I have not posted anything lately because honestly I have not wanted to look at my last post. I haven't wanted to post anything new because I don't want to give up my latest post spot that belonged to dad...but I want to buckle down and do it because the next time it will be a little easier, and each time it will be a little further from my "dad" post.

Dad

I never could have imagined life without you here. I always have been and always will be a daddy's girl. I will always remember- Long talks. Walks on the beach holding hands. Standing on your feet to be tall enough for the roller coasters. Learning to drive. Learning to play basketball and softball. Watching movies. Date nights at all of our favorite restaurants. Shopping:). Our crazy songs."come check on me". Bible studies. Advice. Your beautiful words at mine and Collins wedding. Your hugs. Your encouragement. Feeling like a princess with you. Wedding dance. Seeing you with Jude. Your beautiful voice. Your kindness and compassion.

Thank you for teaching me-To respect myself. To communicate. Love. To put others before myself. To laugh. That it's ok to cry. To do the pretzel:). To believe that I can do anything I put my mind to. To be expressive. To be honest. To love the Lord. To grieve over loss but find joy in knowing how perfect heaven is.

Love you daddy.

grocery time saver!!

and specifically go to

http://www.budget101.com/groceryguide.htm

AWESOME website!

www.budget101.com

Enjoy!

ready for my hike!

loves to be with his daddy

sorry jude, couldn't get your whole face!

all done, that was fun mom and dad!

I've got my daddy's morning hair

I have always loved the way that Collin's hair looks in the morning when he wakes up! haha, now I have two of them to enjoy.

I could just eat him all up!

Yum Yum

I can't believe that my baby is already 6 months old! I feel like time has flown by so quickly. I am so blessed by this little man that has come into my life! Everyday is so much fun, and it's amazing to see how he changes from one week to the next. He just started on his first baby foods, he seems to really like them! I knew that he was ready when he started paying attention to everything that we ate. You can tell that his first bite was a little timid but by the next day he was chomping down!

His new favorite things are

- steering wheels of any kind

-growling

-Our lhasa Annie girl

-jumping and kicking those legs!

-playing with daddy's hair

-the running stroller (falls asleep every time)

-sucking on his piggies

-and middle schoolers! haha, guess that's a must!

5 months

Could he be any sweeter?

Two of a kind

My Mother-in-law, Nancy, brought some of Collin's baby clothes. I think Collin was a little older than Jude in this picture.

Cutest Little Tushie

Some Women are dripping with Diamonds...

Friday March 20th I woke up with pain that was somewhat famililar.I like jewels, but these were not the kind of stones I had in mind. My mom and dad had come up for Brett's birthday and I am very lucky that they were here! On Saturday I ended up having to go to the ER with my second set of kidney stones. The first set in 2004. I knew that I had more in the opposite side but there was a chance they would never move. They thought differently. Anyway I was sent home with the hope that I could pass these two little 2 mm stones. I was in extreme pain the whole next week and went back to the Dr to find out the stone was stuck and was bigger than they had thought. It was more like one 5mm stone. We set a date for surgery the following Monday, just had to bare the pain a little longer. The surgery went well and I came home. My mom had come back up to stay with Jude. She went home Monday night just to turn around and come back Tues morning at 6:30 am. The Dr did not get all of the stone so I was having to pass more. It was terrible and I was sick and had to head back to the ER. This has truly been the most challenging time of my life, I have had to supplement some formula for Jude (which I have hated doing) and I know he has been thrown off with me being gone and out of commission so much. One thing is for sure I am TRULY thankful for my wonderful husband and mother. They have been so much help and support through this. Hopefully these stones are gone for good, and the rest of everything in my system with go away soon!

Falling Up

Jude and I have been reading some of my favorite poems by Shel Silverstein. Here is one of the ones that we laughed at today!

Scale

" If I could only see the scale,

I'm sure that it would state

That I've lost ounces...maybe pounds

Or even tons of weight.

'You'd better eat some pancakes-

You're skinny as a rail.'

I'm sure that's what the scale would say...

If I could see the scale."

Oh the joys of losing weight!

Mine and Collins baby pics

We wanted to post these for everyone that has been asking if Jude looks like either of our baby pictures!

I love my Uncle Brett

Need to be reminded

"If we knew no sin, we should know no sickness. Sinners are fools. They hurt their bodily health by intemperance, and endanger their lives by indulging their appetites. This their way is their folly. The weakness of the body is the effect of sickness. It is by the power and mercy of God that we are recovered from sickness, and it is our duty to be thankful. All Christ's miraculous cures were emblems of his healing diseases of the soul. It is also to be applied to the spiritual cures which the Spirit of grace works. He sends his word, and heals souls; convinces, converts them, makes them holy, and all by the word. Even in common cases of recovery from sickness, God in his providence speaks, and it is done; by his word and Spirit the soul is restored to health and holiness."

Commentary by Matthew Henry on Psalm 107:17-22

It is so easy to forget to give Christ the credit for the sickness that I have seen around me and have experienced myself. During hard times of my life I have prayed harder than ever for loved ones to be healed. Once my prayers have been answered (yes or no) I go on with life without recognizing that it is my duty to be thankful for what the Lord has done for me.
I need to be reminded over and over that the Lord has blessed me. "It is by the power and mercy of God that we recover from sickness."

The shirt says it all.

This was so cute! Jude is a soaker. When he gets up from his nap he likes to just hang out for a little bit before it's time for fun. He just threw his hands back and decided to relax for a while.

Just Hanging with Poppi

My little Tootles

MOM! Are you seriously still taking pictures?!