Monday, August 9, 2010

The Eve of the First!

Addisyn turns one tomorrow...wow!!

(I haven't posted on here in forever, but I figured this was blog worthy.)

I must admit i've been pretty emotional about her turning one. She isn't a baby anymore. I can't turn back time. People told me to cherish even the times I was up with her in the middle of the night because they wouldn't last forever... they were right. She's such a sweet little girl and I tear up at even the thought of how much she means to me and Eric. I would do, be, give, sacrifice anything for her. She's my precious little "Ad". She's doing so much and growing like a weed! Everyday I laugh at the new things she does and the words she has started to say.

Today when I went up to get her out of her crib after nap she threw her hands up in the air and said "YAY" when she saw me!!! It was like "It's about time, I've been waiting for you. I've got a lot of playing to do!" HAHA!

She keeps me busy, but it's so much fun!

Happy Birthday, Addisyn Faith! Your daddy and I love you more than you will ever know...



Friday, April 30, 2010

So Long Insecurity...Part 1=)

I've started reading Beth Moore's book "So Long Insecurity" and it is amazing! I'm only a couple chapters in, but Beth wastes no time in "telling it like it is." I have a feeling that this is going to be the first of many posts that develop from this book.

First of all, let me say that I am EXTREMELY PASSIONATE about seeing a generation of STRONG, SECURE women raised up!! Nothing gets me more "fired up" then to see a young woman so wrapped up in her insecurities that she is either 1) On the fast track to nowhere or 2) On the fast track to the wrong place.

Now I know that I have been very blessed in my life... I was raised by amazing Christian parents who constantly built security in me. They told me all the time that I was beautiful...that I was valuable...that I was worth something...and that I could do anything I put my mind to. The sky was the limit! I believed them.

The foundation was built from birth, thanks to my Mom and Dad, that allowed my security to be built upon the Rock. Yes, of course I had my moments in high school where I was covered in zits and wearing braces and that didn't feel too sure of myself... but we're talking foundations here.

I didn't chronically date, but I wasn't single long either;) I married my best friend shortly after my 21st birthday. We moved into a beautiful home and now we have a perfect daughter who is almost 9 months old. Some may say that I have had it easy and it's no wonder why I don't battle insecurity like some women do. And I agree...I have had it easy. But that's not the point! The point is Jesus has loved me and saved me and allowed me to lay everything at His feet so that I can build my everything on Him!

Back to Beth Moore... Here is an amazing quote from her book that expresses my feelings perfectly:

"How could I need anything else in this world beyond what I already have? Lord, have mercy. What more could a woman want? As a matter of fact, I'd like to tell you exactly what more this woman could want- and not just for herself. I want some soul-deep security drawn from a source that never runs dry and never disparages us for requiring it. We need a place we can go when as much as we loathe it, we are needy and hysterical. I don't know about you, but I need someone who will love me when I hate myself. And yes, someone who will love me again and again until I kiss terrestrial sod good-bye."

That's what I want too, Beth!

We can always go deeper... He always wants to take us higher...

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

HE NEVER LETS GO!

"Stuff" happens when you are living life on this earth... this song has really been encouraging me today!

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I’m caught in the middle of the storms of this life
I won’t turn back
I know You are near

And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?

Chorus:
Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me

And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
We’ll live to know You here on the earth

Chorus:

Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
Still I will praise You, still I will praise You

Chorus: (2x’s)


-Matt Redman "You Never Let Go"

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

God and Grass

Since we moved into our new house in August of 2008, we (scratch that) Eric has been working very hard to get some "weedless grass" growing in our yard. There wasn't much yard at all when we moved in and so he has seeded multiple times with multiple types of seed and done other stuff (I don't know what). Overall, there has been little success... I must say too that this has been the issue of many arguments because he has spent A LOT of time and money on various grass projects.

