FREE! GIVEAWAYS! PRIZES! All words I love....

ATTENTION ALL BLOGGY FRIENDS:
My friend, Laurel, is having an I Love Fall Giveaway!!!
And who doesn't love a free giveaway??? HUH??? I know YOU don't, so get on over there and visit between September 1st-5th! You could have a chance to win 2 prizes daily!!! WHOA!
GO.
NOW.
Click button below!!

Happy Fall!! (I am ready for summer to be over now.)
--Karen

7 weeks

ahhh, all you moms and dads know the feeling...accomplishment. I never dreamed that in a week things would change so much, or maybe I did dream it, and now it's reality! Praise God!!

Peanut started going 6-7 hours between feedings at night and last night he went 8 hours! Now, I would have gotten about 7 hours if Jeremy had not been at the Tech game last night and he got home at midnight and spent the next hour recapping the day, since we hadn't seen each other all day...none the less, I still feel rested. He woke up at 5:45 and took a bottle and then went right back to sleep...yippie! This mommy is not ready to start her day at 5:45 just yet. His normal wake time is 7-730, so obviously that got pushed back to 8:30 today...which hm, won't quite work for the daily routine, but we can adjust that.

Speaking of accomplishment, I vacuumed the whole house yesterday...it normally gets vacuumed in spurts - one side of the house one day, the other side of the house another day - so this was like a BIG DEAL!

Here are some pictures of our first smiles...

And he's on his way to giving us the famous "Burdette brows"

Enjoy!

Happy Birthday to ME!

I love birthdays...if you have read this blog for more than a year, you will know that, because at the turn of August each year I declare it's birthday month! I begin to accept gifts, money, cards, emails, love and adoration on the first of August and despite the fact my birthday is today, the 24th, I will accept all of those things and more till the 31st. :) I used to circle and highlight things I wanted to receive for my birthday in all of the sale papers, but I have given that up...although I taught my child to do it, so it's not all lost on me getting older. :)
I enjoy birthdays for several reasons...I am an only child, so every day was "about me" so to speak, not in the actual literal sense, but in the sense that I didn't have to share every other day with anyone else, but birthdays were just extra special. I had 2 major birthday parties in my childhood...my 8th birthday and my 16th birthday. My 21st birthday was celebrated by a huge amount of friends at my one my favorite restaurants, Provino's, and since then I haven't really had a party. Sad, huh? I was hoping for a huge party last year for my 30th, but that didn't happen, but none the less, it's not really about the party so much...although I would love one again! :)
It's more about reflection these days...taking the time to look back and see all that has happened in the last year, all that God has done for me, and all the things He blew my mind with. This time last year was crazy crazy. I changed jobs to work at our church preschool - 4 days of 2 year olds, God help me - and my son was still in the midst of potty training at 3 1/4 years old. To top all that, we wanted another child. God's hand was all over it (duh!) and just months after we found out we were indeed pregnant. In the same month, we purchased a house and through the holidays remodeled it, then moved into it in January of this past year. Spring approached, my belly got bigger, and we ventured to the beach on vacation. As school ended, I spent my time playing and sleeping - both necessities - finished up teaching 2-year old choir and delivered Peanut last month.
God has been most gracious during this time...working through our finances; the love and support of people from our church and our neighborhood; giving me strength to endure sleepless nights and focus on what in hindsight is most important...loving Him.

Lord, thank you for the last year and the days, months and years to come...you have blessed me so much and there really aren't words to express my gratitude. You have been faithful when I haven't. You have been merciful and gracefilled when I didn't deserve it and you have given us life...life IN you, new life in Peanut, and life eternally WITH you. Thank you Lord...how could I ask for more?

Random shots from the past...

Here are some shots from the past week...

Tummy Time

Daddy and his snuggler...

My two boys...aren't they cute??

And the Peanut...I love him

Dedication

We dedicated Peanut to the Lord at church today. He got through it with out a whimper and only spitting up right as the pastor gave him back to me...

Here is our family shot of us right before we went up...

Aren't we cuteness?

BIRTHDAY MONTH!!!

It's BIRTHDAY MONTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WAHHOOOOO!! I love birthdays! Did I tell you that I love birthdays??? "It's my birthday month and I love it...and I love it...and I love it...you would love it too if it were your birthday!" And if it IS your birthday, you so have to leave a comment to tell me!!! It's my sweetheart, Jeremy's, birthday this month too - just 5 blessed days before mine...he's a year older. It's my friend Mandy's birthday (see blog - Five Powell's), my sister-in-law's birthday (see blog - Woman in the Tent), my niece's birthday, my father-in-law's birthday, my friends Michelle and Kim, like I said, Jeremy's birthday and my birthday, Michelle's twin girls' birthday, our friend Derik's birthday, my friend Joy - her daughter's birthday....I am probably forgetting someone....but needless to say, it's birthday month in our house...

I love birthdays!!! I bet you can't tell though...

Three Weeks gone by...

Alright, three full weeks have gone by, and Peanut is growing bigger...longer, I think...and gracious, I think he can wear a size 3 shoe already...according to my study at Target the other day. Boo is doing great too and constantly in tune to where and what Peanut is doing...

Here are the most recent pics...

We went to the lake to see Jeremy's family and my dear friend Mandy, and here is a pic of Boo waving to me after feeding the horse.

Here is Peanut in his car seat, ready to go...

My boys...

Boo and his crazy, spikey hair...

My sweet baby...

Love,

Karen