Is It Beach Time Yet?!

 Our beach vacation can not get here soon enough! I can't wait to smell the salty air, hear the sea gulls and waves and feel the sunshine on my face!! Ahh!! Why can't I just live at the beach? As much as I love the beach, so does my sweet Evan! He can go down in the morning and not come back up until time to eat. That's my kind of day! I am anxious to see how our little miss does this year. I hope she loves it just the same!

A few updates:
Evan did great with his tooth removal! He did not even flinch when they gave him the injections. I would have been a basket case, but he was awesome! Dr. Barrett did a wonderful job of talking him through the entire thing. The thing that got to him the most was that his nose went numb as well. LOL. He kept rubbing it, not really sure what was going on! I was prepared for him to be on soft/liquidy foods for a couple of days, but my tough guy was eating potato chips that afternoon! Wha?!?!Yes, potato chips! Here is a pic of him I took just after we got home from the dentist.

Six month pics of our sweet baby girl are still not completed. It is on my to-do list this afternoon! I will get it done, I will get it done! Maybe if I say it enough, it will really happen! We will see! Emie has this new way of smiling that even gets Evan tickled. She will wrinkle her nose and laugh so hard that she kinda sounds like she is trying to snort. It is the cutest thing! I hope she will make one of these faces in her pics! It is hard to believe that she will be 8 months old tomorrow. Trust me, birthday planning is in full swing! She does not like loud noises, she is fighting her sleep more and more (she is so scared she will miss something), she loves her fruits and vegetables and tonight we are gonna try a sippy cup!

My visit with Dr. Vaphiades went well. My sidekick Laura went with me (I think we talked the entire way there, while we were there, while eating and all the way home--much needed girl time) and I was so thankful to have her tag along. Dr. Vaphiades decided that because of some swelling of my right optic nerve, and after reviewing the results from my vision field test (this is the test that I despise!!), I needed to be placed back on my medication. With this medication comes the icky side effects that I don't care so much for. The tingling in my feet, fingers and lips has returned and so has the change in my taste buds. My most favorite things are not so yummy anymore (I don't guess this is all too bad when needing to shed a pound or two or more). He was very sweet about it all and I go back in 12 weeks for a re-check.

I must brag on James a little. Since I am sure he has never read this blog, I think it is safe! Saturday, I wanted to do some deep cleaning of the house...the kind of stuff that never gets done on a regular basis. He took both Evan and Emie to see a movie, to have lunch in the park, then to do some birthday shopping for me. He did not complain, just did it and even seemed to enjoy spending the time with them. I am so thankful to have a husband who does not view taking care of them as "babysitting" his children, but rather just being their daddy! I got a lot accomplished while they were gone. When Evan walked through the door, he asked, "Mommy, what's that smell?" I laughed and replied, "That's the smell of clean, son." Bless him!

It is birthday week for me and as I reflect back over the past 32 years, I am excited for where I have been and where I am going. God has blessed my life with amazing people along the way and I could not be happier that I get to share the next forever with these loves by my side!!

Until Next Time...

This Summer So Far (Yes, I know we are only in week 3)...

Evan seems to be having a good summer so far. His first "school summer!" Bless his heart, since I work outside of the home, his summer get up time is not much different than his school get up time...6:20 am! UGH!

He enjoyed VBS last week and has had fun at Mimi and Papa's picking blueberries. He enjoys playing outside there and of course watching movies. I think he has had fun being with Emie during the day (even if I can never get him to say it). We both saw the dentist earlier in the week and he sent us to the Orthodontist to see what she recommends about his cross bite. Let me interject here that I know that his smile is quirky and I know that his jaw is crooked when he smiles, but to me it is the most precious smile EVER! I hate for it to change, but I know that it is not healthy for his gums and teeth. With that said, we ventured to her office yesterday where she broke the news that two top teeth and two bottom teeth must be removed. She is then gonna watch his bite till the spring to see if anything needs to be done or if he will need some type of apparatus to help with the cross bite. PLEASE join me in prayer next Thursday morning at 7:30 am as we go to the dentist to have these 4 teeth removed. I do not anticipate this being as easy as I would like for it to be. Poor fella! I do think he will be precious with a toothless grin! ;) He is participating in the Public Library's program here and the first week went well. He enjoyed learning about bees and is excited to go back next week. He has art camp next week and is looking forward to that (I am looking forward to July and going to the beach!!). Evan, Emie and I are enjoying the pool in our neighborhood. He learned to swim last summer and thank goodness he remembers this year! He swims like a fish!! He has learned this year to turn flips under the water.

Emie continues to do well and just grow and grow. She has no desire to crawl...WHAT.SO.EVER! She is happy being the Queen Bee and having us move her here and there! I still have not done her 6 month pics, what a behind mommy I am. It is a shame seeing I have a photography business and all! lol I hope to get those done this week. She loves the water at the pool. I think she thinks it is just a big bathtub!! She just splashes and splashes!

James is well. He continues to work...a lot. I guess in his field, there are always those out there to keep you busy. Job security I suppose. Father's Day is this weekend and I hope he enjoys what the kiddos and I got him. I sometimes feel like I bomb in this area, but hopefully this year will be a score! I will let you know how it goes!

I have my routine check-up with Dr. Vaphiades next Friday. This will be the 2nd one since having Emie. I am anxious to meet with him and see what he thinks about where I am. During my annual visit with my regular eye physician last month, she detected swelling in the optic nerve again. She let me view photos of a normal one and mine and the difference made me cry. She assured me that she has seen mine look worse so that was some comfort. Such is life I suppose!

I have started a new blog. This one will be topics the Lord lays on my heart and words straight from Him. It is a dream of mine to write a devotional book, so this is a way to get my feet wet I suppose! I hope you will take a moment to stop by and read, possibly become a follower. I hope to update multiple times throughout the week (no promises there-hehe). The website is www.hissomethingbeautiful.blogspot.com.

Until next time...

Say It Ain't So!!

October? Has it REALLY been since October that I last posted? Oh. My. Goodness!! I guess this sweet baby girl has had us really busy!!

So much has happened. Let me catch everyone up!

Evan: Evan is a wonderful big brother! It took him some time to decide that she could stay, but he is really enjoying Emie now. He finished his first year of school with flying colors. He loved his teacher, Mrs. Ellis, and I know he will miss her next year. He has lost two teeth and is enjoying his summer so far. He has several things planned to keep him busy, right now he is in VBS and loving every single minute!

Emie: Emie is growing like a weed! I had forgotten how fast the first year flies by, but man oh man does it! Our little miss is already 7 months old. She has two teeth and absolutely adores her big brother. She is talking (well, baby jabbering) so much and absorbing all that is around her. She is a nosey one! She sleeps all night and is such a good eater. She sits up to play and has the most beautiful big blue eyes!

James and I: We are both doing well. James is staying busy with work and still loves what he does. I am directing VBS this week and working simultaneously--I know, crazy!! But I would not have it any other way! I am a (almost) 32 year old who LoVeS VBS!!! We just got back from New Orleans. This was our first time back since retrieving our car after hurricane Katrina in 2005. I saw some sights that these sheltered eyes have never seen before!! :) It was fun to just get away just the two of us and spend time walking the streets, holding hands and enjoying one another. We definitely don't spend enough time doing that. Who can with a 5 year old attached to one and a 7 month old attached to the other-lol (we wouldn't trade it for all of the tea in China!)?! I am anxiously awaiting our annual beach trip this year! July can not get here soon enough!!

I hope it is not another 7 months before my next post!! Hope everyone is doing well!