Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Visiting an old friend

Way back in sixth grade, my life changed forever for the good.  I didn't know that many people on my sixth grade team and I happened to meet a girl that was on my team and was interested in many of the things I liked too.  She read books going down the hall, went to church, was on the nerdy end of the spectrum and was musically inclined.  Erin Selby and I became friends that year and through the years have stayed in touch even through difficult times in high school and going to colleges that were 14 hours apart.  I admired her for many of her qualities-her unbelievable musical talent, ability to eat snickers and Pepsi and stay skinny, and her creativity with clothes, food, art, and our beloved projects!  (Our school projects sometimes kept us up all night but by golly we finished them and got the A+ we deserved!) We used to plan to get married, build houses next to each other, and raise our families side by side.  I remember calling her when Jason and I got engaged and her calling me 6 months later to tell me that she was now engaged.   She is one of those friends that needs a call for big news because we were miles apart but she is too good of a friend to get that news through facebook or email.  She was in my wedding and I was in hers-just six months after mine.  And we both started our married lives within six months of each other but hours apart.  She was in Atlanta and I was in Spartanburg, SC.  Then we moved to Texas-and we were further apart.  I also remember calling her in January of 2010 to tell her before telling the masses that we had surprisingly found out that we were going to have a baby in August.  She was so happy for us and I asked her if they were planning on trying for a child soon.  Then came her unexpected response.  You see, we still kept in touch but we weren't as close as we had been over the years.  She told me that she and her husband Josh had already been trying for 2 years to have a baby and it just wasn't happening.  FRIEND FAIL!!!!!  She wasn't upset with me for asking but it really put things into perspective for me.  We were expecting a blessing from God that we weren't trying for or asking for yet and here she had been yearning for a baby for over two years.  I ended the conversation with her in a hopeful-well things seem to happen to you right after they happen to us so just maybe you will get pregnant soon.

When Spencer was born I had no idea that in that next month, Erin would be undergoing IVF to eventually get pregnant.  I was so excited when I saw her caller ID on my phone in December.  I just knew she was pregnant.  Sure enough she was calling to tell me that she was expecting-TWINS!!!!  I was sooooo happy for her.  Sam and Kate were born the following May and when we moved back to this side of the country, I couldn't wait to go see her new little instant family.  Spencer and I made the trek to Atlanta in November and spent a few days with Erin, Josh, Sam and Kate.  Spencer loved the babies and wanted to stick pacifiers in their mouth, give them bottles, swing them in their swing and bounce them in the jumper.  It was nice to see that she enjoyed seeing other little ones around her.  It was also great catching up with an old friend.  Here are the twins with Spencer:

 And then there was some petting...I think Spencer sees little babies as a pet like her dogs!

 And here is Spencer with Erin expressing her "cheese" face!

Erin is such an awesome mom!  I have no idea how she handles twins-two babies at the same time needing the same stuff!  You can read about her journey to getting pregnant here. 

I count my blessings that God has given me friendships that last through all the stages of life.  Erin is one of those lifetime friends!  We can wait until we visit again!

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The Pumpkin Patch-while it is still FALL

Since moving and starting to work just in the home, I have joined a MOPS group here. In October, we had a playdate field trip to Holiday Farms in South Carolina for a Pumpkin Day. Of course, being that it was Spencer's first time going to a pumpkin patch, she had to be dressed for the occassion. Her GREAT and FABULOUS aunt Bonnie (my aunt) had already given her a diva pumpkin tutu and I found her shirt and pants on sale and they were the last ones and they just happened to be in her size. So I figured it was meant for her to wear them! Thanks Aunt Bonnie-everyone there complemented her outfit!
It was a really neat little farm. As we drove up, the people had decorated an old satellite dish as a pumpkin and had enormous hay bales painted like pumpkins. For $5, we got to do all the games, rides, petting zoo (more on that later), a hay ride, and a pumpkin. Here is our pal Lincoln playing one of the games. It was two water pumps on each side and little rubber duckies would race each other as you pumped the water to the other side. Then two other people would pump them back to you. Spencer couldn't do this game yet but we enjoyed watching Lincoln.

