Christmas Cards

I love them! I look forward to the mail every day during the holidays to see what Christmas card I might get! I have a (small) Christmas card tree in my house where I hang my families Christmas cards that we make every year. Our Christmas card photo session didn't go too hot this year. Miller wanted NOTHING to do with taking pictures...but no fear...I have a plan!
I was searching sites this morning and have found TONS of great ideas on Tinyprints. Here are a few of my favorites:

Love the simplicity of this one:



Or, I might need to put this photo:

 

on this snazzy little circle one:

Tinyprints has several lines that I like this year: Vintage, Contemporary, and Classic are my favorites. Check them out for yourself here.  Happy Picking!

Party at the Patch

Best birthday party so far! We had Miller's birthday party at the pumpkin patch this year and it was      fabulous!! Lots of room to run and play! Beautiful weather and great friends made for an awesome day.

2 years (and 1 month) ago....

We were still a family of 3. My second pregnancy was SO much different from my first. With my first, EVERYTHING was a huge deal. Every decision I made seemed to be life or death. From the brand of carseat to the decor of the nursery, my decisons seemed to be crucial. With my second, it was the total opposite. I guess I thought that since I already had one, I had it all figured out. Little did I know....this child was going to rock my world!

I didn't worry about anything with Miller. I didn't even find out that I was having a boy until one week before I had him (on accident)! I guess because I was so busy with Merrit, I just really didn't put much thought in to how much another baby was going to change all of our lives. It didn't hit me until we brought him home. The first month of being a family of four was really hard. I'm not going to lie. There was a lot of crying. A lot of adjusting. A lot of loving. A lot of praying.

This baby stole my heart. I know it's so cliche to say that "I didn't think I'd have room to love another child like my first," but there is honestly no other way to put it. I didn't. But OH, THERE WAS ROOM! This child is shy, meek, doesn't talk much (especially around other people), sweet, loving, kind, happy, gentle. He is my Miller and I love him dearly.

A snippet of our past.

Just to be honest, I don't like the blog posts where people go on and on about how amazing their husbands are. It really gets on my nerves. Especially if I'm feeling a little down, it just stings. So I'm going to try not to do that, but beware: my man really stepped it up on Friday and I'm going to have to brag. Just a little.
We actually went to high school together. I always thought he was really cute, but we never really hung out together. We ran around in different circles, but knew the same people. One night in college when I was a Junior, we saw each other at a party. We talked for a really long time and I knew that I liked him. A lot. He was seeing someone at the time, and so was I, so nothing ever came of it. I didn't see him again for about a year after that night, and the same thing happened. We literally stayed up talking for hours one night and this time, we were both single. He took me to lunch the next day and we've been together ever since.
Although it has not always been rainbows and butterflies, I have always loved him in that "we were meant for each other" kind of way. You know...that love that as soon as you feel it, you know that you'll never be the same. The kind that, you know that no matter what....this person has a piece of you now.
When our first son was born, our love grew leaps and bounds. I finally completely surrendered myself to the Lord and let Him take over my life. My life completely changed. My husbands...not so much. We moved to Columbus and my love for the Lord grew even more. My husband's was not growing (not fast enough for me anyway). My first instinct was to tell him what he needed to do. Haha. The Lord probably thought that was funny. I finally decided that it was out of my hands and all I could do was pray and stay strong in the Lord. He saw me doing my bible study every night and he saw the change in me. He certainly did not surrender to God because of me, but he finally surrendered, and it was A-MA-ZING. Our marriage became so much more than I thought it could ever be. We were no longer living for ourselves, but for Him. We soak up the Word together, and it is unbelievable. We still struggle. We certainly fail...daily. But it's different. We're in this together and it feels so good to have a true partner in this life. He's also not too bad on the eyes.
Friday was our anniversary. I told J that all that I wanted was for him to set up a babysitter and take me somewhere to eat. Nothing fancy. Just a few hours of just me and him time. The night before, he told me that he had not called a babysitter yet. That made me feel really special. Then on Friday, he sent me a dozen roses to work. Why was I not happy? I guess because I didn't want roses. I wanted some time with him alone and he was too busy to set something up. I sent him a quick text saying "thanks" and literally left work and went and bought the man some running shorts and a card. Seriously. That's what I got him. When I got home, he was mopping our floors. The house was SPOTLESS. He said "The babysitter will be here at 7. Get dressed." He cooked dinner for the kids and gave them baths while I got dressed. By myself. Without my children pulling on my legs. He then gave me my gift. A beautiful wooden cross. Okay, so he sent me a dozen roses to work, cleaned the house, fed and bathed the kids, bought me a thoughtful present, set up a babysitter, and took me out...and I bought the man a pair of running shorts! His birthday is next month. Maybe I can make up for my foolishness then. Will I ever learn? Will I ever realize what I have? Lord, I hope so. I felt like a selfish brat. And rightfully so. Oh well...I have many, many more years to get it right!

And...we're off!

After all of the worrying, crying, second guessing, changing my mind, changing it back summer that I've had...Merrit is at home at his new school! Granted he has only been there for 2 days, those 2 days have me feeling very, very good about my decision. On the first day, I walked him to class snapping picture after picture as he walked confidently down the hall like he owned the place.

