March Madness :)

March~ Really...Wow! Oh joy...March Madness is coming! March is a "mad" month for us. We always get zapped with illness. Poor little Parker was so ill last year with his double ear infections. It went on to long. I had just gotten over a bug. Well, here we are one year later and the bug is back. Buzz, buzz, the bug zapped Kaden really bad. He has had both ends really bad for 3 days. I got it Wed. I am hoping that Mike and Parker stay well
When we don't have illness attacking us, we keep busy. Always bigger adventures each month. Never dull around here. However, I still cherish the days that there is NOTHING going on and we can just stay home and be :)

Parker is officially 3 and 1/2 and all done with his 2-3 hour naps. I usually have a day or two each week that I catch him trying to snooze at around 4 pm and I quickly wake him up and find a good distraction. If he does fall asleep-we pay a big price at night...ugg! He had a whole week off of school for winter break so we made a special trip to see Kayleigh Bugg and Caroline. Parker was thrilled to go to Kayleigh's house and play with her trains :) We always have an awesome time with them and it was so much fun to see the girls. We are happy that they didn't move to far away.

(Parker had fun with the paint outdoors-and enjoyed painting Kaden's head)

(Dr. Parker, checking out Caroline's heart)

(Kaden was in awe a little too much of Carolines hair-she loved it as you can see..NOT!)

Parker just had his first dentist visit and he made it through! I tried back in Jan to have him get a cleaning with our family dentist. But he was scared and we chose not to go through and traumatize him. So, I took him to a local Pediatric Dentist! LOVE Brookstone Pediatrics :) Crazy thing is that they now recommend 1 year old vists?! So, I scheduled Kaden to go at 15 months. Might as well de-sensitize him now so he can have a full and thorough cleaning by 3.

(this lasted about 2 minutes and we ended up doing the exam with Mommy)

Kaden is officially 14 months and just inches away from walking. It is really nice not having to carry around a 30 lb 1year old...However, it was so nice when he would stay in one place. Now, I can not keep up with him~ he is mesmerized with the toilets, trashcans, mommy's computer mouse, basically anything that he is NOT to be in! -If it is breakable he is for sure to break it-and if it can not be broken...he will find a way to break it. He is full of life and keeps me on my toes :) I love him so much and saying "NO-NO" to those irresistible blue eyes is hard!

I just ran another 5K with Joy and a couple of other friends! This was my third race. It was Joy's first 5K and it was so much fun to be apart of it with her. Lots of training just to get your body to run 3 miles straight...but then comes a 10K in July! More training, motivation, perseverance and hard work for a one hour race!? YUP! It is all worth it even though I have a love/hate relationship with running. I love the good changes that it makes on my body when I consistently keep it up.It's a great stress reliever. However, I hate that some days it is harder to run the distance. It is a mind over matter for sure :) But it is SO nice to have some good running buddies to help me press on! Just like life is a constant race to finish strong and serve the Lord it is the same in the races.I always want to do better then my last time and I never want to stop. I hope to keep it up.

Mike is forever the same godly, loving, supportive, PATIENT, fun, husband and daddy! I am so blessed and shocked at 9 years of all that he has accomplished. But the growth and the man he has become over the years has truly impressed me. He is aging and maturing but one thing is for sure... he will never outgrow his love and excitement for his SU Orange Men! He is about to enter the zone...."March Madness"!
Hilarious how it is always around his birthday....March 15th:)

Let's go Orange :)
We will let you know how they do!
Let us know if you want in on the Bracket Contest :)

Happy Valentines Day!

