A Double Birthday

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Here is just a glimpse of the fun as we celebrated Savannah's 4th and Noah's 2nd birthday's last Saturday! I hope to have more pics of all the family and friends who helped us celebrate. =) It was a wonderful day! Tacos and cupcakes (forgot the ice cream...found in the freezer later that night). Savannah received a bicycle and Noah, a wagon. And both were blessed with lots of other gifts as well. We are so thankful for our amazing family and friends. You all make these memories even sweeter. =)

Lots of love,

~k.

Happy Birthday, Noah.

First of all, this post will be dated July 11, the day after his birthday; however, to me, today was his birthday being that I am just now turning in for the night, blogging from the comforts of my pillow,  soft mattress, and ceiling fan. It is 1:16 am, but today was our little boy's special day and I couldn't sleep without honoring him on this little blog.  

We celebrated a double birthday yesterday...honoring Savannah's 4th and Noah's 2nd.  Lots of family and friends joined us and pics will follow soon of yesterday's wonderful day! But TODAY is his birthday, so this is all about Noah's day...from wake-up to bed time.

It began with hot cinnamon rolls, one of his favorites, complete with 2 candles.  He couldn't very well blow out his candles yesterday due to a nice breeze.  

But today, SUCCESS!

Then, a little later...after lots of playtime inside with birthday presents, homemade milkshakes and playtime in the yard.  

 He and Savannah received a sidewalk paint set from Abigail and Josiah.  He loved it!

 Let me tell you just a little about the picture below.  Noah was waiting patiently for Savannah to finish with the paint roller because he wanted to use it.  Notice there is a perfectly good brush laying nearby.  Why did he want the roller?  Because she was using it, of course.  After sitting and watching her paint with the roller for what seemed like hours...I finally asked Savannah to give him a turn with it. She laid it down in complete frustration and turned her back, as seen below.  What is not pictured was another level of her frustration....the crossing of the arms and the protrusion of the chin! Yes, she was officially UPSET!  

 It matters not to Noah.

The frustration subsided and playtime commenced after they both moved on to other things.  


For Noah, that was his red milkshake cup.

 Cute is not the word, here.

He received a wagon from Daddy and Mommy.  So much fun to ride with baby brother.

 But even MORE fun to pull baby brother!

After heading inside, getting all cleaned up, eating supper, getting into pajamas, and brushing teeth, he received a special birthday gift.  

A board book, "Before you were 2, these were a few of your favorite things."  It came in yesterday, but only a short while before the party and I did not want to rush into opening and looking through it just before giving it to him, so we decided to wait until today.

 He enjoyed so much looking through the pictures.

Click here to view Noah's book

Little buddy, your daddy and I cannot tell you how very much we love you. You are special to us in so many ways.  Happy 2nd birthday, Noah.  This year is going to be a great one!


Feeling blessed to be his mommy,
~k.

Thankful for Thirty

***First, let me give credit for this idea to my friend at Hall House Happenings~ who unknowingly inspired me to be thankful for my 30th birthday and to create this post! Thanks, Becky.

What is it about 20, 30, 40....?  Something about that zero behind the number that makes us feel so different.  The beginning of your own personal decade! Sounds a little scary, right? Or maybe exciting! Either way, it can be depressing for some.  Feeling as though their life is slipping away. Regretting choices made...or choices not made.  It's a time of reflection and looking ahead.  For me, I'm challenged to be thankful for thirty. If my life were a movie, it would be a long one!  If it were a book, it would surely be a novel.  But whose wouldn't?  I have so much to be thankful for, don't we all?

Today, I turn 30.  And here is my list...

