Soccer practice

Will had his first night of soccer practice last night and was soooo excited! A couple of his friends are on his team and they had the best time. On the way there Will was asking who they were going to beat. We explained to him that it was just practice and they weren't beating anyone. During practice they divided up and half of them put on red shirts and they played against each other. Will thought it was a real game against each other, so he kept score. When they were done he came running to us saying "Yea, we won 2-0"....he's just a little competitive. They don't even keep score when the games start, but I'm sure he'll keep track of it.

Stretch......

I think the coach is wondering what she has gotten her hands into

and this is what Caroline did the whole time, I don't know if we'll be making it to any more practices

Look Who's 1

I cannot believe a year has already gone by and Caroline is 1. It has gone by way to fast, but I do have to say this is my favorite stage. I remember how fun it was with Will, but makes me kind of sad knowing that she is probably my last baby. She started walking a lot better last week and has the cutest little waddle. She LOVES her big brother so much and gets so excited when we pick him up from school, after screaming the whole way there. She is not a very good passenger and does not like her big girl car seat any better than the infant one. She had a very fun Birthday Party Saturday with lots of family and friends. Thanks to everyone who came to celebrate with us!!!

Happy 4th Birthday!!!

What a Happy Birthday it was...Will was four on Friday and had such a great Birthday weekend! For the ones who know me know that I am not an emotional person, but I teared up when Will walked in my room Friday morning. He comes and wakes me up every morning and Friday he walked in and said "Mommy today I'm four, I'm a really big boy now and not your little boy anymore". Oh my gosh...I started tearing up and could not get those words out of my mind all day. I love that little boy or "big boy" sooooo much! He has the biggest zest for life more than anyone else I know! I never knew that I would be happy playing cars everyday or playing football, baseball, and soccer could be so much fun. I know that it can only get better and can't wait to see what the future holds for my "little man"!!

Friday morning Will's "brother-friend" JD came and played, then I took them to Chick-fil-A (where we stayed for 2 hours).


Then Friday night Nana, Papa, Fafa, G, Brian, Sydney, and Claire came up and we grilled hamburgers and had some delicious chocolate cake!

Saturday was his Party at Butt's Mill Farm....and was so much fun. This was the first year that he has really been looking forward to his Birthday, he could not wait to be 4. I am so thankful that so many of his friends took the drive out to Pine Mountain to spend the day with Will. He loves so much to be with all of his family and friends, so to have them all together he didn't know what to think. After a full day of playing football, horse riding, playing on playgrounds, putt-putt, and walking in the creek...Saturday night we all went with my parents to a Columbus Lions Arena Football game. Of course Will thought it was wonderful and we'll be going back.

As we were eating dinner last night Will said..."This is the best day ever"!! I think it was one of mine too!!!

I love you so much big fella!!!

Happy Birthday and Anniversary!!

Happy 60th Birthday Nana....We Love You!!!

Happy Anniversary Nana and Papa....(39th I believe)!!

We had lots of fun last weekend in Dothan celebrating my mother's Birthday and parent's Anniversary. Of course we did a little shopping, lots of eating, and playing outside in the nice spring weather!

Will and Lillie loving on each other...we don't get to see her enough!

Can you tell Lillie is a year older than Caroline riding on her back...

lots and lots of golf cart riding!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND ST. PATTY'S DAY!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!!!

Thanks for all you do for us...like spending the afternoon at the park on your Birthday!

WE LOVE YOU!!

Everyone else......

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!!

Hope you all got out and enjoyed this wonderful sunshine!

Seven months old

"Prayer of Gratitude for Our Little Girl"

"Baby Dedication" March 8, 2009

Lord, I thank You for this precious gift of my daughter. You have given her to me and now I dedicate Caroline to You. You alone know what she needs. I release her to You to care for and protect, and I commit myself to pray for everything You put on my heart. Teach me how to pray, and guide me in what to pray for with regard to her life. Help me not to impose my own will when I'm praying for her, but rather enable me to always pray that Your will be done in her life.

Because Your Word says that every good gift comes from You, I know that You have given her to me to raise. Help me to do that. I invite You to be in control of her life. I rely on You for everything, and this day I trust my child into Your care.

This is another prayer from the book Jared got Caroline for Valentine's Day. http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=1147987019&searchurl=ds%3D30%26isbn%3D9780736921589%26n%3D100121501%26sortby%3D15 (such a sweet book!)