Free greeting card personalized with Smilebox

Parker's Valentines Party with Daddy

Parker has had a great year in 3 year old pre-school.
We have seen him develop a deeper vocabulary, better listening skills, create new friendships, learn more about God and sing some new songs.  But there is something sweeter about cherishing some of these pre-school moments on paper and those precious projects! I can't keep every paper that comes home, but there are some "musts!"
 This week we got a special "must!"
Tuesday morning, they had "Donuts with Daddy" thirty minutes before school started. Unfortuantely, Parker wasn't able to attend with daddy. Mike was out of town for work-so the teacher sent home two donuts for them to enjoy later :)
To prepare for their little event they made some special ties for daddy to wear,created some cards and special valentine crafts.  One special card for Daddy, I could not stop laughing at!
Parker's perspective of his daddy was recorded well when he verbally responded back to his teacher with the following answers;
My Dad's Name is ______MIKE______. (CORRECT!) (He hears mommy say it enough!)
My Dad is __3___ years old. (ALMOST-CORRECT just add 0 to that 3 Parker ;)
My Dad's favorite thing to do is to work.
(INCORRECT! But Daddy's favorite thing to do beside playing with his boys or watching sports is "to work the BUDGET" LOL-Well we have to teach him more about the hard worker that daddy is and how he has been a great provider for us all :)
My favorite thing to do with my dad is play puzzles. (CORRECT! That is an understatement! Computer puzzles or puzzles on the floor...Parker LOVES his puzzles!)

I am saving this "must" card for his box of keepsakes :)

Mike was able to rearrange his work schedule for Parker's Valentine Party. He was the only daddy there BUT Parker LOVED having him there!

Mike,
Thanks for being a phenomenal daddy to Parker and Kaden and an awesome & loving husband to me!
We are all proud of you and the hard work you do to provide for us.
 I know it meant the world to Parker to have you at his party.
XO
Happy Valentines Day,
Parker, Kaden and Me :)

13 months later...

Our sweet baby boy, Kaden is officially 13 months and outgrowing the "baby" world! He has become a sweet,strong-willed (oh to much like big brother),giggly, fast, happy, big blue-eyed toddler!
He is not a red-head but a blond?! Hmm, are we ever going to have a brown-haired or for that matter, brown eyed child? He resembles my side of the family, and he is definitely a "MaMa's Boy" 110%!
He cries for me if  I am out of his sight. Kaden pitches the biggest fit "like the world is going to end" when I drop him off at MOPs or the church nursery.
(I think he is SO much like his mom-apparently I acted the same way around this age...YIKES!)
 And in just a few short years, he will not have a care or cry for me?!
I love our sweet baby boy more and more!
Rewind 1 year ago....Winter 2010-
It took me awhile to bond with Kaden right after he was born! I must say that I never have once taken for granted the blessing and privilege from God to be a mom. I know that there are many women out there, longing to be mommies and would have done anything to have been in my/our shoes 1 year ago. But I am just reflecting my heart and being straight-forward and deep down honest.
I was completely overwhelmed at the care and demands Kaden required from the moment we brought him home-I was trying to figure out his different cries and felt like a failure as a mother, when he was unhappy. Above all that, I was overwhelmed with my time having to be split from him and Parker. And of course I was struck back that he came 3 weeks early! So I had a load of STRESS that was unbearable. This was our baby that screamed anytime I put him in the infant seat carrier and often took 3-4 attempts before he was content in it (making my preparation MUCH longer to get out the door).  He had horrible reflux. Thankfully he slept and was not a severe case of "colic" that often is associated with reflux. However, laundry was a complete discouragement! BUT I loved him unconditionally and didn't care that I went through 3-4 shirts a day.  Some days all he wanted was for me to hold him, and I couldn't get lunch till maybe 3:00 (which was usually when both boys were asleep). I couldn't wait for him to grow up more and become a "happy" baby~ I am so amazed that we survived and I think it was adrenaline and above all the grace of God that got me through those first 4 months! I had no sleep the first 4 months and all he wanted to do was eat. I often felt alone and wondered how I would make it to his first birthday? No family to rescue me while daddy was at work? But, at the right moments God brought the needed help and support along the way through friends and calls from my family!
Within those first 4 months we had him dedicated at church and Kaden was presented with a bible and a plaque with the meaning of his name. How encouraging it was for me at that season of life we were in, that I was longing for "peace" for him as a baby/ and his name means "peacemaker!" I was seeking to have peace and harmony in our home...and it was right before my eyes. I was focused on the "discouragements" and not looking at the gift that God gave us!
 I pray he WILL live up to his name and be a peacemaker to all.


