Our New Arrival

Meeting Ryan for the first time in the NICU
Falling in love at first sight
More NICU visits (IV seemed to be in a different location each time)
Leaving the NICU and the hospital...yeah!!!
Ready for his first car ride!!!

Well, after what seems like an eternity, and a broken heart here and there, we finally have our baby boy! His name is Ryan Gabriel, and he was born on 9/8/07. It is an amazing story how this little guy came into our lives, and I'm sure we will be telling it for years to come. God is good, and he provides for those who are faithful...our little Ryan is true proof of that! We feel truly blessed and now the Willis family is complete!

Spirit Friday!!!

The girls got to wear their Lewiston t-shirts for the first "Spirit Friday". They were both full of excitement...it's amazing what a $10 t-shirt and calling it spirit day can do to motivate a child to go to school!!! Whatever works...

Heritage Academy

This is T painting in what will become the media center...
This is T in the completed media center
The ribbon cutting ceremony...and some very excited students!!

R has been doing a community service project with his soldiers for many months. They have completely restored an old school and now it is a christian school for inner city kids here in Augusta. T went on one Saturday and helped with the project, so she was very excited to go to the ribbon cutting ceremony with R. It is an awesome thing they have done, and the school is going to do great things in the lives of these children. I am very proud of them!!!

First Day of School...

T and A in their new outfits!!
R thinks T needs a skateboard to complete her outfit...
And of course A has to sport the "princess" look for the first day!
T and A with our neighbor L...she is our part-time daughter!!

The girls went back to school today, and I have to say that I am a little sad. The house is very quiet and empty again! R and I took the girls to school this morning, and even T allowed us to walk her to her class and kiss her goodbye (we were told it was okay, but only today because it was the first day). We then dropped A off at her kindergarten class, and I have to admit that there were tears as we walked away from that one! I'm not sure why...I didn't cry on her first day of pre-k, but today got to me, and R too! She looked like such a big kid! Both girls looked beautiful, and they were both so excited!

Baby's room is done!

Each Willis child has their name above their door...

We kept the futon in the room...hoping it doesn't turn into my permanent sleep spot!

His wardrobe...thanks to everyone who has contributed so much for this little guy!!

Okay, several of you have asked to see the baby's room. We have it all ready for the little guy...we are just waiting for his arrival. This room used to be our office/spare bedroom and we had it decorated in a patriotic theme (R uses the closet in there as his military closet...I guess that's where the patriotic idea came from). In the interest of saving money, we just decided to keep that theme, and decorated the room around it. The room is now ready and waiting for our little guy...the only thing left is a Bible verse I am going to paint on the one bare wall!

Glam Girls

T says "This is kinda fun"!
Our little diva...
Almost Done!!!

We took T and A to get their nails done today. They wanted fresh hands and feet for the first day of school! We made the mistake about a month ago of taking the girls for pedicures, and they both loved it! Even T who usually finds no pleasure in "girly things". T got her first ever manicure today...for the first time in her life she actually has fingernails. She has had a horrible habit of biting her nails ever since she got teeth, but now that she has braces, she can't bite them anymore!! They both look beautiful, and they are ready for Monday...look out kindergarten and 5th grade...here they come!! : )

Back in the land of the minivan...

Well, I hate to admit it, but I'm officially "old and uncool"! We bought a minivan (again) and I know that I am officially old and uncool because I am loving it! The room is great...we traveled to Arkansas and back, and the girls didn't fight a single time!!

School Cuts!

The girls got their "back to school" haircuts yesterday. They have both been letting their hair grow out for a long time now, and R and I finally convinced them to get it cut! We think they look great, and T's will be much easier to take care of now! A was SO excited because the hairstylist straightened her hair for her...she thought it made her look more like a princess! We are going swimming this morning, so I had to warn her that as soon as she gets wet, her curls will return! : )

T's Big Day!!!!

Before...
After...

Today was the day that T got her braces!! She had spacers put in last week and got to experience her first ever dental pain! She got the braces on today, and is experiencing a new kind of pain...one she will become very familiar with over the next 12 months, I'm sure! R and I are a little biased, but we think they look great!!

A's First Tooth!!

A lost her first tooth!! She was very nervous about it coming out, even though the other tooth was already grown in behind it!! But, it finally came out and she got her first visit from the tooth fairy, so all is well.