Memorial Day

First, let me say that I am so thankful to live in the USA...home of the free BECAUSE of the brave! Thank you to all of the men and women who have served or are currently serving this great country.

We spent Memorial Day grilling out and swimming with good friends! This was Luke's first swimming experience, and since Justin wasn't there (he had to work) I didn't have a photographer. I'm sure there will be many more opportunities this summer to get pics of this boy in the pool.

Here's the boy hanging out in the play pen!

Here's the girl...and I really wish I had gotten pics of her later in

the day. She was "swimming" in the shallow end almost the entire

day without her swimmies. By the end of the day she was jumping

off the diving board! Of course, Uncle Brent was there to catch her! :)

This is the boy and me at the end of the day.

I almost left it out, but I decided that since this is most likely the

way I will look the majority of the summer, those of you who may see
me in the flesh needed a preview. Now maybe you won't be scared! :)

Luke: 8 Months

Luke, you are eight months old!

That's two-thirds of a year! Where does the time go?

Here's what you're up to these days...

• You weigh 20lbs. 12oz. (up 13lbs. 6oz. since birth and 1lb. 6oz. since last month), and you are approximately 30 inches long (up 10 inches since birth and 2 inches since last month). I love every. single. ounce. of you!

• You are wearing mostly size 6-9 month clothes...although you can still squeeze into a few 3-6 month things...you also wear some 9-12 month things. You're still wearing size 3 diapers.

• You are such a good baby! You sleep from 7-6/7ish, and you usually take a long nap during the day along with a few catnaps.

• You love to eat...you take three 8oz. bottles a day plus baby food at breakfast, lunch, and supper. You also eat 1-2 tablespoons of cereal each day.

• You love to eat fresh fruits and a few vegetables out of the mesh feeder. If we are eating, you think you should eat too! :)

• We went to the allergy/asthma doctor last week, and they did a blood test. You tested negative for all of the allergies they tested for. This is good news and bad news...good since you aren't allergic to the foods we tested for and bad since we are back at square one.

• You can hold your own bottle! This is something your sister never did...I'm hoping this milestone doesn't deter my goal of having you completely off the bottle by the end of the summer!

• You still have just the two teeth.

• You are a jabber box...but much to my dismay, your favorite thing to jabber is "dadadadada"! Ugh...why, oh, why must that be every kid's first "word"...shouldn't the blood, sweat, and tears poured out by a mama count for something? ;)

• Your eczema has finally cleared up for the most part...thanks to a few prescriptions and CeraVe.

• You love the bathtub, but because of your eczema you don't get to kick and play in there nearly as long as you would like!

• You love to play in the Pack 'n Play!

• You went "swimming" for the first time today. You didn't like it at first, but I think it was the cold water. You warmed up to it later in the day and laughed everytime I would lift you in the air and bring your feet back down into the water. I have a feeling by the end of summer you'll be a little water bug! :)

You love your family, and we love you!

Happy 8 months precious one!

A Little Project (or 10)

When I got off work Friday, Justin and I headed to Lowe's to get a few things for a little yard project. The thing is, when you get a farmer away from the farm (especially during hay season) you had better take advantage of it. So I had a little list about a mile long of things I'd been wanting to get done. With the help of a few good hired hands and his mama (who graciously volunteered:) we landscaped the yard (which sounds so much easier than it really was), built a swing set, and moved the playhouse to the backyard (which my brother-in-law said moved E away from the danger of cars and closer to snakes...thanks for bringing that up after the fact, ha!).

I'm telling you...this really was a J.O.B.!

They had to dig up two Holly tree stumps in our yard.

This girl helped pick up sticks, pick
plant flowers, and make dirt cakes! :)

Check out those glasses on her shirt!

We couldn't have done it without Maz! She came and spent the

day with us to help take care of the kids! :) (*One of these days

I really am going to purchase a NON-PINK umbrella stroller.:)

Justin's not completely finished with the swing set...

he's going to add some braces to the posts (notice the

tools still in the yard) and hang another swing, but

E & Luke are already enjoying this little project! :)

Maybe next year we'll get some grass and a new driveway! =)

Justin! Come quick...

Those were the words I yelled this morning, scaring him half to death. Apparantly he didn't think this was nearly as big a deal as I did...

My sweet boy was SITTING UP in his bed!

I guess it's time to lower the mattress!

School's Out for Summer...

School's Out Forever!

Or you could just skip right on down to the end of the song...

Out 'Til Fall

...which I'll gladly take!

I would LOVE to be a stay-at-home-mom, but that doesn't seem to be what God has in store for me right now. Before I tell you about my big summer plans, let me say that I am grateful to have a job. This is a tough time for teachers (and education in general), and I don't want anybody to think that I'm not thankful for the job I have. Take a minute and say a prayer for all of those teachers who can't find a job, have lost a job, are looking for a job, and also those of us who are blessed with jobs but aren't sure what tomorrow brings.

On to happier things...