Once again...I cannot believe another month has gone by. You are finally drinking some formula, which I thought was never going to happen. I was ready to give up, until we were in Dothan a few weeks ago and we tried some of "cousin Dean's" and you loved it. Meghann thought it was her special touch, but I think we just finally found something you liked!

You are still not liking baby food to much, although this morning you did eat half a thing of applesauce. However....you do like our food. You love green beans, peas, and butter beans; which really surprises me.

You are trying your hardest to crawl, but can't get it figured out just yet. I give you about 3 more weeks!!

And......still your favorite thing of all is your "BIG BUBBA"!!!

Butt's Mill Farm

Monday we went to Butt's Mill Farm for a Birthday Party. It was Ashley's (the little girl in the top right picture) 6th Birthday, and was so much fun. Will has decided that's where he wants to have his party. There is so much to do there....they have about 5 different playgrounds, go-cart's, pony rides, putt-putt, and Will's favorite---the bull riding. We might be getting a season pass so we can make many visits there this spring and summer!
Tomorrow we are headed to Dothan to go see Jared's Grandmother. Please say a special prayer for her, she has been really weak and not feeling to good lately.

Six Months....Time Flies

"Prayer for My Daughter's Purpose and Future"

Lord, I pray that Caroline will find her identity in You. Help her to view herself as Your instrument and to know without a doubt that in You she is complete. Give her a clear vision for her life when setting goals for the future and a sense of purpose about what You've called her to do. Help her to see herself as You do--from her future and not from her past. Teach her to look to You as her hope for the future. May her commitment to being who You created her to be enable her to grow daily in confidence and Holy Spirit boldness.

"I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

As much as I would like to say that I came up with that prayer all on my own, it really came from the book in the picture above. It came from her Daddy for Valentine's Day and it is wonderful. Will got one too and they both have the most precious prayers in them.

Caroline....You were 6 months old on Friday. I cannot believe how fast time has flown by, you are half way to a year! It is going by way to fast. You are the sweetest little girl, Nana and Papa were here this weekend and said they did not hear you cry one single time. A few weeks ago you started sitting up on your own, and love to sit on the floor and play with your toys. You love your bath time with your BIG BUBBA every night. You are not liking your cereal anymore and will not eat any vegetables. Although, you seem very interested in our food when we are eating. I am trying to switch you over to formula, but you are not liking that either. Maybe next month!! You are sleeping much better now...one night a few weeks ago I let you cry it out. You screamed for one hour straight and since that night you have slept all night long. (except for a couple of times just crying out!) I wish I could freeze time and just keep you the way you are right now, but I know that can't happen. I Love you more and more everyday!!

Our Friday Morning......

This is what Will has been doing this morning.....and since I've been labeling this picture, he's even dragged more stuff out. You'll have to click on the picture above to see what everything is. What an imagination he has, pretty self entertaining!! Now I have to go help him clean it all so Nana and Papa won't see this big mess when they get here!

This is what Caroline did for probably 20 minutes this morning while I cleaned her room. Do you see the difference between the two???

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's to me from my sweet son!! Today at Will's school they treated there mama's to a luncheon. They served us spaghetti and meatballs; salad with strawberry's, walnuts, and a vinaigrette dressing; bread with an olive oil dipping sauce; and red velvet cake. I started eating before I thought about taking a picture of my plate. The little kido's really enjoyed serving us and we enjoyed it too! I know I've said it a million times, but I just love his school and his wonderful teacher's.

Will and his best buddy Cullen waiting patiently for their mama's!

Thanks Mrs. Stone, she knows exactly what little boys want!

Will and his little Valentine.....

How long is too long??

This little girl with this big smile is not smiling at the moment. I am sitting in the dark computer room trying to get my mind off of her screaming right now. She has been screaming for about 30 minutes now, and I don't know how much longer I can let her go before I go put her passy in her mouth. By the way, it is 2 a.m. I am trying not to let her win, but it is breaking my heart!! She was sick with a cold the last two weeks and could hardly breath, so therefore could not sleep good. She got to where she would wake up 3 to 5 times a night for me to put her passy in her mouth and I would have to feed her at least one of those times. Her nose is no longer stopped up, so therefore she should not still be waking up 5 times a night. Okay it's been 45 minutes now, but slowing down and will take about a 30 second pause to breath I guess. I've been in there a couple of times to pat her and let her know it's okay, but I think that may only make it worse. Any of you that have heard her cry know how loud it gets, she has definitely got a set of lungs on her. I'm hoping that it doesn't wake Will up! Please pray that we make it through the week and I don't give in. And really....how long is too long to let her scream??

