The Big Trip

So, I can't believe that I have failed to mention until now about our big trip coming up. Maybe it was some sort of denial that it was actually going to happen that kept me from it. I don't know...but now I am ready to announce it to the blogosphere.

We are going to East Asia.

For 8 days.

By ourselves.

Can you believe it????? I can't!!! We are going to see some friends who are studying/ministering there and we are going to learn more about what they do and encourage them. Jeff will do some teaching as well. We leave Friday.

We are leaving the kids with our parents. They have a big job ahead of them taking care of our bunch. Pray for them!!! Also, seriously pray for me. I have never been away from the kids this long before. I know I am going to miss them SO much. Especially when they do hilarious things like this...




But I am really thankful for this opportunity to go to a country that stole my heart 10 years ago when I visited there as a junior in college.

this is a picture of when I went then....bet you can't find me (I'm the one in the blue t-shirt and cap...3rd from the left on the center row)

I know that the Lord is going to use this trip to challenge my faith and hopefully strengthen our marriage. I love doing ministry with Jeff and I am excited to get to spend some good quality time with him doing just that! I am praying that my heart for the world and for the gospel will expand. I need that. I need to get out of my safe Tuscaloosa bubble. I need to be reminded that there is a lost and dying world out there who needs to hear of the life changing hope of Christ.

And, of course, I hope to take lots of pictures!!!!!

Seriously Loving It!

I don't know about where y'all live, but here in West Alabama...the weather has been gorgeous!!! Saturday, Sunday, and today are days that I wish lasted all year. I do love having seasons, but I could seriously live year around with days that are sunny and somewhere between 60-70 degrees. I am so happy that we can play outside and that we can start planting flowers and get our garden ready in the next month. Our daffodils are already blooming:)


Over the weekend, I put our little Easter Tree out and made a moss wreath. I've been wanting to do it for awhile and since I had 2 Hobby Lobby coupons I decided to go for it. I LOVE how it turned out.







I did have to add a little bunny to it after Samuel saw it and asked if it was Christmas again! Ha! I was going to put the wreath on our front door, but I wanted to enjoy it inside for awhile so I hung it in the kitchen in our bay window. Kind of random...but at least there, I see it all the time:)


After Spring Break, my crafty friend Carlley and some other girls are going to get together and make a cross wreath/hanging for Easter with reindeer moss. She had one last year, and I LOVED it and I am dying to do one. I'm excited!!!

Oh, and for inquiring minds...THIS is the lens I got for my camera (Nikon D60).

Check It Out...

I posted some work I've done recently on Uniquely Yours!!! Check them out HERE.

16 Months

I feel like these monthly updates are happening faster and faster. Life is full and busy and Abigail is literally changing from baby to toddler in the blink of an eye. She keeps me laughing all the time as she has really begun talking and communicating so well. I love seeing and hearing her try to ask for things and tell me things. It's so cute. I really can't count the words that she says right now as it expands daily (it's probably between 20-25 words). Also, Abigail is on the move constantly. She loves to climb on anything and loves to dash up the stairs when I'm not looking. She has begun throwing little temper tantrums where she arches her back, screams very loudly, and falls to the floor in dramatic fashion. Very similar to what EK used to do at this age. Most of the time her fits involve having had a toy taken out of her hands by her big sister. Or sometimes they are because I don't let her climb up the stairs. Otherwise, she really does continue to be much more laid back that Ellie Kate was. She is more compliant and easily redirected and obeys pretty well. It is so interesting to compare my 2 girls as it just goes to show that so much of parenting is the nature of the child and not the good skills of the parents. Although, obviously, I believe that good parenting and training is very important in raising an obedient and well mannered child. It's just that with some children (Abigail) it comes easier and with others (Samuel and Ellie Kate), it is a challenge every single day.

We had her 15 month appointment yesterday even though she is 16 months...which crazy enough is exactly what happened with EK. So, I am able to compare their weights/heights as well.

Here are Abigail's stats...
Weight - 22 lbs 7 ounces (25%)
Height - 31 1/2 inches (75%)

Ellie Kate was 23 lbs 2 ounces and 32 inches long at 16 months. So they were almost identical in size at this age...my long and lean girls!!! Again, I think that's so interesting b/c Abigail eats constantly and seems to be a bottomless pit, and Ellie Kate has always been pickier and never seems to eat much and yet their body types are so similar.

Abigail still cries every time I leave her in the church nursery or to mom's morning out. She does not like me to leave her. I kind of love that she loves me so much. It's so sweet and I know there will be a day that she won't care a bit when we are not together. I love my little peanut so much!!!

A New Toy

So, I have been eying a new lens for my camera for awhile now. I decided to take the plunge and use some of my blog money to buy it!!! I was so excited when I saw the UPS man drive up today. Of course, I got right to work taking pictures. My favorite feature is I don't have to use the flash much indoors (which is in fact why I bought it). Please excuse the ridiculous amount of pics to follow (y'all should be used to this by now! Ha!). I know it's indulgent (as Simon Cowell would say) but what can I say? I love my kids and I love taking pictures and I can never just choose a few to share...








Poor EK. As soon as she woke up from her nap, I started snapping away. I'm glad I got this shot though because this is her signature comfort pose....sucking her thumb and stroking her hair



I took the girls outside to play today since it was so nice!!!! They love chasing after the ball and swinging...

It Was Inevitable...

I won't lie. I'm really not into disney, barbie, or character princesses for my girls. I don't know why but I just don't want that stuff all over my house or in my girls closets. However, it was inevitable that Ellie Kate realize how fun it is to dress up like a princess. So, she got a little dress up outfit from her friend Neely for her birthday. This morning she couldn't wait to put it on...hence the pj's underneath and messed up hair. Later, she did put on her high heeled shoes and crown. So cute!



Also, I have a snaggle tooth boy. I kind of love his gummy grin. And, shame on that tooth fairy...but she forgot to leave him any money after losing that second top tooth last week. Samuel was very nice and forgiving so we made sure that his tooth was nicely tucked under the pillow...but still able to be seen just in case that was why she didn't visit. Sure enough, the next morning he had a nice crisp $1 bill under his pillow.

A Whole Lotta Nothin!

Homework....


the bane of mine and Samuel's existence (having a school aged child who struggles has really brought on a whole new set of stress in my life). And it's just 1st grade!!!!!! The plus side is that he is reading pretty well now and is actually enjoying that part of school.

Abigail is finally feeling better!!!



Augmentin is from the devil so we threw that out fast. It made her so pitiful and she was vomiting/pooping for 2 days straight from that stuff.



She is now on her 3rd antibiotic and I am hoping this one is THE ONE.




Ellie Kate asks for her "best friend" every single day and is clearly bored with me at home because she also asks to go to "school" or church every day.

Jeff is working a lot and kind of stressed. I hate seeing him stressed. However, God is doing some awesome things on campus and through the ministry. That's exciting.

I'm good (I think) after 2 decently good nights of sleep and 2 mornings with some quiet time in the Word. Amazing what those two things will do for a person!!! We are getting ready for a spring break trip in 10 days that I will tell you more about later. It's kind of a big deal and I'm both excited and nervous at the same time.

We watched the end of The Bachelor last night. I used to watch that show a lot, but haven't in years. After last night, I remembered why. Stupidest show ever. It is entertaining though.

Oh, and have I mentioned that I'm going to be an aunt?! Jeff's sister is pregnant (about 16 weeks now) and we are SOOOOO excited. I'm so happy that my kids will have a cousin!