Today completes my fifth year teaching...which means that Tuesday (Monday doesn't count since it's a holiday) begins my fifth summer as a teacher. I have NEVER spent a summer at home. Ever. The summer of 2007 I worked in my classroom the entire summer...getting things organized and ready for the upcoming school year plus preparing for my maternity leave. The summer of 2008 we got a new reading series and I moved classrooms...worked all summer AGAIN! The summers of 2009 and 2010 were spent at JSU working on my Master's...plus working in my classroom...plus moving to LES in 2010...plus preparing for another maternity leave! (Whoever said teachers get summers off has very obviously never walked in a teacher's shoes...the correct version of the statement is that teachers don't get paid for their endless summer work...nor do we get paid for any vacations.)

My teaching certificate renewed when I received my Master's in August 2010. That means I only have four more years before I need enough CEUs (or 50 clock hours) to renew again...and I have ZERO. I've been advised to get started this summer or it will sneak up on me. I'm happy to report, though, that I have decided to go against that advice. I am going to spend the summer AT HOME with my babies. Aside from a beach trip we have no big plans...other than to love, hug, and play in the yard! I am SO EXCITED! :)

Crawling {not so much}

Luke will be 8 months old Monday, and he's still not crawling. Some parents would be stressed by this, but not me! Sweet E only stayed at my very favorite baby stage for, oh, maybe a week? My favorite stage is when baby sits up and plays with the toys around him (or her) but can't crawl and get into everything! I'm afraid my favorite stage won't last much longer, though. This little guy wants to crawl so bad he can't stand it. I guess I better get ready! :)

Emma Lou, Sarah Sue {& the boy too!}

Our little bitty town was filled with excitement this weekend. Friday night Ashley and I took the kids to Relay for Life at the football field. I was so busy taking pictures of these little divas that I failed to get any of the sweetest boy around. He was there though, and considering we didn't get home until two hours past his bedtime he was a real trooper! :)

On Saturday we went to the Music and Arts Festival at the park. Mama, Emma, Luke, and I went early and walked in the 1 mile fun run/walk for the Autism Awareness League. We may have come in last (close to it anyway), but if I were a betting woman I'd bet I burned more calories than anybody else there...ever try pushing 60 pounds worth of kid plus a double stroller uphill in gravel? It's about as fun as it sounds! When we finished Emma spotted the play area. She jumped, slid, and spun until she couldn't stand it anymore!

Yep, that's me and the boy in the 'cup'...I'm really not sure

what kids see in this ride. I wanted to throw up by the time

we got off, and I'm truly shocked that Luke didn't do just that!

Tonight we finally celebrated Mother's Day with my mama and grandmother. Justin had to leave after church to go off somewhere (you can see how well I listen) to pick up a load of cows...yes, that's my life! Anyway, my sweet grandmother came over to help me out with the kids so I could get the house picked up and get everything ready for supper. She took Luke for a ride in the stroller. Bless his heart...he fell fast asleep!

(I promise I'm going to get him a stroller that's a little more masculine.

I guess that's the price you pay for having a big sister, ha!)

Last, but most definitely not least...5 days until summer!

I have big plans, but I'll save them for another post! ;)

SUYL Main Dish Recipes

The "Show Us Your Life Friday" topic at Kelly's Korner today is Main Dish Recipes...and since I've been trying to get out of the rut of cooking the same old thing all the time (and trying to be healthier too:) I decided to write down a few of my new favorites. If nothing else, my mama will appreciate this! She's always asking me to write down my new creations! :)

Cabbage Dish (creative name, huh?;)

medium/large head of cabbage (chopped)
1 cup onion (chopped)
1 cup celery (chopped)
1 1/2 lbs. lean ground beef
2 cans tomato sauce
1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese
2 tsp. garlic salt
1/2 tsp. basil
1/2 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. black pepper

Brown ground beef, celery, and onions. Drain and rinse. Spread into a 13x9 dish. Cover beef mixture with raw cabbage. In bowl, mix tomato sauce, garlic salt, basil, oregano, and black pepper. Pour tomato sauce mixture over cabbage. Cover loosely with foil, and bake at 350 for about 45 minutes (or until cabbage is cooked to a texture you like). Uncover and sprinkle cheese on top. Place back in oven until cheese is melted. Cut into 8 equal servings. Each serving is 7PP (Weight Watchers). *Also good served over white rice. 

Vegetable Hot Dish (E's current fave:)

1 lb. lean ground beef
1 cup celery (chopped)
1/2 cup onion (chopped)
2 cups white potatoes, peeled and diced
1 cup carrots (chopped)
1 can tomato soup
1 can cream of celery or mushroom soup (98% fat free)

Brown ground beef, celery, and onions together. Drain and rinse. In bowl or deep skillet, mix ground beef mixture, potatoes, carrots, and both soups. Spread onto the bottom of a 13x9 baking dish. Cover with foil and bake at 350 for 1 hour. Uncover and bake another hour. When serving, salt and pepper to taste. If divided into 4 equal servings each serving is 9PP. If divided into 8 equal servings each serving is 4PP. *I serve with green beans.