They also had a "milk the cow" station. I helped Spencer do it the first time but she didn't seem that interested. Then we went to a rope the longhorn area and Spencer turned around and went back to the cow to milk it herself. I guess she wanted to do it by herself. The entire day she did not want me to hold her. She was all over and enjoying the wide open field of fun.
Spencer enjoyed the swing set A LOT!
Then it was time for our hay ride. You waited for your hay ride under this covered area that also housed a petting farm-complete with pigs, peacocks, donkey, piglets, ducks, baby ducks, chickens, rabbits, pony and a turkey. Spencer was given a At the Farm book for her birthday and we read it every day, multiple times a day. The book has pages of animals and Spencer easily found the dog that looks like Evee and says, "Dog". We have really been working on other animals and their sounds so she will not call everything a dog. She saw all the animals and only called the Donkey a dog. Then we saw this pig. She looked really sweet and she would kind of lick your fingers. Spencer wanted to pet her (don't worry I had hand sanitizer near) so she walked up and got ready to pet the pig. Right after the shutter closed for this image, the pig got excited and snorted really loud. Which sent Spencer backwards and she fell on her bottom and started crying. Needless to say, she didn't really go near the other animals just looked them from a distance. But I do think she knows what sound a pig makes now! :)


Then we finally got to ride on the hay ride to the field to get our pumpkins. By this time, Spencer was hungry and she really just enjoyed that she was getting to eat some Cheezits.

Spencer loved the pumpkin field. She ran all over it and looked at all the pumpkins. Here is what she found.And of course, the reason for the occasion for mommy-photo ops!


We had so much fun and we can't wait until next year!

What have I been up to?

Last April, when God answered one of the biggest prayers in my heart, I had this vision for what being a stay at home mom would look like for me. I guess it is kind of like when you are pregnant with your first child and you image how it will be to become a mother and take care of your baby knowing nothing about what real life with a baby is about. I imagined that when we moved and I didn't have to run off to school every morning Spencer and I would do crafty projects and make cookies and the house would be clean and I would not feel tired all the time like when I was working. I would blog at least once a week and become a good cook. Heck-I also imagined that I would become one with my sewing machine and start whipping up some dresses/outfits for Spencer-you know the regular super momma domestic diva all rolled into one!

HA HA HA HA HA HA-this is me laughing at myself.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE being a stay at home mom. And I am grateful to God for making this happen for our family. But it is nothing like I thought it would be. Definitely not the "I wouldn't be tired all the time" part. And obviously I need to blog more.

We get up, get ready, play, eat breakfast, I clean, do laundry, read children's books, clean, eat, nap (Spencer, not me) as I clean, organize, and then she wakes up and we read, eat, and you guessed it-I clean again. But I wouldn't trade it for anything. I love seeing my daughter discover new things, I love seeing her playing with her toys and pretending to take care of her baby doll. I love seeing her try new foods, find her favorite books and watching her gain confidence in her locomotive abilities.

But I do feel like time has sped up even faster as I have been taking care of her. I just wish it would slow down. What I am learning as I stay home with my baby girl is to treasure our time together. I am also learning to forgive myself if the house isn't perfect or we didn't get everything done that I wanted to because we played longer doing something Spencer enjoyed or she needed to nap longer because she was really tired. And right now I think that is the most important thing about being a mom!

A Whole Year!

Baby Spencer at one day old:



Baby Spencer at One Year Old:

It is hard to believe how fast this year has gone. Baby girl, Mommy and Daddy love you so much. At 12 months, you were not yet walking. But you could stand by yourself and walk by holding on to the furniture. You weighed 20 lbs. and 4 oz. (although we didn't like the new doctor and you were messing with the scale so that could be a little off) and you were 30 inches tall. You said: Momma, DaDa and Dog. And you loved your dogs. You had a total of 3 birthday parties-one with just mommy and daddy on your birthday, one at CeCe and PawPaw's house and one at Nana and Papa Jay's house.

