LOVE THESE FACES

The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you..

Numbers 6:24-25

I've Got To Hand It To Him

Yes, this is Shaun changing John Whitten's diaper with Lillian hanging on his back! He has been working so many long nights and weekends lately that when he is home Lillian sticks pretty close to her Daddy. 

I really do not know how this man does everything that he does (w/out having a breakdown anyway). Not only has he been working, on average, 12 hour days for the last few weeks but then he comes home and studies for the CPA. The craziest part about it is that I NEVER EVER hear him complain about any of it. If anything I hear the opposite. I hear him praise God for the opportunities he has to excel in his job and to provide for our family. Thank you Shaun. I know these last few weeks, months really, have been hard on you. But I don't know what we would do without you!

I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

Psalm 16:8

AU vs MSU...A Post Long Over Due

A couple of weeks ago we went down to the plains to tailgate with our good friend and her family! I was excited to be in Auburn, but I was even more excited to be in Auburn tailgating with our friend Martina who now lives in Huntsville. Lillian, Colton and Eli had so much fun running around all over the place and playing together. Lillian is still talking about how she got to see her friend Colton in Auburn. I think Shaun and Korey were a little disappointed that Martina's husband Camron wasn't there to hang out with (he had to work), but hopefully we will all be able to get together again soon! All in all it was a great Saturday on the plains! We spent time with great friends, ate great food, and saw a GREAT game. 

Lillian, Eli and Colton sipping on their juice together

John Whitten was obsessed w/ this shaker!

the ice cream man even stopped by our tailgate

Lillian knows how fair skinned Shaun is; always taking care of her Daddy

Shaun watching the game w/ his boy...

I guess he didn't think the game was that interesting.

of course our little Picasso can't go anywhere w/out a coloring book

trying desperately to get a picture of my two in their matching AU outfits

the kids were obsessed w/ carrying this tiger around...it was funny to watch. 

the effects of too much fun...

One Year Check Up

Lillian and I took John Whitten to see Dr. Walley for his one year check last week, and believe it or not this little boy is slimming up! But before I get to the good stuff let me give you a little run down of my sweet boys milestones:

-he is walking everywhere! Shaun makes fun of me for still counting how many steps he takes at one time. I called him the other day and said, "John Whitten just took 32 steps!!" Shaun's response, "Melissa, he is just a walker now. You can stop counting".

-still doesn't eat food, but we are working on it. We can get him to eat yogurt and that is better than nothing we think.

-LOVES to dance and clap his hands

-he is wearing 18-24 month clothes

-is starting to climb on everything. He will pitch the cutest little fit if you make him get off of something.

-he has really started to want to be with Shaun a lot more lately! When Shaun comes home he walks right up to him saying, "Dada, Dada, Dada" and holding his arms up to him. But believe me, he is still a Mamma's boy.

-LOVES for me to push him in his little car and go on walks

-he laughs ALL of the time

-says "Momma" and "Dada" very clearly and jabbers all of the time. 

-he melts my heart....

I cannot get over the fact that this little boy is ONE! Blows me away to think about how much he has grown and changed over these last 12 months. Okay, now for the numbers you have all be waiting for:

Weight: 25 lbs 4 oz (he only gained 4oz between 9 months and 1 year)

Height: 31 1/2 inches

Head: 18 inches

his hair was crazy that day

The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon

Psalm 92:12

John Whitten's Cookie Party

Last Saturday we had family over to our house to celebrate our sweet boy VERY FIRST birthday! We did a If You Give A Mouse A Cookie theme and I think it turned out really cute. We even had a special addition If You Give A Mouse A Cookie book that everyone one signed and wrote little birthday wishes in so that John Whitten could look back one day and see who was all at his FIRST party. We had a lot of food and a TON of cake (I ordered the wrong size by accident), and the kids had a good time playing together outside. It was a great party and we were so excited to be able to celebrate our little boys birth with our wonderful family.  

John Whitten LOVES his "Dad"

we were so happy that Uncle Mark flew in for Austin to celebrate our baby's birthday

We love MeMe!

John Whitten's smash cake....there wasn't any smashing

he pretty much just looked at his cake (I ate it later)

"Because he loves me", says the LORD, "I will rescue him..."

Psalm 91:14