I love celebrating birthdays, especially surprise birthdays! On June 26th my sister's husband planned a surprise 40th birthday party for her! She was very surprised to say the least. She turned the big 4-0 on July 3rd! I think she was more surprised that she never found out about her birthday party before the event! This was too much fun to see as she opened the door and we all screamed "Surprise"! She wants everyone to know that 40 is fabulous!!

Rhonda being surprised!

Happy 4-0 to the birthday girl!

Gran, Caroline, and Rhonda at the party!

The event planner and the over the hiller!

Caroline talking to Pops!

Uncle D giving C a lemon for the first time!

She loved it!

Nanny and Miss Caroline!

On last night we celebrated another very special birthday! My niece Kelsey turned 14! Here's the birthday girl (far right corner) with her family and best best friend, Brittany (sitting to her right).

The girls: Bri, Courtney, Jenna, Kelsey, and Brittany!

Brittany and Kelsey

Caroline loving the celebration!

Yum, yum, Kelsey!

The Birthday Girl!

Our July 4th weekend was fun and very busy! On Saturday we went to the Gilbert Peach Festival (can you believe that we didn't buy or taste anything peachy?). On Sunday we went to church and then headed to Dreher Island to watch the fireworks. Caroline liked the "boom pow" but when they got to bright she squinted her eyes almost shut! Sam had Monday off and we organized her toys downstairs among other things. We loved spending our holiday with our fourth of Julyer!

Sweet Caroline!

She will climb onto anything!

Love your smiles!

Enjoying the sun at the Gilbert Peach Festival!

I loved the parade!

Going to watch the fireworks!

Happy Girl!

Love her smiles!

She loves browsing daddy's bushes!

Front porch view!

Run baby run!

I love my see n' say!

It's story time!

Helping mommy vacuum!

Sleeping with two of my pals!

My toys are organized and mommy is very happy!

                               Creating a masterpiece!

Thursday a week ago I was heartbroken. This was when Caroline turned the iron, that was cooling on the scales in our bathroom, over on her leg and got a second degree burn. It has taken me a while to post about her big boo boo because it was totally my fault and I still haven't found room in my heart to forgive myself. I know babies and children are going to get hurt but I never imagined mine getting burned. It all happened so fast and before this happened I thought I watched her every move. Now I'm behind her every step.
She was napping. I ironed then placed it backwards on the scales to cool. Twenty minutes later she wakes up Sam changes her diaper and helps get her ready to go out for lunch and do some family shopping. He puts her and down and asks did I have her. I said I did. I went into the bathroom to brush my hair and she followed. She was standing right beside me. She was right there. Then she cried. Sam said she only cried long enough for him to get from one room in the house to where we were but I cried the whole rest of the day. I cry almost every time I change her wound dressing, diaper, clothes, when I give her a bath...almost every time I see it. I have apogolized to her over and over. When I'm changing her bandages and when she looks at it she says, "Uh-Oh" and continues playing with whatever is nearby until I finish. I think she's forgotten about it.
We immediatley took her to her peditrician where she put silvadene creme on it and wrapped it with codan. She then gave us instructions on how to care for her leg at home and promised that she'd be okay.
Her leg is healing nicely and I can't wait for the bandages to be gone for good. We had a follow up appointment last week and we have another one this week so that we can get cleared for going to the beach (which by the way will be her very first beach trip!).
Her leg hasn't stopped her from being the busy girl that she is and I'm so glad and very thankful that it wasn't any worse than it was. Thank you to those that prayed for little Caroline's healing! We are on the mend!
I can say that I defintely have learned my lesson and that our iron has a new spot for cooling.

Playing, playing, playing with her choo-choo train!

It goes so much better in the kitchen!

Here's her leg all bandaged.

She's still playing away!

Her boo boo leg.

During the day we have to keep a sock

on her leg because if not she'll pull it off.

Once she did and tried to eat the stuffing

from the bandage.

We are multicolored today! We ran out of the purple so we added

pink. C didn't seem to mind. We don't have to bandage it all the way

to her foot anymore. We just have to keep the leg covered.

Sassy Saturday!

These pictures were taken on June 5th!

Caroline enjoys or rather loves being outdoors (just like her daddy)!

Her facial expressions are just too cute! This little girl is the light of my life! I enjoy every minute of each day with her! Love you Sassy!

22 Questions!

Just in case you want to know a little more about me!

1. Cats or Dogs?

Dogs. Throughout my childhood I had a total of 5: Fridgette, Prisson, Princess, Spike,

and Sebastian (My favorite dog ever. I still miss him).

2. Chocolate or Vanilla?

Vanilla always. Unless its a chocolate milkshake from Sonic or the Dairy O.

