Team Warren!

Been Too Long!

2011-12-16T21:20:00.000-05:00

Gosh it's been forever since I last posted an update! Does that tell you anything?! Most days I feel accomplished when I remember to feed everyone on time, read with all 3 kiddos at some point in the day, and get a shower before midnight! :) This crazy life is beyond wonderful...and beyond exhausting! :)

Livi is loving school at Lexington Baptist. She enjoys "teaching" me all about what she's learned! It's also so cool to see her little mind working out new thoughts and ideas. She's especially interested in Biblical topics, asking all sorts of deep questions about death (sounds morbid, but she's lost 3 grandfathers in 3 years, so it makes sense), Jesus on the cross, Heaven and how to get there, etc. We've had some really special times together just talking through these concepts and I love that she WANTS to learn more! Praise God! :) She has learned to tell knock knock jokes (though they usually make NO sense) and she is really into putting on "shows" for the family (wonder where she got that from:). She does such a great job with her brothers; she's part mommy, part friend to them. She and Brooks clash the most! They really know how to get under each other's skin :) Livi is WONDERFUL with Landon. She loves on him constantly. I could not be more blessed than I am with my precious daughter. She is sugar and sassy rolled into one :)

Brooks is a M-E-S-S!! That child has put some grey hairs on my head for sure! He is into everything and runs full speed ahead all day, every day! He loves anything dealing with trucks and trains, mainly Thomas the Train. His favorite sayings include: I did a lotta lotta things!...I had so much fun!...Fanks (thanks)...Heeeeey! (to everyone he sees - at school and church they call him "the politician"!)...We're goin' to Monkey Joes?...You ok, Viv? (love that he shortens his usual "Vivi" to "Viv")...Let's go in threeee minutes! :) His most recent bedtime routine consists of Matt and I reading to him, he gets into bed, I cover him with 3 blankets (1 thicker blanket and 2 thin ones), we pray and I tickle his back, then I leave while we blow kisses to each other...then, as I close the door, I have to laugh out loud and he mimics me! I have no clue where it all came from - one step seemed to lead to another, then another, then another til we had this strange sequence that has to be followed perfectly! I can't begin to explain how his smile can brighten a room - you just have to see it for yourself! He's the most perfect mix of sweet and mischief :)

Landon is our BIG boy! :) He weighed 26 lbs at his 1 year well visit! Needless to say, he's off the charts in height and weight! He enjoys most any food we give him, though he may have a slight milk allergy (ayiyi, right?!) We'll keep praying about that! He's such a bundle of laughs and love (Though the sweet people at our church might think otherwise since he's the token screaming child everyone avoids on Sunday mornings! Sorry! Love those of you who try to keep him happy!) Landon's also into everything...and UP everything including our hardwood steps (Livi taught him how to climb them, ugh!:) He has 4 teeth on top and 2 on bottom. In addition to "mama", "baba" and "dada", he loves saying "bye bye" (though he says it with a "d" instead of a "b":) and also "uh oh"! He uses "uh oh" so appropriately, too! He's finally (FINALLY) sleeping past 6:30 in the morning...I mean REALLY...so Matt and I are finally (FINALLY) feeling like real, live people again! It's amazing! :) We love our little guy so much and are so thankful for his heath and his happiness :)

Catching Up

2011-09-01T14:41:00.001-04:00

So, we've had a lot going on lately with the start of a new school year (for both Matt and "The Bigs"). Here's a small update (mainly to help me remember for future reference).

Summer 2011:

Matt has taken over some new academic responsibilities at school, ridding him of a few disciplinary duties. It's been a nice change so far. He's enjoying the challenge of learning how to navigate a variety of testing and curriculum tasks. We're so proud of him and the hard work he puts in at the high school. He's definitely a 100% kind of guy, whether at work or at home. He's such a blessing to the kids and me. He's doing a new study called "Uncommon" by Tony Dungy. It's a challenge for sure! He still loves running and doing P90X. I'm so proud of him and his healthy lifestyle!! (Now we just need to get me on board:)

Livi just started her 2nd year at the LBC preschool. She's in the 3 year-old class and is loving every minute so far. They've made bracelets and other crafts in the 1st few days. Her favorite aspect has been that she now gets to go on the "big girl" playground (though she lets the boys play, too:) It has a tire swing and apparently she stays on it the entire play time :) She's a bundle of excited information every day when I pick her up! Makes me smile/laugh :) Lately she's really enjoyed a scheduled craft time at home, play dates with friends, her new fav channel is Sprout, she loves playing on Matt's ipad, and she's all about performing (have NO idea where she got that;). Livi's favorite sayings: "Are you kidding me?", "You're special", "Have mercy!", "You're a sweet boy, aren'tcha?!", "I don't want to talk about that", "Brooks, you need to obey Mommy", "We should pray about that", "Is that in the Bible?". She's great at saying the mealtime prayer.

Brooks just started his 2nd year at LBC in the 2 year-old room. With 8 boys and 3 girls, his teachers need all the prayers we can send up! :) They're beyond wonderful and so patient, I know he'll have a great year! He is in to everything...literally...Matt and I joke about wishing they made larger Exersaucers so we could keep him still for just 1 minute while we cook supper. He enjoys building things and, of course, knocking them over, playing with trucks/cars/planes, coloring, jumping off anything over 2 feet tall, wrestling, being read to, playing hide-n-seek, and throwing footballs/baseballs. Brooks' favorite sayings: "Rain storm coming?", "I see you!", "Hippo coming?" (I have no idea:), "C'mon Vivi, let's go jump on bed", "Go time out?", "Dear God Fanks for sun moon stars, Aaaamen". He's such a contradiction of sweet and spice. He has the softest voice and snuggles 1 minute, then the next he's running up the stairs with Hulk-like ferocity and bulldozing Livi! He might be small, but he's tough and scrappy :)

Landon just turned 9 months and is a chunk!! He is close to 25 lbs and is 29 inches long! (He's got Livi and Brooks beat by about 8 lbs and at least 1 1/2 inches when they were his age!) Ayiyi! I haven't found a food he doesn't like yet! He's still having a mad love affair with his bottle...8 oz 4 times/day. He also loves yogurt, any kind of veggie or fruit, spaghetti, turkey and dressing (baby food), Puffs, Cheerios, etc etc etc. He's crawling all over the place and pulling up on everything. He is such a little ball of love, cheer, and drooly sweetness. The only time he EVER is cranky is when he's feeling the pain from teething or when we leave him in the nursery at church (but even that has been better lately). He's just a joy, a pure joy...and SUCH a flirt!!!! Heaven help me! :) We had him dedicated on August 21st with plenty of family in the pews! Of course my parents (Grammy and Gramps) came and my Aunt Carline drove all the way from south GA to see the dedication! She brought her granddaughters, Jessie and Brooke, and also Grandmomma! Matt's parents (Grandma and Pop) and almost everyone else in Matt's family came as well! :) It was a special day!

As for me, I'm just doing my best to juggle it all! I'm still finding our family rhythm since Landon's sleeping habits change weekly (he likes keeping us on our toes:). I'm doing a new study called "Every Woman's Marriage"...it's a nice little kick in the rear to help me be the wife I should be for my amazing hubby :) I just started tutoring a middle school student in MATH...I know right?! Me + math = hmmmmm...but so far it's been great! I also signed on to sell Thirty-One! I've only had a few parties, but so far it's been really fun! Anything to bring in a little extra $$ without taking away from my time with the kiddos :)

The verse I've identified with most lately is Hebrews 3:14 - - "For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God to justify as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ." (NLT) I need to continue to thirst for Christ like a newborn believer, but with a more mature faith. I need to live with the same excitement as I did when I first came to know Him, but also with a deeper understanding of where He has led me and how I can impact this world for Him.

New Pics 7/2/11

2011-07-02T08:03:00.000-04:00

Livi was in awe at the Georgia Aquarium!

A look of wonder...there was SO much to see!

White Water!!

Excited about going out to eat!!

All dressed up to visit Matt @ school on his birthday!

Livi's 1st movie ("Cars 2") with friends! Ka-chow! :)

We had a blast :)

Our neighbor gave us a great blow-up slide/pool!

Silly boy!

Brooks explored the tunnel :)

1st ponytail!

Bowling with friends :)

My babies aren't babies anymore!

1st trip to the bowling alley!

7 months!

My little builder :)

"Dead Weight"

2011-07-02T07:47:00.000-04:00

This was a great devotional fro Proverbs 31 Ministries. It really spoke to me about 1)my own need for "dead-heading" the negative thoughts and actions in my own life and 2)"dead-heading" friendships that rob me of spiritual growth and joy, while continuing to pray for the wilting "bloom" I cut.

Dead Weight by Karen Ehman
“Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.” James 1:21 (NIV)

Ever have a reoccurring bad attitude drain the life right out of you? It can cause your spirits to wither and your joy to die, leaving you limp and lifeless like a water-deprived plant.

I was feeling that way recently when I remembered something my husband’s mom had taught me. She is famous for growing wonderful herbs and colorful perennials. In fact, her garden boasts an array of color from the first hint of spring until late fall.

One day I asked her to share her green-thumb secret. She explained that the secret to helping plants thrive is called “dead-heading.” Here is how it is done: As soon as any beautiful blooms begin to whither, fade, or turn brown, they must be removed.

I’ve discovered it is a tedious, never-ending task. Just when I think I have removed every dried up blossom, the next day a dozen more appear. But if I want my flowers to keep blossoming, I have to dead-head daily because the deceased blooms sap nutrition and strength from the core of the plant. They rob the flowers of energy that could be used for new growth.

However, if the dead and debilitating weight is properly plucked, the stems will give gorgeous petals throughout the entire life of the plant.

As I pluck my dead flower heads, I am reminded of my life with Christ. There are places in my heart, thoughts in my mind, and actions in my will that stem from bad attitudes. And they are nothing but dead weight to my spiritual life.

Often these deep-rooted thought patterns and their companions — doubt, fear, wrong choices, old habits, nursed grudges, or current conflicts — threaten to choke our growth and prevent us from displaying the splendor God intends for us to show.

We start our day hopeful yet give in to the hurtful. Our self-doubts or judgments of others often take root in negative thoughts and counterproductive actions that not only have the potential to ruin our day, but also affect those around us. However, if we are intentional in nipping these at their first appearance, we will be more likely to experience new growth in our walk with Christ and health in our relationships.

Today’s verse from James tells us to get rid of such issues and instead to humbly plant God’s word deep in our hearts. So, instead of dwelling on a temptation in our thoughts and allowing it to morph into sin, we quietly focus our hearts on a truth from scripture such as “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet he did not sin.” (Hebrews 5:14)

Dwelling on scripture empowers, rather than drains us. It is spiritual dead-heading at its finest. This switch in our thought pattern can save us from wrong choices, unhealthy relationships and self-inflicted heartbreak.

