Some recent fun...

Just playing around with style, technique, etc these days, with the help of a photog friend with a very artsy eye :) So here are some recent pics taken, for your visual enjoyment :)











Trying to train my creative eye. We all know I can do simple portraits... but I'd love to be able to take more "unique" pictures. The kind of picture that makes you say, WOW, that is an amazing picture :) So look for more of these kinds of pics from me in the picture... I'll still have the adorable faces you're used to seeing, to keep you grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc updated on the boys, but am ready to spread my photographer wings a little :) Feel free to comment/critique :)

For my BW'ing or soon to be BW'ing buddies...

Along for the Ride is giving away a free Ergo Baby Carrier on May 30!!!! You get to choose from their stock which one you want. Be sure to go enter!

Win a Free Ergo Baby Carrier from Along for the Ride

A Few recent pics, and an update...

I forgot to mention in my previous posts that on Wed the 23rd, Nate went to see the ophthalmologist. We saw Dr. Erik Hein, and adored him. He determined that Nate's eyes are fine :) No turning in, no farsightedness, just purely healthy beautiful eyes :) So no more eye appointments for a while! He said to keep an eye since I've been there done that, and if anything concerns me, to give him a call, otherwise, bring him back before he starts school :) This was taken after we got home from that, at least an hour after his lil eyes were dilated! Look at those pupils!




Notice the two new teeth on the bottom, too? Those are #'s 7 and 8! He's pretty much off of baby food and onto table foods now. He's also essentially weaned from the bottle and on the sippy. I don't offer it, and he does fine, but Daddy has felt the *need* to give it to him at bedtime! Tonight I convinced him not to. We put him in his highchair with the sippy cup, recline the seat (he still has trouble holding the cup upright for the drink to fall in), and let him drink :) No complaints either way!

He is crawling, pulling up, cruising, and letting go... it won't be long he'll be taking those first steps. I just can't believe how big he is getting already! And he LOVES his Bubby. He even says "bububububu" ALL THE TIME. He is saying regularly, "MaMa, DaDa, BuBu, and NaNa (we think it's both Nana and Naynay). He's a giggler, and a FAST crawler! I"ll have to figure out how to upload and post a video I took on my cellphone of him and Daddy going at it :) It's priceless.

Here he is letting go:




He looks more like his Daddy every day :) Acts like him, too! Someone save me!

Daddy LOVES to throw him into the air, and well, as you can see, so does he!



And, well, this is what happens when you put dirt in your mouth while Daddy's watching! Spit it out son!




And because this is just too cute NOT to share, he finally followed in Bubby's footsteps, and discovered falling asleep at the table!



I hope to get down the the 'Ham sometime in the next couple of weeks and take both boys' birthday pics :)

And just because I have to put some pics of JRay up... even though I don't get very many of him. He doesn't like to be in front on Mommy's camera like he used to *sighs*... I guess they all outgrow it, eventually. Doesn't mean I have to stop snapping!

Caught him coming off the schoolbus one afternoon... so handsome :)



And well... this is his idea of doing homework (wouldn't be JRay without being silly!)
Caption: "Mommy, this homework is making my head hurt!"

Seriously? 11 Months Already?

It can't be true, can it? My baby is NOT 11 months old already.

Yep, it is. WOW. In 28 days, Nathaniel James will be 1 year old. How did this happen? How did so much time pass by so quickly? Wasn't I just pregnant and miserable? I mean, he was JUST BORN. Why is it the pregnancy goes by SO SLOWLY, but their lives speed by so quickly? I can't believe it. Then, just a couple of weeks after that, my big baby, you know, the one I just had last week, he'll be 8. Yep, 8 years since I became a Mommy. It's a bittersweet thing, celebrating your childrens' birthdays. Every year around this time I start to think on it. I start to wonder just how so much time has passed so quickly. I'll admit, that until this year, I was always so devastated because I just knew I'd never get to experience these ages again. Then God blessed me yet again, at a time in my life when I thought having children was done, with an amazing husband who shared my desire for more children. Now, it really is bittersweet, but Nate is it. No more after him. But on the bright side, I have two amazing boys. I have to choke back the tears even now thinking about it. Where on earth have 8 years gone? So much of it is just a blur. But those first days for both of them are etched vividly in my memory forever. Let's take a stroll, shall we?

