Only two months to go!

Renee is 10 months old!! I cannot believe she will be 1 in only two months, where has this year gone?

Our baby girl is so sweet, we are just enjoying her so much. She is still working on crawling on all fours but she can move pretty quick with her army drag. She has pulled up a few times to her knees but seems content just crawling all over things. She has a few favorites: her pink "Dolly", her purple flower blanket, Daddy and Zachy.

Check out her hair!!! She is definitely not a baldy like Zach and Ava!

Daddy slicked her hair down for church :)

It looks very blonde here.

Renee at 10 mos. (this is a normal hair day)

Zachary at 10 mos.

Ava at 10 mos.

Monday Memories

The past three years has zoomed by since we had our Ava Mae. I remember when I found out I was expecting again...unlike a year and a half of trying like with Zach, Ava was a complete surprise to us! I found out when I was about 6 weeks along (Jan 05) and we were SO happy that it was easy this time around! Even though I did not have any cravings like with Zach, I felt sure I was having another boy. Maybe I was just in "boy" mode because the day of our ultrasound, I was completely shocked when she said it was a girl!! I think I asked her three times if she was sure, maybe she should check again. We had already picked out the name Ava Mae after Jeff's Nana who had passed away, her name was Ada Mae. I was due September 25th and the pregnancy went well so I thought she would come a little early, just like Zach. Well, Ava was already showing her stubborn personality by not only NOT arriving early but going past her due date too! Three days later, I was finally called in for an induction that went pretty quickly and a delivery that was easy as could be. She made her arrival at 5:21am on September 28, 2005. Zach was now a big brother and we had a little girl!

Jeff and I would probably not call Ava an "easy" baby but she was definitely a sweet one. She certainly did not sleep like Zach did, much to my frustration. But Zach and Ava took to one another immediately, they were instant playmates. Ava also had a temper and would arch her back, blow raspberries and throw tantrums as an infant!! Thankfully, Jeff and I did our best to nip that behavior in the bud once she got old enough but we look back and laugh sometimes at her antics. She also despised being in the carseat which made driving down the road a little trying but thankfully, once she hit a year old and we turned her around, she was happy. I think she didn't like facing backwards!

Ava was, thankfully, an early mover. She was definitely stronger than Zach as a baby and started rolling over, crawling and pulling up MUCH earlier which made things a little easier. She started walking at 14 months and I found myself the mother of TWO toddlers. I was so glad that she started talking very early as that made things a little easier, since we could communicate!

Ava has such a vivid imagination like her brother and loves to pretend play. She also is bossy and stubborn, her favorite thing to say is "I can do it all by MYYYYself!" And she can most of the time! She started dressing herself before Zach and thankfully wasn't too far behind on the potty-training. She is so silly and giggles all the time, you can't help but smile and laugh with her. She loves Zach and Renee and loves to give us kisses. I love hearing her say "I love you Mommy". She still doesn't sleep much and pretty much comes in our room around 6:30 am every morning but thankfully, cuddles up next to Jeff and goes back to sleep. We love these special moments with her because we know they are only young for so long.

Not only does Ava love her siblings but she loves Care Bears, Strawberry Shortcake, My Little Pony, and JoJo's Circus. Her security items are three blankets (one white, two pink) that she used to call "bobbies". Just like Zach, she dresses up all the time, I think we average about 20 wardrobe changes in our house a day! Ava is just a bundle of fun and energy and her dance class has been a perfect outlet for her. She just loves it!

Jeff and I both agree that Ava has gotten more cuddly and loving towards us the older she has gotten and we just love it. She is smart, creative and full of joy and we just love having her in our lives. God had truly blessed our family and we thank Him everyday for the gift of Ava. We love you baby girl, you are so special to us!

A little girl to love!

Her favorite toy as a baby, her purple Hippo crinkle (thanks to Aunt Jen!), that thing would get so wet and yucky but she loved it!

Crawling and climbing early!


Already celebrating a year with our baby girl!

She moved to a big girl bed alot earlier than Zach because she found out how to climb out before she was two!

My little model, already posing for the camera.

Our precious gift from God, Ava Mae

Ava is 3!!!

Ava turned 3 years old yesterday! It's crazy how fast these kids are growing up, I can still remember her first birthday like it was yesterday. We celebrated with a party at Chuck E Cheese (not sure if we will be doing that again) and she had a pretty good time...as long as the guy dressed up like Chuck E didn't get anywhere near her! She had a Strawberry Shortcake theme which, of course, meant pink cupcakes! The kids had a great time and we enjoyed spending time with family and friends (even though the place was so loud and crazy, it was hard to hold a conversation!) Thanks also to everyone for their wonderful gifts, she loved every one of them!

Happy Birthday Ava, we love you so much!!

