slow down please

Just this morning as Luke and I were getting ready for the day I had to stop for a minute to cuddle my baby a while because he's growing up too fast.  I was putting the dishes away and turned around to see this:

He's just getting so big and I want time to pass a little slower.  It feels like overnight he started:

• eating all by himself, fork and all
• folding his hands and saying amen when we pray
• running 
• understanding and saying more than I give him credit for
• assisting (a little) with diaper changes
• climbing up on chairs, stools, and the counter (until he gets in trouble)
• I could go on

Luke, 

I love you so much and you are in such a fun stage right now, let's just slow down a bit.  Okay?

Love, Momma

green thumb

I've been in a bit of a blog slump lately so I thought I'd spruce it up a bit and invite you all to see what we have growing in the backyard. Exciting I know!  :)  If you'll remember I wrote a while back about Michael's new found love of gardening.  Well, since his schedule has picked up a little bit at work (when he planted the garden his schedule was non-existent so insert sarcasm there) I have had to pick up his slack in the garden.  I'd say I'm doing a pretty good job and surprisingly pretty excited about it.  

Everyday I get such a kick out of going back there to see what has popped out over night.  We treaded lightly this year only getting a few plants just to see how we'd do but I am onboard for trying a lot more next year.  Who knew?  Dear Gardening club, I didn't think I would be interested for another 20 years, but sign me up!  :)   

How cute right?  This was my surprise today.  Can you even see the baby watermelon?

Not even sure what to do with all of those.

My little gardener (that's the watermelon plant behind him.  It's HUGE!)

Deedee and Billy's visit

We have packed alot of fun in the past five days with my Mom and Dad here and to top it all off today was Deedee's birthday!  We celebrated as well as we could with a toddler in tow tonight but it was so special to me to have her here with us on her real birthday.  (She'll be celebrating tomorrow with everyone back at home.)  

Here are a couple pictures from our time with them.  Luke has loved all the extra attention and I have loved the extra help (and their company of course).  Thanks for coming to see us Mom and Dad.  We love you!  And Happy Birthday Mom.  

nothing new

Michael just pointed out to me that I haven't updated on here in a little while and really there hasn't been much going on.  Michael's working like crazy which means Luke and I have spent alot of quality time together since Lisa left.  We've kept pretty busy with playgroups, etc. and I really feel like we're finally settling into life here.  An answered prayer for sure.  My parents come on Thursday and I am counting the sleeps! :)  (err...counting the days).

Luke's got a little upset tummy right now so the past couple of days we've spent hunkered down, poor baby.  He was back to his fun self today so we played outside on the swing set ALOT!  Here are some pictures from our afternoon of playing.  He's getting so big.  

Zoolander face?? 

the fourth

I had to make a post about the fourth of July because 1. I love celebrating our country's birthday and 2. Lisa's here visiting and we got some really cute pictures.  :)  

We went down to this neat little lake that is about a mile and a half from our house for the parade and a water ski show!  It was so fun and really made us love the part of town we are in.  It feels like such a small hometown.  Lisa came in Saturday afternoon and we went back down to the lake for live music, dinner, and then the fireworks that night!  Fun, fun, fun.  One quick side note - people were wearing sweaters on the 4th of July up here!!  Just a tad bizarre to me and I had to share.  

Other than that Lisa has been helping me do some decorating since I couldn't seem to make decisions without some sisterly help.  She has a knack for this let me tell you but I'll confess  Hobby Lobby is our second home right now! :) 

Pics of our progress in another post promise.

Busy bees

Michael officially started his residency yesterday and sentimental (or dorky) me HAD to get a picture of him in his new, LONG, white coat.  To make it even more special (errr dorky - however you look at it) I had Luke wear his scrubs too!  :) To top it off, our neighbors came outside as I was making Michael humor me with this and I think he was a little embarrassed. What can I say?  I'm proud of my man.  

Zoom in on the picture and you'll see what made me that much more excited.   (Sidenote- I made him stand in front of the door because I wanted y'all to see the pretty wreath my mom made and sent to me.  I think she should start a business.)  

Michael's last few days of freedom were spent putting together a swing set and speaking of proud, every time I look in the backyard now I feel like such a woman!  We put this beast together!  It felt like such an accomplishment and Luke loves it even though he's still a bit small for some parts.  

Don't mind the dead grass. Michael used grass killing weed eater.  OOps :)