My Baby's Growing Up...

It has been an interesting week! I finally decided to stop putting off potty training Carson. But, I shouldn't have worried, he took to it right away. Jackson has appointed himself to be Carson's personal cheer leader and is taking that job very seriously. Every time Carson heads to the bathroom, Jackson's right behind him, cheering all the way. If Carson has success, Jackson gets so excited - he claps and jumps and says things like, "CARSON, I'M SO PROUD OF YOU! YOU'RE A SUPER HERO!" I got him some new cars underpants, of which he is very proud - they glow in the dark. Did you know that you can not buy underpants that fit a miniature bottom? The smallest size on the market is 2T-3T and they nearly hang to his knees, so he pulls them up to his chest. Here's a picture of him applauding himself for a job well done.

He has difficulty getting his pants down by himself, so he gets up on his stool, raises the lid, and goes potty....without pulling down his pants... then "shushes" the toilet and runs on his merry way. So I've been letting him run around without the pants. Well, what would YOU do? I just hope nobody comes to call until he learns to manage his pants!

I've Been Tagged...

I was tagged by Melissa. So here goes...

1. What was I doing 10 years ago?
Hmmm...April of 1998 found me sitting on the front lawn of BMI with the most handsome little fellow I'd ever met. He plucked a dandelion out of the grass, handed it to me, and asked me to marry him. I laughed and threw it at him because I thought he was joking. He wasn't. I finished up the year at BMI (my second and last year) and moved back home to get ready for our November wedding.

2. Things on my To Do list today...
Watch IHC online.
I should be taking Jackson to preschool, but he's sick, so instead I'm scrubbing throw up out of his carpet.
Hem a skirt.
Buy Groceries.
Paint Pews.
Take the boys outside - it's a beautiful day.

3. Snacks I enjoy...
Cinnabon, anything chocolate, Krispy Kreme, Homemade cookies, goldfish, Golden Flake B-B-Q chips, this list could go on and on...

4. If I were a Billionaire, I'd...
Support Holiness home mission churches
Hire a christian school teacher for my kids!
Find a lovely spot and build a new church and home.
Get a Nikon, and the biggest version of Photoshop!
In case David's reading this, I'd get him his dream recording studio all at once, instead of building it one piece of gear at a time.
I'd take the family on vacations. Our vacations are always going to camp, which is good, but a real vacation would be nice!
I'd build my mother-in-law a big yellow house.

5. My worst habits...
Leaving laundry in the dryer ...
Putting off ironing, excercising, and taking vitamins
See number 3! I have a huge sweet tooth.
Speaking my mind when it would be best to hush up.
Leaving the lense cap off my camera. David asks me 87 times every day, "Where is your lense cap?"

6. Places I have lived...
Jasper, Alabama
Rock Island, Illinois
Knoxville, Tennessee
Cordova, Alabama
Davenport, Iowa
Adamsville, Alabama
Huntsville, Alabama ( actually Hazel Green)

7. Jobs I have held...
I grew up working in my Grandaddy's home town auto parts store.
Companion to an elderly lady
Gatehouse manager at BMI
Nanny to a family with 6 children
Pastor's Wife
Mother (this job works me harder than any other job I've ever held!)

8. People I would like to tag...
Ellen , Gillian , and Amanda

Carson

I finally got up the nerve to photograph Carson. He's quite a challenge! But actually, he cooperated fairly well and I got some fun shots...

He can really ham it up when he wants to.

I love the look on his little face - he's trying so hard to smell that artificial flower.

There's just something about little stripey pants and suspenders that makes me smile.

A Typical Day...

