I'm a Mommy

Thursday, August 8, 2013

1st Grade .....Here she comes!

Zoe picked everything out for her first day of school. Even though I made her shirt, she picked out every piece of fabric! She was so proud of her big girl, messenger backpack.

Zoe's surprised, excited, super duper happy face when she realized that we converted her highback booster into a backless booster! She was SO HAPPY!

Zoe-Look! I can lean waaaaaaay over in a backless booster seat! Luke-Yeah, well, I can be a chicken. ha ha!

Waiting in line to go into the school building.

Mrs. Young, the principal, greeted each child this morning with a big hug! Isn't that sweet?!!

Zoe and Mommy. Man, it was sure hard to leave her at school after being with her everyday all summer. I'm not sure who cried more, me or Luke. He misses her already too!

She's such a cutie pie!!

Have a super school year Zoe Kate!!! We love you so very much!

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Uncle Sam Wants You!

Luke has adjusted (finally) to Zoe being home for summer break and he just LOVES her! Initially Luke didn't particularly care for his big sis taking over HIS mommy one on one time. But, now, he follows her around copying everything she does and says...... Honestly, she kinda likes it & she loves babying him all day :) They laugh and play together all day. It's really really sweet.

I took the opportunity to snap a few pics this Sunday afternoon after church. Enjoy!!

I thought this picture was funny!!

My babies are sure growing up fast....... It's such a blessing to be their mommy.

For you, O Lord, have made my glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy. How great are your works, O Lord! Psalms 92:4-5

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Zoe is SIX.... Yes, 6!

Each year, the "Birthday Balloon Fairy" puts the exact number of balloons on your bed for ever how old you're turning the next day. Zoe knows that I am the Birthday Balloon Fairy and LOVES this birthday tradition that we have!!

Oh my. Oh my. Oh my. I really cannot fathom that six years have passed by since Zoe was born. It's simply unbelievable. I say these words pretty much everyday. Ha. How do the days pass by so quickly? How in the world did my baby girl turn six years old? So hard to believe!

This girl was SO GIDDY on the morning of her birthday. It was hilarious how excited she was! She danced and jumped and laughed hysterically that morning!!

I'm so thankful for my sweet daughter. She is truly a blessing to be around. In this season of her life what I love most about her is that she sings ALL.THE.TIME. She sings, she hums, she sings, she hums. It's precious. Usually you will hear her singing songs from Christian Family Radio, or hymns, or songs she's learned in Bible class or chapel at school. She's always singing about Jesus. I love that the song on her heart is about Jesus. So precious.
This post is for my memories of her at this age..... You might find it a little boring :) Feel free to read on though.

At age six, Zoe's size hasn't changed all that much. I'd say she weighs about 40 pounds (fully dressed), she's just above 43 inches (which thrilled her at her well child check up because that means she is tall enough to ride big girl rides at Beech Bend without wearing high heel wedge flip flops, ha). Even though her size hasn't changed all that much from when she turned five, she's turning into a little girl. Sniff, sniff. Her face is loosing that baby-ness and fullness, and it's blossoming into a beautiful little girl. A school girl. A Kindergarten girl, who will soon be a first grader, as she often reminds me.
Zoe still continues to soar academically, as she is goes to a first grade reading group each day!. She gets wonderful remarks on her report card each nine weeks from her teacher about what an excellent student she is each day. She's a great speller and a great math gal. She's got a great brain on her (She totally gets that from her Daddy). We've never even really had to study for her spelling test each week and she always gets a perfect score! She loves to read!! She's sad when I have to turn the lights out at bedtime and she's not finished with her book. Her favorite book to read before bed is the Bible. She got a new Bible from her Aunt Amanda for her birthday, and loves that it's a real big girl Bible. One with all the chapters and verses. It's not a kid Bible. :)
Zoe is very athletic too! She's taking gymnastics and loves every minute of it! She is great at turning cartwheels, round offs, and one handed cartwheels. I predict that she will get her back handspring this summer! She's very close :) She wants to run on her school's cross country team next year again too!
Zoe's heart is kind. She is a wonderful big sister to Luke (who can definitely test her sometimes). She plays well with him and treats him like she wants to be treated (of course she has her moments, but they are SO FEW). She loves being with her friends and enjoys playing many different things.
Most of the time you will find Zoe playing Barbies or with her American Girl dolls. She likes to dress her Barbies and dolls up. We went to the American Girl Doll store in Atlanta for her bday (maybe I'll do a post about that?) It was a super fun trip. She reminds me often of how much she loved going on the "Girls Trip" (me, my mom, and Zoe) to Atlanta and how it was so neat that we left the boys at home. :)
Still a very picky eater, Zoe has branched out and tried more new foods. She has always been funny about textures and hesitant to try new things. She's getting better .... still working on that. I'm proud of her for trying the new things that she has. Most new foods are successful, because she realizes that she actually likes them!!
Have I mentioned how happy Zoe is?? She's really a happy child. Her happiness is contagious to us and to others. I love that about her!!! (I think she's happy because she talks a lot about Jesus. Seems crazy to think that someone so little could already have so many things already figured out!) I love this girl! I'm so happy God chose me to be her mom.
Zoe has a HUGE imagination, thanks to her Dad!! He dreams big with her and they have all kinds of made up stories and plans. It's very funny. She loves humor and has a great belly laugh.
Some things Zoe is looking forward to:
-Loosing teeth (I love a kid with missing teeth... SO CUTE!)
-Going to Beech Bend to ride the big girl rides
-Going to first grade
-Weekly gymnastics
When Zoe grows up she wants to be a ballerina. (precious!)

