Wednesday, December 23, 2009

funny boy


Jackson said, "Look Mom - Santuh Cawz is a ballerina!"

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Evolution

Every year about this time, I find myself in a reflective sort of mood. I enjoy looking back and trying to put everything that's happened into perspective. Today, cleaning out a folder on my computer, I found all of these old headers for our blog. These represent hours of work- I don't mind telling you that our blog layout is my baby. It's an area where I can flex my creative muscle and get out of the box for awhile - it brings me so much joy. I thought some of you might enjoy a peek back in time at the evolution of a header.


Inaugural Edition (August 2007) through August 2008


August 2008 - October 2008


October 2008 - December 2008


December 2008 - January 2009


February 2009 - May 2009


May 2009 - September 2009


September 2009 - December 2009


December 2009 - Present

Hope you enjoyed that. Stay tuned for our all new look in 2009 2010- I think you will enjoy it. If any of you want to make a custom header or tweak your blog a little bit, let me know. I'm no expert, but I enjoy helping and I can usually find a way to get it done.

Also, we're going to be taking the blog private (too many weird-o's out there), so let us know if you want to be included and we'll get you set up.

Thanks, and God Bless all of you.

~ Ben

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Monday, December 7, 2009

new addition



Luke Townsend
8 lbs 14 oz, 21 inches
December 1, 2009 4:07 pm

Monday, November 30, 2009

inching closer

I hope ya'll had a wonderful Thanskgiving! We sure did. We went to Pawpaw and Gigi's house since it's just 45 minutes up the road and I'm not allowed to travel too far away. You have no idea what it meant to us that they would stay home so that we could spend thanksgiving with family, so that we wouldn't have to spend it all alone. So very selfless - but it's just who they are. It was such a peaceful, yummy thanksgiving - just what I needed!

So my dr wants to induce me some time this week. Actually, they want to do it tomorrow if there is a bed available but we'll find out more about that today. I've been having some contractions since last night so hopefully I can just go in on my own and not have to worry about any of it. A lot of emotions go into this. Part of me is very ready to have a new sweet little boy in my arms and another part of me just wants to spend more one on one time with the sweet little boy I already have.

Jackson and Ben are my world. They are who God put me on this earth to experience life with. I truly believe that. I have had the best time these past two years being a first time mom...Jackson has just made it such a joy and blessing. I struggle some days about giving up our routine, the only life Jackson has known and honestly I can't remember what life was like before him. I get so scared that he's going to think I felt the need to replace him or that he wasn't good enough so I needed to just 'try again'... I'm sure it comes from all of the therapy sessions I've had with people. When you hear so many problems, struggles and issues coming from the world around you, you can't help but fear that your family will ultimately feel the same way. It's like a fireman whose house catches on fire or a dr whose loved one gets sick and can't make them better. Just fear really, but as emotional and hormonal as I am right now I can't help but be moved by all of it. So, I'm asking each of you to help me with something. Something crazy and irrational but a desire of my heart nonetheless. I want you to make sure my boys know a few things... things that I hope I can tell them myself but if for whatever reason I can't that you'll do it for me. Find them on a crowded street someday and say, "Hey, I knew your crazy mom and man I just have to tell you this..."

Make sure they know how much I love them. How much I prayed for them...both of them. That I asked God specifically for these two boys. That they have always been wanted, always been loved and always, always been my joy. Make sure Jackson knows that the only reason I ever wanted to have more children was because I wanted more of what I had with him. Being a mom of one has been so great, how could being a mom of two not be even better? Make sure they know that people will hurt them, fail them, disappoint them but God never will...even family members, those who are supposed to be on their side. Make sure they know that there is no such thing as perfection and that they are perfectly imperfect exactly the way they are. Oh and most definitely make sure they know that I gained over 30 pounds with each of them and if that isn't love, I dont know what is... ha!

We've had to move so far away from everyone that we love because of Ben's job. I know God has us here for a reason but it's really hard to see that somedays. Having children is something you want to share with those that you love and having another baby has just highlighted the distance. I miss our family and friends and it breaks my heart that we aren't closer to all of you... so if nothing else we could eat cookies in my living room on a tuesday afternoon while kids are running around screaming and throwing balls at anything in the house that is remotely breakable. Is it ridiculous that that sounds like a slice of heaven to me? Maybe so...I don't know about you, but I've come to really love almost everything I used to think was ridiculous.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

two

This little boy...

This little boy I love.

And Lord willing, this time next week, I'll have two.

What a blessed woman I am...and I am ever grateful.

Friday, November 20, 2009

Tufty

Once there was a cat.
Somehow, he ended up under a pavilion by the river.
He was very hungry. All the time.
One day, a young couple came to his pavilion to eat nachos.
He tugged at the lady's heart strings.
She convinced the man to put the cat in the car with them.
His breath was stinky like the ocean.
He made himself at home.
And our home became his.