2002 Greg and I met
2003 Greg and I started dating
2004 We got engaged
2005 We got married
2005 4 months after we married we got pregnant
2006 We had Jackson
2007 We got pregnant
2008 We had Ava
2009 WE ARE FLIPPIN PREGNANT AGAIN!
2010 We will have a new Baby Hamilton

I think I have been crying about 24 hours now. This was in No way our plan. I can not believe I am 6 weeks pregnant and had no idea until yesterday! I have been working out 8 hours a week. I really thought that was what got me off track. Yesterday morning I just wanted to rule it out 100%. I was beyond shocked. I am digging deep and trying to embrace God's plan for us. It is hard when his plan is different from yours. I have a lot of fears going into this, but I know he was not given us anything we can not handle (or maybe this is pay back). I kid kid!!

Just like that.....

Greg and I were sitting in the living room talking while Jackson was in the bath. Just like that Ava took her first two steps! We practiced some more and she took 4!

August Update

I took Ava on her one year check up today. We decided to wait until school was back in and things calmed down at the Dr’s office. He said Ava looked great!! She got four shots and her blood drawn. While they were getting blood he got a little extra to do some milk allergy testing. Her eczema is back. We may need to go to a dermatologist, but for now we are managing it with a steroid cream. He said IF she were to continue to grow on the same track she would max 5’7. WHAT a relief lol! We certainly did not want her to be 6’4 like her Daddy!! He said her weight and height balance each other perfect. I was getting worried because the girl can put back the food. He said she will lose a lot when she gets more mobile as Jackson did. She is breaking 6 teeth on top and has two already on the bottom. She is talking so much, eating so much, and loves to dance. Every where we go people say she is going to be a dancer. She is full of energy and into everything and I mean everything. She has the exact opposite personality of Jackson (watch out world).

Jackson is a typical boy. He loves swim lessons and is a great swimmer. We decided to keep him in swim once a week year round since it is in doors. He enjoys it, it gives him such confidence, and it is a great for safety. We were at a friends pool a few weeks ago and looked away for a few seconds and when I looked back Jackson lost grip of the side of the pool. He was floating on his back waiting for me. He is also taking a Sports Skills Enchantment class at Little Gym this fall. He LOVES it! We will try team sports again next year at 4.5. We meet his new teacher next week and he is really looking forward to going back. He will no longer nap at school in the afternoon. He will take Spanish one day and Science another. Most of our friends are going three days a week, but I chose two days. I am just not ready for more and I don’t think he is either. He loves to watch movies and color. We think he has his first crush. He loves watching The Little Mermaid and always asks about Arial. He wants to meet her, have her come to his house, and thinks she is pretty. If you ask him about her he smiles real big and looks away. The other day when we checked the mail Highlights had sent us a sample magazine with stickers. He thought it was so cool he got something in the mail. He told me he knew who sent it. When I asked who, he replied Santa. I guess we know what Santa will send this year! He is quite the character. He has really mellowed out since having Ava. She is wild and takes everything out of every where. Jackson never likes a mess. He has to have everything in its perfect spot. This was a real issue for him as he only saw thing black or white. He could not move on until things were perfect. I have seen such an improvement in him.


Ava 1 year

22.5 pounds 75%
30.5 inches long 90%

Come join me!

Quick update...my running is going GREAT!! I still LOVE it and I am up to 3.5 miles. I have decided to do a 5K in October, November, and December to add to my training for the half marathon. I formed a team for The race for the Cure, but need some team mates! Please come run with me!

Dear Friends and Family,

I recently accepted the challenge to raise $100.00 funds to support the 2009 Komen Houston Race for the Cure® being held on October 3rd in downtown Houston. Please join me in the fight against breast cancer by pledging your support in the Race. Your tax-deductible contribution will fund local innovative outreach, awareness and treatment programs for the medically underserved in the greater Houston community as well as national cutting-edge breast cancer research. Please click below to support my participation. I truly appreciate your support and will keep you posted on my progress.

Thank you for your generosity. Imagine Life Without Breast Cancer.

Sincerely,
Amber

Click here to donate or run with our team!
http://www.komen-houston.org/site/TR/Race/General/1407038042?pg=team&fr_id=1060&team_id=35460

Happy Birthday Bear

http://www.kodakgallery.com/BrowsePhotos.jsp?&collid=11712819110.272580538210.1249995751084&page=1&sort_order=0&navfolderid=0&folderid=0&ownerid=0

If you copy and paste the web address you can view all her pictures.



