A little of this and that...

More snow for us in NC - A Valentine's Surprise!  This time it was beautiful. white. powdery. light. airy. cold. - February 13, 2010

We made some very yummy and very sweet snowcream...Sarah Grace helped stir and then before we knew it, she had a fist full of snowcream in her mouth!  Such a fun memory...we made extra to keep in the freezer...a sweet taste of snowcream (several days later) is a great reminder of that wonderful, cold, snowy, weekend!

Little Miss exploring with a spoon.  She's got the concept of "spoon in mouth" but then it's open ended after that.  She can dip her spoon into something like applesauce, then brings the applesauce covered spoon to her mouth, then eats it, then hands the spoon back to us, or throws it to Daisy...Daisy and SG are becoming quite a team.

Ever heard the song "Baby Shark"?  Well we think Sarah Grace really likes it...not sure why.  It all started during her bathtimes.  She has a cute (I mean scary) towel that looks like a shark.  The hooded part of the towel looks like the shark is eating baby's head.  Anyways, we started singing this song after bathtime (I guess we wanted to take a walk down campfire song lane) and she just burst into laughter.  Maybe because it has repetition or because she thinks Mommy and Daddy look funny doing the motions...who knows.

Sarah Grace was 11 months old at the end of February 2010...it's hard to believe we're about to celebrate her FIRST birthday!  This picture was from a day when we were playing in the living room.  She seemed really interested in this "jumper" toy (though we hadn't used it in a while), so I placed her in it and she went to town jumping up and down in it.  She enjoyed bouncing in it as a "baby" - but now as she's gotten older, she seemed to be exploring it in a new light...she can jump higher, she's more interactive with the lights/sounds, and she loves to swivel in the seat!

We hosted (along with some other family members) a baby shower for Anna and Justin...on March 6, 2010 at our home.  Below are some pictures from the event.  It was a beautiful day filled with the celebration of new life and lots of family and friends!  We are all excited to meet their baby boy this summer! (he's due late June 2010!) 

A little picture of Christi and Jack...out for date night...ice skating.  Although we hadn't ever been ice skating together, we'd both ice skated in the past.  It had been quite a few years since either of us had skated...but we laced up our skates and hit the ice!  After a few trips around the rink...we looked like old pros...well almost!  We had a great time "re-learning" how to skate.  We had a wonderful time "chillin" (literally)with each other!

L-O-V-E

As Valentine's Day rolls around, we just wanted to share some thoughts...and a few pictures!

L-O-V-E by Nat King Cole (click this link to hear a little excerpt of this song; please turn off music at the bottom of our blog so you can hear this...)

L is for the way you look at me
O is for the only one I see
V is very, very extraordinary
E is even more than anyone that you adore can...
Love is all that I can give to you
Love is more than just a game for two
Two in love can make it
Take my heart and please don't break it
Love was made for me and you!

As a married couple, we are so thankful for our love...a romantice love that we share. We also share other kinds of "love"...love is just part of a marriage. Love is described through communication, holding hands, "date nights", support, compliments, "I love you-s", encouragement, laughter, gentle words...and the unspoken ones, and many more acts of love!

• "I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine" ~ Song of Solomon 6:3

• "We loved with a love that was more than love." ~ Edgar Allen Poe

• "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." ~ 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

We are experiencing a new kind of love this Valentine's Day...a love for our first born daughter. Although it is not the romantic kind of love that couples share, it is a love that is hard to describe. Sweet Miss Sarah Grace has brought not only love into our lives, but also, more joy, laughter, innocence, tears, pride, peace, happiness, as well as many other feelings and emotions that are hard to put into words.

Sarah Grace LOVES to cuddle with her "Dolly"

Sarah Grace LOVES to sleep in her bed

Sarah Grace LOVES to play with Daisy

"We prayed for this child and the Lord has granted what we asked of Him." ~ 1 Samuel 1:27

In this busy life we live, take a moment and think of something you LOVE to do...make some time to do it...just for you (Sarah Grace shared some examples of things she LOVES to do...maybe you could cuddle with a favorite stuffed animal, take a nap in your bed, or play with your pet)!...AND think of someone you love...call them, say a prayers, send a card or e-mail, reach out and hold their hand...you never know what may come of spreading love.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Fun in Twenty Ten

Sarah Grace is 10 months old (as of January 30, 2010!)...and we can't believe it. She's been living outside in this world longer than she was living inside in her Mommy's belly! What a little miracle from God...and we thank Him everyday for her!

