I can't believe that in a little over a month we will be welcoming a little girl into our home. I've really started to think about her arrival in the last couple of weeks. I've been preoccupied with taking care of our little guy and moving our household that I've not spent great amounts of time thinking about our new normal. Sure, I am reminded of how precious her life is each time she kicks or jabs me in the side, but I really haven't thought about how much our lives are going to change until recently.
I find myself excited and nervous all at the same time. Will I be able to fully invest in my two little ones? How will I be able to love two little ones as much as I love John Parker? Will I have the strength to handle the demands of each day? John Parker is at a great age right now. He's such a little ham and loves to play. I'm finally in a groove and a routine with John Parker--Gymboree, Library hour, Friday play dates, and Mother's Morning Out. How is this going to change? How will he respond to his new sister? So many questions flood my head tonight. I know that the Lord has a plan and a purpose. He will be there with me every step of the way. I have to keep resting in that fact. Thanks for letting me share my thoughts. If you have any insight or advice, I'd love to hear it.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
John Parker's First Haircut
Before
During
After
Alas, we made it to the day when our little boy got his first "big boy" haircut. I snipped his little tails back in July. However, his mullet is officially gone and you can now see his ears again! :) I've been debating getting him a haircut for awhile now. I knew that it was a bit unruly, but we were both hesitant to cut his locks. We finally bit the bullet a few weekends ago.
We took him to a cute children's salon call Pigtails and Crew cuts. He loved the place and couldn't get enough of the train tables and all the Disney movies that were playing, but his haircut was a different story. He was fine until the stylist decided to bring the scissors around to his ears. No amount of animal crackers seemed to calm him. Thankfully, John was there to hold him for the last few snips. I have to say that my little boy looks adorable with his "big boy" cut. I suppose this is a sort of right or passage from baby to toddler.
During
After
Alas, we made it to the day when our little boy got his first "big boy" haircut. I snipped his little tails back in July. However, his mullet is officially gone and you can now see his ears again! :) I've been debating getting him a haircut for awhile now. I knew that it was a bit unruly, but we were both hesitant to cut his locks. We finally bit the bullet a few weekends ago.
We took him to a cute children's salon call Pigtails and Crew cuts. He loved the place and couldn't get enough of the train tables and all the Disney movies that were playing, but his haircut was a different story. He was fine until the stylist decided to bring the scissors around to his ears. No amount of animal crackers seemed to calm him. Thankfully, John was there to hold him for the last few snips. I have to say that my little boy looks adorable with his "big boy" cut. I suppose this is a sort of right or passage from baby to toddler.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Our Time with the Ritsemas
We can't thank John's parents enough for opening up their home to us while we were in transition. They truly went above and beyond in caring for us over the last couple of weeks. It was so wonderful to know that we had a place to stay that was familiar. It was a welcomed blessing to have so many hands and hearts to care for John Parker as we searched for homes, made offers, and waited. John Parker loved all the attention that he got while there. He would clap when Grandma and Grandpa came down for breakfast and would often peer over his highchair to make sure that Grandpa was enjoying his morning paper. He loved the way that Grandma decorated for Christmas; she even put a little tree in his room. It was always a treat for him to cuddle up with Grandma over tea in the afternoon and just sit in her lap. We are forever grateful for their generosity and love towards us during this time.
Playing at Grandma and Grandpa's Park
I love to swing, but it may be hard to decipher that from this picture! :)
Celebrating Daddy's Birthday
My gift to Daddy
Leaf collecting
Making my first gingerbread house
Visiting Santa with Grandma
Making Cupcakes for my Half Birthday
My favorite toy stash and cove
The Gang's all Here
Playing at Grandma and Grandpa's Park
I love to swing, but it may be hard to decipher that from this picture! :)
Celebrating Daddy's Birthday
My gift to Daddy
Leaf collecting
Making my first gingerbread house
Visiting Santa with Grandma
Making Cupcakes for my Half Birthday
My favorite toy stash and cove
The Gang's all Here
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Holiday Happenings
Pass the Turkey, Please! :)
Proud to be sitting at the big table for his breakfast
Grazing VanderWoude style before the big meal
Cheering on the Tigers with Uncle AJ
In tears over the win---it was a real nail biter!
