Fall and Football

We have had a busy fall enjoying Auburn football and playing with friends. We had a block party the night before Halloween and Beau had a blast! He dressed up as Thomas the Train and had a great time riding his bike around the street, eating sweet treats, and jumping in the bouncy house in our neighbor's yard. There were probably 60+ people there and Beau loved playing with all the neighborhood kids!
Thomas the Train!
Riding the bike 3 houses down to the party
The bouncy house...it had seen better days and could only hold 4 or so kids at a time without one side slightly caving in...super safe for a bunch of kiddos!
Eating a sweet treat and catching part of the Auburn game on the big screen outside




The weekend before that we went to Auburn for the Auburn-LSU game. We took Beau tailgating and into the game with us. He was such a trooper (considering it was a 2:30 kick off which is in the middle of nap time for him). He loved watching all the people, seeing the eagle fly, watching for Aubie and the camera man. These guys next to us would stand up on the bleachers and stomp their boots loudly very often, so Beau would get up when they did and stomp too...his new balances didn't have quite the same affect as their boots did. :) He fell asleep on Rodney's shoulder at halftime and slept most of the 3rd quarter. He woke up and was ready to enjoy some skittles....a stadium size box that he ate almost entirely by himself! It was a fun day and a great memory for us to have.
Beau and Papa at the Tiger Walk
Our seats were about 4 rows up from the field...not a great way to watch the game, but Beau had a blast watching everything else...especially this camera man that would swing back and forth across the sideline






Not a great family pic because Beau got cut out of it, but it's the only one we had!

Pumpkin Patch 2010

On Saturday we went to the Old Baker Farm Pumpkin Patch in Harpersville. Beau was most excited about these ride on toy tractors that were everywhere. He would hop on them and drive them around and around. He had been on a red one several times and was waiting to ride a green tractor. He finally got to ride one as we were walking towards the parking lot on our way out. I didn't think he would ever get off of it!

We started off the pumpkin patch with a trip to the petting zoo. We saw goats, bunnies, pigs, horses, cows, and ducks. A lady let Beau pet a duck and he clung on to me and wanted me to pet it with him....one day he will learn I don't love to pet live animals at zoo's and farms very much. Oh well...after that we lathered up with hand sanitizer and kept on the tour of the pumpkin patch. Next, Beau found some hay bails that he could climb on and jump off of...fun for a while! Then, we made our way down to the line to get on the hay ride to the pumpkin patch. Beau was so excited to see "site builders" (tractors, bulldozers, etc.) on the hay ride to the pumpkins. He ran through the fields to find the perfect pumpkins for our family. He said he was stronger than me so he would carry them for me...this lasted only a minute or so before he handed me 2 pumpkins to carry back to the wagon. They carted our pumpkins to the parking lot for us so we didn't have to tote them around the farm the rest of the morning...very nice! We picked them up on our way out of the parking lot.

He had a great time (despite how HOT it was that day!). This was our last pumpkin patch as a family of 3....we probably should have gotten a family shot, but we are so bad at getting those!


Sitting on a hay bail with Daddy and Papa...they are laughing because Beau kept sliding off the hay bail before we could snap a picture







Playing in the Cotton Bounce....cotton was everywhere!






Pointing at the bunnies....not a fan of touching any of the animals up close


Riding the green tractor that he had been eyeing all morning long!

Beach Time!

We went to the beach two weeks ago for a few days and it was so very nice! The weather was perfect and Beau took great naps every day because he was so tired from swimming! We stayed at a condo that had pools that were mostly in the shade (which worked well for our fair-haired/skinned family). We played on the beach early in the morning before the sun was too bright or too hot. Beau loved the swimming pools and the sand, but did not like the ocean. He would not even put his toe in it. He loved to watch the helicopters fly by and see all the boats in the ocean. He has already asked us when we are going back!


The morning we were leaving for the beach...this is his "new" smile for the camera

His favorite place...in the sand!

Toting all the floats for pool time

Eating a chocolate covered donut with sprinkles from Thomas' donuts....he ate the entire thing and then we had pool time for hours to run off the energy!

Doggy Paddling in the swimming pool


Walking with Daddy to the ocean to get some water for the sand castle


Refusing to actually go in the water...




Mommy and Beau after eating at the Boatyard restaurant...we eat there every year and he loves to look at the boats coming in and out of the dock

Favorite Pool activity of the week....letting Daddy throw him in the air to Papa...over and over and over..

