I'm thinking...

Lukie hears a who!

What do you think?

Just see for yourselves!

It's been raining here for two days solid. The ground is soaking wet and it's cold (55 degrees is definitely coat worthy weather in the South). Apparently some time last night we got some wind, too. Well, at least enough to knock down a dead pine tree. Yes, friends, we had a tree fall!

I got up this morning and Scott said "Look at what God did last night". I looked out the kitchen window and there was a huge tree down across our driveway...just a foot from hitting our fence. God saw fit for the top four feet of the tree to fall off before hitting the ground and, thus, sparing our fence. I should also mention that if the tree had fallen the other direction, it would have hit Scott's office building (aka "Manville" with all the fishing rods and guy stuff complete with his 9 pound bass hanging on the wall)!

I would say that we were lucky but I know better. God is good!!! And, boy, am I glad we aren't dealing with repairing a fence or replacing a roof this morning!

The piece closer in the picture is the part that fell off of the top.

"Do you know how God controls the clouds and makes his lightning flash? Do you know how the clouds hang poised, those wonders of him who is perfect in knowledge?...The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power; in his justice and great righteousness, he does not oppress." Job 37:15-16, 23

Tummy Time

I've been told that my youngest little love doesn't have the best head control. I've been told that my holding him around the clock may have a little something to do with that. I've also been told to work on it.

Here's proof that we're doing just that...

It might not hurt to add that he has zero patience with this. I don't blame him because, well, he might just get that from me. So, when a little fuss comes out of that sweet mouth, he's back in my arms again... or Scott's arms...or his big brother's...

One day he'll be running all over the place and wrestling with his big brother and impossible to get to sit still. Right now, we'll continue with little sessions of tummy time & lots of lovin' on our laps!

Halloween Fun...and a Bazaar!

We had a blast this morning at our MOPS Fall Festival! I've been debating for months (okay, maybe just 2) about what they would be for halloween. If you know me well, you know that it is imperative that the boys coordinate. At first Wyatt wanted to be a cowboy so we thought we'd stick a feather on Luke's head and he'd be the indian. Then, Wyatt made up his mind that he wanted to be a brave knight. I looked for weeks for what Luke could be to go with the knight...the court jester outfits just didn't do it for me. When we were in Charleston for the Heart Walk, we went to the outlet mall and I had to go into Carter's for some necessities. Guess what? I spotted it from the window...the cutest little green dragon baby outfit! That was perfect...the brave knight and little dragon! The boys had an opportunity to wear their costumes this morning and I got a few pictures. Trust me, more will be coming with all the fun we have planned for the weekend!!!

Luke is the happiest little baby! I just know that his big sister has something to do with that! He makes us smile all the time!

The little dragon & the brave knight (minus his sword & shield). Those things just couldn't get in the way of running & playing, you know?


In other exciting news...make plans to do some early Christmas shopping & help support the Annabelle Baskets by stopping by the Christus Victor Luthern Church Annual Holiday Bazaar! If you're in the Columbia area, then you know where Harbison Blvd is...they are located across the street from Lowe's. I joined them for their service on Sunday and gave a brief testimony. Yes, tears were shed but God got me through it. I am so excited that they chose Annabelle Baskets to benefit from their Bazaar! The Lord continues to use others to bless this awesome ministry! They are having lots of great vendors, 100 incredible silent auction items (I mean really incredible items, too), BBQ lunch & more! I'll be there with Luke that morning and then Wyatt and Scott are planning on joining us after his baseball game!

The Bazaar is from 9-2 this Saturday (10/31)! I hope to see you there!!!

Boo, Y'all!!!

Wyatt's Point of View

I let Wyatt take over the photographer duties the other day. Luke loves to watch every single move he makes!



I'm pretty sure that Luke wants to be just like his big brother when he grows up!

He tracks Wyatt across the room & "talks" to him non-stop!

Wyatt thinks it's pretty awesome having a little brother, too!

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It's no secret at our home that we have begun over the past couple of years pulling for the Gators (as in Florida)...more specifically, we pull for their quarterback, Tim Tebow. Scott got me hooked when he told me that he was homeschooled and Wyatt followed suit. Wyatt LOVES to watch him each week to see what scripture is going to be on his eye black during the game. Last week, TT chose Psalm 23:1 so guess what scripture Wyatt wanted to learn?!?! You guessed it! I decided we'd learn the entire Psalm and not just the verse. We worked on the first five verses last week and were adding to it today when Wyatt put it all together...the conversation went something like this:

Mommy & Wyatt (all to a little tune we made up): "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall lack nothing, He makes me lay down in green pastures. He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me"

Wyatt: Oh, Mommy, I know how they get all those touchdowns! God opens up the paths of righteousness and they run right through and, bam, they whoop up on the other team!

