Emma's 3rd Birthday

Waiting

Waiting is never fun - we wait in line at the grocery store, I wait in traffic several times a week driving in to Atlanta for work, and sometimes I find myself anxiously waiting for the kids' bedtime/naptime so I can have a few minutes to myself.


Lily has now figured out the concept of waiting. I've been single mom-ing it since Thursday, as Josh is out of town for work. My adorable kids are normally easy, but when they want something, they want it then and they usually want different things at the same time. I guess I've been telling Lily "Just a minute" quite a lot this week because her automatic response now is "I wait for things all the time". Very simple, said cheerfully with a playful grin on her face, no whining involved. She understands that waiting is part of life and with a little brother who needs more help that she does, she gets that she is going to have to wait for things quite often.

After hearing this several times over the last few days, I started thinking about my own attitude towards waiting. I finished up the Angela Thomas Bible Study "When Wallflowers Dance" a few weeks ago and the last bit of the study was about waiting and be ready when God tells us it is our turn. I've always prided myself on being what I considered to be a patient person - but really I'm not. I, like most women, have in my mind a plan for my life and when I want things accomplished. When God's timing is different than mine, oh how I whine! And complain! And stomp my feet like a child to Him. As a parent, I know He cannot enjoy this, as I hate when Lily acts this way towards.


That being said, I've found that my heart's desire is to be more like my Lily has this week in my approach to waiting! When it's not my turn - to smile, dance and know that He has a perfect plan for me. I know I am far from perfect and will have my moments of pity and fighting the wait I am being called to. But I also know that by waiting on His timing, in both the little and big things in my life, I will be so richly blessed!

Brodie's 2nd Birthday

Today, we celebrated Brodie's 2nd Birthday! I can't believe he's already 2. He has grown up so much this year and is doing all the cute things toddlers do. He and Lily play so well together - she loves to go wherever he is going to be. I know it won't be long before Bear joins in their "cousin fun".

After a great morning at church, we met the rest of the family at Beef 'o Brady's for lunch and birthday cake. Lunch after church is always a bit tricky for us, as Bear and Lily play so hard in their classes at church and are normally ready for a quick bite to eat and a long nap. Beef 'o Brady's is good, but the service is never to quick, so trying to entertain a 1 year old, the birthday boy, and an almost 3 year old can be challenging. With only mild meltdowns and laps walked around the restaraunt to pass time, we made it through and enjoyed a yummy lunch of chicken nuggets for Bear and fish sticks for Lily.

Brodie enjoyed being the center of attention and tried to dig in quickly to his cake as soon as it was pulled out of the box. He got lots of fun gifts including a remote control car for Joey and Jessica, a bubble mower from us, and a basketball goal from Mammy and Paw.

Here are a few pictures from our lunch today! Happy Birthday Brodie!

Bear enjoying lunch

Holding the birthday back from smashing his cakeMaking a birthday wishLily won't smile for a picture - but look at those messy hands

Brodie opening gifts

Bear approves of the cake - of course!

Happy 2nd Birthday Brodie!

Valentine's Day

We had a wonderful Valentine's Day on Saturday! I made heart pancakes for our breakfast on Saturday morning and we gave the kids their Valentine's gifts.

They each got a stuffed bear and a new book. They loved them and were so surprised to get treats!

We also gave Daddy the card we made him - he loved their homemade masterpiece.

Josh and I don't usually do much for Valentine's, but he did give me a yummy box of chocolates and a sweet list of 25 reasons why he loves me! I'm such sucker for things like this and his list just made my day. I'm so thankful for him and love that he still romances me!

Lily and I did a Valentine's project - cupcakes for her Mammy and Paw and for her cousins Brodie, Blake, Kenny, and Brittney. I was such a bad picture mom and forgot my camera while we were baking, but here is Bear checking out the cupcakes cooling.

We delivered the treats and then since we've all been a little under the weather, we stayed in and enjoyed a quiet evening. Josh went and got take-out for dinner and we watched a movie together after the kids were in bed.

Hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's weekend full of love and happiness!

Sick Day

Lily and I are spending a lazy day at home. The stomach bug has decided to hole up in our house this week. Bear was a bit sick on Tuesday, but I really thought it was just congestion from a cold he's had for a bit. Yesterday, I went in to work after an early morning dentist appointment and by noon I couldn't sit at my desk any longer. I came home and camped out in the bedroom for the rest of the day. Josh was "Super Dad" and took care of picking up the kids, getting them dinner, and into bed. I felt terrible not being able to help him, but I was trying to keep my germs being spread to a minimum. I woke up around 530am this morning to the sound of Lily coughing and getting sick - here we go again! I'm feeling better today - not 1o0% and haven't tried eating yet - so I decided to stay home with her today.

She's napping right now on the couch...poor little thing!

She did have a cute "kids say the darndest things" moment this morning. During a spell when she was feeling a bit better, she was pushing her baby dolls around in her doll stroller. She walked up to me and said "Mommy, we are done at the mall." I said "Well, that's good. Did you buy anything?" She said "No mommy, you know we can't buy anything. But I did get us a cookie like daddy does." I guess she's picking up on the penny pinching going on in our house these days - but that doesn't affect cookie buying at the mall :)

Family Pictures with Karen Baker Photography

On Saturday, we all braved the frigid cold weather for a family photo shoot with Karen Baker. I've done a few professional pictures of Lily and Bear - but none with them together or us as a family. Karen and Josh have known each other since they were babies and she has recently started her own photography business. I was so excited to meet her, as I've heard so much about her ever since Josh and I started dating. We had a great time at the Euharlee Covered Bridge and Karen took some wonderful pictures. She was great with the kids - so patient and willing to follow them where they wandered. We can't wait to get together with her and her family soon. The sneak peaks are up at her blog - ww.karenbakerphotography.wordpress.com, but here are a few to see here.

Happy 1st Birthday, Mason!

Today, we traveled over to Flowery Branch, GA to celebrate Mason's 1st Birthday! Mason's mommy Diana has been one of my best friends since college and it was a treat to share this special day with their family and friends.

Mason is such a sweet little boy. His big blue eyes and sweet personality light up the room. He enjoyed his birthday party so much. Ben and Diana did a great job - we had hamburgers, hot dogs, and lots of yummy sides. There were a few kids close in age to Mason, Bear and Lily and they all played great together!

Lily enjoying her lunch at the kid's tableBear's 1st attempt eating at a "big kid" table

Mason wasn't too sure about his birthday cake at first, but it didn't take long for him to make a big chocolately mess! He's definitely all boy and devoured his cake for as long as him mom and dad could stand the mess!

Checking out the cake

Just a little taste...

Mom, this is good!

Lily partaking in the cupcakes and ice cream

After a quick clean-up job, we watched him open gifts. He got lots of fun toys, clothes - and Lily's favorite was his new Cozy Coupe car.

The funniest part of the party was when we were getting ready to leave. Usually Lily is very shy and clingy around Diana and Ben - she doesn't see them often and typically sticks close to me. Well, today she was having so much fun at their house, she didn't want to leave. I told her "bye bye" and went outside to the car with Bear thinking that she would then decide she'd rather come with me. Not a chance! It didn't faze her a bit. When I came back in a few minutes later to get her, she had a full fledged tantrum - and we haven't had one of those in a while! When I finally got her in the car and strapped in her seat (with her body flinging, this took a while), she put a plastic toy bucket over her head and cried for 20 minutes. Diana - next time we visit, I'm bringing a suitcase - she can stay with you for a while :)