3. What's your favorite childhood memory?

Spending many weeks of my summer with my Maw-Maw and Paw-Paw Boulware!

Those summers were priceless. I still remember going with her every Saturday to the

beauty shop to get her hair fixed, shucking corn in red tubs on her picnic table, catching

fireflies on hot summer nights, and going to Hardees almost every morning and eating

breakfast with my uncle John A and his wife Alice and my Aunt Evie, but not leaving the

house without first calling Aunt Evie to see if she was going (always knowing beforehand

that she would be there with bells on)!

4. What's your favorite dinner?

My mother's pork chops and sweet tea.

My mother-in-law's macaroni and cheese and rice.

Joyce's green beans.

Rhonda's tossed salad with homemade ranch dressing.

Melinda's baked salmon and special sauce.

Sister Schubert rolls

My strawberry pie!

5. What's your favorite way to relax?

Reading the latest novel by Nicholas Sparks!

6. What's the best place to take your child(ren)?

Riverbanks Zoo! Or especially playdates with her other little friends!

7. What's your idea of the perfect day?

Waking up to a sunny morning either at home or on vacation knowing that I'll get to spend

fun quality time with my family! Hearing ocean waves crashing would be a bonus!

8. What is your favorite TV show?

Currently I don't have one (how sad is this... I don't watch tv enough to have one).

9. When you were younger, what did you want to be?

When I was in kindergarten I knew that I wanted to be a teacher when I grew up.

I became a teacher!!!

10. What's your favorite restaurant?

Depends on what city I'm in. At home in Lexington it's McAlister's!

11. What are your talents and hobbies?

My hobbies are reading, writing, scrapbooking (I love using Stampin Up's scrapbooking

supplies), attempting to make things using my computer software (invitations, cards, etc).

I love taking pictures of my family, especially Caroline and I would love to be able to know

photoshop better than I do!

My talents are: hmmmmm? I dunno. I would have to think about this one!

12. What is something important life has taught you?

God has a plan for each of us: Jeremiah 29:11. It's God's timing that matters not ours.

And to never take anything for granted.

13. What day(s) of your life would you most like to relive?

My wedding day. I loved every minute of our special day! Walking down the aisle to

marry my Prince Charming was the very best moment of my life!

The day Caroline was born! This day was perfect beyond measure.

Being surrounded by family and friends and all those that loved us while

introducing them to Caroline was so precious! I could relive that moment over and over!

March 29, 2009 was the day that God gave Sam and me the most beautiful gift: Caroline!

14. What do you wish you could do?

Give to others in such a meaningful way.

Learn things faster so that I could accomplish more!

Be organized. I have zero organizational skills...ZERO.

15. What would surprise people about you?

I dated Sam for 9 years before we got married (for those that don't know me).

There are days when I'm grumpy and in a bad mood!

16. What do you wish you could share from your childhood with your children?

That I grew up with fabulous friends. I have treasured friendships that

developed in preschool and that still remain. It's a group of us that have endured

and shared many of life's moments and blessings together. I'm so thankful

for all of my friends. They are jewels! Thanks gals!!!

17. What are three things that brighten your day?

Caroline's laughter, a happy meal, and  Coca Cola!

18. What is your favorite indulgence?

Peanut M&M's (Raven's mother and grandmother always made sure these were

availabe at every family gathering that I attended), birthday cake with vanilla

whipped icing, and Hershey Kisses (there are others but these three were the first

that came to mind).

19. What was your first job?

I worked in a Chinese restaurant! The best in town: China Kitchen! I still crave

their Sweet and Sour Chicken!

20. What do you admire?

The faith and strength of others that have walked through some of life's

hardest and most challenging times and yet still come out more faithfilled

and stronger than before their trials. It is these people that others are

watching and how they react to their tribulations as their faith is tested.

21. What is your favorite slogan or motto?

I don't really have one, but I have a phrase that I sometimes refer to, especially

when I'm wanting different results or reminding myself to try

something new and its: "If you always do what you've always

done then you'll always get what you've always gotten".

I found this saying in my sister's Bible years ago. It was part of some

sermon notes she'd taken at church one Sunday.

22. What are some things in life that you have learned that have helped guide your living?

Wow..good question! I can quickly think of two. When I graduated from high school

my paw-paw Hick wrote me a letter about life, living, and how to be an agent of

change for others, especially for those that are victims of injustice.

The second being words of wisdom from my sister before I left for college. She gave me

things to think about and words of encouragement as I entered into college life!

These pictures were taken in late May and early June! Look at how silly this girl is! Her facial expressions are too funny!

Enjoying her snack at Pops and Grands!

Sweet girl!

This is Caroline's favorite no no place! She loves

being sneaky and getting behind the end table.

She's looking to see if we are watching her being sneaky!

I caught you, silly girl!

