I only post once a year:)

These are my loves... and lucky me they love eachother:)

Elleigh Gracyn is here... and has been for about 6 months now. She rocks my socks and Colton loves her more than anything in the whole wide world. We have been keeping ourselves busy. Shawn started school in the Winter and is working towards his degree in Criminal Justice... Luckily for us he already has the job this just helps if he wants to move up in the world... which of course he does. So we are working on that and I'll be so glad when he is done... He is such a hard worker and the incentive of a motorcycle when he finishes his Bachelor's is a real motivation:)
As for me, I am good. I am loving being the Mommy to these wonderful kids and I am so thankful to have a husband who helps me be the best Mom I can be and supports me wholeheartedly with the many things that I find important. 
Like...
 Losing weight... My body is the strangest... I lose lots of weight when I am pregnant and still end up having 8 lb babies:) But while nursing I gain alot of it back so... I started Weight Watchers online and I am really excited and really committed to this... I think that I am just so tired of being the fat kid in class:) So I am really ready to make the change. I also am ready for the negative self-talk to be out my mind and with this I feel like I am on the right track to make that happen. After I gave birth to Elleigh...(which was an incredible birth story that I need to document) I had an incredible sense of self and such respect the body Heavenly Father has given me... and I am ready to feel that way again.

Colton is SOOO Big... He is going to be 2 in a couple of weeks and I can't believe that my baby is gonna be 2! When did that happen? Why does it go by so fast? He is a ball of energy and keeps me on my toes. I love him to bits and pieces and could not imagine my life without him.  He gave me purpose again and I love him for that. He loves to listen to music and when we are at church he will conduct the music with the music director... So he got something from me but otherwise, he is a Daddy's boy through and through. His Daddy is his world and I really wouldn't have it any other way. Luckily for me, Elleigh is a Mommy's girl and thank goodness because I don't think that there is enough Daddy to go around.

 Well here are a few pics to update our life:)

Us at Disney... Yes we braved it with 2 children under the age of 2 :) So much fun!

Shades:)

Colton's Birthday (FL)

Surfs Up Birthday Party at the Cabin:)

Food Spread

Conner (My sister) made the cake SO TALENTED!!!

Ashley and her Dad...( I never get pics with him so I had to post it)

What is this?

This is the best ever... You've been holding out on me

I'm gonna stuff my face til it's gone:) 

What are these, Mama?

I got lots of PRESENTS!!!!!

It was such a great day and we had so much fun... I hope that Colton knows it has been the best year EVER!!!!

Colton's ONE!!!!

We went to Florida for Colton's 1st Birthday and I can't believe that a year has gone by... Look and see

I was 8 months in this pic...and swollen don't judge me:) 

I'm brand spankin' new

Month 1...

Month 2

Month 3

 Month 4

Month 5

Month 6

Month 7

 Month 8

Month 9

Month 10

Month 11

 ONE!!!!

Here is what's been going on at our house:)

        We went to Florida for my Mom's spring break and spent a week with my family.... While we were there Colton learned to crawl and had a blast with his Gigi and his Uncles.

              Can anyone believe that my Bros are this big???? I can't!!!

 I have spent my time just hanging around with my boy having the time of my life with him and my sweet hubby. Here are some pics of just us being us:) 

 I love me some Spaghetti:)

Colton smiling because he is as full as can be:)

Colton saying "Mommy I'll fold the clothes":) 

Can you make a pig face? :)

Mommy and her boy!!!!

Colton at Georgia Aquarium posing with the Japanese Lobsters:) 

 Colton when we went to Lake Lanier Island Resort and hung out in the kiddie area:) He had a blast!

 Burger King with Daddy... Here let me finish that for you:)

Momma loves her little guy:)

Life with Colton has been a blast this past year and I am just so glad he is mine...

NO SUGAR...

So Breanne and Tucker came for a visit and it was GLORIOUS... I loved having them here. We had fun and I learned so many things... Like how to make pizza dough from scratch... and how to use my sewing machine! Ha I am ridiculous but I now owe her a trip to UTAH!!! We are thinking this summer will be when we go... just gotta convince the husband that a trip to Utah would be better than going to Disney World... I don't know if he will go for that but a girl can try.

Breanne suggested me giving up sugar(post baby weight with nursing has been hard) and said she would do it with me... SO tomorrow is Day one and I am going to blog some more about it! Words of encouragement are welcome in the comments section.... so no Soda.... Oreos... ice cream... juice.... candy... not even sugar free...

Note: Breanne we did not get one picture together while you were here... I am so mad!!!

This is Love...

Colton is 4 months old and he does all of these amazing things...

