The P's Have It!

8/29/10

Progress is definitely being made around here, and it feels awesome! Last week, I finally took the plunge and purchased the paint for one of our bedrooms. Actually, it's the bedroom that will be Jake's little brother's in less than five months. The color is Latte, and it looks exactly like it sounds. It's the most perfect shade of creamy brown, and I'm in love!

This past week, we also celebrated a birthday. Jake's is in February, and mine is in November, so that only leaves one person...Jim. He turned the big 4-0! He was with me when I bought his gifts several weeks ago (Honestly, I've quit even trying to surprise him. Any story of me trying to surprise him usually ends with me at the merchandise counter making a return. Or like this past Thursday with me covering Jake's mouth to keep him from telling Jim that we had put lots of black balloons and a homemade card in his vehicle to surprise him that morning when he left for work. See what I mean?). And instead of any sort of party, we opted for a lunch date, specially decorated cupcakes from Publix, and Jake singing "Happy Birthday" and blowing out the candles over and over - because any time any one has a birthday, it's his designated responsibility to steal any opportunity for a birthday wish. Sigh.

And while I'm on the subject of Jake, I have to say I have never needed more restrain and patience in my life as I did on Friday. That night I was taking a bath. I realized that before I got in I forgot to take off my wedding band, so I laid it on the side of the tub. It was all me - relaxing, bubbles floating around me, candles burning, so quiet and peaceful - yeah, I knew you wouldn't believe that. I didn't believe me either, but it was nice to see that all typed out. Anyway...it was our usual scenario - Jake throwing things into the tub, me dodging them, and telling him over and over, "No, Baby, you can't get in here. I'm shaving my legs, and there is hair everywhere! I really don't want you to get in it. You really need to take a bath in your bathtub tonight." He had some of his matchbox cars (which is also usual), and he was busy rolling them back and forth as I removed the massive amounts of hair from underneath my arms (definitely so true what they say about hair growth and pregnancy). I was only paying attention to his sounds and him talking about his cars. It was not until he told me, "Mommy, I put your thing in there!" that he got my undivided attention. My eyes got wide, my mouth flew open, and I immediately looked to find my wedding band was not sitting on the edge of the tub where I had laid it ten minutes before. I remember hearing some clanging, and I knew then exactly what he had done. Two nights before he had managed to slip one of his cars in between the marble piece that covers up the "insides" of the tub and the tub itself. The gap underneath the lip of the tub and the marble front was just wide enough for him to fit his three-year old sized hand underneath there and drop his car...and now my wedding band. Right now may also be the perfect time for me to tell you, that the only way to get to the insides of the tub is to remove this front piece (glue and all that holds it in place) and do it (hopefully) without breaking it into four pieces (or more). I screamed for Jim as if I had just seen a twelve-foot snake, and he came running. I finished my shaving chore, and gave him full access to rescue my jewelry (and Jake's matchbox car...he might as well, right, since he's in there). It took nearly an hour and a half and lessons learned for Jake and I both, but all's well that ends well. It's definitely safe to say I won't lay my jewelry any place where he can get his hands on it - not that he ever wants to see my jewelry again after his punishment.

My parents also came to visit this weekend to celebrate Jim's birthday. They brought Jim's BBQ (my Jim's favorite), my niece, Emily, and carrot cake. Needless to say, they were welcomed with open arms. They spent the day with us on Saturday, and it was wonderful (especially the carrot cake).

And in case you've been wondering what these photos are of sidewalk chalk drawings, it's the name we've picked for the new baby set to arrive in January...

Parker!

It's a family name for Jim, and most of all, one we love equally!

And since I do believe I'm all out of P's for this post...

Goodnight!

Bursting

8/23/10

This...

Big Brother...

to...

be...

is bursting...

with...

excitement...

and he has yet to grasp the concept that his baby brother will not be making his appearance today or even tomorrow.

So to try and put it in his perspective, we've satisfied him with the fact that his new sibling will be here after Santa Claus comes.

It also helps him lose track of his original train of thought because once he hears that Santa Claus is going to come, that's all he can think about from that point on.

Whatever works right?

Hmmm...at this point, I think we're all looking forward to Santa Claus this year and especially this baby on the way.

Thousand Words Thursday

8/19/10

The fact that today is Thursday alone is worth a thousand words.

But since this post is all about posting a photo that's worth a thousand unspoken words, that's what I'm going to do.

And I guess I should go ahead and warn you that I'm about to break the rules and post more than just one, but I just can't help myself.

I'm in love with them all!

Beginnings...

life...

love...

brothers...

definitely worth a thousand words!

So...

8/17/10

What's a guy to do when it has done nothing but rain all afternoon?


Why! Put on his new pair...

of bright blue...

Shark crocs...

and take them...

for a...

swim!

