Gideon's 1st Birthday: Photo Booth Fun

Just a few photo booth pictures from Gideon's party!

Amos! 

Andrew had the most fun, I think! 

Future Mr. and Mrs. :) 

The Krause Family 

The Welmers! 

**Masks compliments of my mom..she sells them, too! :)

Our Family is Growing!

I can hardly believe I am writing this post already. Baby number two is growing big in my belly. We are so thrilled to be having another baby. This baby is due the beginning of June...though I'm measuring a bit bigger so we will get more of an idea at my ultrasound on THURSDAY! I'm 19 weeks 5 days  right now and feeling really good. I started feeling movement and having some Braxton Hicks around 16 weeks. I had BH early in my first pregnancy too so this time around they don't make me too nervous.

My pregnancy with Gideon went great and had no complications, as with my delivery (that I'll write about one day). We are trusting the Lord for this pregnancy and delivery to be the same. Since birth is something I'm already so passionate about, I'm sure you will be hearing of ways we prepare for baby number 2, as well as birth plan ideas, etc. If that's something you're interested in, stay tuned. :) I have really enjoyed being pregnant, so far with both of my pregnancies and I'm one of the weird women who is actually looking forward to labor and birth again. It's just so incredible to me.

My children will be just over 17 months apart and I couldn't be happier. My prayer is that they would grow together and learn to lay their lives down for each other. What a blessing it is to have children! I couldn't imagine my life without them.

Bump picture to come! :-)

One Year!

I have a one year old and I can't even believe it!

Gideon, you bring so much joy to our lives! Daddy and I can't even imagine life without you. You're constant smile and thrill make even the bad days, good. We cannot wait to see the mighty man of valor that you grow into. We are thankful and proud to be your parents.

- You are cruising around as fast as you can with your push toys!
-You LOVE to give and receive kisses. They just make you melt.
-You babble all day long!
-You can say Dada, Mama, all done, and baby!
-You're gonna be a great big brother, I already know. You were made to be in a big family!
-You love pushing buttons, playing with Mama's phone, and getting into new things.
-You're great at stacking cups and putting things in funny places...like sippy cup lids in the heater.
-You put your hands together to say "more", clap, wave hi, give high fives, and can climb up the stairs.
-You have a gentle spirit.
-You're trying really hard to listen when Mama or Daddy tell you not to do something.
-You love eating crackers, green beans, and spinach smoothies.
-You weigh 23 pounds and are 31 inches long!

My Christmas Post..a little late

I remember coming home on Christmas eve last year with my two day old son and sitting under the Christmas tree in awe that I was holding MY child. I couldn't help but think about Mary, mother of Jesus, a lot. So long ago she was doing something so similar to me and holding her baby boy...probably not in front of a tree decorated with ornaments and lights.

 When Gideon was only a couple days old he was put in the hospital with severe jaundice and possible brain damage because of such high levels of bilirubin in his blood. As a hormonal, women who just gave birth, and a new mom I was scared to death of even the thought of losing my son. I was struck again by Mary. She sat and held her newborn son, filled with joy and excitement, just like me..but oh what was to come. Her son would be killed an awful and unjust death for the lives of so many undeserving people. Wow, how heart-wrenching. Especially for a parent and a new one at that.

As I sat there holding my sick newborn son and thinking about these things, I was filled with thankfulness. One, for my son's life right now. That he can be treated and should recover fully. That he's alive. And that he's been gifted to me.

Two, for Mary. For the lessons I can learn from her on motherhood and suffering.

And three, Jesus. He came to die. He came for the purpose of dying. What?! My mind is boggled. The reason for his life was me? How can that be? What have I done? What can I do? I'm struck. Struck my true, self sacrificing, perfect love. His Father created him, sent him to earth, and for the purpose of him dying a cruel death so that I can live. Forever. With Him.

So this Christmas season, I held my son (and the baby in my womb) close. I thanked the Lord again for Jesus, His life and His death. And I was again struck by the true love of Jesus and gratefulness for my children and their lives.

Christmas Travels: Charleston

After spending almost two weeks in Alabama, Gideon and I headed "north" to Charleston. (Adam met us in Baltimore on a layover.)

Ah, the south.  Southern accents, sweet greetings, and warm weather. I think we ate enough sausage gravy and biscuits to last us all year long..though the hubs may disagree saying that isn't even possible. :)

It was my first Christmas with Adam's side of the family. It was a lot of fun to get to spend more time with them and get to know them a bit more. Adam and I have been together for almost five years but we've always lived a distant away from family making it hard to hang out with them often. This was Gideon's first time meeting most of them!