I am thrilled to fast-forward from the winter of 2010 and announce what a peaceful little boy he has become 13 months later !

I would never trade those sleepless nights for the lessons that God taught me and the special bond I DID develop with Kaden. However, I am SO much more LOVING the sleep-filled nights this winter compared to last! :)

What an amazing peace a mama can offer when there is a full night of  "peaceful" sleep!

We have loved watching him embark upon new journeys each month  and celebrated some special occasions too. One very special occasion being his first trip/visit to New York to meet daddy's family.

We went to visit Mike's family last month for his Aunt's wedding.

It was priceless to watch the family interact and fall in love with him.{wink}

I was able to capture a special bond with him and Uncle Dan "worshipping" in church.

 It was Kaden's first time to sit in church and hear the music. He LOVED the music and what made it even better, Uncle Dan is a Music Minister in OH. "A boy after his own heart!"

We love the little peacemaker he has become!
I thank the Lord for the blessing he is to our family; and the lessons and peace we have had the past 13 months :)

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Parker's 2011 Valentine Day Card

Orange Uglad Valentine's Day Card

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Snowmaggedon 2011

Snowmaggedon 2011 visited us the 2nd week of January.
Many of my friends on FB were calling our Winter Snow/Ice Storm Snowmaggedon! It was an intense winter storm that dropped 4-9 inches of snow in our metro area. Once the snow finished, it was time for some sleet and freezing rain! So, that is why we got SNOWED IN for 3 whole days! Remember, we live in the South and these storms are rare. Therefore, little equipment (all of 11 PLOW trucks) is far from able to clear the MANY roads in GA to be out on icy roads and temperatures below 30 degrees.

 Mike NEVER stays home for work, and he stayed home for 3 days. Our driveway was a sheet of ice and we got 7 & 1/2 inches of snow (with ice on top).

We did not leave for 3 and 1/2 days! It was a lot of fun to be "snowed" in and talk with many of local friends on SKYPE and family far away! However, by day 3 we were beyond ready to get out of our neighborhood!

Parker was not too excited about sledding on a trash-can lid. I am sure it would have been more fun if friends were able to play-BUT he loved having daddy home to "play trains!"

Maybe we will have to invest in a real snow saucer now for 2012...since we have had snow hit us the last 2 years now?! HA
Here is a photo of our snow storm Last year...

(Parker in the Snow 2010)

                                              I can't wait to see the snowstorm for 2012! HA

Baby Kaden is 1! at OneTrueMedia.com

Happy New Year! Here is a review of 2010 in photos and videos of our baby boy Kaden, who officially turned 1 on 12.28.10! What a blessing he has been to our family. Looking forward to a new year of adventures with our family!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Happy 1st Birthday, Baby Kaden!

Today is the day...Baby Kaden is officially one! {sigh..tear}

  
                                    
 I feel like just last month I was sitting in Tri-Age waiting for the verdict to see if  I was going to have this baby before the end of the year.

Here is Kaden's birthday story and a sweet reflection of mommy's denial and daddy's joy that our baby was coming on 12.28.09! 
(If you don't want all the details...then just skip to the bottom).
I have posted a video of the birthday boy eating his first Ice-Cream Cake! It is hilarious!)

