Life lately

It's beginning to look alot like...

CHRISTMAS!!!

Oh, how I LOVE this season!

Last year, I was 81/2 months pregnant and let's just say...wasn't too jolly! :) This year...I'M BACK, and with a cute, little sidekick!

We were anxious to get the Christmas tree up and see how William would react. We were prepared to say NO! a lot and have every ornament back on the floor within minutes! To our surprise, he was more amazed with the boxes the tree came in! Go figure! He has warmed up to the tree and will go close enough to drive his truck up the side of it, or to touch a light. We have a veggie tale carrot ornament (not sure of this vegetable's name) I hang it very low on the tree so William can reach it. He doesn't like it on the tree and will yank it off as quick as he can get to it! He definitely has his ways! :)

I haven't wrapped any gifts yet, as we have recently realized our child is half goat. He loves paper and will eat a tag off of something in a heartbeat! It's becoming the norm to go in a store and have to hand a half eaten, slobbery piece of what was left of a barcode to a very disgruntled sales associate. I am afraid of what he would do to the presents...so we may wrap our presents in food!?!

On a different note.
It truly has been one of the most amazing months we have had with our little guy! He is a daily reminder of why we celebrate...Our prayers are that he would not grow up wanting things of this world, but that he would grow up and be given the only gift that truly matters...the gift of salvation. We desire for him to know why we celebrate this season, and that we as a family wouldn't teach it to him only in December, but instead everyday!


A few sights of our season.

 Helping Daddy...it's a boys job, Momma!

 Offering a little support, maybe??

 Got bored with the tree...

 William loves his puppy!

 He also LOVES to climb over her...again and again and again! Molly girl just lays there...sweet pup!

 One of my favorite ornaments!

This truly is the most wonderful time of the year!! Merry Christmas!!

11 months

We are literally days away from our little guy turning 1! He is SO much fun and truly makes me laugh most every day! He is ALL BOY....which is defined by saying he is wide open for 22 hours of the day, fearless, full of mischief and loves to drive his trucks! I can't get enough of him and I can't thank God enough for this little boy!

At 11 sweet months...
-loves yogurt and pancakes
-loves to give high-fives and head bumps
-crawls at record speed
-walks around holding on to stuff
-LOVES to climb on the ottoman and dive off...don't worry, he dives onto a beanbag :)
-has 4 teeth
-loves to climb over Molly
-helps unload dishwasher by pulling all the spoons out
-weighs 22lbs
-LOVES to dance! :)

The results of our little teething beaver...

Give Thanks

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever!

Psalm 136:1

There is so much to be thankful for...not just during November, but each day our Lord wills us to wake! I am blessed to have a husband who shows me Christ daily, a baby boy who teaches me how to sacrifice and and serve, family who love endlessly, friends who walk through life with me, a job that allows me to see my role as wife and mother, a church who strives to glorify God, and this year I am especially thankful for 27 years with a father who left a legacy of love.

Today my cup is full, and even when it's not, I am still thankful!

This past week hit highlights of just a few things that I am most thankful for. I wasn't sure what this first holiday without Dad would bring...but thanks be to God that He goes before me and walks with me through each day. I can't say I wasn't sad, because I was...I can't say I didn't cry, because I did. However, when I laid my head down that night, all I could think of was that I was BLESSED to have 27 years worth of thankful days with him. There definitely was and will be tough moments, but I am MOST thankful this year that my Savior has overcome this world...and that means those tough moments! What a thanksgiving my daddy had this year!!

I'm beyond thankful...



for melt your heart smiles

for seeing the big things through little eyes

for complete joy

 for lifelong friendships

for a sense of accomplishment

 for an amazing little fella

for God-fearing women in my life

for sweet potatoes :)

for the feeling of being held

 for the wisdom that comes with age

for sisters

 for the sense of adventure

 for someone who will go with you on that adventure

 for a man who loves deeply

 for so many firsts...like a first Thanksgiving meal

 for little things that make us happy

 for a family journey

for my guy and his silly self! :)

 for times when you just feel like dancing

for laughter

for a new perspective

for a mommy's boy :)

for the feeling of little hands giving you a hug

for a grandfather's influence

for a sense of wonder

or even uncertainty

for the feeling of finding something new

for the way I remember my dad when I see this smile

 for God choosing me to be the mommy of this little guy

for a life with these two

for a grandmother's endless love

for all the things and ways that I have been graciously blessed.

My cup is definitely full! :)