6 Months Old

Little man is 6 months old today! I look back over these pictures and can't believe he was ever so small! He is a very active little guy. His legs are always moving. He loves to be outside whether it is sitting on our back patio, going for a walk, or just walking to the mailbox! He is chewing on everything. He loves to eat: avocado, carrots, peas, green beans, apple sauce, pears. He hasn't refused anything I have given him. He is rolling all over the floor and is pushing up on his arms like he is ready to go! He definitely keeps me on my toes.....I can't imagine what it will be like when he is really mobile!

6 months old: 19 1lbs 2 oz and 28 1/4 inches long

Coming home from the hospital

One Month Old

2 months old

Three Months old

4 months old


5 months old

Wonderful Weekend

We have had a great weekend....I just wish they were longer! Friday night we hung out here at home. Hal got home early which was a big treat for both Drew and I. We played with Drew and then put him down for the night. Hal and I made pancakes and watched our new favorite show, Locked up Abroad.

Saturday morning we had Drew's 6 month appointment and then had lunch at Sweet Tomatoes. I am so sorry that my Arkansas friends and family don't have a Sweet Tomatoes. It is a salad and soup buffet. Yummy! Saturday afternoon we came home so little man could nap and then we headed down to the beach to meet the Holliday's for dinner at Gulf Drive Cafe. After we ate, their kids went swimming and we hung out for a little while.

Today we were off to church and then lunch with our friends the Miles'.

I love weekends!


Playing with Daddy on Friday night.


The blonde is back....Drew looked at me kind of funny the first time he saw me!

Saturday morning playtime w/ Dad.

Ready to see the doctor.

Waiting at the restaurant for the Holliday's.

Drew, Rachel, and me

Random Friday and LOTS of Pictures

1) There are an insane amount of pictures on this post! Mom and Dad helped me plant some flowers and I wanted to share the results with you.
2) Sooo glad it is Friday. I love thinking that when I wake up on Saturday morning Hal will be with us all day!
3) We have Drew's 6 month appointment tomorrow. I seriously can't believe he is 6 months old...almost! :)
4) I have been making Drew's baby food. It is not as difficult as you might think. He is loving avocado and pears! I am loving my mini food processor!
5) I had my hair highlighted this week for the first time in FOREVER! I am a blonde again...and I love it! It seemed like my hair got much darker when I was pregnant. I also got to spend a little girl time with my friend Rachel, so it was a double bonus. :)


Vani got us this tummy time mat. You fill part of it with water. He had quite the time tyring to catch the butterfly!


I know this is off center...but how could I not post that smile???


An action shot...this kid loves jumping!

Flowers in pots on the back patio

Planter on the back patio

Front door..a new planter by the front door and two near the entry.

Hal's parents got us this cute bench for Christmas. I love having it right as you come to the front door. Drew and I sit there in the afternoons and watch for Hal to pull in the driveway!

You can't see them...but I promise we planted cute yellow flowers under this bush!

See....aren't they cute!

First Time Swimming

We had a great visit with my mom and dad. They left on Saturday evening. Somehow I didn't end up with many pictures, but of course mom has plenty. I will have to get more from her to post.

One night last week. We took Drew over to the McGuire's to swim for the first time. He LOVED the water!

I love this picture of him all wrapped up after his fun in the pool!

Saturday before mom and dad left, we went to the Farmer's Market in downtown Sarasota and then had lunch on the patio at Marina Jack.

It felt a little surreal for people to keep telling me Happy Mother's Day! I just can't believe I am old enough to be a mom. One of these days I will realize that I am almost 30. :) We went to church, grabbed lunch, and then came home and had a relaxing afternoon. It was a wonderful day!

Drew's Dedication, Jumperoo, and other Updates

I am not finding as much time to blog these days! Little man is keeping me busy! I kept telling my mom that Drew is NEVER still. I don't think she really believed me until she got here! He isn't crawling yet, but he is still always on the go. His little legs are constantly moving and he seems to always be looking around for the next thing!

Sunday was Drew's dedication at church. My mom and dad were able to be there. We were looking forward to Hal's parents also being in town, but his dad is trying to get over the shingles and they didn't want to take the chance of being around Drew.

We read a Bible story to Drew every night. Last week, we happened to read about Hannah giving Samuel to the Lord....very fitting! Hal and I feel so blessed to have a son and incredibly challenged with the responsibility to bring him up in a Godly household. The dedication started with our friend Heather singing Invade by Watermark. Our campus pastor, Sam Rainer, did the dedication. He issued a challenge to Hal and I as well as to the entire congregation. He also gave us a letter for Drew to open when he accepts Christ as his Savior. At the end, members of the church came up and prayed over our family. Afterwards, we went to The Broken Egg for lunch with my parents, the McGuires, and the Hollidays. It was an amazing day!

This is the best picture I could get...someone wouldn't be still!

Mom and Dad bought him a jumperoo....he cracks us up with this! He LOVES this classical baby CD that I borrowed from my friend Christi (FYI...you may never get it back). This is my ace int he hole. If he is fussy, this will always entertain him. We put him in the jumperoo and turned on his favorite song. He was quite entertaining!

Finally....