We let Ava open one gift early so she could wear her Strawberry Shortcake shirt for her party.

Renee was fascinated by the mechanical Chuck E !

Ava started getting shy with all the attention so Daddy helped her out.

Shyness is gone and posing like normal!

Zach flying high!

Hugs for brother for his perfect gift...Care Bears!

The kids both let each other help open presents on their birthdays, I just love that!

Because Mommy never got one as a kid...she has no idea who Snoopy is and what the heck a sno-cone machine does...

Thanks to Gaga and Papaw, Ava will be Wonder Woman for Halloween...she LOVED her own superhero costume! (Notice how she is holding up her arms to fight off bad guys, just like Gaga showed her!) Of course, Ava couldn't be the only one so Zach had to run change into Batman...my two cute little crimefighters! :)

A nice day for pictures in the backyard

The kids were cooperative in getting some pictures after church on Sunday... so we took advantage.

Strike a pose!

We think Ava has the makings of a future model, with all the dressing up and posing that she does. It's even gotten to the point that when I tell her to look at the camera, she immediately strikes a pose. She then proceeds to go on a posing spree that looks less model-ish and more reminiscent of Elaine's dance moves from "Seinfeld"! But it sure is funny...a video camera would do the poses more justice than a still shot camera. But here she was tonight, playing with Zach's matchbox cars, when I whipped out the camera. She stopped what she was doing and put on her best "princess" smile! :)

Monday Memories...late on purpose.

I wanted to wait til today to share my "Monday Memories" because it was exactly one year ago today that Jeff was hit by a car while riding his motorcycle. Thankfully, it is only a memory now but that moment was so terrifying for our family. I remember that morning so vividly, Jeff had left for work only minutes before and I was upstairs with the kids when the phone rang. I saw on the caller id that it was Jeff's cell phone and I thought it was odd because I knew he couldn't call me while on his bike. Thankfully, it was his voice on the line but I knew something wasn't right because he sounded funny. He first told me that he was ok (which immediately made me panic) but that he had been in a wreck. He said he didn't think anything was broken but that an ambulance was coming to get him. I could tell in his voice he was in pain and couldn't talk so we ended the call with me telling him to call me as soon as possible. There I was with two little ones and 7 months pregnant and not knowing what to do. I didn't even ask him which hospital he was going to be taken too! I made some calls to my mom who was out of town, Jeff's family, and my brother who thankfully had not left for work yet and planned to meet me at the ER. So, I piled the kids in the car, and headed in the direction of the hospital, which would also take me past the accident site. I will tell you, the sight of Jeff's motorcycle laying on its side in the middle of the road with police cars nearby was very upsetting. I pulled over and got out to ask the police where they would tow the bike and also where Jeff had been taken. My heart was racing just imagining the worst!
Thankfully, I was taken to Jeff right when I got to the hospital and seeing him calmed me down some but not much because there he was, laid out with a neck brace on and his clothes had been cut off him. Thankfully, x-rays confirmed he had no broken bones but he was in ALOT of pain, I had never seen him that way before and I hope it was the last. He did have internal injuries to his lungs, kidneys and other organs and stayed a few nights to be observed. Although he was released after two days, his pain continued for almost two months...I think it was finally by Thanksgiving that he was back to normal.

As I recall these memories, I have to give thanks and glory to Christ Jesus for watching over Jeff and our family and protecting him from a worse fate. That very morning, another man who had been on a motorcycle was brought into the ER and he sadly did not make it. That easily could have been Jeff, and I could have been a widow with three small children. When I think about the possibility that I could have lost my husband and my kids their father, I can't help but pray to my heavenly Father and thank him for sparing Jeff's life. How great is our God that he cares about us, every moment of every single day, that we are loved and cared for by Him. God even used that awful event and turned it into a blessing. The insurance settlement helped us financially, when we really needed it and it also has turned Sept 16th into a day of thanksgiving that Jeff is still here.

So, here we are, a year later, Jeff is doing just fine and in the best shape of his life. We have three kids now and are doing so well. We just celebrated 10 years of marriage and we feel renewed and refreshed. And we are thanking the Lord everyday for His blessings on our family.

(And no, we do not own a motorcycle in this house anymore!)

"Against the wind"

Jeff and I just got back from a wonderful weekend in Hilton Head! My sister in law's family own a condo there and graciously allowed us to stay for free. We had some great meals, ate wings and had some beers while watching UGA beat South Carolina (felt like college days), walked on the beach, swam in the pool and just enjoyed some time away from the kiddos. It felt like it did before we had kids...which has only been four years yet it's hard for us to remember those days.