Could your heart use a dead-heading session? Are there faded blooms you have been carrying around that are sapping your spiritual energy and strength, causing heartache and tears? Get rid of the bad. Plant God’s good Word in that spot instead. Then stand back — patiently now — and watch beautiful blooms begin to appear.

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things...

2011-06-22T15:17:00.004-04:00

Livi (43 months) - - Livi's totally into Landon and loves telling him he's a "big boy", a "good boy", a "sweet boy", etc. She likes asking him if he's ready to eat supper?? go outside and play?? have tummy time?? to which he grins ear to ear and she says, "Aww, he's so excited about that!" She's all about her wedding (when she's "bigger" like mommy). She's excited about having her own baby one day (AFTER her wedding:) She asked the other day when she could wear a bra!!!! LOL! She's definitely a know-it-all, which is a little annoying at times, but sometimes she IS right! She enjoys reasoning with Brooks when he's being unreasonable. She and Brooks have such a love/hate relationship and it can turn on a dime! She loves wearing dresses but can rock a pair of jean shorts any day! She's a great performer, a silly dancer, and an amazing actress. She wants a band aid whether she's bleeding or not. She wants to do pretty much everything on her own - - bathe, dry her hair, pick out her own clothes, etc. Her new fav movies are Bolt and Cars...we act them out all the time! She asked for a baby sister "next time" and I told her she'd have to talk to daddy about that! She gets a kick out of calling Matt and I by our first names in public (as in, "Maaaaaatt!!" when she can't find him in the grocery store!:) She always wants to know what time it is. She aced her swim lessons and is now an official fish :)

Brooks (26 months) - - I just love to sit and watch Brooks play. He is so full of joy! He can roll a train or truck around the floor, up the wall (though he knows he's not supposed to!) and all over the furniture for hours! He's so easily amused. We often find him sitting in the living room quietly reading book after book. He loves Thomas the Train and Backyardigans. He always talks about a hippo...no idea why...but the hippo comes up in every conversation whether it's with me or the Queen! The hippo follows us everywhere! :) Favorite sayings: "Happen, mommy, happen?", "Doin', mommy, doin'?", "Ok daddy?". He said his 1st prayer on Father's Day: "Dear God, Fank you for trees, sun, moon, stahs, Jesus. Amen" He was so proud of himself. He's a little politician, shaking hands and waving everywhere we go. He loves the waiters at San Jose...and they love him, too, always giving him high-5s and pats on the noggin'!

Landon (7 months) - - Landon is just pure happiness. He'll smile at you whether you're young or old, friend or stranger. He enjoys sitting up, banging toys on the ground/table, and watching Livi and Brooks run around. He's taking big boy baths now and had his 1st bath w/Livi and Brooks last Sunday (6/19). He likes pushing up and trying to get his knees underneath him, but he's still not crawling yet. He gets up around 6am whether you put him to bed at 8pm or 11pm. He grunts at his stuffed animals and squeals when he's excited. He'll eat just about anything we set in front of him. He's not ashamed to take a power nap in your arms. Livi can make him laugh like no other! He's sharing clothes with Brooks!!

Strawberry Pickin' & Mother's Day :)

2011-05-12T14:15:00.000-04:00

New Pics 4/29/11

2011-04-29T15:07:00.000-04:00

Story time!!

These are the days :)

Rollin' over!!

Brooks and his buddy Mike!

C-L-E-M-S-O-N...T-I-G-E-RRRR-S...Fight Tigers, Fight Tigers, Fight Fight Fight!

Brooks' birthday morning!!

Livi's MMO class @ their Easter egg hunt!

Brooks as Harry Potter!

Livi loves holding Landon :)

Landon had a blast meeting Mema!!

Landon LOVED on Grandmama all weekend :)

Sweet Brooks and Gramps :)

My color-coordinated kiddos :)

The "bigs"

Family shot @ Easter in Ashburn :)

Livi and her "bruvvers" :)

Recent Pics of the Kiddos :)

2011-03-24T10:22:00.000-04:00

New Study

2011-03-11T07:53:00.000-05:00

I'm participating in a new Bible study on the power of a woman's words. It's amazing how they can build people up or tear them down. It sounds pretty obvious, but in reality, we don't take our words as seriously as we should. Since starting 2 weeks ago, I've found myself taking a closer look at the things I say to my family and friends. It's amazing how many times I've had to adjust my thoughts and edit my words before speaking them. I'll have more to write as we go along (and as I have a minute to spare?!).

Try to think of a way you could encourage someone with your words. God created the entire unniverse with just words - - He made us in His image, giving us the ability to speak and communicate - - how can you use those gifts to benefit His kingdom today?

Before You Go To The Movies!...

2011-03-09T22:01:00.000-05:00

Matt and I made a vow several years ago that we would not see any more R rated movies...and we haven't missed a thing! The Bible says that "what goes in comes out" (paraphrased of course:) and I'm a firm believer in that very concept. Why would I want to spend money to inject foul language, sexual images, and violence into my mind? Before we see a movie, rented or at the theater, we always check www.pluggedin.com While their reviews can sometimes border on dramatic and ultra-conservative (a handful of times we've seen a movie they warned of and saw very little to be concerned about), for the most part they hit the nail on the head and have saved us a lot of money and even more regret. Even when you think a movie SEEMS safe, just check it out before you go/rent. It's worth it! :)

Too Early

2011-02-03T07:12:00.000-05:00

Well, it's now 6:53 am and I've been up for about an hour. Landon got up earlier than usual to nurse and is now cooing happily in his crib. Cute, right? However, as he may decide he's bored and start crying any minute, I decided to stay awake and use my time wisely.

Matt and I have been working with Livi on the concept of forgiveness. She's learning to forgive Brooks when he throws things at her, Landon when he cries and takes mommy's attention, Matt when he accidentally steps on her (she's is under his feet from the minute he walks in the door in the afternoons!), and me when I do just about anything she doesn't like :) I've been teaching her 1 John 1:9 where it says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness". So if she gets the forgiveness part, and how hard it can be, my goal is to have her understand how God does it so effortlessly and without end. If she tells Him what she did wrong and asks to be forgiven, it's done! It's over with. There's no record of wrongs. He won't hold it against her. And in the same way, she shouldn't hold it against another person when they do her wrong. (she's the world's BEST when it comes to, "remember when you...") She'll hold you accountable for something til the day you die! It's been neat to see her little mind working on the ideas of confession and forgiveness. (The confession part definitely needs some work, as she now knows that telling the truth often times gets her in trouble! Wasn't she just babbling and sucking on her toes yesterday? How are we already getting into truth/lies and confession/forgiveness?)

ANYWAYS, here are a few recent pics :)

Landon's Hospital Photo Shoot :)

2010-11-29T22:15:00.000-05:00

...And Baby Makes 5!!!! :)

2010-11-29T21:37:00.000-05:00

I'm going to attempt to remember all the details surrounding our most recent experience of bringing a baby into the world...
Saturday, November 13, 2010
We took Livi to the zoo the weekend prior to Brooks' birth, so we thought we'd give it a try this time, too! We had a great day looking at all the animals and watching Brooks run around like a little wild man! We shared some hot french fries and a slushy BEFORE going to the petting zoo :) That night, I ate some jalapeno poppers with cream cheese! I wanted to see if maybe the combo of the zoo and something spicy to eat would bring sweet Butterbean to me sooner!
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Woke up kinda bummed because there were no contractions. Obviously the zoo and spicy poppers had not done the trick :( At church, we asked our SS class to pray for us in the weeks ahead, as we had a tough decision to make. We weren't 100% sure we wanted a c-section for this Butterbean, but I was a little apprehensive about trying a VBAC. There were risks with both, but at least the c-section would be scheduled and not willy-nilly! We went to a friend's birthday party and then to Bible study, where we again asked friends to pray for us and this decision.
Monday, November 15, 2010
7:30 am - My feet hit the floor. Was that a contraction? No. I don't think so. So I got the kids up, fed 'em breakfast (skipped breakfast myself), and started getting ready to go to Target. Was that another contraction? Can't be, can it? I called a neighbor (THANK YOU CORY!) to hang out with the kids while I went in to see my doc and make sure. Around 9:45am we confirmed that, indeed, they were contractions (and strong ones at that!:) I was already 4cm and 70%. We decided to go to the hospital for some monitoring. I figured they'd send us home in an hour or so once they realized my contractions weren't leading anywhere, just like any other normal Braxton Hicks. While Matt was frantically packing the car, I was hugging Livi and Brooks and watching cartoons. He couldn't understand why I was so calm, but I just didn't believe this was it! By 11:00am I was hooked up to a machine at the hospital. The nurse couldn't believe I was "rating" my contractions a 4 out of 10 on the pain scale, as they were off the chart...literally...but kinda few and far between. Matt and I watched some Sports Center, talked, prayed, texted, talked, I slept a little between contractions...but then they started getting more intense and we realized we weren't going home today! Around 12:30 pm I was another cm dilated and moving downstairs to the labor/delivery wing! By 2:00 pm my IV was pumping, antibiotics were flowing (Group B +), and I was just waiting (patiently) on my epidural (Got it around 2:30pm!! Whew!!) At 3:20 pm my water broke on it's own and by 4:28 pm I informed Matt (rather calmly) that he needed to get the nurse b/c it was time! :) Our nurse came in and realized that she needed the doctor, as in, RIGHT NOW! Dr. Levin was pulled from another labor/delivery room to help us. 10 minutes and 4 contractions/pushes later...Matt gleefully announced, "Holly, IT'S A BOY!" 4:38 pm - Landon Tate Warren made his wonderful entrance in to the world. He had a head full of dark hair! We thought he looked just like Livi and Brooks. He cried for a few seconds, but stopped immediately when put on my chest. There he was! Looking at me, face to face! The big beautiful eyes I'd been dying to see for so long! 8 lbs even, 20 inches even! I couldn't even describe the instant joy he brought to my life. It's like nothing else. Immediate love. Unconditional.

Kisses for her new little "bruvver"

What a precious face!

I just wanna squeeze him!

Cute rolls, wrinkles and a snarled lip! :)

It's amazing how God uses prayer. We prayed for months about a c-section vs. a VBAC. I worried about it from time to time, but nothing like the weeks leading up to our due date. I didn't feel 100% about either direction. We asked so many people to pray with us, that we would do the right thing. I knew I really wanted God to choose the due date, but I also knew I didn't want a crazy, whirlwind delivery like with Livi. In the end, I think it's so amazing that God took every ounce of worry and removed it from my life. He took control and said, "Today's the day. No more wondering." He saved me from the stress. He took the decision out of my hands and made it His own. Thank You Lord for the wonderful blessing of Your guidance! Your love is so overwhelming, so complete, so undeserved! Thank You for Landon's life and your hand in it! Thank You for his health and his future! I pray he comes to know You at an early age and can be a witness to everyone around him. I pray he'll surround himself with friends who also love You, but will reach out to those who may not know You. I pray he'll marry the Godly woman you have set in place for him and that he'll be the leader of that household in every Biblical way you've described in Your Word. I pray his life will be a blessing to You!