I don't really have anything exciting to post, unless you all want to hear about me pulling Lego's out of the toilet, (a certain 2 year old said they were "going potty") or trying to free little toes that got stuck in the floor AC vent, (I'm still not real sure how that happened.) I could go on and on but I'll spare you the gory details of toddler rearing. Carson is sick again. I know, I know, How many times can one kid be sick?! I just hope it doesn't last as long this time. Today he ate Doritos, crackers, and a piece of cake. Sounds healthy, doesn't it? I gave him a breakfast of oatmeal, but he didn't keep that down, so I'll just let him stick with his crackers and Doritos. I would rather him eat junk than to have him look at me with watery eyes and say " I frowed up". I can't take very much of that. On a brighter note, we have been enjoying some beautiful spring days lately. I think old man winter is gone for good!

A Visit With the Goings

Thursday night we had a special visit from Curtis and Jennifer Going for a Church Expansion service. (They are pastoring a brand new church work in Georgia.) Brother Curtis preached a very encouraging message about Keeping the Fire Burning.

We had a great time visiting with them. It's a wonderful thing to be with friends our age who believe the same way we do!

Thanks, Curtis and Jennifer, for coming. Your visit was an encouragement to us!

The Photo Shoot of a Cowboy

Jackson found a "horseboy hat" in the closet today. I think it was my brother, Ted's at one time. But Jackson looked so cute in it, I was inspired to do a photo shoot. Bear with me, I got shutter finger happy. I think I took sixty something pictures, but I narrowed it down some.

I put him by a window and it really made his blue eyes come alive.

I love the little pouty lip!

You really have to click on the picture to get the true colors. This blog page always makes them seem cloudy or something. Maybe I'll take some of Carson after he gets himself a haircut. Right now he has a fro that would make Bozo the clown look tame.

Sunday Smiles and Sunshine

We have been blessed with a beautiful sunny Sunday.

A great day to take some pictures ....

Carson's feeling great, he hasn't been sick all week.

Maybe that's why he's so happy!

A Tale of Two Exhausted Parents

This picture sums up our last few days very nicely.

Carson has been very sick, starting out with a bad cold that sent his reflux into overtime. After a few days of washing, and rewashing, and rewashing bedding, clothes, floors, and anything else that had the misfortune of being in the way, I start to get really weary. Not to mention trying to find different things for him to eat that will stay down, and dealing with his out of whack emotions. Add to the mix an ADD 4 year old and you have stress city. So, on Friday (at the last minute) we decided to meet some family and friends for supper and then go to the GBS Choir concert in Pell City. We were very careful about what Carson had to eat etc. Do you really think it made any difference? No such luck. He got sick in the car and I couldn't catch him fast enough. Good thing we threw in an extra car seat and suit of clothes. We were late for the supper AND the concert. Oh, and I forgot to mention that Jackson fell asleep in the car and slept so soundly that he soaked himself to the skin. I didn't have the foresight to pack him any extra clothes. Needless to say, we sat in the very back of Agan Tabernacle. Then during the concert, Carson was sitting in my lap, and left a big wet spot on me. He had some wardrobe (or rather, Diaper) malfunction. Oh the joys of Motherhood! All we wanted was a nice restful evening. After the concert, we were too worn out (and some of us were too wet) to drive the 150 miles back home, so my folks were gracious enough to put us up for the night. But the story doesn't end there. On the way to their house, Carson got sick yet again, pouring his blessings on the other car seat and clothes. We made it to my folks place around midnight when I promptly began doing some laundry. In honor of the occasion, I got the boys matching shirts that say "My Parents are Exhausted". Saturday hasn't been a whole lot better. My folks took us out for lunch where Carson got sick in the restaurant. It's so hard not to get over frustrated when you deal with a sick baby day after day. Anyway, he did sleep all the way back home, and believe me, I thanked the Lord for it!

I happened to catch one of the few smiles of the day.

On a more positive note, we're seeing some signs of spring in Alabama! The daffodils are popping up in the midst of the cold weather. I firmly believe God put them there as a sign of hope for me. Winter is not forever -

This, too Shall Pass!

Thanks to all of you who "introduced" yourselves! It's so nice to hear from old friends, and to meet new ones, too.