oh to be soo cute...

( No picture to this post!  I think blogger changed how you are able to post a pic!  oh my goodness!  that isn't good.  from what I can tell I will have to put all my pics to photobucket first!  I already have no time!  uggg!)

Little Darby cracks me up!  She is turning 3 really soon and I can't believe how fast time flies!  Just thought I would share some cute stories from today.  There were three I wanted to share and I am racking my brain hard to remember the third one but I can't!  So annoying.  I thought on purpose...I have to remember these and I will blog about them.

Today when I picked up up from school we were talking about letters.  Her new favorite thing to do is find on signs that we drive by D's for Darby, C's for Carson and B's for Beth (she really enjoys the fact that she knows my name is Beth).   Anyway, we started going through peoples names that we know and I was asking which letter went with their names.  I asked her about Jackson her friend, she said "Jackson must be J".  Yes!  I asked her a couple more and she really didn't know them and I asked about our neighbor Drew (Mr. Drew, her friends daddy).  I asked first what letter goes with his name and then I proceeded to make the D sound, "da, da".  She then exclaims, "double u! (w)".  I just smiled and laughed in my head from the cutest.

She had dance class tonight.  We usually eat a Moe's after dance.  We love it.  She asked to go there but I said, "no we are going to eat at home tonight".  Then when we rode past the grocery store she said we needed to go to it.  I said, "no we don't need to go, mommy's out of money!".  She said, "you are out of money?"  "that's okay we can buy some more".  First of all wouldn't that be nice and second of all I could fall to the ground over the sheer cuteness of her thoughts!

OH!  I just remembered the third thing!  Yay!

Tonight I was getting her dressed for bed.  I was putting away her laundry that I had folded and then I got out her jammies and she said, "thanks mommy, I am so proud of you for getting my jammies".  Oh she is a pistol I tell you!  Lol.  I think she picked that up bc I have tried to be really super intentional about affirming her and rewarding her when she shares or uses good manners and etc.  Today we had a "sharing" lesson and soon after that she offered a favorite toy of hers (the one she had a hard time sharing the first time) to her sister to play with and I rewarded her with verbal praise of course but also candy.  She LOVES candy.  I love staying home with them.  I am not so sure that it will last as long as I had intented to but for now I love being able to teach them.  I get to share why we should share...and that of course it makes Carson (or whoever) happy, it makes mommy happy, but most importantly it makes God happy and that in turn will make Darby happy.  I don't ever want to press upon my kids my own standards of "goodness" but instead I want to instill a healthy fear of God in which out of reverant submission and awe of his splender (don't usually use that word, weird) and thankfulness for what he has given and done for us they are compelled to follow His commands and live for Him and not themselves.

"Oh God, please help me in guiding my children.  Please help me to instill a faith in my girls that will be passed down from generation to generation.  Apart from you I am incapable of accomplishing such things.  Lord by your grace let my children choose the narrow path that leads to life.  Amen."

A "Fancy" Feast For A Fine Occasion!

Real Quick...I forgot about show us your life today and had already planned this post but the only "missiony" type trips I have done were here in the states and I don't think I even have any pics on my computer!  One day I will have to post some pics from my husbands trip to India!  I love India!

So in honor of Carson's 10 month Birthday we decided to throw a party!

I'm not sure that this "fancy" feast is worth a super momma mention over at Natalie's blog but we had a grand ol time....

This dinner is considered "fancy" compared to you know...say frozen pizza or ckn nuggets and etc...

Yes, just spaghetti!  In effort to "spruce" it up a bit I used angel hair pasta and added some cheese to top and baked it and wa-la. 

Yes I used a JAR of spaghetti sauce...if some of you ladies could tell me where you get your energy from I will go to great heights and spend great money to get it for myself!  Or how about this!?! Does anyone know how to add hours to the day?  That could be good too!  Now occasionally I will wip up an actual fancy dinner and if time and energy weren't an issue it would actually be a hobby bc I LOVE it!  Speaking of spaghetti though I have a GREAT spaghetti alternative dinner that I saw a concept for and then kind of created a reciepe for it and it is delish and I will have to share it with yall one day!  Really easy, fun and best of all low cal! 

To really add to my "fanciness" I used an actual glass for the tea and "fine" china for the dinner.  By fine china I mean just our regular dishes...these are fine compared to plastic ones tho right!?!  I attempted to top off my "fanciness" by attempting some "fancy" photography...

