Snail Mail

I love getting letters in the mail. Two people who write me regularly are my mom and my Aunt Leah! Both send me lots of encouragement through words. My aunt and I have a nice routine of exchanging recipes. I love trying new ones. My favorite one she has sent me is the banana bars. They have been a big hit among family and friends. My mom sends me devotions and clips of articles she thinks I may enjoy. My favorite thing is when she sends me the baby blues comic strips. A few days ago after running around and a day of being totally exhausted I checked the mail and there was a letter from my mom. It had 3 of the newest baby blues comic strips. TOO FUNNY!! I have to share with you guys what one of them said. The mom is clicking away at the computer and the dad walks up and says "What are you doing?" She says "I am blogging about our life." He says, "What is there to write about it is pretty routine. About that time the little girl walks in saying "MOMMY Hammie(the little brother) is stuck in the toilet again." Yep sounds familiar. Ha Ha Then the mom is like see this stuff practically writes itself. I LOVE the baby blues. I laughed out loud reading them. She sent me two others that were just as funny. She says they remind her of us. Most of all I love getting letters from mom and Aunt Leah and the encouragement they give. The devotion mom sent this week from one of her favorite authors was about these being the best years with your children. Through the chaos, the potty accidents, or complete exhaustion it definately is hard to see that at times. I am 4 and half months pregnant so right now my energy level is good until about 6 p.m. But as time goes on it will diminish. I am trying hard to not project about the days ahead when I am home with a spirited 3 year old and feeding and changing an infant constantly. I come from a family of six. I have four brothers and one sister. My mom had six of us in ten years so she was very busy. I loved it though. She was a very hands on mom. I plan on being that way too. I want the giggles and kisses and the melt downs and accidents. I signed up for all of it. I read a friends blog recently where she was grocery shopping with her three very young children and a complete stranger said to her how blessed she was. I agree she is. Children are a blessing. I am very excited to find out this week what our second child will be. We have had a fun week. I am posting pictures of father's day weekend! Father's day was awesome as we went out to my in-laws lake house. They are generous people and we had a blast. My dad came up too and brought my sweet nephew. I loved spending the day out there with family. I am blessed to have my dad, my father-in-law, and my husband in my life. All three love me and my babies. What a gift! Tanner and new baby will have these men being a postive influence in their lives. As much as Tanner loves the pool I was not surprised how much he loved the Lake. That makes his daddy proud. I am sure they will be skiiing and wake boarding together one day soon. I absolutely can not wait to take him to the beach soon. I love the beach! I know Tanner will too. We are hoping to go in July to see friends. Lots of pictures from fathers day and the rest of our week. In Ocala during the summer they have $1 movies and this week I took Carlie and Tanner. He loves the movies and for $1 I try and take him lots through the summer. we have had a fun week. Tomorrow Tanner gets to see his Aunt Elaine and have more time out at the lake. Hoping weather is nice!!

Growing fast!!

