1, 2, 3...

yep, it's been three years since i started blogging.
my bloggaversary was February 10th.
i made note of it...and still forgot it.
such is life these days.

so glad i started this blog.

so glad i have decided to continue this blog.

and yes i am still holding onto FB.

why? i don't know?

couldn't resist this one...

in more than one way.

this afternoon we went for a walk around the apartment complex.
i put Rowan in this precious outfit.

i bought it when we lived in Athens.
probably three or four years ago now.
i used to stop by Macy's on my way home from work

and check out the baby clearance.
i paid a mere three dollars for this knitted one piece.
regular price 40 dollars.

it used to hang in my "future baby closet".

i thought it was beautiful when i bought it...

i couldn't resist it then...

and now on my baby boy...

i couldn't resist his preciousness this afternoon.

i think i took 100 pictures!

i would love to dress him up in it again and sit him in
a beautiful pecan orchard and let my friend Shauna
work her magic.

a great dad.

i just love this picture of my boys.
they are precious.
great times.

snow baby!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Of course I am thankful for my husband's love,
my baby boy's love,
my family's love,
and
God's love.

I made this wreath a few weeks ago.
I found it on this awesome website.
Very easy.
Very cute.

Since making this one I have made three more.
One to sell for our savings account,
and two to put towards my Relay for Life goal.
I sold one to my mother-in-law.
I sold one to a lady at work.
And I have one more I need to sell.

And red is very hard to photograph...
The picture does not show the true deep red...
Oh well.

SNOW!

It started snowing late Friday afternoon...
and it snowed and snowed and snowed.
We got between 3 and 4 inches.

It was so beautiful.

I got home from work too late to take pictures...
so Saturday morning we bundled Rowan up
and out we went.
Alan made him his first snowman. (I think it is just adorable.)
I love how Rowan is checking Little Mr. Snowman out.
Shortly after this picture Rowan started flailing his arms
and bouncing up and down in his Bumbo.
He loved it.

SMILE!

If this doesn't make you smile...

nothing will!

Lots of NEW posts below!!!

busy...

I have been busy. busy. busy.
With work, with Rowan, with couponing, with life...
and baby food making.

While I was pregnant I talked about wanting to make
Rowan's baby food.
Well, then he turned five months old and it was time
to start introducing foods...and I hadn't made a single thing.
Or even thought about it...
I mean really it just totally sneaked up on me...

So I was determined not to let the time totally pass by.
So a few weeks ago I started researching the process.
I found out that it is really simple, really healthy,
and really economical.

So far I have made avocados, pears, applesauce, sweet
potatoes and bananas.

And I really enjoy it.

And so does Rowan.

I freeze the food in ice cube trays.
Then pop them out and store them in ziploc bags in the freezer.
The night before I take out what he will
eat for breakfast and lunch.
I put the cubes in recycled baby food jars (from the foods
I am not making) and then they go into the fridge.
By mealtime the next day they are thawed
and ready to eat. 

made my day...

Our babysitter Beth is such a blessing.
I just don't know what I'd do without her.
Her husband James, and Alan were e-mailing back and
forth about tax stuff for childcare deductions.
At the end of his e-mail James wrote...

"Thank you for trusting Rowan with Beth. She loves him!"

Oh gracious, that just made my day.

God provides everything we need!

6 months...

and sweeter by the day!

He is...
sitting up like a champ.
loving the homemade baby food I am making him.
giggling all the time.
Patting at his toys.
falling asleep in his jumparoo constantly.
wearing Size 3 diapers.
16 pounds, 17 ounces at his 6 month well visit.
28.25 inches long! (95th percentile people!)
outgrowing his size 9 month clothes.
a constant joy to Alan and I.
very inquisitive.
 mesmirized by the camera...hence no smiles! :(
still taking Prevacid for Acid Reflux...and now doing GREAT!
practicing with the sippy cup.
super happy all the time.

Our lives would be boring without you!
We love you!

1.24.10...

we gave you a sippy cup for the first time.
it had pear juice in it.

you don't quite get the concept yet...

but like everything else...

it won't be long.

jumparoo...