I really do cook my family meals I am exagerating the fanciness of this but I tell you... some of you moms truly are super moms!  Yall inspire me that is for sure!  For now though I will continue with the party-party part of our night THE CUPCAKES...courtesy of Betty Crocker! 

Aww, poor Carson had to stick with yogurt melts for her desert...but soon little monkey you can have the real stuff!

Well, we did sing Happy Birthday to all of us and it was just a divine celebration!

There Has Got to be a better way!

There has got to be a better way of fixing things with out super gluing!  I made the worst mess of my fingers last night and it will be with me for days!!!


get it...

There has got to be a better way of dressing than this (so sorry if this is your style, obviously it is not mine)

I try to stay "hip" but if this is hip...I'm out.

There has got to be a better way of decorating than coloring with crayons all over the walls while Mommy is sleeping (she usually comes and wakes me when she gets up!  Not this time).  Didn't get a picture of this...

There has got to be a better way of taking care of the carpet than smudging lotion into it!  You can't take your eyes off a 2 year old for one second!  Unfortunately didn't capture this on camera either...

Last but not least... I certainly do wish there was a better way of enjoying these lovelies without consuming all the calories!

I bought a bag last night!  Yikes!  I had to give half to my neighbors to keep myself from eating the whole bag!

Oh question!  I want to grow a vegetable garden!  Really bad!  Have any of yall tried this?  Is it worth it???  I don't want to go spend the money to get all that I need and then nothing grow!  Darby and I just started some tomato plants that came with a green house and kit and had elmo on it (this is how this all started bc we went to lowes to get air filters and came out with this kit and not the air filters...annoying, I always do this).  I hope they grow for Darby!

Darby Dee

That is what we call her alot.  She is also known as...stinky monkey, and D.    She is a mess!  Truly.  Lets see if I can recall some of her popular sayings... She says:

 "That be sound good?"

"yes or no?"

"yes sir" (to even mams)

"I'm scared to the dark"

"you can rub my back if you want..."

at target everytime..."Lets go check out the bandaids"

The list goes on...

Her favorite past time is watching movies and eating popcorn!

We just started to be able to have girl parties and paint nails!  It's fabulous!

Well her 3rd birthday is coming up and her party will be kinda low key...I wanted to do a whole big princesses and pirates shabang but with Carsons one year party this year and since I made a big ta do about her last 2 parties I am going to take it down a notch this year.  I think what I will do is have the celebration at a park and invite our closest friends and have pizza and cupcakes.  Sounds really fun to me tho..

She is such a mini me!  I can't deny that I LOVE it!  She is very cautious!  She is so girly.  Last week none of the boys showed up for school and so it was all girls in her class so they made purses!  She loves the thing!  She is such a fan of purses.  Here is her modeling the purse.

She was pretend sleeping in this one.

It's a paper plate!

Well I know I am leaving out so much but I am going to go spend some quality time with this sweetie right now!  Hope yall are having a great weekend!

It's that time again...

Well to update you on little miss Carson that is...  Aka chunky monkey, chubby dubby, my baby (from Darby) and we also call her bubby.  Took her to the doc on Tues for her 9 month appt and she is in doctors words, "a fat girl, a tank".  I said yeah but she won't want to be called that forever so hopefully she will grow out of it ; ).  He said, "oh yeah we will stop calling her fat girl REAL early".  She could be bigger that is for sure but for now she is 75th percentile for weight at a whopping 20lbs 9oz and 25-50th percentile for height.  So she is a bit of a shorty.  Maybe we can also add that to her nicknames...  She turns 10months in 7 days!  oh me  oh my...why? why? why?  I can't handle it! 

You know what that means!  Time to plan her 1 year birthday party!  Since my sisters babe is 3 weeks older, we are going to do a joint bday party and so far we have the outfits on order! 

Except of course it will have a 1 on it!  How fun it that!?!

She also got her new ride....Which she is sooo stinkin cute and looking too big in!

Carson also got some new hairbows!  Love them.  Love etsy where I found the bows and bday outfit!

That girl will give away some kisses!

Isn't she a beauty!?!

I just adore this girl!  I know I said this last time but does she have to grow up and go to college and get married and etc...  I'm going to be a grandma one day!  Whoa....I need to slow down I know but isn't that WEIRD!?!

My next post will have to be about the life and times of little miss Darby Dee.  She is the BEST big sister I will tell you that much.  She will often tell you that Carson is her best friend.  She also is really concerned when Carson makes it known that she is about to get upset Darby will say, "OH NO! Carson has a bad face!"  So stay tuned for a post especially dedicated to her.

