Two Months!

Here are a few of Charissa's two month pictures. We took them last Thursday. 

My favorite even if it's a little blurry!

My little Sweetie

Charissa Birth Announcement

Vintage Volute Pink Birth Announcement

To see Shutterfly's birth announcement designs, click here.

View the entire collection of cards.

Charissa's week old picture

My mom came to visit on the 16th and dad came on the 19th. We enjoyed having them here and they enjoyed 

their new first grand baby. 

Tim's family came on the 21st for Mother's family Thanksgiving/Christmas in Columbia, MO and they stopped by Joplin for a couple of days. They (Aunt Emily in particular:) took lots of pictures of Charissa. This is one of them.

Charissa Joy

 Our baby Charissa Joy was born on November 12, 2011. She weighed 7lbs. 9oz. and was 21 in. long. She was almost born on 11-11-11 but she held out until just after midnight so she didn't get to have a cool birthday.  She was born safely at home assisted by a wonderful midwife named Judith and her daughter Sha.    We are thankful for her safe arrival and that she is healthy.

Excuse the blurriness! These are cell phone pictures.

One of her first pictures. She was screaming:)

Charissa and Daddy

Pre-Baby Pictures

Well it's about Time I got our blog updated with all our happenings in the last three months.These are pictures from the Sunday (November 6, 2011) before our baby was born. I didn't have any nice maternity pictures so we decided to go to the park to take some. 

Tim and I

Me at 39 Weeks

32 Weeks!

Emily, here is a picture just for you since you commented on my long lost blog and you have been wanting to see what I look like! This is my baby bump last week. You will just have to excuse that the picture is in the bathroom! I don't have any other convenient mirror to take a picture of myself in:) Just a few more weeks and she will be here! It is a little hard for me to believe, but when I feel the hard whacks inside me, I know she is alive and growing!

Yummy Bread!

This is recipe is really good. I got it out of a Taste of home magazine.

Garlic-Herb Braid

4 to 41/2 cups all-purpose flour

3 Tbsp. sugar

2 pkg.(1/4 oz. each)

quick-rise yeast

2 tsp. dried basil

1-3/4 tsp. dill weed

1-1/2 tsp. salt

3/4 tsp. garlic powder

3/4 tsp. dried rosemary, crushed

3/4 cup 2% milk

1/2 cup water

1/4 cup butter, cubed

1 egg

1 Tbsp. butter, melted

• In a large bowl, combine 1-1/2 cups flour, sugar, yeast, and seasonings. In a small saucepan, heat the milk water and cubed butter to 120-130 degrees. Add to dry ingredients; beat just until moistened. Add egg; beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough.
• Turn onto a floured surface; kneed until smooth and elastic, about 4-6 minutes. Cover and let rest for 10 minutes.
• Divide dough into thirds. Shape each into a 15-in. rope. Pace ropes on a greased baking sheet and braid; pinch ends to seal and tuck under. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 25 minutes.
• Bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.Brush with melted butter. remove from pan to a wire rack to cool.

Yield: 1 loaf (16 slices)