Happy Fall!

I can't believe how quickly October is passing! And this was suppose to be our "slow" month! I am now 28.3 weeks, which means in just a couple of weeks I'll be in the 30's!! Which means it's getting closer and closer to actually having another baby in this house :) Right now I am feeling a little stressed because we don't have a name for her yet. Really we don't even have any ones that we like! So, please pray that God would lead us to the perfect name for her. I really want it to be meaningful and purposeful. There are some names we just like...but I need stronger meanings and reasons for liking them. Anyway, we will be traveling a lot in November....so it might be awhile before I post again. Braelyn has been doing really well in her big girl bed. She stays in it and sleeps well most of the time. She has become very inconsistent in when she will fall asleep....some days it takes her 15 min and other days it takes an hour and a half! She is talking so much and just has been singing Jesus Loves Me by herself, all the way through before bedtime. And the other night she actually sang the second verse of it too! We have been singing this to her for two years now, so I guess I shouldn't be that impressed that she knows it all :) She will tell you that she is going to be a big sister and she seems quite proud. She likes to find the moon and "twinkle little star" if we are outside and it's dark. The other night she couldn't find it, and she said "Moon, where are you?" in a super cute voice. She is just so much fun.
I am almost done with my bible study on Leviticus. Sorry I haven't posted anything on that. It's just so much information and honestly hard for me to digest on my own. I will say that I have learned A LOT, and God is amazing how much detail he put in to how He wanted His people to worship and approach Him. And it makes me so thankful that we don't have to make sacrifices and follow such strict rules in order to approach our God today. It is a privilege that I take for granted way to often. oh, so much to think about, and so much to learn still. God's word is so rich and full of His wisdom and instructions for us. I thank God that we have such wonderful resources in America and such freedom and access to Bibles that we are able to go to bible studies and go to church, and read our bibles, wherever and whenever we want without fear of persecution or imprisonment. I read the Voice of the Martyrs magazine and it just teaches me so much and changes my perspective so much, when I read about Christians who willingly suffer and joyfully suffer persecution for the love of their Savior and His Word. And many suffer death, but are not afraid of it, bc they are not living for this world or what it has to offer, but are living for an eternal home, in heaven with the Lord. They understand so well what really matters in this world is only that which has eternal value. I think we, as Americans, miss out on a deeper, more personal relationship with God because our lives are so comfortable that we don't have to depend on Him, or we are just too busy to seek Him. I want to know the Lord like these Christians know the Lord, to have such strong faith and trust in the Lord, despite my circumstances.
Oh, and here are some 2 year pics of Braelyn that we were able to take at the park a couple of weeks ago. I was so pleased with them and so thankful for such a beautiful day and beautiful daughter to enjoy!

Braelyn's Big Girl Room!

So, we have finally made the big transition to a big girl bed for Braelyn. It was a pretty big change for her, considering all her furniture, minus her lamp, was taken to the baby room. I have some video of her when she first saw it, but I need aaron's help to upload that. She likes it and seems proud to be sleeping in her "big girl bed". When we tell her it is night night time, she will say, "go get in Braelyn's big girl bed" :), and head up the stairs. She has only gotten out a couple of times, and we explained to her she wasn't allowed to do that, and so far, since then, she has stayed in. It has been taking her quite awhile to actually fall asleep though, but I'm thinking that will get better with time. Another exciting thing is that she has not had her pacifier since we put her in the big girl bed!! The first day I laid her down, she didn't ask for it, so I just left her without it, and since then she hasn't even asked for it!! I'm so thankful for that. Right now all of the baby furniture is in the other room, and I'm keeping the door shut so she can't see it. Not sure when we will reveal that to her, but overall, she is doing a great job. Her room seems so much bigger now, and her toys all have a home, which is helping keep the floor more clear. Here are some pics. A big thanks to my Mom for finding the bed and hauling it to us, and to Aaron's mom for keeping Braelyn for a few days while we made the transition. And of course, to my wonderful husband, Aaron, for moving all the furniture, rearranging it, and rearranging it again :). I am so thankful for his willingness to help me with stuff all the time. And his patience with me while I change my mind over and over. Next project, baby sister's room!! But I am taking a break right now....