Baby girl, we feel so blessed to be your parents and so glad God chose us for you. You continue to amaze us in how much your understand. Your favorite time at home is bath time. You love reading your books "What Makes a Rainbow" and your green caterpillar book. You put everything in your mouth and you are down to only one nap a day. You have 6 teeth and you enjoy "feeding" yourself-even if the food ends up all over you. You did not like your smash cake but you did enjoy some bread at your birthday and seeing all the balloons. You are a very brave girl who loves going up the stairs and trying to climb up things. You love swinging in your outside swing and giving Evee a hug.

Happy First Birthday Spencer! We love you.

Love,
Mommy and Daddy!

One year ago...

It was the day before my due date. We went to the doctor to find out that I was contracting enough to go to the hospital. This was the last day I was pregnant for the entire day. This was the last day it was just me and Jason. We were excited, scared, nervous, happy-all at the same time. And my parents started the trip out to Texas!

Mooommmaaaa

So my baby girl said Momma tonight! The great debate of what she would say first was decided tonight (Well technically she said "da" in reference to the dog first but...). She reached out her arms and said mommmm maaaa!

Keeps Georgia on my mind...

We have been a reunited family of 3 well really 5 for 2 whole weeks. It was really funny when people asked me about what I thought of Savannah before I got here-I had actually never been to Savannah, nor had I ever seen the house I was about to move into! I have now been to Savannah driven through Savannah while Spencer napped in the car after errands and settled into the wonderful house Jason picked out for us. I definitely miss some things about Houston-our friends, our church, the plethora of restaurants and activities but I love the southeastern coast life. The breeze is always blowing and nights and hours after a rain shower-yes we have them here unlike the drought we were having in Texas- are cool and calm.

Tillman and Evee have managed to make sure we know where their doctor is already. Evee will have a fatty cyst removed next month and Tilly has surgery on Monday for a bladder full of stones! I felt really bad when I found out why she was using the bathroom so often-I thought it was just a bladder infection. Here are the stones(the egg-shaped are the largest and there are LOTS of small ones)

I will post more pics of the house when I get a chance to take some. My new job lifestyle is keeping me extremely busy. Spencer decided she would learn how to climb stairs and express her dislike of being confined to certain rooms in the first two days we arrived here. Keeping her out of the dog water bowl, in clean pants, and feed along with getting the house in a state that is livable is quite the chore.

That is what has been going on lately.

More pics later…

My last case of the Mondays

So-it was Monday-you know that dreaded day to start your work week off. The one where you feel tired because you packed your weekend too full. But this Monday was different. This was my last Monday teaching...and not just for the summer. My new job starts Monday June 6th. I didn't interview for this job-God just gave it to me! He has provided and given our family what I know He intended for our family-the time for me to raise our kids at home as a mommy.

I went to the hospital tonight to see a friend who is about to have her first baby-a boy. It was so surreal. Even though my baby is 9 months old now, it still seems like yesterday I was going to the same hospital to check in to meet this precious gift God gave to us. Then I get the word that my best friend from high school is going to have her twins tomorrow morning! I am so giddy with excitement for my friends who are about to begin their new journey as mommies tonight and tomorrow!

As this new chapter is beginning in my life, I think I am more nervous and excited for this job than any other job I have ever had. I can't wait to be a full time helpmate to my husband and I can't wait to raise our daughter at home. However, I don't really feel qualified for this job. I have so much to learn (like cooking!) and so much patience to practice as a full time parent at home, who is setting up a new house and learning a new town all at once! Wonder why God thought of me for this job? All I know-through Him I will learn everything I need to get through whatever is ahead for our family-and I can't wait to see what is ahead.

Thanks to my wonderful hubby! You are the best gift in human form that God could have ever given me!

