Take a Moment...

I have recently started actually "blogging" and keeping up with my friends blogs,etc and upon this "journey" I came upon a lady's blog about her unborn child who she found out was sick with a disease called Trisomy 18. I read her blogs up to date, researched the disease, and also joined her Caringbridge webpage so that I could keep up with baby and send prayers to her and their family. I had never heard of the disease but after finding out more about it, I was just pure sick on my stomach. As a mother, I can't imagine my child being sick with anything that I can't fix or not being able take her to the doctor, get some medicine and be over it in a few days.. much less something so life-threatening. Basically, this disease is so horrible that most babies that have it have to be born early because they cant even take the stress of childbirth and sometimes they are born stillborn..if they do survive, their days are immediately numbered!! Can you even imagine knowing that the precious baby you have grown to love will be taken from you at any given moment??!! Not to mention the struggles to deliver that baby, the health problems they go through when they are alive and then you fullknowingly have to prepare to let this baby go at any given time... it is just plain horrific! I cried and cried over hearing this woman's story and I promise you, I have held my baby girl just a little tighter since I found out about it. This morning upon arriving to work and checking my emails,etc.. I decided to check in on the baby and see how she was doing... and to find out after only 36 days here on this Earth... she passed away!!!! I truly can't even wrap my mind around it and yet on their blog and website all this family could do was praise God for 36 days with their baby and how wonderful those days were!!!!!! I have been so truly touched and amazed by this family's story and decided to share it with my fellow bloggers.. I think we could all use a little reminding sometimes of how blessed we are that God does not give us what we deserve and that we have our precious, healthy babies with us still!!!!! If you would like to read their story or leave prayers you can go to : www.caringbridge.org/visit/laynegracegaston And I also would like to take this moment to ask that prayers be with my cousin and his family.. he was severely wounded in Afghanistan and we are unsure of his condition as of now! Thanks and Bless You All!

Christmas Cards, Anyone??

I, along with many other people, have become much more aware of the economy and how much we all overspend. I had decided not to Fall Pictures this year since we had just celebrated my child's 1st birthday and had tons of pictures from that. I figured we could use some of those pictures for our annual Brand Family Christmas card, so I went straight to http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-cards to find what card I wanted to use. I had already used them for her birth announcements last year which were also our Christmas Card and they were absolutely precious and I used Shutterfly to create a very special birthday photo book to display all her 1st birthday pictures without the added expense of printing out all the pictures. Shutterfly has so many things to offer and at great prices. They are always offering a deal on the shipping or a percentage off of your order and when you recieve your order in the mail, there is always an added coupon for your next order. So, basically when wanting to save money and get the best quality photos and cards.. go to Shutterfly.com. This year, they are offering a special for bloggers and when you follow the directions they give you, you will receive 50 free holiday cards!!!! I am so excited and cant wait to place my order. You, too, can receive this great special by going to http://bit.ly/sfly2010 Happy Hunting!

Thankful for.....

I saw alot of my fellow bloggers mentioning things they are thankful for so I decided with the season fast approaching, it was time I listed what I was thankful for:

First and foremost, I am thankful for my family that God gave me... I have a loving and supportive husband who sacrifices being with us everyday to give us a better life and without him, we would truly be lost... he also helped to give me my daughter who is by far the best thing that has ever happened to us! Hallie Kate is the kind of baby people dream about.. beautiful, sweet, and just pure precious! I truly cannot even say her name or look at her picture without a smile on my face and a happy tear in my eye. I know I have not done many things right in my life, but whatever I did to deserve her.. well for that I am forever grateful! :)

My parents.. My Daddy is my heart, always has been and always will be! He and my step-mom, are always available to help me with the baby when my husband is gone or when he finally is home and we need a date night or just when I need to run an errand, they babysit free of charge anytime I need them, check on us daily, do things around my house, etc. etc... they definitely help me out when I am "husband-less" and that is truly something that is priceless.

My friends.. as you get older and get married and have kids, etc.. you do tend to lose touch with old friends, make new, whatever the case but i do have a few, close friends who I know I can count on when I need them and thats what truly matters... I include my sister in this because she is one of my best friends and I can always go to her with anything! (I love you Sunny!)

My job.. it is definitely an easy-going and relaxed atmosphere and is just enough for a Mommy who spends the majority of her time at home.. I work for an awesome boss who lets me make my own schedule and understands that my baby comes first and the extra money helps for sure.

My house.. I <3 my cozy little house in Sharon, it doesnt have much growing room but for now it is perfect and is just enough for the 3 of us and makes it a lot easier to chase after a 14 month old (HK is 14 months old today.. slow down sister.. you are growing too fast! :( )

My Tahoe.. yes i know my list is dwindling down to the "material" things but its my other baby ha! I will never drive anything else but a Tahoe and it was a wpnderful surprise from my hard working hubby and it will probably be my birthday, anniversary, christmas, etc present for the next 10 years so I better enjoy it! :)

Warm Pajamas, Hot Chocolate, Good Books and On Demand... I love coming home from work and me and HK snuggling up in our pajamas and playing and then when she lays down its time for Mommy to read or I catch up on my shows on On Demand.. my favorite shows at the moment are Grey's, Dancing with the Stars, Blue Bloods, Jerseylicious, Snapped... the list could go on all day.. yes, i am a TV junkie and i love it!

Well, I am about to wind this down, but I would lastly and defintely most importantly like to thank God for everything He has blessed and continues to bless me and my family with, certainly health because that is something money certainly cannot buy!