A year ago today we left the house at 5:00am to head to the hospital. I had been 4.5cms dilated for over 3 weeks. Ava arrived at 12:28 on her Daddy’s 30th birthday. I can hardly believe a year has gone by.
Ava is such a bundle of energy. She never stays in one spot and is always into something. You can bet 99% of the time she is into something she should not be in. She is pretty darn feisty as well. She lets you know when she wants something and when she doesn’t. She has no problem handling her own with Jackson. She is one tuff little girl. She has some spunk and can get a little attitude.
On the other hand she is SUCH a Mommy’s girl. She will snuggle up with me in a heart beat. She LOVES her blanket aka “night night” and flat will not sleep with out it. She scrunches up her nose and makes the cutest face. She will let anyone hold her and loves everyone that will give her attention. She loves to be the star of the show.
Ava’s current favorite thing is Little Gym. She point her toes, shake’s to the music (oh how she loves music), and loves the hand bells. She has just started standing for a few second on her own. She holds on and walks on anything and everything. We can see her two top teeth breaking the skin. She still only has her two bottom teeth. She is starting to talk up a storm (Mama, Dada, buba, night night, hi, Daddy, pat pat, baba).
Ava has been such a blessing to our family. As I right this the night before her birthday, I remember writing one year ago how I was filled with guilt. I wondered how I would ever love someone as much as Jackson and how I would divide myself. Everything just fell into place. She completes us, we all adore her, and I feel like my heart is over flowing.

Happy Birthday my sweet angel!

Love,
Mommy

A daughter is a day brightener and a heart warmer. ~Author Unknown

HELP!!!

My very talented friend Cathy Noble took Ava's 1 year picture's. I have it down to 40 picture's, but I need to do another cut. If you have time to look please send me your top picks!! Thanks Mom and Dad for replying the first time, but if you have time to do it again please do. I promise you a picture in return!!

www.cathynoblephotography.com
Click on the CLIENTS button.
Type in the password: ava1

11 months

I can not believe I forgot. Life is so busy here!! Sweet Ava was 11 months on the 11th of July. I can not believe her first birthday is so close. She is the sweetest baby and you will fall in love as soon as she enters the room. I am afraid to say I think she is going to rule the house! She is quite spunky and let's you know when she wants something (which is 99% of the time food or a drink). She will also let Jackson know it is NOT ok to take things from her. I think she is going to be bossing him around very soon. She has two teeth on the bottom and you can really see them now. She is pulling up on every thing and walking down the coach, table, what ever she can find. I think she is really starting to look like Jackson.

Today our journey began

Today our journey began. It was Eliza, Tracie, and myself. We joined Katy Fit to prepare and train for a half marathon. I am having been trying to make my mind up if I realty want to do this. I started two weeks ago running after my regular classes at the Y. It has really become a part of routine and I like it. This morning was our first time to meet in Memorial Park to train. I was so nervous last night! I woke up at 6 am to start to get ready. I am so happy to have girl friends to do this with! I really think it will be so rewarding. This morning was unbelievably awesome!! We ran with the middle of the road group (not fast and not slow) 2miles in 21minutes. I found myself wanting to go faster and sweat more. It is so addicting, the sweat, the burn, the energy, the group, friends you run with, and I think this is for me!! So I came home thinking yes I will do this!! I had to pick a charity to run for and most of you know my Grandma recently passed away. I have been having a really hard time with her loss. I decided to run for the Alzheimer's Association in her honor. She had early stages of dementia which is like Alzheimer's and her sister in law (my Great Aunt) passed with the disease. What a great way to honor there memory. I need to raise $400 to run so if you are able to help any way I am reaching out to you for this wonderful charity. You can send money to
www.paypal.com
click on send money
to gjhamilton@earthlink.net

If you prefer to mail it that is fine too. Thank you for helping me do this!

Amber

Running

Ok so I am putting it out there, AHH this means I am really doing it! My friend Eliza and I are doing the half marathon through Katy Fit. I am really scared I will fail, but I have to at least try!! I started training last week and I went from not being able to run 5 mins to and easy 20 min constant run no problem! Each week we will build on top that. I already do 4 classes a week at the Y, but now I added 5 days of running to it. I really really really want to do this!! It is just going to be costly! I need two pair of shoes and I have to sign up for the event this week end. I need a sponsor lol!! So please hold me accountable!! Ask me daily, weekly how my running is going!

