I've been meaning to post a blog for weeks now, but didn't know really where to start, there's so much!! So let's start with the most important: CHASE TURNED 2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And boy did he celebrate! He had, not one, but two slices of cake. No need for a fork or even cutting up the slice into little pieces. No, no. I got this mommy!!!! He ate cake like a champ. To be honest, this was the best part of his night. Most of the time throughout the party he looked like this:
I feel like I must explain, though. Chase is scared of a lot of people. And yes, I'm partly to blame for this. I sheltered him tremendously his first year. I didn't want to expose him to any germs while he had a central line, so we just stayed home........A LOT! That and he's afraid mommy and daddy are going to leave him and some mean ol' doctor or nurse is going to take him and poke him or put him to sleep and he'll wake up all achy. He hasn't forgotten. But I'm hoping "this too shall pass." So for now, we'll hold him when he needs to be held and love him more than a little two-year old can handle :)
But otherwise, the party was a success. We had big plans to celebrate his birthday and the 4th of July with water balloons, a slip-and-slide, and fireworks. But with all the chaos, we only got to the fireworks. And by then, most everyone had already left. But Chase turned 2, and that's all that matters!!
Randall made homemade lemonade (his daddy's recipe!)
Lexi like!!!!!
Randall made some homemade ice cream, too. He's so good!!
(needed LOTS of citronella candles...the mosquitos are ridiculous!)
Birthday hug from big bubba (tears!)
The day ended on a good note, though. Celebrating the life of this little boy is something we will do forever (thank you, Lord)! Two years ago, we thought our little boy wouldn't make it. That we wouldn't get to do this kind of stuff with him. No firsts, no snuggles, no little brother, and no birthday parties. But God's plan is always better, and with His grace my little man was healed. So now we have MANY birthdays to celebrate. Something I will always try not to take for granted. Thank you Lord for the healing of this little miracle. Thank you for revealing Yourself in Him so that others may believe in Your almighty power and love. (Bear with me)
It's still very hard to look at these pictures of Chase's first few days of life. But I have to remember how awesome God's miracle really was and these pictures tell a thousand words. It is only by God's grace that my son was healed and went from this......
.
.
.
.
.
.
.....to this in just two short years. He's definitely kicked short gut's butt!!!!!!
PRAISE GOD!!!!!
(my cup runneth over)
On June 11th my smokin' hot hubby and I celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary. It wasn't really a big day for us, considering our whole house had the rotavirus on our anniversary, but it's still a day worth recognizing. Four years of bliss (okay, well, most of the time it was bliss). :)~
How did I get so lucky????
It's crazy how much I love this man!!!! Sometimes I have a hard time believing it myself!!! :) I love him more today than I did that beautiful day in Pennsylvania 4 years ago. What we've been through together could either bring us closer or tear us apart. We're happy and proud to say that it has definitely brought us closer. He's my man!!!!
We've started a little tradition here in our house. The night before our boys' birthdays, we take a picture of them. Kind of a way to capture their last moment as a two-year old......
......or one year old.
It's heartbreaking because it's the last time I get to hold them and snuggle them at that age. But we capture it on camera so we can remember it forever. So hard to watch my babies grow up so fast!
This is just a random pic, but I am IN LOVE with my Granddaddy so I had to include it. (That, and I just found these pics) We celebrated his 86th birthday this past year. How awesome is he? And lil' Chase is going to look like him........just a coincidence that his middle name is Roberts (Grandaddy's last name).
Four generations!!!!!
Oh, I forgot to mention, I was the coordinator for VBS at our church. VBS is always a rewarding time, despite all the really hard work you think you'll never get through to get it started. I mean, look at those kids......priceless!!! (Colton was jammin' all week to the music but froze when they performed for the church on Sunday). It was still a difficult week cause our whole house was battling the rotavirus that week!
We went to Cattlemen's Convention for the first time in years in June. Luckily, I had my two cousins (but they're more like nieces), Cassidy and Braiden, there to help with the boys. We had a blast!
Floaties never looked so cool!
Pappaw helping out! He loves swimming with his boys!
Meemaw was there too, but I'm pretty sure she'd kill me if I put a picture of her in a bathing suit on here (love you mom!!!).
Wouldn't part with his Toy Story sunglasses (or as he likes to call them, "woody glasses").
Love this pic. Check out that smile and those "totally cool" scars!
They swam the whole time we were there. Thank goodness for my cousins!!
Pictures from Colton's Birthday (just like I promised):
He's a big, bad bullrider!! Meemaw and Pappaw got him this for his birthday.
This pic is kind of blurry, but I still love it! The boys loved Pump It Up!!
Oh my gosh, isn't he just the yummiest?!?!?
A pro at blowing out the candles.
All Colton's buddies.
And of course, Daddy being the wonderful man that he is. Couldn't get through this pregnancy without his help. He really is the World's Greatest Dad (well, tied with my dad that is!)
And just some random pics for your enjoyment:
Colton's ghetto look!!!! Peace out, homies!!!
Chase gettin' some love from Aunt Bethie at the Botanical Gardens in Naples
Our family, Colton and Chase with cousins Gaige and Ryleigh, at Disney for Colton's birthday.
Chase was throwing a fit until he got to Minnie. He was soooo happy to see her. Think he might have a little crush!
And my little peanut writing his name for the first time. That's right, he's a genius!!!!!
(So, so proud!)
I hope this catches everybody up, at least for a little while. Until next time, God Bless!!