The beginning of December, 2009, I was overwhelmed with the fact that I was "supposedly" going to have a c-section about 2 and 1/2 weeks after Christmas. I had no energy and really didn't want to put up any Christmas decorations! Well, I got up the bare minimum up and decorated to make it fun for our then 2 year old, Parker. What I didn't realize is that the "braxton" hicks that I was having on a more "regular basis" were regular consistent contractions...and I was ignoring them till after the holidays!
The Tuesday before Christmas, I was totally struck back! I was already 2cm and 70% effaced...I was at the beginning stages of labor and I was only 36 weeks along. My OB told me that this baby would not make it to the first of the year! I was in denial...We had a plan...this baby was coming by C-Section Jan. 13th! I sort of packed my bags. (But I was fighting God to just get us through Christmas). But I really didn't want my baby before the 1st of the year! However, Daddy DID! Daddy wanted a big Tax break and of course have the baby fall on the old insurance plan!  I really think Mike had a big talk with God! Mike was thrilled that I was having more and more "contractions" on a regular basis as the month came to an end! Well, we made it through Christmas and I was thrilled Baby stayed in.
Well just two days later I was miserable. Sunday night, December 27, I awoke at 4AM with contractions every 3-8 minutes. I refused to call my Doctor... I could NOT possibly be in labor? So instead, I got in the tub and tried to relax. I still had 3 weeks to go. I dealt with the pain till my office opened at 9AM and just asked if I could come in! I got a call back within 15 min and my OB insisted on me heading to the Hospital. I of course had to be convinced by the nurse to go to the hospital! I had to get Parker situated. I had to call Mike and get him home from work! *(Yeah, he went to work...that morning...I let him go!) We made it to Kennestone by noon and we sat in Tri-age for 5 hours! I was begging to go home and had SO much to do. After all, I had been having contractions on and off for almost 1 month. My OB put me on Tributilin to try and stop the contractions...but nothing worked. This baby (and we didn't know if Kaden was a boy or a girl) was coming out tonight! I thought I could make it another week. Ha! I didn't win that battle. At 5:30 PM on December 28th, 2009, Kaden arrived via c-section. I was thrilled my OB worked it out to be there!

 So, December 28th officially became Kaden's birthday and so we celebrate our sweet boy today and each year to come just 3 days after Christmas! God DID answer my prayer for this baby to have a birthday any day besides Christmas. It was SO worth it to have him before the end of the year.  It was ALL God's perfect timing~My in-laws came down (because my mother in law had a week off since she was a teacher), so they were able to assist us with Parker for the week!~ and for that we are truly grateful!

 The year has been a long one with many illnesses, sleepless nights at the beginning, getting Kaden beyond his Reflux and adjusting to life as a family of four and balancing our everday responsiblities! BUT it has been so rewarding to have him as a part of our family! His laugh lights up the room, his smile melts our hearts, his love for Parker and just the fact that he LOVES his mama makes me melt and Parker's love for him is precious! It is truly a joy to be his mommy and daddy and we are so honored that God has chosen Kaden for our family! We pray that one day you will come to know the Lord, Kaden and know how much he loves you and how much we love you!

 Here is a sweet video of us singing "Happy Birthday" to Kaden and he is checking out his FootBall Ice-Cream Cake. (We have a tradition to eat Ice-Cream Cake on the real birthdays around here!)
Let's just say -He LOVED it!

Video (Part 1)


Attacking the cake video...(Part 2)



We had a fun day celebrating Kaden. NeNe flew in for Christmas and Kaden's special birthday! So, we met Daddy for lunch! Tonight for dinner, NeNe, made homemade Maple Turkey Burgers and ended the night with a Carvel-Football Ice-Cream Cake! So fun to have celebrated our boy all day today!




WOW-What is this??!!?

(Yummy-I love it on my face...I wonder how good it really is?!)

(Not enough...I need to pick up the whole thing)

(Now this is GOOD and I LOVE it!)

Happy 1st Birthday Kaden A.K.A ("Sweet Pea, Chunk of Love, Tank, Mommy's boy, Baby Kaden),
Daddy, Mommy and Parker love you!

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Rough month...Disney get-a-way!

