Halloween Fun

I am super excited it is Halloween. I loved Halloween as a little girl. I have so many great memories of trick or treating in my Aunt's neighborhood when we were little. Billy and I are excited this year because Tanner is really into all the excitement. Although a lot of it is pretty scary to him and we have to be sure to let him know its all in fun. He is so funny though. WE went to Lowes after church a couple weeks ago and the 6 foot witch in there really scares him. He says "mommy that witch is very scary." So cute. He is taking a nice nap today and all excited to dress up as Mr. Potato Head tonight. Still his favorite toys these days. It has been an amazing week. Cool weather, fire in the fireplace, trip to Miami, and my 36 week check up to check up on baby Holden. He was great and so glad I got to have an ultrasound and see his sweet face. I feel so blessed and as it gets very close to his arrival I am trusting God and asking for God to help me in the day to day. So glad my hubby will be able to take a couple weeks off and I have lots of family to help. I'llbe sure and post pictures of our fun Halloween Night tonight. Happy Halloween!!

Being Content

I am finally able to get on here and blog. Tanner has been waking up super early everyday. So by the evening I am literally wiped out. Today was MOPS day and something about being around other moms in the same season of life as me really energizes me. I am so thankful to be pregnant with our 2nd son. I never imagined a life this rich and full. I am so ready to meet our little Holden. I know Billy is too. He is so active and I love feeling him move. I have had lots of energy this whole pregnancy BUT I am finally getting very tired by afternoon. We are blessed that we pretty much have everything for the baby and I am not worried as whatever we don't have we will get. Tanner's doing great in his big boy room and loves his bed. He stays in for naps and all night so I am thankful for that. He does want to play at 6 a.m. but hey as a mom you take your blessings and deal with things that aren't. :) I will be 35 weeks on Tuesday and we go for one more ultrasound at 36 weeks to see how Holden is doing. I have really been trying to teach Tanner about what to expect and tell him that the baby will cry and he will be very little. I am not sure how much he gets but he does seem to like the idea of being a big brother. He is so funny that kid. I asked him after lunch today if he was ready for his nap and he said "No thanks mommy." Hysterical. Well I had to rephrase and say "Tanner its nap time" He is asleep and I am grateful. I love being a stay at home mommy. My life is not glamorous but I do love it!! I can not wait to hold my precious new baby. I wished I lived closer to my mom, sister, aunts, and sister in laws, But I am grateful that they are not that far away. I also have wonderful in-laws who treat me just like a daughter and they both help us out all the time. I have amazing friends and love living in Ocala. I do wish it would cool off more. GEEEZE it is half way through October. I do love fall and get so excited this time of year. I celebrate 5 years of marriage this weekend. How awesome to be able to share my life with my best friend! The good, bad, and ugly! I often get caught up in "wants". I want this and want that. I felt very convicted today. I had to ask God to help me be grateful and content for what I do have. I think it is easy as moms of little ones to get caught up in things we need and want and those list of things we don't have. But truly I have everything! Help me remeber this Lord. Help me to get outside myself more and help others.Philippians 4:11-13 New International Version (NIV) 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

My baby boy Tanner

I wanted to be sure and put down in black and white some things that are happening in our life right now, as time is moving at a very fast pace. My baby is still 2, and I am trying to enjoy these moments. In MOPS on Thursday, we had our Wise Women Panel and us moms who have little ones got to ask questions to moms who have grown children, even grandchildren. These ladies invest in our lives and are known as our mentors. I am so grateful for each one. One of the ladies suggested we jot down some of the things that our kids say and do. (Exactly One of the resons I started blogging in the first place) I love the quote about having little ones that says "The days are long but the years are short" I feel like that is so true. Anyways, (I ramble- I know) :) Lately, his favorite toy- or toys I should say, Potato Heads. Or as he calls them "Teds". He shortens it. Toy Story is still his favorite movie, and he loves his Woody and Buzz, but for the last two weeks those star players have taken a back seat to his "Teds". Today, Tanner wanted to nap with "ted." You wouldn't think a Mr. Potato Head would be all that great to nap, with but Tanner was so grateful when I caved in and said o.k. baby you can nap with "Ted." He was thanking me a couple times. So sweet! He makes his mama's heart melt. He is sleeping like a champ in his big boy bed, and napping everyday. BUT he has been waking up every morning at 6 wanting to play with his "Teds". He does not get out of his bed on his own yet. So when he wakes he calls me at the top of his lungs saying "mommy I need you" (My very own personalized alarm clock-I know your jealous and wish you had one too). I bolt up, run to his room, open the door expecting a crisis, and am greeted with " Hi mommy, You want to play Teds?" So i do! :) After going to get my coffee of course. I sit on the floor and play with my sweet 2 year old son. He will even go get a blanket and cover me up as we sit there and say "Mommy you still cold?" I say no. Thank you baby for the blanket. He also loves to play with his daddy too. Today after church he wanted his daddy to play and I was not invited. I am totally ok with that because I want him and his daddy to be close always. Today at church we heard a very important message about picking lots of "good" things over the "best" things. What is God calling you to do specifically?? I do not know everything God is calling me to do, but I know HE has called me to be mommy and a wife. I can not do it without Him. Tanner is a precious gift. He loves his "Teds" and is even going to be Mr. Potato Head for Halloween. We will go trick or treating to his meme's house and a few neighborhoods. I remember going to my Aunt B.'s House to trick or treat in her neighborhood when we were little. Me and my five siblings. Some great memories, and I look forward to making some of those with Tanner, and with Holden, too. He will be here so soon!! By the way- I love that Tanner calls Mr. Potato Heads Moustache " Mush mash" He is so funny!! Love that kid of mine.

October

I can not believe it is October. I love October. I am officially able to say that I am due next month. I am definately starting to feel very pregnant. I walked for an hour today. Holden is very active and pregnancy has been amazing. I can not wait to meet this new little guy very soon. My dear friends Aimee' and Ashlee had a wonderful baby shower for me. I was so blessed by family and friends as we celebrated his upcoming arrival. I am thrilled to be having another boy and can not wait to see what he will look like and what his personality will be like. We had a great time at the shower and September seemed to just fly by. I have enjoyed cooking lately and getting Tanner's room all set and Holden's as well. It is nice having the house all ready for the new baby. I feel so blessed. I know there will be challenging moments and very blissful moments. There will be loud chaotic moments and calm happy moments. That is what life is and I am grateful for every moment today. Enjoy some of my favorite pictures from the shower. Thank you to all who came and blessed my little Holden!!