Critter Club at the Zoo

This past Tuesday, Beau went to his first "Critter Club" class at the Birmingham Zoo. It is an hour long class once a week for 3-5 year olds. I liked it because the parents don't have to stay with the kids (looking at animals is not my most favorite thing to do), and Beau has really been wanting to go to the zoo and see snakes....seriously....this will never happen with me...they are one of my biggest fears ever! So, Tuesday they learned about tortoises and turtles. Beau got to color a turtle picture, make a turtle craft, and go see "Greg" the turtle at the reptile house. (I am not sure I could even step into the reptile house without having a slight panic attack that we were in the same building with the snakes, so I am so thankful for his tour guide/teacher "Grammy"). Then, he got to ride the train. He was soooo excited when I went back to get him and he could not wait to tell Rodney and I every thing he learned about turtles and tortoises!
So hot after walking around the zoo, but still holding his turtle craft!

It's A Boy!

We are 23 weeks pregnant, and found out a few weeks ago that we are having another little boy! Rodney and I both thought it was another boy, but Beau was set on having a "stister." We told him that there was a chance it would be a brother and he kept telling us it was not a brother. When he found out it was a brother, he jumped up and down and said "It's a boy! I can be rough with him...like John-Mark!" (John-Mark is one of his good friends little brother).....we told him he could not play rough with his brother for a while though!

He has since told us all of his stuffed animals are girls and his "stisters.".....but he says he is happy to have a brother to play trains with. (He still thinks we are buying the baby all new toys so he will not have to share his toys ....should be a fun adventure in teaching sharing!) Several nights I have gone in his room to tuck him in and have found a stuffed animal shoved up his shirt. I try to take it out and he says, "No mama...my baby is still growing. It is not ready to come out yet." This child keeps us laughing for sure!

Beau is going to be a BIG BROTHER!!!

Yay!!!! I am 16 weeks pregnant and we are so thrilled! We found out at the beginning of May that we were going to be parents again and we were so thankful. I am due January 6th. Most of you know that we have been dealing with fertility issues for almost 2 years. We went to a specialist in January and found out I had a small issue that could be corrected surgically. We were told to try for 3 months before coming back in to pursue the next step...treatments, medicines, etc. On the 3rd month, we became pregnant. Words will never be able to accurately express how thankful and overwhelmed we were by the the blessing of getting pregnant "naturally" and not having to go down the fertility treatment path. (I do not think there is anything wrong with treatments, medicines, interventions, etc....I am just so thankful the Lord blessed us with a child before we had to take that step).

These past 23 months that we were trying to get pregnant were the worst months that we have ever had to deal with in our married life. Almost every one I knew was pregnant or just had a baby. I kept thinking it would be us next, but the months kept on ticking away. It was so hard to go to play groups, see friends, or read people's blogs and facebook because everyone was sharing their great news of new additions and I was just longing for a new addition to our family. Our friends and family were so great throughout the process, even on my worst days. We became so thankful for each other and for our son, Beau. We came to the point where we were still praying and believing for more children, but were content with Beau. I would just stare at him sometimes and tear up because I was thankful that the Lord chose me to be his Mom.

Rodney and I dug into the Word like never before because we were desperate for hope and wisdom for our situation. Rodney handled things much better than I did, and I had many more moments of hopelesness and fear than he did. But, we read Isaid 49:23 daily "Those who hope in the Lord WIll NOT be disappointed." We also prayed and believed Psalm 113:9 daily "He settles the barren woman in her home as the happy mother of children."

One of our pastors said that when it is raining in your life (storms, hardships, troubles, etc.), to Worship. That simply Worshipping during those times changes everything. I believe it does too. This was a song that was listened to constantly on my itunes to help me on the roughest days...God is so good and faithful to pick us up during our toughest times and carry us through them.

"Desert Song" by Hillsong
This is my prayer in the desert
And all that's within me feels dry
This is my prayer in the hunger in me
My God is a God who provides

And this is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flames

I will bring praise, I will bring praise
No weapon forged against me shall remain
I will rejoice, I will declare, God is my Victory and He is there

And this is my prayer in the battle, and triumph is still on it's way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm in His promise I'll stand

All of my life, in every season, You are still God
and I have a reason to sing, I have a reason to Worship
This is my prayer in the Harvest, when favor and providence flow
I know I'm filled to be emptied again
The seed I've received I will sow.

One house down!

We have a buyer for our Homewood House! We close in less than 2 weeks because it is an all cash offer and that moves more quickly than getting financing, etc. for a home. Rodney and I are so excited....we are overwhelmed with how good and faithful God has been to us during this process. We will have so much more "family time" without having an extra yard to take care of and extra home to do maintenance on. I am so thrilled!

