Sunday, May 30, 2010

7 Months







I know I say this every month but I can't believe Luke is 7 months old. Someone once told me the days go by slow but the years go by fast. The fact that we are closer to a year old than his day of birth blows my mind.

Since I use this blog as a personal scrapbook I want to include a few things about this stage that I want to remember.

1. He can finally sit up unassisted. He is a little late in doing so but I think it is because he crawled so early. He has had no interest in sitting still long enough to strengthen his tummy muscles.
2. He can stand up with assistance and has taken a few steps (while holding our hands obviously)
3. He is wearing a size 3 diaper, eats 3 meals a day and takes 4- 6 oz bottles.
4. He sleeps about 10 hours on a good night and takes a morning and afternoon nap.
5. He has 2 teeth and is trying to get some more; thus has been waking some at night for the past two weeks.
6. He is extremely silly and social. He will go to strangers and randomly laugh to get our atttention (and it works everytime)
7. He jabbers constantly.
8. He hates, and I mean despises, going to sleep.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Yeah, so I look good

One of Luke's favorite things to do is look at himself in the mirror.
He smiles at himself:

And tries to touch his face (I would say hair considering he pulls chunks of mine out daily but he doesn't have much to grab):


And sometimes he just stares at himself:
I totally understand. I could just stare at him all day too :)



Monday, May 24, 2010

Babies, Belly Flops, and a Banquet

Friday night Derek and I went to Montgomery to do a little shopping and to meet Blakely Evan Jones who was born Thursday (5/20). She is just adorable. It's hard to believe her and Luke will be in the same grade one day considering Luke seems so much bigger than her now (one day the 7 months difference won't be a big deal). We had a few friends who had babies last week. The Wilson's had Pate Bryant on Monday (5/17) and The Bria's had Dylan Patrick on Friday (5/21). It was a week of babies. Can't wait to meet the other two.

Below is a picture of Luke playing with Jason at the hospital. We weren't able to capture it on camera but Jason would scream into Luke's face and then he would copy. It was so funny.

Meet Blakely Evan Jones, isn't she adorable?

Saturday we went to Holly's parents house to swim. Luke swam in the big pool for the first time. I think I anticipated for him to react in a very excited way but he was just really chill and seemed to sit back and take it all in. We had such a fun time.

This is Holly and Owen, her youngest for now, number 3 is on the way. I just love her to death. It's hard to believe we were at UA together and never knew one another considering she is one of my very favorite people in Troy.


After our afternoon of swimming we attended Derek's end of the year baseball banquet. I didn't get any pictures because I was so busy making sure Luke wasn't too much of a distraction. We sat front and center and as Derek was talking from the podium Luke was smiling, laughing and trying to talk back to him. It was very cute but I was trying my hardest for it not to bother Derek. Derek did a fantastic job honoring the teams, administrators and coaches and he was honored for his 100th win as a head coach, which happened earlier this season. It really is awesome that he got to 100 wins so quickly...he's pretty much the bomb!

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Shawty got low

Our little shawty had to get his mattress lowered. He has started pulling up on the bumper to sit up and was awfully close to pulling himself up on the bed. We didn't want to take any chances since he is pulling himself up on the rest of the furniture in our house.


I should note that about 2 minutes after I took these pictures Luke let go of the side of the crib and flopped into his crib. It scared him at first and he was on the verge of crying but then he realized it was fun and started laughing...so we did it about 15 more times.

Friday, May 21, 2010

The Carson's

Thursday afternoon one of my good friends, Megan, had a doctors appointment in Dothan so Luke and I rode down with her to provide some entertainment. Luke had a rough morning with his teething and I nearly called her to cancel but I am so thankful I did not. Megan and her husband Chuck moved to Troy from Valdosta, Georgia around the time we had Luke and we have become fast friends. They are such an amazing, godly couple and I am constantly encouraged by Megan's heart and passion for Christ. We went to her appointment which took all of 5 minutes and then headed to chick-fil-a for some nuggets and ice dream. Here is a picture of Luke in a chick-fil-a highchair for the first time (his daddy is so proud).


Back in Troy, Derek and Chuck were playing golf at The Brundidge Country Club (aka TPC Brundidge). Megan and I were on our way home from Dothan and decided to see if we could see the boys since the golf course was only half a mile or so from our route. When we got there we could see them off in a distance but they were going the opposite direction so we planned to leave. As we were leaving one of the golf course employees urged us to use the cart to go see them since they were the last people on the golf course. We decided it would be fun despite the embarrassment we would cause our husbands. Luke loved his first golf cart ride and smiled the whole time. He really wanted to hold on to the steering wheel as you can see by the picture.


