Hello!

Tyler wishes everyone a great week! He's also sooooo close to taking off crawling. We'll keep you updated!

10-S N E 1?

Great Birthday

Today was my birthday and it was GREAT! We celebrated last night with "the household." We all went to eat at a Japanese Steakhouse, which for me always comes with consequences but so worth it! Tyler loved all the ruckus that went on and squinted at the fire. Then we had a K-Factor Tennis cake and opened presents. John-E and Jenny got me a 25 piece knife set and a marble cheese board cutter. Scott and my family in Iowa pitched in and got me 2 new tennis racquets (K-Factor/K-Blade 98 to be exact)! I'm really excited because I've been playing with the same racquets for 10 years! Scott's parents got me a "too small for her" golf glove, which was PERFECT for me, a kitchen towel that she put "God loves Stay at Home Mom's" it is so sweet, and gift certificate to Target (my favorite and it helps that it is exactly 1 mile from my house!) My sister-in-law gave me an early gift of Bare Escentuals starter kit a few weeks ago, which I love! My friends called me all day and brought and sent flowers! It was really great! Thank you to everyone!!! I will post more pictures later! Tyler tried to steal my tennis racquet and Scott has some cute pictures from the restaurant on his camera!

Happy 1st Birthday Ava!!!

We are so honored to be able to celebrate with Pat and Kristen for their daughter Ava's first birthday. She was the first baby born of all of our friends in Maryland. We had a great day introducing Ava and Tyler, opening some presents (a new outfit and her first purse that included keys, a cell phone, and mirror).

Then we had lunch, nap time, then we headed down to you guessed it...River Street. Tyler and Ava were amazing and were having a great time in their strollers checking out the beautiful scenery. There was a Latino Festival on River Street so we saw some dancing and heard some great music and then Pat treated Ava to some cotton candy, she wasn't so sure about all that cottony sugary fuz. Next we took the ferry across the Savannah River just for fun. We then headed up to Lady's and Sons and toured the Paula Deen store and then over to City Market where we saw the chariot horses and ate at Wild Wing Cafe. Like I said Tyler and Ava were champs but you could tell they were pretty exhausted by the end of the night. Once we got home it was time for Ava's birthday cake, so we stripped her down and let her go to town on her cake.

She was so adorable! I am so glad that they are here visiting...just giddy. Here is how Scott describes my excitement in an email to them earlier this week...

Dearest Pat and Kristen!

The simple thought of the possibility of having friends from Annapolis visit has Carrie in a childish grade school rage. She was so excited last night she peed the bed and then couldn't sleep from pure hysteria. You would have thought Mickey Mouse was coming to town. You'll be surprised to see how homely Carrie has become now that I keep her barefoot in the kitchen and pregnant. Not only that but since we have moved to Georgia she has developed a tremendous southern draw and sometimes needs to use sign language to communicate with northerners.

From Columbia it is a very easy drive if you take 26 to 95 to 204. After 204 it would be the 5th traffic light (Rio Rd). Got swim suits? We will have the help make up the guest suite on the west wing of the property for you.

What will make your visit even better is the sad fact that I will be at a meeting in Texas; so the ability for you all to keep Carrie occupied and entertained would be legendary. I'll be sure to leave a cake, a high chair, and a water hose for Ava.

Scott

You are so funny honey...I love you!

Happy Anniversary...3 Years!

I love you more and more each and every day! I can't wait for many more years to come in this wonderful adventure!

Happy First Father's Day!

Also happy 27th Father's Day to my Dad back home in Iowa! I love you DAD! Miss you!

And happy Father's Day to Scott's Dad...we both love you and I am so blessed to have you as a Father-in-law! Thank you for all you do for us!

Baby Dedication Pictures

Bath and Rinse

Just to keep up with the other people that always get at least one shot of the kitchen sink bath I have attached the bath and rinse from our 1952 Boaning Queen kitchen sink. Just another example of the many pictures that will one day haunt Tyler.

Scott

Swim Suit BUG

Every woman hates swimsuit shopping, am I right? Well, now I have a whole new perspective on swimsuit shopping and why I hate it! It also doesn't help that I had a baby in the last year either...but anyway. Friday I tried to go to Target to find a suit, but Tyler was a little too restless so I decided to wait until maybe mommy could go alone. Well, then Scott offered to go with me Friday night. Perfect now he can help me out. I was in search for a two piece with a short mini skirt bottom. Finally found some a Macy's...like 100. So I tried on 15-20 it seemed. I bought 2, both on sale. Friday night come home, try them on again to decide, no decision not really happy with either. Scott and I decide to go out to the dock...it was beautiful and no bugs! As we were coming in...I was feeling a little nauseous. And then it hit me and hit me HARD! I threw up everything for the next 2 days, with low-grade fever, and you guessed it diarrhea. I couldn't do anything! It was horrible. I don't know how I could have gotten it except the swimsuit dressing room. It couldn't of been food poisoning because everything I ate Thursday and Friday Scott ate as well. I can't remember the last time I've been that sick let alone breastfeeding and taking care of an infant. It was a good thing it was on a weekend and Scott was amazing...we even hosted our small group from church for a full day of fun on the water. I stayed in bed. Monday I was a little better...but still weak from not eating for 2 days. Today a little better...but talk about a crash diet ladies!

Dedicating Tyler...

We are dedicating Tyler to the Lord on June 14th at our church, Savannah Christian Church. This means that Scott and I are dedicated to living a Christ-centered life and to help guide Tyler in the ways of the Lord so that one day he will accept Jesus as his Savior. Scott and I were baptized by his father on June 19, 2005 (the day after we were married) in the Gulf of Mexico side of Key West. I was also baptized as a baby by method of sprinkling in the Lutheran Church. I was also confirmed in the Lutheran Church in 9th grade. I am glad I went to church growing up, but nothing ever stuck in me until I moved and found a nondenominational church and every time I went there the message really hit home. It was great...however every time I went I got tears in my eyes, probably knowing that I needed to make changes in my life, but didn't want to, but then I realized the message was so true and I just wasn't being honest with myself, let alone to God. So, not until I met Scott, we started dating, and I started being around his family did I start to get it. Wow, it's not just about believing in Jesus, it's about having a relationship with Jesus...every minute of every day. It's not about going to church 1 day a week, it's about walking with Jesus through everything in life, from doing the dishes to working on your marriage. It's about putting all your trust in Him and being obedient to his word. And to make this quick and to the point, not until I started obeying His word have I started to become completely content. I worry less, I stress less, I'm more happy....because when you focus on eternity and being with Jesus FOREVER, does this short little life really deserve anything less than your best? I'm not saying that I don't have my bad days but what I realize now is that when I do have bad days, bad thoughts, and I sin...that it is not God...it's Satan trying to get me off track. God is ALWAYS good. I pray every day that Tyler will accept Jesus and walk with him through life, but ultimately God gave us free will to choose. Tyler will have to make that decision for himself when he is old enough to not only understand that Jesus is his Savior, but that we are ALL sinful and we ALL need forgiveness and because Jesus died for our sins, we are saved.