-Reaches for toys
-Smiles and Coos at everyone but especially his Mommy
-Can lift his head at a 90 degree angle when doing tummy time
-Loves when we sing to him especially Jingle Bells
-Loves to swing in his swing and play with Tigger(his lovie)
-Has recently found his thumb and likes to half suck and gnaw on it
-Goes to bed for 9-10 hrs each night usually with no problem
AND
-HATES the carseat... no matter what I do-

This child makes my life so much fun... we talk and sing and I don't know if there is anyone in this world who lights up my life like he does. Don't be jealous Shawn... You know I love you. I am so blessed... I have a wonderful husband who makes it possible everyday to stay at home and see every sweet moment in Colton's life and he does it so willingly. I am grateful for and in love with my family... they make everything better.

Should have named Colton Chewbacca:)

So right now Colton is in his swing talking away... and it cracks me up because he sounds like he walked out of a Star Wars movie. Apparently Shawn has some Chewbacca genes that I had no idea about!!

This Christmas season has been so much fun for me... I have never been more in the holiday spirit as I have this year and that is exciting. Who knew that Christmas was more fun when you have kids... Santa is-a-comin' this year to my house and I have never been more excited... SO.... Merry Christmas everybody:) Hope that the holidays are treating you well so far:)

When the Saints go Marching In....

I was watching Colton and Carter and had them laying next to each other and this is what I saw... So of course I had to record it. For those of you who don't know... Carter is John(Shawn's twin brother) and Cheryl's son who is only 6 weeks younger than Colton. They had me cracking up! You'll also have to forgive my crummy singing... I was trying not to laugh while filming this. Enjoy the cuteness!!!

Hands.

I am blessed. I am the oldest of four children and was the first grandchild on both sides of my family. I am also the first great-grandchild on both sides of the family. I was fortunate to have Colton while two of my great-grandparents are alive. My Nana(Wanetta) is still living at the age of 95 and while I was in Florida we took the opportunity to take a Five Generation picture of our hands. From the top left going counter clockwise is my Nana(95), Grandmother(63), Mom(44), Me(24), and Colton(3 mo). 

It's amazing to think what hands do and between the 5 of us what things have been accomplished and what will be accomplished.

BOP-tees-mm (Baptism)

Nick got Baptized on November 1st. I still can't believe he has turned eight years old. My Nick. Shawn was able to baptize him and the normally 6 hr trip that turned into 11 hrs due to a crying baby was totally worth it to watch that experience. I was able to give the talk on the Holy ghost and it was wonderful to be able to come down to FL and do that. Shawn doesn't get much time off with work so we got very lucky to get his days changed so we could be in FL for at least 4 days.  While we were in Jax we got to see lots of friends, Charlotte, The Moody's, The Trunk's, and lots of my family. We went to Nick's little birthday party and he had a blast. It was nice to be with so many people we love.

Grandpa and Grandson:)

We can't wait to go back when we can go to the beach:)

Will update soon!!!

Im in Jax until tomorrow and I have a lot to tell... Halloween, Nicks Birthday party, Nick's Baptism, driving with my son in the car on a trip that normally lasts 6 hrs but turned into 11 hrs, and all of the other fun wonderful things... Updating very soon!

Pics

Family Pic... where the 6 week old was not cooperative.

Sweet face

So tired.

Trunk or Treat

Boo Aren't I scary:)

Daddy and Me

Tonight was our Church's Fall Festival and we got the great opportunity to show off our little Boo. He did great and was so dang cute... we love his little Halloween outfit and can't wait to go to Jax for Halloween with my family. So look out I might just knock on your door.

Daddy the Pig

 Shawn getting ready for work... So grateful for this job and what it means for our family.

Found a Smile

I'm in love with this boy.

I heart Mommyhood

I heart Mommyhood. It is the most amazing thing I have done in my whole life. I can't imagine my life without him. I know without a doubt this is the best thing that I have ever done. I am just so grateful that this is my life. I have a sweet, good-lookin' hubby who makes it possible to stay home and enjoy raising our sweet little man and the sweetest little baby boy who makes me want to be the best I can possibly be. So again I emphasize, I heart Mommyhood.

Leaving on a Jet Plane

What a trooper:)

In September my grandmother passed away and we had to take a plane to St. Louis for her funeral. My mom came up and we flew from Atlanta to St. Louis with a 4 week old... I had an internal struggle putting my boy on a plane with germy people but I had to be there for that funeral and an hour flight was more appealing than a nine hour drive needing to breast feed. So airplane it was...

What a little guy...

Gigi loves her little guy!

He was so good... the only disaster was that I couldn't handle a baby, diaper bag, a infant carrier, a purse, and a full drink. The drink fell into my brand new purse within the first five minutes of sitting on the plane. It was just a testament to me that I cant do it all and that I need to ask for help when I need it:)  It's a good thing that my mom was with me cuz the hormones were a-raging and I was a sobbing mess but she made it better and got me a new drink... Moms are great that way:)

P.S. Sorry these posts are random and really dont make sense but I'm trying... hoping to find a voice in my random stories.