The week before Thanksgiving we began with a handful of illnesses. We totaled 19 days of illness and it got to be discouraging for me! I had many sleepless nights and I vented to my mom many mornings over texting at the yuckY 3am! I am the first to count my blessings that God has given us 2 sweet boys. However, there are moments in the midst of non stop illness that you have to mentally look hard for some joy. There is no such thing as a day off when you are a S.A.H.M! I am so thankful for other friends who are in this role and choose to give "breaks" to me! It has been a huge joy to have Joy and David finally here. They live about 2 miles from us and have jumped in to help me and Mike often. We had, pink eye, ear infections, hives, colds, asthma flare up and Strep throat all in 19 days time frame. About 2 months before Thanksgiving, Mike signed up to play in Orlando for a softball tournament. We agreed in Sept.that we'd make a family trip out of it. Little did we know that it would be so needed. However, the week before we went, I doubted that we would make it. Parker was SO sick w his strep. Thankfully, I found the energy to pack for us all and we made it. It was the first time for me, Parker and Kaden to go to Magic Kingdom! 33 years old and I finally made it to the most Magical place on earth! We had perfect weather, happy boys and 9 hours of complete fun. Parker lit up when we ran into Woody from Toy story! He was excited to see the characters all over but seeing Woody and being able to ride on a real train was the icing on his cake! I have tons of photos. Not only have we been I'll..but so has my computer.It has a virus and a friend is fixing it. So, when I get it back I will upload photos from our trip.
God really knew we needed the trip. It was a great trial for an upcoming drive we will be making in Jan to NY to attend Mike's auntS wedding. The boys did great...thanks to our spacious van, a DVD player and a mommy that could sit in the back and entertain while daddy drove! Memories for sure...we will cherish! I know in 5 years I will laugh at the rough month we had, but seriously....no more illnesses for the rest of 2010! We hope you all have a Merry Christmas...and stay warm!

Christmas Card 2010

With Love Blue Christmas 5x7 folded card

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Christmas Card 2010~50 FREE CARDS SHUTTERFLY DEAL

 December First has arrived and that means our mailbox will soon be greeted with MANY cards from our beloved family and friends. I am really thinking about investing in a Christmas card wreath because we get SO many cards each year, I think we got over 50 cards last year. Ever since Mike and I were married, we have faithfully mailed out 50+ cards. (If you are not on our list and would like one...sign up now! I don’t want to leave you out :)

Blogging Mama's, don’t miss out the deal for 2010! This year, Shutterfly is giving 50 free Christmas cards to bloggers! That is right-you can save some cash for some extra gifts this year and get really nice cards thanks to Shutterfly! Once you have signed up, they will contact you via email and share the steps with you to get you in on this great deal. Now, that is the way to start off the Christmas spirit and make this blogging mama SO excited to have some extra cash still in our holiday budget! Yippee!
.....Ha-Ha! One problem! The family photos?? Now, what to do for our 2010 cards? Mike LOVES going out and posing for that perfect Christmas card photo ... (NOT)! I actually am in love with some of these cards and thinking I may stick with one of these this year, because after all-a posed photo is not as exciting as candid right?
 Here is my #1 Favorite (Monogrammed  B/W candid) that I think we MAY do! I am a HUGE Fan of monogramming...and this allows me to pick 4 favorites of our boys and of course place 2 all time favorites of our whole family! What do you think?

And of course....they offer great add ons like these matching address labels....so cute!

Here is my #2 pick.....The traditional POSED FAMILY PHOTO
(IF I force all 4 of us to go out for that POSED photo of us currently!)
I love the striking poinsettia/paisley look at the bottom! (I am in the red mood today :)

And my #3 favorite is 2010 chcolate brown monogrammed collage! I love all the photos in color...and I love the color brown! I think this is elegant and I love the year displayed on the card.

We will see what really comes during Christmas card order time for me! Ha-ha (I always stress myself out and get those matchy-matchy coordinating outfits...for that perfect card!) But we have over 1,000 photos on the computer and we did have family photos taken in August, thanks to Jason Pendley, who did an AWESOME JOB!! Mike, you may be lucky this year and not have to get all dressed up for cards after all! LOL

This December is a big milestone for us, since Kaden, will be turning 1! So, I have allot on my mind for his first birthday and of course the Christmas to-do-lists! Therefore, I am in love with this 1st Birthday announcement for our little guy!