Zoe, I love you sweet girl. You, Zoe, are our little sweetie!

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Back to the classroom for Mommy....

well.... for a little while anyway! You may remember that last school year I substitute taught 8th grade for a little over six weeks at the end of the year (at the school where I taught before Zoe came along). Remember how cool it was that I was offered that position because it paid for Zoe's tuition for her school.... welllllll...... YEP! That's right! I was offered another six week maternity leave subbing job at the same school for this year! Yay! I started this past Friday and will be teaching Kindergarten for the next 30 school days. It's actually pretty neat to see what they are doing in this classroom and compare it to what Zoe is doing at her school.
Last time I (thought) I'd be a fish out of water teaching 8th grade... but I LOVED IT! I'm hoping that this year will prove to be the same. Friday plum wore me out :) But, it was fun. My goal is to have fun while teaching these 22 precious babies each day. Hopefully things will go okay with my kids and hubby while I'm away each day.
I am looking forward to this opportunity and feel that it is a true blessing to get this position! God is so good and He continues to prove himself over and over. Such a blessing!
So, please pray for me to make it though the next 30 days healthy and sane :)

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

"God, will you show me your power today? I need to see you today"

The past few weeks have proven to be very hard on me, and my family. A small background (mainly so I'll remember) includes Zoe having the flu the week before Christmas. Me getting bronchitis and feeling bad the Sunday before Christmas. On Christmas morning, at 7:20 my mom calls telling me that my Mama Jane has suffered some sort of cardiac issue and the doctors say she won't live through the day. I rush to Nashville, spending the day with my family... in CCU with Mama Jane. Matt stays home with the kids to let them finish opening presents and then takes them to his parents house. As they were about to leave to go to his Granny's house in Glasgow, they got a phone call that Granny had fallen and broken her ankle. She needed surgery to reset the bone, as it broke in two places. Meanwhile, Mama Jane is holding on. She is somewhat stable, yet about to die. Late Christmas afternoon, I go back home to Bowling Green, telling Mama Jane, "Good bye for now, I'll see you on the other side." When I get back home, Matt tells me that he's not feeling well. He got the flu, too. Mama Jane hangs on. I'm in constant contact with my mom and brother about her condition. On Thursday, they decide to take her home with hospice care. I had not been able to visit again because Matt was sick and hated to leave my 'almost over the flu' daughter with anyone. And, I needed to go to the doctor myself. On Friday morning. I was feeling much better, as the meds had started to kick the bronchitis. Zoe was all better. Luke was fine too. An urgency like no other flooded my mind. I HAD to get to Nashville. Had to get there. I jumped in the shower and got ready in record speed. I brought Zoe and Luke with me. I just felt it in my bones that I should go straight to Mama Jane's house. I arrived, got my kids out, and walked in.... I walked in and stood at her bed and saw her take her final breath. God sent that urgency feeling to me. She died Friday, at noon.
The visitation was Sunday. The funeral was Monday. Those days were tough on me as Mama Jane and I were close. We've spent a lot of time together and made lots of great memories. I'm thankful for that. (Did I mention that the Saturday before Christmas we had a family picture made with Mama Jane in it?? And, that day was her 88th birthday! December 22)
Fast forward to today, Monday. The weekend was rough on me for other reasons... but, mainly grieving for Mama Jane.
Today I prayed, "God, please will you show me your power today?" I really needed and wanted to see God's hand in my life today. Not thirty minutes after praying that my friend, Susan, showed up on my doorstep with flowers and a card for me. She didn't know I had prayed that, of course. She just knew that I didn't show up for our moms prayer group this morning.
Then... later, another friend in that same prayer group, Nicole, brought dinner to my house. She, too, knew it was odd for me not to be there and felt like she wanted to do that for me and my family.
I tell you all this story (not for you to feel sorry for me) to tell you about how God uses our friends as special blessings in our lives. And, to tell you that He is mighty and powerful and all-knowing. Thank you God for reaching out to me today. He gave me a peace that I wouldn't have had otherwise today.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Cardstore.com was awesome this year! Woohoo! Kuddos to them for producing great cards at great prices. The quality of the paper and printing is wonderful! And, no. I'm not getting a kick-back for advertising for them :) I used this company last year and they do not disappoint!

To show you, I took picture of the front.....

the inside............

and the greeting......

If you are planning to order holiday cards or birthday invites, I'd totally recommend cardstore.com for you purchase!!

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Sweetest Fall Program, Ever!

Zoe's Kindergarten class had a fall program last week. Oh. MY! It was the sweetest program I've ever seen. They all sang so sweetly and sang so happily! It was great!

Zoe's teacher, Ms. Lee.

This girl had a LOT to say during the program. I had no idea she had such a large part in her class skit, "The Billy Goat's Gruff." She was the narrator! I was nervous for her.... walking up to the microphone and reading in front of a pretty large audience. WHOA! She rocked it! Yes. She really did. She read as clear and as poised as could be. She sounded like such a big kid. She read with expression in both her voice, and face. It was precious!! This picture was taken after the program..... during the program, she read off a script. Why do I not have a picture?? Strange.

SO SWEET!

They were precious during the prayer. Heads bowed so sweetly.

Zoe, you are our super star!!! So proud of our girl!