Caroline

Caroline turned a year old on Dec. 30th, but today was her 12 month appointment.  Our normally happy, very content little girl has not been herself all week.  We thought it was probably due to teething.  Her first tooth FINALLY popped through this past Saturday.  However, she started with a fever yesterday afternoon and by last night it was 103 without motrin.  So our well visit became her first sick visit.

This is how Caroline has spent most of the day!

We did manage to get her 12 month stats and will go back next week for the dreaded round of shots.

weight- 21 lbs 8.5 ounces

height- 30.5 inches

teeth- 1 on the bottom right

eating all table food, but won't take milk.  Doctor said we will have to wean her from the breast milk and after a couple of days she will most likely start drinking the milk.

http://youtu.be/Z80t4GnvufM

This is a video we took of Caroline walking.

This morning while reading another blog I love called MODsquad, I found this image.  My desire is for Caroline and her sisters Emily and Kate to grow up in the knowledge of these words.  I pray daily for the future of all my children and their future spouses.

Source: online-image-editor.com via Jesslyn42 on Pinterest

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
James 1:5

Rainy January Days at Home

It has been dark and rainy for several days at our house.  It is days like this that I am thankful for the opportunity to stay at home with the little girls and do nothing but play.

We can stay in our pajamas all day if we want!

Or we can wear a collection of all our favorite clothes!

I am just thankful today for the opportunity to spend all day with these little girls.  I am so thankful for a loving husband who is supportive of my desire to be at home with our children and who sees the value in it as much as I do.  I am thankful today for my parents and my sisters who always spoke truth to me and every day inspire me to be a Godly wife and mother.

always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Ephesians 5:20

Unexpected Blessings

We found out last October that we are expecting our 8th child this July.  On Christmas Eve we told our family.  While many people question our decision to have a large family, we know that each child is a gift from God.  Our house may be loud and crazy most days, but we can't imagine our life any other way.  We are looking forward to meeting our newest little one this summer.

Children are a heritage from the LORD,  offspring a reward from him.  Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth.  Blessed is the man  whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame  when they contend with their opponents in court.

                                                                Psalm 127: 3-5



2011 Memories

We welcomed our newest addition to our family.  Caroline Elizabeth arrived on Dec. 30th just before the start of the new year.

                                         She was loved by all her siblings.

Caroline-1 month old

Valentine's Day

Jake celebrated his 13th birthday.  We officially have a teenager in the house!

We enjoyed the Spring weather in Texas.

We hunted for eggs with our life group friends.

We celebrated Easter.

And ate way too much candy!

On Mother's Day, we had Caroline dedicated.

We said goodbye to our wonderful teachers and the end of another school year.

And we left on a new journey!

We said goodbye to our home in Texas.

And hello to our new home in Georgia.

We celebrated the 4th of July with a picnic and fireworks.

And 14 years of marriage on July 12th.

We visited our cousins

Took lots of pictures

And before you knew it, summer was over and it was time for school again!

Jake-8th, Nick-7th, Emily-2nd, Matt-kindergarten, Andrew-Pre-k, and Kate wishing she could join her siblings!

We celebrated Nick's 12th birthday and Kate's 3rd birthday in August.

We attended Brett's brother's wedding

and celebrated Emily's 8th birthday over Labor Day Weekend

and the little girls enjoyed playing alone (with the older kids in school).

With fall officially here, we spent one beautiful Saturday hiking in the Georgia mountains.  Who knew we were so out of shape!

and ended October trick-or-treating in downtown Watkinsville

We ended the fall with Dad and the kids raking the endless supply of leaves that overtook our yard.

Thanksgiving weekend, we journeyed to Jack's Christmas Tree Farm to cut down just the perfect tree.  Unfortunately, the tree was just a bit too tall for our living room!  After a bit of sweat on Dad's part, the tree found its place in our living room, only to die 2 weeks later and be replaced with the artificial tree!

The Christmas season began with the Watkinsville Christmas parade.

Next up, we celebrated Andrew's 5th birthday and Matthew's 6th birthday with a feast of cars cupcakes.

December flew by and Christmas arrived.  This year we were blessed to spend the holiday with family.  Brett's parents and siblings joined us for several days over the Christmas season.

Before Christmas Eve service with Grandpa and Grandma.

Our family on Christmas Eve.

With the kids in bed, Santa has finally arrived!

Christmas morning

This year we started a new tradition in gift giving.  Each child received something to read, something to wear, something to play with, and something to share.  Nana found the perfect book for Andrew.  A book about garbage trucks!

Caroline got a fun new birthday cake that sings, counts, and has candles that light from Uncle Ronnie, Aunt Leslie, and Brock.

Emily's favorite gift from her Nana and Pop.

Wow!  Tennis shoes

Matthew loved his new soccer goals.

With all the busyness of the holidays, it was nice to enjoy the simple pleasures like an afternoon nap.

With the holiday over, we had one final party to plan.  Caroline turned 1year old on December 30th.

Cake, candle, and presents!

 2011 was a year full of many happy memories.  We are looking forward to what 2012 has in store for our family.

in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus

1 Thessalonians 5:18