Shutterfly!

As I have been preparing for Christmas, I have found some great ideas and great deals through Shutterfly! They have a large selection of Christmas cards, and this year they give you the option of printing them on cardstock (as apposed to photo paper) which I think is a very sophisticated look. You can find the selection of holiday photo cards here, and if you are running out of time, you can view their selection of new years cards here. I'm a fan of the square shape card, but I also like the folded ones too.

Also, Shutterfly has great gift ideas for those who enjoy photos. (Who doesn't?) I have a friend who just ordered a puzzle for her husband with a picture from their wedding on it. Great idea! Of course, Shutterfly's photo books are always a great choice! You can make them playful or elegant. Another neat idea (even for yourself) is their Christmas ornaments. You can put a picture on an ornament and have a memory of this year hanging on your tree for years to come! I may have to implement this tradition for our own family!

Although I haven't used Shutterfly a whole lot in the past, I am planning on trying something new in 2011. I take too many photos and had the goal last year to get up to date with all my printed pictures. Well, I had to buy six photo albums (holding 250 pictures each) just to catch up over the last two years of not printing. I don't think we can afford to continue buying this many photo albums, nor will we have a home large enough to house them all. So...I've decided to make photo books (hopefully i condense it into one or two) for each years' photos. I'm excited because I can work on it all year long (saving it online), and then order it at the end of the year!

Happy shopping!

Remembering the little things

I have been accused before of being overly sentimental. It's true-I can be. But, when it comes to children, can you be too sentimental? Just yesterday as I was cleaning up around the house, I was reminded of how horrible I've been lately with recording all the kids' latest and greatest. Everyone knows how quickly time flies and how swiftly children change, but I also know how clumsy my memory is. I don't want to forget how Sam says "kichen" for chicken and "catchet" for jacket. I don't want to forget how he laughs and says "that funny mama". I don't want to forget Cole's look when he gets caught eating his toes or the sweet way he holds my face when we lay side by side. Oh, how i treasure these little things!

Thank you, Lord, for my children! I love them so much...

and to think that You love them even more.

Cole at 5 months

Cole is already five months old!

Here are some of his latest and greatest:

• He is still the most content and happy baby I've ever met. What a blessing that he is MY son!
• Cole is now refusing to take bottles. That little stinker is mommy-dependent, so mommy doesn't go too far for too long. I keep thinking, "it's just for a season."
• He is officially a thumb-sucker! He found it pretty early on, and is now attached.
• He found his toes about two weeks ago. I forget about these fun little milestones.
• He's a big boy (compared to Sam)-now wearing 6-9 month clothes.
• I have been soaking in more sweet moments than i did with Sam, knowing how fast these little guys grow. My favorite is after his last feeding at night, he falls asleep in my arms. We linger together before i put him in his crib.
• No one can make him laugh like his big brother...no matter how hard i try.

Sam continues to grow and change as well. However, he is still just as silly! He is in the midst of the "terrible two's," trying to prove that the stereotype is every bit real. It's wearing us out--extremely sanctifying! He continues to love music (playing his guitar, his drums, and singing...i love to hear him sing). I've learned over the last few months that he has a very serious shy streak. When he enters an unfamiliar environment, his little body gets paralyzed. I used to think he was being defiant, but now I am trying to offer patience. How could i forget, Sam is now wearing big boy underpants! I didn't know if we'd make it through the week of potty training, but we survived...barely. Sam also eats up every minute his daddy is home...mommy's boy turned daddy's boy? Nah!

I love that he loves to read his Bibles...

The following is a video of Sam and Cole having some brother time. The second video is for laughs...

Our happy baby...

Cole is such a content and happy baby--what a joy! He has been smiling a lot lately and is starting to coo. His little noises never get old! After watching Sam grow into a little boy, I know these tender moments with Cole will wisp away way too fast. I'm trying to enjoy every second, even if that means the laundry piles up and the house is left messy.

Thank you, Lord, for my two precious boys!

Sam is TWO!

So hard to believe that my baby boy is now two. We planned a party in Georgia but decided to nix our trip when Cole was in the hospital. Scott and I made sure he had a BIG day here in MB. Sam woke up to decorations and airplane pancakes (he loves airplanes).

Scott took him to "Wee Jump", an indoor playground, before lunch then brought him home for a big bubble bath to wash all the germs away.

When Sam woke up from his afternoon nap, we gave him a few gifts including a tricycle!

He was excited to get on it...

...but not excited to get off.

Our friends, Kevin and Kelly Hill (and Olivia), had us over for dinner to continue the celebration. It was a fun-filled day!

A tiny glimpse into our day...

Sam is enjoying inside activities during these cold winter days.