I happen to really, really not care about the grass as long as it as cut and green!! I was overjoyed when some weeds started to grow in our yard, because I don't care if it is cut grass or cut weeds as long as it is cut and green in the summer! I have argued with Eric so many times about the waste of money that it is to try and have a golf course-like yard, but I continue to surrender the battles and just write it off as "a guy thing." (Seriously, grass has been my whole "submissive wife" test!)

The most recent development was that Eric hired a guy to come out and spray a "pre-emergent" (spelling?) on our yard which would basically kill everything that wasn't grass (a.k.a. everything). This way he could start from scratch (again) and re-seed once the weeds were dead. I was not happy!! First of all, this all sounds expensive....Second, we're going into Spring and all the lawns in our neighborhood are starting to green up again. I DON'T WANT TO BE THE ONLY BROWN YARD! I DON'T CARE IF IT IS JUST WEEDS!

I caved.... Because the Bible tells wives to submit to their husbands....

(This is going somewhere...)

Recently I have realized that while I didn't see the bigger picture at the time, Eric was right and I think this is going to work! Yes our yard is entirely brown, but there is fresh growth of real grass peeking through everywhere!!



(And this is where it goes somewhere...)

Over the past few days, God has used my yard as a picture of how He wants to work in our lives. Just like I have been willing to settle for weeds in my yard, so many times we are willing to settle in our lives. We settle for second best... settle for partial healing/deliverance... settle for kind of holy and almost righteous... Why? Because we still want to fit in...we don't want to seem weird...we don't want to be the one yard with brown grass when everyone else's is turning green.

God wants so much more for us if we will just die to ourselves 100%! He wants us to be extreme and be willing to kill off everything that is of us in order to allow Him to bring His growth. The best part? God is not going to leave us with dead yards...He makes all things new!

My prayer is for God to kill my yard even more! I don't want to settle for a green yard of weeds... I want real grass:)

And if my husband reads this.... you were right. I was wrong;)

He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." Revelation 21:5

Friday, April 9, 2010

Contending for the title of "Superwoman"

This weekend I am keeping my 5 month old niece, Julia, while my bro-in-law and sis-in-law are out of town. I picked up Julia (also know as Jules, Ju-Ju and Ju-wa) this morning (Fri) and I will be passing her off to her other Aunt on Monday. So far it's going really well! Julia and Addi are both happy babies, so I am hoping for the best! The little cousins are so cute together=) I will update later...



Monday, March 22, 2010

Biblical Confessions

To those of you who think it's funny that I haven't blogged in a few weeks and then now I have blogged twice in 24 hours: yup, thats just how I roll sometimes.

This morning I was reading my Bible and searching the internet for some good verses and Biblical Confession sheets. I have been asked to share with the 5th and 6th grade girls at our church this upcoming week about "What I know now that I wish I knew at your age, or that I learned at your age." I have been thinking/praying about this for a few weeks now and feel like I want to talk to the girls about security and Spiritual identity. I believe that one of the most important things that girls need to grasp at an early age is the concept of who they are in Jesus: strong, beautiful, smart, secure, powerful, overcomers, worth something!!! Throughout their lives, they will be continually bombarded with people who try to tell them that they are less than who God says they are and they must know how to fight back! When I was young and then through college, I had a number of Biblical Confession sheets that I was supposed to look in the mirror and say! Things like: "I AM MORE THAN A CONQUERER IN CHRIST JESUS" or "JESUS SEES ME AS HOLY AND BEAUTIFUL!"

Well after "googling" confession sheets I found one that had been put up by Joyce Meyer and I love it! I think it's great to know that we are not alone in some of our trivial thoughts as women. I mean, one of Joyce Meyer's confession's is "I have a beautiful wedding ring." Anyways, hope you enjoy as much as I did...

List of Confessions by Joyce Meyer

I love all people, and I am loved by all people.

I prosper in everything I put my hand to. I have prosperity in all areas of my life – spiritually, financially, mentally, and socially.

All my children have lots of Christian friends, and God has set aside a Christian wife or husband for each of them.

All my household are blessed in their deeds: we’re blessed when we come in and when we go out.

