We lost two VERY special people

It is so hard to imagine our lives moving forward; to a "new normal" if you must because a terrible tragedy struck our family March 7, 2011. A day that will never be forgotten; a day that changed us all forever; a day that took two precious people in our lives. We are comforted by our Father on a daily basis. He is our rock, He is our fortress, He is our strength when we couldn't possibly have anymore. He helps us rise in the morning and lay our heads at night. He is our Almighty, our ever present help in time of need. That is HIM! In Him alone we will battle through this as a family. You see Brittany and Shep touched many many lives through their incredibly short time here on earth. Brittany lived her life to the fullest and sweet little Shep was as content as could be following his sweet mommy. I remember the day Cole was born and Brittany, Clint and Tyson came to see us that night at the hospital. You could see in her eyes the adoration she had for our first born. Not long after that she became our Bit Bit and more recently Cole began calling her Aunt Brittany. We kept Honey and Monts on schedule with grandkids. Owen was 18 months after Cole and Shep followed 18 months after Owen. I kind of messed the next one up making Reese 11 months after Shep :) The night I went in to labor with Reese we talked back and forth. She wanted to know exactly what was going on; if and when she needed to come. After they broke my water she appeared with Honey and Monts. Never mind that it was already 8 o'clock at night and she would work the next day. She told me there was no way she was missing it. She was there for me; as a sister for me because none of mine could be there. See she did that for me often...she gave and sacrificed often for me and for my family. She loved my children as her own and for that I am forever grateful! Dax, the boys and I adored our sweet nephew Shep. We liked to call him Sheppy Shep since everyone in our family seems to get a nickname. We spent most Sunday lunches together at Honey and Monts and one of the last visions I have of Shep is him following Owen around. Owen had put on Brittany's shoes from church and was clonking around the kitchen and dining room. Shep followed close behind Owen and every time Owen stopped Shep would stop and stare at him. He had just started this; following every move Owen made. Cole treated Shep like another little brother. He was always very concerned about him often checking on him to make sure he was okay. When we told Cole and Owen about the accident and that Bit Bit and Shep were in heaven with Jesus Cole took it to heart. It was quite possibly the hardest thing Dax and I have ever experienced. Our little one's heart was so sad. He cried himself to sleep that night and Dax told him to pray; to ask God to give him strength to deal with this sad news. When I asked Cole why he was crying he proclaimed because I can't see Shep. Man, we will miss those Sundays with them. It was so nice to be able to call after work one day and say yall come for dinner. We enjoyed every time we were with them. We looked forward to other times with them too. We had already made our South Carolina trip plans, Opryland plans in December; plans on the boys being so close in high school and on and on. Just another reminder that His plans our not our plans nor His ways our ways. The night of the accident Dax went to Birmingham with his family while I stayed in Troy with our children; I didn't really have a choice. I would have given anything to go with them to see Shep one last time. I struggled with it for awhile until last night. I had a sweet dream; a dream that I didn't want to wake up from. You see, I dreamed that I got to hold my nephew one last time. It was great! I got to love on him and kiss those sweet cheeks one last time. I remember waking up to Dax's alarm this morning and wondering if I needed to write it down immediately because I don't ever remember my dreams. In fact, I had just talked with Kady, Tyson's girlfriend, about dreaming. We both wondered if we would dream about Brittany and Shep like others had and if we did what would they be about? I can honestly say that this has made an everlasting impact on so many. While we grieve with our lost we rejoice in our Savior for Brittany and Shep are in heaven. They are whole and not broken; they are worshiping our Savior constantly and filled with joy. A sweet smile comes across my face to think that Aunt Brittany met our little one that Dax and I lost before Cole was ever born. I can imagine her rocking our baby and Shep playing with his cousin just like he did here. We will forever remember them and our time together and forever remind our children of who they were. We will miss them dearly but we will forever be changed by them.

One of my favorites...

Click above to see Bellamia. This shop has the most adorable things. I am not from Dothan but when I am down there I make sure to stop in. I just love all their items for girls and boys. You should check them out!

Baby Girl is 2 Months

Reese went to the doctor last Wednesday for her 2 month check-up. She is doing great and growing like a weed. Things to remember about Reese...

- weighed 9 lbs 5 oz
- 21 3/4 inches long
- eating 4-5 ounces every 3-4 hours
- sleeping through the night (she typically gets her last bottle at 9 or 9:30 and then doesn't go to sleep until 10:30 or later and sleeps until 6)
- loves her pappy
- loves her swing
- loves her aquarium in her crib and hates when it cuts off
- loves to listen to her Praise Baby lullaby CD when she is in her room
- she smiles all the time
- responds with coos and little bird noises when talking to us

Cole is 4

So very far behind that I am not really sure where to start...
I will at least post what I want to remember and add pictures later.
Cole turned 4 on January 10th and we celebrated with a fantastic party at our Rec Center in the gymnastics room. Cole doesn't even take gymnastics but this was absolutely perfect for him. He tends to be right by my side when trying something new or meeting someone he doesn't know but on this day he "let loose" and enjoyed being the spotlight for the day. He demonstrated all the activities before everyone else could start and he lit up when "Miss" Monica let him try everything. I am so thankful for this little guy! He melted our hearts four years ago when he entered this world and continues to fill my heart each day. Although he tries us on a daily even hourly basis sometimes he is so genuine and sweet - when he wants to be. :)