While we were there we again celebrated Gideon's birthday, this time on the 22nd. It was so fun to let him meet more of his cousins, aunts, and uncles. We had a small party with family and some friends...and yummy food of course.

Gideon loved playing with his cousin, Abigayle!
They were born only three days apart!

 Then it was Christmas. I think Christmas is so much more special with children. It doesn't take a lot and they are just full of joy.

Gideon helping Grandma and Pop-pop open their gifts. 

Christmas Travels: Alabama

I haven't been able to post for a while because Gideon and I were out of town (with little internet access) for almost the entire month of December. We enjoyed time with both sides of our family. At the beginning of December we visited my side, surprising my mom and spending two weeks with them at their new house in Alabama. Then heading to Charleston for Christmas with Adam's family.

Uncle J and the Birthday Boy

While in Alabama we had a little celebration for Gideon's first birthday with my parents, brother, and cousins! It was so fun to celebrate with them. And to meet some of my young cousins (well, I guess second cousins) for the first time.

My mom always throws the best parties!

We also got some good quality time with my parents!

Fun times with Pawpaw! 

Lots of love from Grammy!

Playing with Great-Grandpa

The Christmas Parade in Ozark is quite a big deal for the town. It was so fun to be in a small southern town again. Everyone knows everyone! Two of my cousins were in the parade, too! 

Kenadee (the one showing a little sass :)) cheering her heart out!

Charles riding with his motorcycle club.

Side note. There's little that warms my heart more than seeing a little girl melt when they catch sight of their daddy. Charles has FIVE little girls that are googly eyed for only him! As soon as they heard his motorcycle coming they started screaming! And didn't stop until he was out of sight! "DADDDDY! THERE'S DADDDDDDYY! AHHHH" It was adorable. I could hardly even take photos.

Four Generations! 

Well, that will be if for now. More to follow about our time in Charleston soon!

A piece of my heart..

I mentioned briefly in Gideon's 10 month post that he is a lot like his daddy, so much so that I think it deserves it's own post.

My husband. We met when I was 17, engaged at 18, married at 19, pregnant at 20. He's incredible and has wooed my heart ever since. He is a quiet man, which used to kind of bug me. Not anymore though. It's honorable. Its a trait I often wish I was better at. He enjoys the simple things in life, nothing too fancy. He likes to listen and serve. He serves so well and constantly. Seriously, I could (and have..and still do) wake him up at 1am to get me water...(thats sitting on his night stand) and he will gladly do it. He enjoys learning and has a brain like a sponge. Laughing is something we often do together. He is full of integrity and doesn't care what people think if it means doing what is right.

My son. We met when I was 21. :) He is the child who has made me a mama. A very happy mama. He is full of life and laughter. And he loves his daddy. The back door opens and he will stop what he's doing to crawl as fast as he can to climb up his dad. When he was a newborn until probably 4months he didn't care for toys, he was fine as could be just looking around at his surroundings and listening to people talk. He is content (for over an hour sometimes) just pushing his one simple truck around. He loves to be tickled and thrown in the air. And he is full of joy. Seriously. so.much.joy. He wakes up happy and..well not alway but often, goes to bed happy. Father like son.

I can't get enough of these too. I am just as giddy as my son when my husband walks in the door because he constantly shows me true love and sacrifice. I praise the Lord for Him. Both of these men (one little and one big) in my life drive me closer to Jesus. I can't love my husband as best as I can without being close to the heart of God and I can't teach and train my son without know the Word.

It's like living a dream....even on the hard days. :)

9 Months!

 I can hardly believe Gideon is already nine months old...two weeks ago. :-) He is such a joy. I've dreamed of being a mama since I first changed a diaper (my cousin, Christian) and rocked him to sleep. I don't know how old I was, but young. There was something special about it to me. Holding a baby sleeping in your arms. Obviously, until Gideon I always have held other peoples babies..he is mine though. Oh what a pleasure!

29 inches tall and 23 pounds! Solid 'little' man! 

 He loves to giggle and laugh at almost anything. Not very many things go in his mouth...yet. Just fingers, toes, and food.

 He loves to crawl..we thought he might skip this step and go straight to walking. He does pull himself up on anything that will hold him.

 

 "Dada" has been his first word, for sure! When Adam comes home he hears the door open and crawls as fast as he can down the hallway yell "dada dada" until he reaches his pant leg and lets out the biggest giggles and grins!

He makes some of the best faces! 

 My Gideon always wakes up with a smile on his face! He loves the morning, just like his mama! 

 Smiles! 

Helping Mama

**Note: This entry was supposed to post on Friday, but I just noticed it didn't. Sorry!