Happy Birthday Coleman!

(Forgive me as I stroll down memory lane...) Nine years ago today ... our lives changed forever ... we became parents! Little did we know the journey God had in store for us. I never knew I would be so tired!! But I do remember just crying when I would rock little Coleman to sleep (because he was my first and I actually had time to do that) and cry just because I was so thankful that God had given us this sweet blessing!

And it's been wonderful ... and it's been hard. Having children revealed to me just how selfish my sinful heart was (and still is). It has been a sanctifying process for me in many ways. And poor Coleman - he was first and we had no idea what we were doing in so many ways! We continually pray that God's grace protects him from our mistakes! ;)

He has grown into such a sweet and compassionate young man. He loves his little brothers and sisters fiercely! He has a heart for God and His Word. We just pray that the Lord continually speaks to his heart and draws Coleman to Himself in a saving way. I pray for God's grace to continue to sustain as we seek to navigate the next 9 years!

3 months old

6 months old (and Daddy still had hair)

His first birthday and that sweet crooked smile he always did at that age!

Welcoming his first baby sister, Emmie!

His 2nd birthday!

December 2003

His 3rd birthday cake - couldn't find a digital pic of him though!

Welcoming baby brother Calvin!

Coleman turns 4.

Coleman pretending he is in the Larry Mobile... such a creative mind!

5th Birthday - with a Thomas cake!

September 2006 - First day of Kindergarten!

April 2007 - turning 6

April 2007 - welcoming baby sister Ellerie, one day after his birthday!

September 2007 - First Grade

April 2008 - 7 years old!

September 2008 - Second Grade

March 2009 - welcoming the newest blessing - sweet Carter!

April 2009 - Coleman turns 8!!

Rocking sweet Carter to sleep - such a good big brother!

Birthday 2010 - finally a bike that fits him!

April 2010! Big Boy turns 9!! Lord, use him for your glory!

Sweet Birthday...

For my birthday last week, sweet Emmie wanted to decorate my cake. So Granny helped her make and decorate my cake.



The proud baker ... has such a sweet heart!

A few of my gifts ... my family took me out to dinner so I didn't have to cook! It was a special day! Thanks everyone!

Happy Easter!

Thankful for the cross!
Thankful for my sweet family!

My Baby is One!!!

I can't believe that Carter is 1!!

He had a basketball cake since he was born during March Madness!

Don't you just love this precious face? This sweet baby of ours has captured all of our hearts!

Why is everyone staring at me and singing?

What do I do with this?

(I tried to stick some icing in his mouth) Whatcha doin Mom?

Let me try to touch it...

Maybe I can touch it with my hand...

Let me try the spoon again...

Ok - it's not hurting me...

Hey - this isn't so bad!!

This is good stuff!!!

Taking a ride after the birthday bath!!

Such a precious boy! Thankful for this blessing and looking forward to the next year with him!

What We've Been Up To...

A little over a month ago, Brian mentioned that we order the P90X workout DVD's to do together. It basically went in one ear and out the other. Then the next Sunday I was home with a sick baby and happened to see a P90X infomercial. Hmmmmm. One of Brian's co-workers had the DVD set and offered to let us use them to see if we liked it before we bought it.

Little did I know what I was doing!! So it's been a busy month - with doing these DVD's AND trying to run and train for the 10K at the end of March. But I will have to say that I am enjoying it! Brian and I used to work out together a lot before we had kids. Now we're not usually doing the workouts at the same time each day but it's neat to know we're doing the same workouts and it pushes me to keep going even when it's hard.

The first month was good. It helped me lose a few baby pounds that I have been trying to lose - hopefully the second month will do a little more. (It sure is much easier, and more fun, to put on the 'baby' weight then to take it off)!

Anyway, I'll try to write more about the workouts and experience as we go along!

Daddy

On January 1 we took a vacation to Georgia. It was a great visit because we were able to get to spend time with both of my brothers' families. We don't get to see them very often so it was great to have a few days together to catch up.

But one of the best things about vacation is getting to have Daddy with us all day every day - for 10 days straight! I think we all get a little spoiled. We came back from GA and Brian was home with us for a couple of days before he had to head back to work. I went in to Ellerie's room to wake her up on that first Monday morning when he went back to work.

She sat up and was pointing in the hallway talking very quietly. Sometimes she talks so quietly so I couldn't understand what she was saying. I thought maybe she was scared of the big humidifier we had put out in the hallway but I soon figured out that wasn't it. Then I finally realized what she was saying. She was asking for "Da-Eee".

I told her that he wasn't home this morning because he had gone to work. She said, 'No he not at work, he's at da house - he's seepin.' I told her that he wasn't home but that he would come see her after work. She looked at me so pitifully - her big eyes filled with tears - and her little lips started to quiver - and she said again 'no -he not at work...'

Love that baby girl!

Thanksgiving...

Calvin at the playground

Sliding

Carter LOVED his first time on the swing

Ellerie had fun too..

Ellerie and cousin Emily talking it up at lunch

Emily and PCat with Carter

Emmie, Caroline and Ellerie

Emmie and Coleman did a piano performance for Ms. Fran

Ms. Fran reading to Ellerie...Ms. Fran is our buddy!

Mimi and Ellerie at lunch

Mac and Carter

I thought I would post some pics of Thanksgiving week before Christmas - wow - just in the nick of time! This poor little blog has been so neglected lately, but maybe after the new year I'll turn over a new leaf...

We spent the week down in Georgia and the weather was amazing! It was good to get away from work for a week and relax! We were able to spend some time with Ms. Fran, a precious older woman who is like family to us. John and his girls were able to visit for a short time but we look forward to seeing them more next week!!

Catching Up

Well, so I didn't finish all the days of Thanksgiving but I did give it a try! It was nice to focus on the many, many things that I have to be thankful for!

The pictures above are of sweet baby Carter! He just look so precious in that little hospital gown - I couldn't resist taking a picture. Plus the nurses gave him that cute little bear - and he loved chewing on it.

Carter was wearing that gown yesterday because he had to have his circumcision. My ob was out-of-town during my early delivery (nerve of him going on a mission trip and missing my delivery) and the on-call ob didn't think she could do the circ because he was little. My pediatrician thought he was perfectly fine for the procedure but encouraged us to do it later with a urologist. She was right. You don't want someone cutting on something like that if they're unsure about it!

So we had to wait until he was bigger since they put him under for the procedure. He was such a trooper and did great. He was a little agitated and disoriented while waking up from the anesthesia but it didn't take long for him to return to being his happy self! So far, he is healing great but the wound care makes me a little queasy! Good thing Dad has been around to help with that!

The funniest part of yesterday was when the surgeon was talking with us beforehand. He actually used the word 'talleywacker'! Should I have said that on my blog? Anyway, that was funny!!

Thankful it's over and the he's doing great!