Facts about Cole...
- he loves all things farming
- he calls himself the "daddy" when Dax is away
- he adores his baby brother and sister
- he loves to take showers
- he will say, "Mom, it is Mama time!" where he proceeds to hug me and lay with me for a few minutes.
- he is such a big helper with getting things for Reese or showing Owen had to do things
- he loves to be outside
- he loves to read; at least 3 books at night - one of his favorites right now is Silly Sally
- he is obsessed with his Mission Friends teacher at church and his school teacher this year
- he continues to tell people that he will be 5 next year
- he is OBSESSED with the color yellow. (we have yellow shirts, underwear, cups, toothbrushes) we aren't sure where this came from but he makes it clear.
It is funny to hear him repeat things from school because we don't usually know what is going on. The other day he opened up and said "You get what you get and you don't get upset!" Well, that is what his teacher tells him when they get scissors at school. Why would he get upset? Well because he doesn't get a yellow pair every time :)
- he likes to say nursery rhymes and has for awhile now. He knows Humpty Dumpty, Hey Diddle Diddle, Little Miss Muffett, and Jack and Jill

WE ARE SO IN LOVE...

with Reese and these amazing photos!

December 2010

December proved to be busy for us with the early arrival of our daughter and Christmas but was packed full of memories that will always be cherished.
Reese came 3 weeks early just like her brother Owen and has been such a little blessing. The Lord gave us a great gift here at Christmas! Cole and Owen adore her and are such good big brothers to her; I hate to see what the future holds with their protection. She won't be able to get too far from them :)

We had a wonderful December and I will let the photos speak for themselves. Hope everyone had an amazing time with family and friends and best wishes for a wonderful new year!Honey and Monts with their 4th grandchild and 1st granddaughter.Nana and Pops are pros after 5 children and 8 grandchildren.I love this man so much more than I could have ever imagined. He is an amazing husband and father.A Pugh girl!I am so blessed with my husband and three amazing kids.I love this boy! It is crazy how you can love all your children with your whole heart! Each one is special in their own way.Owen loves his Reese. We hear numerous times a day, "I kiss her!".Aunt Sandra happened to be in Dothan and dropped by to see this sweetie. She is one of Dax's aunts that the children get their "red" hair from.Love these girls to pieces! I have been so blessed by them and are so thankful they are in my life. It is so great to know that I can trust them with anything. They have prayed and prayed for me and my family and for that I am forever grateful! They were so sweet to come see us in the hospital!Posing with sweet Reese before leaving the hospital.Reese went on her first outing when she was a week old. Of course, we had Christmas shopping to finish.So so hard to believe we have three children and that one of them is a little girl now.Reese ready for our Sunday School Christmas party.Scrub scrub...we had to give that hair a good washing.Reese getting her first real bath; December 23, 2010.Ever since Dax and I married we have exchanged family gifts on Christmas Eve night and taken a family photo. It is hard to believe we have grown to this in the last five years. What a blessing! Owen, Reese and Cole's Santa. They also got a swing set.Cole playing with the little tractors.Both the boys got more farm stuff. Owen loves putting the cows in the pen.

Owen enjoying his Thomas the Train scooter Nana and Pops gave him.

Uncle Tyson spoils the boys with exactly what they ask for. This year Cole requested a square baler.Reese 3 weeks old...bright eyed on New Year's Day

Reese Sanders Pugh

Born December 9, 2010 at 9:29 pm weighing 6 pounds 7 ounces measuring 20 1/4 inches long. She has a head full of brownish blonde hair that some say look a little red in the light. We are already so in love and can't believe with actually have a Pugh girl!

The Story...I have been dilating since around 32 weeks and praying that I would hold as long as possible. My last post around 33 weeks asked for prayers to make it 4 more weeks and the Lord is so good; today is 4 weeks! I visited my doctor this past Tuesday and was around 3 1/2 almost 4 cm. The plan was to come back Monday and put me in for observation overnight and break my water Tuesday morning because we knew that I would be dilated enough to consider me in labor. Well, as much as I wanted my doctor to deliver Reese because I adore him that much I had to realize that I was being selfish and that I could possibly be in labor already. I debated back and forth whether or not to call the doctor yesterday and decided that I should make the call. Mom took me to Dothan yesterday afternoon; they monitored me in the office and decided that my contractions were the kind that bring a baby so they wheeled me to labor and delivery. I was admitted and an iv was started my my nurse, Julia, who by the way delivered Cole too. Dr. Butler came in around 4 and said that I was 4 1/2 cm and that we would wait and see. Julia didn't think I was going anywhere but we didn't tell Dax to leave work until around 5:30. We decided he should leave an hour early in the event that I stayed and they broke my water. Well, my water was broken after 7 and Dax and my Dad arrived after 8. I had just received my epidural before they got there and started feeling much better. Before the epidural it was pretty difficult to breath through the contractions. I don't remember them being as strong with the boys and let me just say I am proud of myself for dealing with them :) Everything went so fast after Dax got there. Julia checked me twice and said oh, it is go time. I told her I was glad she knew what she was doing because the baby could have been coming and I wouldn't have known it until it was too late. After 3 pushes our beautiful Reese was born. We can't thank the Lord enough for this sweet girl! And thank you all for your prayers and blessings!