30th Birthday

Enjoyed celebrating my 30th birthday on Sunday (well, except the part about waking up with UTI symptoms at 3am, skipping part of church to go to the walk-in clinic to get meds, and feeling pretty badly most of the day). 

I was glad to get a couple of good pictures with my favorite little people! 

Arabelle took a few pictures for us.

Jared cooked us breakfast and Arabelle had made a card (full of glitter) and Bo picked out a pack of gum for me. Of course, right when I opened it, he wanted a piece. He loves gum! 

When the kids went to the dollar store after church on Sunday, Sambo let the kids buy me a present. Arabelle chose this beautiful retro looking lamp. I've got to get a bulb for it and put it on display! 

Bo picked out some 'punch balloons' that I apparently have always wanted. :) He and Tripp had fun with them and I never saw them after I blew one up. ha! 

Mae and I had long afternoon naps, so that was a nice birthday treat. 

My 20s were SO amazing and I'm excited to see what this decade will hold! 

Gone Again.....my Hair, that is!

I've done it again....chopped off my hair! It had gotten LONG and with the heat and 3 kids, it was just annoying. I did this in August of 2011 and just had one trim since then.

I send the hair into Pantene Beautiful Lengths and this one is my 4th donation! I've read that it takes 4 donations to make one wig, so it's nice to think that my hair has made a full wig (and a beautiful one, obviously!).

 I won't look any different because I always wear it in a pony tail anyway. :-p

Jared actually cut the ponytail off for me the night before my hair appt.

And I got it straightened up and a few layers. So there it is!

It feels SO good!!! It's a little shorter than I prefer, but it'll grow. :)

My 29th Birthday

I had a great 29th birthday earlier this month! We took the kids to a birthday party that day at lunch time, then I got a much needed afternoon nap and Mamaw & Papaw came for a great supper! Jared grilled steaks and Mamaw brought all my favorite sides and dessert!

I love Bo's cheese face. And I'm glad to have a few pictures of ME with the kids. I need to get out from behind the camera more often. :)

Can't believe how old Arabelle looks here!

I am such a blessed Mama!!

Papaw brought his FIRST watermelon from his field. It was delicious as usual!

Arabelle is serious about watermelon!

Chocolate delight! Arabelle and Bo arranged the candles for me.

I got to celebrate again on Sunday with Jared's family with good food and cake!

Thanks to everyone for making my Birthday special! :)

Note to self:

If you're going here

don't leave home without this:

ESPECIALLY when you are taking these two with you.

It will make you feel like this:

Luckily my Father-in-law saved the day and brought me some money. Boy did I feel dumb!

*photos from google

Mother's Day

We had a great Mother's Day! I got to sleep in until 8:00 AND take a nap Sunday afternoon. We also celebrated Bo's baby dedication at church. It was a great day to make a public statement to our family and friends to promise to raise Bo in a Christian home and to teach him about God. It's our prayer that he will come to know Jesus Christ at a young age. After church, we had a great lunch at Sambo & Leigh Leigh's house, followed by naps & pool time!

Family pic after church. Bo missed his morning nap and passed out in the nursery. :)

She was 'driving'. 

My journey to motherhood

Since it's Mother's Day on Sunday, I thought I'd share my journey to becoming a mother. Many of you may not know the whole story. 

I always knew I wanted to be a mother and I always wanted to be able to stay home (I am SO happy that I am able to do just that!). When we decided to start trying for a baby, we were hopeful that it would happen quickly. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. I quickly figured out that something wasn't right towards the end of summer in 2006. I don't ovulate on my own, so no egg, no baby. After a tough year and a very difficult Mother's Day in 2007, I was finally pregnant. That wasn't meant to be though and I had an early miscarriage in June of 2007. Of course, in hindsight, I can see how God was working to prepare me to be a mother and without that miscarriage, I wouldn't have the children I have now, but in that time, it was VERY difficult. It seemed like there were babies EVERYWHERE and I had been forgotten.

I finally got pregnant with Arabelle in Dec. 2007 and was a nervous wreck until I could feel her moving everyday. Mother's Day 2008 was a happy one as we awaited Sept. and Arabelle's arrival!

Shortly after Arabelle turned one, we began thinking about baby #2. We were unsure of how long it may take, considering it took 18 mo. to get pregnant with Arabelle, so we went ahead and decided to try for baby #2 in November 2009. I did have a totally different mindset the 2nd time around. My prayers weren't "Lord, give me a baby." but "Lord, bless us with another child in YOUR time and help me to understand and accept whatever that timing may be.". I went right back on the Clomid (medication that causes ovulation) in November and 2 weeks later, I got the positive test! We were so happy and shocked! Bo made his appearance in August and changed our little family for the better. I am so happy to be Arabelle and Bo's mother and have to opportunity to see them grown and change everyday as I stay home and raise them. I am also blessed to have a great husband and father by my side. :)

Mother's Day 2008--7 mo. pregnant with Arabelle

Mother's Day 2009--Arabelle was 7.5 mo. old

Mother's Day 2010 & pregnant with Bo

I am looking forward to Sunday and taking a picture with both my babies!

Mother's Day always reminds me of 2007, when we'd been trying for almost a year, and the sad feelings I had that day. So, as we honor our mothers on Sunday, take a minute to pray for those who are struggling with infertility. It is more common than you may think......

10 years

Jared and I met 10 years ago, today. I can't believe it's been that long. It seems like just a few years ago that I saw him from across the gym in Cochran. I sure thought he was cute! As shy as we both were/are, it's a wonder we ever spoke to one another.

We've come along way in 10 years. Graduated high school, started college, got married, finished college, moved back home, and had 2 kids. I can definitely say it's been a great 10 years and I'm just as excited about the next 10!

Here are a few pictures from when we first started dating. :)

Real life

We had quite the day. Nothing unusual going on....just a full day at home. Both kids have congestion & snotty noses, Bo has been extra whiny/clingy and Arabelle, well, she's 2. We survived with painting, coloring, counting, snacks, a little TV, swinging on the front porch, and playing. Oh, yes, and Arabelle chooses to not wear clothes these days. I didn't have it in me to argue with her today.

And this was before noon!

Arabelle uses that chicken leg as a salt shaker. Why was she salting Bo?

Oh, and we played with stickers. She wanted to put them all over me, but I talked her into letting me put them on her instead.

She did say one thing that was really funny. I had finally gotten Bo down for a nap and got her lunch ready. We were at the table and she said "I didn't know Bo was asleep.". I asked her where she thought he was. Her response? "I thought he went to Wal-mart.". Ha!

Best Friends

Arabelle told me the other day that I was her best friend. I also had to go get a dinosaur cup to drink out of, like her. That's what best friends do, apparently. I know the day will come, too fast, I'm sure, that she has another best friend, but for now, I'm going to enjoy being her best friend. :)

I was putting a band-aid on this morning (cut my finger fixing lunch yesterday....Arabelle told me "You gotta be careful!") and she said she didn't like the plain old band-aid. She quickly got out a Dora band-aid for me. Of course, she needed one too. Usually I require blood for a band-aid, but I figured best friends need matching Dora band-aids, right?

I love that girl!