Summer Travels (Part 1)

Oh my has it been a summer for traveling! It has been super fun, but kept us very busy! I thought I would share with you a little piece from all of our trips :) So here is Part 1.

May.

The first weekend in May mommy and Carter went to see our besties in Atlanta. We went with Aunt Tracy to see Aunt Tara and the boys.

We arrived on Cinco de Mayo so the first order of events was to find some Mexican food! Here are the boys in the backseat rockin the sunglasses.

Then, Thursday night, Davon stayed home with the boys so we could have a girls night! And oh what a night. Out for coffee and dessert and then a midnight movie!



Friday morning Aunt T made the yummiest pancakes with strawberries and whip cream. Delish!

Then the rest of the morning we stayed around the house, catching up, chatting and letting the boys play outside. They had so much fun running around together.

Unfortunately, this was also the day of Carters big injury. We both cried buckets...but thankfully I had great friends there to take care of us :) And Carter was a trooper.

Friday night we did a little shopping and came back early so the boys could get in bed. But our night didn't stop there. We made sure to sneak in yet another chick-flick thanks to movies on demand.

Saturday morning we got up early to go see Jay play Tee ball! He did so good and was so happy we were there to watch him :) We were happy to be there.

After the game we went by the church where Davon works so we could get a tour and hear all about his job. Afterwards we headed back to their house so we could hit the road back home. It was a really great weekend catching up and being with dear friends.  Thanks for letting us be house guests. Treasured times!

The next weekend in May we traveled up to Virginia and spent the weekend with my sister and her family. We already had plans to be at a conference in Maryland the week after, so we went a few days early to see them.

The first picture is everyone outside playing in the bubbles. Then a pic of Carter and his cousin enjoying their snack.

After we spent the weekend with family, we drove up into Maryland for a 3 day conference. The hotel we stayed at was surrounded by shops, restaurants and this nice pond. Carter of course loved it, and loved the ducks.

Its always nice to visit family and the conference we attended was refreshing and really needed.  Another great weekend!

Then, the next weekend mommy got a mini vacay with some fabulous ladies! Daddy and Carter had a weekend together while mommy went to the mountains. It was such a nice weekend. We just relaxed together, told stories, took walks, ate WAY too much food. It was such a blessing to be able to be away for a few days with ladies who love the Lord and love each other. I am so honored to have awesome friends and ladies surrounding me who lift each other up, pray for each other and truly love each other. Here is the group.

May was a fabulous month for traveling...lots of great weekends. Stay tuned for Part 2 and Part 3!

22 months

This month has blown my mind!! I feel like I say something like that every month, but really Carter is a little boy now! He is so big, he is talking up a storm, he communicates with us so well and even how he acts is like a big boy. It is so fun now that he can communicate and talk with us. This month he has started to sing the songs we have been singing him! We LOVE it. This kid loves music. Everytime we get in the car and at nap or bedtime he always say, "song", meaning he wants to sing. It is so sweet to hear him sing. One of his favorite songs is Jesus Loves Me. I'll ask him what he wants to sing and he says, "Jesus, Jesus". And thats another new thing, he has been saying Jesus. He points to him in books and sings about him and says his name when we pray. He might not understand that Jesus is a real person yet, but I can't wait to tell him all about the man who is more than just a song or story.

His favorite food right now is blueberries. His new favorite tv show is Blues Clues, he always ask to watch "boos coos", sorry Mickey but Blue is taking the lead. But of course he still love Mickey and has started saying Kickey mouse (adding the mouse) now instead of just Kickey. He loves to say peoples names, and ask "what's that". He loves to say "where are you" in a loud, long voice. He sometimes even calls for people and asks where are you even when they are no where around. He loves to help clean and picks up all his toys. He dances all the time, is such a ham and so dramatic, but still a sweet, snuggly little boy.

20 months

I am SO behind...my 1 1/2 year old has been keeping me VERY busy I guess :) It's also so hard to keep up with everything he is doing these days. Carter is always on the move, running or dancing, however he was a little more clingy to mommy this month. Must be an age or stage. When he runs he yells "go, go go". I think his daddy encourages that one. Daddy has also taught him how to tell Cheerio (our dog) to sit down. He loves to color, to "play"night night with his animals, sit on laps and give hugs. He is such a lover. He also loves hats and puts anything on his head and says "hat". On the Saturday before Easter he said the word "Bible". He also got another tooth this month, his 10th tooth and last (and worst) molar. We celebrated Mommy's birthday as well as Easter and had out first Easter egg hunt. Carter also had his first big injury. While at a friends house he fell outside and fell onto a trimmed branch and got a gash in his head. He cried. Mommy cried. But we are better now :) I guess we will have to get used to this having a boy!

21 months

Lets see, Carter's 21st month. Well, I feel like we learned and have done so much in this month. These days he repeats and copys almost everything you do and say. He has learned to fold his hands when we pray, so at meals the first thing he does when he sees his plate is fold his hands. He has figured out most all animal sounds, to include: bear, lion, duck, dog, cat, sheep, chicken, bird, elephant, rabbit, monkey, gator..etc. Carter's favorite things are still dancing, singing and now he likes to read to himself. The number he knows the best and always says is "nine", some others new words are sunshine, blue, green, red, and mine (uh oh). He also had his first trip to urgent care as his temperature was the highest its ever been at 104.6! He was acting fine but his poor temp spiked during naptime and his skin turned pink. And he was definitely not a fan of urgent care! Its hard to keep up these days but we are enjoying watching him and laughing with him as we see him learn and develop.

Great Light of the World

I woke up late, hurried through my morning routines, got myself ready, got my son ready and loaded the car. I dropped the little one off, to rush to work on time...

I hop back in my car only to hear Praise Baby coming through the speakers.

Playing softly. But oh so loud in my heart.

Sometimes at night
I am afraid
I cover my eyes,
Cover my shame
So here in the dark
Broken apart
Come with your light
And fill up my heart

Oh great light of the world
Fill up my soul
I’m half a man here
So come make me whole
Oh great light of the world
Come to impart
The light of your grace
To fill up my heart

The wind of this world
Can push us around
Folding us up
Backing us down
But here in the dark
I’m not alone
So come with your strength
And carry me home

Oh great light of the world
Fill up my soul
I’m half a man here
So come make me whole
Oh great light of the world
Come to impart
The light of your grace

Oh great light of the world
Fill up my soul
I’m half a man here
So come make me whole
Oh great light of the world
Come to impart
The light of your grace
To fill up my heart

The light of your grace
To fill up my heart

That morning I was thankful for the speakers. The speakers that were playing exactly what I needed to hear.

He speaks to us. Our hearts must be clear enough to hear Him. My heart must be clear enough to hear Him. Listen for Him, listen for His Spirit.