2013 Recap

Hey there! Remember me? I used to blog here, but then life got busy and I got behind. I kept saying I would blog, but I kept putting it off and I got behind. Then it seemed like a lot of work to go back and try and update everything so I just never did it.

But then, I started thinking about all of the things that I didn't post about. I felt guilty for not documenting our memories. So, I have made a goal for 2014 to try and post more often. Ideally I would like to post once a week, but if I can just do once a month I'll be happy with that.

Rather than going back and adding in posts, I thought I would try and do one big "catch all" post and just highlight the big stuff. So, here goes....

Aiden played his first year of baseball in the spring. He was on the Orioles. Baseball was totally new to him, and while he had fun, I don't think it was really his sport. He hasn't asked to sign up for baseball again, he says he wants to try soccer instead. 

Sophia turned one and we had a Minnie Mouse birthday party for her. We had a bounce house for the older kids, but I'm pretty sure Sophia enjoyed it just as much as the big kids. 

Jenny finished second grade, and we had a busy summer. We spent lots of time sleeping in, going to the pool, and hanging out with friends and family. We took a trip to Tennessee with my mom, brother, SIL, niece, and cousins. Kenny and Aiden had a good time at VBS and we also went strawberry picking.

In August, Aiden started his first year of school in Pre-K and Jenny started third grade. I am proud to say that they are both doing really well, and amaze me with how much they learn! 

August was a busy month, because we also moved. I always forget how difficult it is to move. I hope the next time we move I can hire movers!

Jenny turned 8 on August 30. I ate lunch with her at school, and we had a small surprise party for her with a couple of her friends. She didn't think we were going to do anything for her birthday since we had just moved, so she was really surprised!

In the fall we went to a pumpkin patch, corn maze, and we took a trip to Helen Georgia with my family. The kids also dressed up for Halloween. Jenny was Harley Quinn (a character from Batman), Aiden was Robin, and Sophia was a bumble bee. I loved that she was a bumble bee, because Jenny was also a bumble bee the first time she went trick or treating. :)

The holidays passed by too quickly, as they always do. Thanksgiving was spent at my cousin's house. We had a wonderful Christmas, and my children (and Jaime and I) were very spoiled with some really great gifts! We celebrated New Year's Eve at my mom's house with family. 

 2013 was a difficult year with my Dad passing away, but we made it through. It wasn't easy, but I know God was with us every step of the way. 2013 was also a year full of blessings. I am hoping that 2014 brings many more blessings, and hopefully less heartache. I just wanted to say that I appreciate each and everyone of you who said a prayer for my family this year. 

"And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” Matthew 21:22

One Year

Dear Sophia,

It is hard to believe a whole year has passed since you came into our lives. I don't even know where to begin to tell you just how wonderful this past year has been. I just hope your Daddy and I can show you how much we love you everyday. You have made our world so much better, Sweet Girl!

You are getting closer and closer to walking every day. You have stood on your own and even taken a step or two, but then you sit right back down. I am not rushing you to walk at all. I know you will do it in your own time, when you are ready. For now, I am enjoying getting to carry you everywhere with us. I know once you start to walk, you won't want to be held as much. You are an expert crawler and cruiser. So, for now, you get where you want to go on your own, and it doesn't bother you that you aren't walking.

I don't know what your height is yet, your one year check up is next week. You went to the doctor yesterday because you are sick, and your weight was 17lbs 14oz. You are usually in the 25 percentile in weight, so I imagine that is where you are at. Developmentally, you are right on track and I just praise God for your good health!

You make lots of noise all the time, and you know a few words. You can say, "dada", "mama", "Aiden", "Jenny", "uh-oh", "baby", and you recently started saying "Grandpa" too. Your brother and sister are quick to give you whatever you need/want, so there really isn't much reason for you to talk just yet. I have to remind them to be more patient, and wait to see if you can say the word for whatever it is you want at the time.

You are really good at giving us kisses when we ask for them. You are such a sweetheart! Sometimes you will come up to me and just lay your head in my lap. It is the sweetest thing! You are such a love bug! You have also started trying to blow kisses at us. You have been waving bye-bye for several months, but sometimes you are so funny about it. A few days ago you crawled over to your car seat, climbed in, and then waved bye-bye at me. Silly girl! You also love to put your hands over your face and then I will say, "where's Sophie?" and you will uncover your face and I'll say, "there she is!". After you uncover your face you will also try to say "there she is!". It is precious!

You love to dance! Every time you hear music playing, whether it is on the TV, the car radio, our phones when they ring, or even if someone is singing, you bob your little head and shake your hips. If you are standing up, you will move your whole body up and down along with the music. It is the cutest thing! You also love when we sing to you. Your favorite songs I sing are: Jesus Loves Me, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Mary had a Little Lamb, and The Itsy Bitsy Spider (you are learning the hand movements to this song). Sometimes you even try to sing along.

