Fitzy is growing like CRAZY – and is as cute as ever!!

I just kiss those cheeks ALL day!

He is sweeter than I ever though he could be!

We went up to Matt & Johna’s a few weekends ago! Fitzy was not hurting for affection – that’s for sure!

I just can’t get enough of him!

The many faces of a sweetness!

Look at the smile on little *B* and that dimple on my Fitzy!

I love this series! It’s like *B* is telling him how she got her bandage and he does NOT believe her!

Auntie Johna!

Thanks so much for being great friends!!

We went to my parents for Memorial Day and spent it with our family – and all the babies that were born recently!

Grandma Trout LOVES pinching baby cheeks!

Jared hates the baby legwarmers. I LOVE them!

Blayze is on the bottom in the green – he will be 2 in July! Fitzy is up top with Rowyn next to him! Sayge is on the bottom in the red – she was born on May 17th! Darrell is the only great-grandchild on my mom’s side of the family that’s missing from the picture!

Rowyn will mess you up if you try anything with her baby cousin!

My Uncle Bob meeting Fitzy for the first time!

It was HOT in here! This is the life – huh!

Our friends had a baby exactly a week after we had Fitzy! We haven’t seen them in 4 years and they stopped by on Memorial Day to introduce us to their little guy!

While my parents and brother and sister were here – we had a tornado in Mansfield! We were in the house for 26 hours without power – which I know was much worse for lots of people in town and around this area – so I am thankful it was only 26 hours without power. We played board games together and actually spent time together instead of being plopped in front of the television the whole time!

Of course we got some snuggling time in with babies too!

Rowyn is almost exactly 3 months older than Fitzy – and she LOVES him!

LOOK AT HER! She is such a pretty little baby!

My sister would kidnap him to NJ in a second if I let her!

Grandma Barden had to come over and get some snuggles in!

It was quite an eventful weekend and we will NEVER forget my 30th birthday!

We had Fitzy dedicated at Liberty Bible Church on May 29th! My family was all here and we couldn’t think of a more perfect time to do it!

During a dedication we thank God for this beautiful baby – for lending him to us and asking His direction in raising him. Our families and the church agree to hold us accountable in raising Fitz under God’s direction! We asked Jared’s dad, Rob Fitzgerald, my brother, and Dan Fitzgerald to say a prayer for our little guy!

Derek asked if I wanted him to hold Fitzy up like in The Lion King – I said OF COURSE!

Our pastor – Lon – with the babe!

The Fitzgerald family – minus Dave & Christy!

Dan showing Fitzy some love!

My sister with her sweet nephew – Jessica and Derek with the little guy!

My parents and Jared’s parents with their first grandson!

We are so thankful for our parents and the love they have shown us! We’ve had GREAT examples to lead is into parenthood!

Thank You God for allowing us the joy of raising this baby! We pray above all that he grows up to love and follow You!

We are LOVING this baby boy! He is so perfect and such a blessing!

Here are some photos during his 3rd week with us!

OH MY HEART!

He LOVES his play mat!

He also LOVES his moose!

Such a cutie!

My sister held a baby shower for Fitzy on April 2nd! She did such a great job with all the games and decorations!

My friend and fellow photog – Aszur – took some shots for us!

The creepy babies Samm used for the games!

Stephanie made this AWESOME cake for me!

I love the little Pooh pajamas! Thanks Aszur!

Aszur is due with her 3rd little guy in June!

Samm – thanks so much for your hard work and AWESOME shower for us!!!!

Thank you to Aszur for the photos and to everyone for coming!!!! Fitzy is so blessed to be so loved!!

Aszur took some maternity photos of me in early April!

These were some of my favorites! I added some textures and edits but they were taken by Aszur!

Thanks again Aszur! I am so glad that God crossed our paths!! I cannot wait to be with you during your delivery of your THIRD miracle!

Today is a hard day. While we are still saying hello to our miracle Fitzy – we are saying goodbye to our baby Schrute.