Love it

Today as we were driving to VBS Jackson says to me, "Mommy Jesus came to take Grandma Libby home". I love her presence every where, it makes me smile.

Summer Fun

Who knew summer would be so busy!! Jackson did his second week of VBS this week. He has done 4 weeks of swim lessons every day and will now go to twice a week. He starts a two week camp at his school next week as well. Ava and I go to the gym every day and Thursday we go to The Little Gym (another plug for gift cards there for her bday :)). I am going on a girls trip to The Woodland's Resort this week end with 10 awesome girls!! WHOO HOO!! Daddy will be left behind with both kids alone. Pray for him, ok just kidding!! He will do great!

On another note I have something else to talk about. Jackson has had so much fun at VBS the past two weeks. I mean really fun! He has been singing about Jesus and so excited to learn about him too. He told me today, "Mommy I love this church can we come here". We currently go to Saint Batholomew and are Catholic (for our friends who don't know). Jackson never wants to go and it is so boring for him (even for me a lot of times). Switching faiths is not an option. I love our church and our priest. I have a strong emotional attachment to our church since this is where I went through RCIA, Greg and I got married there, and Jackson was baptized there as well. Not to mention I love the priest. The only thing is they have NOTHING for the small children of the parish. The do have children's liturgy once they are 4, but I have gone with Jackson and it is so boring! I mean kids like to sing, dance, color, and have fun learning. Why can't they do that while they learn about faith and Jesus?? I am praying for the right decision as we have tried to switch to Epiphany before. It is more contemporary and I LOVE that. They have so much for the kids!! It is just large and hard to feel at home. We are really going to have to work to make it a home church should we decide to do this. Maybe that is what God is calling us to do, work harder and put more into our faith. I know I have been slacking. My other dilemma is my husband. He likes the more traditional church. I feel like we need to do what is best for our family as a whole. I want my kids to love church and have fun learning the faith, but I want my husband to be happy too. Anyway just needed to vent, hear some other perspectives, and ask that you think of us as we try and make the decision.

Milestone's

Sweet Ava Bear is getting big. Yesterday she decided to finally pull herself up on her own. After she did it once she was unstoppable. She pulls up on everything she sees. She also broke her second tooth right next to the first one on the bottom. Ava is getting so much hair as you can see. She is really starting to look like a big girl. I am in a bit of denial that her birthday is coming up. I planned Jackson's when he was 6 months old! I finally started today to plan hers today. This little girl melts my heart!

Kids

I promised pictures from Ava's first day of Little Gym and I forgot my camera! My friend Brandi and I went with our babies. It was priceless to see Ava's little face. She loved it!! She laughed and smiled the whole entire time. She was so excited!! The teacher said she has a natural toe point which means she is going to be a dance ;). She also was already hanging from the bar. I am so excited about many years of Little Gym, gymnastics, and dancing!!
Jackson is doing so good at swimming. He did private lessons last year and was swimming. We took the fall off and he was so nervous to get back in the water. After only two weeks with Mr Rudy he is doing great! He is floating on his own and learning to use his arms when he swims. I am going to keep him in 2 more weeks straight before switching to once a week. It is an expense, but to watch him make so much progress is awesome. He is is confident and so proud of himself. Priceless!! I plan on starting Ava in Mom and me swim classes next month :).
So hint hint Little Gym gift cards or gift cards to Houston Swim Club would be a great birthday gift for Ava since we are asking NO toys. We are blessed with so many wonderful friends that give our kids toys. If our family and friends both continued we could open a toy store. They have so much as it is.
The summer is off to a great start!

10 months

Long time no post!! Ava is going to be 10 months old this week. I can not believe 2 more months and she will be a year old. She is the most loveable, precious, sweet natured baby. Everyone that meets her falls in love with her. She loves to here me sing to her, loves her big brother, and loves going to the YMCA every morning. She and I are starting Mommy and me classes at Little Gym on Thursday. She really loves music so I am so excited to do this with her. She finally got a tooth about 2 weeks ago!! I can’t believe it took 9.5 months to get her first tooth (check out Jackson at 9.5 months with all his teeth). She still can’t crawl, but manages to get around by doing the army crawl. She also can pull herself up to her knees. She so completes our family. I know I say this all the time, but she is such a blessing.