As soon as we entered the classroom, he saw his buddy Jack that he's been with since he was 2. Right at home. They hugged and Jack (having been there about 15 minutes longer than Merrit) proceded to show him the ropes.

During nap time, I couldn't stand it anymore and had to go get a look at him. He was sleeping hard on his little nap mat after playing hard all morning. I got to rub his back and give him kisses. His teacher told me that he was a leader in the classroom and had done great so far. My heart is overflowing with joy, relief, happiness, and hope. To top it all off, they are on a color system. A green on his planner means a really good day, yellow is not so good, and red is a really bad day. You can also earn a purple. A purple means that you went above and beyond the teacher's expectations.

Look what my baby got on his 2nd day of school:

If you can't tell...that smiley face is a bright purple!! If I am THIS excited about one smiley face on his planner after day 2, I can not even imagine how I'm going to feel after his first grade, his first test, his first report card, oh my goodness...I'm getting ahead of myself here. Bottom line...my baby is okay. He is doing great and is loving his new school. I love it because I know his teacher and know he will be well taken care of. I also LOVE the fact that I can stop in and love on him while he's napping from time to time. Right now, life is good.

This little booger also had his first day last week:

His first day wasn't QUITE as big of a deal as Merrit's was because although he moved rooms, he did not move schools! He has had so much fun being back with his friends. When I pick him up, he tries to tell me about them. He calls his friend Sam, Mim. I love it. He calls his friend Isabella, Beda. I ask him about his teachers and he just smiles.

We're all off to a pretty good start. God is good. He knew my fears and has put them to rest. Bring on the Fall weather!!

time is not in my control

WOW.
Summer FLEW by this year. I don't know if it's because I taught summer school for 3 weeks in June (just 7:30-11:30, but I still had to get up and go), or all of the random trips we have taken, or maybe both. Whatever the reason, it has gone way to fast this year. Next year, I am planning better! Only one family trip during the summer and NO summer school.
Needless to say, Monday is the big day. But an even bigger day will be Thursday, Merrit's 1st day at his new school! Big school! Really BIG school! I know that tears will be shed, but I feel that right now, this is what's best. Tears by me, certainly not by him. He is SO excited! He talks about it everyday. When we pass by the daycare where he has gone since we moved to Columbus, he says "Mama, there's Miller's school! But it's not my school anymore, right? Because I get to go to your school!" Oh my. I knew this time would come, but it has come too fast for me. I need more time. How do I get that?
I prayed last night that I would enjoy the here and now. Lately I've been looking back at baby pictures of both of my boys and hurting. Especially of Merrit. There are pictures all over my house of him when he was a baby, and then one, and then 2 and 3. He was my BABY. My WORLD for so long. Since then, I have found GOD. A relationship with Him that is indescribable. I love my Lord more than anything now. And although I love Merrit with an unconditional, unfailing love that will NEVER go away, he is no longer my world. I know that in order to be a good mother to him, a mother that will raise him in a home where we put God first in everything that we do, I have to put God first in everything that I do. Herein lies the struggle. I want to be in charge. I am one who is always in charge, and it is so hard to take a step back. I want to pull Merrit right out of school, quit my job, and turn back time. I know that I have done everything possible to prepare him for this next step, but it is still not easy. I want him to remain my baby, and he's just not anymore! Like I said, last night I prayed. I prayed hard. I do not want to have regrets when my kids are gone. It is FLYING by. Just like this summer, FLYING. I can't stop it. I am not in control. So I just prayed that I could enjoy the growing. The journey. The much too short journey.
This much I know is true: HE is in control of all things and I am continually learning to accept that. As long as I pray about what's bothering me (hurting me), and truly give it to HIM, it will be taken care of. I am so blessed to serve a God that knows my struggles, my failures, and my shortcomings, and loves me just the same :)

(Almost) Beach Bums



  I took my boys to Orange Beach this year, just like I have every year since Merrit was 6 weeks old, hoping and praying (literally) that they would like it better than in the years passed. I think I'm making progress! Miller thinks that he is an olymic swimmer. I honestly thought the child would be doing one and a half's off the side of the pool by the time we left. Merrit is becoming more and more confident. He jumped off the side and swam around by himself the whole time (in a ring). We didn't do a whole lot while we were there other than hang at the condo and on the beach (which is what I like to do anyway). We went to a few awesome restaurants and shopped in Foley. All in all...a success for my kiddos. I did not, however, take many photos. I only took my camera down to the water one day and didn't get very many good pics. I honestly lugged the entire condo to the beach with my 2 kids and did not have room for the camera. Both of my boys had to wear ear plugs the whole time because 1. Miller has tubes and I was scared something yucky from the ocean would get in them, and 2. Merrit had swimmer's ear! Antibiotics and drops have since cured it, but it hurt that boy pretty bad at the time.
Now, we're looking forward to San Antonio and Sea World!!!! My sister-in-law and her family (which includes 3 kids that my children LOVE) moved all the way to San Antonio, TX at the beginning of the summer. Although it's sad that they're not right around the corner in Brandon anymore, we are SO happy for them. This is truly where God wants them to be and I love hearing the way that they're living out God's plan.