I have been trying to get on here to blog forever. We have been so busy! I do love writing. Tanner is doing amazing with potty training. It was a BIG BIG day in our house last week as I am sure you can guess why. I almost was tempted to post the picture I took on here but decided against it as I am sure you probably would not appreciate it as much as me. I did send one to his daddy and he was thrilled. :) Billy took him on Sunday and bought him a couple toys and bubble bath for the tub. It has been slow going but that is how it is with little ones. They do not feel rushed to do anything. It has taught me a lot as his mama. Slow down and take it a moment at a time. Two steps forward and one step back. This season of my life is just that "a season." I am at this point of my life where I want to truly be engaged in the time I am in. Not being anxious about the future or wasting time wishing I could change the past. Time is so precious. I remember my dad telling me when I was a teenager how the older you get the faster time goes. SO VERY TRUE!! My little boy is already 2 and half and I am already almost 17 weeks pregnant with my 2nd. We find out what we are having in less than 2 weeks. Billy, Tanner, and I went down for my nephews pre K graduation on Friday. My whole family was there. We stopped to pick up my mom on our way and I so enjoy seeing her. I feel now that I am a mommy we are getting a lot closer. She lives in my grandmas old house and going there has always been happy memories for me. I can not believe that Alson(my nephew) is 5 and a half and starting kindergarten in August. He is such a cute and funny kid. He was adorable at the ceremony! I have to tell you guys what he said to my Aunt B. She lives next door to my brother and sister in law. Well he had walked over to her house and she mentioned to him about receiving her invitation with his little graduation picture of him in it. She told him how cute the picture was. His response " Well Aunt B. that's just how I look." SO ALSON!! Cute kid and very bright. I often find myself wondering what my kid will look like and can not wait to meet him/her. I have 5 siblings and we all look so different. Tanner looks a lot more like his daddy. He is the cutest little boy ever! I definately see Billy and myself in him. Lots of things he does reminds me of myself when I was little. He says the sweetest things sometimes. Like yesterday we went to the consignment store and I bought him some water shoes and a hat he wanted. The hat was adorable but I wanted to wash it first. So he didn't get to wear it until today as I let it air dry. So anyway he was having breakfast at his high chair and I brought the hat out of the laundry room and he saw me and said, "mommy you washed my hat?" I said, "Yes i sure did." He said, "OH, Thanks mommy." My little heart melted. I love being called mommy!! That moment will make up for the one later when he has pulled everything out of one of his drawers looking for something or when he decides he wants to pour his finger paint bubble bath all over living room floor.Both of which he has done in last couple days. :) My Aunt B. gave me this little book for Christmas that you write down things kids say. It could be anyones kids really cause they say the funniest things. I am so glad I keep that little book out because there is no way I would remember all of it. As we said time flies!! I laugh so hard sometimes at my litle boy. We just really enjoyed going down to Lakeland this past weekend. I am really thankful I got to see my aunts and uncles too and have breakfast with them. Randy and Betty live so far and whenever they come to Florida it is nice spending time with them. Life is full of ups and downs. I am so thankful how God has really helped me this past year with letting go and resting in the fact he created me to be exactly who I am. I have almost finished reading this book BOUNDARIES. Billy read it in college and Whitney said the book was life changing for her. It has been for me too. Diversity is a very good thing. I really enjoy all that God is teaching me as a mommy, wife, sister, daughter, neice, and friend. I read his word and ask him for help with my parenting, my words, my attitude, and to help me so I can help others. Life is challenging. Life is hard. Life is BEAUTIFUL!! I am posting lots of pictures from last couple weeks. Some are from down in Lakeland!! I still love reciting the scripture from our Mops theme this past year.2 Timothy 1:7 New Living Translation (NLT) 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. I do not live in fear. What FREEDOM!! Enjoy the pictures from our time with family!!

Fun with my boys!!

We had a low key weekend. I like those. My brother Seth and his wife Jamie came up for a visit and that was fun visiting them on Saturday and catching a bite to eat. Tanner cried for his Uncle Seth when He left. he loves his family that is for sure. My sis in law Jamie is pregnant and having a girl. With all the boys on my side of the family I know my parents are excited for a grand daughter. I am excited to find out what we are having on July 3rd. I am moving right along at 15 weeks now. I feel wonderful. Praise GOD!! I have more energy, sleeping better, and not sick at all anymore. I am very excited for my baby brother and the arrival of his first child. SO exciting! I am so curious what my 2nd child will look like. Will he have blue eyes like daddy and Tanner or brown eyes like mommy?? It's oh so exciting!! I have been running and actually feel a lot better when I do work out. I mean I am going to keep running until I can not physically do it!. :) This baby will come out wearing running shoes! :) It was nice seeing Seth and Jamie and I could not be happier for them. Sunday we went to church( a PERFECT message on letting go of all your baggage) and then headed to the Y for a great work out and some family fun. Tanner loves going to the Y and it truly is a BIG part of our daily lives. I know he will be just as active as his mommy and daddy are. I hope he likes sports but I will support him in whatever he wants to do. Right now he loves the water!! He kept saying Sunday "mommy I a BIG FISH" as he would dunk his head under water. A lady stopped and asked me how old Tanner was and I told her 2 and half and she was amazed at how he loves to put his head under water and hold it there. She said she can not get her son to put his head under to save his life. Tanner is a hoot. He is very bright and oh so quick. I look forward to taking him to the beach soon. Billy mentioned a vacation just the three of us to the beach in July and I can not wait!! This mommy needs some FLORIDA BEACH time!! Well posting some pictures from our weekend. I also wanted to post some pictures of the best dog in the world. My first baby! Nani got a haircut on Wed. and he is just so sweet. He will always be my first baby! I got him in 2005 when my sister had found him. She was going to keep him but could not have pets where she lived and did not want to move. So I mentioned I wanted him and next thing I know it was just me and Nani in my little one bedroom apartment. I would work 40 or 50 hour weeks and coming home to my Nani boy always perked me up. No matter how tired I was I would take him on a walk and play with him. I also felt safe since I lived alone. Although he surely doesn't look like he could take anyone I know if it came to protecting his mama I am sure he could. :) I love my little family. SO curious will I remain the only female or will I have a daughter?? 4 weeks and we will know!! I can not wait! Enjoy some pictures from the everyday lives of the SPIVE TRIBE!! :)