We covet your prayers

I'll be able to give more details later, but for now I'll just say that this is a very important weekend for our family.  Please say a prayer for us. :)

Wordless Wednesday - Family Candids by Christa V

Pretty In Pink

Landry decided she wanted toenails like mommy tonight

Bye Bye Binkie, Part 2

Just wanted this night to go on record.  Landry went to sleep without her binkie!!  We asked her if she was going to throw it away, and she said "yeah."  So we told her to say bye bye to her binky, and we let her sleep with every single one of her stuffed animals. 

 I heard a couple of whimpers come from her room, but that was it!  Hope it goes this well tomorrow.  Beats the last time we tried to get rid of it.   You can read about that experience here. 

Pruit Loops

I thought it would be fun to combine Landry's snack time and table time one day this week.  I was reading an article about the development of children Landry's age, and it said they were really working on perfecting fine and gross motor skills.  I would say that's pretty accurate, because lately Landry has really enjoyed pouring things into cups, using a variety of writing utensils, working on tedious tasks over and over again, running, jumping, etc.  Sometimes this really drives me crazy, because she wants to do everything on her own.  But if it's within reason, I just step back and let her do it, praying she doesn't hurt herself or someone else.
  
So for our activity/snack, I broke out the yarn and the "pruit loops,"  as Landry calls them.  We made a fruit loop necklace.  At first she was not too sure about this, because all she saw was me taking her fruit loops away.  But once I showed her that she would be able to eat the fruit loops off the necklace, she thought it was pretty cool.  Admittedly, I had to do most of the work.  It was still a little difficult for a child her age.  But, in the end, Landry had a nice snack she could wear.  

Say Cheese!

I caught Eli's first real smile on camera today. I was just trying to get a quick shot of him in the outfit my aunt gave him, when he decided to cheese it up.

I'm so glad he did!

Wordless Wednesday

Say Yes To The Dress

Landry is in full-blown "2-year-old mode" lately, which makes sense because she is 2. Add her first-born, type "A" personality to that, and the fact that she has a new little brother in the house, and you've got a little a little lady who is as independent as they come and resists EVERYTHING. There are some days I want to pull my hair out, but I just continue to pray that God will guide us in raising her. I know he can use that wonderfully strong personality in amazing ways to further His kingdom.

So while my mom was here last month, she worked very hard to make Landry a princess dress. As you have seen in many previous posts, Landry loves to dress-up, and she has really been into princesses lately. So a princess dress seemed like the perfect gift. Then enters resistance. We ask her if she wants to try it on. She says "no." We say "please." She says "no." We act sad. She says, "Oh poor GiGi, poor Mommy," gives us kisses and says, "no." And the next few days continue on the same way. You see, she wants only to do something if it is her idea. So we left the princess dress in her room with her other dress-up clothes in case someday she would decide to wear it herself..

Well, what do you know? She ran into the living room yesterday with a pink dress in her hand screaming "Princess Dress! Princess Dress!" I gladly helped her put it on, and then I grabbed the camera quickly. Didn't want to miss the grand reveal. Mom, here's your picture......

You've Stolen My Heart

When I announced I was having a boy, many mommies made a similar statement, "Watch out. Those boys will steal your heart." Of course, at the time, I didn't know what they were talking about, but now there is no doubt. This little man has stolen mine.The bond that exists between a mother and son is different than the bond that exists between a mother and daughter. They are equally wonderful, but different. I'm so thankful I get to experience both!!!

I'm Not Laughing....Much

Ok, come on mommas. You know that we have all been guilty of secretly laughing at our husbands when they get to experience some of the "lovely" things we experience with our children on day to day basis. Things such as having both children screaming at the same time or cleaning up the entire container of rice that was poured onto the kitchen floor. Or how about changing your little one's diaper only to discover a nice "surprise" in that diaper two seconds later. Well, Eli really gave Cory a run for his money a couple days ago, and I wanted to share. Now first of all, I want to say that I am really thankful for a husband who will change diapers, and I was really glad when Cory volunteered to change Eli's stinky diaper the other day. Imagine, if you will. The diaper changing process starts normally, but then things really go awry. As Cory begins cleaning Eli's bottom, Eli starts to pee. He then tries to catch the stream of pee with a wipe as Eli begins to poop again. So he switches and tries to catch that, but what do you know, he begins to pee again. It was literally coming out of both ends of this child. Now don't think I am a completely terrible wife. I was right there with him, helping to play catch. Oh, but I was giggling on the inside. Thank You Eli, for providing me with entertainment for the day. :)

Eli says "Whew, that was an exhausting experience!"

And Cory is still managing to smile after being traumatized

"I am completely innocent. I promise!"

Highly Recommended

When I was pregnant for Landry, I had big plans to scrapbook her entire life. I even pre-made some of the pages so I could just insert pictures once she arrived. Well, those pages are still sitting "pictureless" in the closet, and do you think I've had time to make anymore? I don't think so. So I thought I'd make photo books instead. I could make one for each year of my kids' lives. But when I attempted to make my first one, uploading and sorting through literally thousands of pictures became incredibly overwhelming. Not to mention choosing backgrounds and layouts. I threw in the towel! Well, one day I was reading a friend of a friend's blog, and she mentioned ordering a blog book. This sparked my interest, because my blog is the one place where I've already uploaded and sorted through pictures, and there are even stories to go with them. So I checked out the website, blog2print, and I am so glad I did! I chose the dates of the posts I wanted in my book (all of 2009), and it took around five minutes for the site to grab the posts from my blog and lay them out in a complete, 100-page, book. It cost me about $50 to make the book and have it shipped. It is well worth it, in my opinion. All of our favorite pictures and stories for the year are in one location, and we plan on having one made each year. It's a family year book of sorts.

