Happy Birthday Marina!

Yesterday was my dear friend, Marina Simmons' 28th birthday. Marina and I became friends about 6 years ago when I started dating Jordan. She was dating one of Jordan's roommates, Chris, (who she is now married to) and her friendship over the past 6 years has blessed me in so many ways. So in honor of this special lady I have come up with the Top 10 things we all love about Marina!

...Drum Roll Please................

10. She is extremely creative (she designed this blog!)

9. She is authentic which makes people she's around feel comfortable being themselves and her candor can be very entertaining as well.

8. She reads celebrity gossip and believes everything she reads..."Where there's smoke there's fire!". . .or so she says

7. She will go out of her way to serve others. She is my most selfless friend. Whether it be through bringing meals or offering to clean my house when I had a broken foot or after Larkin's birth, or offering to watch Larkin while I go run errands, she truly goes out of her way to serve.

6. She's an incredible mom to little Owen and the first of our group of friends to have a baby. She paved the way for us, which would not be an easy thing to do.

5. She has a huge fear of vomit. HUGE.

4. She loves to clean and it seems is constantly bleaching her entire house.

3. She is just hilarious to be around - I find myself always laughing.

2. She is great with babies and so sweet with little Larkin. He likes to give her lots of smiles.

1. She is a very loyal friend, wife and mommy and I am so thankful for her in my life!



Happy Birthday (WEEKEND) Marina! You are loved!

In the Doghouse

Piper loves Jordan. I know she loves me too, but post-baby I have eventually realized as my attention towards her has dwindled, so has my place in her heart. Where I used to be the "parent" she would go to when needing attention or to play I now find myself in the dog house where she's concerned. She is her daddy's dog.



It became most apparent to me on a few nights where Jordan was working late. Piper propped herself up on the front bay window late into the night waiting for his truck to pass by. After a few hours she resigned herself to laying by the door in the hopes of his return. Eventually, at my pleading she gave up and came back to Larkin's room where he was nursing. She laid down by the door and perked her ears up at the slightest noise eagerly awaiting Jordan's return.

When Jordan was sick earlier this week, he quarantined himself to the back bedroom. Piper tried to pull an all nighter with him, laying on the floor next to his bed until I made her get out so he could rest. From there she stationed herself in the hallway whimpering for him to come out.



I have now resigned myself to the fact that I am no longer her number one...As much as I wish I could give her the attention she deserves during the day, it is just no longer the priority. Poor Piper, perhaps a few pieces of chicken under the table might do our relationship some good. Hmmmm... :)

Happy 3-0 Mindy!!!!!!!!!!!

When I think of words to describe Mindy, the first that comes to mind is JOY. Her smile can light up a room and her joyful spirit spills over to the people she is with. She is one of the most creative, organized and thoughtful friends I have and she has an outer beauty that is enhanced by the even more attractive beauty of Christ in her.

We are all so thankful for you and loved celebrating you tonight sweet friend. Happy 3-0!

The Birthday Girl and Her Cake



Make a Wish!



Family Shot



Mr. Justin with Larkin - we missed you Jenni and Cooper!





The Group



We all have babies now! Crazy!



HAPPY BIRTHDAY MINDY!!!

Go Aggies!

I'm sitting here chuckling to myself as I watch my boys cheer on the Aggies. Larkin seems to be entranced by the game and as Jordan yells at the T.V. after each play, Larkin (not to be outdone) is being equally as vocal cheering on his future team with squeals and grunts!

Larkin watching the game



My Men



GO AGGIES!

Happy Fall!

Precious...

He he he!

Dear Larkin,

Yesterday I had one of the happiest times of mommy-hood yet, you laughed! You have been chuckling a lot, mind you, but yesterday as I bounced you up and down to "5 little monkeys" you just let loose with a big squeal-like laugh. I think you startled yourself. You heard your little laugh, froze and then you let loose again... how fun! I started laughing hysterically which you enjoyed even more.... what a sweet moment for mommy and son.

These were taken a few nights before, but still they show off your good smile and happy personality. One of these days I'm going to catch your laugh on video!







Love you,
Mommy

Celebrating Jordan

This past weekend we celebrated Jordan's birthday with a surprise party at Twisted Root. I am not a huge hamburger person but Jordan LOVES this place so, of course, it made the perfect venue to have a small celebration in his honor.

Jordan's college roomates, buddies and their significant others joined in to make it a surprise dinner for the birthday boy. It was great for Jordan, whose idea of a perfect night would be hanging out with a group of buddies over a beer and a good burger. :) Marina Simmons, a dear friend, helped pull off the surprise and make it an extra special night for J. Thanks Marina!

Larkin got dressed up in his "party shirt" and was ready to surprise daddy!



Daddy and Larkin



Surprise Daddy!






Josh Rives and little Lucy - Mindy left for St. Marten so couldn't be there- we missed you!



Kimber Glenn and Larkin



Brent Baker, Jordan and Larkin



Our little Family



Larkin, did you have fun at daddy's birthday?!



Happy Birthday Jordan! Thanks for everyone who made it special for him :)

Happy 30th Birthday Jordan!

Today is my husband, Jordan's, 30th Birthday! If you have met my husband, you know what an incredible man he is. In honor of this momentous occasion I would love to share 30 things I love about him: silly, serious and random.