Thank you Carson's for providing such a fun, relaxing Thursday!

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Like father, like son

Hey Daddy, what you got in that bowl?Can I have some?

Please?
Just a little taste is all.

But daddy they look so delicious.

How rude, you are stuffing your face right in front of me and won't let me get just one.
Got it

Yum Yum!
Apparently he likes the strawberries as much as his daddy!

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Weekend in Tuscaloosa


After what seemed like a marathon of a baseball season we needed some relaxing time away from home. We arrived in Tuscaloosa Thursday night and ate dinner with the Jordan's. Jonathan was Derek's assistant coach at Bryant and took over as head coach when we moved to Troy. He is a great coach, person and friend to Derek. His better half, Bethany, is dearly missed by me as she and I have watched many baseball games together. Derek and I were blessed to be in their wedding and then Vivianna, their precious little baby girl, is 3 weeks younger than Luke. It is always so sweet when the Lord places friends in our path who are walking through similar seasons of life...this is the Jordan's. What an encouragement to be at the same place in this journey with the same purpose (bringing glory to Him).

Friday morning Derek and Jonathan played golf while I visited my sweet friend Natalie and her new baby Eliza. She was born April 24th and I have just been dying to meet her. Our conversation was so sweet that I totally forgot to get a picture of her! She is just precious and I can't wait to see her and her momma again.
Friday afternoon Luke and I went to visit another great friend Stephanie and her 10 year old son Will at the school where she teaches. She will have another son, Dylan, this Friday and I just had to see her while she was pregnant. I met Stephanie in college and Will was 2 at the time. She has been a great friend for 8 years and I just love her to death.




Friday night we attended the Bama baseball game with John Rushing (I blogged about this below) and visited the Yogurt Mountain for the second time in two days. Enough said.

Saturday morning my Dad arrived in town from a business trip and we spent the afternoon doing this:



Luke had his first swim in his new pool. He seemed to like it but was too busy chewing on his toys to have the reaction I anticipated. He was just so darn cute swimming and splashing around in the water.

Saturday night Derek and I went to my high school friend Suzanne's wedding while Luke stayed home with Dad and Kris. It's always so hard for me to leave him, I guess because I stay home with him it still makes me nervous but he was a little angel while we were gone. The wedding was like a high school reunion and I got to hang out/catch up with so many old friends. Which is great because Derek and I aren't going to be able to make it to my 10 year reunion this summer. Partly because we are working VBS at our church that week but mostly because we would have to sell Luke to be able to afford to go...the tickets were outrageous!

Sunday we attended our old church, FBC Tuscaloosa, and ate lunch with The Lowe's afterwards. We were so blessed to work with their ministry when we lived in Tuscaloosa and it was awesome to be reminded of the unity they are able to create in the youth of FBC. Something else I always find so cool is that the youth sit front and center on Sunday mornings...something that didn't happen before John Lowe. Oh, and one more fun fact about John Lowe, he attended Troy University and FBC Troy when he was in college.

Okay, I'll leave you with one last picture of Luke I took after church Sunday morning. He apparently was loving his time in T-town.




Sunday, May 16, 2010

Sacked out


Friday we took Luke to his first Alabama baseball game which also happened to be his first Alabama sporting event. He had so much fun hanging out with John Rushing. However he needed a quick nap to make it through. It was pretty boring considering Ole Miss' pitcher threw a no-hitter through five. Alabama rallied back at the end but it wasn't enough.




On our way to the car we spotted this:



Not sure if you can tell but that bright light in the top window is the National Championship trophy...Roll Tide!!

Monday, May 10, 2010

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all of you moms. In the past 7 months I have learned more about selflessness than ever before. I am better because of these daily lessons that motherhood offers.

To my mom, thank you for everything you do for Angie and I. We couldn't do it without you. I am so grateful for your sweet heart and for the many sacrifices you have made on our behalf. You are a wonderful mother and grandmother and we love you very much.

To my sweet little man, I love you from the tip of your toes to the top of your head. I am humbled and honored to be called your mother.




Monday, May 3, 2010

Cooperating with who you are...

I am constantly encouraged by my blog friend Kate McDonald. Her insights into the Word challenge me to my very core. This particular post spoke volumes to my heart.. You should check it (and her) out...

http://katemcdonald.wordpress.com/2010/04/26/cooperating-with-who-you-are/