Landry LOVED browsing through the book. She looked at it over and over again. I finally had to hide it so it wouldn't get messed up. I know she will really enjoy reading all the stories when she gets older. :)

So I highly recommend ordering a book from blog2print. It's simple, but priceless! (No they are not paying me to advertise.)

Happy Birthday Nana!

Happy Birthday Nana!

Today is my sweet mother-in-law's birthday. We love her for many reasons, but most importantly because she adores our children and is a wonderful Nana to them.

Nana, I tried to get Landry to sing Happy Birthday to you, but she was a little distracted by watching herself on the big screen. This is the best we got.

We hope you have the best birthday ever, and we are very excited about your visit this weekend!

A Special Visitor

We are so thankful for all the men and women who serve our country through one of the military's branches of service. Since we live in a city near an army base, we have had the opportunity to minister with many army members. It has been an honor and a joy to meet each one of these individuals, especially some of the college-aged guys we've met through the college ministry at our church. Among these guys is a special young man, Ben. We only knew Ben for a short time before he was given orders to go to North Carolina, but during that time we grew quite attached to him. He is, quite possibly, the NICEST, most polite person I have ever met!

Well, Ben had a little time off and headed to California, where his family lives.  He and his dad then traveled by car all the way back to North Carolina this past week, but not without making a stop here to visit his "Georgia Family." We had a great time catching up and goofing off. We are so happy he thought of us and made it a priority to visit us!
Ben, you have blessed our family in so many ways!! You are such an amazing person, and we are so thankful God has allowed you to become a part of our lives!

Songbird

A little bird has been serenading us for the last month!

This is just a small sampling from the plethora of songs she's been singing lately. I don't think she plans on stopping anytime soon.

Sure she makes up half of the words as she goes, but it is a beautiful sound to us. :) In this video, she is being SUPER silly!

Psalm 139

"For You created my inmost being...

...You knit me together in my mother's womb...

...I praise You because I am fearfully....

...and wonderfully made...

...Your works are wonderful...

...I know that full well."

Psalm 139:13-14

All Things Easter

Here is a video compilation of our entire Easter Holiday. I made a video last year (on this blog) and decided this year I wanted to keep the tradition.

Landry was able to enjoy this Easter even more than last year. She very actively participated in the Easter egg hunt. Although she was more interested in opening each egg and getting the candy out rather than picking up tons of eggs. Also, surprisingly, she was ok with the Easter Bunny, except when the Easter Bunny was holding her baby brother. She was a little worried about us handing over "her" baby to that huge animal. Dying eggs was a BIG hit. She wanted to do it all by herself. Only one egg survived getting cracked by the time she was finished with them. Also, my parents were able to spend the holiday with us this year. It was a very special time. And most importantly, we celebrated the resurrection of our Lord by worshiping corporately at church Sunday morning. It is, after all, the most important day of the year!!!!

(Excuse the mess on the couch!)

Eli fit inside his present

All these pictures were included in the video, but I wanted to post a few so they will be in my blog book when I have it printed.

A Month Of Blessings

It's so hard to believe that our baby turned a moth old yesterday, and what a wonderful month it has been! Sure, laundry is piled to the ceiling, and the house is sheer chaos most of the time. But, I wouldn't have it any other way. Eli has brought so much joy to our family already, and I can't wait to share many many, many, more moments with him!

Quote of the Day

Just a cute little funny for your Sunday morning......

Everyone has their choice of terms when it comes to flatulence. Some people fart. Some toot. Some fluff. As for our family, we POP. That is what we have taught Landry to call it, and she's very quick to call you out if she catches you doing it.

Yesterday, as we were sitting outside, a woodpecker flew into our neighbor's backyard. It pecked on a pole and made a very loud sound. Landry's eyes got really big. She looked around for a minute and then said, "Daddy Popped?" Ha Ha! That pretty much made my day. :)

Gone Fishin'....Well, Sort of

GiGi has been here since Eli's birth, and this week PawPaw finally got to come for a visit. Of course he couldn't come empty-handed. He brought something he's been dying to give Landry, her first fishing pole. With it was a kid-sized tackle box filled with the essentials for fishing, Sweedish Fish and Gummy Worms.

Friday seemed like the perfect day to go fishing, so GiGi and PawPaw headed to the park. Too bad Landry was a little preoccupied with the playground equipment. PawPaw did help her cast her line out a couple times. She reeled in the plastic fish that was tied to the end of it. I guess they'll have to try again this summer. She did have a ball, however, playing and feeding the ducks.

2:00 a.m blogging

If you've wondered lately how I have had time to blog with a new baby in the house, I actually have to give all the credit to Eli himself. You see, he decides he's hungry at about 2 or 3 in the morning, and I feel completely "out of it" during that time. The only way I can stay awake is to play on the computer.

So, if you have read something recently that is not grammatically sound or doesn't make a lick of sense, just know that it is 2:00 a.m. talking :)

Pics of my Little Chicks

Wednesday, my mom finished making the kiddo's Easter outfits. So I wanted to do their first ever photo shoot together. Whew, was that a challenge! Here are the only 2 decent shots I could get of the two of them together

However, I still managed to get some adorable individual shots of each of them. Here are a few of my favorites