White Chicken Chili (Crockpot)

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 can great northern beans
1 can navy beans
1 can white corn
1 envelope taco seasoning (2 if you like it a little spicier)
1 can green chilies (2 if you like it a little spicier)
1 can cream of chicken soup (98% fat free)
1 can chicken broth (99% fat free)

Place frozen (or thawed) chicken in crock pot. Cook on low for 8 hours. (Chicken can be boiled on stovetop, baked, etc. if you don't have time to put it in the crock pot.) Rinse off chicken and shred. Rinse out crockpot and place shredded chicken back in. Pour beans and corn on top of chicken. In medium bowl, combine taco seasoning, chilies, soup, and broth. Pour into crock pot. Stir all ingredients. Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours. Makes 9 cups...each cup is 4PP. *Can be served with sour cream, tortilla chips, and cheese.

Just for the record...

I AM NOT PREGNANT! ;)

Yesterday morning I got anh email from my sweet Mama telling me that as she was reading my previous post she was SURE I was going to announce that we were expecting another baby. I literally laughed out loud as I was reading her email. As I was writing the post I never even thought people would draw that conclusion before getting to the end...and still didn't think a whole lot about it after her email. However, several comments, texts, and phone calls later I realized that I may need to do a follow-up post just to be clear on that fact! :)

Yes, I want more babies.

No, we are not trying to get pregnant.

Yes, if God wants us to have another baby sooner rather than later we will be THRILLED and welcome him or her with mounds of joy! :)

No, we are not trying to get pregnant. (I felt like that should be stated again.)

What inspired me to write the previously mentioned "previous post"?

Monday night when we got home from dance I was in "run-around-like-a-chicken-with-my-head-cut-off-mode". A list about a mile long was running through my head. I felt like I was in quicksand, and I would never get it all accomplished. When Emma offered to feed Luke (see pics in previous post) it really made me think about the past 7 1/2 months...and how incredibly blessed I am...and how much things have changed.

So there you have it!

Sorry if I misled you! :)

If and when I am pregnant again it probably won't be such a lengthy post...and I'll definitely tell my mama in person. ;)

In His Time

Ever since I was a little girl I've dreamed of having lots of babies. Never was there a question of if I'd have children (God-willing), but rather when I'd have children. I had it all figured out...I'd meet Prince Charming, he'd sweep me off my feet, we'd get married, and have three babies, each three years apart. If you know me at all, you know that I love a well-orchestrated plan. Sounds like a pretty good one, huh?

Well, for once God and I were on the same track. Don't misunderstand me, I always want what God wants for me...I want to live according to His will, but His will and what I think I want aren't always the same thing. Does that make any sense? Basically, what I'm trying to say is that since I don't seemingly know what God's will is for me sometimes I want other things...even though what I ultimately want is whatever He wants.

Okay...moving on.

I met a country boy my Prince Charming, had my fairy-tale wedding, and one year later (nearly to the day) found out I was sharing my body with our first child. Three years and twelve days after giving birth to our sweet baby girl, I gave birth to our second child...exactly as planned.

Here's where the story turns. Once we came home from the hospital and got settled into our new normal as a family of four I often wondered if I had taken things into my own hands and out of His will. I honestly cried for the first few days, weeks, I don't even know how long. Emma had gotten used to being the center of my world and her little brother was cutting into that. Don't get me wrong...she LOVED him...but she HATED me. That's how it seemed anyway. I couldn't do anything right. I tried to make special time for 'just her' whenever I wasn't nursing or when he was sleeping...but at those times she didn't want anything to do with me. When I had to be tending to his needs she would sit at my feet and scream hysterically cry. Every day was a meltdown. I would honestly count down the hours until I could put her in her bed and kiss her goodnight. I thought to myself on numerous occasions that I should have either: (a) had my babies closer together so that Emma wouldn't have been so used to being 'it', or (b) waited until she was in school so that I could have had more time with just her and she would have been old enough to better understand what was going on.

Fast forward to present time.

We still have the occasional meltdown, and there are still times when Emma wants my undivided attention...but things are SO MUCH better. I don't question my timing anymore. I realize that God's way isn't always the easy way, but it is always the perfect way. I am so thankful that He has loaned His children to me, and if it's in His will I hope to raise more of them...in His time...whatever that may be.

Things have definitely changed in the past 7 1/2 months.

E is such a big help (when she wants to be), and some days

I honestly don't know what I would do without her help!

Notice her mouth...I may or may not do the same thing when

I feed him...and there may or may not be pictures to prove it

that may or may not have found their way to the trash can. =)

All things new...

  Luke Man sat in the 'floppy seat' for the first time during our weekly trip to the grocery store on Monday. I'm pretty sure he loved it! :)

Real sweet potatoes...as opposed to the baby food form.

With the right elevation he can hold his own bottle...so sweet!

Of course his big sis thinks it's absurd to expect a baby to

feed himself, so she rescued him from the heinous act. :)

Love my babies...