Have you heard Andrew's BIG news?

We have exciting news to share! First of all, Andrew is walking! He had been teasing us for quite awhile...taking a few steps here and there. But, it wasn't until the week after his birthday before he really began to take lots of steps together. Right now, he still mixes walking and crawling but we sure are proud of our BIG boy!!!

Speaking of big ... Andrew's other news is that he is going to be a BIG BROTHER!!! Yes, that's right...we're having another baby! Our newest blessing is due to arrive mid-April. :) Wilson and I feel overwhelmed with the Lord's blessings on our family. Babies are such miracles, and what a gift from the Lord to be expecting another child! Please keep our growing family in your prayers.

Sick days...

It's been a little while since I've posted any pictures of Andrew. We've had a few sick days around our house....actually, several sick days! But I'm hoping we're on the way back to good health. Andrew went for his 12 month check-up last week only to find out his ears were red and starting to look infected....we weren't completely surprised since he had been fighting a very persistent stuffy nose. He's in the 75th% for height & between the 75th and 90th% for weight. i know... not very accurate... but this is what the nurse told us :). Well, we thought we were feeling pretty good by last weekend. Wilson and I even made a trip to see the Bulldogs play while Andrew stayed with May-May and Buddy - fun times for all! But, on Monday, a yucky bug hit us! We all felt bad, with Andrew being the worst. Fever, upset tummy, sore throat...poor guy!

Andrew had to make another trip to May-May and Buddy's house, this time so that Wilson and I could get well...thanks May-May and Buddy! Wilson and I were talking about how we forget how thankful we should be for good health until we get sick. We feel blessed and are very thankful that overall we are a healthy family.
Andrew found this spot on the fireplace last night and thought it was a pretty cool spot to see what all was going on in the room!




Andrew has found a new favorite pastime in exploring the backyard...thankfully he has his John Deere to help him plow his way around!










Andrew loves this spot under the table. He seems to feel like it "his" spot. He can watch what the puppies are doing and what Wilson and I are doing without being in the way of the traffic!

Andrew's Big Day!

We had lots of fun on Tuesday, Andrew's birthday. Wilson and I went back to Andrew's room together when he woke up and sang to him. He wasn't so sure why we were serenading him...he was more concerned with knowing where his morning bottle was! He had a cake donut for breakfast - yum!! Then, he opened some presents from Mama and Dada and played for awhile.

After his nap, May-May and Izzy came over and we all went to Chick-fil-a. Andrew loves their chicken nuggets, and he was so proud to have his

first kid's meal. He had a great time at lunch... I can't believe my baby is drinking from a juice box! After we had eaten, someone brought around samples of milkshakes, and I let him have a bite of mine... ooh, he thought that was yummy!

After lunch, Wilson, Andrew, and I took a short trip to the zoo (we stayed about as long as we could handle the heat!). Andrew and Wilson got in the baby pool to cool off when we got home while I cooked dinner. We ate chicken and wild rice casserole...it's always been a family favorite but now it's really high on the list because Andrew loves it, too. It's so funny to watch him gobble it up and smack
the whole time! And along with the casserole....asparagus...another one of Andrew's faves! Hilarious, isn't it?! Well, we had such a blast with our boy on his birthday. We couldn't be more proud and feel more blessed to have him in our lives. We love you, Andrew!!!

E-I-E-I-O....A Farm Party!!!

Andrew had a great 1st birthday. We had a farm party, because Andrew loves farm animals. Wilson even painted his new shed that he built in the backyard red so that we could have a "barn"! Thanks to all of our family who joined us in the celebration. Andrew had so much fun (and we did, too)!

Andrew had a little taste of cake but that was all he thought he wanted. When Wilson and I tried to see if he'd eat more, he just held it right by our mouths like "no thanks; you can have it." Maybe he didn't inherit his mama's sweet tooth after all!

We somehow managed to go thru the day without getting a family picture...but this is pretty close! Here we are with our niece, Elizabeth.

And, this was the barnyard birthday cake I made for Andrew...with lots of help from my mom! Boy, was it a project!! But it was lots of fun to make. We ate the "haystack" cupcakes at the party so we've enjoyed the barn all week!

Happy Birthday, Andrew!

Our big boy is 1 today! Here is a picture of Andrew at his party on Saturday. I'll post more pictures of the birthday boy and his party later.

Andrew's "Boogie Shoes"

Just to show you what a "mess" our little guy is - a cute mess at that!

(OK, this is Laura...I have to brag on Wilson - he made this video and posted it, but this is really just a clip of a longer video he made of Andrew's first year! I had asked him to do this months ago, and he did - it was SOOO GOOD!! I hope he'll post it, too.)

On being a mom...

As I was rocking Andrew to sleep a minute ago, I found myself feeling overwhelmed by such a deep sense of joy... How I love that precious boy and how blessed I feel that the Lord has given him to us! He'll be turning a year old next week, which I can hardly believe! Has it really been a year?

I loved those precious moments when he was first born....meeting the tiny one who I had come to know so well those months before. Holding him during those "itty-bitty" newborn days, studying every little stretch, listening to the coos, watching for the first smile...has it really been a year? All of the many stages of the past year have been new and fun; there really is such excitement in those little accomplishments liking rolling over and learning to sit up, etc. There have been those times....up at night, ear infections, days when he didn't take a nap, etc...and those are hard. But aside from (and looking back, even in) those brief moments, it truly has been a joy to be Andrew's mom. And it is so rewarding be at home with him. Today was a busy day for us....in fact, last night at this time, I was actually worried we might not make it thru today! Andrew woke up at 5:45 this morning, then we were off at 8:45 for Bible study (andrew doesn't nap in the nursery), back at home around 12 for a quick lunch, then off again about 1:00 for Andrew to see the ped. opthamologist (which went well), back home for a couple of hours before Wednesday night dinner & church, home at 8. So, they were all things we wanted (or needed) to do, but Andrew missed both naps and got in bed an hour past his bedtime. (Wednesday nights are always harder b/c of that.) But...in the midst of such an "off-schedule" day, Andrew was such a joy. He truly had a wonderful day... WE had a wonderful day! The smiles, the hugs, the fun we have... I love him so much! And he loves me! Who couldn't be in love with a baby who loves them so much?!! Thanks to our Father for babies...what miracles and blessings they are!

Trip to Yosemite National Park

Wanted to share with you some of our photos from our little get-away to Yosemite National Park in California. It was a blast! We can't wait to take our family back there some day.