Mommy's BIG Boy

I am on some emotional count down to John Whitten's first birthday. Some days I am so excited about all of the new things he is doing, and other days I am virtually in tears when I snap a picture of him and realize how big he looks. Here are a few pictures that we have taken our baby over these last few days.

I love his expression here...

 

"Mommy Hide, there's a BIG BEAR"

Lillian's imagination is amazing! I cannot even begin to tell you all of the fun adventures that she has taken me and John Whitten on. I can tell you however, that most of her adventures involve a "big bear" that is trying to chase us. This bear has chased us through jungles, swamps, Wal Mart, grass, some very scary dark woods, through big waves in the ocean, etc. It seems like we are always running from this bear. Lately though Lillian has discovered a way to hide from the bear..which I love because now I don't have to run through our house to escape. She will pull, yes literally pull, John Whitten behind the curtains in the kitchen and they will set up camp there to hide from the "Big Bear". It is so cute and I love to hear John Whitten laughing at all the silly things Lillian says while they are in their fort. 

Husband Of The Year Award Goes To...

SHAUN HAYS!! Over the past four days Shaun has completely taken over everything while I have been laid up after hurting my back last Tuesday. I know that makes me sound like an eighty year old man, but I seriously cannot remember the last time I was in so much pain. On Wednesday I went to the doctor and told me that I was having "some intense muscle spasms". No joke... He told me that I needed to be off my feet for a few days and take some muscle relaxers. I couldn't take the muscle relaxers because I am still nursing and I was unsure even how I was going to rest my back when I have two amazing little ones that keep me on the go. Cue Shaun to save the day...my amazing hubby took Thursday and Friday off from work so that he could be home to take care of our babies while I rested. Thursday he loaded them up bright and early and took them to McWane Center. Not sure who had more fun there, Shaun or the kids. Friday he took Lillian and John Whitten to our Hoover Mom's Club play date and New Members brunch. I laughed all morning at the thought of him there hanging out with all those other Mommy's and their kids. Saturday morning he ran errands with the kids and Sunday he took them to church (his first time to take both of them by himself). I am so thankful for Shaun and all that he does for our family. I know that these past four days couldn't have come at a worse time with his job, and I really know how difficult both of the kids on your own can be at times. But Shaun just really impressed me this past weekend, and I am so thankful for him. 

Daddy&Husband of the year!!

Thinking Of Graham

I hate that Johnny and Emily live in Nashville, simply because it means that Graham lives in Nashville. I am use to getting to see Eli and Shepard almost every day and I hate that I don't get to see Graham that much. Emily sent us this picture of my sweet nephew the other day; he is getting so big! We love you Graham!

From the lips of children and infants

You have ordained praise...

Psalm8:2

It Takes A Village

I truly have amazing people in my life. And I am not talking about my family, although they are amazing, I am talking about the wonderful friends God has placed in my life. The ones who send me an encouraging text message when they know my husband has been working late every night that week. The ones who watch out for Lillian while I am trying to discreetly feed John Whitten at the zoo. The ones who send me picture messages to me when they spot my husband out by himself with the kids at McWane while I am home nursing a hurt back, just because they know I would want to see what they were up to. In terms of the friendship department my cup truly runneth over. They are women who encourage me and challenge me, both emotionally and spiritually. I know that I am a better Mom, a better wife and a better person because of these many women's influences in my life. If it really does take a village to raise a child than I am extremely thankful for my little village.

thanks Paige H for sending me these!

Shaun sword fighting w/ Lillian and Will

Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.

Proverbs 11:14

First Steps!!!!

Tonight after dinner we were all hanging out in the den just playing and enjoying some time together when John Whitten just stood up in the middle of the den and WALKED! We all saw it at the same time (this is huge sense John Whitten was crawling for two weeks before Shaun even saw it). I could not believe it! I had not really not expected him to walk for a long time but I guess he had other plans. For the rest of the night he would stand up take two or THREE steps at a time and then fall back down. He was so proud of himself and we were too! Lillian kept saying, "Good job John Whitten, good job".

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We even skyped Uncle Mark so he could see!

Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.

Isaiah 26:8

Happy 11 Months John Whitten

I say it every month but, I cannot believe that my sweet boy is 11 months old today! That means in just one more month we will be celebrating his very first birthday. Wow, time really has flown by this past year. Not too much has changed with our sweet boy over the last month except that he now says "Dada" and is really close to walking. He will stand for a very long period of time on his own and uses anything he can push to walk around our house. He is doing a lot better about staying in his crib all night; which is kind of bitter sweet because I loved feeling him snuggled up to me all night. 

