my one word

Several people have shared their "one word" for 2013 and I've gone back and forth trying to decide if it was something I wanted to do. I had never heard of it before until meredith did a post about it several weeks ago. And it got me thinking about what word I would choose for myself.

It's crazy how the Lord plants little seeds in your life that make you stop and think.

My life has been a roller coaster ride over the last seven years. And I know that I'm not the only one who has ridden on that wild and crazy roller coaster, but along the way in different circumstances my faith took a few steps backwards. And I'll be the first to tell you that I am not proud to admit that here publicly. I don't think any one of us likes to admit when we fall, but I've learned that it happens to all of us. I'm not the only sinner in the world. But oh how I feel like I am so many many times.

Lately I've been asking the Lord to strengthen my faith. Not just in those rough times, but also in my everyday life. It has come up many times in my prayer time and in the bible study I'm currently in. And I know of several situations that are coming up where I'm going to have to rely on faith to get me through.

So for 2013 I've chosen faith as my one word. Or maybe it has chosen me.

       

project 365 {week 2}

I'm really liking this Red Stamp app! It's very easy to use and I love that I can write a little something on each picture. If I can stick with it this year my goal is to make the boys a book from all the pics.
Hope y'all had a great weekend! Can you believe February will be here on Friday? I can't get over how fast this year is already going by!!!!

brain dump

I don't remember the last time I did one of these posts. We've had so much going on over the last several weeks that it seems like I cannot keep up, especially on the blogging end. But I wanted to share with y'all what's been going on with us.

• I've finally decided to start attending a women's bible study at our church and I'm really excited about it! It's been over 4 years since I've been to bible study regularly and this year I felt such a tug at my heart to attend. I plan to blog about it more this week. 
• I'm excited to start working with Jenn to get a blog makeover! I've been wanting a change for some time now. Seeing that I've been blogging for almost FIVE years I think it's time!!! ;)
• This CRAZY Alabama weather is kicking my pants. On the days that its nice enough to take the boys outside we are either getting over a cold or starting a new one. I'm sooooooo ready for spring and summer!!!!!! 
• So I've gotten on the Pretty Little Liars band wagon and y'all I'm hooked! Did y'all hear through your computers my enthusiasm!?! I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I finished the first two seasons in less than two weeks and I'm now in the process tearing the house apart looking for iTunes gift cards so I can start on season three
• I can't believe my baby is going to be TEN months next Saturday! I've started brainstorming for his party, but I'm finding it so hard to settle on something. I guess because he's our last one and that's been hard coming to terms with
• And speaking of Jaxon turning ten months, I've got to blog his 8 and 9 month posts
• Basketball season is coming to an end this week and its going to be great having Clay home earlier every day. Which means that I need to start meal planning again, but that would call for me to go to the grocery store. Ha!
• I thought about re-reading "Bringing Up Boys" by Dr. James Dobson. Some things have happened recently (nothing bad) that has me questioning myself as a mother. Parenting is a very hard job and I know we as mothers question our parenting skills all the time. I just felt like it was time for me to pick that book back up. And if any of you boy moms have suggestions for other patenting books, please let me know about them
• I decided to start the project 365 again this year in hopes that I can stick with it this time. My hope is to make the boys a book for each year

Well I hope y'all had a great Monday! Got to put the biggest one to bed!!!

project 365 {week 1}

Okay y'all I'm going to try and attempt this again. Last year kinda' fell apart after Jaxon was born, but I'm going to make a better effort this time around. As of right now I'm taking pictures of both the boys separately. I may or may not keep doing it that way. I'm also using this app on my iPhone called Red Stamp, I'm not sure if I will continue to use it, but I'm just playing around with it until I find what works best for me. I want so desperately to use my DSLR camera, but that's just not going to happen all the time. My iPhone is always handy when those cute but brief moments come along. My plan is to post these on Tuesdays. I really hope that I can stick with it this time because I would love to have a book of these printed out at the end of the year.

