"If we had no winter...

"If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant."  

I heard this quote once, and this month it has resonated with me over and over.  Personally, it has many meanings to me.  The literal meaning that the weather is changing (thank goodness!) and that spring is here! However, it has another meaning that brings me such comfort...true appreciation.  It means that we can't truly appreciate warm breezes, suuny days and the smell of beautiful Easter lilies if we had not experienced cold wind, snowy nights and sleepy dormant trees.  The change of seasons brings renewal.   Hope that the winter filled with confusion, tears and uncertainty will fade away with clarity, laughter, and belief in a better journey.  I truly believe that our experience will be turned into something greater...greater than I could have ever imagined. And when that day comes, my appreciation will be far superior than ever before. "And we know that God cause everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

"Belly" Beans and Basketball

Here is a video I just had to share!

Layton calls jelly beans - "belly beans"...it is so cute!   Then as I was filming, his thought process was diverted and he said, "shoot!" because his Daddy was watching UK play in the NIT (sadly!)...but we still had to support!  Go Cats!  

And hopefully, it will lighten the mood from my last post!  :)  

(don't forget to pause the music at the bottom of the page)

Praying for Patience

As I sit here tonight, I have a prayer running through my head, "Lord, grant me patience. Let me see that your timing is perfect.  Allow me to remember that your plan is not my own...Lord, grant me patience to wait upon you." 

Every season of life is different.  There are some that are easier than others. 

Three years ago was a difficult season of life for my family.  I suffered a miscarriage that summer, then in the fall, we lost my dear grandfather to pancreatic cancer, and Blake's great grandmother went to be with the Lord...in the same week.  Then only two months later, we were sadden again with the death of Blake's sweet grandfather to a sudden stroke.  It was a whirlwind that is a blur.  However, in the midst of sadness, that winter we found out we were expecting Little Man.  It was joy among the tears.   A renewal of life after we had experienced so much death.  

Little Man was born the following August, healthy and beautiful. I knew the moment I held him in my arms that I wanted to have that feeling over and over. I loved being a mother and I longed to have more babies to add to our family....relatively soon.  

Blake and I rang in the new year with cheers, a kiss, and an plan to make Little Man a big brother. Just the thought of being pregnant again, which I love, was exciting!  On Valentines Day, we were surprised to find out that I was pregnant already!  We were cautiously optimistic, but I truly felt that the Lord was giving me peace about the pregnancy.  I did not worry and thought that everything was falling into place perfectly.  I found out that my due date was my Dad's 54th birthday!  What a birthday gift!  We couldn't wait to tell our family, however, we wanted to visit the doctor first and see if everything looked OK.  Due to my previous miscarriage, they monitored my HCG levels to see if they were doubling properly.  To my dismay, they increased, but didn't quite double.  I prayed that God would give me the strength to handle the next few days, for I feared what was to come.  It was a game of "hurry up and wait!"  But the Lord had different plans for us...I miscarried four days later.  

Today, I am reflective and a little sad, but I am truly leaning on His word and His strength. During my bible study last week, the discussion was on patience.  Hmmm....consequence...I don't think so?  I walked away knowing that I was meant to be there in the presence of those Godly women and hear those encouraging words.  "Those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength" Isaiah 40:31.  Tonight at MOPS (mothers of preschoolers) I also listened to a mother who had to rely on God to heal her daughter, which tested her faith and hope.  Now, two years later, she knows that each trial has made her a stronger witness to the Lord's miraculous hand.  I realize that I am being constantly surrounded by His word and He is tapping me on the shoulder saying, "I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper and to give you hope and a future."  Jeremiah 29:11. I JUST HAVE TO BE PATIENT!  

My timing is not always his timing...my plans are not necessarily His plans.

I would not have chosen this path...but it is the path that He has chosen for me.  

Please, Lord grant me patience while I wait upon you.  

So I don't forget...all about 18 months

Oh, my sweet baby boy...

You are 19 months old!  Hard to believe that you are officially on the downhill side of 1!   Let me share what wonderful things you have been doing, learning and the funny things that make mommy and daddy laugh everyday!  

This month...

*When we ask you what your name is....you say, "ME!"  *this is Mommy's favorite*  Also, when we show you a picture of yourself, and ask "who is that?" you say, "Lay Lay" (our nickname for you since you were little, I guess we say it more than we thought!)

*You love to wave at everyone we pass by, even when we are driving in the car.  "Hi!  Hi!" It's really cute!  Everyone says, "Well, he's a friendly little fellow!"  

*You love to get my camera and pretend to take pictures....you say, "cheese!"  Hmmm...I wonder where you learned this from?  

*You are officially running.  Not trotting or walking fast.....running!  I find myself chasing you quite often.  How do those little legs go so fast?  I'll never know. 

*You have the sweetest laugh that echos throughout the house.  Oh, how we love to hear you giggle! 

*You put your first two words together this month..."Get it!"  Don't know if that is good or bad?  And to top that off, you've learned to clasp your hands together when saying, "Please!" Too cute to resist.....literally. 

*Your new words:  purse, giraffe, swing, golf club (ga-club), sit, apple, tractor, book, bird, belly, teeth, yes, help, move, color, chair, button, butterfly ("ba-fly"), cheese, shut, knock, open, walk, hold, carry, spoon.