1.  I was born to a wonderful family who raised me to love and serve the God who created me.
2.  A sister was born 14 months later and we have so many memories together! We're closer now that we're older, but the memories from our childhood are priceless!
3.  Because life happens, my parents divorced in the 80's and remarried in the 90's.  I have 2 great stepparents who I love and appreciate greatly!
4.  My mother is a beautiful lady who has taught me so much about life and the beauty of God's love.  I never knew the extent of her love for me until the day I became a mother.
5.  My stepdad is wonderful (funny) man who has taught me, probably unknowingly, how important it is to just be yourself! He has a huge heart and even let me work in his shoe shop as a teenager!  I am thankful for the love that he has for my mom and us.
6.  My dad is a great man who has taught me to always give my very best.  He believed in us and always encouraged our success.  Plus, he made almost all of my science projects!  Thanks, Dad. =)
7.  My stepmom is a special lady who always loved and cared for my sister and me.  I am thankful for her gentle understanding nature.
8.  I attended several schools, but have the most memories at Raleigh Christian Academy.  I'm very thankful for the sacrifices that were made so that my sister and I could attend here...as well as North Raleigh Christian Academy, where we both graduated.
9.  My salvation! I gave my young heart to Christ at the age of 6 at youth camp.  There are so many people who invested in my life and cared deeply for my spiritual journey!  I couldn't begin to name them, but I am eternally grateful.
10.  Piano lessons began very early....and the hobby stayed with me throughout elementary, middle, and high school.  Today, I am thankful that I still enjoy playing as well as teaching children to play.
11.  My grandparents are 2 selfless, godly people who played a tremendous role in our life.  We spent many days and nights in that house on Plainview.  And they were days and nights I won't ever forget.
12.  The Christmas mornings spent gathered around Granny and Papa's little kitchen table on a picnic bench for a big breakfast (or steak lunch...depending on the year...we alternated) are memories that can't be forgotten.
13.  I am so thankful for the church I was raised in, Raleigh Church of God.  This is the place where my spiritual journey was nurtured.  This is the place where I made forever friendships.  My mind drifts back and I can remember children's Christmas plays, huge homecoming lunches,  annual"country fair" day, children's church, and so so many more!!!
14.  We were very involved in our youth program at church and had many opportunities that I will always cherish! National teen talent excursions were so memorable and many friendships were made from some of those experiences.
15.  The summer of '98, I met a special guy!  A red-headed, handsome, gentleman!
16.  The fall of '98, I moved 8 hours away to attend school at Lee University in Cleveland, TN.  Great  memories!! I met some special people and learned a lot as this was the first time on my own!
17.  Spring of 2000, I moved back home and began school at Meredith College.  Wonderful school, and again....great memories!
17.  Summer of 2001, I married that red-headed, handsome, gentleman.  And I love him so much more today than I did that hot August afternoon.
19.  Along with an amazing husband came amazing in-laws.  They are all such loving people and I feel so blessed to be a part of their family.
20.  Dolan and I moved to Pikeville and still live in the same great neighborhood filled with people we're thankful for!
21.  We are a part of a great church where we have made so many memories and so many friendships!
22.  In 2003, I graduated from college and began teaching 4th grade at Wilson's Mills Elementary where I met some of the greatest kids in the world!  There will always be a special place in my heart for the elementary classroom, and maybe one day, I'll be back in one.  I'm thankful for the opportunity I had to meet some wonderful teachers and be blessed by the lives of so many children (some of who are 16 now!!!!)
23.  In 2005, several teachers from our school and others in the county set out to obtain our master's degree in education from Campbell.  It was an exciting journey.  I learned so much from those teachers and the professors who guided us!  This experience was an amazing one!
24.  In 2006, Dolan and I were blessed to be able to take a dream vacation to Europe.  We are so thankful for this experience and to have seen another part of God's awesome creation.  The memories we made are priceless.
25.  In 2007, God blessed Dolan and me with our first child, Savannah.  She is a special girl and is so full of life.
26.  In 2009, we were blessed again, with a second child....a son, Noah.  He just turned a year old on July 10th and is such a treasure to us.  He is so loving and we enjoy so much watching his personality develop.
27.  With great excitement, we are anticipating the arrival of our third child, another son, to be born in October of this year.  God is good!
28.  Our little house is not the same anymore, it's now full of toys, stained carpet, fingerprinted windows, and triple the laundry!  But oh, how thankful I am for all of those things!  I know that day is coming when I will look at my front door and wish to see a small sticky handprint.
29.  I am blessed to be at home with my little ones and teach them about the love Christ has for them!
30.  The fragility of life....because it helps me realize the importance of making this list!

So, I'm thankful for thirty.  What a goal to set for yourself!  Creating a list of blessings for the number of years for which you've been blessed to live. (OK, so if you're on up there, this may take some time) Certainly, I could add just one a year.  You know, really I could create a brand new list!  We all could.  We have so much to be thankful for.  I only regret that I don't count my blessings near enough.  God is so rich in love and cares so much for his children.  I must thank Him!


Jeremiah 29 verse 11: (New International version) 'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'

What's White and Red and Dirty all Over?

One of Noah's birthday presents was a water table from Grandaddy, Grandma, and Brandon.  Sunday evening was a great time to break it in!!  I'm not sure which one had more fun....It was pure joy for me to just sit back with my camera and watch brother and sister play together so well.  

