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Friday, January 26, 2007

WHEW!!!

Hey Y'all!! It's been awhile! Things are crazy as ever around here. I have several irons in the fire right now with MOPS and then I am now coordinating a large scale Marriage Conference at our church. I am never happier though as when I'm busy for the Lord!

My mom is coming up this weekend- she can't get here fast enough!! The weekend looks fun with Girl's Night tonight and then a Sunday School social tomorrow night.

HAPPY 50th BIRTHDAY to Rhonda!!! (Derek's Mama) She has had a difficult one because her mom is in the hospital suffering from complications after Gall Bladder surgery. Our prayers are with all of her and granny.

Well, I am off to meet with Amanda- hopefully her twin boys will keep Tate entertained.

Love yous!!

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Happy Anniversary to us!

Well, the virus ended up making its way through our whole family. I spent our 4th wedding anniversary in bed recovering while my sweet grandmother and aunt took care of the babies. Derek came down with it that evening.

We ended up feeling better (but not great) by the weekend so we resumed our already-scheduled plans. I helped give a bridal shower for my best friend from college on Saturday and then on Sunday went to a baby shower for another college friend/sorority sister.

Things are back to normal today. We were supposed to have playgroup today at Tori's, but she is experiencing some possible pre-term labor pains. Please pray for her.

Tate went to MMO yesterday while Derek and I took Britton to the ENT. After an examination and a test, the Dr. confirmed what we had suspected- Brit is definitely a candidate for tubes. His surgery is scheduled for Valentine's Day. I really hope this will help him get over all of his ear infections.

.....baby up from nap, gotta run

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Photo caption

For some reason I could not get the captions for the photos below to work properly. Please forgive the mess.

Christmas With Papa

Derek's dad came into town the first weekend in January with a "sleigh" full of toys for the boys. They LOVE to visit and play with Papa, especially Tate. Here are some photos...


Tate anticipates Papa's arrival...says he's "so excited"!



Checking out his new truck. Thanks, Papa!










He's ready to to work! He wore these to Wal-Mart the other day, too! I know people thought I was crazy.





























Britton tests out the mic.

































Britton's first car.


























Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Britton's Birthday Party

Well, I finally decided on a date for Britton's first birthday party. It will be on Sunday, January 28th. He is not officially one until the 30th but having his party on the weekend seemed easier for everyone. Unfortunately, Brit's birthday party won't be anything close to what Tate's was. I felt guilty about that for awhile, but then realized that a one-year-old does not need 50 people ogling over his first bite of cake and he won't remember who was there anyway.

So, we are keeping it small- family only.

I cannot believe he is almost one year! He is growing up so fast and is as precious as ever. His most recent facination is with pens. I watch him carefully whenever has plays with one though. He cries when I try to take them away.

I know his belly is hurting him tonight- he is still fussy. I will go tend to him now.

Tate seems to be feeling better- Praise God!!

Virus Article

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2007-01-08-stomach-bug_x.htm

Sick babies

Please pray for us. Tate and Brit have the nasty stomach bug that has been going around. Tate started throwing up at 5:30 last night and did so repeatedly until 4 this morning. Britton has not thrown up yet, but he is lethargic and sleepy. Please pray that they will be healed and that Derek and I will not catch it.

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Ramblings

So...what have I been up to? I have been on a cleaning/organizing/throwing-stuff-out rampage and I love it. I think my friend Tori has been doing the same. I packed away three huge boxes of toys, threw out a garbage bag full of old, broken and missing-piece toys out of Tate's room- we can actually see the floor. I cleaned out my closet and have started a nice little garage sale stack. The living room is toy & clutter-free and the playroom, though stocked with toys looks more organized. I STILL have about three laundry baskets full of "stuff" that I need to go through. Those baskets haunt me daily!

The garage is another story- I will wait for warmer weather to worry about it, though.

Tate is doing well and his vocabulary is through the roof. At this point, he is just a regular little person that can pretty much express himself with whatever words he choses. He says "I Love You" unsolicited and tells me that "I am nice" and things like that. It is so sweet. He has started sneaking into our bed during the night- a habit that Derek and I are too tired at 3am when it occurs to break. We need to gather strength though, and get up with him and place him back in the bed when he does this.

Britton is crawling!! I know it seems crazy but he was our little scooter bug for so long- he finally crawled at a relatives house on Devember 29th. (11 mos old) He is EVERYWHERE now. Pulling up on things, wanting anything and everything he can get his little hands on. He is showing more and more agression (in a good way) these days but still only a fraction of what Tate was showing when he was 1. They are VERY different, still.

Derek is back to work- things are not as busy as they have been for him but I know it is only a matter of time. He and James are still working out 4 times a week- even though it takes him away from the home, I am glad he gets to do something for himself.

I am anticipating the completion of the MOPS Charter process and am excited beyond comprehension. God is at work within this ministry and I feel so blessed to be a part of that.

Well, I guess that sums up some of what we have been doing. I know it's nothing profound, but it is us.

Be blessed!!

Saturday, January 06, 2007

Exciting news!

No, I am NOT pregnant! :-)

I do have great news to share though. Bethlehem is Chartering a MOPS group! For those of you familiar with this ministry, you know how vital it is to a community filled with 'Mothers of Preschoolers'. We have been praying about this for months and the dream is finally becoming a reality. We sign the charter application tomorrow and then it will be mailed on Monday. We should receive our charter box soon after that. I have created a separate blog dedicated to the progress and chartering of this ministry- http://mymopsblog.blogspot.com/ so, please check in periodically to see how we are doing.

I ask one thing, please remember MOPS in your prayers. Pray that the Lord spark something special in the hearts of our future Steering Team members. That they come willingly and with a heart for mothers and a heart for the Lord. Please pray for the mothers that we will be ministering to- that they let us love them through the arms of Christ.

Praise God for this Blessing!!

Thursday, January 04, 2007

First Day

Today was Tate's first day at the Mother's Morning Out Program at our church. He did GREAT!! We had tried the MMO thing last year but neither I nor Tate were ready. This time there were no tears from him and only the slightest twinge of anxiety on my part. A far cry from last year's mountain of guilt I had and open flood gates for Tate. He is ready and so am I!

So...what did I do with my "free" time? Well, Brit was with me but we were still able to go to the grocery store and to Wal-Mart, do some housework and I was able to give Brit some undivided attention which was nice.

I AM SO BLESSED to have the opportunity to send Tate to MMO- even just once a week- I think it will be mutually beneficial and is the first step in getting him ready to go to school. The MMO is more like a Preschool- with a curriculum, arts & crafts, music, reading, outside play, etc. I asked him if he wanted to go back again and he said yes!

As for Britton- he just cut tooth #3 and I think he has ANOTHER ear infection. We have an appointment tomorrow with the Dr. Bless his little heart...