I take good care of my body. I eat right, I look good, I feel good, and I weigh what God wants me to weigh.

I operate in all the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which are tongues and interpretation of tongues, the working of miracles, discerning of spirits, the word of faith, the word of knowledge, the word of wisdom, healings, and prophecy.

I know God’s voice, and I always obey what He tells me.

The love of God has been shed abroad in my heart by the Holy Ghost.

I do all my work excellently and with great prudence – making the most of all of my time.

I am creative because the Holy Spirit lives in me.

I love to pray. I love to praise and worship God.

I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress. I will speak forth the righteousness of God all the day long.

I have humbled myself, and God has exalted me.

I am a giver. It is more blessed to give than to receive. I love to give! I have plenty of money to give away all the time.

I cast all my care on the Lord for He cares for me.

I don’t give the devil a foothold in my life. I resist the devil, and he has to flee from me.

I don’t have a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind.

I am not afraid of the faces of man. I am not afraid of the anger of man.

I am a new creature in Christ: old things have passed away, behold, all things are new.

I have died and have been raised with Christ and am now seated in heavenly places.

I am dead to sin and alive unto righteousness.

I am a doer of the Word. I meditate on the Word all the day long.

I am not passive about anything, but I deal with all things in my life immediately.

I do not judge my sisters and brothers in Christ Jesus after the flesh. I am a spiritual man and am judged by no one.

I take every thought captive unto the obedience of Jesus Christ, casting down every imagination, and every high and lofty thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.

I am a responsible person. I enjoy responsibility, and I rise to every responsibility in Jesus.

I have been set free. I am free to love, to worship, to trust with no fear of rejection or of being hurt.

I have compassion and understanding for all people.

I catch the devil in all of his deceitful lies. I cast them down and choose rather to believe the Word of God.

I am Anointed by God for ministry. Alleluia!

Work is good. I enjoy work. Glory!

I have a teachable spirit.

I do not think more highly of myself than I ought to in the flesh.

Pain cannot successfully come against my body because Jesus bore all my pain.

I am a teacher of the Word.

I lay hands on the sick, and they recover.

I do what I say I will do, and I get where I am going on time.

I don’t hurry and rush; I do one thing at a time.

God opens my mouth, and no man can shut it. God shuts my mouth, and no man can open it.

The law of kindness is in my tongue. Gentleness is in my touch. Mercy and compassion is in my hearing.

As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he; therefore, all of my thoughts are positive.

I do not allow the devil to use my spirit as a garbage dump by meditating on negative things that he offers me.

I am a believer not a doubter.

No weapon that is formed against me shall prosper, but every tongue that rises against me in judgement, I shall show to be in the wrong.

I am slow to speak, quick to hear, and slow to anger.

I cast out devils and demons; nothing deadly can hurt me.

I never bind a sister or brother with the words of my mouth.

I am always a positive encouragement. I edify and build up; I never tear down or destroy.

I will cry to God most high Who performs on my behalf and rewards me.

My son (name) has a sweet personality, and he is not rebellious.

I don’t speak negative things.

My children love to pray and study the Word. They openly and boldly praise God.

My children make right choices according to the Word of God.

I am an obedient wife, and no rebellion operates in me.

My husband is wise. He is the king and priest of our home. He makes Godly decisions.

I use my time wisely. All of my prayer and study time is wisely spent.

I walk in the spirit all of the time.

My car is paid for.

I am rich – very rich.

I love to bless people and spread the Gospel.

I am an intercessor.

I receive speaking engagements in person, by phone, and/or by mail every day.

My daughter (name) operates in Godly wisdom and discipline, and she is full of energy.

I have a finished basement.

I have a beautiful wedding ring.

We have all the new furniture we need. We have a new car.

I never get tired or grow weary when I study the Word, pray, minister, or praise God; but I am alert and full of energy. And as I study, I become more alert and more energized.

I will to study the Word of God. I will to pray.

My husband can see perfectly. By the stripes of Jesus, he is healed.