Mommy (totally at a loss for words): Um, uh...something like that, son. Awesome how God works, isn't it?

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And one more Wyatt quote for the day:

After we finished dinner, Wyatt looked at Luke and said "You get to have some spaghetti milk in a little bit, Lukie!"

2 months...already!

Oh, what a week! If it wasn't enough to be facing what we were, we had even more to keep our minds occupied in the down time (so, maybe it wasn't such a bad thing afterall?).

Luke's 8 week appointment on Tuesday went amazingly well (thank you, Sweet Jesus!). I couldn't do anything anywhere similiar to the things we did the day before or morning of Annabelle's 8 week well visit. It all had to be completely different. Luke was the happiest guy that morning and cooed most of the way there. I am so in love! He weighed in at 12 pounds 2 1/2 ounces and was something like 23ish inches long. So, basically he's a big boy! I think he was anywhere from the 90-95th percentile in everything! There's a reason his daddy calls him "Tank"! :)

Sometime between the 3 shots and the fever and the constant screaming during the little time he was awake, I realized the mercy given to our baby girl. If the Lord had already picked the day (which He had) to take her Home and He knew what she would face (which He did) at her 8 week well visit, I think He just said "No more. She's been through enough." and sent His angels to carry her to Glory that morning.

Honestly, it was a hard day. Then, there were still two days to go to get past the other hurdle.

Just as much as I feel empty, I feel like my cup runneth over. Luke doesn't replace Annabelle and he never will, but the Lord has given me so much healing through him.

We made it back to church this morning for our first time! It was so wonderful to be back in the Lord's House and surrounded by our loving church family!!! Luke slept through the entire experience and woke up when we got to Annabelle's special place afterwards...completely unaware he had attended Sunday School for the first time. The sweet lady in the nursery was so funny when I picked him up. She said that every time she'd hear a little grunt (we think he may be part billy goat) she'd go wash up and get all excited to hold him. Then, he wouldn't wake up and she'd just let him continue sleeping peacefully. Wyatt, on the other hand, went into big church with us and did very well. We sang a song that's on one of our Praise Baby CDs and Wyatt recognized it and chimed in towards the end! I tell you what...hearing your baby (big) boy's sweet little voice singing praises to our Savior is enough to bring tears to your eyes! I could listen to him all day long!!!

It occurred to me when we were changing Annabelle's hairbow (fall themed, of course) that today is Luke's 2 month birthday. I will never forget standing in that same spot on what would have been Annabelle's two month birthday and deciding that that would be where we would lay her to rest. I remember thinking that it was just plain wrong that I was walking around a cemetary on her 2 month birthday. It still doesn't seem right most days but it's not about me. It's about God and His Plan for her and, for that reason alone, I have peace.

It's a little strange knowing that Annabelle's little brother is now bigger than she was when she was with us. He is really starting to come into his own personality and is such a sweet boy! He is so happy and keeps us smiling! I told my daddy on Friday that I just don't know how I let her go except to know that it wasn't me. I know that I was carried by your prayers on my behalf because there have been days that I didn't even know how to put one foot in front of the other but yet I did. The Holy Spirit has intervened so many times because you have asked Him to for me. I could never thank you enough. Yes, there are still hard days. Scott has found me recently sitting in the floor of our bedroom sobbing and rocking the framed picture that I have of Annabelle on my nightstand. The grief still overtakes me and knocks me down but I am able to stand back up a little faster these days.

This is one of the reasons why...isn't he just the cutest little thing??? And, yes, those cheeks are just as yummy as they look!

Getting close...

This week will mark the day that I dreaded facing from the day we found out that we were having our third little love. All throughout my pregnancy those that I chose to share my biggest fears with knew that I, first, couldn't look at another newborn baby in a carseat and that, second, I didn't know how to approach the day where Annabelle's baby brother is older than her.

I made Luke's 8 week well visit appointment when he was just 2 weeks old. I couldn't believe that 6 weeks would pass without a doctor's appointment...it's been so long since Wyatt was this age and Annabelle lived at the hospital most of her short life and had at least two doctor's appointments for the 3 weeks and 3 days that she was home.

We're getting close.

On Tuesday, the four of us will head to the pediatrician for the appointment that Annabelle never made it to. Luke will be 8 weeks old on Tuesday...Annabelle was 8 weeks and 3 days on the day that we were taking her for her 8 week well visit and the Lord called her Home.

Please be in prayer for our family this week...for His grace to be sufficient to ease the aches of our hearts.

I've charged the video camera battery and am keeping it close to capture the precious, priceless moments of this week. Luke is cooing and smiling so big and trying so hard to carry on a conversation in his adorable baby babble...and he reminds us so very much of the last moments we shared with his big sister.