The REAL reason for the season!

There's no doubt about it, this is the BEST time of the year! However, it can also be the busiest. This year I have vowed no to get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of the season that I forget the real reason for the season, Jesus!

I found this online one year and loved it:

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling 
lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another 
decorator. 

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, 
preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at 
mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook. 

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that 
I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing. 

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend 
a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata, but do not 
focus on Christ, I have missed the point. 

Love stops the cooking to hug the child. 
Love sets aside decorating to kiss the husband. 
Love is kind, though harried and tired. 
Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and 
table linens. 
Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they 
are there to be in the way. 
Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices 
in giving to those who can't. 
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all 
things. 
Love never fails. 
Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust. 
But giving the gift of love will endure. 

"Go tell it on the mountain! Jesus Christ is born!!!"

Merry Christmas!

I am thankful for...

These two turkeys! Without them my life would be meaningless! I am beyond blessed!!!

p.s. Congratulations, my husband is an official member of the No Shave November Club. He actually started at the end of October!

Happy Thanksgiving!

My oh my how my little turkey has changed over the past year!

Happy Thanksgiving from our little turkey!

Oh Christmas Card! Oh Christmas Card!

I must admit, I have a little obsession with designing the perfect Christmas Card! I'll spend hours designing every.little.detail of our Christmas card with the perfect digital papers, capturing and editing the perfect picture. That all changed when I had a baby.

I was so excited to see Shutterfly's 2010 Holiday Card Collection. I love sending photo cards and personalizing them with a Bible Verse. With Shutterfly I can do just that, after all their site says "Easy to personalize & Fun to Create". I can add one of my favorite photos and my own message in less than half the time I spend creating a card on my own.

Now for the hard part, choosing a card. Oh the decisions that come with choosing the PERFECT Christmas Card.

There's folded greeting cards, flat stationary cards, or flat photo cards. OH MY!

Then, comes the choice of which design.

  

There's the traditional red & green! And who doesn't love a monogram?!?



Then there's this whimsical & fun one!

 

Or what about this more elegant one?



Or this stylish & modern card?



And for those of you who don't want to fight the crowds this holiday season, Shutterfly is the place for you! From photobooks to calendars to canvas wall art, Shutterfly has a little something for everyone on your Christmas list this season.

Annnnnnnnnnd... just one more reason to ♥ Shutterfly! To all my fellow bloggers out there, Bloggers get 50 free holiday cards from Shutterfly… sign up: http://bit.ly/sfly2010

Halloween 2010

We had a wonderful time trick or treating with friends for Halloween! Here are some pictures from our night:

A special thank you to our official photographer, Christy!

Family Pictures

About a month ago we had some family pictures made by this amazing friend! Seriously, y'all,  she.is.AMAZING! She's an incredible party planner, DIYer, decorator, cook, thrifter, and photographer! I could go on and on. Basically, when I grow up I want to be her! Here are just a few of the incredible pics she took of our family! Thank you so much Lindsay for helping capture such precious moments of our family!

13 Months

Dear Parker,
You are 13 months. You weighed 20 pounds at your 12 month checkup and were 31 inches tall. The doctor said you were tall and skinny, just like Daddy! You are right on track for your weight and you are way above on your height. You still wear size 4 diapers and are wearing 12 months clothes.
At 13 months, you are so much fun. You absolutely LOVE outside ("dout-dide"). When we ask you if you want to go outside, you say, "doutdide" and head to the nearest door and look up at the doorknob. Once outside your favorite thing to do is walk around the yard and pick up leaves, sticks, acorns, berries, and anything else you can hold in those tiny little hands of yours. It's amazing how much stuff you can hold on to. You enjoy taking nightly strolls in your wagon with Papa. Papa is still your favorite person. When you see anyone, and I do mean ANYONE (a picture of a farmer in a book, an African American man in the grocery store, your Fisher Price farmer figurine, your daddy, etc.) wearing a hat you call them Papa. Today you found your hat in the living room and put it on your head and said, "Papa!". Papa recently took you to the golf course and showed you how to hit balls. When we ask you if you want to play golf, you clap your hands together and lean against our legs. You also love to run and kick your ball across the yard.
You have just recently started really playing with your truck. It is the cutest thing!!! You push it around on the floor and make truck noises. You also like to watch it roll down the slide. You think that is the funniest thing!
You've also recently become obsessed with Elmo. Whenever you see him on something, you say, "melmo" and start singing, "La~La~La~La". You also love Bob the Tomato from Veggie Tales. Your favorite Veggie Tales video is Rack, Shack, and Benny.
You also started some new foods this month! Chicken nuggets, chicken pot pies, and grilled cheese sandwiches are all of your new favorite foods. You are still a champ at eating and you LOVE milk.