This is a collage of mini pics from her first year. Below are the verses that I had used in her nursery, and I was able to just change the background color and keep them in her room :)


I do have to give God the glory for providing so many things for her room at a really good price! I had one day to go shopping for pretty much everything I needed to put in her room(sheets, comforter, chair, shelf for toys, curtain, bedskirt.....) all I had was the bed frame, mattress, and one little shelf to begin with, but after a shopping spree to all the thrift stores in Bristol, and then to Target and Ross and TJMaxx.....I was DONE! And exhausted. So I got the curtain, bedskirt, and cute flowers on the wall all at thrift stores for like 2 or 3 bucks each! Thank you Lord!! And then I found the sheets on sale at Target for $3.50 for the set!!! And another set on clearance for 7.00! A big thanks to my cousin, Julie, who let us have the bedrail! So, I just wanted to say thank you Lord for providing so much, in one day, at good prices, to help us get this room ready for Braelyn.
And finally, a few pics of Braelyn. One of her favorite snacks is popcorn, which she calls, "hotcorn".....her and daddy REALLY enjoy it!
Braelyn had a lot of fun biting into this apple. She ate almost half of it like this. I think she was pretty proud of herself.

Braelyn's 2nd Birthday!!

So here is the beginning of Braelyn's bday celebration last Saturday. We kicked it off by going to Toys R Us for the morning. Braelyn LOVED getting a balloon and a special crown to wear. When she got the balloon and crown she just started jumping and dancing in circles!! It was so CUTE!

And here starts the birthday party at the park. It was actually a double party, we celebrated with my nephew Colton, who turned 6 just the day before. It was a beautiful warm day and we were so thankful for everyone who was able to come and celebrate with us.

I was really pleased with the cake. I ordered it from Sam's and it was delicious!! I just didn't have the time or patience to try and make her bday cake this year. Maybe next year....
All the kids chowing down on some pizza....minus Mattie. I think she was still on the playground.


My big TWO year old going down the BIG slide all by herself!! She was not afraid at all, and insisted on doing it "again, again"!!
Braelyn got so many nice presents! Thanks everybody for thinking of her. She has had a great time playing with all of them this week.



We got her a baby doll that laughs and cries with some a little bottle and bed. She has been LOVING playing "mommy" to this baby, which encourages me a lot that she is going to be a GREAT big sister!!
Here is a picture of ALL of Braelyn's presents she got at the party! What a blessed little girl! Thanks again everyone for helping us make her day so special!
And finally, we don't want to forget baby sister, which is what she is going by these days. I have had many requests for a 'belly pic' so here it is. This was taken about a week and a half ago though....I was 22 and 1/2 weeks in the pic and I will be 24 weeks tomorrow. She is starting to move around a lot more. I am really wanting to find a name soon, bc I keep wanting to call her something other than baby sister. I think I might have a middle name, just still searching for the first. We are planning on transitioning Braelyn from the baby bed to the twin bed this weekend! So please say a prayer she likes it and transitions well.

Ready for fall!

Here are a few pics from August. Apparently our month was pretty uneventful bc there aren't many pics at all, or maybe I was just lazy and didn't take many. These first few pics are of Braelyn and Mattie at the Zoo in Knoxville. We were excited to get to spend the day with Katy and Mattie. The girls really enjoyed it and it was a beautiful day too.


Braelyn did have fun, despite the unhappy face below. It was quite challenging to get a picture of the two of them looking the same direction.
I happened to find some "jewelry" for Braelyn at a yard sale a few weeks ago and she LOVES it! It's the first play jewelry she has had and it has entertained her a lot lately.

Earlier in August we went to a splashpad with some of the cousins and had a great time. It was scorching hot that day, so we were thankful for some water to cool off in. Pictured below are Braelyn, Mattie and Hayden.
And finally, we just had to get a shot of the deer that were visiting our back yard for a few days. It was unusual to see deer in our backyard, but fun too.