And what would be the point of taking his sharks for a swim without him going for one himself?

Oh maybe the fact that his Mommy found dirt, rocks, and grass clippings in his underwear.

That should do a number on our washing machine, huh?

Hmmm...maybe I should be busy washing those out before I start the next load!

Boys vs. Girls

8/16/10

This is a game Jake has recently learned to play.

He has definitely come full circle to the fact that he is a boy, not a girl.

He loves to point out that I am a girl, and because I'm a girl, I'm not "allowed" to do certain things (and neither do other girls).

Things like eating (don't ask me about this one because I have absolutely no explanation), playing with dinosaurs, participating in any sort of sports activity, going to Wal-mart (especially in situations where he thinks it's going to be "boys only" outing - meaning he and his Daddy), and playing with cars are all things that girls can't do.

So it really came as no surprise when asked if his new sibling was going to be a girl or a boy, his response was, "I not like girls. He's a boy."

He was insistent about this the entire time, and just as we found out this past Friday...


Jake...


was...


right!


Because, it's a BOY!

And I know he will probably yell, run into his room, and slam his door shut one day when he realizes I posted the one above, but he'll just have to find it in his heart to forgive me because I just can't help myself.

And I'll tell him just like I tell Jake on a daily basis when he tells me, "Mommy! I can't be your baby! I have to play football! Babies don't play football!".

Sweetie, you will always be my baby! You'll just have to trust Mommy when I tell you that one day you will understand.

I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify Your name forever. Psalm 86:12

Saturday Something

8/14/10

The Sunrise...

off the shores...

of St. Andrews, Scotland...

looks...

like...

this.


A mental image I know Jim will never forget, and I can't say I blame him.

I can't stop looking at this photograph, and I wasn't even there!

Just thought I would share something on a Saturday that I think is breathtakinly beautiful!

Hi Ho...Hi Ho...

8/11/10

It's off...

to...

school...

I go!

And on the way there Jake and I talked about new classmates, new toys, what he might learn from Ms. Faye, how much he was going to be missed by his old classmates and teachers, and how hungry I thought he might be because he wouldn't eat breakfast before we left.

We hung his backpack on his very own hanger...

and made sure all his belongings were in his cubby.

We spent lots of time with Ms. Faye...her showing me the curriculum Jake and his classmates will follow all year long and learning all about the Animal Alphabet they'll have memorized in no time.

Jake found his name posted all over his new classroom and introduced me to the armful of alligators he found and claimed were his within minutes.

Needless to say, after all those alligators had his attention, all I got was a "Goodbye Mom!"

Goodbye, Baby. Nevermind me...even if I start crying because I realize another year is gone and it seems like it was just yesterday you started K-2. Sniff...sniff...

Movin' On Up

8/10/10

Tomorrow...

this little explorer will be moving up to K-3 at his preschool.

He'll be in Ms. Faye's room.

And from what I've heard, this is where the "good" toys are.

It's also where Cooper and Allie Grace will be...two of his favorite playmates.

He's being "separated" from Brayden and Allison...the other two peas in his pod...but I'm sure he'll adjust quickly...considering he'll have all of those "good" toys to play with.

For the past two days we've been reminiscing about our trip to Desoto State Park (which is where I took these photos) to go camping and doing breathing treatments.

He somehow managed to come down with a Summer cold.

And how wonderful of him to give it to me.

And how wonderful it has been to have his grandma here for the past two days (this sentence is obviously not sarcastic like the previous one).

But tomorrow, it's back to the norm. His grandma will be gone, and he'll be movin' up!

K-3 and not blowing our noses every few minutes...here we come!

Thousand Words Thursday

8/5/10

Baby love...

Need I say more?

Prayer Request

8/4/10

There's a blog I've been reading for quite a while now.

It's called A Southern Boy and a City Girl.

I don't know Becca, the author, personally. I only know her through reading her blog and her super great sister-in-law, Misty, who I have the priviledge of working with every week day.

What I know about Becca is this. She has a husband named Zach, and one of the most scrumptious eight month old little girls for a daughter that I've ever seen named Zoe. Becca has a heart for people and, most of all, a heart for Christ. And today, she also has a burden.

She recently found out that she is pregnant with her second baby, another girl to wrap around Zach's other available fingers. When she went in for a 12-week ultrasound, the ultrasound tech (and ultimately, her doctor) noticed there was some "extra" fluid around her tiny baby's tummy. She visited a specialist almost immediately, and this, among other complications, were definitely confirmed.

My heart is so heavy for this mommy-to-be and for this tiny little one they are calling their "Grace Baby".

I believe it's in time like these that Heaven meets Earth, and Jesus meets us exactly where we are, face to face. I also believe that with Him, anything is possible...healing is possible. And that's what I'm praying for.