First Teeth

Ok, so the picture is not the clearest (I will try to get a better shot), but Evan has his first "teeth." He cut the first one on Sunday and while we were at the Dr.'s office on Tuesday he said, "Oh Evan, I see those teeth." I thought, "Teeth? That's plural!!!" I knew there was one, but had missed the second one coming in. Anyway, he has 2 sweet little teeth down there! I guess now we have to be on guard for bitting!!!!

Veggie Time!!

Mmm, Mmm, GOOD!!!!

Evan's first experience with vegetables was a lot of fun...at least for his daddy and me! We had a great time capturing these sweet faces! What a mess we made!!

Evan is HOME!

Thank you so much for your sweet words and prayers. Dr. Trumbull came by this morning and said Evan was "wheeze free" and that his lungs sounded perfect! James and Evan left around 9 this morning. Here are some pictures of our little man during his stay in the O2 tent....

Sweet baby sleeping

GOING HOME....

We saw the Dr....

...and he wants Evan to be under the tent for a couple of days. He said that he really feels this is the best place for him to be for his lungs to rest and recover from the strain. Thanks for your words of encouragement and prayers. He is a little restless, so James is trying to get him down for a morning nap. We will keep you posted as we know more.

Update on Evan...

Good morning everyone! Evan had to be admitted to the hospital late yesterday afternoon, but rested well through the night. They have him on continuous oxygen to give his lungs a little time to rest and recover. RSV is really something to try to overcome. Please continue to remember Evan. We are at Baptist South in room 578.

Evan's First Real Illness

James had to take Evan to the Dr. this morning. Dr. Morrison said that he has a mild case of RSV so they have placed him on 4 days of steroids. Please pray that his congestion and cough will ease, that he will keep his appetite, not run any fever and that he will be able to rest well. Thanks friends!

Thought it was worth sharing...

Looking back, I can now see how my mom probably felt this way at times. Thank you for your dedication to our family and for enriching my life the way you did. I love you Mama!

THE INVISIBLE MOTHER

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?' Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible.

The invisible Mom.

Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this? Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being.

I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?'

I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.'

I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going, she's going, she's gone!

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England . Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in.

I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.' It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe.

I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: 'To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'

In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it.' And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.'

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.'

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride. I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on.

The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.

When I really think about it, I don't want my child to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home.

And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, 'You're gonna love it there.' As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women. Great Job, MOM!

Share this with other outstanding Invisible Moms!

Catching Up...

Evan's First Christmas!!!

This is a lengthy post with lots of pictures! We hope you enjoy being able to see how Evan spent his first Christmas. It is amazing how different Christmas is when you have a child. Christmas has always had a very special meaning, but this year was even more meaningful than ever.

All of this is because a baby was born...

Oh what fun we had!

We are already thinking about how much Evan will be in to next year. He really seemed to enjoy the paper this year, so I am sure we will have a hard time keeping him out of the presents next year!

It is amazing how one little baby changes everything!!!!
SANTA BABY...
Our tree Christmas morning...

Evan's new highchair filled with treats
What sweet Christmas kisses....Thanks Pete!!

Pete enjoying his stocking...

Playing with his toys Christmas morning

Tie a bow around his neck and stick him under the tree...

On December 23, Evan got to enjoy Christmas a little early with our dear friends Mr. Mike and his BetBet. Thank you so much for his John Deere outfit, books and overalls. He is ready and waiting on that tractor ride!!

Christmas with Granny was so much fun! We enjoyed lunch with her on Christmas Eve. Nothing says welcome Christmas like a McDonalds cheeseburger!!

We love you so much Granny!

Evan LOVES his new rattle!!

Christmas with the Talleys was fun for all.
Evan enjoyed all of his goodies!

Thanks for helping to make his first Christmas so sweet. We love you!

Evan and his MiMi...

All tuckered out from all the festivities. He had to catch a nap at Mimi and Papa's!

Christmas with Nana, Big Daddy and Uncle Heath at our house Christmas night...

Just the 3 of us...

Evan and his number 1 fan...
Uncle Heath and his MP3 Player
Taking time out before opening gifts for a bottle.

Thanks Big Daddy!!

Evan and his Nana, checking out the LOOT!

Thanks Nana and Big Daddy for my exersaucer. I really like it!!

Thanks guys for making Evan's first Christmas so special! We are so glad we were able to share time together! We love you!!

Last Friday morning, Evan went to visit Dr. Trumbull for his 4 month check up. He weighed in at 15.7 pounds and was 25 1/2 inches tall. He was in the 70-75% group!! He is such a big boy!! He had to get shots during this trip, but handled it like a trooper. His daddy had to take a seat away from Evan during shot time...I thought men were supposed to be the tough ones!!

Before Shots...All Smiles!!!


After Shots...Not So Much!!!

Last Friday night, Evan was exposed to cereal with a spoon for the first time....
He was not crazy about it, can you tell???