We just got back from spending the weekend with my family in the Smoky Mts camping for Labor Day. The weather was absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!! It was actually nice to be outside all day long, and even COLD at night!! So refreshing after so much heat this summer. We only stayed Sat night but spent all day sat and sun there. It was nice to spend time with family and be outside in the mountains. I am really glad it is September. Fall is my favorite time of the year. Lots of exciting things this month....Braelyn's second bday, lots of other family bdays, caregroup starts back at church, CMDA cookout, I started a new Precepts bible study, and COOLER weather!!
I started another Precepts bible study this morning. It's a Kay Arthur study and we are doing the book of Leviticus!! Yes, that's right. I am actually pretty excited about it bc I just read Lev. within the past few months since I'm trying to read through my bible, so it is kind of fresh on my mind. AND I know, without a doubt, that I will learn so many great things through this study. Kay Arthur is a great teacher and so is my bible study teacher at church who facilitates us. I'm also excited bc Braelyn is not the only child in the nursery this time. All last year she was the only kid there. But today there were 5 kids! And she knows all of them. This is such a blessing to have a bible study that provides childcare. I am very thankful that our church does that.
So, hopefully I can post some blogs about what I'm learning in Lev. I read the first chapter today....burnt offerings to sum it up. The theme of the study is that we will learn how to approach a HOLY God. Something that has already been pointed out is that our God is a God of great details. Also, it is important that we understand this book of Lev. bc if it wasn't important for us to study then God wouldn't have included it in the bible! So, like I said, I'm hoping to share some new things that God teaches me through this study.
On another note, I am now 21 and half weeks along. Feeling good, but still a picky eater. She is starting to kick and move around a bit more. Braelyn is starting to understand a little more. She will say "Baby sister". And if you ask her where Baby sister is, she answers "Mommy's belly". Braelyn is talking SO MUCH...not always coherent, but pretty much just always jabbering :) It is so much fun watching her learn and grow. What a blessing and gift it is to be a Mother and have the privilege of teaching and loving your child. I praise God for Braelyn and for this baby on the way. He is so good to us. Oh, speaking of His goodness. My mom found a twin bed for Braelyn (head/footboard and rails)!! Hooray!! Now we just have to get it to Bristol, put a new coat of paint on it and buy a mattress :) I am so thankful He provided that for us, at a great deal too!
Ok, I should probably go now. Oh, be praying for Aaron. He is studying for his boards exam that he will take next Monday. And we have a very busy weekend, so just pray that he will be prepared and ready. Thanks and have a good week!

We're having another GIRL!!

Say hello to our Baby Girl!! She is 19 weeks in these pics. So thankful that she cooperated for us to be able to tell what she was. I was thinking it was a boy, so I have been having to rethink things. But I am very excited for another girl and for Braelyn to have a sister to be friends with. We praise God for this new life He is forming and growing! In the picture above it is a profile picture like she is laying on her back, head on the left. They said she was very photogenic.


The picture above is another profile pic, but she is turned around the other direction...head on the right.

Below, is what I like to call her "scary" face. :) Her face is right in the middle and it is like she is looking right at you. I call it scary, bc it looks skeletal still . Her body is on the right side.
The next few pics she is in the same position, her face is right in the middle. looks like she has her head on a pillow. her body is on the right again. and that is her arm along the bottom, with her hand next to her cheek.

Below, is mainly a shot of her arm, you can see a little bit of her face.
Just a couple of shots of her feet.
And finally she decided to play peek a boo with Braelyn :) You can see both of her hands are raised up in front of her face.
So these are some pics of our sweet baby girl. We are looking forward to another girl. That means less shopping for me and we get to use a lot of the stuff we already have again. We are working on finding a name, but I struggle with girl names, so hopefully we will have one before January! Please continue to pray for a healthy pregnancy and delivery.
We will be celebrating Braelyn's 2nd birthday soon! Hard to believe in less than a month she will be two! I have to get to work on figuring out her cake. She is having an Elmo bday party at the park. Hope you all have a good weekend.