The water table was placed so conveniently beside the sandbox....so Savannah did what any child would most likely do.  She dumped mounds of dirt into the table.  No big deal....so Noah splashed in it and got a little dirty.

But THEN, she got the bright idea of scooping some of that lovely mixture onto Noah's red head!

It was in his ears, his eyes, noes, eyebrows....you name it!

So, the onesie came off!  That was a start, right? Off to the sandbox he goes....to play?  No, to eat!!!

So within seconds after this picture, we headed inside straight to the tub.  I stripped them both down in the garage and we were off to get squeaky clean. 

So, what's white and red and dirty all over??? 

"One"

In spite of the tremendous heat, today was a great birthday for a sweet little boy and his loving family and friends.  Speaking of heat, in the slideshow above, you'll notice a few "foggy" pictures.  You can thank the humidity for that!  It was taking my camera a while to adjust to the extreme temperatures.

Menu: Hot dogs (cooked on the grill by a dear daddy who stood in the rain to get them perfect...and a special thank you to the umbrella holders!)  Macaroni Salad, Fruit Salad, Chips/Dip, Baby Goldfish =), and a delicious cake made to resemble a baby building block! Noah even had one for his very own!  He picked at the icing for a few minutes, then began to create a "crater" type hole in the side of the cake as he dug with his right hand-keeping the left hand almost completely clean! So funny.

His gifts were all very special and you can catch a glimpse of those in the pictures above.  By the way, if you haven't already done so, you can click on the rather fast slideshow above and it will take you to the picasa website where you can browse the pictures at your own leisure.

Dolan and I want to thank everyone for helping to make this such a great day for Noah.  You helped to show him just how special he is!  We love each of you so so much.

I almost forgot.....
Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday to our sweet Noahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, Happy Birthday to you!!! =)

A year has passed

Tomorrow, our little Noah turns one...

What a precious blessing he is to all who meet him.  A year has passed and I pause today to share some memories dating back to July 10, 2009...the special day Noah entered this world.  

He arrived at 12:50 p.m. at Johnston Memorial Hospital weighing 7lbs and 14 oz!  

Look at that red hair!!! I prayed for that! =)

Big sister, Savannah meets him for the first time! I love this picture.

Snugglin' with mama.  

At home...safe and sound in his bassinet.

..love those newborn feet!

Snugglin' with daddy!

All dressed up for his first Sunday at church!

Sleeping sweetly...

Head up!

For Halloween (Hallelujah night at church) he was a farmer, complete with a mustache paci! 

Sister was a cow.

Morning devotions at Myrtle Beach....helping daddy hold the Bible. 

Posing for Christmas Cards!! Such a happy baby...

A visit with Santa!

Christmas Morning!

Bright eyes!

Sitting up!!! 6 months old.

Baby food!!

This became one of his favorite places to play!  It was always so funny to lift the flap of the couch and see his HUGE smile!  His little way of playing hide and seek! 

Playtime!

Big sister shows him how to ride the "4-leeler."

And this is the reaction after a little fall...

CUTE!!

Dedication Day! (8 months old)

He loves to play the piano and especially when Savannah joins him!

Easter bunny!!! Wasn't scared a bit!

All dressed up for Easter with his handsome daddy!

Standing in his crib! 

Love the bumbo seat!  Enjoying a snack outside on the deck!

Hmmmmmm.........

"Yes, Mom? I'm not doing anything....."

"It was her!!!"

And here they are again....getting into mischief in mommy and daddy's room!

White Lake (May '10)

He has found that he can climb onto Savannah's bed with relative ease and does so often!!  On this day, I walked in to the sound of Savannah "reading" him a Bible story. =)

Lovin' the outdoors...

The dining room table was covered with sewing "stuff" this particular morning in June, so we had a nice breakfast, complete with the company of Elmo, in the sunroom!  FUN!

Enjoying the outdoors at Uncle Fred's and Aunt Denise's on Father's Day weekend.

And loving his sink bath with Nana.

And today, well, those little feet are a little bigger and a little stronger.  

A year has passed, and what a big boy he is now!  His personality develops more and more each day and we're all pretty fond of it.  He is a snuggly baby, so patient and loving.  Always smiling! 

Noah, we love you so much.  

Happy Birthday!  

Our prayer is that you become all God wants you to be and that your heart is always open for Him.  You are a special blessing and today, we celebrate you!