Back tracking just a bit...Sarah Grace was 9 months on December 30, 2009. On January 13, 2010 we went to her 9 month check up...we saw her favorite pediatrician, Dr. Prevatte. He just loves her (and we love him!). He says she is very observant, tall and beautiful (18 pounds), and he asked if she smiles all the time...and we said, yep, pretty much!

The Dr. said we could start trying cow's whole milk with her...in hopes to wean her to whole milk by her first birthday. So, we gave her a taste one day...and, not that we had any doubts, she liked it! So during these last 2 months before she turns 1, we are transitioning her to cow's milk, so that by the time she's 1 she's totally off formula and drinking cow's milk (in addition to water and juice!). Since we stopped breastfeeding when she was about 9 months old, she's been drinking formula...and it adds up (that stuff is so expensive...about $26 or $27 a can!) so we are welcoming the less expensive cow's milk (even though we are buying the organic, high test whole milk...it is still only about $4 or $5 for 1/2 gallon) YAY! SG drinks her milk from a sippy cup...while still drinking bottles of formula at other times. She will definiely be ready for a tall, cold glass of milk and cookies (or should I say cake) for her FIRST birthday!

She has the cutest, toothiest grin...she has two teeth downstairs (bottom center) - they surprised us when SG was about 4 1/2 months old. Her two teeth upstairs (top center) teeth were a gift from Santa right around Christmastime and just in the past few weeks she's been teething on the next two teeth beside the center ones up top...she's definitely learning how to bite through grapes (and other foods) and she thinks it is pretty cool. She's definitely working on walking...whew, where did the time go?

SG is growing up...she tells us that she is no longer a baby...but a little girl (although she'll always be our baby girl!). In honor of this, we've taken out her infant carseat (the one that you can tote around while shopping and it is taken in and out of the car easily) and stored it in the attic. We've installed her (big) little girl carseat - it is still turned around backwards because it is safest this way...but once she turns 1, we can turn it so that it faces to the front (this will make it easier for us to hand her things since she'll be closer). She'll ride in this carseat until she's truly a big girl...until age 4 or some "big girl" age - we don't even want to think that far ahead!

The life she lives...

shopping with her purse...

being pulled in her wagon...

exploring the arts...a true sensory experience!

A little trip to the park min-January...

January 30, 2010 - First snow at our new home...

A special place...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfwP04HrBJY

Wanted to share this link to a YouTube video...it's just about 2 minutes long. It's a special place to me...and to our family - Wrightsville Beach, NC. Take a minute or two to understand why this beautiful place created by God is a place I call "home" (or my "home away from home").

As a child, this is where I grew up "vacationing" - learning to swim, changing my bathing suit every time sand got in the lining, listening to the seagulls float above me trying to dive in on my 1/2 eaten sandwich, building sand castles and crab holes, getting knocked down by "big" waves, not understanding the adult idea of "getting hot before jumping right into the cold (actually warm) water", dotting the shore with dozens of beach chairs (each accounting for one member of my family), not being afraid of sharks, skinny dipping (I was very young!) by the moonlight, smelling the sweet/salty air, riding on a boat above the waves, enjoying quiet beach nights when the waves were all you could hear, and so much more (including the hurricane(s) that washed away our house)...making memories that will last my lifetime!

MY family (Jack, Sarah Grace, Daisy, and me) has also enjoyed many wonderful times on this very beach...before we were married, Jack and I took walks on this soft sand and shared stories and secrets...felt the warm sun tan our skin and make the water glisten and sparkle...this is where we got married (best day of our lives other than SG's birth)...numerous pictures have been taken here with friends and family...we've played in the warm waters of it's calm waves with our infant first born daughter, it was the first beach Sarah Grace wiggled her toes in....we've experienced wreck dives from down under (Jack and I have been SCUBA diving off shore)...we hope to create many more memories and luckily it's just a little over 2 hours away from our "home"!