Y'all let me know what you think or if you have any suggestions on what you use for your Project 365.

It's a balancing act

I can't believe it's been a month since I last blogged. I have to say it's kinda' been nice. As much as I wanted to get posts together about our Christmas break, I just felt this urge to "let go" of the blog and BE with my family.

I've been blogging for over 4 1/2 years and I've enjoyed every minute of it. I'm not going to lie, it's been hard trying to figure out where blogging comes into place since having baby #2. But I do know that I want to keep this up even if no one reads it but me and my family. I love having a place of my own on the Internet and being able to share what goes on with my family while still not sharing every small detail of our lives. I love that I can look back and see how God worked a miracle for Clay and I when trying to conceive Bryson. And how it was His timing that made all the difference. I love to look at those sweet pictures of B and remember that at one time not so long ago he was little once too. And in the future I'm going to cherish looking over this blog and remembering when the boys were little and all I did was wonder how I was going to make it through the day.

I know at some point the boys are going to have a voice of their own about what I share and what I don't share about them on this blog. And as their mother I will respect their wishes. Maybe when that day comes (and I know it will quickly approach very soon), I will start blogging privately. I don't what the future holds, but I'm learning that I need to live in "this moment!" I have to learn to just let things go. If I don't blog for a week that's okay. I can't expect to do it all and still be the wife and mother that my family needs. And for me, that is whats important.

Life is a balancing act. And I'll find my groove, eventually! :)

Happy Monday Y'all!!!!

jaxon {9 months}

jaxon you turned 9 months on january 9th

wow! i don't know where the time has gone!?! you are growing up way. too. fast. 

you army crawl all over the house. if i turn my back for one second you are out of my sight. i can say for sure you are on the move now. you don't like to sit for very long.

you had your very first (double) ear infection on Christmas Eve :( i sat in the doctor's office and just cried because i felt like such a bad mother because you never acted like you were hurting. you are always such a happy baby that it's hard sometimes to tell when you are not feeling well.  

you celebrated your very first Christmas last year. you weren't very crazy about unwrapping the paper. i think it scared you more than anything. 

you are still taking two naps each day. your morning nap seems to be getting shorter. it only lasts for about an hour and your afternoon nap last for about 2-3 hours.  

you love to blow bubbles and make what i like to call the motor boat sound. and you love to suck in your bottom lip and make a popping sound. you and Pop love to do that back and forth with one another

you are definitely a daddy's boy. and it really doesn't surprise me because y'all are so much alike. you are for sure his little mini me. and i'll let you in on a little secrete, he soaks up every minute of it!!!

you go through phases where you'll let me rock you. and on those days when you let me i just love on you and pray for you. i look at your brother and realize how short these years are and i don't want to miss out on this time with you.

you love to eat. that's probably the understatement of the century. i joke with your daddy all the time about how in the world am i going to be able to feed all three of y'all when you get older. i don't think you have turned down one thing we have put in front of you.

you are definitely a blankie baby just like your big brother. when i go to put you in your crib you like to lay on your tummy and i'll lay your blanket over you and you'll grab at the corner with one hand and start sucking your thumb. that's how you fall asleep every night. it's so precious!!

you sleep through the night like a champ! we've been so blessed to have you and your brother be such good sleepers. i know how truly blessed i am in the sleep department! 

i can't get over what a happy baby you are! you are always able to brighten up my day with your smile or your sweet little laugh. you have so much joy in you at such a young age.

you babble and scream a lot. you say da-da-da all the time, even when i try to get you to say momma. and a few times i thought i've heard you say what sounds like "hey there."

sweet boy i can't even begin to tell you what a wonderful blessing you are to my life! never in my wildest dreams could i have imagined having this much love for someone. ~ i love you to the moon and back ~ momma

Stats for this month:

weight: 18 pounds {10% percentile}

height: 28 1/2inches {75% percentile}

clothes: 12months

diapers: size 3