I do not hate or walk in unforgiveness.

I do not fear. I am not guilty.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

College Student Moments vs. Adult Moments

So Eric and I like to make jokes about having "adult moments" and "college student moments"...

Since we got married and had a baby so young, there are definitely times that we feel like it is all just playing grown up as we walk through the day to day challenges of work, baby, bills, etc. At times though, we resort back to the college days.=)

Now to any college students who may read this, I do not at all intend to belittle anything you do or make it seem easy. Instead, I'm saying enjoy every minute!!

Nine times out of ten we play the adult role fairly well. Eric comes home from work and I have a crock pot meal waiting on the table. There is always a vegetable with every meal because, um hello, adults eat their veggies!! Addisyn sits in the high chair with us and I push my apron out of the way as I prance across the kitchen to refill Eric's glass. Eric usually leads us in a family devotion and then looks at me and says "Darling, How was your day?" ...and then of course he listens intently. After dinner, I do the dishes as he fills me in on things at work. Once Addisyn is bathed and in bed, we retire to our bedroom, put on our matching flannel pajamas and read for a few minutes before kissing each other good night and going to bed early. (This is slightly exaggerated...the only true part is that I do make dinner, we do eat as a family, and we usually have veggies)

Well, tonight, we are having an all out college student night!! Partly because I'm sick and not feeling up to much. We just ran out to blockbuster and came back with 2 movies, a pizza, coke, candy, and popcorn!! No joke! (There was some kinda "movie package" at blockbuster that had the drinks, candy, and popcorn.) Eric's putting Addisyn to bed and then we're going to skip eating at the table and instead chow down on the couch as we watch a movie!!

The point of all this? There really isn't one... Except to say, enjoy life...enjoy every moment...enjoy your spouse. Spend time together without expectations of what "adults" do. Eric and I love to have fun together! He's my best friend!

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

No Clever Title

I really want to write a clever title and fill this blog with cute new pictures of Addi and maybe talk about mine and Eric's Valentines Date (which was wonderful)...but i'm not! I'm pooped...haven't been able to find time for blogging....didn't get home from work till 8:45 tonight...

Oh yeah and Addisyn got her shots yesterday and has two teeth coming in...a.k.a. fussy! That's all... stay tuned=)

Thursday, February 11, 2010

HAPPY 6 MONTH BIRTHDAY, ADDISYN!

Wednesday, February 10th, was Addisyn's 6 month Birthday!

Addi... Happy 1/2 year Bday, Baby! You are so precious to me and Daddy and we love you more than you will ever know!!

At 6 months you are:

Rolling over both ways, but not putting it together that once you flip yourself one way you can roll back over.

Sleeping through the night (11-12 hrs) most of the time;)

Not much of a napper...you are way to busy, but Mommy is convinced that we will have nap time!

Formula fed and starting on some baby food. So far you aren't a fan of bananas=)

Approx. 17lbs...haven't been to the 6 mo appt. yet

Sitting up and playing with toys...no longer content to lay on your back like a "little baby"!

Grabbing EVERYTHING AND PUTTING IT IN YOUR MOUTH!!!

Loving the exersaucer

Watching TV and paying attention to it more than most 3 year olds i've seen!!...you watch TV with your mouth hanging open like your Daddy;)

You love our dogs, Georgia and Jake, and you chew on them too if they will stand still long enough.

You are the joy of my life, Addisyn Faith!!! I love you!!

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Snow Day!

I was so happy to get to see some white stuff this winter! ...And extremely thankful that I was well enough to enjoy it. Eric and I were talking yesterday about last winter's snow. I was barely pregnant with Addisyn and soooo sick! Eric almost took me to the emergency room b/c Greenville OB was closed and I could barely even walk! Definitely thankful that's behind us...

This year, our sweet baby girl is here, and she was able to see her first snow!! She didn't quite know what to think about the snow, but she HATED getting bundled up!



We took her down some extreme hills on this skim board!





Don't ask about the ski glasses...i'm not sure...