We moved to Homewood so I could quit work and be a stay at home Mom to our sweet Beau. There have been many days since the day we bought the Homewood house that I questioned my decision to quit work...not because Beau was hard to take care of (even though somedays are harder than others!), but because so many obstacles were thrown in our way once we made this decision....I could go on and on! But, we put the Homewood house up for sale when Rodney felt like the Lord told him that my Mom should live with us...we could help her and she could help us. It has been a really good thing (looking back after almost 1 year of living together). We found a house that will fit all of us for a very long time, in a good school system, and still pretty close to Rodney's office. We made an offer...they accepted it and we will move in sometime in September. To make this move, we had to have our Homewood house sold or rented. It has been for sale for almost 2 years with no offers...talk about frustrating!! We put it for rent (after much prayer and many conversations). We had a TON of people interested in renting it...such a blessing. Rodney showed it to some brothers, and one of them is in a band. They were super interested, but I was not so interested in them. Really...who wants to rent their house to kids right out of college and especially one in a band? I had made my mind up...it was a NO! Well, the Lord is hilarious sometimes...The brother's band is "Rush of Fools"...a well known Christian band, and the parents decided to just go ahead and buy the house for their boys to live in. I mean....hilarious! Rodney told me this news Saturday and I could not stop crying...I could not believe this was really happening, and was so overwhelmed with how much our Heavenly Father has carried us through these past 2 years.
I am reminded of a quote I came across in August(almost 1 year ago) that said "Stand still and wait on God, for He has known the solution to your problem before it came into existence." I am so thankful that the we are able to bless this family with our house and they are blessing us with taking a huge financial strain off our shoulders. God is so good and faithful...even if it does take much longer and is much harder than we imagined.

Happy 4th of July!

We spent the Saturday before th 4th with Rodney's family at a HUGE family reunion they have every year. I still do not know who half of the family members are or exactly how they are related to Rodney. But, they always have good dessert and have a great swimming pool to cool off in. I left my camera in the car, so I didn't get any pics of Beau "swimming"...he wears this frog floatie and has learned to dog paddle. He thinks he is Big Stuff! Rodney taught him to jump off the diving board at this pool and he LOVED it (once he learned to hold his breath so he didn't choke on water).

On the 4th, we ate a yummy dinner with my family, with a fantastic peach cobbler for dessert! We then headed to Southside to watch the fireworks show with Rodney's family. We didn't know how Beau would do because he doesn't like loud noises, but he enjoyed all of it. (I think he was on a sugar high from the 3 bowls of ice cream and 1 helping of peach cobbler he had that day, but that is another story)

Here are some pics:
Hanging out with his cousins, Blake and Jenna....He was sooo glad they came with him to watch the show!

Summer Fun!

We have been having so much fun this summer with friends and family. We have spent lots of time trying to find cool places, preferably with water or ice cream, to cool down with. Here are some pics of our summer fun so far...

Playing/Running from the water coming from the sprinkler at Nona and Papa's house in Auburn


I walked into the kitchen one afternoon and found this "flower" that Beau had pulled out of the front yard for me. He was so proud of himself...he wanted to keep it for weeks in that same container!

Cooling down with an afternoon trip to DQ for some ice cream

Meeting "Farmer Jason" at the Hoover Library....James and Beau are cracking me up with their expressions!

This is Coco the Cow from the Trussville Library...This started at 9 am or so and was sooooo hot! This is Coco "spraying" the audience some fresh milk from her udders...Lovely!


Beau and James and John Mark waiting for Coco to make milk....we ended up leaving and going to get ice cream and play at McDonald's....much cooler and more fun for everyone!

Happy 3rd Birthday Beau!

Beau turned 3 on June 9th. We had his party on a Saturday morning. We started out at the Crestline Fire Station for a birthday fire station tour. Beau got to sit in the firestation living room in these big recliner chairs while he waited on his friends to arrive. He was a little shy to start with, but when his cousin Jenna got there, he toured the whole station with her holding his hand and got much braver! We ended up back at our house for lunch and birthday cupcakes. He was so happy to see his friends and family that day. He keeps asking if it is still his birthday, and if he gets to go to the firestation. I still can't believe my baby boy is 3!

Hanging out in the Firemen recliner chairs

Listening to a talk about fire safety from our fireman tour guide

Jenna holding Beau's hand

Sitting in the driver seat...not so sure about it!

The view of us the fireman took from the ladder on the firetruck

Trying on the Fireman outfit

Happy Birthday Beau!!