Livi's Chilly Birthday!

2010-11-09T14:56:00.000-05:00

With the rest of the week looking great, how could we have known we'd fall victim to a cold snap on the day of Livi's party?! We considered changing the location from the park to our house, but in the end it all worked out! Praise the Lord the sun came out and the kids had a blast! The star of the party had to have been the cake...I had NO idea it would cause such a stir! Thanks Publix! :) Livi had a great time with family and friends! Thanks to all who came! Here are some pics (and 1 from Halloween!)

Our lil' skunk and sailor girl :)

"Welcome to my castle!" - - Livi's new playhouse! :)

Lots of help with blowing out the candles!

Publix icing is good to the last lick!

Our lil' princess!! Happy 3rd birthday, Sweet Pea! :)

In Christ, There Are No Goodbyes

2010-10-26T15:03:00.003-04:00

Wednesday, October 13th. Matt came home early and I was so excited...til I saw the look on his face. He informed me that my dad and his siblings had been called to go home and see Granddaddy as quickly as they could. What happened to 3 or 4 months?! I was in denial. They must be wrong. This was too fast - he was only diagnosed with cancer a little over a week or so ago. But it was real. It was happening. Of course, being the amazing husband he is, Matt told me to go. I worked out the details in my head, packed, and left.

On the trip to Ashburn, I received several phone calls of opposition to my coming. At 34/35 weeks pregnant, I knew traveling was risky. But how could I not?! I had to see him 1 more time. I had to see him for myself. On the way there, I listened to a sermon on the radio that dealt with death of all things. (Isn't God amazing?! You can't truly think that's a coincidence!) The sermon was about the rich man and the poor man. It's a parable Jesus told his followers. The preacher went on to explain how the rich man was in hell before the "coroner" had been called. The poor man was in Heaven before his body could be thrown into the garbage pile outside the city walls. What a contrast to the lives they lived on earth! I remember later telling my dad how I thought it's the coolest thing that Granddad was blessed to be "rich" on earth AND in Heaven! You don't see that much these days. Matthew 19:24 says, "Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." Yet he did it!

When I arrived, Granddaddy was already asleep and I was NOT going to be the person to wake him! I wouldn't even touch his arm I was so afraid of disturbing him! I could barely leave, knowing anything could happen overnight. Somehow (thank You Lord) I slept well that night. Just knowing I was there and I could get to him 1st thing in the morning was comforting.

I got up bright and early the next morning to the sound of Granddad's cows mooing outside (I was at the farm house). Best sound in the world. I got ready and went directly to the house in town. He was still asleep. I was literally itching for him to wake up! Ate breakfast. Talked with family. Finally, he woke up around 9am. He was having trouble breathing and couldn't really respond to my words (I'll keep those for myself for the most part). It was a precious time. He squeezed my hand at several points when I would mention something he liked or remembered. I just thanked him for a million things. I helped him put his hand on my belly and this sweet lil' butterbean kicked him! That got a hand squeeze :) I knew I had talked his ear off and I knew it had to be frustrating for him to be unable to respond. I had not made out a single word he had uttered...til I stood up to kiss his forehead and with tears rolling down my cheeks I said, "I love you, Granddaddy"...and he said, "Love you, baby" as only he could. It's that southern "baby" that comes out more like "behbeh" :) It took everything in me to hold it together. Thank You Lord for allowing him to get that out and allowing my ears to hear it. Those minutes went by too quickly, but there were others who wanted to see him. That would be the last time I would talk with him.

I left a few hours later, there was nothing more I could do. The Hospice nurse said he expected him to go on a few more days and that would be it. I called my aunt to let her know I'd made it home around 7pm that evening and she informed me that he had just passed. I hate to say it, but I was relieved. How many more days could he have gone on like that? While I was driving home, pouring over hundreds of memories with this sweet man, he was meeting Jesus face to face.

At his funeral, it was amazing to see the number of lives Granddad touched. From his buddies at the stockyard, to business owners in town, to friends who traveled many miles to honor and remember him, they all had the same thing to say..."We just lost an honorable man. A gentleman through and through." And even more than that, I knew that we had lost a true man of God. As is typical with his generation, he wasn't overly vocal about his faith. It came up from time to time. But it was always evident in how he did business and how he dealt with personal relationships. His church surely knew it. I've never seen so many grown men cry as I did that day. Tough, rugged "cowboy" types, just sobbing. I tried to save my tears for private, I don't know why. I wanted to celebrate him more than mourn our loss. But it was so hard.

I'll never forget how he taught me to drive (starting at age 7 or so, and really letting me sit alone and take the wheel around 12!), how he sang so loud in church, stopped on the side of the road to help me pick blackberries, knew everybody's name everywhere we went (they all knew him, too:), the funny things he'd say to the cows as we'd drive through the pasture, how he chewed a toothpick and then fell asleep in his chair after a big meal (and they're ALL big:), smelled good whether he was going to dinner or going to the stockyard, found a little orange paintbrush for me so I could keep the stockyard office clean (it stayed there year after year), took a second to wink or wave when we'd make eye contact at a cow or pig sale, played basketball with us in the driveway, baited my hooks (Lord knows I wasn't doing it!:), came to events of mine in high school and made it to my college graduation, drove to SC to meet Livi and Brooks soon after their births, how he'd always ask if we'd "washed our feet" before a meal, how he'd just stand up out of nowhere in the middle of a conversation and motion for me and Matt to go with him (knowing we were kids and we'd probably rather be at the farm:), how he stood to salute Papa's casket at the funeral, let me comb his hair and fix it up just right (I have a picture of this somewhere?!), he always had to pay for everything and couldn't let us leave without checking our tires and finding something wrong with the car, and how (later in his years) he would tear up and eventually just wave us off and have to go into the house to avoid us seeing him cry.

Well, now we're the ones crying. But just as he'd cry temporarily, knowing we'd come back soon, our tears should be temporary. They'll be spread out. Some now, some later, some for years to come. But knowing I'll see him again makes them more bearable. Love you, Granddad. Miss you already.

Living Out John 16:33

2010-10-12T14:34:00.002-04:00

Nothing could have prepared me for this news. I'd always thought my granddad was invincible. He'd weathered storms before, medically-speaking. He was always out and about in his big truck - shaking hands, visiting others who were ill in their homes, checking on the cows at the farm, making sure things were running right at the stockyard. Then one day, a doctor walked into the room and put an approximate expiration date on his life. Months! Not years? My family was just down there at the end of August and he was doing ok...not great...but he drove us out to the farm (telling us every piece of precious history he knew about the passing roads and pastures)...he played with the kids, allowing them to empty a box of toys and pile them one by one in his lap. So to hear how quickly it was all fading, I just couldn't comprehend. I didn't even cry at first. It didn't seem real. But when I'd had a few minutes to replay the conversation, and in the context of knowing I shouldn't be traveling long distances this late in my pregnancy, I lost it. Bad. I knew he wouldn't take treatment in place of going home and living out his days in his own house. But it just broke me.

I've spent a lot of time searching scripture for uplifting words...not for him, as he won't take many phone calls or visitors right now...but more for me. I'm gasping for words to make me feel better, to help me cope with the thought of losing the man who'd spent so much quality time with me through the years - fishing, driving around town and country, sipping Mt. Dew at the Huddle House with his buddies, hanging out at the stockyard...proudly showing off me and my brother every leg of the journey. He'd made the trip to SC twice to meet my kids soon after their arrival - that's HUGE for a man who loves nothing more than the simple life in a simple town.

The scripture I've rested on is John 16:33..."I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." God never said it would be easy. He promises trials. He guarantees heartache. Those things are the results of a fallen world. Before sin there were no trials and there was no heartache. But He promises, too, that He has overcome those things. He has defeated death - and we can, too, if we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior. I can't put into words what a relief that is! My pain on earth won't end when my sweet granddaddy goes to be with the Lord, I will miss him immensely. But knowing that Christ has overwhelmed the grave and we have victory in His name, how can I not rejoice?

Snuggling w/Livi - Christmas 2007

Playing outside w/Livi - Christmas 2009

Meeting Brooks - April 2009

Hanging out w/Brooks - Christmas 2009

Happy Fall Y'all!

2010-10-09T21:31:00.001-04:00

We're trying to take advantage of every day we have with Livi and Brooks before our lil' Butterbean gets here! Can't believe we're 7 weeks (or LESS) away! Here are some pics to show what we've been up to lately!

Auburn vs Clemson = Heartbreaker!

Weekend in Charleston - courtesy of Aunt Fox!! :)

Cheering on (some) of the WA War Eagles @ Homecoming!

10 year high school reunion!

Swinging @ the park :)

Brooks' favorite thing to do :)

The boys!

Ballerina OR Karate master?

33+ weeks!!

Harmon's Tree Farm

Squinty kiddos :)

Off for another adventure!

Time to rock! :)

Taking a breather!

Ready for the hayride!!

The girls :)

Great beginning to a GREAT game! USC 35 - Alabama 21

Butterbean's 1st USC game! :) Go Cocks!

"I Will Rise" - Chris Tomlin

2010-09-24T15:26:00.000-04:00

I cannot listen to this song without crying. It just speaks to me. To know that no matter what comes our way, no matter who puts us down or disappoints us, no matter who comes in to power or changes our way of life, we already have victory in Jesus Christ - what an amazing freedom we can have, not to worry, "It is well"! As my granddad (my dad's dad) is in surgery today, I'm reminded of losing Papa (my mom's dad) last year. Had I known this song, it would have been such a comfort. "The grave is overwhelmed!" "I will rise when He calls my name!" Will YOU rise when He calls your name? Will YOU hear the angels sing, "Worthy is the Lamb"? I pray you will! :)

There's a peace I've come to know
Though my heart and flesh may fail
There's an anchor for my soul
I can say "It is well"

Jesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead

And I will rise when He calls my name

No more sorrow, no more pain

I will rise on eagles' wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise

I will rise

There's a day that's drawing near

When this darkness breaks to light

And the shadows disappear

And my faith shall be my eyes

Jesus has overcome

And the grave is overwhelmed

The victory is won

He is risen from the dead

And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles' wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise

And I hear the voice of many angels sing,
"Worthy is the Lamb"
And I hear the cry of every longing heart,

"Worthy is the Lamb"

And I will rise when He calls my name

No more sorrow, no more pain

I will rise on eagles' wings

Before my God fall on my knees

And rise

I will rise

Miss you, Papa!

A few new pics!

2010-09-23T14:26:00.005-04:00

Cute Things

2010-09-23T14:14:00.003-04:00

New sayings/happenings:

*Watching the kids pop bubbles while running into one another - lots of laughter!

*Livi wanting to play with Brooks by crawling with him under the table or letting him chase her.

*Livi leading Brooks upstairs to play in the playroom (mommy free time?!)