Proud papas and their kids
A True Auburn Family
Spending time with his Great Aunt Eun
Lovin' on his Great Aunt Wandi and Lolly
Proud to be sitting at the big table for his breakfast
Grazing VanderWoude style before the big meal
Cheering on the Tigers with Uncle AJ
In tears over the win---it was a real nail biter!
Proud papas and their kids
A True Auburn Family
Spending time with his Great Aunt Eun
Lovin' on his Great Aunt Wandi and Lolly
For those that read this blog, know that I have ever intention of picking up this blog again in 2011. I know, it's pretty sad to have a post about Thanksgiving in January. I love this outlet and enjoy reading so many of your blogs, so I'll be back in 2011.
Thankfully, we are settled into our new home. It's a wonderful feeling to be here and to make our house a home. We've only lived her for 2 weeks, but each day I find something new that I enjoy and appreciate about our new space. I'll blog about our home later, but for now I'd love to catch you up on some of our holiday pictures from Thanksgiving. :)
Monday, December 6, 2010
Visits from Friends
We love having friends come visit, so the next time your in town please come on over to our place. Right before we moved, we enjoyed a visit with John's childhood friend, Chris, and his wife Lelania. Then in a couple of weeks, my dear friend and college roommate Candace and her husband Jaime and 3 precious kids came through Atlanta. It was such a treat for us that we will not quickly forget. I loved that we could make these special memories right before we moved.
Chris and John
Thursday, November 25, 2010
October in Pictures
I apologize to my fellow blog readers for really falling behind on my blogging (No pun intended). It seems that in the midst of packing, moving, and looking for another home I haven't been very intentional about keeping our blog current.
It's been an eventful and exciting fall to say the least. It seems like I blinked and October and November had passed. Being an idealist, I was determined to maintain a normal life amidst all the transitions. I still wanted John Parker to pick out a pumpkin, participate in the Marietta Halloween Parade, and go out trick or treating.
His Elmo costume was a hit with his friends, but he wasn't especially wild about the warm furry costume amidst the 70 degree weather. I seriously could have eaten him up on a spoon he looked so darn cute.
Yes, we were the desperate souls looking for a pumpkin on October 31st. Thankfully, one local church still hadn't closed down their patch. JP was so much more into picking out the perfect pumpkin this year. We rode his little wagon around for nearly an hour as he eyeballed and climbed among the pumpkins. This is one family tradition that I look forward to doing each year. Fall Blessings to you all!
He loves riding on daddy's shoulders
His face cracks me up in this picture!
Really? This costume in this heat?
Parading around with my girlfriend Ava and her mommy Katie
Love his milk mustache
Trick or treating with Grandma and Grandpa
Searching for the perfect pumpkin
I like this one more...
Sitting with Daddy
Could we squint our eyes anymore?
Oh Nelly, staying in the wagon is a thing of the past...
It's been an eventful and exciting fall to say the least. It seems like I blinked and October and November had passed. Being an idealist, I was determined to maintain a normal life amidst all the transitions. I still wanted John Parker to pick out a pumpkin, participate in the Marietta Halloween Parade, and go out trick or treating.
His Elmo costume was a hit with his friends, but he wasn't especially wild about the warm furry costume amidst the 70 degree weather. I seriously could have eaten him up on a spoon he looked so darn cute.
Yes, we were the desperate souls looking for a pumpkin on October 31st. Thankfully, one local church still hadn't closed down their patch. JP was so much more into picking out the perfect pumpkin this year. We rode his little wagon around for nearly an hour as he eyeballed and climbed among the pumpkins. This is one family tradition that I look forward to doing each year. Fall Blessings to you all!
He loves riding on daddy's shoulders
His face cracks me up in this picture!
