What A Year

2011 has been a great year. Many things I never saw coming, i.e. having a girl or moving to a new state. This past month has been a great month, but a month of change. I thought I always would love change and then when reality set in and all my boxes were packed I got scared. I was so comfortable where I was in MY town and at MY church and with MY friends. But as a great friend once said, God didn't call us to be comfortable. Saying goodbye to our church family was like a death Nelson and I said. That night after all the tears and saying goodbye was over he and I went up to the church for something. I was trying to explain to him the heaviness I was feeling. The only time I have every moved was when leaving for college at 18 years old and that was fun. This move was leaving memories and friendships I had created as a young adult, wife, and mom. It was really hard and I was scared. Scared about this new place and not being in my comfort zone. I was about to go to a place where I was going to be watched and people would say, if the preacher's wife watches it, says it, and does it, then it's okay for me to do. I confess I watch the Kardashians and get made fun of by my family.
We packed up and headed out to our new home! When we got here and saw all the people waiting to help move us in, saw the work they had done to the house, the cards of encouragement(the week before I moved I received several cards from my new church members telling me they were specifically praying for me because they know how hard it is to move and leave the people you love), and the food they brought. They poured out their love to us and at that moment God let me know, It's okay, I'm going to take care of you here just like I did there.

I can honestly say I have fallen in love with this little "Mayberry" town and these sweet people. The sign coming into town says home of the nice people and the nice town. And that is all I have been saying. We are excited to see why God had us come to this town. Nelson has done an amazing job already as pastor and I look forward to many years to come. Today at church an old man brought me some trees to plant in the yard. He told me I'll see the full results in 30 years. 30 years, and yes he really expected us to be here in 30 years from now. If that's what God wants I'd be happy to stay here.

Sidenote, my little lady is 6 months old today. We now have us a sitting lady with one tooth. She fits right in here in Mississippi!

5 Months

It is crazy how fast time flies! Last year I posted that next Thanksgiving there would be 4 new babies and Thanksgiving is already here and we have an 11 month, 6 month, 5 month, and a 4 month old. I wish time could just slow down.

I can't believe Caroline has been here for 5 months already, at times I feel like I just had her and at others it seems like I don't even remember life without her. It's funny how your heart just grows.
Miss Caroline, she is still the sweetest baby. She really doesn't' cry. When she gets tired she makes this moan, I rock her and out she goes for a little nap. She really doesn't ever cry to eat, probably cause I feed her still every 2 1/2 -3 hours I don't give her time to get hungry.

Things she loves: watching Carson, me smelling her feet, not sure why but she laughs hysterically when I smell her feet and tell her they are stinky, her baths, her Exersaucer, Swing, being held, eating, sleeping, watching Foodnetwork with me, being held, her buggy, her DADDY (wrapped is all I have to say about the two of them), just about most things she likes.

Things she doesn't like: being put down if I'm holding her when she is tired, riding in the car at night, lay at an angle (she loves sitting up in your lap), and that's about it.

Her day: She wakes around 8:30-9 for the day, eats, plays in one of her contraptions while we get ready, usually go for a walk, run our errand and she sleeps on the road around 10:30 for about 40 minutes on the dot, eats, plays on the floor or swing while I do lunch and nap with Carson, she usually goes down somewhere around 1 and sleeps til around 4-4:30(she usually wakes in there to eat but stays asleep somehow), Carson usually is up around 2-3 and we watch tv, play on the computer, or read while she finishes up her nap, we eat around five, I feed her then she might nap again for about 30 minutes or we go somewhere and she'll stay up and just go to bed when we get home around 7 and she sleep through the night until about 5-6 am, eats, and back out. I usually have to give her the paci a few times in there too.

Other things that happened over the past month but the pictures are at the top:

We went to the pumpkin patch twice

Honey, Maggie, Courtney, and Miley came for our Fall Fest

Halloween-We had a Tiger, Dog, and Batman

With only a week left on Tuesday living in Baton Rouge we have been packing and picking out stuff for the new house. We have lived here 11 1/2 years and feel like we just moved here sometimes. We LOVE Baton Rouge and will miss it, fortuantely we're only 1 1/2 away!!

