Christmas Eve

We flip flopped this year and spent Christmas Eve with the Swann's in LR. Brody had a grand time with his cousins and we were all spoiled.

Cousins + Pictures

My MIL wanted to send out Christmas cards this year of her grandbabies, so we got the kids together for pictures last week.  

It was a bit of a challenge to photograph them, but aren't they cute?!  They really do love one another. What more could you ask for?!

[Would anyone like to help me figure out how to rotate pictures?  I cannot seem to figure it out! :)]

Buddies

Brody's buddy Emmett had a 2nd birthday party last weekend.  Emmett loves tractors, so they planned a tractor themed party that was adorable.  The kids loved everything about it.  My dad offered his tractor for a hay ride, and even Santa showed up to drive the kiddos around. 

 Not so sure about Santa at this point

 Santa even let the boys drive. :)

Time for cupcakes.

Happy 2nd Birthday, Emmett!!

June

I did not intend on taking an almost 2 month hiatus from the blog.  We have been busy bees.  There is quite a bit of fun to recap.  First, I will start with the most important bit of exciting news around our house......

Brody's going to be a big brother!!

We told our family and close friends on Halloween; hints bub being dressed like a puppy dog.

Baby Swann #2 is due the first of June, and we could not be more thrilled!  

We praise the Lord for this wonderful gift.

More to come.

20 Months

It has been awhile.  

I have missed several of the last Brody monthly updates, so I made an extra effort not to miss this one.

My babe is 20 months, y'all!

Here is the most recent picture of our little charmer.

Attending his first parade, and might I add - he loved it!

Three character traits I would use to describe him at this point in time are; independent, hard headed (I have no idea where he gets this from :)), and friendly.

He loves to sing, dance, talk, make new friends, and read books.

He sings the ABC song and gets to the letter D, and then he decides to hum the rest.  Another favorite of his is "Ba -Ba Black Sheep."  The best part about him singing is that after he finishes a song he starts clapping for himself saying "yay!"  

He is tall and lean. Still wearing 12-18 mo. pants and shorts, 18-24 mo shirts.

He still sleeps from 7-7:30 PM- 7-7:30 AM and takes one 2 hour afternoon nap.

I know I could sit and type so much more, but he's in my lap now asking to watch Elmo.

Happy 20 mo, bro!
Mommy loves you so.

Love, Joy, and Thanksgiving

I've heard this song many times now and each time I am convinced it was created for me.  It is my anthem so to speak. My favorite part of this song is the monologue towards the end.  Powerful.  Convicts me every time I hear it.  I just wanted to share.

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I also encourage anyone who hasn't read One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp to read this book. She is one of the most gifted writers I've ever read.  This isn't a fun, quick read, it is an experience and it may change you in the most wonderful way. The last couple days my heart has been heavy for various reasons, and I've been amazed to find myself in a state of thanksgiving which in turn brings joy or like Ann likes to call it eucharisteo.  

Our Pastor always leaves us with a "what if" question at the end of the sermon, so here is the "what if" I propose....what if we as believers in Jesus Christ, what if we lived our lives as the proof of His love....

"I'm bankrupt without love."

Weekend in Fayetteville

Fortunately for us, one of the sweetest little boys we know had his first birthday party this past weekend in Fayetteville, so it gave us a good reason to venture to a town we love and celebrate with our dear friends. We don't get to see them near enough, but every time we do it's special.  Amber (and Jordan) did a fabulous job with all the SAFARI themed decorations, water play stations, and food.  I cannot put into words just how much fun Brody had - the child played HARD for 2 and a half hours and he would have stayed longer if we didn't make him leave. We all had a blast!  Some of us were taking turns taking pictures with Amber's camera, so she has all the fun pictures. I left ours in the car.

While we were there we got to eat at some of our favorite spots in Fayetteville (and try a new one), browse some of my favorite stores, and take bub to tour his future college campus. :)

 Oh, and we went to one of the parks that I use to run/walk at in college.

 pointing to daddy's name on the senior walk

playing at his buddy's 1st birthday party

As we were saying our goodbye's before we left the party, Brody and Cooper gave each other a hug and a kiss and said bye-bye.  It was precious! We love you, Coop man!  

Summer Days

Clearly, we have been staying busy and enjoying our summer days together.  The two days a week that bub is at 'school', I am able to enjoy lunch dates with some of my best friends and some new friends. I'm also able to run errands and get 'stuff' done around the house sans toddler.  

Here are some of the things we've been up to in no particular order...

  1.) First golf trip.  It was a nine hole game, and that is all this little boy could take. It was too HOT!

 2.) After a fun play date with his cousin Malyn, he is waiting (milk in hand) at his Gammy and Pop-O's house for them to get home.  Watching the birds outside.

 3.) visiting with mommy

 4.)  Doing the "Hot Dog" dance.  Those of you who are familiar with Micky Mouse Club you know what I'm talking about.  We do this a few times a day.  

 5.)  At the Swann farm riding his tricycle for the first time.

 6.) Swinging, swinging, swinging. 

 7.) Daddy golf

 8.) Guitar practice. :)

9.) I forget who he was talking to at this point on our golf outing.

I'm SO thankful for this time with my baby boy!

Independence Day (and before)

We had a fun-filled Fourth of July.  We began the celebration early and had a fun night out with friends Tuesday evening.  Justin's parents wanted to keep bub so it worked out nicely.  Not only do we celebrate our Independence on the fourth each year, we also celebrate my dad's birthday.  Justin, my brother, my dad and my father-n-law played an early round of golf Wednesday morning.  While they were golfing, Brody and I, along with a few others, were playing in the pool.  Around 1:30 we came home so bub could nap.  When he got up and got dressed we headed around town to 'party' hop.  Some of our friends were hanging by the pool, so we made two stops to say hi and visit before heading to dinner with my family.

 my mom gave him that flag and wanted a picture and he just took off 

  Happy Birthday Pop!

 Those who know my mom, you know how much she loves Brody wearing his red, white, and blue and holding the American flag.

We hope you had a wonderful day celebrating our independence with family and friends.

17 Months

WOW!  I cannot believe it.  Today bub is 17 months. Because I have time while he is napping, I thought I would document what he's up to these days.

He is putting together more words to make phrases and sentences.  He will grab my shoes, his shoes, daddy's shoes and say "da-da shoe" "da-de shoe" "bro shoe" etc.   When Justin leaves to go to work he says "bye-bye daddy" then "da -de go."

His vocabulary is expanding.

Until just last week, our child has not sit down long enough to watch a cartoon or show on T.V.  We might have it on in the background and he just doesn't want much to do with it, unless he sees something he can point to and say.  I will say, up until  he was about 12 months we [I] was a stickler about not having him watch T.V. Anyway, now he will watch Micky Mouse Club House on Disney Jr. and he loves it.  He won't sit still the whole time to watch it, but he watches it nonetheless.  He says "Micky" and "Goofy."

He is becoming quite the little fish.  He loves being in the pool.  He gets excited when I say "let's get ready to go to the pool."

He is getting highlights in his hair from being out in the sun this summer.  

He is creating tons of art work at school, thanks to his fantastic teachers.

He is starting to strum the guitar.

He loves his "blankies."  Before bed  each night, I will give him his last cup of milk.  Immediately after, he will go into his room and get two blankies, and then he will find one of us to cuddle up next two while he finishes his milk.

He is outgoing, strong-willed, energetic, adventurous and SO sweet.