*Livi quotes: I'm just hangin' out, He's my sweetest brother (though she says "bruvver'), You're my best friend, I think I'll just stay right here, He needs a nap, Take your time, Don't be afraid, Be happy!, Did you get out of your bed? (to Brooks), Did you have a good nap? (to Brooks), I can't wait to meet that baby!, What did Livi do during her nap? (when she knows she didn't sleep at all and wants to brag about it!), Mommy I love your cute belly!, I love that baby!, I'm so sick - I need juice to make me feel better!, etc etc etc - This child is a talker!

*Brooks is starting to show some signs of wanting to communicate! (Who can talk with Livi always rambling?!) He's saying Mama, Dada, bye bye, bubble, apple, gorilla (WE know what he's saying, and it pretty much sounds like it:), balloon, ball, dog, and a few others I can't seem to remember (imagine that!;). He's such a doll - blowing kisses and waving bye bye. He LOVES to be thrown around, dropped, spun in circles til he's dizzy, and he's into everything! He NEVER stops! :)

*Sweet baby #3 is moving and shaking like no other! I love having him/her moving all the time (though mostly when I'm trying to sleep!) At first I was kinda annoyed, not gonna lie! I'm tired at night and my ribs can only take so much punching! BUT, as this MIGHT be our last baby, I'm really focusing on all the little things, trying to soak it all up and enjoy all the stages! I mean, when we're done, we're done! I'll never feel another kick (from the inside;) again! We're going for our 32 week appt next Wednesday, the 29th. It's flown by SO fast! I can't wait to meet this lil' booger! :)

"Forgotten God"

2010-09-23T13:44:00.002-04:00

Matt and I have been fortunate enough to be in a new Bible study with some friends in Lexington. It's called "Forgotten God" and it's by Francis Chan. It's all about getting back to the basics. Remembering how we felt when we were first filled with the Holy Spirit and finding daily opportunities to express our love for Him. It describes believers and churches as empty, mostly known for their talent, preschools, and eclectic programs. It's been so challenging to see myself as filled, but not effective. What a contrast from what God wants for me to be. The Holy Spirit was sent to us to be our guide, in daily life and in the "big moments"!

Notables:

*In John 14:16, Christ says, "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever". Not for today or tomorrow, but forever!

*James 3:11 "Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water?" How then can I claim to be in the Spirit but pour out "salty" water?

*Just a question to ask yourself: When was the last time I undeniably saw the Holy Spirit at work in or around me?

* The Spirit helps us speak when we are in precarious situations and need to bear witness (Mark 13:11, Luke 12:12).

*He guides us in the way we should go (Ps. 142:10, Acts 9:31, 13:2, 15:28).

*The Spirit not only initially draws people to God, He also draws believers closer to Jesus (Acts 1:8, Rom 8:26)

*The Spirit sets us free from the sins we cannot get rid of on our own (Rom 8:2)

*Why should we want the Holy Spirit to be alive and well in us?...To become more like Christ! Isn't that part of our goal afterall?

I could go on and on and on. But I won't This is a really challenging study. It's very Bible-driven, not just one of those feel-goood/self-help types of books. It penetrates my heart and humbles me minute by minute. Even now I'm seeing how I've not done my best today. I've done better at leading a Spirit-filled life, but it's only 2:12pm and I can feel the enemy tugging at my mind.

Summer 2010

2010-07-22T15:01:00.004-04:00

I can't believe Matt's summer is almost over! I feel like he just went to graduation, and here he is talking about registration and teacher work days! Ahh! The he still works M-Th during the summer, that 1 extra day to make it a 3 day weekend is so refreshing! With the promise of a new baby in November, this school year is going to be the most hectic year of our lives! If you know me and Matt, you know we're not hectic people! Don't get me wrong, we enjoy time with family and friends, we love taking the kids out and about and doing fun things, but most of all we just love being together, around the house, relaxing! I have a feeling this year will be anything BUT relaxing! :) This is why I'm so glad we've had such a wonderful summer - - at the beach, at the pool, in the mountains, etc. It's been the best summer of our lives and here are a few pics to catch you up! :)

Here We Go Again!!

2010-05-25T13:41:00.003-04:00

So the day was March 21, 2010. A day like any other. I had a feeling. Matt wasn't so sure. 1 minute and 1 pregnancy test later we were both laughing, crying, and scared! Ahh! 3 kids in 3 years! God is so good to provide such rich blessings to those who are so undeserving. I sin daily and take His love for granted, yet He still sees fit to provide another sweet baby for our family! I will never grasp the fullness of His love, His mercy, His daily grace. We're so excited to be expanding our family to 5...we can be a basketball team!

Brooks' 1st Birthday!

2010-05-10T16:22:00.006-04:00

So finally I can sit down and add some pics from Brooks' 1st birthday party! We had the celebration at Virginia-Hylton Park in Lexington. We could not have asked for better weather (thank You Lord!), as it was sunny, but cool! Matt found an awesome picnic area in the shade with plenty of seating and a view of the creek...it was perfect!

Bruddahs :)

Grammy was the entertainment for the day :)

Livi was so excited for Brooks' birthday!

Yummy cake that Livi...I mean Brooks...picked out :)

Brooks' HUGE smash cake!

So generous to share with Gramps!

Brooks thinks he's pretty funny! :)

Brooks Turns 1!!!! Pics to come ;)

2010-04-14T19:25:00.004-04:00

So I know it's been a while, like since NOVEMBER, since I've posted! We've been just a little busy! I promise I will post pics after Brooks' birthday party on Saturday, but I had to take a minute to reflect on the past year of his life.
It was a life that started out with strife. I was sick and didn't know it. He was on his way to catching my illness and we had no idea. With God's guidance, the doctor led us in a new direction; one that would steer Brooks from harm. To this day I still marvel at God's mercy. I am amazed that He would see fit to save MY son from potential sickness, even death. If you've ever wondered if God cares, I can tell you that He does! And the even more comforting thought is that even if something had gone wrong, He would have seen us through that as well. While I am so truly grateful to have a healthy, curious, getting-into-everything little man on my hands, I'm also relieved to know that God sees us through all circumstances, good and bad, big and small. The very God who created this Earth cares about me...and you!
So about Brooks - he's crawling/cruising everywhere. There are blockades all around the house! It's like a construction zone! He loves to be asked what a lion says - he'll roar a cute little roar :) He loves pushing things...anything...chairs, stools, trucks, pillows, anything that moves gets bulldozed around the house! He's got 2 teeth on bottom, the 2 middle on top, and 1 right beside his top left tooth is poking through. He is so easy to tickle, all you have to do is look at him and he knows it's coming! His tubes are holding up perfectly - he's sleeping better and is no longer in pain! He is truly such a joy, my little man. My little snuggler. Oh he's so snuggly!
As I said, pics to come...gotta run!

Livi Turns 2!!!!

2009-11-10T10:28:00.006-05:00

I can't believe it! 2 YEARS! I remember being amazed when she turned 2 WEEKS, 2 MONTHS! But 2 YEARS! It's amazing how quickly it goes! All amazement aside, we had the best time celebrating with our lil' Sweet Pea. We went on a great trip to the park, ate ice cream at Cold Stone, had a reunion of sorts with Matt, Merrill and the boys in town, rode horses, held and fed animals on the farm and enjoyed a hayride! We'll never forget it! :) Here are some pics :)

Livi LOVED riding the horses!

"Is this hayride for me??" :)

All the kids waiting patiently to pet the bunnies!

Livi finally got a turn :)

Talking to the goose with silly Uncle Matt :)

Gettin' all sugared-up with cake, ice cream, and Capri Sun!

Brooks is already a ladies man with Grammy and Gigi :)

Pumpkin Carving '09

2009-10-22T11:00:00.003-04:00

Soooooo I planned on creating a magical night...We would carve our perfect pumpkin, roast the yummy seeds, and then enjoy some hot chocolate as a family on the back porch. Yeah. Right. :) Livi wanted nothing to do with carving the pumpkin, Brooks was ready for a nap, and Matt had to talk about some urgent school issues with a colleague. I wound up carving the pumpkin while Brooks slept and Matt chased Livi around the house, all while talking on the phone. I then roasted the pumpkin seeds...they all pretty much burned. Livi was ready for bed right when Brooks was ready to wake up and eat his last meal. He ate almost a whole bowl of oatmeal and peas, so that kinda made my night :) We played with him for a while and then he, too, was ready for bed. Finally Matt and I sat outside in the "cool" weather to sip our hot chocolate, just the two of us. That was a pretty nice ending to a hectic, not-so-much-as-planned evening :) Here are a few pics!

Revelation Song

2009-10-19T10:22:00.001-04:00

Worthy is the, Lamb who was slain
Holy, Holy, is He
Sing a new song, to him who sits on
Heaven's mercy seat

Holy, Holy, Holy Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come
With all creation I sing
Praise to the King of Kings
You are my everything
And I will adore You

Clothed in rainbows, of living color
Flashes of lightning, rolls of thunder
Blessing and honor, strength and glory and power be to
You the only wise King

Holy, Holy, Holy Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come
With all creation I sing
Praise to the King of Kings
You are my everything
And I will adore You

Filled with wonder, awestruck wonder
At the mention of your name
Jesus your name is power
Breath, and living water
Such a marvelous mystery

Yeah... Holy, Holy, Holy Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come
With all creation I sing
Praise to the King of Kings
You are my everything
And I will adore You

Fun Times!

2009-10-13T14:53:00.004-04:00

Brooks - 6 Months!

2009-10-13T14:27:00.005-04:00

I can't believe it's time to post another monthly update!!

Brooks is now 6 months old. He's sitting unsupported, loves sleeping on his belly (with his bottom in the air!), squeals constantly, and will begin eating baby food after his 6 month appt on Friday, October 16th :) He's such a joy - the most loveable little snuggler, smiley Joe. His best friend in the nursery at church is a sweet lady named Elaine. She literally gets upset when we pick him up to go home - I keep telling her she can take him home with her, but he would get REAL upset come meal-time!! She's an angel and Brooks adores her!

Livi is still going to MMO on Tuesday and Thursday. She's a big girl this year and gets to stay late for Lunch Bunch with her friends. She usually eats a pb&j, string cheese, grapes and blueberries, Goldfish, and drinks apple juice. She's still loving tumbling/cheer class (I realized that I can't really call it gymnastics since they really work on coordination, tumbling, obstacle courses, etc) She's picking up such hilarious things these days..."Oh goodness", "Sweetie pie", "Pudgy Tales" (Veggie Tales), "No ma'am" (really said "No mayam"), "Happy birthday", "Oopsy daisy", "I dropped it!", "What's wrong?", "What happened?", etc. She's a chatterbox!

Matt is working harder than ever at school. Things have been a little more demanding so far - he attributes it to the economy! Everyone seems to be on edge. Definitely praying for continued patience and persistence!

I'm just hanging out as always - making birth announcements/birthday invites! I've been doing lots of crafts with Livi and am re-learning the different/new kinds of interactions with Brooks as he grows! Staying home is such a gift, I don't thank Matt enough. I would be so sad to miss these precious moments with these kiddos - they're a blessing!