June 13, 2000-35 out of 40 Weeks pregnant

Absolutely the MOST wonderful day of my life. This was the day I became Mommy. My husband at the time barely made it here. We were scheduled for a contraction stress test, to be at the hospital at 6am. My hubby made it in at 3am from the road making his living as a trucker. The contractions were already pretty strong, even though at the time I had no idea that's what they were. I just knew my back hurt so bad I couldn't stand to sit, lay, do anything comfortably. They told me my baby was in distress and needed to be born NOW. I was terrified. I barely had time to call my parents, and I was gone to surgery before they got there. At 9:12am, they pulled my beautiful boy out of my womb via C-Section. He didn't cry. It was the best but most terrifying day of my life. I didn't even get to hold him, they whisked him away to the NICU, holding him up for me to see in passing on his way out. 9lbs 2oz, 20 inches. I panicked, so they had to give me a sedative. I remember waking as they rolled me into recovery, with my pastor, youth pastor, and many others from my family all waiting in the hall. I slept. The sedative just knocked me out. Then I remember being awakened to see him as they wheeled me through the NICU on our way to my room. There he laid, with a bucket over his head, tubes everywhere. I touched his tiny, sweet little hand, and he looked at me. I felt this overwhelming sense of peace and joy come over me as I saw that he was ok, just needing a little help to breathe. He knew me :) Right then, it was truly love at first sight. I got to hold him that evening, and try to nurse him. That didn't go well, I pulled his IV out. The next 5 days proved to be very challenging and emotional, but on June 18, Father's Day, we got to bring our precious baby boy home :) And I"ve loved him with all of my heart since. My sweet Justin Ray.

May 26, 2007: 37 Weeks Pregnant

Well, we'd been out half the night at Liz's (sister-in-law) high school graduation. So we slept in a bit Saturday. Around noonish, I woke up, used the restroom, and told PJ to get his watch. No way, he said. Yep... less than 2 minutes. Called my OB, get to the hospital, he said. See, we were scheduled to have a repeat C-Section just 3 days later, on Tuesday the 29th. Nathaniel James wasn't waiting that long! They checked me a couple of times, hooked me up to monitors, and yep, sure enough, I was in early labor. So, off to the OR we went. This time we had enough time to call everyone ahead of time, and they were all there before we went back to the OR :) Even JRay! This time I got really sick with the spinal, but we got it situated. PJ came in, the doc went to work. I felt ALOT of pulling this time. He had a hard time getting that stubborn lil bugger out. At 4:49, I heard the LOUDEST screams I think I've ever heard. And they said his lungs might not be ready *rolls eyes*. It was an unbelievably CALMING sound :) I didn't experience that the first time. They wiped him off, held him up to show me, took him in the next room, weighed him, cleaned, him etc. 10lbs 2oz and 21 inches! WOWSERS! Then, they brought my bundle of love back to me as the doc did my tubal and cleaned up scar tissue, etc. I didn't get to hold him, as my hands were still tied down, but I got to nuzzle him and kiss him, and feel his cheek next to mine. Pure bliss :) Then Daddy took him back to the recovery room to wait for me, and meet the rest of his family. But, alas, by the time the doc finished up with me, and got me back to the recovery suite, he was gone to the NICU. Poor guy had low sugar, and spent the next several hours getting that taken care of. At approx 12:30 am on May 27, I finally got to hold my precious baby boy for the first time. He was soooo calm and at home in my arms, and it felt so right. The next day I got to hold both of my boys in my arms at once. That was when I knew my life was right. I had the perfect family.

And I still do :) I love all my boys, PJ, JRay, and Nate, so much. I really am very very blessed. I don't know how I'd ever survive without any of them. They complete me.

What did I do?

So, what did I do right? I don't understand, Lord. How did I find so much favor in Your eyes? I"m just a lowly sinner, but You found me worthy of so many wonderful blessings :) You gave me a husband that loves You, and loves me unconditionally. No matter what I do, he still loves me. He still desires me. You gave me two very amazing boys. JRay, who is so in love with You! Who desires to serve You, and tell others about You! He is 7, but so not afraid to share his love of You with everyone he comes in contact with. He's not ashamed to love on his momma in front of others, either :) He makes me so very very proud every day. When he prays, he prays for others, for everyone else, but himself. He is so unselfish. I am blessed. Then, you gave me Nate. Wow... in less than a year, this little man has shown me mountains of love. He is sooooo much like his Bubby. He keeps me moving, he keeps me crying, he keeps me humbled.

Again, dear God, I ask You, what did I do? Nothing good. What YOU did was unbelievable. You died for me. A pitiful, sorry sinner. And then, as if that weren't enough, You bless me DAILY with so many amazingly unbelievable blessings. I will praise You, O Lord.

Psalm 118 (New International Version)

New International Version (NIV)

Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

Psalm 118

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.