I was praying with Darby and I thought of the song "One pure and holy Passion", by Passion

This is my prayer for my girls:

That God will give each of them One Pure and Holy Passion

One magnifcent obsession

One glorious ambition for their lives

To know and follow hard after Him

That they would see and know that

This world is empty pale and poor compared to knowing Him as Lord

and that He would lead them on and they will run after Him

Collections....

Real Quick! Today is your last chance to enter to win an oh so cute Ouch Pouch.  Click Here to enter! You are CRAZY not too!

Well...I USED collect carousels...  This is my only "real" collection.  My dad started me on the collection...I think it's sweet.  He started me and my sister a collection.  Mine was carousels and hers was clowns... I'm glad I got the carousels!  I still have a fondness in my heart over them but they are all in the attic because there really is no good way to decorate with them...they just aren't "in"...

Now  that I am a mom you can find me collecting....fabulous dresses for my girls, hair bows, artwork created by Darby, piles of laundry, dust and dirt in the house, pictures and the like...

To keep me "hip"... I ALSO have a very minor collection of jewelry, scarves, and shoes!

If money were no object...I WOULD collect fabulous paintings for my walls. 

You don't want to read what I have to blog about!

We have been sick AGAIN over here in our house!  It has been crazy.  The stomach bug!  I haven't written a blog in a while bc when I am stuck in the house I am so boring!  I have been up to my eyeballs in puke and diarrhea (sorry it is the truth, I told you didn't want to read what I have to write about!).  It is the first time little Darby has thrown up with sickness!  It has been an interesting, crazy, and exhausting experience.  She doesn't get it...She threw up all over her bed 2 of the times!  She calls it "spit-up" and she keeps telling me she has to "spit up" but she doesn't she is just saying it to say it or get attention, I don't know.  So anyway, this has been going on since Sat and I am so ready to be rid of it!  I notice ALOT of bloggers have been writing about their sick households!  I do have to say though it was really sweet to nurture and take care of Darby.  The first time she was throwing up over the toilet and I was holding her hair was such a great mommy moment for me (weird I know).  I wish I had a picture to share...but you understand I was busy ; ).

I am so ready for Spring!  I cleaned out Carson's closet yesterday and I went ahead and put her spring clothes in it!  I can not wait!  It has been a cold long winter it seems like...   Easter is right around the corner and the weather will be getting warmer really soon and I just love this part of the year!  There is so much fun to be had.  At the end of March there will be the Bridge Run (if these babes would get well I could get back in gear to train for it!  Its a 10K) and the Flowertown Festival which I absolutely love!  The in April we have Easter, my bday, the Strawberry Festival (haven't been before but I REALLY want to go this year).  In May we get to celebrate the lives of the 2 most precious girls in the entire WORLD!  It is crazy to me when I think about how God has given these precious things to me.  I mean I fail miserably regularly at being a great mom but they still love me.  It is so sweet how God designed the parent/child relationship.  I have been considering alot lately how I am responsible for them and yes God is in control over all things but I am responsible for loving, and nurturing, and providing for, and caring for and teaching them and raising them!  That is a HUGE and HIGH calling and I really am thankful for it but I don't want to take it lightly!  I don't want to be careless with their lives!  It challenges me to really run to Jesus and plead with him to make me more like Him and less like me! 

I hope this blog finds you all well or at least getting well!  Sorry there are no pictures!  I know they are fun.  If you have not entered to win a cute Ouch Pouch full of first aid supplies (perfect for the upcoming seasons for boo boo's outside or bug bites and such) click here to enter!

A MUCH needed night on the town...with a little creepiness!

So date night with the girls tonight! Loved it! We went to where else but Your Pie, our favorite! Just so you know it is a 30min drive to get there. So you KNOW we love it. Of course we got to see the spinning coburg cow and wave and blow he/she some kisses so that was fun. It was great. You know the weather was rainy and having two girls one in an infant carrier, a purse, and a floppy seat is not easy. We were eating our pizza and I looked up and it was PORING rain. This was a bit of a panic moment considering I decided against the umbrella and Darby's rain coat due to the fact that I only have 2 arms. But praise the Lord the rain stopped and we got out without melting bc you know we would have ; ). Here is Darby at Your Pie (last time we went) **phone camera pic




