25 Things

Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 Random Things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.

(To do this, go to "notes" under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, type 25 random things, tag 25 people, ( in the right hand corner of the application) then click post).

1. I watch the Bachelor. Every season. And I love it. And I'm not embarrassed. 
2. I kind of like to wash dishes. Weird, I know, but it's therapeutic for me.
3. I played piano and violin. Past tense emphasized.
4. I was homeschooled for all of elementary school and one year of middle school…and I still turned out ok☺ Maybe I’ll try it on my kid.
5. I knitted my first sweater last month.
6. The kitchen is my favorite room of any home...it's the place where people come together.
7. I am the oldest of five children. 
8. Michael and I are high school sweethearts. But we didn't realize it until we were almost through college. 
9. Our first first date was at Waffle House. Our second first date was much better.
10. I sing along with every song I know that plays on the radio in the car. I seriously can’t help it. 
11. I wear socks with my chacos…just for Katie.
12. I love pickled okra. I have actually eaten a whole jar in one sitting.
13. I love making things…dinner, sweaters, paper snowflakes, cookies, babies…haha, just kidding.
14. I didn’t like milk before I got pregnant, but now I drink at least 3 glasses everyday and love it. 
15. I was a bank teller for one year…it’s the only “real job” I’ve ever had.
16. I hope to get my masters in counseling one day.
17. I LOVE being a mom. LOVE it. Every day I wake up and can’t wait to see my baby’s face…even if it’s 4:30 am like it was yesterday.
18. My beverages of choice are chocolate milk, margaritas, and tea (hot or cold).
19. Michael and I have the exact opposite personalities, but for some reason it works wonderfully. 
20. I used to keep a journal every day…I wish I still did because I think those were the years I felt most connected to the Lord. I seem to have a hard time sitting still enough to listen to Him anymore.
21. I have the smartest and most patient husband in the world…God knew just what I needed. 
22. I got grounded from reading once…that’s how much I love reading.
23. I used to hate running until I ran a 10k, now I miss running.
24. I love my family and friends so much it hurts.
25. I have so many things to be grateful for that I should write another list.

I'm not going to tag anyone because pretty much everybody's already done this anyway.

Growing Every Day

I have to say that title in my mom's voice...it's one of those quotes that is just so her. So Mom, that's for you, Caleb's "growing every day!" I feel like so much has happened in the past month that updating this blog feels very daunting. Where to start??

Well, Christmas was fun, but it feels like ages ago. Also, we forgot our camera, so I think I'll just skip it for now. If you're friends with my mom on facebook, you can see some sweet pictures of all the Christmas festivities with that side of the family. Dear families, we love y'all and miss you so much. Thanks for a WONDERFUL Christmas holiday.

Caleb is now standing up in his crib which is so fun except that he doesn't know how to sit down, so he just stands there for like 20 minutes and then starts screaming his head off. When I go in there to lay him back down, his eyes close before his head hits the pillow. It's pretty cute.

He also can go from a crawling position to a sitting position. For some reason this step was a big deal to me. Don't ask why, I don't know.

I guess instead of writing a paragraph on each new change and quality, let me just give you a list of Calebisms:

-he is crazy about animals...his arms and legs start kicking as soon as he sees one

-he is an avid reader...it runs in the family

-he casually tosses his dinner onto the floor when it's not interesting to him anymore

-his favorite book is Lullaby Little One...he will sit and listen to it 3 times in a row!

-he knows how to crawl on his hands and knees, but still prefers the army crawl 

-he hates hats, coats, and carseats...basically anything that he feels restricts his freedom

-he has the cutest squinty eye smile 

-he loves shaking things that make noise...his latest favorite is an empty milk jug with dried beans in it (seriously, this boy has RHYTHM)

-we think he says dada, bye-bye, night-night, and hi...of course this could all be in our imaginations

So now that you know the facts, here are some sweet pictures of my boy. 

Reading some books

 Getting ready for his first sledding experience with Daddy...we had 8 inches of snow this week!

Nothing better than cuddling with mommy, reading books on a snowy day.

Trying out his new sweater and rocking in his rocking chair.

As far as me and Michael go, Michael is training for a marathon in April, I just finished my first knitting project (the blue and green sweater in the pictures above), and thanks to our friends Kat and Penny, we're addicted to watching The West Wing. 

Love to you all!

Lovely Lily

The first Sunday that Michael and I visited South City Church, I met my friend Jamie. We had an instant bond as soon as we discovered that we were expecting our first babies within a month of each other. I have been so thankful for Jamie's friendship, and I love the times we get to hang out with our sweet babies. Caleb and Lily are really starting to interact with each other more, and it's fun to see their little personalities come out when they're together. Caleb is SUCH boy...into everything and all up in Lily's face. Lily is so sweet and pleasant...the perfect little girl. Here they are together:

Happy Baby

Thankful

for a happy, healthy baby whose face lights up when he sees me

for a loving, faithful husband who is kinder to me than I deserve

for a wonderful community of friends and neighbors

for family whom we miss so much today

for a Savior who loves me

for beautiful fall days

for being able to run 

for delicious food that brings people together for fellowship

for sappy movies that make you feel all warm and fuzzy

for a whole 4 days to spend with my boys

for simple joys and pleasures that give you a taste of heaven

for sorrows and pain that make you long for heaven

for a church where the gospel is not only preached every week, but lived out in its community every day

for reminders that the world is bigger than what I see every day

for laughter, especially Caleb's

for forgiveness and restoration

for the hope of Jesus

for a special day to remember how much there is to be thankful for

Ahhh, the life...

Watching Praise Baby sort of puts him in a trace. Every once in a while though, I'll hear him squeal, and when I look over he's got a huge grin on his face as he watches a baby come up on the t.v. screen. Too cute...

He actually started out sitting up here, but slowly slid down and wedged himself in between the pillows.

The Army Crawl