A Visit From Nicki and Jonah

When Josh and I first moved to Vidalia in 2005, I didn't know anyone other than family. Josh had grown up in Vidalia his entire life, so he knew everyone! It was a little unnerving at first, but I'm by nature a loner, so I dealt with it okay. I found a job and made a few friends there, but no one really close at first. The pastor of our church at the time was good friends with Josh's family so I got to be around him and his wife, Nicki, quite a bit. She and I hit it off great from the beginning. In fact, it's hard to even think back to when she wasn't my friend.

Not long after the school year started, Nicki and Dan found out they were pregnant. We were all so happy for them because they had been told for years that they would never be able to have children. For nine months, I was with Nicki as she dreamed and planned for when her precious little boy would enter this world. The day he was born I had the wonderful privilege to be the one to take pictures of him. In the weeks following his birth, I was usually at their house two or three times a week to see Nicki and to hold Jonah.

It was around this time that I really started wanting a child of my own. I can remember pouring out my heart to Nicki about all the things I wanted to do as a Mommy and how hard Mother's Days were becoming for me and how it seemed everyone was getting pregnant except me. I truly believe God brings certain people into our lives at the right time for specific reasons. No one understood my feelings better than Nicki. She had lived those same fears and same worries for years and she knew exactly what to say and how to comfort me. She was a real encouragement to me during this time in my life in so many ways. Over the next two years, I got to be a part of her family as she and Dan raised Jonah. I changed diapers, read books, put him down for naps, went to birthday parties and Christmases, and did many other things with Jonah. He was my "practice baby" if you will :) Being around him made me so happy, but it also deepened my desire to have a child of my own. I kept praying and hoping that one day it would happen for Josh and me.

In March 2008, I found out that I was pregnant. I was ECSTATIC and the first person I called was Nicki. She was shocked beyond belief but so happy for me. Over the next nine months, she was there for me as I dreamed and planned for Eli to arrive. She helped me with my blog, she was there at all my showers, she took pictures for me, she helped me register, she helped me organize my nursery. It was so much fun having her there with me throughout my pregnancy. She knew more than anyone how much it meant to me. The day I delivered Eli, Nicki was the one who took pictures for me. She got to be a part of my special day just like I had been a part of hers two years before that :)

Ten months after I had Eli, Nicki called me one Saturday night to let me know that she and Dan had accepted a job as pastor at a new church in Florida. I was shocked and a little upset. I couldn't believe that she was going to be moving so far away. I'd never had a friend move away in my life and it really didn't feel that great. Thankfully though since we live in the technological age, I knew that we'd still be able to keep up with each other's lives through the computer and the phone. So for the past year, that's what we've done. We email, call, text, and chat whenever we can and our friendship has stayed strong. I miss her like crazy, but I'm thankful that we can stay in touch as much as we have and with both of us having a blog, it really helps! We still get to watch each other's little boys grow up even from hundreds of miles away from each other.

A few weeks ago, I got a text from Nicki that said, "Guess what!" Well, the last time she'd said something like that she'd just found out she was pregnant with Baby #2 and since he was still in her tummy, I figured she'd just found out she was going to deliver him earlier than expected. NOPE! She and Jonah were going to make a surprise trip to Vidalia!! WHAT!?!? I was so excited!!! I couldn't believe that I was going to get to see them both again.

I anticipated the day they would arrive and Sunday when they did I was so happy. Eli and I hurried over to Zue-Zue's house to see them and spend time with them. Once we were there it seemed like no time had passed between us. I mean, obviously it had since both of our boys were so big compared to the last time we'd seen each other, but it was like she and I just picked up right where we left off. It was great! Over the next two days, Eli and I saw them every day after school and usually every night for dinner, too. Jonah and Eli bonded so much during their visit and it made my heart hurt seeing how well they got along and played together. I know they would have been best buds if they still lived here. Eli was enamored with Jonah and Jonah got to practice being a big brother with Eli. He's going to be a great big brother, by the way. He and Eli played and played and played. It was so much fun getting to watch our two little boys having fun together. For so many years she and I had dreamed of having those two little boys and now they were playing and having fun with each other right in front of our very own eyes. What precious blessings from God those two boys are!

Tuesday night I was so sad to say goodbye to them again, but hopefully I'll get to see them in person again very soon. It was so great to see you again, Nicki. I hate that I can't be there when Micah is born, but know that my thoughts and prayers are going to be with you, my friend! I can't wait to see pictures of your two precious boys on the blog. I'm so glad you got to visit before you had Micah. It was so good seeing my friend again! Love you both so much!

Jonah was in Big Brother mode their entire stay.

He held Eli's hand so Eli would know where to go and what to do.

Eli followed "Jone-Jone" (Jonah) around everywhere and did everything he did.

Eli saying "Cheese!"

This picture melts my heart. God has blessed us both SO MUCH!

At one point, Eli went outside and didn't see anyone he knew until he spotted Nicki. He ran up to her and said, "Nick-Nick!" He was so happy to see a familiar face!