Brooks - 5 Months!

2009-09-28T09:53:00.003-04:00

SO Brooks hit the 5 month mark on September 14th ;) It's going by so quickly! He's doing so many new things - rolling both ways, looking when we call his name, sitting with less support, standing with little support (holding a finger), turning the pages in his board books, almost getting up on his knees (already up on his elbows)...the list could go on. :) He's such a sweetheart, the ladies at church never want to hand him over when it's time for us to pick him up on Sunday afternoons! He's a charmer ;) Here are a few recent pics!

Heaven's New Choir Director

2009-09-08T07:45:00.003-04:00

It was a sad day for me - August 29, 2009. My sweet Papa went to be with the Lord. Once I had my sobbing under control, and only through the grace of God did I utter, "Praise the Lord"! He's no longer in pain, no longer wondering how long he'd be in that hospital bed, no longer hungry, tired, and muted. He's in heaven, having been welcomed by God Almighty, and is most likely leading a choir in a joyful rendetion of "How Great Thou Art!". Papa is no doubt reaping the rewards of his selfless and never-ending mission to win others to Christ. While his life here on earth may have seemed lack-luster to the world, in Heaven, he's enjoying riches beyond what we can imagine.

Though I'll miss him terribly in these months and years ahead, I can joyfully say that I know without a shadow of a doubt that I'll see him again. And that reunion will be even sweeter since he is the very man who led me to the Lord.

So friends, if you don't have that peace of knowing where you're going when it's all said and done, I urge you to contact someone you know who can help you in that decision. Contact me. Contact someone. Tomorrow is never promised - do you know where you'll spend eternity?

Presented below is the plan of salvation. Take a moment to read over it, and if you make the decision to become a Christ-follower, please contact me so I can be in prayer for you as you begin a personal relationship with the Maker of heaven and earth!

1. Admit you're a sinner
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)

2. Be willing to turn from sin (repent)
Jesus said, "Unless you repent, you all will likewise perish." (Luke 13:5)

3. Believe that Jesus Christ died for you, was buried, and rose from the dead
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believes in Him, shall not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16)
"God showed His great for us, in that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)
"If you confess the Lord with your mouth, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved." (Romans 10:9)

4. Through prayer, invite Jesus into your life to be your personal Savior
"For whosoever will call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13)

Here's an example of what you can pray:
Dear God, I am a sinner and need forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ shed His precious blood and died for my sin. I am willing to turn from sin. I now invite Christ to come into my heart and life as my personal Savior, following Him daily.
"Therefor, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away; all things have become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)

If you choose eternal life with the Lord, here are some things you should do:
1. Read your Bible every day to get to know Christ better.
2. Talk to God in prayer every day. He cares about even the little things!
3. Be baptized, worship, and serve with other Christians in a church where Christ is preached.
4. Tell others about Christ - share the Good News!!!!

Brooks - 4 Months

2009-08-24T11:32:00.000-04:00

It's so hard to believe Brooks is already 4 months old! He's doing so many new things, it's hard to keep track in his baby book! With Livi, I had time to write out descriptions of all the new tricks she was performing; but with Brooks, it's like, "rolled from front to back 8-24-09". How sad! I guess it's just gonna have to do! He'll have that whole "2nd born" complex that I had growing up!

Besides rolling from front to back and back to front, Brooks is also sqealing/screaming and gurgling a ton, sitting unsupported in his Exersaucer, grabbing at anything that moves, and turning pages as we read to him. Needless to say, he's changing every day!

So as not to forget his sweet sister, Livi is having a ball at gymnastics (rolling, learning to lean/reach backwards for future back-walkovers and handsprings, stretching, etc). She'll continue MMO in the Fall; something she LOVES and looks forward to on Tues and Thurs! She's learning new words and phrases every day! Some of her favorites include, "I drop it", "Come on Mommy", "I'm comin'", "I got you!", "I watch DDD?"

Here are links to my recent Facebook albums!

Summer Album

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=92344&id=503682431&l=fa79f89dcc

Livi at Monkey Joe's

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=94642&id=503682431&l=d5135a4887

August '09

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=94642&id=503682431&l=d5135a4887

The Mission of Motherhood

2009-07-23T07:27:00.000-04:00

So I've been doing a Bible study on a book called "The Mission of Motherhood" by Sally Clarkson. My friend, Jenn, gave me the book when Brooks was born and it has been the most convicting, wonderfully eye-opening (man-written) book I've read in years! It's mainly about how being a mother IS the greatest mission you can have! She explains how to be a missionary to your children - how to grow them up with a deep love for Christ - in doing so, we'll reach their hearts in a way that will secure them in the roots of God's love and purpose for their lives! Here are just a few of the "take-away" points from the 1st 6 chapters:

The mother who reaches the heartfelt needs of her children by helping them feel loved and secure, by believing in their dreams, by noticing when they stray and gently steering them back in the right direction, and by teaching them what they need to know to live full and meaningful lives accomplishes a great work for the Lord.
God started families when the world was perfect and no sin had taken place. The role of "mother" was a part of God's core design of a perfect life.
Motherhood, according to God's design, is more than a full-time job. It's an absorbing task that demands all the resources God has given us - our physical energy, intellectual abilities, creative gifts.
Doesn't it make sense that a wise God, who ordered the rest of creation in an intricate and systematic way, would also have provided a person (MOM) to care for children - to take responsibility for their nurture, protection, nourishment, intellectual development, manners, recreation, personal needs, and spiritual development? Someone needs to commit time and energy into staying close to them as they grow, encouraging and correcting and teaching. (That's what we're here to do!)
God intended the above (#4) to be a fully committed job, not something we do on the side.
We need to nurture our children with our songs, words, and physical labor, treating each day as sacred in their development.
Loving my children, protecting them, and building them into a godly heritage is a life's work worth far more than any money or status I might find in a career.
It's the way I respond to my children in the everyday moments that gives me the best chance of winning their hearts. If I have integrity and patience in the small moments of like that are so important to my kids, and if I approach them with a servant's heart, then I have a far better chance of influencing them in the larger and more critical issues of life.
We are required to do what Jesus did for his disciples...lead our children not only be telling them what to do, but by showing them!
When we choose to graciously overlook our children's messes and accidents, we are teaching them to be patient and forgiving with the mistakes of others. As they benefit from our unconditional love, they learn to extend it to others. As they observe us searching scripture, spending time with the Lord, and making faith-based decisions, they learn these things as well.
Our children must see that our joy is not circumstantial but real because we have an endless source of strength through the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. They look to us as a barometer of how our lives are faring.
We shouldn't want our kids to just be moral. We shouldn't want them to just make it through our home with good grades and no drug addiction. We should want them to leave our home with a hunger to know God and to be used by Him to accomplish great things for His kingdom.
All that God requires from any of us is a desire to serve Him and trust that He can make up the difference for the things we lack. He will use our willingness and our effort, then fill in the gaps to prepare our children's' hearts for what He has in mind.
We should have the goal to love and train our children so they will be equipped to reach the world and their families and friends with the message of Christ after we are gone.
We will ultimately be held responsible for our children - not the daycare workers, not the VBS teachers, not the soccer coach. The real work of digging deep wells in our children's hearts with scripture, a biblical world-view, issues of prayer and faith, and Christian conviction is a job for which God will hold the parents responsible.
Teaching the word to our children requires that we be students of the word so that we will have something personal to share.
"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is older he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6 - Training is the practical application of a learned truth. It's not enough to teach our children biblical truths - they have to see them lived out in our daily lives and see the fruit of relationship with Christ. It is not enough to KNOW the truth, we must also learn to WALK in truth.
"He who walks with wise me will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm." Proverbs 13:20 - While our kids are young, we need to monitor carefully the people and ideas to which they are exposed.
Our children need time to grow their roots in love, innocence, kindness, truth, morality, and trust. When they are strong and tall, then they will be able to withstand the difficult seasons of life. (an illustration about young aspen trees the author planted preceded this comment)
One of the best gifts we can give our children as they go from our homes into young adulthood is a pure conscience and, if possible, a mind with no scars or regrets.
Exposing our kids to positive influences is just as important as avoiding negative ones.

Super Sleeper

2009-06-10T15:34:00.001-04:00

So Brooks has blessed Matt and I with full nights of sleep for about a week now! We feel like new people! We are so grateful (truly to the Lord) for the rest we need to be the best parents, spouses, friends, co-workers, etc we can be! It sounds funny, but I'm dead serious! Sleep is one of the many things we prayed for before Brooks was born...we did so with Livi and she slept through the night at 7 weeks! Not to be outdone, Brooks did the same :) By the end of his 7th week of life, he was sleeping 7 hours a night! I know God knows our limits...and he knows my breaking point is reached MUCH quicker when I'm sleepy :) It's amazing to know that He cares about the little things!

Here are some new pics of the kiddos!

Playing with bubbles!

Livi was so excited! She had a blast!

"You say somethin'?"

Sideways grin

Livi's Debut (5/28/09)

2009-06-02T15:14:00.000-04:00

Livi performed with her Mom's Morning Out class at the Providence Lutheran 4 Year-Old graduation program :) She did such a an awesome job for her 1st time on a stage! She got a little upset when she saw us, but then she pulled it together big time! She waved, smiled, stuck her chest out like she was big stuff, looked around in a confused manner, did a few hand motions to the songs they sang - it was great to watch :) Here are some pics from that night!

Brooks was REALLY excited for Livi's performance! :)

Livi got a sweet gift (a class picture in a frame) from her teachers, Ashley and Betsy!

Aunt Hannah knows what Livi likes...cookies! :)

Quick family picture! The kids were tired = should have taken this BEFORE the program and dinner! :)

This looks cute, but Livi was actually on the run after refusing to get into the car!

Sweetest Smile

2009-05-22T07:37:00.000-04:00

So Brooks actually started smiling (not gas:) at about 3 weeks, but it took til about 5 weeks to get him to smile more consistently! And of course, he started doing that the day AFTER his "newborn" pics were taken! Here are a few of the precious faces he makes every day - he's so cute, even if I do say so myself!

Just for My Memory's Sake!

2009-05-03T21:24:00.000-04:00

Livi spent her 1st night in her big girl bed on Saturday, May 2nd :) When she woke up, she was 18 months old AND she was surprisingly still in the bed! I could not believe she didn't get out to play! She always amazes me!

Brooks enjoyed his 1st Sunday at Northside Baptist on May 3rd :) He was such a trooper and listened so well!

Welcome Brooks!

2009-04-26T17:58:00.000-04:00

We are so proud to announce the birth of our 2nd child, Brooks Matthew Warren! He was born April 14, 2009 at 5:07 pm weighing 7 lbs 7 oz and measuring 20 1/4 inches. The following story will attempt to describe the events of that day and our joy in knowing God's arms were wrapped around us through it all! :)

I started having contractions around 10 pm on Monday night. I went to sleep, hoping to "sleep it off" (haha) since I only had to wait til Thursday for Brooks' induction. I just knew this little peanut would wait it out and let me have my planned out delivery with my own doctor and medication this time!...or so I thought :)

The contractions grew throughout the night, though they were erratic and I was in denial that they could be the real thing. Matt was so sweet and stayed home with me the next morning to help me get Livi ready for her 1st day at Mom's Morning Out. We dropped her off together - at this time I could not even pick her up I was in so much pain!