Later that night when we were warm and dry inside...I told Eric it's him and his "mini me"...I think she looks just like him! :)

Thursday, January 28, 2010

My man is "the man!"

Today has been a looong day. Addisyn has been sick, therefore fussy... no need to elaborate further.

By the time Eric got home from work I was just barely holding it together so he didn't have to come home to a wife meltdown. But frankly, I had been caring for Addi's every need all day and I just wanted someone to take care of me! (Selfish and unrealistic, maybe...but thats just where I was at). There was no dinner on the table, because my child would shriek if I set her down and it would then escalate to the point of vomiting...yes, i'm serious.

Once Addi was in bed, I started to think about food and realized that I wanted french toast! For those who may be wondering...yes that is a weird craving, no i'm not pregnant. I just wanted some french toast, but I intended to starve before I dirtied up the kitchen at 8:30 pm after the day I'd had!! Eric was watching tv and I asked him in my most pitiful, sweet, sexy, irresistible voice "Baby, will you make me some french toast?"....his response? "No. I don't know how."

Rabbit trail from my story.... How is it that men "forget" how to do a lot of things after they get married? I'm just saying, there are a lot of things that my husband "can't" do now that i'm pretty sure I saw him do back when he was single! Anyways...

I stopped caring about what he was watching on tv and decided I was going to take a bubble bath and then go to bed. I loooove baths! It relaxes me so much and I am able to leave a ton of stress in my tub:) When I got out of the tub, I smelled something AMAZING and then went out and found before my very eyes, a table set for two with FRENCH TOAST!!! ...and a husband that was very proud of himself! I got teary eyed, I was sooo blessed!

I, of course, asked him how he knew how to make french toast all the sudden..."I looked in the recipe book" (mental note...the whole "I don't know how" thing really is an act sometimes). Anyways, we ate french toast for dinner at 10:00 at night and talked about how we were going to get fat if we kept doing this...but it was fun!

Eric also cleaned up! He is amazing and I love him so much!

Oh yeah...and he made a point of the fact that he unloaded the dishwasher too....my response "Thanks babe, but don't push it with the bragging thing!" LOL;)

Sick Week

Addisyn has been pretty sick this week, so other than me going to work yesterday (and her going to Grandma's) we haven't really done much. It's been kinda nice!

I took her to the doctor on Monday and she has an ear infection in her left ear and she's got the most brutal cough!!! Fortunately, the dr. said it didn't sound like pneumonia...which apparently she had seen a lot of lately. (I'd be freaking out if it was!)

So I've been spoiling my sick girl this week=) We've been watching a lot of tv in Mommy's bed. I swear, this child LOVES some Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Handy Manny. She watches it constantly like she's 5 yrs old instead of 5 months! ...And most naps have either been in Mommy's arms or in the swing (mainly b/c she doesn't sleep well laid flat with the cough and ear infection).

I'm not gonna lie, it's not been easy b/c she's really fussy, but i'm making it!
Feel better soon Baby!






^This pic was mid-cough!

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

"On Love and Respect"...probably the first of many

So Eric and I, along with some friends, are reading a book by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs called "Love and Respect". The book is about the woman's primary need to feel loved and men's primary need to feel respected. We have pretty much only read the intro so far, but I think it's going to be great!


The men like this book because it doesn't always assume that the men are wrong in most marriage situations...but to be honest, I like it for that reason too! Instead of reading a book that generally just focuses on my needs as a woman, and then spending my time thinking about how my husband doesn't meet those needs, its much better to know where I fall short so I can ask God to change me to be a better wife!

Anyways, that's the back story... so lately I've been praying a lot about my marriage! Asking God to show me the areas where I "take over" and don't properly honor my husband as the head of the household. I've also been asking God to teach me how to react in those times when I don't feel loved in the way that I would like.

