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Monday, May 28, 2012

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Parsons First Haircut

That's right...we parted with the oh so cute curls. Not because we wanted to...but because Parsons hair was looking a lot like a clown wig with a mullet back...not good. We took him to Sharkeys Cuts for Kids in Johns Creek, GA. Best choice ever. The chairs were shaped like cars and the hair lady was so fast. They took a before and after picture, he got a certificate for "getting through" his first hair cut, a lolly pop AND a balloon. They also gave this mamma a lock of his sweet baby curls.











He looks like a little boy now :)

Parson, you are adorable...Mommy and Daddy love you more than you can imagine.

Love 

Patty

Friday, May 25, 2012

Party Pics

Here it is...the post with Parsons 1st birthday party pictures. They are wonderful. Paola with Little Blessings Photography is amazing (though she did have a cute model) check out her blog here.

Look below for a bit of sunshine for your day :)

















Love, 

Patty

Monday, May 21, 2012

I wish I could fix it all...or do I?

"You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world"
- Woodrow Wilson

Thank you Mr. Woodrow Wilson for this insight. I write with a heavy heart, I write with empathy, I write with the want to change a lot of things.

I was busy enjoying some silence, Parson is in bed, the kitchen is clean and Aaron is still working. I should be clipping and organizing coupons and shopping lists for tomorrow...but instead I was taking my time exploring on Pinterest. I came across a pin that was titled "Celebrities are infertile to", because of the tile and the pinner, I clicked on the article and read it. This topic though I have never delt with infertility myself, there are people near and dear to my heart that have. As I read this article misty eyed thinking about all of the people in the article and all of the people I know and know of that have struggled. I thought to myself...UGH why cant I just take all the babies that people don't want and just give them to these people who want to love on them? Why cant I just make the people who want babies fertile and the ones who don't infertile?

This then lead to well why cant I just go make sure everyone in downtown Atlanta has at least one meal each day. Why cant I just go make sure every single child is being loved on and provided for properly. Why cant I go find every person that cant pay their mortgage an give them the money to get on top of it. Why cant I fund every good doing non profit organization? Why cant I make sure that everyone has the ability to go get medical attention if they need it. Why cant I just cure cancer and sicknesses, poverty, sadness, and worry?

Because I am not the Lord, nor do I want to be. All I can do is pray about all of this. Then I came across this quote:

"I have never been especially impressed by the heroics of people convinced the are about to change the world. I am more awed by those who struggle to make one small difference."
- Ellen Goodman

Though I cant fix it all, I can do small things. I can make sure my neighbors have meals, I can make sure that all of the children around me are loved on, I can keep giving what money we can to charity to help those who cant pay their bills,  I can support those I know why are dealing with infertility, cancer, and sadness.

Sorry for another serious post...I promise the posts will be filled with sweet pictures and updates on Parson from now on.

Love,

Patty


Saturday, May 19, 2012

Balance

Balance...that is they key right? Balance the hubs, Parson, other family, friends, faith, church, laundry, and dinner all while making sure your mascara isn't running from tears and your hair isn't flat from sweat. Piece of cake....nope.

Two years ago Aaron and I decided it was time for us to move from the pews at church to the floor with kids. We both started volunteering in Upstreet, our churches Elementary school aged kids ministry. I was a small group leader for 4th grade girls and Aaron was a backstage monitor. About two weeks after we started curriculum, we found out I was pregnant. Despite the exhaustion, nausea, and puking of the first trimester...I made it through on the smiles of my 6-8 girls. I served up until the day I gave birth to Parson. After I gave birth,  Aaron and I took the summer off of volunteering and decided we would pick back up in the fall. I moved up with the same girls to be their 5th grade small group leader and Aaron stayed a backstage monitor. Despite the lack of sleep, sickness, ER visits, and craziness of then being a full time working outside the home Mommy, I served nearly every Sunday gathering with my girls to try and be an example of the Lords love to them.

It was hard and sometimes I did not want to go, but once I got there it all changed. To have these girls run in an they are so anxious to tell you about their weeks. For them to be excited to see their friends from church. But, there is nothing better than seeing a young girls face when she is singing praise and worship or when she is listening to a children s sermon...and you see the light come on.

Then there are times when you ask for prayer requests. My niece self thinking I am going to hear things like "please let me pass my test" or "please let me get a bike for my birthday"...again I was wrong. Instead I heard things like "My parents are getting divorced", "Please help my Mom stop bringing my Dad to court", "My Grandma has cancer" or "My Uncle died and I am sad". WOAH...these kids are 10 and 11 and these are their prayer requests!