Wordless Wednesday

My Cinderella Story

Mark 11:22-25
"'Have faith in God,' Jesus answered. 'I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, "Go, throw yourself into the sea," and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins'"

Psalm 25:1
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul; In you I Trust, O my God.

Phillipians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Colossions 4:2
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

No-a fairy god-mother didn't come and wave her magic wand and make all the world right around me. But my God did melt my heart and mold me through this prayer journey. I feel changed-accept I know that when midnight or whatever comes-my change doesn't go back. I began this journey for personal prayer growth. I knew I should pray but rarely did I make a habit of it nor did I feel a personal growth in my relationship with God. But I didn't enjoy it and I always felt like I was just asking a genie in a lamp for request-very one-sided wishful thinking. But now I see how it is so much more a conversation of my heart with my Creator. This conversation doesn't always go where I want it to but because I know that my God wants what is best for me and He is so crafty at bringing my heart to want what is best for me, I have learned to wait, watch, be patient, and look for God's ever-present peace, strength, wisdom in whatever situation I am facing.

Back many years ago-a decade-I made the decision to become a teacher. I was not happy in my major my freshman year of college and I loved helping kids learn something new. I also knew that I could move to where ever and pretty much find a job teaching kids. WOW-did God know what he was doing or what? He knew that I would marry my husband and we would start our lives together in SC. He knew together we would move to Texas. Where I easily got another teaching job. I have now taught over 300 kids! But...God also put another desire in my heart.

I have always wanted to become a mommy. And with God's timing (certainly not mine or Jason's) he blessed us with a sweet, precious, child that we get to raise! One of the reasons we waited so long to have a baby was as many couples think-we want to be ready-HA HA! I fell in love with my daughter as soon as I laid eyes on her-especially watching in being held in her daddy's arms as he displayed a look of terror-love-awe-joy-fear all at one time. But you are never ready for the wonderful surprise parenthood brings.

Even though I love teaching and helping children learn-I hated going back to school this year. I hated leaving my beautiful child and gift from God in the care of another person. God knew this desire and He knew He was going to meet that yearning in my heart.

As of Friday, April 15th, I turned in my resignation to my school. I will finish out the school year but I am not going back next year! God has been working over time in my life and I praise him for all the blessings He has given me, is giving me, and will give me over the many years to come. We are going to move closer to family and I get to be a full time mommy to our precious baby girl! I know that the moving journey and life will not necessarily get easier. There will be challenges living as a one income family and making a home in a brand new place. But I am keeping my trust in the Lord-he has provided and I trust he will provide for our family. He has laid out the path for us to follow and opened our hearts for this change.

Even though this is an exciting time for our family, it is also a sad time. We have loved our time here in Texas. This is the first place we were able to find a church home as a married couple, we have made so many friends here and we came as a family of two and are leaving as a family of three. But again-I am trusting in God to give us a new church home and friends to live life with as we go forward.

So prayer-my magic wand-has changed me. It has made me more patient, more swift to seek God's will for my life, more open to His wisdom for the future, and placed my heart in a vulnerable, seeking, trusting relationship with my Creator. And for this I praise HIM! While the road ahead is not perfectly clear-He is there with me and I can't wait to see where He takes me!

Our Texas Bluebonnet!

Since our baby was born in Texas, we did what all trendy Texans do...drove around and found a bluebonnet field to place our baby in while we snapped a few shots! I actually looked on the internet so I wouldn't have to drive to Brenham, TX and found someone who took them almost inside the inner loop in Houston. Since it was about 30 min away, I decided to try and find the place. Here is what it looked like:
I know not so pretty right? I was forewarned that it was on fairly steep hill so I knew about the setting challenges before I got there. There was also this hideous building from the seventies near by but I made sure not to get that in our pics. So this is what we got:
I was really happy since this will probably be Spencer's only bluebonnet picture. We took some flowers with us and we are going to press them for Spencer to keep in her memory book.

