sweet little laugh

we are long overdue for some pictures, but for now you'll have to be content with a little video of charlotte laughing.

she is 4 1/2 months old and she is just starting to give us some giggles. they are precious! this time she was laughing at jackson in the swing.

is there anything sweeter than that sound?

more pics coming soon!

posted by shara

9 years!

On April 7, 2001, I married my best friend.

3288 days, 3 children, 8 jobs, 5 homes, 2 towns....it has been a wonderful 9 years of marriage.

When I met Jeff, I was 16 years old. I thought he was so cute and so funny. I had no idea of the depth of character he possessed, and what an incredible husband and father he would become. Everyday I am blessed beyond words to married to a man who loves God, serves us faithfully, puts us before himself, leads gently, and loves unconditionally. Almost 15 years later, he still makes me laugh (although there are definitely some jokes I've heard before that get an eye roll rather than a chuckle :). When I step back and really look at my life... I am so lucky.

Jeffrey Owen- I love you more today than 9 years ago. I can't wait to see where this life takes us. I think we'll look pretty cute with a headful of gray hair and lots of grandkids. I look forward to still holding hands when they are all wrinkled up. And I promise to love you regardless of what happens in the meantime.

posted by shara

Happy Birthday Jackson!

Jeff & I met on October 12, 1995.

We got married on April 7, 2001.

We talked about having kids for a long time. We dreamed of the day we would become parents. We cried when we thought that day might never come.

But God knew just when we should become parents.

He was saving us the perfect little boy.

On March 23, 2006, our lives changed forever. Jackson Orian Bachman entered the world at 8:04 am, weighing 8 pounds 6 ounces. We were in love.

From the time he was little, Jackson has always been a sweet little boy. His big blue eyes and precious smile makes you instantly fall in love with him. He didn't like to sleep as a baby, but he made up for it with smiles.

About the time Jackson was a year and a half, we began to realize that his development didn't seem to be keeping up with his peers. After some testing, we found out that he had delays in speech, fine & gross motor, social skills, along with sensory issues. We didn't know what all of that meant, but we knew that we wanted to do everything we could to help him. Even though he couldn't really talk, he still managed to show his love for life in his sweet spirit and funny little laugh.

When he turned 2 years old, Jackson began going to a toddler intervention class called CITI Kids through Clovis Unified. He received speech services and spent 2 mornings a week with other children with similar developmental issues. He worked so hard, and over the course of the year we were amazed at his development. He started CITI Kids with about 6 words and his own little language. A year later he was able to say 3 word phrases and made amazing progress in his motor & social skills. All his teachers loved him :)

For the past year, Jackson has been in SDC preschools in Clovis Unified. He currently attends Copper Hills, and we LOVE it. Having him in school 5 mornings a week is difficult, but to see how far he has come can bring you to tears. He is a hardworking, smart little boy. He loves letters, singing, and playing games. Even though he is constantly faced with situations that make him uncomfortable or scared, he is a brave little boy, and trusts his parents & teachers to step beyond what he knows. We could not be more proud of him.

But far more important than his developmental growth is how he has grown to be such an important part of our family. We would be incomplete without those twinkly blue eyes, his silly little laugh, or that knowing smile. I cannot get enough of his post-nap snuggles, his little hand in mine, or watching him sleep. He will often just walk over and say, "I love you, Mommy" and give me a little hug. He is precious.

He is adored by his little sister (and soon by his littlest). Watching Jackson & Isabella play & laugh together is adorable (until they start fighting....) Anything Jackson does- Bella wants to be a part of it. And he is so kind to Charlotte; giving her a binky when she cries and kissing her goodnight. These girls will be lucky to have him for a big brother when they get older.

I cannot believe it has been 4 years. It scares me to think of how quickly it has gone, knowing that the years will only continue to fly by. I am not ready for kindergarten & loose teeth. I still look at Jackson and see my little baby boy. But I also see a little boy that has come so far. It will be exciting to see where this life takes him.

Thank you, Lord, for Jackson. Every minute we have with him is a gift. Thank you for making him special and unique. Help us to love, encourage, and support him in all he does. May he always know just how wonderful he is, and how very loved.

Happy birthday sweet baby boy.

posted by Mommy

professional pics courtesy of derksen photography

Welcome Charlotte!

It has been a great few days that started earlier than expected. Charlotte was scheduled to come on Wednesday (today) the 10th of Feb. She had other plans and showed up on Monday night at 5:04 PM. She weighed in at 8 lbs and 11 oz and 20 1/4 inches long. She is already a wonderful part of our family that Jackson and Bella are already calling "Bebe Charwet". We are excited to head home tomorrow (Thursday) and begin life as a family of five. We hope you enjoy this little video of some early photos, a little intro video and then mixed in are fantastic shots from our dear sweet friend Cori Derksen who came to our room to capture the first full day of Charlotte Monroe Bachman.

We can't wait for you to meet her. She has been a good sleeper and eater so far and really loves to cuddle with her mommy.

Thanks for all of your love, prayers, visits, and support.

-posted by Jeff

This made my heart happy

We were eating our lunch today when I asked Jackson about God. This is what happened.

Pretty much just made my day :)

posted by shara

Less than a month....