Our current church has been so kind to us during this transition and really poured out love on us. I've cried quite a bit but excited at the same time. I am excited about getting the house ready, but again will miss my friends and church family SO much.

Never Say Never

Never say never is something my mom tried to instill in me when I was young but I was quite the hard headed one and said the scary word never quite a bit. I have eaten a many words in my day. For example:

-In 9th grade I told my grandma I would never ever in a million years date Nelson because he was too funny to ever date (she thought we were dating when she met him and asked me had I ever kissed him)= we've been together 13 1/2 years

-I would never became a teacher= taught for 5 years

-I would never move to the country=moved to Central which is country on the outside of Baton Rouge

-And said the one state I would never move to is Mississippi=My new state

Yep we are moving to the good ole' state of Mississippi!!! I realized that MS was ranked 50 in about every poll, but my Louisiana isn't too far behind with a nice ranking of 49 and I love Louisiana. After meeting the sweet people and their amazing southern cooking I came to like Mississippi and am very excited about our move.

About 3 months ago Nelson got a call from a church asking if he was interested in being a head pastor at their church. We interviewed and visited the church and really felt like this is where God was leading us. Two weeks ago we went in view of a call (aka Nelson preached and the church voted on whether or not they wanted Nelson as their pastor). We went and loved everything about it. They are good sweet people who loved on my family and welcomed us with open arms. Their only flaw, they are mostly Ole' Miss fans so it made for lovely bantering. They voted yes and told me to pick out my paint colors and if I wanted carpet and they would have the house all ready for us when we go in a month. !

This church has a parsonage which is a house they built for the pastor and they basically just give it to you while you are pastoring their church. It is literally in the church parking lot. I don't even have to drive to church, but now I can never be late. I get to treat it as my house and do with it how I want but don't have a house note and if we move one day I just hand back the keys. Now I see why God had me stay in my apartment so long. Now I don't have to try to sell a house.
We are very excited about going but at the same time very sad to be leaving our wonderful church family here. They are all we have known since we have lived here. They watched us get married, grow up, and have children. I know God will help me fall in love with our new church, but I sure will miss it here. Fortunately we are only an hour and 45 minutes away so I'll be visiting quite often.

I am super excited that I get to hear Nelson preach every Sunday and watch him do what he was called to do. He will be an amazing pastor!

Carson is excited because he has a tree in the front yard he gets to climb and a brand new playground in the backyard. Right now is an exciting time getting to pick out new stuff for the house. God has been great to us and He won't stop now.

4 months

Caroline is probably at one of my favorite ages, but I said that about 3 months too. My sister, SIL, and I are pretty convinced that after the first 3 months it gets fun. It is hard in the beginning, you don't know this little person and why in the heck they are crying!

Sidenote: My picture editing is thanks to this AMAZING app I found for $.99, Camera +

The story: This was her first time in jeans and I had rolled them so I thought she was too cute and I wanted a picture. When I told Nelson to stand her up she just looked at Nelson and dropped that lip. She never cried just pouted.Now that Caroline is sleeping at night, more routine during the day, and smiling and laughing, it makes it fun and rewarding. She is such a happy and content baby. She can some days go without crying except when letting me know she is up. She does great on the road and if she gets sleepy she just quietly falls asleep in her carseat.

A few new milestones: She found her toes, has moved to a tub that she sort of sits up in, laughs out loud when tickled, and can finally go on my hip. I love once they can hip ride, it just makes it easier. She hasn't mastered it, she will still try to lean forward, but we are working on it.

The Lord was gracious in giving such good baby. She still loves to eat every 2 finally sometimes 3 hours during the day. She usually goes to bed anywhere from 7:30-8 and wakes around 5-6 to eat and back to sleep until 9 ish (usually). We are just having fun with her.