I convinced Matt to go on to work as my mom was driving from Atlanta and would be here around 10 am. She arrived on time and we went to run a few errands (again, haha). After some gentle nudging on her part and the advice of some friends, I called my doctor, who told me to come to his office. Sure enough, I was in active labor! I called Matt and he met me and mom at the hospital! To add to my stress level, Livi was still at her 1st day of Mom's Morning Out and I wasn't even going to get to picke her up - and neither was anyone in my family!

MUCH to my surprise, I had a temp of 102 when I got to the hospital! I was so scared when they told me that Brooks' heart rate was in the low 200's. (It had always been in the 150's) We decided to monitor the heart rate and temp as I waited on an epidural (I WAS GETTING AN EPIDURAL THIS TIME IF I HAD TO INJECT IT MYSELF!) :) We had to wait about 3 hours for the epidural since the doctors were debating whether or not it was safe to give one to someone with this high of a temp. FINALLY, I got the epidural and started enjoying myself. I had a few frozen Popsicles...and then Dr. Reynolds came in for another visit. This time he did not look as jovial. He was really worried about my temp since it was still going up and Brooks' heart rate as it was staying so high. He told Matt and I that he had only seen this 1 other time in his entire career, about 15 years ago, and that they had allowed the mom to wait it out and delivery naturally as she wished. He wouldn't go much further, but he said they had a very sick baby. He was leaning towards a c-section. I could have burst into tears right away. I had never even considered having a c-section! It was not even a thought in the back of my mind! After praying about it and considering the options, Matt and I agreed with Dr. Reynolds. I was immediately prepped and wheeled into the OR. 15 minutes later Brooks was here! Perfectly healthy! Sweet cries! Looked JUST LIKE Livi :) Amazing - Thank you Lord!

Dr. Reynolds at first apologized for having possibly done an unnecessary c-section, but mentioned that he had done a few cultures to see where the infection had been in my body (as clearly there had been one somewhere for my temp to be so high!) He said he would let me know once he found out. Having heard that, at first I was a little sad that we may have done this for no reason. Oh, Holly of little faith!!!! I was wheeled into recovery where my temp immediately broke and Matt brought me the good news that Brooks' heart rate was perfectly fine, back down to the 150's :)

After a successful nursing session with my lil' champ, Dr. Reynolds came to visit. He said that he had received a positive Group B Strep culture from my placenta (sorry if that word makes you squeamish! I'm with you!) He said my situation was a mirror image of the other event that took place 15 years ago and admitted that in that instance, the baby died. I was overwhelmed with God's provision - He allowed me to have this man as my doctor, someone whom I had never even seen or heard of, yet he had the previous experience that may have very well saved Brooks' life. My own doctor may have been slower to push for the c-section, allowing the infection to reach Brooks during labor/delivery.

While all of this was going on, my other little Sweet Pea was in the good hands of friends, and I cannot thank them enough!!!! Jennifer E for picking up Livi from Mom's Morning Out, and for feeding her, bathing her, keeping her amused by letting her play with her own 2 sweet girls, etc etc etc! And Laura P for bringing her to me that night so I could get some hugs and kisses and so she could meet her little brother! These 2 girls are amazingly selfless - the calm I felt knowing Livi was with them enabled me to deal with things at the hospital! :)

Matt and I have been so blessed, shown so much grace. The Lord has shown us His hand of guidance and provision more in the past few months than in our 2 lives combined! Now more than ever, we feel His presence in our lives and we are truly grateful! It makes us long to be better parents, spouses, witnesses for Him! From all of this, all I can plead is that you walk with Him daily and allow Him to guide your steps! He will never lead you astray!

Burnin' Down the House/Quick Update

2009-04-02T15:32:00.000-04:00

Haha - kidding - we didn't burn anything down! BUT we did burn up the past few nights! Something is sersiously wrong with our heating/AC system, as the repair guy has now been here for almost 2 hours and still there is no relief. You know there is something wrong when you turn the thermostat to 68 degrees and it slowly rises to 86 degrees. Could it be that the thermostat is suffering from dyslexia?!
Livi has been sick the past few days. She's such a trooper, enduring 2 oral meds and a 3 times/day breathing treatment. It's touch and go with the breathing treatments, sometimes she'll sit still like a champ and other times she'll thrash around like a lil' baby shark :) Either way, she's me hero for even trying to deal with this thing!
I went for my 37 week appointment today and was happy to hear that I'm making some progress! In fact, my doc thinks the day we've chosen to possibly induce (4/16) may be pretty close to the time Brooks would come naturally anyways! We'll see :)

1st Night in the New House!

2009-03-29T23:40:00.000-04:00

Today was something else! You know when you think back and you're like, "Did today really start off in that way? SO MUCH has happened since then!!" :) Today was one of those days. We started off in the cottage, cleaning and finishing up with the packing. I gave Livi her last bath in that little 'ol tub :) We met Matt's dad at the new house to help him bring in my old furniture, aka Livi's new "big girl" furniture! Matt then went to meet the boys at the storage facility while Livi and I ran to Lowe's. Then it was back home for Livi's 1st nap in her new room...apparently she was as excited as I was because she slept for about 10 minutes...plus we kept having visitors at our door, so there was way too much going on and she didn't want to miss a thing! Once everything was moved in we grabbed some dinner and made sure everyone's cars/trucks/U-Hauls made it back to the right place...put Livi to bed (which went MUCH better than her nap since she was about as lively as a wet mop by 7pm)...assembled and re-assembled some furniture...brought in more boxes from the garage...ETC ETC ETC. I'm beat, though apparently Brooks has just found his 2nd wind - G'night!!!! :)

Every Woman's Marriage (my new Bible study)

2009-03-24T17:13:00.000-04:00

So I just started a new Bible study w/some friends on Thursday mornings. I was ready for some "girl time" to chat, catch up, and maybe learn a few things about marriage. I knew Livi would love having some play time w/the other kiddos in the nursery at church, so it was a win-win situation! Then, Week 1 hit...

Not only is this Bible study going to be convicting, it may be downright scary to examine the innermost reasons why marriage can be so challengin sometimes, especially since the focus of this study isn't reforming Matt, it's reforming ME! The nerve! (sense the sarcasm)

So in light of the devastating blow I took in Week 1, I'm going to take a minute to journal what I've learned so far...
-I have to be happy w/myself before I can be truly happy in my marriage (Please don't get me wrong, Matt and I are extremely happy and secure in our marriage. But every marriage can use a little fine-tuning!)
-Matt was not meant to be my white knight in shining armor (I know, gasp, right?!) He cannot save me from all of my insecurities! (but he is still kinda my knight in shining armor:)
-Men need to feel like heroes to their wives. (AKA-I was taking dinner to a friend who had recently had a baby and I needed a serving dish that Matt had taken to the high school a week ago. Knowing I had to have it in order to transport the meal to my friend, Matt somehow came home during the day to deliver the dish! I don't know how he did it, but he did! I didn't make a big enough deal about his efforts - I need to remedy that!)
-Showing some grace to your hubby can make all the difference! When he has to stay at work late unexpectedly, don't assume it's b/c he's putting work ahead of you! He wants to be home more than he wants to be at work! Believe that!
-Make your home/your attitude something your hubby wants to come home to! I wonder sometimes when Matt and I talk at lunch and I'm stressed or just crabby if he ever thinks, "Well, tonight should be a blast!"

Little things make all the difference and this week I've decided to take charge w/ some of those little things. I'll let you know how it goes :)

When God Opens a Door...Walk Through!

2009-03-17T08:30:00.000-04:00

So Matt and I have been praying A LOT about this whole house thing. For a while, nothing seemed to be working out and we wondered if selling our house and moving to the cottage was a huge mistake! God seemed to be closing every door!

1st the lot we bought to build on was horrible once it was leveled and prepped. The builder let us out of that contract and allowed us to pick another lot in the brand new phase of the neighborhood! Sounds good, right?! Well, the new lots were more expen$ive, the backyard still would have had a slope to it, AND they would not even start building til June - aka: a finish date of November or so. We weren't thrilled with this idea, but we knew we wanted this house and we wanted to be in this neighborhood, so reluctantly we agreed. The contract was supposed to be faxed to Matt last Monday. By Wednesday, he still had not received a fax OR a phone call from the on-site realtor we'd been working with, which was odd b/c he's been amazing with keeping us informed. Matt called him and he said their computers were down and he couldn't get a proper contract printed, but he would send one as soon as he could.

In the meantime, I had a few rough days at the cottage, feeling claustrophobic and wondering how on earth we were going to manage once Brooks got here. I started to wonder if we needed to give up on the neighborhood (and forget getting back our earnest money) and look elsewhere, was that where God was leading us? Was that why nothing was working out? I started looking up new houses online and found one in the same neighborhood in which we were building! I sent the listing (along with a few others in other neighborhoods) to Matt. We went to see this new house and found many things about it we liked. BUT there were things about it we didn't like. The best part was that we could move in by the beginning/middle of April! The idea alone was worth a 2nd look so we went back with our realtor and she helped to point out some +/- aspects. We were almost ready to make an offer when we decided to go see it 1 more time with the on-site realtor who knew the house best.

While we were walking through, I jokingly mentioned another house in the neighborhood that was for sale. (I say jokingly b/c it was WAY out of our price range) He said that it was an amazing house and had been finished for about 3 weeks. He felt pretty sure that if we made a reasonable offer, he could work it out for us since we were willing to close before the end of March, which is the end of their quarter! We went and saw/fell in love with the house! It was amazing! It had everything we wanted and more! We tried not to get our hopes up, but we prayed about it and made an offer! Much to our surprise, they accepted! We signed a contract the next day, got the financing in order, and now we're just waiting to do an inspection and the final walk-through with the on-site realtor and contractor next week!

We truly feel the Lord's hand has been in all of this. The progression of open and closed doors is amazing. Every door we opened, the Lord shut - until this last house! All the doors flew wide open and even more have done so since we signed. The lesson in all of this is, when God opens a door, walk through! It may not pan out, but it may lead to another door that will! :) Be persistent in prayer and walk with confidence knowing that God will see you through, He will not give you more than you can handle, and He wants what's best for you!

First Days in the Cottage

2009-02-05T18:00:00.001-05:00

So believe it or not, we did finally move! While the selling of our house has left a bad taste in our mouths, we are so grateful to have had our house sell in 2 months and to be living in a cute cottage on family land until our home is finished being built! While Matt and I were both a little nervous about how the new surroundings would effect Livi, she's been such a trooper! Not only that, we actually think this place is magical! Matt and I both are so stress-free and able to enjoy the little things like never before! We've spent more time on the floor playing with Livi and out on the farm enjoying nature than we have doing anything else! We've put the computer away (except for my blog and e-mail...and Facebook) and our once "couldn't live without" TV shows are an afterthought (mainly b/c we're too impatient to sit through commercials now that we've been spoiled by DVR, which we lack out here!)