Well, I think we are finally feeling better! It seems like I have been saying that the entire month of April! We all three were sick with a second round the past two weeks. Hal had the worst of it this weekend, but seems to be better today. Saturday night we did go out to dinner for our anniversary. It was such a nice treat. Our friends Marcus and Rachel watched Drew while we headed tot he Chart House on Longboat Key. I had yummy fish and of course Hal played it safe with a New York strip. :) One of these days I will get him to eat fish! Hal bought me an iPhone this weekend....and let's just say I am ADDICTED! The pics below are taken with my phone, not sure the quality is that great, but it is nice to always have the camera around1


Ready for church on Sunday

I found a neat website that gives age appropriate activities for your child. Productive Parenting is the name of the site. One day it suggested let them "Puree Paint" with their food. He had a great time getting sweet potatoes everywhere on Sunday evening.

I really need to start walking/running again, so we started this morning. I think Drew enjoyed it much more than I did!

3 Years and Counting

Hal has put up with me 3 years and counting! I wanted to put up more pics, but the ole computer isn't cooperating!

I am so incredibly blessed with an amazing Godly husband and father. Love you buddy. ;)

5 Months Old + One Day :)

I can't believe Drew was 5 months old yesterday! Unbelievable! We have both been sick again, so I didn't manage to get a picture much less get it uploaded yesterday, but I think we are doing better today.

He is changing so much! He is rolling over, smiling like crazy, noticing when Hal and I enter or leave a room, and just start to fuss when we take something away he wants!

I struggled to get a picture because he was more interested in his feet than anything!

Easter Weekend

Drew was quite the road warrior this weekend! We left on Thursday for Laurel and ended up driving straight through. It was great to spend time with Hal's family. Hal's parents spoiled us and made Thanksgiving dinner for us since we weren't there for Thanksgiving this year! It did feel kind of odd to be eating dressing in April, but I got over that quickly. Little man Enjoy pics from the weekend.


Ready for the road in my new car seat!

Playing with Maw Maw

I think we have started teething. Poor guy has an awful rash around his mouth and on his cheeks and EVERYTHING is going in his mouth!

Talking to Paw Paw

First Easter BAsket

Hal and Drew in front of Hal's parents house.

Madison and Drew

Jess and Drew

Drew with his cousins. :)

Feeling Better

We are feeling better! I was able to get some extra rest this weekend thanks to my wonderful husband. He got up with Drew a few times Friday night and then woke up early with him on Saturday. We didn't do much at all on Saturday, but we were able to go to church on Sunday. Drew stayed with us just in case. I would hope that other moms are as cautious. :) He was great through the entire service. I hope that he is that good next Sunday! We are going to church with a good friend of Hal's in Laurel.

Have a good week!

Random Friday

1) As you can see in the video above, Drew is really trying to roll over. He just doesn't have it quite figured out yet.

2) We are still sick around here....but hopefully on the mend soon. Other than the rough days on Tuesday and Wednesday, Drew is a happy guy even though he is sick.

3) My friend Christi is amazing. She brought me dinner last night since I wasn't feeling great. I really don't think Hal and I would have made it through the first 48 hours we had Drew home if it wasn't for her. She brought us dinner the first night we were home and sat with me while Hal ran errands. She is a wonderful mother and a constant encouragement to me.

4) Hal is home...woo hoo! Drew and I picked him up in Tampa this morning. He is at work, but we are just glad to have him in Florida!

5) We are looking forward to our trip to Laurel for Easter weekend. We are leaving Thursday and coming back Monday....can't wait.

6) Drew is sleeping....I am going to take a nap! Have a great weekend!

Travel, Sickness, and Lessons

It has been a long week! Drew woke up with a cold on Saturday morning, so we spent our weekend here at the house. Monday I took him back to the doctor...poor guy has had awful congestion. He was so congested on Tuesday and Wednesday that he didn't even eat much and that is rare for him! He seems to be a bit better today. Hal left on Tuesday for a trip to New Jersey. Drew and I pick him up in the morning....woo hoo!!!! That covers travel and sickness, now for the lesson.

Why is it that I have to be backed into a corner before I am truly desperate for the Lord? It seems I have an ongoing battle with pride. I have blogged before about how God keeps chipping away at my pride. This week, I am sore from all the work He has been doing! I don't know why I constantly find myself doing things in my own strength and not relying on the Lord's help. I think secretly I am pretty proud of myself for being able to handle things (at least I think I am handling things on my own.) For me, there has been nothing like motherhood to show me that I am absolutely dependent on God. This week, I found myself desperate for Him. When I say desperate, I mean that I really didn't think I could go another second without him strengthening me. Please don't think Drew is an awful baby....this lesson was about me not about him. Poor guy was just plain sick this week. I hated being in the position where I couldn't fix it for him. He couldn't tell me what was wrong or how to make it better. He didn't want to sleep or eat which resulted in a lot of crying. I found myself in a place where my only option was to cry out to the Lord for His help. Hal was out of town. My mom couldn't just run over and help. It was me and God. Just the way He wanted it. I was truly humbled....crying out to Him for His grace and His help to get us through this place. Of course, God was gracious and came through. Not that things got easier(Drew is doing better, but I woke up with a cold this morning), but when I stopped relying on my own strength and let God help, the load wasn't quite so heavy. I want to live in that state of desperation every day. I want to live everyday with an awareness that nothing I do is in my own strength.