2011

2011 has been an amazing year for Brian and me.  

 In January, I was able to re-connect with some high school friends.  Somehow they stumbled upon my blog and it's been great catching up with them.  Also, I posted that life was really good.  Brian and I both felt that 2011 was going to be a big year for us and we were both excited to see what God was going to do.

In February, I started documenting 1000 gifts/blessings.  Somehow, at some point I stopped doing that.   I am going to re-start that again this year.  It's always so good to stop and think about all the blessings in your life.  I need it now more than ever when I'm exhausted and life seems so hard.

In March, we found out we were pregnant and ecstatic!  It took me a long time to realize it was true.  Also, we had a visit from some of our Indiana friends - Brad and Sheri and Josh and Julie Julie.  We love them so much!

In April, we announced we were pregnant.  I can't even begin to thank everyone for all the prayers they have prayed for us.  

In May, I turned the big 3-0 and Brian and my parents threw me a surprise birthday party.  We also went camping with some of our Indiana friends.

In June, we spent a week in Houston to celebrate my brother-in-law Chris' wedding. We had the best time!  

In July, we spent the 4th of July in Indiana and re-connected with some California friends.  I love summer!

In August, we welcomed our first niece - Jasmine.  She is so precious!  Such a happy baby.  We also decided on the name Hudson.  Also, I started getting a little more involved on face book and have enjoyed rekindling some friendships. 

In September, we celebrated Brian turning the big 3-5 by meeting our some of our friends and spending the weekend camping.  I also had multiple baby showers.  I felt so loved at all of the showers.

In October, our dear friends Josh and Julie adopted a precious baby girl - Kaitlyn.  What an awesome answer to prayer.  Our sweet Compassi0n girl turned 10.  I had two more showers.

In November God blessed us tremendously with the birth of our son Hudson.  We have prayed and longed for a child for so long.  We can never thank God enough for our precious little boy.  Our parents were able to come down here for about a week.  It was so...good seeing them and having them here.  We had the best Thanksgiving.

In December, we celebrated 5 years of marriage.  I love my husband so much -every year just keeps getting better.  We were also able to travel to Indiana for a week and spend time at both our parent's houses.  I will try and blog about that later.  Christmas was extra special this year - even if we were/are exhausted. 

I had to post a picture of this little sweetie

  

I love having a blog/journal so that I can look back and remember everything.  

God is good and He does answer prayers!  We're so excited to see what God has in store for us for 2012.

Christmas at Home

Last Wednesday Brian and I gave each other our Christmas presents because we were heading to Indiana for a week.  We kept things simple.  We got each other 3 gifts and then stocking stuffers.  

I love that he spent time wrapping my presents and adding bows and fancy details. 

 

Brian's main gift

 

Little blue box

 

Hudson got this cute Baby's 1st Christmas jammie from Uncle Clint and Aunt Anne - I loved it, so...cute!  It has sweet reindeer feet.

 

My mom bought Hudson this cute bib - adorable!

Merry Christmas

Just in case I don't get a chance to get back on here before the 25th, I wanted to wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas! 

My sweet friend Brittany took the top 5 pictures.   She did a great job!

 

My parents were in town this past weekend and my mom and I messed around trying to get a few pictures.  Who knew trying to get a couple pictures of a baby could be so difficult?  We snapped about 200 pictures and ended up with 4 or 5 good ones.  We were both exhausted afterwards. 

Love this little guy so much!

This Christmas season my head has been focused on Mary.  What an amazing woman to give birth to the Savior of the World!  My heart aches for her thinking about watching her son be crucified.  Being a mom has brought a whole new perspective about this season.  Everyone thought the King would be born into riches, not from an unwed nobody.  I can't imagine giving birth in a barn, delivering without medication, without a doctor,...  I can only imagine the joy she felt holding her precious baby boy, but yet the fear of knowing the plan for him and his purpose.  She must have been pretty courageous, because I think I would have done everything in my power to keep him "safe and unharmed." 

I'm so thankful for this time of year ~ Jesus is the reason for the season.  I can't wait for Hudson to learn about Jesus.  I tell him everyday that Jesus loves him.   I can't wait for the day that he actually understands me. 

Isaiah 9:6  "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

Brian, Hudson, and I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!

Happy 1 month

Today is Hudson's 1 month birthday.  I can't believe how quickly time is moving, it really does feel as if he were just born yesterday.

Happy 1 month Hudson!

 

I love how he is staring at the teddy bear in this picture

 

Throwing gang symbols - love his skinny little legs, also

Not really a noticeable difference from 3 days to 1 month
Here he is 3 days old

~HUDSON~

I don't have a set of baby scales, but I'm guessing you to be about 8 1/2 pounds.

You are still wearing some newborn clothes and are starting to fit into some 0-3 month clothes -most are still a little too big - although,  I think you are going through a growth spurt now so I'm guessing you will be fitting into them very shortly.

You still wear newborn diapers, but they are definitely getting small.  I have put you in size 1's a couple of times to try them out and they are still pretty big. 