Wordless Wednesday (a day early)

Trying to blog more...

So the season of Lent has been upon us for a few weeks. I hear so much about people giving up something for Lent-which is fine and good. But... that is all I hear-I gave up this or that and went to church on Ash Wednesday. What does that do or mean really? Does it really show others around you the gift and ultimate sacrifice that our God gave us through his Son? Really-aren't you supposed to give up something so you can focus more on God and what His sacrifice meant for our lives? I was raised Baptist-Southern Baptist to be exact-and would still say I have a Baptist mindset although I have some differing opinions with Southern Baptist now. But regardless of denomination-I like the idea of Lent. More specifically the focus on the reason for our Easter season. So this season, I decided to focus more on prayer and use Facebook to help me. My life would be vastly different without facebook-but I digress because all of ours would be-but for this purpose it has really helped me reach beyond the scope of my everyday "wants" and focus on the "needs" of the world around me.

This journey has been interesting-and a blessing-to say the least. So much has happened that I have learned to pray for and through it all-God has been good-is good-and always will be good. The best part of this journey-by having more than just my prayer requests to focus on and lay at God's feet-I have been able to see so many more answered prayer request of those around me. And the more answered prayer request-the more I praise my Creator. I am able to understand more fully how prayer may not change the situation or give us the answer we want-but it helps us appreciate and see exactly how God has His hands in every situation in our lives. For me it has been cyclical-I pray for others-see God's answers-I grow in my faith in Him and praise him for his providence in it all-pray for myself and others-become more patient because I am faithful He will answer in His will as He has done in the past for me and those around me-and I see his answers- and I continue to pray.

Does this mean that "all is good?" No-there have been tears along the way and I still am waiting patiently but faithfully that He will, as He always does, answer in His time and will. I trust that He does know best and His timing is always right. This prayer journey has also made me focus on where I place my value-and I am still learning to completely rely on Him.

But through it all-I feel so much more peace. The peace that passes all understanding-that in the midst of a storm-there is calm.

And the journey continues...

Our Sixth Month Old Princess

I can't believe that sixth months has come and gone since we were blessed with our beautiful daughter! So much has changed in the last six months and it keeps changing everyday. So Spencer, here is what you are up to now:

-You have been sleeping through the night since you were 3 months old. You get sleepy around 7:30 or 8:00 and after nursing, you go right to bed. You love your crib and are all smiles in the morning when we wake you up!
-You started eating solids on February 12th-you had sweet potatoes but you weren't too sure about what to do with them. Watching you learn to eat is bittersweet because we know you are growing up so fast!
-Your daddy can make you squeal with laughter. Your face brightens every time you see him.
-You still love nursing like the night you were born.
-You got your first illness two weeks before you were six months. You had bronchitis and we took you to the doctor because of your fever. However, from the smile on your face, we would could not really tell you had a 102 degree fever.
-You are sitting up now and grabbing every thing you see. Then you put it in your mouth. You can get your booty in the air and push your head up with your hands but you haven't quite gotten the hang of doing both things at the same time so you can start crawling.
-You love to be outside and look around. We took you to the park and you love to swing in the big girl swing and have the breeze blow through your hair which seems to be getting blonder.
-On your progress report at school, they wrote that you were the most contented child they had ever seen and the ladies at church would agree too! You smile at everyone you meet and hardly ever fuss over anything.
-You have taken 3 planes rides in your short life and have been perfect on every flight.
-Evee loves to give you kisses and you love to pet her. Tilly is still not too sure about being your friend yet.
-You have already visited Clemson and seen your Uncle Will graduate. You had an awesome time and mommy and daddy agree that orange is your color!
-You had a wonderful first Christmas and you even saw your first snow.

We know that you will keep bringing us smiles and we can't wait to see what your future brings as you grow into our little lady! We love you!

Your beautiful smile!

Our adorable Clemson Tiger!

You with a pillow made by you great-great-grandma!

Your first swing in the park!

And your favorite time of the day!