Although I am a creature of habit and do not like things/people to "change" - this beach (and it's memories) is one thing that is ever changing and it's magnificent - and it gets better as it changes!

Enjoy!
CRC

Sarah Grace's Blog Press

Sarah Grace says, "Check out my cousin Karyn's blog featuring me!" Cousin Karyn recently visited us (SG thinks she is silly because she wore SG's bow in her hair!) and has posted an entry about little Sarah Grace...too cute!
Please click on the link below...ENJOY!
http://donthavekids.wordpress.com/

Happy New Decade...2010!

We can't believe it is here...2010! A new decade...a new year! We hope this finds you well and that you've had a wonderful start to a new year! Although Jack had to work Christmas, he was on vacation for almost 2 weeks afterwards...it was awesome! We traveled to Waynesboro celebrate a belated Christmas and to ring in 2010 and Jack's 27th birthday...whew! Our family time was filled with a new year, family, friends, birthdays (we both turned 27 - Jack on the 1st and Christi on the 7th of January - guess it's late 20's for us!!!), snow (lots of snow), skiing, and more memories.

Here's what has happened so far in 2010 for the Coiner family...

Happy 27th Birthday Jack! January 1, 2010!

New Year's Day party at Carolynn and John's ~ January 1, 2010!

Scott and Sarah Pruett holding Sarah Grace

SG's 1st time in the snow. While we were in Waynesboro, we had a chance to explore the snow with SG. They still had snow on the ground from before Christmas. We all had a great time in the snow!

"Baby it's cold outside!"

"Walking in a Winter Wonderland!"

A huge shovel from the garage turned into Sarah Grace's personal sled...complete with a driver (Daddy Jack), logistical assistant (Oma Carolynn), and a little white reindeer (Puppy Daisy)!

Of course parents have to have a little fun, too. Note the snowball in Jack's right hand that later ended up down Christi's shirt (victory for Jack!) and notice the silly string all over Jack's face (victory for Christi!) - so we called a truce!

Visiting Great Aunt Holly in Richmond 1/3/2010

Sarah Grace has transitioned from her "baby" carseat to her "little girl" carseat! She really likes it (as seen here!)...it is more upright and she just seems to enjoy it more.




Sarah Grace and Wilmond have a playdate...working on a puzzle 1/4/2010

Happy Birthday Trip for Mommy & Daddy!

(baby and puppy stayed at home with loving family!)

January 7-10, 2010 Boone/Sugar Mountain, NC

Thursday 1/7/2010

Original Mast General Store - Historic Valle Crucis

*Christi's 27th birthday*

Dinner - First night in Boone, NC

Friday 1/8/2010

Sunrise view from our condo at Echota (on the ridge!) outside of Boone, NC - so beautiful!

Sipping coffee by the warm gas logs while we were "snowed" in at our condo 1/8/10. We drove Jack's car and we got up the mountain just fine Thursday night...but when we tried to drive back down the next morning (Friday), we discovered we couldn't pull it off. It had snowed overnight and the road to our condo was a bit icy. We waited for the sun to "warm" the road although it was about 8-10 degrees outside. We eventually drove down the mountain and met Lee and Scott (who joined us for skiing) at Red Onion Cafe for dinner. Luckily, Lee and Scott drove their 4wheel drive SUV. We parked Jack's car at the bottom and rode with them to our condo at the top!

Saturday 1/9/2010

Geared up and ready to ski...Sugar Mountain!

Riding the ski lift...up the mountain...so pretty and white!

Top of Sugar Mountain...at the start of the black diamonds...Jack took these...Christi was down skiing on the safe, green slopes :)

Everything was snow covered...and it was snowy, cold, and windy...but it was an amazing sight!

Jack heading downhill!

Dr. Coiner...arriving safely at the bottom of the mountain!

The Coiners - sans baby SG and Daisy

We had a very wonderful vacation although we definitely missed SG and Daisy! We came back refreshed and ready for all that 2010 has in store for us!

Helping Mommy & Kempton with Meals on Wheels. We deliver warm meals to elderly folks in the community who are shut in. SG rides with us and generally has a smile on her face! We enjoy the fellowship of each other and hopefully bring a smile to someone's face!