Jackson is all boy!! I worried about him for awhile, but no need to worry. He is the typical whiny three year old. He has done a total 180 since having his tonsils out. He went from sleeping 13-14 hours at night to 11. He used to sleep 3-4 hours for a nap and now naps maybe every other day. He used to tell me he was ready and crawl in bed. Now he fights it every step of the way. He really is over all a good boy, just needs constant reminders of how to act lol. He starts Vacation Bible School next week, 2 weeks of Camp at his school after that, then another Vacation Bible School, then another two week camp, and finally the last week of July we go to the beach. He only goes until 12:00 every day and I am at the gym. The YMCA is so packed during the summer I am glad he will have his own fun things to do.

I am learning to sew. I took my first sewing class with 3 friends and really enjoyed it. My Mother in law bought me a sewing machine and I am bound and determined to learn to sew. It will be a long process I am sure since I don’t have much spare time. Life just keeps getting busier. My days seem like a couple hours and months seem like only weeks. I am trying to enjoy every minute of my babies being small while it lasts. I am missing my Grandma like crazy. It kills me to think about the fact that she is gone. I guess that is one good thing about life being so busy, it keeps me from staying down. I don’t think I could have handled her loss her at any other time in my life. She was here for a purpose and I truly believe part of that was to make sure I was ok.

Greg and I got a night out with several of our good friends and had a blast! We are in the process of trying to hire a baby sitter so we can get out once every other week. We need it! It is nice to reconnect.

Check back for pictures of Ava’s first day at “gymnastics”. Hamiltonhomeof4.blogspot.com

Go Yankees!

The first season is coming to an end. We had a rocky start, but Jackson has made so much progress. I am really proud of him and I see many years of baseball in our future!

Grandma

How wonderful must it be to be so sweet and innocent? Jackson and I would always pray that God would take care of Grandma Libby since she was sick. I explained to him that she had died. I told him when you die you go to live with Jesus. He said, were does Jesus live, Dallas? I said no way on the other side of the clouds. We can not see Jesus, but he is our hearts just like Grandma Libby is now in our heart. He responded how did she get there, ambulance? He told me Grandma Libby is not sick anymore and I said you are right she is not.

I hope we can keep those memories he has of her alive! He is so sweet and innocent. I miss her.

My Grandma

I remember as a small child spending summers with my Grandma. We would rent movies, go to the mall, and just hang out. When I think of my child hood memories that is what I think of. I think of her, Granny, and their love and dedication to me. When I would go home or they would leave after a trip I would cry because I would miss them so much. She would always take me shopping as far back as I can remember. She loved buying for me and it made her feel good. My Grandma was like a mother to me. She was the one person in my life I could always count on…always. She was always there to listen any time day or night that I would call. She may not always tell me what I wanted to hear as she was a straight shooter, but she always had a way of making me feel better. My Grandma was the best person in my life. She never got mad at me, she never stopped talking to me, and she was always there for me. I am so grateful God gave her to me for so many years. I am glad she got to see my become Catholic, get married, and have children. I am glad I got to make her proud. I will watch my Grandmother be buried today knowing she knew how much she meant to me and how much I loved her as I knew the same from her. I will miss her so much.

God saw she was getting tired and a cure was not to be.
So He put His arms around her and whispered, "Come with Me".

With tear-filled eyes we watched her suffer and fade away.
Although we loved her deeply, we could not make her stay.

A heart stopped beating, hard-working hands put to rest.
God broke our hearts to prove to us He only takes the best

I love you Grandma. Thank you for being my rock. Thank you for everything. I pray you help me get passed losing you and I pray you watch over my family.

Until we meet again, peace be with you.

Amber

9 months

What a big girl!! She went to the Dr and everything looks great!! She still has no teeth, is doing the army crawl, and talking a lot. Her words are Dada, Buba, and Mama (yay finally). She will now hold her own bottle too! It is so funny to look back at Jackson at this age. He was pulling up on stuff and crawling every where. I can only get away to do her army crawl if I put food in front of her :).

Ava 9 month stats
weight 20 lbs 1 ounce 70%
length 27.25 inches 25%

Jackson 9 month stats
weight 22 lbs
length 31 inches

On the move

She is on the MOVE

24 hours after posting she is still not crawling, Ava is on the move!! One week before turning 9 months old she is now doing the army crawl. We came home from church and she took off!! We got some video, so I will up load it soon!

Is this picture not HILARIOUS?!?!