.first video ever.

.pics.and more pics.

*UpdaTe..Brody is feeling better. Still stuffy but overall doing much better*
Lots of pics today..

.This is what we do with boxes...cut holes for leashes and pull little man around the house!

.brody in his crib.

.This is what happens when brody starts crawling!

.christmas day.

.29 clues.

Today someone who is very special to everyone who reads this blog is having a birthday. Here are 29 clues to who it is and how old she may be....

Likes egg nog but not in large portions
Loves Jesus
Supports breast cancer research
Got some super cute pink and black Sorel snow boots for $33 @ REI last night
Birthed one of the cutest little boys in the entire world
Loves pedicures
Loves to eat
Believes a day at the spa is worth every dollar!
Favorite season is fall
Love anything PUMPKIN
Naps
Is a BEAVER BELIEVER
Camp name was PINKIE
PHS class of 1998!
Drinks coffee
Has a wonderful, super cool, incredibly patient husband
Loves Fiji
Is drug free
Drinks beer and enjoys it
Has curly and straight hair
Favorite move is Say Anything
Loves her dog
Dyslexic (sp?)
Bathes daily
Is a snow shoer
Seldom reads but wishes she read more
Blogs
Loves to purchase clothing for her baby boy
is...CHRISTINA THOMAS… Happy Birthday to ME!

.reporting for duty?.

brody can offically army crawl. and fast. want to race?

.dr says.

ear infection! no fun. but we caught it early. so antibiotics it is! we just got home. gave him lunch, then meds and he is now sleeping w/his vicks vaporizer. poor poor brody... i think i shall eat and sleep too! thanks for your continued prayers.

.sick boy.

Brody is a sick boy and we are not sure what is wrong with him. Fever and LOTS of crying. I was up with him all night. We are going to the doctor this AM. Possible ear infection?? Please remember him in your prayers.

.lots of snow. good friends. good balance!.

Here are some pics from this AM. Imagine a few more inches on top of this and that's what it's like outside. It snowed all day..

Our neighbors the Kelly's came over for dinner and drinks. Brody hung out with Drew and Jack...

This is how Brian and Brody have been passing the time..

.snow day.round3.

it's seriously down right nasty out! we received about 6inches of snow, then followed by a 1/2 inch of ice topping the snow (update..as I was writing this brian went in the back yard and found a piece 1inch think!!..now that's ICE!) The snow comes up to the back sliding glass door! currently freezing rain is coming down and they say more snow soon. it's very cold and not too fun to play in. SO brody and I just stay inside. Brian on the other hand has been working but came home around noon today. He is already restless and driving me crazy. Here's the extent of our venture out today...

brody is now army crawling and he discovered a new way to play in his exersaucer

.more snow.and more.

.yes it is snowing. no i haven't took more pics. i will because i'm sure the 5+ inches that are on the ground will be there in the morning. brian's mom flies in tomorrow(hopefully.) please pray for safe travels.

.brody's first big boy bath.

oh and he also loves baby einstein! yes, i let him watch it TV. and yes, i'm perfectly ok with it.

.snow day.round 2.

i stayed in and worked from home today. brody and i bundled up and tried to enjoy the snow but lasted maybe 15mins..brrr it was cold. i also took some more pics and as usual..couldn't pick which one to post.. so here are several :)

.something on my mind.

since i've joined the ranks of motherhood i seem to be receiving forwards ..and.. whatnot about how hard a mom's job is. how much money we really should make. how tough things are. how much credit we deserve.. And honestly they aren't sitting right with me. I do work hard. it is tough. i get frustrated and I do cry, but you know pregnancy wasn't easy for us. i've miscarried in the past and then after that it took a year to conceive. Pregnancy and Children are not rights -they are blessings from God. Like I said sometimes it's hard. I get super tired. I get frustrated but there are so many other things I get along with this job we refer to as "motherhood." I have been given a healthy baby boy, a gift from God to raise. I get smiles every morning. Laughs everyday. I get to see a human being grow right in front of my eyes. I have learned so much about myself and about the Lord over the last 6 months. What a blessing that truly is.

I have a friend Alison who is one of the original bloggers (well at least to me.) Her blog is private so I wanted to share this post. Although I don't get to spend lots of time with her I love to read her blog and adventures with her son Jack who is 2 and 1/2. I am sure Alison has her tough days but I am continually encouraged by her posts and attitude towards mothering, being a wife, and her son Jack...

"Mama, I love you so much"
Those are the words that Jack said to me as we cuddled tonight in between crying fits and hystericalness in the three hours since Jack went to bed. In the midst of Jack's tears and disorientation, I brought him to bed with me, which, as history has shown, does not really solve the problem. Although it does end the crying, it comes with a whole host of other issues, among which are countless questions ("Mama, can I touch your nose?", "Mama, do you want to cuddle with Chizzy?", "Mama, it's past your bedtime", "Mama, I'm really tired". So am I kiddo, so am I.) and the inability for Jack to sleep in any way that does not involve his legs kicking me in the kidney. Even so, in a moment of calm and quiet, I hear, "Mama, I love you so much" and my heart melts.Today, a good friend of ours stopped by and I had the chance to talk to him for a while. We have had the privelege of watching him grow into a man of great faith and maturity. As we were talking about some very real and hard things that he is going through, he talked a bit about his mom and her encouragement and advice in his life. I couldn't help but think about the days to come. The time that I pour into Jack now will have an impact on our relationship. I want him to know that I am always going to be his biggest cheerleader, his biggest encourager, and his sounding board. I'm sure that there will be days that I am utterly detestable to him and totally unhip, but I'll always be his mama.There are days that being a mom is exhausting. Today was one of those days. Even on these hard days, it's all worth it.

.snow day.round 1.

well. it snowed. and it's still snowing. we attempted our first venture out and it was snowing and blowing too hard. so we came home. we have about 3inches now. and it's still falling. we are headed across the street for the afternoon to celebrate Noah's 4th birthday! more pics to come. (btw..traci his fleece that you wanted the pumpkin photo with fits perfect so no pumpkins but how about snow??!! - thanks)