We made it a goal that we would wake up early this morning and go for a jog on the beach (we never get a chance to with the kids) before we headed back home. Jeff has really been wanting me to get into jogging and wants me to eventually join him in running some races (not sure that will happen). Well, folks, I actually ran a mile this morning! This is from a person who has NEVER liked running/jogging and dreaded P.E. in school when we had to do it! I will say, I have a new appreciation for Jeff and his commitment to running because it was hard!!! I am impressed that I made it without stopping because boy did I want to stop! It was fun though(what?!), being able to do that finally. As I am writing this, the tops of my legs are very achy and it hurts a little to bend them, but it was worth it (must be losing my mind!). I am even thinking of running in the future (yep, definitely crazy)...its very good exercise. We'll see...

Anway, we had a great 10th anniversary weekend and our marriage has been renewed and refreshed...but we were both VERY anxious and excited to get back to the kids!

Thanks Steph for arranging our awesome trip! Love ya!

10 years of wedded bliss!

Today is Jeff and I's 10th wedding anniversary! It is so hard to believe a decade has passed since we said "I do" and what a wonderful journey it has been. I love being married to my best friend! We were married at the young age of 23 and here we are, both 33 and blessed with three healthy children. Jeff is such a godly man and loves us so much, I cannot ask for a better husband and father. From UGA, to our apartment in Smyrna, to our first house in Acworth to the house we are in now...from it being just the two of us for 6 years, then the three of us, then we quickly became a family of four and now we're five...it has been a decade of happiness and joy! Who knows what the future holds, but I do know that the Lord brought us together and He has blessed our marriage beyond all measure! I love you Jeff, I look forward to many more decades with you!

1997 when we first started dating...we look so young!! (see Jeff's earring? He was so hip back then!)

9/12/98-Our Wedding Day

(I couldn't get to my other wedding photos...they are still in boxes from our move two years ago...this is the best I could do)

Monday Memories

December 2007-I love this picture of Zach and Ava! Zach had just gotten these army dress up clothes from Uncle Jason and Aunt Stephy for Christmas and he let Ava have a turn dressing up. I just love the smiles on their faces, Ava looks so happy!

Take Me Out to the Ballgame...

Zach had his first Tball game on Saturday. It's tough to get much higher on the cuteness scale then 18 4-year olds running around in oversized uniforms trying to play baseball. All the kids had fun (almost as much fun as the parents), and there were no major injuries. Looking forward to a fun season.

No more bricks...

Zach has reached yet another big boy moment, he slept in underwear overnight for the first time! This really is amazing because ever since he was a baby, his morning diapers were like 50 lbs! We both thought he would be much older before he was able to hold his pee all night so when he woke up 6 days ago with a completely dry pullup, we were happy but did not even think he would do it again...much less for 5 nights straight after that! He was rewarded with sleeping in his underwear (to be like Daddy) and we were a little nervous that we would have to do a 2am sheet changing, but our big kid ran in our room bright and early this morning to report he did not have an accident!
This new milestone is going to be good for the wallet (now only buying diapers/pullups for two kids instead of THREE!) however, it's also one more move toward "big kid"-ness that this sentimental mommy is coming to grips with...my first baby is growing up!

Beach Trip

We spent an entire week a couple weeks ago in Destin with Jen's mom, and her brother and his family. We had a blast. All of the kids (except Renee of course) were able to swim on their own this year with the assistance of some floaties... so it was a much easier trip for the adults this time. We had three condos all right next to each other on the ground floor that opened up right to the pool, so it was very convenient to just step out the back door and right into the pool. Last year it was quite an ordeal to pack up all the kids and equipment each time we wanted to go to the pool, so this was much nicer. We also had a hottub (or "hot pool" as the kids called it) right outside our door which the kids loved. I think they spent more time in it than they did in the pool. All the kids loved the beach this year too, and we spent lots of time building sand castles, making sand angels, and burrying Uncle Jeff (see video). I put together a movie of the trip along with some pictures. It is kind of long, but there was just too much good footage to leave anything else out. So, if you have the time, enjoy!

3/4 the way there...

Thanks to Angie for the bloomers!

Our baby girl is getting closer everyday to her first birthday! She is 9 months old now and has reached several milestones in just the past week! Her second tooth just popped through the bottom, she is doing the army crawl and can get across the room very quickly (now comes the hard part with two older kids...getting them to keep "non-Renee friendly" things off the floor, like shoes, legos, action figures, stickers, etc) and just today, she picked up veggie puffs and fed herself! I have mixed emotions about all this (being the sentimental Mommy that I am), I want her to stay a baby for awhile longer, however, with Zach and Ava so busy and active, it's nice for Renee to achieve a little independence...especially now that she can feed herself finger foods! Now if she could just hold her own bottle, we would be in business!

Monday Memories

The last couple of days, it just feels like fall is in the air... in anticipation of this glorious time of year when the high temps get back down in the upper sixties... here are some pics of our trip to Berrypatch Farms in October of 2005.