You are starting to stay awake a little longer after feedings.  We try and put you in your swing for a few minutes and practice tummy time a couple of times per day and then you are ready to go right back to sleep. 

You are loving bath time.  It took 3 weeks for your cord to fall off so you've only had a couple of tub baths, but you seem so happy and content.

Your Daddy and I love reading and rocking you right before bedtime.  You're so sweet and cuddly.  I still can't kiss you enough.  

You were sleeping 5-6 hours through the night, but the past 3 nights you have been getting us up about every 3-4 hours (I'm hoping it's from a growth spurt).  

Everyday I think you look more and more like your Daddy.

We love your facial expressions -from shocked to scared to smiles to serious.

You are our sweet, precious gift from God!   We are so...thankful for you.  We love you so much! 

We couldn't ask for a better Christmas present!

Southland

I've said it many times before, but WE LOVE OUR CHURCH!!  Southland's mission is to Love God and Love People.  We love being apart of a church that truly loves God and seeks to become more like Jesus and serve and love people like Jesus.

Last week our church partnered with Life Christian Mission with a goal to pack 1 million meals to be sent to hungry children in Haiti.  There were over 6,000 volunteers.  Amazingly, 1, 085,000 meals were packed!!!  3,000 children in Haiti will be able to eat for an entire year.  Way to go!!   Brian and I packed meals the previous 2 years, but were unable to help this year - we're still adjusting to life with Hudson.  It's such a fun, fast paced event.   Some facts about Haiti:  Haiti has the highest incidence of HIV/AIDS outside of Africa, it is the poorest country in the western hemisphere, approximately 220,000 people died from the earthquake in 2010 and left 1.6 million people homeless, and 90% of children suffer from waterborne illnesses and parasites (info from wikipedia).

picture from one of the nights of meal packing

Also, in November, Southland held its annual Jesus Prom.  It's a prom for mentally and physically handicapped individuals.  "When you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”  Luke 14: 13-15   This years theme was Winter Wonderland. Everything was decorated beautifully (I saw some of the pictures).  Brian and I love this event, but were unable to help this year because Hudson was only 2 days old.  Over 1,000 people attended the prom. (Thank you, Jesus!)  500 dresses and 600 tuxedos were donated and 1500 people volunteered to make the prom happen.  I can't wait to help again next year, I really missed it this year.  Seeing the faces of the everyone attending the prom is priceless - better than my high school proms, which were a lot of fun.  

Here are a few pictures that I took from the prom last year 

corsages for all the girls

 hair and make-up stations

Work Christmas Party

Last night was my work Christmas party and we had a great time!  Everyone wanted us to bring Hudson, but I was a little worried - I didn't want him to cry and stress me out and ruin the evening.  Thankfully he did GREAT!  He was a perfect little angel.  Of course, he had lots of people holding and cuddling him, so why wouldn't he be content?  The party was at my doctor's house and we had so much fun.  Their house was decorated beautifully.  I wish I had gotten pictures of all of their decorations.  Dr C had a catering company serve us and the food was delicious!  We exchanged ornaments and then had a white elephant gift exchange.  I'm so thankful for my job and the people I work with - they're all wonderful! 

Here are a few pictures of us before we left for the party -  I didn't realize until after we got home that I didn't have the flash on, so the picture quality isn't very good

 

Lane and Hudson - she rocked Hudson for at least an hour and he just stared at her in amazement

 

Kathryn and William

 

Skip, Carol, Hudson, Vaughn, Robbie, Kari, Lane, Camille, and Chris

 

John, Cheryl, Shawn, Nova, Brittany, and Wes

 

Vaughn and Camille

 

Shawn, Nova, Carol, Brittany, Skip, Hudson, Wes, Me, and Vickie

 

Dr C - Amazing doctor and great to work for

 

Hudson in his cute little suit from Grandma Mary - I love the little penguin

Such a fun evening!

Happy 5 Years

Today is our 5th wedding anniversary!!  Every year keeps getting better, thankfully.   I love Brian more and more everyday.   I've mentioned it before, but I'm still so thankful that I never settled for anything less than God's best.  I've also mentioned that Brian is even a better man that what I prayed for.  I know without any doubt that God planned for us to be together.  Sure, we've had our issues, but we've actually become stronger because of them.  God has been so good to us.  I praise God for my husband and for our marriage.

Happy Anniversary, Babe!  You are my best friend, you have my heart, and you are my one and only love today and forever.  I'm so proud to be your wife.

"and the two shall become one."

A Big Thank You

Brian and I have been humbled by the love of family and friends these past 3 weeks.  We have definitely seen and felt the love of Jesus through the body of Christ.  We have received cards, flowers, balloons, meals, phone calls, texts, and gifts.  Our parents were also able to be at our house for about a week and our moms cooked and cleaned our house -so...appreciative.   God has been so good to us - we are so thankful for the little life He has entrusted us with and so thankful for our family and friends.  

Of course I had to post a picture of this sweet little guy

Can't Get Enough

Of This Sweet Little Face

 

I love his little expressions

 

He has grown a little - this top was really big on him

 

And of course Hudson Loves Grandma