You also love books! I usually read to you every night before bed, and sometimes during the day. You like to look at the pictures and I point stuff out to you in the book. I love reading, and I hope you will always have a passion for books.

You are getting really good at "Pat-a-Cake". Grandma started teaching it to you a few months ago, but lately you have gotten really good at doing the hand movements. Sometimes you'll be doing them even when we aren't singing the song. Cutie pie!

You have been drinking milk for several weeks now. Occasionally you still get formula, but not very often. You are still taking a bottle, but you can also drink from a sippy cup. We will probably take your bottle away soon. Right now you usually only get it at nap time and bedtime. You are a great eater! You love all kinds of foods, and so far, you haven't been allergic to anything. Your favorites are: scrambled eggs, hot dogs, chicken nuggets, spaghetti-o's, cheetos, cereal bars, bread, apples, mandarin oranges, strawberries, and bananas.

Jenny loves to take care of you. She helps me out a lot! She loves to carry you around and teach you things. She reads to you a lot, and is so caring with you. Aiden just adores you! He loves to play with you. You like to chase him, and you like when he chases you. He has so many nicknames for you: Soph-a-loaf, Sophie Girl, Sophie Baby, and Soph. They both think you are the best little sister! They are both genuinely happy when you learn new things, and genuinely upset when you are upset. Every time they go to your doctor appointments when you get vaccines, they cry right along with you! I just love watching the bond between the three of you develop and flourish. You have an incredible bond with Jenny and Aiden, and I pray that it always stays that way. I hope that the three of you will grow up to be best friends.

You are just the sweetest little girl, and you are so petite. I just love spending day in and day out with you. I cannot describe what a blessing you are to our family! We all just love you so much, you are every one's little baby.

God has amazing things in store for your little life, Sophia. I pray that you will seek Him, follow Him, and live out all of the big things He has in store for your life, sweet baby. You are a masterpiece, created for your Daddy and me right now, but for the rest of the world later. I love you so much, you will always be my baby girl.

Love always,

Mama and Daddy

Easter Weekend 2013

*This post is pretty long, and full of lots of pictures!*


Easter is one of my favorite holidays. Christmas is probably my most favorite, followed closely by Easter. After all, as a Christian, Easter is the center of my entire faith! Easter has also come to be a day where we spend time as a family, and create memories together that I hope will last a lifetime.

We started out by having an Easter Egg Hunt at my parent's house on Saturday. We had 40 eggs between two kids. It is so much fun seeing how much they truly enjoy looking for the eggs. They get so excited when they find one, and their little faces light up with joy!

After the egg hunt we had a traditional Easter lunch with ham, potato salad, and green beans. Yum! Jenny loves potato salad, and this was her first time to eat the homemade kind. She said she liked it better than the kind you buy at the store. 

Sweet cousins.

Allie Kay, my niece - already almost two months old! The sweetest, most beautiful niece in the world! :-)

I hope these two grow up to be best friends!

Aiden had a game that afternoon, so we took a break from Easter activities to watch his baseball game. He played well! He needs some more practice on catching the ball, what to do after he gets the ball, and what to do after he hits the ball. 

After Aiden's game we came home and ate leftovers. Then we colored some more eggs with Aunt Jillian. 

After we colored eggs it was getting late and time to come home. Everyone knows that the Easter Bunny doesn't come until you are asleep! We came home and the kids rushed to get their pajamas on and get ready for bed. We waited close to an hour to make sure they were fully asleep, and then The Bunny went to work.

The tradition in our house is that the night before Easter, we set our our Easter baskets in hopes that the Easter Bunny will fill them while we are asleep. This year, we were also hoping that the Easter Bunny would bring a basket for Sophia since she didn't have one. Last year on Easter she was only four days old, so she didn't get a basket.

 The Easter Bunny put out a trail of eggs from their rooms to their baskets! He also hid 20 candy-filled eggs around the house.

The Easter Bunny came! He brought Sophia a basket, too! 

Jenny and Aiden woke up bright and early this morning, before the sun had even come up! We woke up Sophia and headed out into the living room to see if the Easter Bunny had brought anything.

After emptying their baskets, we all got ready to go eat breakfast with my parents, my brother, my SIL, and my niece. 

After breakfast we went back to my parent's house and just hung out as a family. We went on a walk around the neighborhood and played Old Maid with Jenny and Aiden. It was just a fun time to be together as a family!

We had a wonderful Easter! We have so many reasons to celebrate and be thankful this year! We are incredibly blessed - Praise The Lord!! Christ is Risen! My Redeemer Lives! I am just beyond thankful for His sacrifice, the ultimate sacrifice!

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" 
1 Peter 1:3

 "He is not here; he has risen, just as he said..." Matthew 28:6