Troy Baby Shower

This post is long overdue but ten days before Alex's birthday my sweet Troy friends had us a beautiful baby shower at my friend Laura's house. Since we had everything we needed for a little boy they brought diapers as gifts. At 3 months old we still have not purchased diapers for Alex and we have a lot more to go.  They did an amazing job and everything was so perfect.  I love all of these girls so much!

3 Months

Alex is 3 months old and a very happy little fella. Each morning I awake to his sweet coos and when I go in his room he is just smiling away.  We put his mobile on his crib this weekend and we often hear him in his room laughing at it.  He has started reaching for his toys and noticing his surroundings.  I think he is going to be a little bit of a momma's boy. He is also very ticklish right around his neck just like Luke.  Both of our boys lose it when we give them kisses on their necks.  He is very active and moves all over his crib at night.  Sometimes when he is awake he gets his legs and arms moving so fast you would think he is in a bicycle race. I love all of his sweet expressions and how easily he is amused.  I usually post one picture each month but every single picture I took of Alex was too sweet not to post.  I just had to share them all...

Here is a link to Luke's 3 month post.

Thirty...3-0!

My birthday was December 24th and I turned the big 3-0.  A few weeks ago we were talking to our babysitter (who is a freshman in college) and she was telling us about her brother who is 31.  We know her parents and I kept thinking to myself, "they aren't old enough to have a thirty year old." Then I realized he is only a year older than me...whoa!  They are old enough to have a child my age but I didn't realize that was thirty.  Geez!  And since I have turned 30, I have gray hair and lots of aches and pains.  It's just sad.   Anyway, I got to celebrate my birthday twice.  Once with my family and once with Derek's.  As a huge surprise, Derek had my close friends and family write me letters.  It was so special since my love language is words of affection.  He could have bought me the biggest most expensive gift but it wouldn't have meant near as much to me.  I was so overwhelmed by the kind words and memories that my sweet family and friends wrote to me.  I really feel so unworthy of all of this love and was reminded yet again how incredibly blessed I am.  I have such authentic, godly friends and family who are simply amazing!!

My grandmother turned 81 on Christmas day

My precious, itty-bitty grandmother

The best chocolate cake ever...compliments of my mother-in-law

My cup runneth over...

Christmas in 'dega

We left my Dad's house Christmas Eve and drove to Talladega.  Derek's uncles, aunts and cousins from Texas came so we had a packed house full of fun.  Luke got a lot of attention and had a great time playing outside.  I think the themed gift from my side of the family was choo-choo's and from Derek's family was Buzz Lightyear (as you can see).  He got so many toys.  In fact, we put some toys up and will pull them out periodically.  We had a wonderful time in Talladega celebrating Christ's birth.  For whatever reason this Christmas I thought so much about Mary and what all she experienced as a young woman.  Maybe because I just spent 9 months pregnant.  But wow, can you imagine being chosen by the God of all creation to carry the Savior?  And what was going through her mind as she gave birth to the "desire of all nations?" As Derek and I drove from Tuscaloosa to Talladega we listened to this song more than once.  I can not hear these lyrics without tears streaming down my face.  I'm sure Derek thought I was a little crazy (and I am) but I am so overwhelmed by all God has done for me when I'm so undeserving. As we start a new year may our resolution be to know Him more and to find our rest in thee.

Come, thou long expected Jesus,

born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee.
Israel's strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.
Born thy people to deliver,
born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever,
now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all sufficient merit,
raise us to thy glorious throne


Now for the pictures:

Luke is saying, "pease."  We were bribing him with chocolate to sit beside his brother in front of the tree.

This is not reality...see previous caption

Uncle Deron being silly

smiley

Alex and Aunt Haley

Papa reading the Christmas story

Nana and grandchildren

Nana with grand and great grandchildren

Nana with her kids

Nana with kids and spouses

Luke was so tired one day he just fell out in the middle of the floor.  He has not had a paci in almost a year but he found Alex's for this nap.  Derek and I were not there but we heard he took a nice long nap amongst the chatter and TV.

Unfortunately, we missed out on the toilet races but what is a trip to Talladega without toilet races?

Cool little man

and the stockings were hung...

Papa and Luke on the gazelle

Alex loves his Nana.  She can get him belly laughing very easily.

This precious picture is also not reality.  Luke received chocolate to do this ;)

Christmas in Tuscaloosa

We spent the days before Christmas in Tuscaloosa with my Dad, Stepmom and Grandma.  It was great seeing my grandmother who lives in Collinsville, IL.  We ate our traditional polenta and stewed chicken Christmas dinner and Luke and Alex racked up on toys.  I'll let the pictures tell the rest...

Dad stirring the polenta

My 81 year old grandmother on the floor playing trains with Luke

sweet baby Alex

A choo-choo

My Dad

I love this pic of my grandmother admiring her great grandson

Luke's new train