We brought Fitzy home and Schrute did pretty well with him – other than the fact that he is HUGE! The next day he snapped at my sister and freaked out when we got home from visiting Fitz’s. He was jumping and panting and baring his teeth and not listening to us AT ALL. When he did get close to the baby he nudged him – HARD! He slept downstairs with Jared while Samm and I slept upstairs with the baby. Jared has been sleeping on the couch with Schrute since – I can’t have him in the bed with us – Schrute – not Jared!

I was so scared to be at home with my two babies – Schrute proved to be harder to take care of. I can’t lay Fitzy down ANYWHERE without worrying about Schrute getting in his face and nudging him – or stepping on him – or sitting on him. My days have been spent telling Schrute no – bringing the dog to the bathroom with me – anywhere I go while the baby is laying down. I can’t put Fitzy in his swing, on the floor, or on the couch or bed without worrying about Schrute stepping or sitting on him. He hasn’t been listening to us nearly as well as he normally does – which isn’t really that great anyway! I can’t nurse the baby without Schrute having his nose right on top of us – nudging hard.

Last week I took Fitzy over to Gramma’s and spent some time with Schrute alone – only to have him growl at me when I got near him! UNACCEPTABLE! Schrute’s head is about the size of Fitzy’s whole body – all it takes is one time – one chomp for it to be a fatal accident.

Bottom line – we LOVE our dog – but we LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE our baby. Jared and I don’t feel that Fitzy is safe while Schrute is in the house. I’m not enjoying the dog or our baby the way I need to be cus I am so watchful of both of them. I am not relaxed – I am way too stressed and worried that Schrute might snap at any minute.

Jared and I have CRIED and CRIED about this decision – Schrute is our BABY! He is an angel sent from God to get us through our miscarriage and struggle with getting pregnant. I am so thankful for him and the love he gave us the past two years. I cannot describe the impact he has had on my life. He has kept me company and listened to my cries. He has cuddled up with me when I needed a hug. (I know he is just a dog – but he is truly sent by God at the perfect time for us). He gives us that look that says he loves us no matter what. He waits anxiously for Jared to get home from work to shower him with kisses at the door! He cuddles up with us every night to sleep. He has brought so much joy to our lives!

Today Jared and his dad are taking him to his new home in Sunbury. He will be living with a woman and her hubbie who don’t have children – they have their dogs! Three great danes other than Schrute! A farm with lots of space to run – their own room and bed! Love and attention that will be POURED on him!

We know that he will be loved and taken care of – but it still sucks. Just sucks. People have told us to give him a few weeks – and we have – mostly because it took a while to find this perfect fit – and it’s been a stressful couple of weeks. If ANYTHING were to EVER happen to Fitzy because we couldn’t make the decision to take Schrute to a new home – you would have to institutionalize me! I would never EVER forgive myself. I am taking the little things that Schrute has done so far as warning signs. He is SO big that he doesn’t know what he is doing – where he is stepping – who he is sitting on – jumping on – chewing on. He is being so neglected with our attention on this sweet miracle – and he knows it. He deserves better.

It has been a heartbreaking decision but when it comes down to your dog or your child – there is no question.

We are so thankful for his love and companionship the past two years! We are so excited for his new family and the memories they will make together!

I took these photos on Friday – while I cried my goodbyes.

OH MY HEART – I think he knows.

Schrutie – we love you so much! Thank you for your friendship and sweet kisses over the past couple of years. Have so much fun with your new brothers and sister.

Yesterday our baby boy was two weeks old! I’ve been very blessed with GREAT photographer friends who wanted to photograph his cuteness! You can see all the different photos on my FACEBOOK!

I have been so tired and so focused on spoiling this little guy with love that I kept putting off his newborn photos – horrible right!

When Nicole from Yafeh Photography came to photograph our little guy – I took a few shots – at 12 days old!

PRECIOUS!!

I cannot get over the fact that this little guy is ours!!

Yesterday I took some shots of our teeny baby at 2 weeks old!

I don’t normally include outtakes but this one was too cute!

We are having such a great time loving on our little miracle!