I told Darby before dinner we could go to the book store when we were done eating. I was hesitant bc of the weather so when we were driving away from the restaurant I said," Darby, do you want to go to the bookstore or go home?" She replied, "The bookstore". So I said, "okay, I am just a little nervous about the weather (mainly talking to myself)" and she said, "its okay mom" and something along the lines of "it'll be alright". Gotta love the pep talk. So off we went to Barnes and Noble, which is why I am up writing this blog bc of my Starbucks treat I forgot to get in decaffeinated. It was so great tho. I never knew how fun it could be. They have a train table and of course lots of books and fun stuff for the kids. I sat at one of the little table looking at the CUTEST girly cookbooks (I bought them, I had to, it was for a good cause anyway, right?). I told Carson no for the first time tonight = (. I think I will start using that more often bc she really can begin to understand it now. So when she grabs her spoon while I am feeding her and flings baby food everywhere... Anyway, I was amazed at how much she enjoyed it there. The girls played and once again...the sky dropped out and once again...cleared in time to leave. It was so fabulous. Here is Carson playing at Barnes and Noble. **camera phone pic



Oh I almost forgot! The creepiness! So during our play time there was this random adult man wandering around the kids section. He didn't seem like a dad looking for something for his kids (you know dads would be attracted to the display table, with good books but limited selection, it is just easier!). He was there forever! That creeps me out especially since that shopping center has had its share of crime. He did eventually leave and I was thankful. If he wasn't up to no good tho then why don't ppl consider their creepiness factor???

Yay for Carson!!!!

Today Carson turns 8 months old! She is doing great! For those who know about her kidney reflux...that hasn't been anymore of a problem. I give her a small dose of an antibiotic everyday (or almost) to prevent infection. She has gotten to be quite a big girl over the past 2 months. She is sooo cute! She crawls, and still in a mixture of various methods. She doesn't mind as long as she gets where she is going. And that she does! That girl is determined! I will all the time here her grunting and turn to see that she is trying to get over something to get to something else. She also for the first time the other day pulled up to her knees...like not to a stand but on her knees. She is crazy. She LOVES her big sis Darby. Here are couple videos I took on my phone of her most favorite activities lately:




She loves to take a bath with Darby! I just started letting them take one together and Darby loves it just as much!

I don't think you can hear the sound on the videos. If you could you could hear Carson squealing and jabbering. She says da da da all the time. She doesn't know what it means though. Did you know that da-da is the universal "first word" in any language? It is a developmental thing. You can never be to sure but I am pretty confident that her actual first word will be ma-ma...I will let you know tho!

I had to wake Carson up to give her her medicine last night because I forgot and here are a few pics for your enjoyment....she is like "mom, what in the world??"

I didn't think I was going to make it!

First, I didn't think I was going to make it to the outlet mall to take back some jeans I bought...but with a little deviation from our "normal" schedule I did!

Then I really didn't think I would make it to the gym...but I pushed myself and then to REALLY help motivate me I called and got my friend and neighbor Blythe to go too!

THEN I really really didn't think I would make it through the run on the treadmill. My running hasn't been consistent for several reasons and that was my first run in 2 weeks! On top of that, my furthest distance had been 2.5 miles. So we pressed the 5k button and started going. I made it but I am surprised.

THEN I really really really didn't think I was going to make it through getting the kids to bed. Darby had a rough day. She hardly listened to an ounce of what I asked her to do! So that makes for an EXHAUSTING day. Then, at bath time she bit Carson! Hard! She wasn't being mean though. I think she just had the idea and tried it! So what did I do? I bit her. Someone told my friend to do this with her child who was biting at school. I think it was effective. She was very remorseful.

Now we are on the other side of bedtime and I wish I didn't have to make it through taking a shower and doing my laundry that is out of control but...such is life = ).

Darby's First Trip to the Dentist!

It was time! 2 and half years old and we were off to the dentist for Darby's first visit. We went to Corner Stone Children's Dentistry which is where a dentist from church runs his practice. Dr. Paul Galloway is his name. It was a great experience. Darby did great, the hygienist did great, and Dr. Paul was great too. Darby got to pick out her toothpaste flavor. When the girl said what the choices were I knew exactly what she would pick and she did....CHOCOLATE! How incredibly disgusting does that sound. But hey, whatever she wants to make it through the trip to the dentist. Darby did not enjoy the little thing that blows air, that had her up off the chair and heading to the door but we calmed her back down. She didn't do perfect but much better than it could have been and I was sooo proud of her. Here are some pictures taken on my phone!






I can't believe how big she is getting....There goes another milestone.