*Your favorite food is spaghetti.  It is so messy, but I think that is why you love it!  And you will not let me feed you anymore.  You are Mr. Independent, and a fork or spoon is mandatory now.  

*You saw your first big production, Playhouse Disney Live!  You kept starring and pointing, saying, "Pooh!", "Mick!", "Minnie"...I think that you couldn't believe your eyes...your favorite characters so close and in person!  :)

*You were able to spend some quality time with your Great Grandmother this month.  She loves you so much, and you love her too!  She likes to read books to you and watch you play!  

*When you wake up at 6:30 a.m, you stand in your crib and say, "Morn-ing!" with the sweetest smile as we come in your nursery to get you!  It starts our day with so much joy!  Thank you, Thank you!  

*You and Daddy had your first overnight stay together!  It was a "boys night" while mommy went to the lake house with some girlfriends from church.  Daddy was so proud that everything went smoothly.  He really enjoyed taking care of you all by himself!  :)  

*Your first haircut was this month.  It was bittersweet when the the curls were trimmed, but ironically, they have already come back!  :) Mommy is happy! 

*Last but not least, you are obsessed with horses and cows.  I think you might be a farmer or a cowboy one day?!  Which is fine, you can be whoever you want to be!  However, your obsession has even become physical.  You don't want to let go of them and you even take them to bed!  

Your are our sunshine, Little Man.

Our cup runneth over, 

Mommy and Daddy

A New Pet and a Visit

Yes, that's right...we have a new pet!!  A cute little white dog that follows Little Man everywhere around the house.  And stays on his leash...

He loves his new puppy dog!  Can't you tell? 

Ok, Ok.....so its not a real puppy, but in my opinion, it's the best kind of puppy....a plastic one that doesn't shed!  Especially when Mommy has allergies!  Its perfect! He never has accidents and eats, well....nothing!  Little Man loves dogs, so one day we may think about it getting a real one -- someday.  We'll see.  But until then...he can keep lead this one around.   

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Yesterday, my mom and dad came to visit.  It was so nice to see them since it had been a few weeks!  Little Man really missed Pop!  He almost goes into fits when he sees them. It is so sweet! 

I remember that overwhelming EXCITED feeling when I would visit my grandparents...now, I love reliving it through him.  

Dad, Blake and Little Man watched basketball and shot some hoops! 

 It's March Madness, and every man in my life is obsessed with basketball!  (p.s. GO Tops! NCAA Tourney here we come!)  Mom and I were changing it back and forth to Jon & Kate plus 8.  However, any chance Dad got, he turned the channel back to the ball games!

Did I mention that he loves these two!!??

Last but not least, I snapped this picture (below) without my mom and dad knowing it.  My parents have been married for nearly 33 years...and look!  Still in love and loving each other through it all.  What a beautiful example!  Blake and I are so blessed, since both of our parents are still happily married.  (Wierd fact:  Both of our parents were married in 1976 and then both were expecting their first babies (us!) in 1979....and then had our little brothers 5 years later!  Ummmm.....ironic?) Anyway, back to the point. 

My parents are still IN love each other and for that I am SO THANKFUL!  

This. picture. is. priceless. and. unforgettable.  

If only...

we could see the world...

Wouldn't it be a very different place?

1st "Official" Haircut

Oh, the curls...they have been around so long, what will we do without them?  

The only problem was Layton's curls grew in the back and not on top, therefore, I was getting more and more comments about how cute "SHE" was!   I knew this was my clue! So instead of ignoring the inevitable, Little Man had his first official haircut last week. Besides me trimming around his ears and cutting what was beginning of a "rat tail"...he has not had a haircut!  After his dark brown "baby" hair fell out at 4 or 5 months and grew back blonde (serious shocker! no, really, it still baffles me!) his big boy hair really only started growing when he was a year old.  For a while, he was my little baldy!  But now that he is 18 months old, he needed to make his first trip to the salon. 

Here he is hanging out in the chair before seeing the scissors!

With one last look *sigh* before Ms. Jamie started cutting...

A little unsure and scared - but some sugar did the trick!  

The Dum Dum sucker was magic!  He never moved after that!

Trim, Trim!

"What Momma? This is NO BIG DEAL!"

I think that he was infatuated w/ Ms. Jamie afterwards....check out that look!

Layton and Ms. Jamie (I told her that had officially made the baby book!)

He officially looks like a little boy, but that's OK.  I knew he had to get a haircut!  It was time!!  :-)  Blake said afterwards, "I didn't know if he needed a haircut or not, but now that I see the finally result...it looks good!"  I think so too!  Thanks Jamie!!!

His favorite things...

the Hilltoppers and Oreo cookies!

Blake and Little Man love to go to WKU games.  It's their "boy" bonding time.  Blake says that he sits, watches the game, looks out for Big Red and says,"Go! Go! Go!, Shoot!, Get It!, and Ball!" for the entire game.  I have a feeling that he will always love basketball...just like his daddy!  And guess what his unhealthy healthy snack is at the game?  Yep!  You guessed it......oreos!  

Little Man is sportin' a Big Red shirt with a mouth full of cookies!  

(*notice the missing sock - ? - I have no idea why he didn't have two socks on? ha!*)

"Mom, they are "finger lickin'" GOOD!"

 

"There has to be more cookies, right?!?!?!?"

"Please....more Oreos.....PLEASE!!!!!!!"

No more Oreos?  No!!!!!