During church last sunday we sang "The Desert Song" which I love!!!....great chorus, verses, everything! The part that stuck out for me, though, was when we sing "Break my heart for what breaks Yours, Everything I am for Your kingdom's cause, SHOW ME HOW TO LOVE LIKE YOU HAVE LOVED ME." I was thinking about those words and just began to ask God to show me how to love my husband as Jesus has loved me (and of course, following with the theme of the book to be able to show love to my husband through respect).

Well, since then, God has really made this statement real to me and basically shown me that If I really want to love like He loves me I have no ground for any fussing, complaining, pity parties at all when it comes to my husband! Jesus was nailed to a cross because of His love for me! He made the ultimate sacrifice and since then there are MANY MANY MANY times when I have treated Him wrongly!! How can I even begin to compare anything to that?!? So I began to ask Jesus to "conform me into His image" and show me how to love my husband (and others) on that kind of a level! A level that is willing to love with everything...not based on results, and even in fact, assuming results that you won't like! If I commit to love my husband as Jesus has loved me then I am to love even when all I receive in return is a bad attitude, etc. I mean, I can't even wrap my mind around the fact that Jesus was nailed to a cross for me and then many times a day I turn around and basically slap him in the face with thoughts, actions, and words that I have that are not glorifying to God. Jesus, continue to show me how to love like you have loved me!

P.S. ...my husband is an amazing guy and I love him sooo much! I don't want this to sound like "OMG my man has issues!" Love you E!

Saturday, January 23, 2010

I have found the $1,000,000 secret!!

Since I have become a mom (and also many times before) I have wondered to myself....how do people do it? By "it" I mean, care for a child, keep the house clean, and control the piles of dirty clothes/sheets/towels that over take the laundry room, etc? Oh yeah, and work part time...and other stuff...

I've spent a while now in this constant state of "overwhelmedness"... you like that word don't ya? Definition? "Overwhelmedness"- a state of feeling overwhelmed a lot! I love something that my sister-in-law said last week, "When you have a 3 year old, you don't have time to clean up after them...and when you have a baby you don't have time to clean up after yourself." So true! Many times I wondered how my house gets so messy when its usually just me here? Here's how: if Addisyn will relax for 5 minutes in the exersaucer then I have a second to make myself a bowl of soup and a sandwich for lunch.... BUT then she'll probably blow out a poop in her pants and "ta-da" the dishes are either left on the counter or thrown in the sink to take care of that... and it starts!

(Pause the writing of this post to put Addi down for a nap)

So anyways, this week I have found the key to keeping everything under control...

ARE YOU READY!?!?

Here goes...

Don't rest! ...EVER! Don't be deceived into thinking you get "me time." You don't. If I am not constantly doing some sort of cooking, cleaning, laundry, diaper changing, dog feeding task then I get behind. When is my time to rest? Most nights I am able to rest from 10:30pm-1:00am, 1:30am - 5am, 6am- 7am (Addi has had a cold so she hasnt been sleeping well). I know that this is all said sarcastically but I'm pretty much serious! That's how it seems! Every moment that I am in my house there is something that needs to be done!

So back to overwhelmedness... this week I was rocking Addisyn before bed and I just started crying. I cried out to God and my prayer was very simple... "God, i'm weary"... Now tired is a physical state, but weary is physical, spiritual, mental and emotional exhaustion. I immediately heard the still, small voice of my creator "Come to me, all who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest!" Now as I mentioned before, the kind of rest where you put in a movie, take a bubble bath and then nap if you want to is not so practical anymore.

So the point of my ramblings is this... I am constantly in a state of "doing" as a wife and mom. But my prayer is that MY SPIRIT WOULD BE AT REST. God is revealing his love to me in such an awesome way right now and even though I may go to bed "tired" I am being refreshed everyday by an amazing God who always meets us where we're at!

Practically how does this work for me? Playing worship music! Meditating on "tidbits" from the word! Spending time praying during the day. I mean, you can be thanking God for His goodness while you're taking a shower or changing a diaper! Most importantly by not letting the devil discourage me! By changing my mentality to "be at rest" in the midst of my busyness I find that in the midst of the mundane I find joy!!!

