Bradford is two!

Our sweet Little B is two! Such an exciting time as he actually understands birthdays! He loves to sing Happy Birthday and blow out candles. Bradford and I made a list so we could remember our favorite things about B at two years old.

My top 5 favorite moments and things!

-B saying, "I love you Mommy" when I say "I love you Bradford"

- B encouraging me through singing "I love you Lord" and "Jesus Loves Me" and reciting John 3:16 memory verse

-B's hilarious dance moves- puts an arm out and turns in a circle- also gets "low"

-How he treats Hampton- especially when he wakes him up each morning and Hampton gets the biggest smile

-That his love for reading continues to grow and can sit in his crib after a nap and read books for hours if I let him

Dad's top 5 moments and things!

-When Bradford started singing "Wonder Wall" with me- not realizing he knew all of the words to the song I sing to him before naps

-Bradford saying his prayers each night and going through the different people he is thankful for

- Bradford's new love for college mascots- His favorites are Aubie, Sparty, Harry Dog, and Duck

-Winning a prize at Ribfest and B picking out the prize- He picked a Tampa Bay Rays cereal bowl and spoon

-That Bradford loves to draw

Both of us said that we love B's imagination and all of his funny sayings- especially when he sings a song and changes the word......wonder who he gets that from!

He loves to wear his helmet...any where...any time..

Two year molars haven't been so kind

Building forts in our favorite room!

Also, B's teachers call him the valedictorian of his class. Not sure what kind of student he will be in real school as his mom and dad weren't ever in the running for that name- but we will enjoy telling him that when he is older! We are very proud of you Little B!

Take a look at..

My friend's blogs that captured our family's photoshoot and our fun filled MLK weekend.

Amber, my favorite photographer, shared some of the photos from our shoot HERE. I get the rest of them tomorrow and can't wait to see what she captured.

The Lamberth's came from Atlanta to visit and we had a blast. I never once got my camera out as Kasi had hers and captured great shots. We have the same camera but my shots don't come out like hers....go HERE to enjoy! I wish I could have friends fly down every weekend. I think Bradford and I talked the entire weekend- so refreshing to catch up with dear dear friends. We sure do miss you guys but are so thankful for the memories- thanks for coming!

Of course we had to take them to Bern's!

A special someone is turning TWO tomorrow so I'll be back soon with a special post about our Little B.

JOY

My dear friend Vanessa's mom met Jesus early this morning. She battled blood cancer for 10 years and man did she fight. Her name is JOY and that is what she was. An amazing woman after God's own heart. There are so many encouraging things that she did for so many people. I think the truest testament is her kids. They are strong, courageous and genuinely loving. She truly exemplified Jesus in her selflessness.

When I was in Atlanta over Thanksgiving I got to spend an afternoon with her. She held Hampton and calmed him- she laughed at Little B singing Beiber. But most of all she told me how she had been praying for my family and knew that the Lord was looking out for the good of us. I asked her how she did it with three kids as I was struggling with two. She laughed and told me that she spread her kids far apart(7 years between the first and 5 years between the other two) and that what I was doing was hard. I will always cherish that sweet afternoon not knowing it would be my last time with her. I will always feel her presence as Vanessa continues to grow and be just as amazing as her.

I am flying to Birmingham this weekend to be with the neighborhood and mourn our loss and celebrate her life. As I cried to Jenn about it yesterday- she reminded me that Holly (Jenn's mom) will be greeting her very soon and they will watch down over us together. I cry even more but have great JOY knowing Mrs. Joy got to meet her first grandson, Garrison and that she knows that Jenn is pregnant.

I continue to be reminded more and more that this life is temporary- to make the most of each day as we never know when we will be called to our permanent home. In the last two and a half years I have mourned three special people in my life- Ms. Holly, my niece Evalyn and now Mrs. Joy. Join with me in praying for the Wilson family.

Little B was smitten with Mrs. Joy the first time they met.

Mrs. Joy was known for her love for music- she sang at Vanessa's wedding and Ms. Holly's funeral "This Little Light of Mine." During Hampton's tough weeks I would sing that song to calm him down. I will always have both of my "other mothers" legacies around me- Ms. Holly's painting- and Mrs. Joy's favorite song to sing.

New Years Day Lunch!

We continued our tradition from last year and hosted a New Years Day Lunch. Last year we just invited a few people from the neighborhood and a few friends from Tampa. This year we decided to follow the tradition that the neighborhood I grew up in. We invited the entire street and had a great turn out and enjoyed being around all of our great neighbors. We feel like we hit the jackpot in buying this house with all of the great people we are surrounded by!

