Everyone is safe...

Wednesday morning started off like any other. Gabe got up, Emory got up, and we played. I got Gabe out of the swing for his nap and noticed some lights in our house were getting really bright, while others were flashing off. I also heard a hissing sound from our laundry room. I looked through our kitchen and saw sparks coming from the water heater. Already holding Gabe, I grabbed Emory (who was in the dinning room) and ran back to my bedroom to get clothes and when we went towards the door I looked towards the laundry room to see an orange glow and smoke. I called the fire department and they showed up in 4 minutes! I stood in front of my house, holding my babies, watching smoke pour out of my house. Grant came home and we have been nonstop ever since.

So here is what my house looks like now....

The kitchen is by far the worst.

Where out kitchen table use to be...

Doorway and wall by the kitchen table going into the dinning room...

The baby swing was on the wall near the kitchen table and it is totally melted. I must have been scared and in a hurry because the swing is still moving and its melted so you cant turn it off.

One of the walls in our living room. The blistering is from the heat of the fire.

Grant's pez collection took a major hit today. All of the valuable ones were destroyed and most of the others on display were also melted.

The bedrooms and bathrooms were not as damaged by the heat, but they do have the smoke and water damage. Windows had to be broken to let out the smoke.

Even inside the closets are gross.

The beginning point of it all. You can see the black water heater and in the middle of the picture is the door to our garage. We will still don't know the exact cause but the investigators are working it all out.

We have had such an amazing out pour of love from family and friends. All your calls and emails are greatly appreciated and sorry if we haven't gotten back to you, but its just chaotic right now! We couldn't do anything without all the wonderful help we have had. Thank you so much to everyone. It' late and I'm going to try to sleep, but I will be posting more soon.

2 1/2 Years Old!!!

Emory is such a big girl. And she won't let you believe otherwise! She is constantly saying, "I do it myself." She has boundless amounts of energy, always jumping and dancing. She has starting singing some songs with her sweet little voice. Emory is learning so much lately, she can count to 13 (random), she knows some of her letters, and she knows her full name. Emory will repeat almost anything we say (dangerous!). Emory's favorite toy right now is all her little people, today they were all at a birthday party and she sang happy birthday. Too cute!

New trick for pictures.... She has her moments of being a little stinker!

Silly girl! Guess she was finished sitting still.

Outside playing with bubbles, a regular activity at the Dess house.

Love you Em.

Our Little Em...

Like I mentioned before, Emory is starting to be interested in dress up. She goes into her room and comes out with all sorts of outfits on. It's tough to see but she is wearing her bumble bee headband over her hat, very stylish!

Emory was definitely due for another hair cut, things had gotten a little messy.

Waiting patiently. Her hair is under control when she keeps her bow in, but still in need of a trim.

The after! Still super cute...

Enjoying a sweet treat for being so good.

Emory is also very involved in play time with Gabe. She is mostly good, but still a big sister who takes what she wants. We are just lucky Gabe doesn't know the difference (to change soon). But don't they look cute together?

First video of Gabe! But as you will hear Emory is involved. He is becoming more vocal which is so fun to hear him "talk" back to us.

Emory's Posse...

Here is Emory's posse. If we let her bring them everywhere she would. I turned around one day and laughed out loud because there were all her buddies on the drain spout staring at me. The are one cool crew. Let me introduce them to you....

Princess (which is her favorite)

Ernie and Elmo

And two Marys.

We have the Little People nativity and at Christmas we were talking to Emory about baby Jesus and Joseph and Mary. To Emory, all the Little People babies are baby Jesus and all the women are Marys. In her Little People doll house she will tell me that baby Jesus went poo poo on the potty, and Mary goes night night. She has about 5 Marys, and if she can't find one she knows just who is missing. Emory is OBSESSED with her Little People doll house, SUV, farm, Noah's ark and castle. Yikes, we are a little Little People crazy.

Summer Is Here...

I think the 90+ degree days are telling me that summer is here. No matter how much I wish for cooler weather and complain, I can't keep the heat away. As I mentioned earlier, Emory is now on summer break from her Mother's day out program, and we are finding things to keep us busy.

Emory has started to enjoy playing dress up. We have 3 pair of play shoes (all heels), some tutus, jewelry and purses. Here she is giving me a sweet smile with her hand on her cheek.

We are hanging out with friends much more now. Emory's friend Ryan invited us over for a swim in her kiddie pool. Not just a small kiddie size pool, but the deluxe pool. It was wonderful and after being terrified at first Emory was playing. Never putting her head under though. The two girls both have younger brothers who just have to chill while the girls play. I love Zane just floating along and Gabe fell asleep in the carrier.

Some after swimming swinging! Emory loves playing with Ryan and she had such a good time in her pool.

Gabe had his 4 month check up this past week. I thought I scheduled it when Emory still had school, but no such luck. I didn't like the idea of her being there when Gabe had to get shots but I told her many times that Gabe was going to cry and get boo boos, but he would be ok.

Gabe is now 14 lbs 11 oz (50%) and 24 3/4 inches (50%). His head circumference was 42 (50%). I told Grant he is our perfectly average baby right now.

The scary doctor's office is no match for Gabe's little tiger lovie.

Emory was such a good big sister. She was very well behaved and kept herself busy with a toy that she hasn't played with in awhile. I also bribed her with a treat if she was good. I am not above bribery! So we ended up at Sonic for some ice cream.

Family Pictures...

We had family pictures taken a few weeks ago. We were in desperate need of a good family of four picture and also needed some pictures for Gabe's birth announcement.

Beautiful big sister!

Gabe was such a good boy while we took pictures. It was funny that once we said we were done, he feel right asleep on my shoulder.

We even got to take one of just dad and mom! Super rare. Thanks to Lindsey and Beto for being patient and taking the time to get it right. We truly appreciate it!

4 Months Old!!!

We have had so much fun watching Gabe grow up! Here are some of the things Gabe has been up to in the past month...

-He has found his hands, and is always putting them in his mouth.

-He has seen his feet but is still confused by them.

-He has rolled 3 times and since then is refusing to do it again. (poor daddy hasn't seen it)

-He has found his voice, and wants us to know it!

-He laughs while Emory is playing. The other day she made him laugh, which made her laugh, which made him laugh even more. It was precious.

-He is sleeping through the night. Goes to sleep at 7:30, wakes up around 6:30. No feedings in between, although we might go in to give him the pacifier.

-He is ticklish!

Look at Gabe's little toes, he is squeezing them so tight! Maybe that is keeping him balanced!

We are so proud of our happy little guy! The past 4 months have been such a joy and we are so blessed to have him in our family.