Rowan absolutely loves this Fisher Price
Jumparoo! It was given to us by some
sweet girls I used to work with in the STICU.

Girls, it was worth every penny.
I wish you all could see him jumpin' and jumpin' and jumpin'!
It makes our day...and his too!

sweet curl...

Rowan has the prettiest, softest, cutest, most precious
curl on the top of his head.
And.
I. love. it.

growing boy...

Just thought it would be fun to see how much Rowan has grown
over the past 6 months!

it's quiet...

in the house.
but not in my mind.
both boys are asleep.
i will join them soon.

just sitting here for a minute...
listening to the music on my blog.

i stand amazed...
there is none like you...
and tell me I am your own...

so what i needed to hear.

Tonight Rowan fell asleep in my arms.
Those are the moments I just cherish.
I want to freeze time.

Every night before I put Rowan in his crib...
I take him to wherever Alan is so Alan can kiss him
good-night.
Tonight Alan kissed Rowan.
Then he kissed me.
And said "Thank you for being such a good momma".
Gosh, I love that man.
Even though I hardly feel like one.

During January, I got some things straight.
I needed to ask and seek forgiveness from some people.
And I did.
The replies offered peace and relief except for one...
And it left me filled with questions.
But I did what God wanted me to do.
The end. 

Life is a balancing act.
I knew it was before I had Rowan...
but that was a joke compared to now.

Some people never cease to amaze me.

In February, I am working on overcoming some insecurities I have.

I am trusting that God has something big in store for our family.
As He has us in a holding pattern.
Trying to rest in Him.
Trying to trust in Him.
Trying to be content.
Will I ever get it?

Rowan is the greatest joy.
The smiles, the laughter, his sweet face, and curious gestures.
He is so inquisitive.
Still can't believe he is ours.

I take life so for granted.
I spend way too much time comparing myself to others.
Why can I not be satisfied?
Why do I constantly ask myself this?
Guess it goes back to trying to be content...

I wish I had more time for blogging...
but lately it is not a priority.
I have even thought about stopping it altogether.
And I am seriously considering deleting my Facebook.
Gotta get back to the basics...

Ok, enough rambling...gotta go to bed...

Happy Birthday

Maggie!

Have a wonderful day!

We love you!

it seems like just yesterday...

he was 9 days old.

i was messy-crying every five minutes.

i was so fragile. physically. emotionally.

i was sleep deprived.

i was falling googly-eyed in-love with this boy.

i was learning to breastfeed.

i was starting to understand what the love of a parent feels like.

i was feeling so overwhelmed in the best way.

In 5 short days this sweet newborn will be SIX months old.

I

can't

 believe

 it.

Where has the time gone...

teething...

Rowan is teething like crazy.

Chewing, drooling, and fussing a bit.

photoshop fun...

I finally had time (made time) to start learning Photoshop.

I have a LOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNGGGGGG way to go.

It is very detailed, and can be so overwhelming.

It has me so excited about photography again...

Couldn't resist starting with this sweet picture!

jump till you drop...

this was hilarious to Alan and I.

Rowan was bouncing away while we were

packing up to go to Alabama for New Years.

I noticed Rowan's eyes getting heavy and eventually he fell

asleep just like that.

Cousins at Christmas!

i just love this picture of my three favorite boys.
Rowan loves his cousins...
and well they kinda love him too.
i think.

from the top of your head...

to those sweet little toes.

i love you!

captivating...

yes, you are.

i love how you are...
 starting to explore everything.
touching everything.
grabbing our faces.
jumping in your jumperoo.
starting to sit up by yourself.
jibber-jabbering all the time.
smiling at strangers.
blowing bubbles.
drooling.
noticing when i leave the room.
loving your new toys from christmas.
bringing a smile to my face.
amused at yourself when you see yourself in the mirror.
loving your baby food.
sleeping so good.
cuddling more.

"they" say, you love your child more everyday.
with us lately. 
it's MORE every minute.
we love you. more. 

5.5 months

laying on mommy's quilt from when i was a baby.
you have my heart.
loving you more everyday!

oh. dear.

sweet. boy. momma. loves. you. so. much.
awww...man.
breath-taking.
you and me at home today.
1-6-09