Thursday, January 14, 2010

I DON'T CARE!!!!

Just a quick vent... my husband is obsessed with Skip Holtz leaving ECU to go to USF! I'm so sick of hearing about it!!! I don't want to discuss it any further or be forced to "read" anymore articles about it! I was sad for about a minute that his "era" has come to an end but now i'm over it! That's all...

P.S. Even as I write this Eric is looking over my shoulder telling me to put that "maybe Bobby Bowden's son will come coach for us" ....grrrr

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Addisyn's First Christmas

...PICTURES AS PROMISED=)

Such a little cutie pie! ...and so photogenic=)

Addi in her bumbo seat watching Pop Pop and cousin Livi!

"Santa" (aka Pop Pop and Grandma Nae) brought her a baby doll cradle and highchair


And, yes, she got a present that was bigger than she was ....it was an exersaucer and she loves it!

Addisyn and Great-Grandma Steinmetz on Christmas morning


Daddy bought her a Pirates jersey to wear for the bowl game...Arrrggghh!!


Addi got lots of teddy bears... and a little baby doll!


Aren't these Christmas jammies precious?!?



Me and my girl on the Sunday before Christmas. She is wearing my dress
that I wore my first Christmas!


Alright...here's for an update...

So to all of you who think i'm falling off the face of the blog earth... you may be a little bit right! I love blogging but it's just kinda gotten pushed to the bottom of my priority list behind holiday preparation/recovery, working, being a wife and mommy, etc. I know that many of you do way more than me and still blog about it all....kudos to you;) Needless to say, my blog posts may or may not be more scarce, but that just means it will be so much more of a joy to read after you have to wait for one! LOL! (If you haven't noticed I like to act like more than 3 people read my blog)

I'm blogging today because i'm sick (UGH!) and in bed with nothing to do. My amazing husband packed up Addi and took her with him to the dealership so that I could rest, since I barely got 4 hours of sleep last night!

Anyways, our trip to Florida ended up being fun! It was a LOOONNNGGG drive, but an adventure nonetheless. We did Christmas with Eric's family and I got the cutest COACH boots! Eric, Addi and I got a day out to shop and we went to the HUGEST mall I have ever been to in Tampa. Lets be honest, most of the stores I didn't even step into because I knew I couldn't afford one sock from Louis Vuitton, Gucci or Burberry;) But, hey, I did stock up on new undies @ Victoria's Secret and browsed bags at Coach (my favorite place ever)!

All in all we had a great Christmas! Addisyn got enough stuff to fill up my whole house, but I guess thats the way it should be. I mean seriously though...she won't need to celebrate another birthday or Christmas until she's 3! I was really excited because she was much more involved than I thought she would be. She loved to watch everyone open their presents and she sampled each and every gift bag or piece of tissue paper to see which ones were the tastiest! I have about a million pictures of Addi's first Christmas but my camera is in the diaper bag which, as I previously mentioned is with my Super Husband at the dealership. =) Pics to come later...

I must say, I did have the lamest New Year's Eve, though. I went to bed! At like 10:30! But you know what?!? The ball dropping is really not that fascinating and it was still 2010 when I woke up the next morning and I felt rested!

Speaking of 2010...i'm believing that it's going to be a wonderful year! 2009 showed me a whole new side of God and His faithfulness! I walked through the sickest three months of my life when I was pregnant with Addisyn, but came out on the other side stronger and with the most precious gift of all! My baby girl has blessed mine and Eric's life more than I could've ever imagined! I'm thankful for my husband's health and that God sustained us (and is continuing to sustain us) through the battle with his pain. I'm thankful that my parents both celebrated their 50th birthdays and their 25th wedding anniversary! I'm thankful that God gave us favor in the car business this year and that we still have our doors opened at Feyer Ford and Mercury and Feyer Ford Lincoln Mercury! God's goodness has been so humbling in 2009...I can't even imagine what 2010 has to offer! My prayer for this year? ..."Just a closer walk with Thee..."