We did a soup theme this year:

Shrimp and Sausage Gumbo

White Chicken Chili

Taco Soup

Gazpacho

Butternut Squash Soup(Marta made this)

and of course we also had Collard Greens and Black eyed peas!

This is the Gazpacho as we had several vegetarians coming!

The gumbo- we stirred the roux for an hour and a half....that is some love!

Finding a way to serve all of the soups was a challenge!

Thank you Marta for making these!

We had 14 kids so a kiddy table was a must!

With over thirty adults I made lots and lots of cornbread!

The party started!

This is Angelike- She has a 3 week old little girl and moved in next door to us this summer. She is beautiful inside and out! We also love having a baby girl on the street too!

Of course the Johnson's came since they experienced the New Years Day party last year!

The Austin family(the oldest son Max was out playing with all of the big boys) The little guy is Evan- he and Hampton are a month apart and Bradford and Miles are 3 months apart

This is part of the Roger's family-they don't live in our neighborhood but they came last year too and he works with Bradford- Jason is one of Bradford's favorite people in the world!

This is Miss Jamie. She is our babysitter. She came over that morning at 8 and watched the boys while Big B and I ran around like crazy people trying to pull of the lunch by noon! Miss Jamie has been a lifesaver to me over these last few months!

The Jump House is a must!

Little B was SO tired.....by the end he kept laying down in the Jump House

Can't believe Noah and Bradford turn two in a few weeks!

Hampton is 3 months!

Hampton is three months! We made it! Three months is the golden time and we are feeling it! Little man has come into his own- he is a big cuddler- loves to smile and is laughing when we laugh. Thanks to everyone who encouraged us to get through the first three months.

He was sleeping through the night from week 11 of his life to week 12. But then we took a trip for Christmas and he starting waking up every three to four hours! Talk about being exhausted over the holidays....

But we are back and I am transitioning him out of sleeping in the swing to sleeping in his crib. I am still having to remind myself that everything that worked with Little B does not work with Hampton. For example Sweet Hampton likes to only take 45 minute naps......so the EAT, WAKE, SLEEP schedule doesn't always work....and when he wakes up from his short little nap- he screams bloody murder- now that I know he will do that every time- it seems normal. Just is taking some getting used to.

We went to the doctor last week to make sure both kids were strep free as Daddy came down with a bad case- thankfully the boys are fine!

Hampton weighed 15.4 pounds! He is a chunker!

Here is B at 3 months...they look so much alike to me!

I DO love that God gave me two completely different boys. I love each boy in different ways- which helps me understand how our maker can love us each so personally!

Christmas Recap

I am way behind and want to catch up fast- so a quick recap of Christmas! Above is who we spent Christmas with! We had a full house- fun but full!

We went to Gilbertown, AL for the day to visit Mimi and Grandaddy on the 22nd

Mimi and Grandaddy had some cool toys!

Grandaddy taught him how to ride the horsie!

We were in Mobile the rest of the week for Christmas

The kids loved playing outside with all of Soos and Pops fun toys!

Little B and Caroline were inseparable!

Little B driving his cars on the baby Jesus

Christmas Eve Eve dinner- Steak and Shrimp tradition

Having fun with H-man

If you didn't watch the video..Little B got this for Christmas

Did I mention 9 month old Connor did it by himself!

I mean family pictures are impossible!

Cousin fun!

Before church on Christmas Eve..

Little B dressed as a shepherd for the church play- but he never made it down the aisle...not quite ready to be in a play..

Waiting to go downstairs Christmas morning!

Singing Happy Birthday to Jesus Christmas morning- we made mini monkey bread- pinterest idea of course!

Little man got a bike from us..

And got a grill from Soos and Pops

The "babies"

We gave Q an Auburn Super Hero costume!

B loved being with his cousins

Soos and Pops and the grandkids!

I always love going to Mobile and staying at Soos and Pops house- from the sheets to the food- everything is comfy and fun! I also enjoyed spending 5 days with my SIL, Sara which is always encouraging, real and raw time for me. So thankful for her. Big Bradford got to go hunting and have some man time- though he was sick the last few days of our trip I am glad he was well for Christmas and got to enjoy most of his time there! Little B didn't quite understand Christmas so keeping it simple was nice. Hoping to keep it that way every year and keeping the focus on celebrating Jesus!