You must check out some of the great calendars you can make for the grandparents! Such a great gift if you are not sure what else to get the precious grandparents!
Don't forget to check out the deal for 50 free cards if you are a blogging mama!
What do you think?
Care to weigh in on which card I shall pick for our family?
Please share your thoughts and do let me know your address so you can see which one we end up choosing!  {wink}
Happy December to all :)

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THANKSGIVING Acrostic 2010

Happy Thanksgiving to all!
 My time as a SAHM was completely captured the whole two weeks before the holiday. I had two sick little boys, and 1 sick daddy. I was not able to get on here and post some daily things that I wanted to post. I was really getting discouraged and had a rough two weeks. I was getting worried that we would  not be celebrating Thanksgiving at all.
Parker and Kaden both landed in the Pediatrician's office the Wed. before Thanksgiving with ear infections. Poor Kaden was really sick. It was his first ever and it was VICIOUS. He had  (DOUBLE) ear infections and ended up on two antibiotics before we saw any improvement and drop in a HIGH fever. All of that caused me to go with LITTLE SLEEP for about 72 hours. Rest seemed like an eternity away when I was coping with him. I must not forget one other detail ;Parker was getting over Pink Eye from the weekend before and Mike was coming down with a 24 hour bug! To top it all, the Thursday before Thanksgiving-I got a 12 hour bug or had a mild case of food poisoning-causing Mike to re-arrange his work schedule that AM. Hallelujah! We survived and we are well! We had a beautiful Thanksgiving with some friends from our church small group. It was a joy to have a break from cooking this year. We missed celebrating with Mike's family but we hope to be together next year with them for Christmas.
 So, I am finally getting to post my Thankfulness in a unique way.
I have not done this in a LONG time, but it was fun to do and I need to do this yearly!
(Christy has a great ABC Thanksgiving List and it motivated me to share this way.(Since I didn't get to do my top ten list).
So here is my acrostic for THANKSGIVING-from my view as a S.A.H.M....

T-Time spent with the Lord and his word and being home with my boys=Priceless
H-Hugs and happy giggles from Parker & Kaden, and Hershey Kisses
A-Amazing Husband who loves me, accepts me and  appreciates me for all my flaws and goes above and beyond to  be the best husband for me and daddy to our boys! (So much more I could say here).
N-Nap time (no other comment needed here)!?
K-Kids-Parker our favorite red-headed 3 year old & Kaden our newest addition and beautiful blue- eyed boy
S-Starbucks Vanilla Chai Tea Latte with non-fat skim milk (a therapy drink this year :)
G-Girls Night Outs...(SO AWESOME to have them when I can get them).
I-Incredible parents (my parents & in-laws) doubly blessed
V-Valuable friends who take the time for me, our family and help us out when we really need it
I-Internet-My connection with so many dear and far away; I am forever grateful for the support it brings to connect with so many!
N-New Beginnings; No day is ever a repeat of the "rough days" as a S.A.H.M. and God's word reminds me of this sweet promise-  Lamentations 3:22-23  "Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
G-God! His love, strength and most of all salvation for me...I could not be the wife, and Mom today if I didn't have him!
What would your THANKSGIVING Acrostic say?
Can't wait to read your acrostics!
Happy Thanksgiving to all :)

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10 Days till Thanksgiving...

So here is the countdown for my top 10 list:
#10
Today, I am SO thankful for a great night of sleep.
We have NOT seen that in a long while!
Rough weekend~
Kaden is cutting tooth number 7 and 8 and has an awful cough=not a happy 10 and 1/2 month old!
Parker has been battling a 5 or 6 AM wake up with the NEW time change and just got diagnosed with PINK EYE yesterday =a miserable 3 year old!
So, NO sleep on Saturday night was a long day on Sunday!
Last night everyone SLEPT ALL night...thanks to GREAT Urgent care that got us in and out in 1 hour, medicine for Parker's eye and albuteral (brathing treatment medicine for Kaden).
All of this allowed us to get the boys in bed at a decent time and we all slept till 7:15 AM!
YIPPEE
So happy for ALL the nights we have no events and get great sleep.

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