I prayed long and hard for these kids, I invested lots of time in them. They and their families were so loving to Aaron and I, giving us gifts for holidays and for Parsons birth. Who knew when you do something that you thought was so simple and it turns out to be so huge? In the two years that I was their leader, I had the privilege to watch two of the girls accept Christ and be Baptized. Want a good cry? Go to My Family Birthday Celebration at North Point Community Church and watch elementary aged kids give their testimony and be baptized.

Tomorrow is bittersweet. My girls are moving up to the middle school ministry Transit. Which means a new leader.

These two years have been a balancing act and it has been a challenge. I will not regret a moment that I spent influencing the lives of the girls. I wont regret one sick morning that I made it through and sat on a carpet circle and shared the gospel with these girls.

Even though I such an amazing time with my girls, it is now time for me to serve my family. There will be a time when it is time for me to serve in church again, maybe in a different way. When that time comes I will gladly make the sacrifice to serve others.

<3

Patty

Monday, May 14, 2012

Week 2

I write in a quiet house with a cup of hot coffee and breakfast, sounds amazing right?!

Week 2 has been an adventure as expected. The antibiotics Parson was on for his ear infection hurt his belly so there was lots of fussy an clingy-ness and not wanting to sleep-ness. Though last week had its challenges it was also so rewarding. I got to look at this face all day


Parson despite how he felt, learned a lot this week. He learned how to say fish, which is more like "fiths", he is trying to run and is getting pretty good at it, and he had his first lolly pop



Along with spending all my time with this cuteness ^^^ I also have been penny pinching and trying to find ways to save a few dollars. As of now I make my own laundry detergent, baby wipes (except for on the go), glass/window cleaner, and dishwasher detergent. I have to say...my homemade cleaners work (I think) better than the full of chemicals store bought junk. The best part is I usually have everything I need to make them in the house all ready. I put the recipes in the Homemade Lifestyle section of our blog


Glass/Window Cleaner


Dishwasher Detergent
Sorry for the sideways image...I could not get it to rotate for some reason


Parson calls. Happy Monday.

Love, 

Patty









Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Toddler-ville = Frustration

So many things change with kids in their first year of life. They learn to eat, sleep, crawl, walk, laugh, and talk.

Then there is toddler-ville. The time when your baby turns into a toddler. 12 months, 13 months.....This so far has been a land of sleep defiance and discipline. Parson, who has been an "easy" baby is now a challenging toddler. He can put his mind to something and do it. Like avert naps.

We are currently re-sleep training. Morning naps are not a problem. Afternoon nap and bedtime is a different story. Parson is not nursing anymore an that is part of the reason that we are re-sleep training. (he also does not take a bottle)

I write as Parson cries...err screams for his 11 min before I go check on him. As I sit here I debate since it is so late in the afternoon if I just give up (again) on the afternoon nap and hope for the best (a not over tiered toddler at bedtime...right)

Most people will say...he is one...he no longer needs an afternoon nap. Well...not Parson. He needs that rest. He takes his morning nap at about 10-10:30 and sleeps around 2 hours. Come 2:30 he is exhausted. Rubbing his eyes, yawning, and throwing tantrums. For whatever reason, he wont take the nap. No matter what. He is dry, not hungry, and just plain tired.

I know it will get better, I know he will sleep, I know it will take time, and I know this is just a phase.

His 11 min. are up, I must go check on him and see if this nap is going to happen.

Love,

Patty

Saturday, May 5, 2012

Splish Splash

The nice thing about living in the south compared to the north is summer starts in April. The bad thing about living in the south is summer means 90 degree days.

Parson received a splash pool for one of his first birthday gifts...he loved playing in it on this hot day.

"This looks like it could be fun"

"Maybe I will get a little closer"

"I am in, now why is everything blue?"

"Mom, really with all the pictures"

Next time we play in the splash pool I need to remember something....don't forget to put sunscreen on Mommy to :S

Love, 

A, P &P

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Week 1

Week 1 of being a stay at home Mom has been awesome. I love our little boy more than anything on the planet.

Poor thing on the last day at daycare I got a call to pick him up early. Our wonderful pediatrician, back for the first day after having knee surgery stayed late to see Parson knowing his history with his ears. Sure enough poor guy had another double ear infection. We go back in two weeks to have his little ears checked again. But if the fluid has not drained we go for a consultation for tubes in his ears. Aaron, his brother and Grandfather all had extensive ear infection issues. I want to get this figured out as soon as I can so it does not affect Parsons hearing.

Here is a picture of P after his bath. His shark towel was a gift for his birthday. (don't mind messy Mommy, we had just been on a walk in the 85 degree weather)


Love, 

A, P, & P