Side-Tracked

Okay I totally got side tracked when I sat down to write this blog 2.5 hours ago. First it was baby Carson, poor thing. She is going through something. Teeth maybe, cold maybe, or maybe adjusting from our travel this past weekend. So I went in and gave her a bit of tylenol and rocked her. I rocked her and rocked her (dad, if you are reading this...that chair was so worth the money). I didn't want to let go! I thought about her being a teenager and not fitting in my arms anymore and that made me hold her tighter to keep her from growing. I prayed for her for and for her future and that God would be glorified in her life and that He would call her to faith in Him ALONE at a young age. I am not a good sit stiller but I couldn't let go. When I was holding her I could just feel the JOY seeping into me like through osmosis or something ; ). I love her she is so beautiful.

Then I sat back down to write my totally different blog than this and went to get a link to a blog I discovered and got side tracked there reading her blogs and stories. You can read for yourself here at Katies Keepers. An amazing story of faith in a difficult time. I cried and cried but am encouraged.

I have been guilty of trying to figure out God recently. I've been trying to figure out why God does what he does and trying to predict even what he is doing in my life instead of just patiently waiting in the desert for Him. If one thing is for sure nothing THIS SIDE OF HEAVEN is permanent. Our hope has to be in THE One and Only the Great I AM.

Psalm 46:10 "Be still (beth) and know that I AM God"

He doesn't just leave us stranded though.

Isaiah 58:11 "The Lord will guide you always"

God goes before us (the Alpha) is with us now and will forever always be (the omega)-What great hope!

We went on a trip to Jacksonville this past weekend to visit my mom (and brother) and here are some pics from our trip!
Darby the Mermaid!

This was a joke bc I told him we could send this pic to his girlfriend to show her what he can do ; )
I'm gonna gitch gitcha gitcha

How Deep the Father's Love

So this is the season for celebrating Gods love through the birth of Christ, right? I am still trying to understand just how gently and perfectly he loves me day to day. It is hard to imagine perfect love. I think in a world tainted with sin it is impossible, the only thing we can do, is gain a better and deeper understanding of it as we walk with Him, as we offer our heart, as we go through life, through struggles and joys, etc... Tonight, wait let me back up... Today, Darby and Carson got their picture taken with Santa! I am still shocked bc 1. I had the patience to wait in line and 2. because Darby (and Carson!) GLADLY sat in Santas lap. I talked to Darby yesterday about giving her passys to santa and she went right along with the idea talking about how she is a big girl and passys are for babies. I thought this might be my chance, so I took it! Anyway, back to tonight, she obviously had a hard time not being sad over the fact that she didn't have a passy. So I tried to be extra sympathetic (which does not come naturally for me). It went okay but then she got out of bed, so I went in and held her and rocked her and sang to her for what felt like an eternity. One of my goals in parenting is to show my children to the best of my ability the love of God. How gentle, how patient,how comforting... I don't even know these things for myself so that seems like a challenge but I think one way God will teach me is through doing it! I kept holding her and I knew she was sad and confused. All I really wanted to do was take my shower and go to bed myself but every time I wanted to put her down I just said to myself I know God just has to keep holding on, I kept picturing myself in his arms, and him agonizing over the fact that I am sad and confused and even weeping for me. I hope I can hang onto this picture for a while. I know he is near to me. I know he cares for me because why else would we be celebrating Jesus' birth in six days. This is one of my most meaningful Christmases to date. I'm so thankful for the Gospel of grace, love and hope that it gives! Darby ended up saying that she wanted to lay down in her bed again and so I put her back down and gave her kisses and she said as I did it, thank you mom.... I'm so glad I was patient!

Love, Love, Love this song! How Deep the Father's Love For Us
You will have to pause the music at the bottom of the blog to listen but it is WORTH it!

7 Months!

My sweet baby girl is 7 months old today! I can't believe how fast this time goes by. I know before I realize it she is going to be 2 and so I am trying to soak it all in while I can. I didn't enjoy the baby phase as much with Darby because it was my first go round and I was always just wondering what was coming next and figuring out everything. I remember I analyzed EVERYTHING. It is so funny how different it is now with Carson.

Still no teeth yet! Oh my goodness, I keep thinking she will get one anyday but not yet! She is eating very good though! She def has breakfast and dinner (baby food of course) I am incorparating lunch, it all depends how hungry I think she is. She is sitting up marvelously. She is even getting on her hands and knees. She sometimes rocks but alot of the time she gets up and flops herself forward onto her belly and repeats until she gets to her desired location. It is so funny!

Here are a few pictures I took this morning....




This next picture Carson was in the middle of celebrating that her big sister just came in the room. She gets SO excited! They love each other!