Oh, and she loves having a sneaky toy

with her as a partner in crime.

This time its my cell phone! Even though you

are being silly you are still C-U-T-E!

Caroline loves to read, especially the pictures of her books!

Her aunt Missi made this chair for her (it matches her nursery colors)!

She loves sitting in her chair to read!

Sweet Caroline is 15 months old!

This little one had her 15 month appointment on the day that she turned 15 months old (Tuesday, June 29th). Soon after she was undressed and weighed she was ready to play. I couldn't resist letting her bounce around and play in her diaper with her sippy cup (even though I despise the toys that are available for children to play with as they wait to be seen)! She was laughing and squeeling the whole time while we waited for Dr. T!

Her 15 month stats are:

Weight 20 lbs 6 ozs (15th percentile)
Height 30.5 (50th percentile)
Head Circumference 17.25 (5th-10th percentile)

C is growing growing growing! She's saying all kinds of new words. Here's what she's saying now: (Besides mommy, daddy, and Stich (statch):
flower (fowr)
dog
luv u (love you)
rock
bush
beep
out
book
happy (HAP PEE)
baby
fish
bow
Ba Ba (for paci)
Peek a Book (pic a bee)
I See You (I c)
Shoes (Shuz)
no
sock

Here's some of little girls favorites:
Book: The Wheels on the Bus (has been her favorite since birth)
Second Favorite Book: Look! Look!
Food: mac n cheese
Dessert: vanilla milkshake
Song: If You're Happy and You Know It
Sound Effect: Vroom Vroom (in her words its voo voo)
Onomatopoeia Word: Beep Beep (from...you guessed it The Wheels on the Bus)
Toy: See N Say
Drink: Apple Juice (She says juis juis)
Pet: Stitch (of course...he lets her pull his hair!)
Place: Outside! Outside! Outside! (just like her daddy)

Caroline defintely keeps us laughing...she's got quite the character!
We Love:
How she gibber gabbers while she's playing with her toys.
How she walks with her hands clasped behind her back.
How she plays with the kitchen ware from her cabinet.
How she says luv u in the mornings when we get her from her crib.
How she says mmm when we give her something new for the first time or one of her favorite foods.
How she covers her face when playing peek a boo.
How she loves running outside on a beautiful sunny day (can't wait to show you our 4th of July pics)!
How she hugs and squeezes our necks (these are the absolute best)!!
How she "sings" the words to Wheels on the Bus as we are singing/reading them to her!
How you love playing with "junk" i.e. paper towel rolls. You love screaming through a paper towel roll. Silly!
How happy she makes us!

Happy 15 months Caroline! Luv u!

So...the past three weeks have been super busy for The Leviners! With vacationing in Ohio during the first week, VBS the second, and church camp finishing up just this past Sunday. WHEW! I'm ready to stay home and enjoy being at home and doing just whatever the day brings with little Caroline!
With all this busyness I have left my camera at my parents house so I'll be posting without pictures until its grateful return.
I'll start this post wishing Caroline a happy 15th month Birthday! I'm also going to share with you the letter I wrote to her on her 1 year birthday (sorry, just getting around to it. I have a list of new blog posts and it seems to grow daily). So while I'm wishing her a happy 15th month birthday I'll share with you my thoughts to her when she turned one.

March 29, 2010

Dear Sweet Caroline,
You are one years old today! I can't believe it was a year ago today that we met and held you in our arms for the very first time. Little did we know then the extent of joy that you'd bring into our lives! You are more than joy, you are a delight!
It has been an amazing year! You are growing by leaps and bounds and doing so many new things each and every day. Once I get used to your doing something new, you start doing something else. I can't seem to keep up!
I love that you are busy, busy, busy! Busy playing, crawling, laughing, giggling, walking while holding on to things...busy just busy and I love it!
I'm a worrier as you'll soon know. So during your first year of life, I worried about everything from your eating to your ear infections. I've also learned that with each new age you'll turn I will have new worries. So I'm trying to worry less and trust Him more! The Lord will always take care of His children. He tells us this in His word! Always remember Jeremiah 29:11, always!
Caroline, you've had the sweetest disposition and fun personality since you were born! I hope that you'll always be this way...easy going, loveable, even tempered! Your baby laughs and giggles melt my heart and fills our home with so much baby fun! We love all of our Carolineness!
As you continue to grow and change I hope you know that your daddy and I love you so very much and there isn't anything we wouldn't do for you. You are precious and we know we are truly blessed to have you as our daughter!
Love and Prayers,
Mommy and Daddy


Side Note:
This post was written several days ago and its just now being published. My camera was promptly returned (thank you daddy) and a lot has happened since this post was written. I can't wait to post our playdate with Morgan Kate and Nolan!