I've spent more time reading than I have in years, especially my Bible. It's like we've been given a new set of eyes to look through, and a chance to mellow before Brooks arrives in 11 weeks! What a gift from God! The gift of time! It sounds so simple, yet we so often take it for granted in the craziness we create in our lives.

Enough ranting...just wanted to document this feeling of serenity (mainly to refelct on once our house is further along and needs more attention/visits to the site and our lil' man gets here and I'm running 90 mph to keep up with it all!)

Last Night at 240 Autumnview

2009-01-27T17:57:00.000-05:00

SO tonight is our last night in our sweet little house. If you've been in it, you're probably wondering why I would ever be sad to leave it! Here are a few of the reasons...

*It was our 1st house*We found out we were expecting both times in this house*We spent our last afternoon with Papa in this house*Livi's 1st birthday parties were here*While eating dinner one night at our kitchen table Matt decided to go back to grad school and we spent MANY hours studying together for his classes in this house*We were here when Matt received the call about his "big promotion" to high school administration*Livi had her 1st bite of food, 1st crawl, 1st steps, 1st tooth, etc in this house*Here we've grown together spiritually and in every other way*We brought Livi home to this house*We've memorized every sq. foot of wall, ceiling, and floor while painting and laying down hardwoods*We've cooked thousands of meals together*We love our neighbors (especially the little old lady we used to think was mean...turns out she just thought I drove too fast in the neighborhood! :) She LOVES Livi)*

The list could probably go on and on. We've made so many memories in this house. We've truly been blessed. And while I know the Lord won't forget who we are when we're living somewhere else, it just seems to me that we've enjoyed some of life's greatest highlights while under this roof!

I'm going to finish packing and go out to dinner with Matt and Livi (since I packed all the cookware!)

Christmas 2008

2009-01-05T10:25:00.000-05:00

Livi was so excited about Christmas this year! She loved opening all of the presents - wrapped or bagged, it didn't matter to her :) It was hilarious to watch! Matt and I made sure we took extra time with her over the break, seeing as it's our last without her lil' bro! We had such a blast and hated to see it end!!!!

Livi loves her spaghetti!

Opening gifts at the Warren's :)

Christmas in Ashburn :)

Are all of these for me?!?!

Livi's 1st trip to Charleston! She had a blast chasing the birds on the pier and walking through the Market :)

Brooks Matthew Warren!!!!

2008-12-05T20:59:00.000-05:00

Soooo, today we had our doctor put the new baby's ultrasound picture in a sealed envelope for Matt and I to open on our dinner date! It was TORTURE having it in my presence all morning, so I took it to the car in the afternoon. It sat there until we left for downtown :) We arrived at Blue Marlin and barely ate a bit of bread before deciding to open the envelope! (Matt had wanted to wait until dessert! HA!) We opened it and read "Livi's lil' BRO"!!!! We could not believe it! I had been having 'boy' dreams all along, but since I was wrong about Livi, I figured I was wrong about this lil' peanut, too! But I was right!!!! :) We hugged, and cried, and hugged a little more. Then we literally sat silently for a few minutes, thinking about what had just been revealed to us and how our lives would never be the same! We decided to wait and call family when we were finished with dinner...which we gulped down! We were so ready to tell everyone! Brooks Matthew Warren! BMW! Beamer! "Brooksy" (said in a New York baseball fan-type voice!) God is so good and we're so blessed to have a healthy lil' one on the way! YAY!

Silly Wake Up :)

2008-11-22T11:46:00.001-05:00

I just happened to have my camera with me when I woke Livi up this afternoon. She was in the most hilarious mood! She decided to hug each of her stuffed animals, falling over and laughing after each hug :) This must have gone on for 10 minutes - I was wondering if she would ever want to get out of her crib! Such a sweet pea :)

Sleepin' the day away :)

Lovin' that thumb!

There's that sweet smile!

I love it when she wakes up like this :)

Awww, love the pig!

And then fall over :)

Awww, love the bear!

And then fall over and laugh hysterically! :)

Almost There!

2008-11-18T12:44:00.000-05:00

Well, I thought I would write a quick note (mainly so I won't forget) about how today (11/18) Livi walked with only 1 hand for guidance! We were practicing in the kitchen, when all of a sudden, she saw 1 lone birthday balloon still going strong, and reached for the string. In no time, she was walking and holding the string at the same time! She didn't even know it! I know it's not quite "walking", but it's closer than ever! :) YAY! :) Ok, that's it. Bye!

Livi's 1st Birthday!

2008-11-17T11:07:00.000-05:00

It's so hard to believe, but Livi just turned 1!!!! We celebrated with 2 different parties - 1 for her little friends and 1 for family. Both were so much fun and she enjoyed every minute! We are truly blessed! :)

All the girls trying to figure out the "Match-a-Month" game :)

More guests arriving!

Dana and her sweet Anna Kate, who just had her 1st birthday a few days before Livi!

YAY! Aunt Jenn made it! Livi went right to her and would not let her go!

Livi was in no mood for more pics, she wanted that cake! :)

And...she...got it! :)

Precious Sydney got some cake, too!

Trace and Blythe decided they wanted some of the "Big Kid" cake :)

The Player Fam - Winners of the "Match-a-Month" game! :) YAY!

Now on to Livi's Family Birthday Party :) It was a special day for many reasons...My grandparents and aunt and uncle from south GA surprised us all by driving over 10 hours to attend Livi's party! What a blessing! Also a blessing was our time with Papa, Matt's grandfather who went home to be with the Lord (and to be reunited with his dear wife) early Sunday morning after Livi's party on Saturday. We are so grateful he was able to be surrounded by family and friends in his last hours. God is so good!

Livi with my Grandmama - her Great Grandmother from south GA :)

A shot of the spread

Livi with my mom, Grammy :)

Livi thought it was really funny when her Uncle Drey got on the floor to play with her new toys!

YAY for cake!

Priceless face ;)

September / October in the Warren House!

2008-10-11T16:25:00.000-04:00

It's so hard to believe that Livi is going to be turning 1 in a few weeks! Matt and I were just saying today how it seems like yesterday when we welcomed her to the world...watching her sleep, holding her so carefully, learning her sounds, recording so many firsts...first smile, first time sitting up without help, first bath in the big tub, first trip to church, first clap, first crawl, first time pulling up, etc. So much happened this year...and I hear it continues in this fashion! I can only imagine what the next year will hold! We are so blessed to have such a sweet little girl in our lives :) We thank the Lord every day for allowing us to raise her!

Livi loved her new cow pajamas!

Blue-eyed girl!

Getting into momm's purse...a trick daddy taught her!

Trying to put the bow in her hair...Miss Independent ;)

Loving her 1st Clemson game...the balloons were the best! She pointed @ them forever!

Very lady-like! :)

Sittin' with her great grandmother :)

Tellin' jokes with her great granddaddy!

So excited to be so close to turning 1 :)

I tried to tell her, that's not how you use a walker!

Livi's Gonna Be A Big Sister!

2008-08-26T10:01:00.001-04:00

Soooooooo, August 18th will always be a day we'll remember in the Warren house! I just had a feeling...and I was right! After jumping around the kitchen (and waking up Livi in the process) we went to the library. Livi found a special book she would use to tell her daddy that there was going to be another baby in the house!

When Matt got home from work, I asked him to read Livi her new book while cooked supper. He got about 2 pages in before he realized what he was reading...it was all about being a big sister! He was so excited!

Next we told Pop and Grandma, Matt's parents. We took the book to their house and when Matt started reading it to Livi, it didn't take but a second for them to figure it out :)

Then we told Gramps and Grammy, my parents. They came all the way to Columbia for the weekend, thinking they were just visiting Livi. Once they got here, we ate lunch, got Grammy's hair cut, and had some time to sit around catching up. I went to get Livi up from her nap, pinned a cute little pin that said "I'm a Big Sister" on her and walked her out. Grammy about fell on the floor. She thought it was a joke! Gramps said he had a feeling ;)

Then we were able to call our other family and friends. It's always fun sharing news, especially when no one was expecting it!

Livi with her "Big Sis" pin

Close-up of the pin...thanks Laura, for letting me borrow it!

Livi enjoyed reading the synopsis on the back of the "Big Sis" book

Just re-reading her favorite parts

See my book?!?!?!?! :)

Livi is 9 Months Old!!

2008-08-05T10:31:00.000-04:00

We can't believe our lil' Livi just turned 9 months! She's growing so fast and doing so many new things; it's hard to keep track of them all! It feels like every day I'm writing in her record book some new task she's accomplished...or at least attempted!

At her 9 month check-up, Livi was given a clean bill of health, weighed 17 lbs 12 oz (50th %ile), and was 28 inches long (75th %ile).

Here are a few recent pics!

Livi and her Bopppy :)

Scrub-a-dub-dub Blue Eyes!

Playin' around the house in her pj's

Hangin' out with Aunt Liz @ Anna's beautiful wedding in Rock Hill, SC

Gettin' some grub @ Moe's!

Sweet smile!

Livi was soooo tired!

Playin' with Mommy

"I'm gonna get you!"

She discovered the vent!...

...and the wall!

She's so easily amused! :)

Getting close to crawling! :)

Sittin' in the crib with her buddies...and her 9 month sign :)

Where's Livi??

Rocka rocka rocka :)

My rockin' lil' baby! :)

I snuck up behind her on this one!

Meeting Micah in Myrtle Beach!

2008-07-22T11:29:00.001-04:00

While Matt and Merrill were celebrating their 5th wedding anniversary in Myrtle Beach, we were fortunate enough to have the time to visit for a few hours. It was our 1st time meeting baby Micah! What a doll! He and Livi were both such troopers, staying up extra late so we could enjoy time with one another!

(It was the 1st time Matt and Merrill had seen Livi since Christmas!)

Livi was easily entertained by her Uncle Matt :)

He knew all the best games to play! :)

Micah has the most amazing smile!

We think Livi was checking Micah's hearing?!

Livi wanted Micah to get up and play! :)

Our sweet babies :)

So cute!

I love this lil' boy so much already!

Livi loved playing with Aunt Merrill! :)

Trip to Atlanta

2008-07-22T11:13:00.000-04:00

We recently made a trip to Atlanta to visit my parents, Livi's Grammy and Gramps :) They are about to do a huge renovation, so I had to go through box after box of my old keepsakes to see what was staying and what was being donated to the church. I found so many treasures: my old blankie (that caused my brother to give me a black eye!), my favorite childrens books, baby clothes, etc. It was so cool! I brought out some of my old dolls for Livi to play with. She had a blast! :)

I was also able to meet up with one of my best friends from high school! Kristin had never met Livi, so it was defnitely time to take care of that! It was so great seeing her :)

Livi and Kaz became good friends very quickly :)

Livi was showing Grammy and Gramps how to dance...this is "The Sprinkler"!

