

She is really looking forward to that.

Next week, we can start to slow down and start enjoying the summer. 

We continue to get rain!! 

Thank you Lord!! 

There is a lot of flooding, 

but we have a few lakes that have not really gained any water.

We continue to pray that rains keeps coming until those lakes are full. 

Happy Summer!!

Until next week, 

God Bless. 

Mattie's Reaction to the Oops!

In March, I posted this about the gender reveal party we held for our family.

Here's the video of the reveal.

Mattie obviously was not happy about it being a baby girl.

An her face in this picture...

shows she is just not thrilled.


Last night I posted our weekly belly picture along with a big oops!

I couldn't get the video to post.

So as promised,

Here is Mattie learning there was a big mistake in revealing the gender of the baby!!







Though not nearly as exciting as the party video,

She is quite thrilled to learn it really is a boy!!

I've said it before, but I will say it again...

She is going to be an amazing big sister!!!

Until next time,

God bless.

Picture #13

It's Thursday!!

And that means it's picture day!!

Katie and Phoebe are doing well. 

Katie is still tired a lot and that makes it difficult to get ready to move. 

But other than that, all is well. 

Mattie is looking forward to the end of school. 

Usually, 

this is where I would end the post, 

but we have a few more pictures today!

This Thursday was also sonogram day!!

It was a great appointment and they got to see some really good pictures of their healthy little girl!

But Phillip noticed the doctor say something about Phoebe that Katie didn't catch!!

Here's her little face!

Smile!!

Check out that spine!!

Nice and straight!

Aww!! Baby feet!!

There's nothing better than baby feet!!

Especially when they are attached to your precious little grand child!!

And then Katie heard what Phillip had heard earlier!!!

Phoebe's not Phoebe!!!

She's not a she!!!!

He's a he!!!

It's a BOY!!! 

Yep!!! 

Their having a boy!!

Philip Erich Holland!!!

 Phillip is one excited daddy!!

And though we are so excited that it is a boy,

we are so thankful and blessed that it is healthy little miracle from God!

Until next time

God bless!!

Tomorrow, I'll have Mattie's reaction!!!

Picture #10

Well...

I'm only a week late. 

The Holland's (minus Mattie) were traveling last week and she sent me the picture to update and post. 

I got the update done, but I never did the post. 

A different background to the photo this last week. 

I should have the current post tonight or tomorrow. 

God Bless!

Picture #7

It's Thursday!!

That means it's picture day!!

Last week, Baby H was the size of a lime,

but has grown to be the size of a plum. 

If you read my last post, you know that little plum is a GIRL!!!

Mattie really wanted a baby brother, but I think after talking to Hysti and Tiger,

she realizes how much fun having a sister will be. 

They also talked to her about being so far apart in age.

They are seven years apart and Mattie will be ten years older than Baby H.

I just know she's going to be a great big sister. 

Now for a test! 

How observant are you? 

There is another really big change about to happen for our family, 

and we have been dropping some very subtle hints in the last few post. 

See if you can guess before you get to the last clue.

Clue #1 - A count down clock named "Secret Day" was added to my side bar a few weeks ago

Clue #2 - One of the items Katie had listed in Picture #5 is "Getting Ready to Pack & Move"

Clue #3 - Post "This Kid" on March 19, 2015 tells about Mattie trying different types of food 

Clue #4 - The Picture #6 post states "lots of changes are coming" 

(yeah that could have been about Baby H, but it wasn't)

Clue #5 - There are three clues during the reveal party, so I'll list those as sub-clues;

Clue #5A - Hansel & Gretel are on the reveal box

Clue #5B - On the poster behind Katie's head showing the boy/girl guesses, 

boy and girl are listed as junge and madchen

Clue #5C - the reveal is a pink dirndl

So have you figured it out? 

If not, you'll see it as you look at Picture #7. 

Yep! 

My babies are moving! 

It's exciting and sad at the same time. 

I have been able to love on Mattie just about every day of her life. 

But as hard as it is for me, 

I just keep telling myself how great it is going to be for them. 

I hope we have a name for Baby H before they leave! 

God Bless

More fun with Baby H

Last night we had a small family gathering. 

My family can make a party out of anything. 

This party was to find out the gender of Baby H.

The decorations turned out great. 

Even Mom's cactus was dressed for the occasion. 

Frank and I knew the answer, 

and we had been tormenting everyone all day. 

We gave them one final tease before everyone arrived. 

Everyone dressed in the color of their guess, 

Blue = Boy

Pink = Girl

The teams were quite lopsided with more on Team Blue! 

 And Mattie showed how excited she is with all her Big Sister accessories!

We started with a guessing game. 

I had filled this jar with candy,

Half blue & half pink, 

well almost.

There was one more of one color, 

the winning team color. 

I had everyone write there guess on their team side as to how many they though was there. 

This box holds the answer to which gender Baby H is!

After we had dinner, it was time for the reveal. 

Mattie held the box

Phillip and Katie pulled the ribbons. 

And it didn't take long to learn what gender Baby H was. 

YES! IT'S A GIRL!!

And someone was really wanting a boy!

Baby H has been prayed over and will be loved beyond belief. 

And big sister Mattie has since turned that frown around 

and is all smiles about having a little sister. 

So now we wait on a name for the next little princess.

And God continue to bless us as we wait!

Exciting Things Have Happened in the Past Year

Someone once told me the only constant in life is change. 

That statement could not be more true. 

When I started my little blog, it was just to see if I could do it. Then it really became about Mattie May. 

A lot about Mattie May. 

Then in 2012, it became about my cancer journey. It was a journal for Katie and Mattie and anyone curious about that journey. 

I became very lax in writing in my little bloggy. And as I look back to check, it has been almost a year since I posted anything. 

Many things have taken place in the past year, 

Some really exciting things! 

But after the news I received this week, I think it's time to wake my sleepy, little blog. 

Last April, Katie, Mattie and I were meeting for lunch after church. She asked if a friend could join us. He had just returned from deployment and didn't really know a lot of people. I didn't care because I was hungry. I just wanted to eat. 

That friend was Phillip. 

He and Katie started dating. And Mattie approved. 

June brought about Katie's 30th birthday. Growing up, her June birthday was just as bad as my December birthday. Between vacations, sporting events and summer camps, birthday parties just didn't happen very often. So Frank and I decided to throw her a big surprise party with lots of family and friends. 

Phillip agreed to help get her there. 

Oh, he also proposed at this party. Again, Mattie approved. 

We took our annual trip to Florida for US Open Karate (at which my family rocked!). 

In October, Frank and I walked our 1st 5K. It was a lot of fun and I am really looking forward to doing that again. 

Phillip & Katie decided the wedding would be right before Thanksgiving. So on November 25, 2014, under a tent at my mom's, they were married. It was a beautiful ceremony again, with lots of family and friends. 

So obviously, it was a busy, happy, life changing year. 

And it seems that 2015 will be no different. 

Mattie and her demo karate team tried out for America's Got Talent in January. She also competed in the AISD UIL academic competition in spelling. She didn't place but that's OK. we all need to learn it's OK to participate and not win, as long as we do our best. 

February is just starting. The 4th, Frank and I celebrated our 31st anniversary. 

Phillip, Katie and Mattie took us to eat. It was a lot of fun. 

While we were at dinner, Mattie told us that in October, she was going to be a big sister. Yep! Frank and I are going to have another grandchild. 

Mattie's drawing of her expectant mother! 

So I decided it was time to dust off my little blog and record more memories for this next little bundle of joy!

As with everything else we have learned in life, we know that with every new day there will be changes in our lives...

But as long as we follow God, everything is going to be OK. 

God Bless.