1. He loves sour gummy worms in his frozen yogurt.
2. He works hard and isn't lazy.
3. He is great with managing our money- I can trust him to take care of me.
4. His lullaby to get Larkin to sleep is the Aggie War Hymn
5. He has learned to just hug me when I am going crazy or when I'm sad
6. He engages others and is great at making people feel special or important
7. He will drop anything to go help a friend who needs help and it hurts him when his friends / family are hurting
8. He loves to serve behind the scenes.
9. He takes Piper running in the field each morning so she'll be good for mommy during the day.
10. Generally he eats his food portion by portion (all the chicken first, etc.)
11. He talks in his sleep and I can carry on pretty hilarious conversations with him
12. He lets me cuddle with him and he will cuddle back
13. He gives great foot massages
14. When watching a close sporting event (especially the aggies) he will have to leave the room or turn off the t.v. His fingernails will be completey bitten off and his heart will sometimes even be beating fast.
15. He can give you directions anywhere.
16. He prays over Larkin and I.
17. I can't imagine a better daddy for Larkin- and he's great at baths and diaper changing!
18. He will text me just to tell me he's thinking about me.
19. He loves the outdoors
20. He's a great travel companion
21. He's a huge helper around the house
22. He still thinks "potty humor" is hilarious and will laugh hysterically at these types of jokes.
23. His favorite restaurants are the classic Outback and Chilis- easy to please
24. He supports and encourages me with things I'm interested in
25. He is a family guy and loves spending time with our families
26. He doesn't listen to the radio in his car - he likes it quiet
27. He has compassion on people - he's interested in people's lives, not what they can do for him
28. He is extremely responsible -even from an early age... when he was in elementary school, a neighbor who had a child the same age as Jordan would call Mrs. Brazeal and ask if Jordan would come "watch their son". Or, when the Brazeals called a babysitter in, although he was the third child they would tell the babysitter to "ask Jordan" if there was a problem or they needed to find something :)
29. He tells me he loves me all the time - and Larkin too
30. He has spent the past five and a half years being my best friend. He's lived out the happiest and saddest moments of life with me and seen me at my best and absolute worst. He is a man of integrity who fears the Lord. He has a heart for people and he is so deserving of being celebrated today!





Happy Birthday Jordan! I love you so much!

A Mouthful

Larkin found something tasty this week!



I can hardly believe he is ten weeks old today! In addition to finding his hand in week nine, he is responding with smiles and laughter to mommy or daddy making funny faces, a favorite toy, our ceiling fan or to someone talking/ flirting with him. He has been smiling for a while now, but it is even more fun as we can typically (unless he's hungry or tired)can get one out of him in response to something we do!

Today I went back to BSF and was so happy to know 3 dear friends who are in my small group - Melanie Conner, Cayce Rutledge and Holly Seely. I'm so excited to be able to share these next few months with them and to get back more in depth to God's word. My prayer is to not just gain knowledge (which, I think in Proverbs says "puffs up") but to have a real encounter with Christ through His word and be changed because of it. I have felt really thirsty in that area lately and I'm praying through this committment the Lord will realign my life with His Kingdom and quench that thirst that is inside of me. Larkin came with me in small group and lecture and did great (such a trooper!), but it was hard to focus as I was preoccupied hoping he wouldn't be a distraction to others. Maybe next week we will put him in the nursery ...We will see....



When I got home from the bible study Larkin was exhausted. I put him right to bed and after about 30 minutes started looking for Piper. She was no where to be found. Walking through the hallway I heard the tiniest of whimpers and a faint scratch on the nursery door. It was dark when I closed Larkin's door for his nap and she must have followed me in. I had locked her in with him! Poor Piper! It was as if she knew she had to be quiet as she tried to get my attention to let her out. She is such a good puppy.

Well off to do chores before my little pumpkin wakes up! Happy 10 weeks Larkin, I love you!

Meeting Nanny and Cissy

A precious time this week as Larkin met his great-grandmother and my Nanny, Fay Larkin. He took right to her and loved being held by her. She was great with him and I could tell they are already going to be good friends!




He also met his Aunt Cissy who has always been such a fun aunt to me. She stayed over with us last night and even claimed she didn't here him cry in the middle of the night! Unfortunately I realized I didn't get a photo of Lark and Cissy. However, I'm so thankful for wonderful family to love on Larkin. We can't wait until Nanny (Larkin's great grandmother) comes down here to live and we can have lots of fun playdates with her!

Audrey's Shower

This past weekend we had a shower for my dear college friend, Audrey. Audrey is due at the end of October and is having a little boy, Bennett Thomas Buchanen.



The theme was "cookies and milk" and we had fun with all of the decor. Guests drank out of milk cartons and had their choice of strawberry, chocolate, 2%, skim or soy milk!






One of the hostesses, Natalie, baked 7 different types of cookies which were INCREDIBLY delicious. Everyone took at least one of each to try it out and at the end of the shower guests were given little baggies with leftovers to take home. They were a huge hit.








My little helper the morning of while I got finished getting ready!





We played a few cute games one of which was the classic "clothespin game" and look who ended up the winner!



Audrey and her sisters enjoying their milk and cookies!



Gorgeous mommy-to-be opening gifts



Guests took cookie scented soaps home... they really smell like cookies :)



The hostesses with Audrey and Bennett



We had so much fun celebrating little Bennett and mommy, Audrey. She is going to be such an incredibly mommy and we look forward to meeting this new little addition to their family! Love you both!