"I'm OBSESSED with Football"

From the words of a 3 1/2 year old! And he definitely is, I have never seen a little boy love football as much as he does. Not only does he want to play it ALL OF THE TIME, wear his uniforms EVERYDAY, but he also wants to watch it on TV too. I have had to record Football games for him because he was devastated when I told him Football season was almost over. It doesn't matter who's playing, he will pick which color he likes the best and pull for that team. He doesn't quite understand it if his team loses, doesn't like that too much! As you can see he's decided that he is an Auburn fan. He likes Troy too, since he's been to a couple of their games with my parents. He will occasionally pull for "Crimson Tide" (as he calls it), so there's still hope. He has about ten different outfits that he likes to change in to all day long. As soon as he gets home from school, he walks in stripping off his clothes and tries to decide if he's going to be Auburn, Falcons, Troy, Florida Gators, Georgia Bulldogs, or Alabama. Sometimes he'll be all of them together against "Mistersippi" (Mississippi) or "Oplahoma" (Oklahoma). This week he has gotten his friends playing tag football at school. Although he'd much rather tackle, his teacher got them playing tag (thank goodness)!! Although, I am glad he loves sports so much, I do hope he'll get interested in some other things now that Football season is over!

On another note.....Like I've told my sister-n-law before.....Will can take care of himself! He's done it before, the first time he was only two. Saturday morning I woke up at 8:30 to find this in the kitchen....

Yes...that is a half eaten frozen waffle!!Instead of waking his very tired parent's up, Will took it upon himself to get dressed (of coarse in an Auburn t-shirt) and cook himself some breakfast. He does love his waffles, maybe even more than football!!

Five months old!!!

Caroline...today you are five months old!! Time goes by so fast, we have had a busy past couple of months. Which is why I accidentally skipped your 4 month post...I'm going to try to be better at doing it every month. You have had lots of first the past two months. You had your first Thanksgiving, first Christmas, first taste of cereal, juice, formula, and sweet potatoes. You were a little hesitant of the cereal at first, but loved the sweet potatoes from the first bite. I think you are going to love food as much as the rest of us. At your 4 month appointment, which was two weeks late....you were 251/2 in. long and weighed 14 pounds. Dr. MacLeod said you were just perfect, and I agree!! You are still such a good baby most of the time. Although lately you are learning how to turn the crying on and off very quickly to get what you want....like being held! I can't get over how alert you are, you will stare a hole in the wall. My favorite time of the day with you is in the morning. When you wake up you will stay in your bed probably 15 minutes just talking. I love to listen to you on the monitor. When I go in your room, you get so excited when you see me and just grin from ear to ear. You make us work to get a smile or laugh from you most of the time, Will gets most of them. You think he is soooo funny. He loves to make you laugh!! We are still working on the nap thing, you were doing okay and taking a good afternoon nap, then you got a bad cold last week and stopped the nap and also stopped sleeping good at night. One night you woke up probably 10 times!! Last night you slept till five and you have been asleep now for about two hours, so I'm hoping you're getting back to normal. Your little personality is developing more and more everyday, and I just can't wait to see what the next day will bring!!

1st Thanksgiving with "Cousin Dean"

1st Christmas at Nana and Papa's

1st taste of cereal, of course fed by Will

Sweet Potatoes "YUMMY"

"Almost" Sitting up

"Cozy" in PJ's

My "SWEET" Baby

HAPPY 2009!!!

Well....2008 is over, what a year we had!! We ended the year in sickness, but are all better now! We had a very Merry Christmas. Santa came to our house a little early, so we could go to Dothan Christmas Eve and not take all of those toys! We made sure to leave Santa with lots of Cookies and milk for making a special visit to our house early. Jack (our little elf) got into them and had chocolate all over his face the next morning! Will came in our room and woke us up at 4:45 that morning, we did manage to get him to stay in our bed for about an hour!

Will got everything plus more than he asked for. He was a little disappointed about his red helmet. He wanted another football helmet, but since he already has two, I thought he could use a baseball helmet. He got over it!! Well...I tried to download a video twice of him seeing his presents from Santa, but our Internet cut off yesterday and this morning when I tried.

He is set for just about every sport there is now. Including football, baseball, basketball, hockey, and even bowling. Caroline got a box of diapers that Will asked Santa for and a few other little toys. She wasn't as excited about Christmas morning as her brother was.

After an already long morning we headed to Dothan. It was so much fun this year with all of the new babies. I can't imagine what next year willl be like when they will all be running around. Somehow I left my camera at home so I have no pictures to share. But, it was a wonderful, long weekend!!