Really? This costume in this heat?
Parading around with my girlfriend Ava and her mommy Katie
Love his milk mustache
Trick or treating with Grandma and Grandpa
Searching for the perfect pumpkin
I like this one more...
Sitting with Daddy
Could we squint our eyes anymore?
Oh Nelly, staying in the wagon is a thing of the past...
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Saying Good-bye
Life has been busy. I am one that generally thrives on busyness, but I find myself exhausted as I write this post. I never imagined that our home would sell so quickly in a down market. It was ideal in every sense of the word. We listed our home on September 15th and had a contract 3 weeks later for our list price. The only problem is that we don't have a home to move to. Thankfully, John's parents are graciously letting us move in with them until we find a place to hang our hats.
I underestimated how tired I would be listing a home, keeping it clean, scheduling movers, and packing on top of raising a very active little boy and being pregnant. I don't necessarily feel like I'm doing anything well nowadays. I'm looking forward to the days when life takes on some sense of normalcy again. With only 4 months until our little girl arrives, hopefully the dust can settle before she makes her entry.
This move is bittersweet in that 4388 Paces Point has been our home for 5 years. It's where John and I had our beginnings and where we enjoyed our days as DINKS (Dual Income No Kids). It's where we spoiled our new little puppy, Duke. It's where we've done life with our small group and where we've had parties and watched football games. It's where we've had our John Parker and where we've watched him crawl for the first time. These walls are full of so many memories. It will be sad to leave, but we feel blessed to have called it home.
I underestimated how tired I would be listing a home, keeping it clean, scheduling movers, and packing on top of raising a very active little boy and being pregnant. I don't necessarily feel like I'm doing anything well nowadays. I'm looking forward to the days when life takes on some sense of normalcy again. With only 4 months until our little girl arrives, hopefully the dust can settle before she makes her entry.
This move is bittersweet in that 4388 Paces Point has been our home for 5 years. It's where John and I had our beginnings and where we enjoyed our days as DINKS (Dual Income No Kids). It's where we spoiled our new little puppy, Duke. It's where we've done life with our small group and where we've had parties and watched football games. It's where we've had our John Parker and where we've watched him crawl for the first time. These walls are full of so many memories. It will be sad to leave, but we feel blessed to have called it home.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Feel of Fall
It's really beginning to feel like fall. On our walks, we love to look at the leaves and marvel at their color. John Parker is really into sticks; I see lots of fun outdoor adventures for years to come. I love the sense of wonder that John Parker feels when he looks at the trees shake or watches the leaves fall around him. Here are some pictures from one of our morning walks.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Down on the Farm
Little Quack comes alive
Coloring our little chickens
Scaring the Birds
James and his tractor
Ava loves the donkey (she gave him a hug)
The Whole Gang
My Little Tree Hugger
A few weeks ago, we headed to the Art Barn with some other mommies and their little ones. Something about fall makes me want to head to the hills and ride a horse or pick a pumpkin. Thankfully, these little ponies were in luck. Big mama decided not to take one of them for a ride! :)
The kids enjoyed seeing the animals up close versus just playing with their little plastic farm. John Parker was enamored by the ducks and the chickens. He kept banging on the poor chicken coop. He would lunge for them and all I was thinking was please don't nip at my baby. Hope you all are enjoying your fall.
Coloring our little chickens
Scaring the Birds
James and his tractor
Ava loves the donkey (she gave him a hug)
The Whole Gang
My Little Tree Hugger
A few weeks ago, we headed to the Art Barn with some other mommies and their little ones. Something about fall makes me want to head to the hills and ride a horse or pick a pumpkin. Thankfully, these little ponies were in luck. Big mama decided not to take one of them for a ride! :)
The kids enjoyed seeing the animals up close versus just playing with their little plastic farm. John Parker was enamored by the ducks and the chickens. He kept banging on the poor chicken coop. He would lunge for them and all I was thinking was please don't nip at my baby. Hope you all are enjoying your fall.
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