A New Year

We did not anticipate greeting the new year from Conway Medical Center. Cole was struggling to breathe New Year's Eve, so Scott and I took him to the ER. After lots of tests (blood test, urine analysis, x-ray, and spinal tap), we were admitted in the hospital. It was a scary experience seeing Cole so weak and watching his little body be poked and punctured all over the place. It was a sight no mommy ever wants to see. Cole was diagnosed as having RSV (a respiratory virus) and was given antibiotics, breathing treatments, and kept on oxygen for a couple of days. He was taken off oxygen early Saturday morning, and we were released to go home Sunday. We will be going back for a follow up appt. tomorrow to make sure we are

in the clear.

God was so gracious throughout it all and gave us sweet reminders of His presence in our lives. For example, the male nurse's name (that we saw in the ER) was Tobias. I asked him about his name-where it came from, what it meant, etc. He shared that its origin was Hebrew and meant "one who knows the Lord is good". How appropriate. My sweet husband had just been reminding me of this truth on the drive to the ER. God IS good ALL the time. Our circumstances do not change that fact. God is also committed to our sanctification, and He knows my attention is quickly gotten when it comes to my children. So... although I would not choose to go through this again, I cannot doubt my God's faithfulness. He has proven it time and time again.

Of course, I have given Cole extra love these last few days and squeezed Sam a little tighter. Ultimately, I have had to reevaluate my heart and ask myself: Do I cling to the gifts God has given me more than I cling to the giver of the gifts-God Himself? Also, I am reminded that my children are really His children given to me for a time. I must trust Him with their lives.

Nothing like starting a new year with a sharpened awareness of who God is and how helpless I am without Him.

Cole's First Month

My precious baby boy is a true joy--worth every single minute of the wait! Cole has been an incredibly "easy" baby. Of course he has his needy moments, but compared to Sam's first weeks, having him around is a breeze. He eats well and sleeps well. Cole has a gentle disposition. He's so quiet, it's easy to forget he's in the room. I am being spoiled with all the snuggling I get to do. I better get it all in now before he starts squirming around like Sam. Funny how much bigger Sam seems to me now that I have a newborn to compare him with. Crazy how much children grow in a short amount of time.

It's hard to believe that Cole is already a month old. It's been a busy month for him...and for us. Here is a glimpse:

As a result of the H1N1 Flu, hospital regulations kept Sam from coming to visit us when Cole was born. The first time Sam met him was the day we came home. At first, he was dumb-founded. He didn't know what to think. After a couple of days, Sam just ignored Cole throughout the day. He eventually warmed up to the idea of having a little brother and now wants to know where he is when he wakes up and kiss him goodnight when he goes to bed. Jealousy definitely still raises its head from time to time.

Papa K and Khaki proud of their 6th grandchild.

Gigi was able to stay for another week after Cole arrived. We appreciated the help, and Sam especially enjoyed having her around to give him some much needed attention.

After my mom left, Pops stayed with us for a week.

Pops is already introducing Cole to sports, hunting, and fishing.

As you can tell, Sam loves his "Bops"!

When Cole was 2 1/2 weeks old, our family of four traveled back up to Wake Forest, NC for Scott's seminary graduation. We were able to stay with our friends Paul and Amy (Kai and Melia). It was a full house--full of kids, laughter, and fun! The weekend was refreshing, full of celebration and sweet fellowship with dear friends. I am so proud of Scott's diligence and discipline to finish strong, for i know that he has had to balance a full plate at the same time. I tried to plan a surprise birthday party while we were there too. My hubby is now THIRTY! It was so wonderful to see old friends--made me miss NC a bit. Thank you to all who helped make the party a success.

A little surprise Paul left in the bathroom for Scott...

If you look close enough, you'll get a good laugh!

Sam trying on Daddy's hat.

Cole wearing Daddy's hat too.

The proud parents and wife of the graduate.

This is Scott with our friend Steve and their mentor, Dr. Bob Jones.

"Surprise!"

Amy and Melia... two gracious hostesses!

Mr. Paul teaching Sam how to play with play-dough.

Best Buds. Sam misses seeing Kai more often.

I miss seeing Kai's mommy more often too.

Scott's parents traveled to NC to see Scott graduate, then followed us back to MB to celebrate an early Christmas with us.

Khaki and Sam baked some gingerbread men together. Sam tried to eat all the dough and was covered with flour when it was all said and done--that's part of the fun, though. Right?

All the men hanging out on the couch. Sam thinks he is so big when he gets to hold baby brother.

Papa K and Khaki gave Sam the Little People Barn for Christmas--he loves it!

My mom and brother joined us for Christmas again this year. Sam couldn't get enough of Uncle Jon and Cole couldn't get enough of Gigi. We all had a great time simply hanging out together as we celebrated the promise God kept in sending us a Savior! Sam was sick on Christmas Day, so we stayed inside and in our PJ's all day--it was quite relaxing!

Since we stayed in our pj's all day on Christmas, I made everyone get dressed the next morning so we could take some family photos.