It has been a long time. A ridiculously long time. The difficult thing about not blogging for an extended period of time is that you just don't know how to put your foot back in. There have been plenty of things to write about, but then I just get so overwhelmed with the sheer number of things to say that I don't say anything at all.

Well, I am putting my foot back in the blogging pool. No longer will I sit on the side of my

friend's blogs with the words "5 months ago" underneath, mocking me.

Our last post told you that we were having our 3rd baby. Needless to say, a lot has happened since then. We are now less than a month from meeting our little girl.

Charlotte Monroe is scheduled to arrive by c-section in 29 days on February 10th. I am currently 35 weeks along. At 28 weeks we had the opportunity to sneak a peek at our little girl in 4D.

It was amazing to see her move, suck her thumb, and grab her little feet. She already had hair and chubby little cheeks. Our guess is that she is going to look a lot like her big sister, who we think is pretty cute. For now, she is a busy little bundle inside her mommy's tummy. Well, maybe not a little bundle. My tummy has gotten quite big!

Jackson & Isabella are so excited about the baby, although I don't really think they know what is actually happening. Bella loves to pull my shirt up to "see" Baby Charlotte. Jackson tells us every time we drive by the hospital that "that is where Baby Charlotte comes out of Mommy's tummy". They both love to hug & kiss my tummy, or just give it little pats. (Although they have also stepped, jumped, and pushed on it too!) Bella got lots of new baby gear for Christmas, so they have been practicing with swings, strollers, & giving binkies....although I'm not sure a real baby would be safe with either of them doing those things! In anticipation of Charlotte's arrival, we moved Jackson & Bella into a room together, which they love. As much as it is going

to rock their little worlds, I know they are going to love her and be so good with her. I can't wait to see all 3 of them together.

Did I mention that Jeff is amazing? I am so lucky to be married to a man that loves me and takes such good care of me. Whether it is helping with the kids, picking things up so I don't have to bend down, or making me whatever food is calling my name... he is just wonderful. I love watching him be a daddy.... God made him for it. It will be fun to see him with a little one again.

Since I am writing this post at 4:45 in the morning, you can probably guess that I am ready for our baby girl to arrive. I am terrified, excited, anxious, unprepared, and overwhelmed at the idea of a 3rd child. (But mostly excited!) There are days when I feel like I am over my head with 2 kids. How will I manage 3? I feel like my list of "to-do's" is a mile long and every time I cross something off the list, I add two more things. But regardless of how ready I think I am, at the end of the day, all that matters is a healthy little baby being born. The rest will take care of itself.

As I write, Charlotte is busy moving around in my tummy. It never ceases to amaze me how God decided to allow new life to happen. To know that this is the last time I will ever experience another person growing inside me.... I am trying to just enjoy and be thankful for every minute. Which, when my back hurts, or I can't sleep, or I'm using the bathroom for the 79th time that night, can be hard to do. But I am so incredibly grateful. I have watched life be taken away from precious friends, or never given at all, and I keep waiting for it to be my turn. For God to decide that I do not deserve to be a mommy again. For something to happen to this little one. I have a hard time understanding why He is allowing us to have a 3rd child when others can't have any at all. Sometimes the guilt is overwhelming.

The truth is that I will never know why things happen, but I do trust in a God that is sovereign. And He has given us this little life. I am thankful. I am excited. I cannot wait to meet her, to hold her, to introduce her to her daddy and her big brother and sister.

I promise to be the best mommy that I can to you, sweet Charlotte.

I hope the next 29 days go quickly.

posted by Shara

photos by the amazing Cori Derksen at www.derksenphotography.com

Our Third Child has a name...Thanks Jackson

It is fun to have a family. I would encourage you all to get one. Not like at the mall in a store or from a playground with candy and a windowless van. However, when the time is right, cherish the one that you have. For a pastor, a family is an endless amount of sermon illustrations, stories, and ooh's and aah's. Jackson proved this theory to be true once again.

We are beginning to talk with him about our third child. By the way, we are having a third child. Poor thing does not get the pageantry of the first two, but we are equally as excited. He knows that there is a baby is mommy's tummy (which we all know is not totally true. Shara did not eat a baby and is not growing one in her tummy...semantics). He points to the baby. Gives that baby kisses. He is becoming quite the older brother (again).

As we were walking out of the house the other day, we asked Jackson a question that he did not know the answer to. Try doing this some time. Ask a child a question that they don't know the answer to. Rarely will you get an I don't know. Usually it will be made up. Often it will be fun. So we asked Jackson, what the name of the baby in Mommy's tummy was named. He paused for about 3 seconds and proudly told us his answer. "Bruce". We lost it. Our unborn child has the name of a 75 year old man. Jackson, of course, enjoyed our delight greatly so it was locked in. He now associates the name "Bruce" with tons of laughter and joy. Our best guess is that Jackson has been bingeing on "Finding Nemo" and the 12-step shark is named Bruce. I am not sure if that is what Jackson thinks of this fetus, but that is the name he came up with.

Sorry Tres (which is what we had been called it before this new name). You have been given, and will have for a long time, the name Bruce. We will pay for counseling if necessary. Regardless of your name we love you and can't wait to meet you some time in February.

Talk to you soon Bruce.

-posted by Jeff