23 Months

This second year with you has gone by so fast! I can't believe that it's already October and next month we will be celebrating your 2nd birthday. You are so incredibly fun right now. Not that you haven't been fun the previous 22 months, but you are SOOOO fun right now! Here are some of the things you are doing right now :)

Physically: You are still wearing 18-24 month pants and mostly 24 month shirts. Some 2T shirts do fit you, too. You love to climb, run, jump, climb, skip, walk backwards, flip, and climb. Did I say climb enough? You've just started climbing on the chairs in the dining room. You've never done that before because they are so high off the ground, but you're not scared anymore. Your Daddy and I have to watch you like a hawk. We know that when we hear silence, something is happening and we better find you quickly! You still use both hands to write and eat, but you seem to be favoring your right more now. I guess it's still too soon to tell which one you'll end up using one day.

Verbally: You have been combining words for several months now. I am very impressed at how much you know and understand right now. You still leave out a lot of sounds when you say certain words, but I'm a good translator so I almost always know what you're saying. Some days you are very chatty and I love that we are beginning to be able to have conversations with each other.

Eating: Eating lately has been a REAL chore for us. You eat very well at Mrs. G's house and at school, but not so well at home. I guess having other kids around you eating makes you want to eat. Maybe I need to hire some kids to come sit with us at dinner every night so you'll eat. We've tried everything we know, but you simply don't care. Food isn't something you think about a lot, obviously. We know you're getting enough of what you need over the course of a week, but sometimes it's hard to not worry. I'm trying my best to not to though, and I think I'm getting better.

Sleeping: We still do our same nightly routine and it works beautifully. After your bath and we brush your teeth, you and I sit down and read 3 books before saying your prayers and going to sleep. I lay you down in your crib, give you your "bay-bay" (blanket), and turn on Praise Baby Lullabies. Some nights you go right to sleep and there is no need for me to sit with you and other nights you need to know I'm nearby. Before the first song is over, you are in dreamland and usually sleep until around 5 o'clock in the morning, at which point, you wake up and I just put you in my bed so I can get at least another 45-60 minutes of sleep :)

Favorite Things to Do:

1. "Drive" cars-play cars, real cars, make believe cars. You love pushing buttons, turning on the air, turning on lights, turning the wheel, buckling your seatbelt and so much more. It's an addiction, really!

2. Play hide and go seek. You prefer for someone to hide with you and you usually come out before we can find you, but it's the best thing in the world to you.

3. Paint and color. If you see me painting, you HAVE to paint as well. Your works of art are already adorning our kitchen walls everywhere you look :)

4. Watch Toy Story or Cars. If I ever need to do something-cook dinner, for example- one of these two movies is what you want to watch. You love them both a lot!

5. Be outside. It's getting colder so we can't do that as much right now though.

Favorite Books:

1. Toy Story

2. Sleepy Time ABC

3. Little Sheep's Big Scare and the Shepherd's Great Care

4. Little Golden Books, "Cars" and "Toy Story"

Favorite Toys:

1. Wheely Bug

2. Any type of sports ball

3. Duplo blocks

4. Coloring Books

In just one month you will be 2 and that is so hard for me to believe. I can't wait to see what you're doing then!

Happy 2nd Birthday, Hannah!

On Saturday, September 25, our family went to the Hargon's house for little Miss Hannah's second birthday party. It's so hard to believe that all these babies are turning two this year! Where did the past two years go? Eli and Hannah are in the same class at school and they've been around each other since they were born, so we didn't want to miss out on her special day! We got there a little late because Eli took a late nap and ate a late lunch, but after those two things were out of the way, we headed to the Hargon's house.

Hannah's mom, Diane, decorated their backyard so cute and had lots of pink and yellow balloons everywhere. They had a HUGE water slide and several little kiddie pools for all the kids to play and swim in. Eli was somewhat reluctant at first to do anything involving water-SO NOT HIM!-so we found other things for him to do. The John Deere riding lawn mower was a good first choice, very manly, you know, but it didn't move at all, so he quickly moved on to the next riding toy.


He decided to give the ol' Inchworm a try. The Inchworm also moved too slowly.


Then our son found the perfect vehicle for his enjoyment...a pink Barbie Jeep! Nothing says, "I'm a man!" like a pink Barbie Jeep. This was perfect in his book. He went all over their backyard in this thing.


He let the Barbie Jeep rest for a few minutes while he and Hannah spent some time bouncing on the trampoline. We're definitely going to have to work on some of his gross motor skills, but he had a blast hopping, skipping, and falling down anyway.



After their bouncing fun was over, Eli decided to take the birthday girl for a little ride around their house in her Barbie Jeep.


Not to be outdone, Hannah quickly showed Eli that she knew exactly how to drive her Jeep and took him for a spin around the house, too!



After more playing outside, it was finally time for cake and ice cream. We all sang "Happy Birthday" to Hannah and watched her open presents. She got lots of cute, girly things and seemed to really enjoy each and every one.