Some other things happening:

We went to the fair in DeRidder. My parents, sister, and I can't ride things that spin so our 81 year grandmother rode the rides with the kids. My dad had to stop her from going down the zip slide, he said her bones were too brittle. She is a trooper.Climbing trees- Carson loves going and climbing the oaks and pretending to be making popcornNelson and I did get to go to the LSU/Florida game. And the kids did great, except Caroline wouldn't sleep for them.

Up next: A potential move! 5 month update will be almost Thanksgiving-crazy, but next is Halloween. We have a Captain America and a Tinkerbell this year!

Sweet Caroline...Bom Bom Bom

Sweet Caroline the song we sing to her almost everyday and so grateful she is here. One year ago today I found out I was pregnant with her.It had felt like the last 14 months we had been trying so why was I to think any different. I was crampy, moody, and just waiting to start! Friday the 15th my parents had come in to keep Carson so Nelson and I could celebrate his birthday by going to our favorite-Texas de Brazil and to see "The Social Network."Saturday we woke up and decided to take Carson to the church to ride the 4 wheeler with my dad before the Dressler's got here and before we headed to the LSU/McNeese game. Nothing had happen on my side and I was just getting curious why I hadn't started yet, still not thinking it could be possible to be pregnant. We got home around noon and everyone else was outside. I needed to run to the bathroom before getting lunch ready so I figured why not just find out I'm not pregnant so I don't wonder the rest of the day.

I had a digital test in the cabinet that I had saved for when I would know for sure I was pregnant. I usually used the line ones because it hadn't gotten so hard to see the words 'not pregnant.' Something about a line not appearing didn't hurt as bad. Again, this was the only one I had so I just sort of did the "close your eyes during a scary movie with one eye open thing," maybe that would let the blow not be so bad. Typing this makes me smile again, I had the test sitting on the floor and I just waited. When I saw from a distance only one word I remember shaking, saying oh my gosh, I'm pregnant, I'm pregnant, there is only one word. The next thing I remember is running out the door and shouting "I know I said I wouldn't do it this way but I'm so excited that I'm pregnant." My family just started hugging me and went nuts with me. I started crying when Nelson and I finally got a hug in. I called family and friends. It was truly one of the best days of my life.I remember going to the LSU game that night, I didn't care a lick about the game. All I could do was focus on this sweet baby in me. Trying to remember all the pregnancy do's and don'ts, trying to figure out how many weeks I'd be at different times of the year, so excited to tell people we weren't going to find out the sex, getting to make my first doctor's appointments, and so much more.

Before I ever got pregnant with Caroline and it was taking a while I told my SIL that whenever I have this baby I will understand why God had me wait for her. And as only He can do and He did was carry me through each month with my verse, "but those who WAIT on the Lord He WILL renew your strength." And month after month he did that. He also taught me humility in having to ask others for prayers, contentment in Him and only Him, trusting His voice and Word. I am thankful that He waited, my Sweet Caroline is truly a gift from the Lord!

Happy 3rd Birthday

September 30th my little man turned 3! He is quite a character. Today we painted a wooden turtle for him and I asked him what his turtle's name was and he told me Furtle. "Furtle the Turtle and he needs a drink of water." If he thinks I'm going to say no he always follows it up with "That's a prelly (pretty) good idea, that's fine mommy, see I have a happy heart" and he does this cheesy grin. I must say I laugh so much when he talks. The other day he put his mouth on my stomach and said come out. I asked what he was saying and he told me he was just trying to tell Connor hey. He is convinced Connor is in there. At least once a week he asks about him. Note to self, next go around refer to the baby as baby the whole time and not what I think it will be.

We had his party at Chuck E Cheese and it turned out perfect. We showed up at 9:30 am ( I know early, but kids get up early and the LSU game was at 11:20) and we were done at 11! I left with some leftover cupcakes and gifts and no cleanup. My kind of party.