Happy Birthday, Parker Allen!

Dear Parker,

Today you are O~N~E year old!!! I can't believe I just typed that sentence! This past year has flown by! It seems like just yesterday that you made your entrance into this great big world. Your cry was like music to my ears and when the nurse placed all 7 pounds 15 ounces of you in my arms for the first time, my heart melted. At that moment I marveled at your ten tiny fingers and toes, your cute little nose, and all of your reddish colored hair! I was simply amazed at how perfect you were. Your first year has been full of so much fun. It's been so much fun to watch you grow and learn everyday. I've loved watching all of your "firsts".

You took your first steps at around 10 1/2 months and haven't stopped. Now, you run everywhere you go. You are definitely ALL boy. You LOVE playing outside and even cry when it's time to come in.You like to play with your ball. You have learned to kick it and throw it.

We are so proud of your kind and obedient spirit. You walk around the house and say, "No, no, no! " and point to all of the things we tell you not to touch.

You can say LOTS of words: kitty, doggie, MaMa, DaDa, PaPa, Ju-ten (Justin), peas (please),  and many, many more.  You talk non-stop and I absolutely adore your laughs and giggles. You know all of your signs (all done, please, more) and now even say them while you are signing them.

You love to sing and dance.

When we ask you where your hair is you point to your hair. You can show us where your eyes, ears, teeth, nose, and belly button are too! You can also tell us what the cow says (booooo), the bees say (buzz), the kitty says (dickle, dickle).

You are eating all kinds of things. Eggs, milk, cheese, yogurt, turkey, chicken, and many, many fruits and veggies. I think your favorite food is a tie between waffles and cheese.

You love your family. When the door opens, you go running to see who it is and start saying DaDa or PaPa. You love your PaPa. He is definitely your favorite person, after Mommy of course. You love to play rough with your Uncle Justin. Uncle Phillip and Aunt Jody give you endless tickles and you squeal everytime. You like to play silly games with Daddy. You could sit in Gram's lap all day and read books if she'd let you.

You are very loving and caring. You give the best hugs and kisses.  

September 5, 2009 was a day that I will never forget! I earned a new title that day. A title that I had no prior training for. A title that I wasn't completely prepared for. A title that I had always dreamed of having. I'm so honored to have the title of mother, and it's all because of you, son. I am blessed beyond words to be your mommy.

God knew exactly what He was doing when he gave us you. You have been an amazing addition to our family and I CANNOT imagine our lives without you. Mommy and Daddy are so proud of you, little man.  Happy Birthday, Parker Allen!!!

11 Month Picture

Georgia Aquarium

A couple of weekends ago, we headed to the Georgia Aquarium for the day. Fortunately, we ordered our tickets ahead of time which I HIGHLY recommend. It was very crowded but we enjoyed our day despite the masses of people. Parker loved looking at all the beautiful fish and sea creatures. Here are some pictures of our day:

Fun with Cousins!

In July Mom and I made a trip to Charlotte to visit my Aunt, Uncle, and Cousins. We had fun swimming, shopping, and seeing all of their cool animals. We were able to get pictures with Megan and Matt, but Alex is in that teenage mode and doesn't stay home long enough to get a pic and if he did he was sleeping. Oh to live the life of a teenager again! While we were there we were able to meet Miss Juliana Moon. Her Daddy and Daron were roomates at Clemson. She is absolutely beautiful!!!