Thanks for inviting us to your party, Hannah! We had a wonderful time! Happy Birthday!!!

An Afternoon at the River

The weather lately has been very pleasant, so a couple Fridays ago, Eli and I took a little trip down to the river walk. My whole intention of going was so that I could get some exercise and he could enjoy being outside. I packed up the jogging stroller (it may be called a jogging stroller, but this mama doesn't jog/run unless I'm being chased) and off we went! No sooner had I parked, unloaded the jogging stroller, strapped Eli in, and started walking with him when I heard a little voice say, "Mama...get owwt!" So I was faced with the dilemma so many parents are faced with on a daily basis....not give in thus prompting a loud tantrum from the little one or just simply say "yes" and let him enjoy his day doing what he wanted to do. I guess you'll be able to tell I decided to go with the latter and I'm SO GLAD I did. Eli had so much fun just getting to be a kid! He wanted to run, climb, explore, swing, and push the stroller the entire time we were there. It was so much fun watching him having fun.

This is all Eli wanted to do the entire time we were down there. If I even put my hand on the stroller, he'd place his hands on me and say, "Stop, Mama. Back!" He's definitely stretching those little wings right now :)

After our short walk down by the river, we decided to cool off in the sprinklers on the way back to the car. Eli's little face had gotten so red from all the running and playing he'd done on our walk, so a cool down was a must for him. He ran from sprinkler to sprinkler laughing and having the best time...until he decided to look down at a particular sprinkler just as water was coming out of it. Yep, water up the nose! Ouch! I gathered him up, made sure he knew he was going to be okay, and we headed to the car. These are the days that I truly feel so blessed to be a Mama. It's the best job around!

Painting with a Twist

A few weeks before we went to visit my parents, I got in touch with my new sis-in-law, Andrea, to see if she wanted to do something special with me for my mom's birthday. I'd seen so many blog posts about these painting classes where you go and someone instructs you on what to paint and how to paint and you leave with a work of art you created. Mom and I are very crafty sort of people so I knew it would be perfect for us. When I mentioned it to Andrea, she said that she'd always wanted to do a class like that, too! So, it was settled. We told Mom about it and sent her the link to Painting with a Twist, so she could pick which painting she wanted to do. Our choices were between a paisley painting and a Mardi Gras fleur de lis. Mom picked the paisley painting (I'm so glad, because I don't know what I would have done with a Mardi Gras painting!). Andrea and my brother, Josh, came in the same weekend Eli and I did so we could have our girls day at the painting studio :)

Our day started at this wonderful sandwich/yogurt shop called Counter Culture. I'm sure most of you probably have this great establishment in your town, but if you don't, then you need to find one and go. It's mostly a yogurt place, but they also sell sandwiches, too. Mom told me we had to try the hot turkey sandwich on the jalapeno cheese bread. Ummm, can you say YUM-O?? Turkey breast, fresh avocado slices, tomatoes, lettuce, and chipotle mayo. I wish I had some right now.



Then Mom treated us to a dessert that tasted too good to be as healthy as they claim. It's called the Humphrey and it was fantabulous-yes, I sometimes make up words when describing food. Yummy yogurt swirled over blueberries, strawberries and bananas and then topped with honey and granola. OH.MY.GOSH! I will definitely be getting another one of these when we visit my folks again.


After our bellies were full we headed over to Painting with a Twist to unlock the inner Van Gogh in us.

Inspiration started right outside their front window for me. How cute is this? I definitely want to go to this class so I can paint this cute little owl. I'm currently obsessed with owls and this one is too cute to pass up.


We walked inside, donned our aprons, found our spots and settled in for our three hour class. I know what some of you are thinking...Three hours??? It didn't seem like that long at all and it was so much fun that we didn't even notice the time!


When I registered us for the class I told them that we were going to be celebrating Mom's birthday and they had a cute little Happy Birthday glass waiting for Mom when she got there.


We arrived about fifteen minutes early, so I used that time to take pictures of their gallery. There were so many pictures that I wanted to paint. I'll go broke before I get to paint all of these, but Mom, Andrea, and I both said that we wanted to do a class again.





Our teacher began the class and we all got down to business. I took pictures after each stage so you can see the process. I thought our teacher did a fabulous job of modeling and explaining what to do and how. Even beginning painters would do well at a class like this.

1. Sketch main elements with pencil

2. Apply background color

3. Paint two focal flowers

4. Add black vine, leaf, and orange paisley things (found out paisleys are a challenge for me)

5. Outlining everything in white.

6. White swirls and white flowers

7. Dot Land as our instructor called it

8. The finished product!

We all had so much fun! It was neat to see how each person's painting turned out just a little bit different. This is something we'll definitely do again soon. I'm so glad I got to have this time with my mom and Andrea. It was a very fun day! Love you both! Happy Birthday, Mom!

Thanks, Painting with a Twist! We had fun!