2 Let Israel say:
"His love endures forever."

3 Let the house of Aaron say:
"His love endures forever."

4 Let those who fear the LORD say:
"His love endures forever."

5 In my anguish I cried to the LORD,
and he answered by setting me free.

6 The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?

7 The LORD is with me; he is my helper.
I will look in triumph on my enemies.

8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.

9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.

10 All the nations surrounded me,
but in the name of the LORD I cut them off.

11 They surrounded me on every side,
but in the name of the LORD I cut them off.

12 They swarmed around me like bees,
but they died out as quickly as burning thorns;
in the name of the LORD I cut them off.

13 I was pushed back and about to fall,
but the LORD helped me.

14 The LORD is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.

15 Shouts of joy and victory
resound in the tents of the righteous:
"The LORD's right hand has done mighty things!

16 The LORD's right hand is lifted high;
the LORD's right hand has done mighty things!"

17 I will not die but live,
and will proclaim what the LORD has done.

18 The LORD has chastened me severely,
but he has not given me over to death.

19 Open for me the gates of righteousness;
I will enter and give thanks to the LORD.

20 This is the gate of the LORD
through which the righteous may enter.

21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me;
you have become my salvation.

22 The stone the builders rejected
has become the capstone;

23 the LORD has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.

24 This is the day the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.

25 O LORD, save us;
O LORD, grant us success.

26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.
From the house of the LORD we bless you. ^[a]

27 The LORD is God,
and he has made his light shine upon us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession
up ^[b] to the horns of the altar.

28 You are my God, and I will give you thanks;
you are my God, and I will exalt you.

29 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.

You Did WHAT?!

So yeah, I just happened to catch this expression. Too cute, huh?

And this one:



And just because he's too cute not to share it :)



Things are going pretty good here. PJ is still working away. We both have an appointment at Calhoun on Monday afternoon to talk to the Guidance counselor and then Financial Aid to start the process of furthering our educations. I'm going to be pursuing a degree in Photography and Film Communications alongside Graphic Design, and well, PJ hasnt' fully decided yet. I'm HOPING that he will continue his nursing degree. I KNOW that's the desire of his heart, and am praying that whatever he decides to do, it will be what the Lord has led him to do. I think that is pretty much the hangup, is he is waiting on the Lord to lead him. Please pray for us. We cannot afford college. AT ALL. There is just no extra money around here. So please pray for the Lord to provide, whether it be through grants, or whether it be through a better job for PJ. He's currently got a couple of irons in the fire, we're just waiting on God.

We're also planning Nate's 1st birthday party now. It's so hard to believe in that under 2 months, our BABY will be a year old. He's quickly becoming a toddler. Crawling, pulling up, talking up a storm, and eating any and everything you put in front of him! He's no longer that little newborn that I could sit and hold all day! Now he wants down to PLAY. It's so funny, we're pretty cramped up here in our house. There's not alot of room for him to crawl around. So when we go over Nana and Papa's (usually at least once a day) he just TAKES OFF. Nana watches him for me on Wed night while I help out with Awana at church, and he just goes wild. he crawls from one end of the house and back, back and forth, stop, pull up on the coffee table, grin at you, repeat. LOL. It's sooooo cute. He wears himself out doing it! Her kitchen is raised slightly higher than the living room, so there's a step down. He's figured out he can lie on his stomach and slide down it, and LOVES going over it. Oh the fun begins!

Jray is doing great in school. He's such a joy and a blessing. I honestly don't know what I'd do without my lil man. He keeps me straight! If I slip up and say something I shouldn't (yes it happens, I'm not perfect, only forgiven!) He promptly reminds me :) We are just so proud of him, and the Godly young man he is becoming. He completed 10 sections in Awana last night! 10 sections in one week! And 4-5 each week before that :) He has now received his skipper rank patch and 3 red jewels in the 5 or so weeks he's been going again. He's such a hard little worker. Bowling is finished now, and soccer will start in July I suppose. So we get a small break on extracurricular activities! But, well, we just fill them right on up!

Ok, Nate just woke up from his nap. i'll have to finish up later!

Here's a pic of Jray getting his awards last night:


And he got to hold the flag last night too :) Poor thing, he dropped it when trying to put it back into the stand!

I'm still alive

So yeah, I know I haven't been posting alot lately. Haven't been feeling the best. My back and neck pain has gotten ALOT worse since I"ve been doing more with the warm weather. Crazy, I know. But, well, I have kids! And the weather's been BEAUTIFUL! I do have some pics to post, if I can ever get around to taking them off the CF card LOL. Just wanted to chime in and let ya'll know that I'm still alive! Just not myself! Say a prayer for me, please!?

Love,
Brooke