Caroline was so good. She slept a good part of the party! Now that he is 3 it is fun watching the different traits he has from Nelson and me. He is a ham and loves to perform for anyone willing to watch or listen-Nelson. SHY is no where near this child. He loves to talk, which would come from me! He is very laid back and has Nelson's temperment, not too much makes him mad.

His life at the moment is mostly just playing. Courtney does "school" with Maggie so I figured we should try. Our school is short and usually involves lots of moving and about 10 minutes. We sing, dance, puzzles, and play I Spy with our shapes and colors. He usually wakes up around 8:30, naps around noon for about 2-3 hours, goes to bed around 9. He LOVES Toy Story 3. We watch it everyday. He loves to play on our phones, dress up, reading while using the bathroom, Brady, playgrounds, and getting dirty. He is 100% boy and makes my day. I can't wait to see how different he and Caroline are. He has such a sweet heart and likes to make others happy. He tells me after Sunday School he was kind to one another and didn't push anyone. I just love this little boy!

My mom warned me that age 3 was the age I needed to keep my eye on him even closer because he is trying to do like me. Example, he needed to put daddy's tie on so I found him and he had wrapped the tie around his neck like daddy, or he pushed a chair to the counter got up there and when I caught him he said he needed medicine to feel better. Today I was playing with Caroline on the floor and he was playing with his toys, I walked out a second and came back and he was playing leap like the frogs over his sister. When I asked what he was doing he said I obeyed, I just playing with my favorite sister. Did I mention he tries to wiggle himself out of any kind of trouble. I can't wait to see what God has in store for my little man.

3 months

Happy 3 months- this is pretty much what Miss Caroline does all the time, just lay and smile. She is a really a happy baby, but when she gets mad everyone knows it!!! Everyone ask if her temperament matches her red hair and I tell them when she gets mad it does.
She and Carson loves going for walks. We took Carson to Chuck E Cheese and he fell in love. We are now having his party there next week and he can't wait. I can't believe he'll be 3, how did time go so fast.

Here she is all rolly! She weight 17 pounds now, wears 6-9 month clothes, and about to be in size 3 diapers. She still eats every 2 hours, but went 10 hours last night!!!!! She went to bed at 7 pm and woke at 5 am to eat then back to sleep until I woke her at 9 am. She loves her sleep like her daddy and brother. We also gave her the boot out of our room the other night and maybe that's why she is sleeping longer, we don't hear her grunts. She is such a sweet baby!

She is a talker. I had to start putting her in the church nursery early because she talks so much and so loud. She has finally started to let others give her a bottle and it has been nice.Carson has been so fun lately with all the things his little imagination comes up with. Here he was pretending we were on a camping trip in the woods.
Nelson recovering from knee surgery. This was a crazy 2 weeks. Four weeks ago he was hurting so he went to an ortho and that day it was determined his knee was pretty messed up and he would need to have knee surgery the next week. Caroline went with me and she was great. Monday of that week Caroline woke up screaming and with a fever of 100.9. I took her to the doctor and she had a UTI that was abnormally high. Her doctor said since she is so young with high numbers she needs to see a urologists to make sure there is no reflux of the kidneys. We go in a few weeks. We are praying it was just a fluke UTI and there are no further problems. On Wednesday was Nelson's surgery and while in surgery my mom called and said she was taking Carson to urgent care because he was screaming with stomach pain. He had either constipation or stomach spasms(?). That evening when I brought Nelson home Carson was still screaming so we left Nelson drugged and out of it in the recliner and took Carson to the ER. He stopped crying right when we got there so we left and prayed he was fine. It was one of those nights. Thankfully everyone is good right now!Caroline realized that she is in love with Papaw too. For a few days she would scream when he came near, but she then started only wanting him to hold her one night.Carson was so proud of his LSU shirt and shorts like his daddy, Papaw, and Uncle CoyMeme came to BR the night before Nelson's surgery.

August 18th-September 18th brought many new wonderful memories and fun milestones. I can't wait to see what the next month brings. I'll have a 3 year old which keep reminding me every day that his party is today and I have to tell him we have x number of days left. These are truly the best days.