Livi enjoyed playing with/throwing around my old Rainbow Bright doll! :)

Cheeeeeeese! In her lil' Atlanta Braves shirt!

4th of July...and Livi's 8 Months Old!!!

2008-07-17T14:24:00.000-04:00

Matt and I can hardly believe that our lil' sweet pea is 8 months old! She's growing so fast and trying new things every day! She's truly a lil' dare devil!

Here are a few new pics from the beginning of July! :)

Our lil' girl is growing up!

We enjoyed our play date @ the pool with Allison and Courtland!

Livi was excited about surprising her daddy @ the office!

She's too young to be in the principal's office!

Tryin' to help her daddy get some work done!

4th of July @ Laura and Ryan's "Low Country Boil"! Laura's only got a few more weeks til baby Colsen or Campbell joins us! Can't wait!

Me and my lil' firecracker :)

Livi loved all the day's festivities! :)

Hangin' out with Laura @ the park just 3 days before she was induced!

Fun in the Sun!

2008-07-17T09:48:00.000-04:00

Thanks to an administrator conference in Myrtle Beach, we were able to enjoy Livi's 1st "real" trip to the beach in June! While Matt attended a few sessions, Livi and I would hang out with some of our friends, whose hubbies are also principals! It worked out perfectly!

Livi did NOT like the ocean...or the hat we had just tried to put on her head! Sooo we sat in tide pools at the beach, hatless. This picture captured her feelings on it all! :)

Livi was ready to go out to eat!!

Livi LOVED being in the pool with her daddy!

We went to Destin with Grammy and Gramps the very next week! Again, Livi LOVED the pool, but not really the ocean. We'll work on that next time! We played in the water, shopped, and dined all week long. It was so much fun - something we'll never forget!

We dragged a baby pool down to the beach every day! It was perfect for Livi since she wasn't so fond of the waves! :) AND we finally convinced her to wear her hat!

I think she drank 1/2 the pool that week!!

Our lil' fam :)

Livi and Matt decided to swap hats!

Our lil' sweet pea was so good @ dinner - she's such a good date! :)

Grammy convinced us to let her give Livi her 1st bite of ice cream EVER...

...and judging by her reaction, we're pretty sure she LOVED it! :)

Hangin' out with Grammy!

Listening to the band @ the Baytowne Wharf...Thanks to Gramps, Livi had the best view!

It's been way too long!

2008-05-15T10:32:00.001-04:00

Hey everyone!

Livi is now 6 1/2 months old! It's so hard to believe, but true! She's growing so fast and doing new things every day!

In the past few weeks she's picked up a bunch of babble, she now LOVES being on her belly and "scooting" around, she's laughing more and is so aware and interactive! It's like she's come to life more and more every day! It's amazing :)

Here are some recent pictures!
Livi loves her new umbrella stroller!

And she LOVES her carrots! (Not so much for the green peas!:)

We dedicated Livi at church on Mother's Day! It was a really special day since 1) it was my 1st Mother's Day and 2) we had lots of family and friends take part in the dedication.

January in the Warren House!

2008-02-01T08:18:00.000-05:00

So much is happening! Livi is still growing so fast! She's smiling all the time, trying to roll over, and beginning to laugh! She's been sleeping through the night since Christmas (what a great gift for me and Matt - thanks Livi!) We are truly blessed :)

She was squealing when I took this picture - it was really hilarious to see her reaction to hearing her own voice!

This is one of her cute Sunday dresses. She thought she was really something! :)

Beautiful blue eyes :)

Sitting in the Bumbo seat - not a favorite thing to do yet - but she's liking it more and more every day :)

Bath Time at the Warren House :)

2008-01-07T21:25:00.000-05:00

Now that Livi is enjoying bath time, I thought we could take a few cute pics of her doing so :)

Livi's 1st Christmas!

2008-01-01T23:02:00.000-05:00

Livi had so much fun meeting her cousin Mason! He was so sweet to her, trying hard to say her name - he came close to getting it! He did say "bebe" every time he saw her - so cute!

Livi also met Laney, her 2nd cousin...I think. Her mom, Lori, is my cousin. Laney is 1 month older than Livi :)

Our 1st Christmas as a family at the Wiggins farm. Though she was tired and a little cranky, Livi did well meeting so many people in such a short amount of time!

It's taken long enough, but Livi is finally enjoying her baths! Maybe it took being on vacation?!

Livi - 6 Weeks!

2007-12-16T10:29:00.000-05:00

Well, Livi is now 6 weeks old! I was sick, so no pics to show for the actual day she turned 6 weeks. :( I'll make sure to get some this week :)
We are looking forward to Christmas with family - we'll be in Columbia with Matt's family, then off to GA to show Livi off to my family (many of whom have not met her yet!) She'll get to meet her ONLY cousin, Mason and her Aunt Merrill and Uncle Matt :) We can't wait to meet their 2nd child, Baby M, but we'll have to wait a little while longer for that!
So much to be thankful for this season - many blessings! :) More later...

Livi finally got a swing!!

2007-12-10T21:09:00.000-05:00

Yay for Livi! Mommy and Daddy finally decided to get that swing she's always wanted ;) We're thinking of it as an early Christmas present...for us all! Now Livi has somewhere to sit other than our arms, her crib, or bassinet! She loves it! Today was the 1st time she sat in it and she didn't want to get out! She also shared the experience with her friend, Bunny!

They even shared a few secrets as captured below...

5 Weeks!!

2007-12-08T23:21:00.000-05:00

Livi is now 5 weeks old! We celebrated by going out to dinner with a few of our friends! Livi is doing all sorts of fun things - she's kicking like a soccer pro, grinning (even at people other than me or Matt!), and just reacting to life in a whole new, more alert way! It's so fun to see her learn every day - it's amazing!

Here's a picture of my 2 friends, Laura and Allison (who are both expecting!) Laura is 8 weeks along and Allison is 17 weeks along...then Livi is 5 weeks-old :) We were missing our other Sunday School friend, Stephanie, who is 30 weeks along! Our SS class has changed A LOT in the past year!! :) What a blessing!!

1 Month Old!!!!

2007-12-05T13:13:00.000-05:00

I cannot believe Livi is 1 month old already! Time is flying by! She is growing like a weed - the last time I weighed her she was 8 lbs 6 oz and she is also 22 inches long! She's beginning to smile at certain things - mainly me or Matt being funny and talking to her. She is so sweet. She's beginning to bust out of her newborn clothing lengthwise, but not weightwise. We'll see!

3 Weeks old!

2007-11-24T21:46:00.001-05:00

Well Livi is now 3 weeks old - I cannot believe it! She is doing so well - sleeping for up to 4 hours straight at night. Hopefully she'll continue to increase that time in the next few weeks! :) She is such a sweetheart!

We spent Thanksgiving with Matt's family in Lexington. My parents were in town for the weekend and it was wonderful spending time with them as well! Livi slept during most of it, but enjoyed time with family no doubt :)

Below are some pics from the weekend...

Mom and I tried to prop her up and get a good shot...
Matt's family at Thanksgiving...
Our new little fam :)

2 Weeks Old!! :)

2007-11-17T10:34:00.000-05:00

Well - Livi is 2 weeks old today! We've been kinda M.I.A. for the past few weeks, trying to get accustomed to our new life as a family! Matt has been so wonderful - I call him my "Livi hog" since he won't let me have her for 1 minute when he's in the room! :)

Livi was born at 8:12 pm on November 3, 2007.

She weighed in at 7 lbs. 13 oz and measured 21 inches long.

I started having contractions around 10:00 am while watching college football with Matt. We decided to go to the grocery store and continue to time my contractions, as they were not really that bad. Halfway through the trip my contractions grew in strength and we had to cut the trip short ;) By 1:00 pm we decided to call the hospital. They told me to go for a walk to see if the contractions were real or Braxton Hicks. Matt and I made it to the end of our street and back before my water broke. We then rushed to Lexington Medical Center where we were admitted by one of Matt's former baseball players...thanks Andy Potts ;) I was still feeling ok - the contractions weren't that bad! We spent a few minutes getting me all hooked up to monitors and answering questions about whether or not we had heat and AC at home?!?! Hmmm. The sweet nurse who was taking care of me ended her shift and the new nurse arrived. Looking back now, I should have asked for another nurse...I just had a feeling...and I was right! She left for over 45 minutes without checking in...all the while I was laboring to 5 cm so I could ge an epidural. However, while she was missing I went through transition!! When I hit the point of death (or so I thought) Matt left to get someone, anyone! When he came back with the nurse, she said she could see the baby's head! She told Matt to "hit the red button" (which can never be a good thing) and the doctor arrived in about 2 minutes. 15 minutes and 3 pushes later Olivia Reese Warren was here!!!! Total time spent in the delivery room = right under 2 hours...not too shabby! While I would have loved an epidural, Livi was so ready to come and we didn't have time :) Oh well, she's here and healthy and beautiful!

Here she is at 1 day old :)

Yay! We finally get to go home!! :)

Livi is such an angel! We've had mostly really good nights! Less sleep than usual, but it's so more than worth it!

At her 2 week checkup yesterday ( 11/16 ) Livi was measure at 8 lbs 2 oz and 22 inches long! She's in the 95th percentile for height and the 50th percentile for weight! Good thing it's not the other way around ;)

More to come!!!!!!

Exactly 1 Week To Go!!

2007-10-30T19:06:00.001-04:00

Hey! Can't believe it, but we only have 7 days til we get to see little Livi Reese! We are getting so excited! We've been to birthing class, Infant CPR class, spent hours in various locations registering for countless baby items, and now we finally have the nursery ready to go...except for some back-ordered wall decorations (The letter "L" for OLIVIA, a cute princess memo board to hang pictures, etc) Nothing to worry about though - we're just ready to meet our little pumpkin!

2 More Weeks!!

2007-10-21T14:25:00.000-04:00

2 weeks to go! We cannot believe it! We have a little more to do with the nursery - the last piece of furniture was backordered, but hopefully it will get here in time! If not, it's ok - we'll roll with the punches!

Matt and I attended a birthing class marathon last Saturday at Lexington Medical Center, where Livi will be born! We learned a lot and toured the birthing "suites". I can't believe it's going to happen so soon!

31 Weeks

2007-09-02T16:18:00.000-04:00

Wow how time flies! Livi is now about 3 pounds and 16 inches long. She's definitely a mover and a shaker! She keeps me up at night...which in turn keeps Matt up at night :) We have another doctor's appointment coming up at 32 weeks, but I'm not requiring Matt's attendance at that one. He's been so good to be at ALL of them so far! Even the ones where nothing really exciting happens :) I'm so blessed!!

We just started really decorating the nursery. A little later than I wanted, but still, it's underway. The furniture is perfect - just what we wanted!

Enough for now - more later ;)