Things John Whitten Loves At 10 Months:

-He still LOVES his Mommy

-Loves, loves, loves to take baths. He cries when he sees you grab his towel

-I really cannot tell you how much that little boy loves his big sister. He lights up when he sees Lillian and they play together so well. It is really sweet to watch them interact with each other. 

-He loves the stupid fireplace and it drives me crazy! He has already lost a couple of fight with it, but still insists on trying to climb up on it every two seconds.  

-loves to grab his cousin Shepard's hair and face!

-He loves to be naked (like his sister).

Things John Whitten Doesn't Like At 10 Months:

-Food

-Sippy cups

-He cannot stand to have his diaper changed. 

-He is getting better about going to the nursery at church and I haven't been paged out of Sunday school or services in the last four weeks!

-He cannot stand to have his nails cut...it drives me crazy

-There really isn't much that John Whitten doesn't like. He is so easy going and I feel so blessed to be this little boy's mommy!

We did have one kind of big first this past month; John Whitten's first ER visit. I have been to embarrassed/ashamed to blog about it but he fell off our bed and hit his head really badly. It was very scary because he fell and then didn't move and wouldn't cry or reach out to me. We laid him on the bed and he looked so flat, if really scared Shaun and I and we knew we needed to take him to the hospital. Of course it was 7:20 AM on a Tuesday morning so you can imagine how 280 was, but luckily I was there by 8:00. After looking over him and doing a CT scan turns out it was more than just a little bump, it was a little concussion. Which explained whey he acted so out of if those 10-15 minutes after he had fallen. They made us stay for observation for a few hours and then sent us home with instructions to not let him sleep more than 45 at a time for the rest of that day. He was a little cranky by bed time to say the least. Our pediatrician followed up with us the following day. Shaun and I felt horrible especially because one of us was actually in the room with him when it happened! But he was fine a couple days later; I am sure this won't be our little daredevils last ER visit.

For great is His love toward us...

Psalm 117:2

7 Mommies + 15 Kids = One Fun Morning At My House

We definitely started this week out on the right foot. This morning I hosted a play date for our Hoover Mom's club. We had 7 Mommies and 15 kids over to our house and it was so much fun! There were even some "brand news"- that's what Alli calls newborns. My friend Amanda came with her three year old and three week old baby boy; he was so cute! And the other Amanda of the group had her fairly new baby boy with her along with her two other boys. Lillian LOVES it when her friends come to her house to play, it makes her feel so special. The kids played inside, outside and all over the house! The Moms had a great time talking and catching up with one another. And of course we enjoyed watching our little ones play together. After a big lunch of chicken nuggets, hot dogs, fruit and cheese-its everyone was ready for a nap. Of course that is everyone but my Lillian. At least I got her to rest on the couch while I cleaned up. She was quick to tell me if I missed a spot. I love that I get these days with them...these crazy, messy, hectic days. *As I type this Lillian and John Whitten are hiding from "bears" behind the curtains. Praise God for all my many blessings.

Alli and Amanda's "brand new"

can't believe this little boy is 11 months old today! sniff...

Love never ends.

1 Corinthians 13:8

Wedding Weekend Fun

This past Saturday Shaun and I attended his college friends wedding at Vulcan. It was beautiful and Shaun and I had so much fun. In fact I was really shocked at how much fun we had, and that I wasn't trying to drag us away to get back home to our babies as soon as the the "I do's" were said. Shaun and I both were shocked when we called home between the ceremony and reception to discover that MeMe (my wonderful mother-in-law) had gotten John Whitten to sleep with very few tears! Once I knew that he was asleep, and had gone to sleep fairly easy, I could really relax and have a fun night out with Shaun. Thanks again Tina!

I loved this picture b/c John Whitten was grabbing my face...so sweet

so thankful to be able to call this man my husband!

Splash Pad

Yesterday the kids and I met some MOM's club friends out in Gardendale at the Gardendale splash pad! We had taken Lillian there a couple of time last summer, but I hadn't gotten around to taking both of the kids out there this summer. It has been so hot and I was worried that it would be to crowded to really let John Whitten crawl around and play. But with schools starting back this week and next week I was hoping it would not be very crowded and it really wasn't. There were still a fair amount of big kids but for the most part they did a good job of watching out for the little ones.We had a great time playing in the water with friends and even ordered a pizza which was a special treat for Lillian. We definitely will be heading back there soon!  

these two love each other so much

John Whitten watched Lillian for a couple minutes...

but then he got right into it! 

some of us were pretty worn out after all that playing. 

The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the LORD will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.

Isaiah 41:17