11 months

My baby is 11 months old! WOAH! Can't hardly believe little E is getting so big and so old so fast! :) He is a rascal and a half! He kind of exemplifies JOY to me! He's so happy most of the time! His favorite thing right now is music. When he hears some, he can't help but clap and smile! His other favorite thing is chasing Sawyer around the house on all fours. They crack me up all the time, and thank the Lord right now they're sweet to each other. Last night in the bathtub, I said, "I sure am glad we have Eli." Sawyer said, "Me too. I love him so much!" Sweet boys!!!

Eli has been "Brrmmmm(ing)" for a couple of months. I think he's going to be into tractors as much as Sawyer. He loves to push them around and say, "BRMMMMM!"

I've never had a snuggly baby. They're both wigglers, but as of last week, Eli's been snuggling up to me! I love it! Happy 11 month, little E! :)

Peace

Most of you know my niece Caroline had major heart surgery today. I'm SO THANKFUL to report that everything went well!
Honestly, I don't know why, but it all of a sudden hit me last night about the magnitude of the surgery. (Kind of slow, I know!) But to put myself in Katie and Scott's shoes, and how would I handle it??
A PRECIOUS, TINY, ANGELIC little baby having surgery. What in the world to people do without faith in our Heavenly Father? The one who made us in His image for His glory. I don't know. I can't fathom that. I don't understand how anyone thinks that we are in control on this Earth, and it also makes me sad for people that don't have the same kind of faith. It breaks my heart for people that I know have had similar situations, but they were only relying on what they could see (doctors, themselves, medicine, others, etc).

Days like today make me stop and realize how BIG He is and how small we are, and it makes me think about what is important.
Katie wrote a post tonight about a peace that passes understanding. I think her life right now is exemplifying the peace that only God can give, because I know they aren't just words that she's writing. She's really honest about how she feels, and how else can it be explained but God? You can read more here. I'm in awe of it all! THANK YOU, LORD!

We can all have it. We only have to ask Jesus to be the Lord of our life and claim His truth. That's what Katie and Scott have done, and now they're able to walk in the faith that they have.

"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:7

John 14:27
"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. "

Obviously, God allows trials and hard times to come, but we can either walk through those valleys in our own strength (and I sure don't want that!) or we can choose to walk in His.
I'm off to bed. I'm thankful for a peace tonight to rest.
Night-night, friends!

Our Turnip Garden

Walker & Sawyer planted turnip seeds Saturday morning before our football watching began. I don't know if it's because Sawyer is a boy or if it's because he's like Walker, but he would rather be "working" than doing anything else! If you can't tell by the pictures, he is SERIOUSLY working! I like this about my sweet boy! We bought him a new rake at Lowe's Friday night, and he was ready to put it to good use Saturday morning. I don't like to eat turnip greens, but I'm excited to see these grow.

I should add that I adore this man!!!! REALLY! I love watching him with these two boys!

Also....a little update on my big boy's imagination, so I'll remember! They're building a house across the street from us, and there's a bulldozer parked across the street. We take him to climb on it in the afternoons when the workers go home, and he pretends that he has keys to drive it. Yesterday morning Sawyer and I were headed to church, and he starts telling me, "Oh no! I left my (imaginary) keys." He is UPSET about this, so I tell him we'll get them when we get home. That doesn't work, so I say, "Hold on. I'll tell that (imaginary) man over there to throw them to us." So, I act like I'm catching them and hand them to him. Sawyer takes the imaginary keys and puts them in his pocket and is perfectly happy.

It's HILARIOUS to me! It's definitely something all the time!

And here's my other sweet boy who is sick right now :(

We are suppose to be on our way to Hartselle right now, but unfortunately sweet Eli has been a little sick. He's had a fever and runny nose, so we're staying here until he's better. We're praying for Caroline who checks into the hospital at lunchtime today. I hope to go north in the morning!

The Braddock Girls

Shelby, Julia, Grace in the back

Caroline's on the front row

Katie JUST sent me this picture. Aren't they cute? Sweet Caroline is having her heart surgery a week from Thursday, the 22nd. Allyson and I are taking our boys North next Monday so we can go be with them. That little girl in the bed is about the sweetest thing I've seen! Had to share!

Kick 'Em In the Butt Big Blue!

Eli's Photoshoot

I had pictures made last week at Amy Nichols' in Andalusia. I wanted to share the proofs. Click here. Then, click on CLIENTS. The password is "Eli."

A Fabulous Weekend

We had a girls' weekend this weekend in Panama City. I am very, very thankful for my Auburn friends! I have some really good ones! :) Thanks, girls, for a fun weekend! Thank you to the Meltons for providing our fantastic lodging and a special thank you to the Bourlands for our night out Saturday night to celebrate their sweet daughter's birthday-complete with dinner at a nice restraunt & a limo. I think we all enjoyed it just as much as the birthday girl! We just played like we were carefree college kids (except we did it on a much nicer budget)! AND thank you to my sweet, dear husband for keeping our boys all weekend. They had fun too! Here are a few pictures....

Bourland, Lenzie, Sarah, me, and Allyson

Us with the Birthday Girl! Isn't she cute??