in on year...

... Averi and Sofe last year.



in just one year how did my sweet baby turn into a beautiful little girl?
Averi at two and a half...



and how did my sweet infant become a gorgeous toddler?

Sofie one years old...

Sofies zebra birthday!

Sofie turned one on thursday! I worked wednesday night while Kev was in louisville and the girls stayed with Nana and Papa, I got off on thursday morning and rushed to my in laws so I could see my birthday girl! I brought doughnuts and Auntie K decorated the whole kitchen for Sof! We were able to have a mini party before I went to sleep for a few hours, Sofie tried her doughnut, which she didnt seem to enjoy and "opened" a few presents, it was a great morning, I so appreciate Auntie K helping me make it extra special!
One of my dear friends, Sarah, came from louisville to visit and specifically for Sofies party, so she joined Kev, Av and I friday for Sofies birthday dinner with Nana, Papa, Auntie K and Addison... we enjoyed some chicken and had a little bonfire, it was the perfect night!
Saturday was her "big" party! I am all about birthdays, not that a lot of money has to be spent but just that a big deal is made, so we sortve have birthday weeks! Her party was "zebra" themed and turned out super cute, lots of hot pink and black. We had tons of family and friends here to help celebrate and despite the cake collapsing, thank goodness Kevins cousins wife Kathy was here to help put it back together for atleast a few pictures, it was a GREAT day! Sofie loved all the attention, recieved some awesome gifts and after a few minutes of prompting devoured some serious cake! And as an added bonus my other friend Lindsay and her husband Shawn were able to come to her party and stay through sunday, always great to see them! Between louisville friends, murfreesboro friends and lots of family you could certainly see how incredibly blessed my babes (and Kev and I) are to have so many paople love us!

Happy first birthday Sofia Pearl

Dear Sofia,
On the 21st you turned one years old. It is hard to believe it has already been a year since your birth day! When we discovered we were pregnant with you we were a little suprised, but truthfully overjoyed! Your pregnancy was great, you were so active and I loved watching you twist and turn and jump inside me...my belly was always going wild! You were four days late, I though I was going to be pregnant forever! Your birth was exceedinly difficult as I went without drugs, but your birth was beautiful, working so hard and long and being so exhusated was so worth the moment they laid you on my chest! I was wrapped around your finger from the first moment! You were a difficult infant but quickly changed into one of the happiest babies I have ever seen! You are loving you cuddle with me still. You are wild you climb everything and started walking at ten months! You are sweet, you smile and giggle and waive at everyone! We adore you! We praise God for gifting us you! We cant imagine our home without you Sofie!

Weigh in...

when i started weight watchers my goal was to be at my wedding day weight (175), I knew it was a high goal... 7 months to lose 85 lbs. Ive worked hard, had ups and downs...killed myself and sometimes treated myself with a big bowl of ice cream when I was sick of yogurt and weight watchers fudge bars... and today the day came for my weigh in, I knew I hadnt hit my goal... I am 186.1. I am not upset AT ALL though. Since Ive been going to the gym so much I can comfortably fit into the jeans I was wearing on my wedding day and honestly I feel great. I So in right around seven months I have lost a total of 69.6lbs! I am delighted. I will keep working hard, I will remained focus, i will get to my goal, and I will keep the weight off!

a great weekend...

We started out our Saturday with a trip to one of Kev's college memories that he wanted to introduce us to, "Doughnut country" (YUM). It is a tiny little doughnut shop that at 9am on a Saturday was packed out, so enjoyable tho... I had a full conversation about ear piercing, motherhood and little girls with the lady at the table next to us, one thing I am noticing about the south is people are so kind, I love it!
here are a few pics of us enjoying our doughnuts, notice how big my "YUM YUM" was... I couldn't even eat it all!




We then headed to Kevins parents house, He watched Auburn play while the girls napped there and my sister in law and I headed to another family members (holly) pampered Chef party! It was so fun, had I had the money I would have bought the whole catalogue!



We ended Saturday with a bang at a family friend Ronnie's 60Th birthday bash! everyone dressed up in 50s attire and danced the night away! It was a total blast!






We got home late Saturday and our nephew Addison spent the night and went to church with us in the morning. We then had some dear friends of ours, the Roberts family over for cheeseburger soup, which by the way turned out AMAZING if I do say so myself! Over all a GREAT weekend!

move..

Moving to TN was in some ways a very easy decision... we would be closer to family, that was a HUGE drawing factor! But it was in some ways a difficult decision... leaving our church, leaving our friends! But it was the right decision!
God has and continues to confirm that we did the right thing in moving each and every day. Our house is amazing, so much better then we expected to find, it suits our needs perfectly and we love the nieghborhood. Kevin working from home is such a blessing, with his class load at school he spends ALOT of late nights studying but makes up for that by being able to typically spend lunch with us and because his commute is only upstairs we always share dinner as a family at the table. When we were in louisville He always worked two jobs, now he only works Rivermine, it is a blessing to see him more and to see him enjoy school and his family without the exhaustion of two jobs!
When moving here we debated living in Murfreesboro or in Nashville. Kevs parents are in Nashville, but Kevin went to MTSU in Murfreesboro, he became a believer while attending MTSU and God laid a burden on his heart to return here. So Murfreeboro won out, it is about 40 minutes from Nashville! As soon as we got here we knew why God had called us to Murfreesboro, our church New Vision was just starting to revamp their college ministry with a new college pastor and were in need of leaders! We have been able to serve weekly in this ministry and LOVE it! We love the students and love watching what God is doing in their lives, our lives and the ministry as a whole. We are each hosting a small group on Mondays starting the 25th, I have never been a leader of a small group so I am a bit out of my comfort zone but I know God will give me the words to say!
The most recent thing has been the opportunity at Vanderbilt for me. It is anamazing opportunity for me, and thankfully our girls will always be with family who we know and trust to care for them. It was a hard decision to come to, me working three nights a week but I am confidant it was the correct one, God has given me such peace. Not to say that it wont take some adjustment, it will but in a few months we will all be adjusted!
Moving away from friends was difficult the first few weeks, but once again God is so soveriegn. I have learned to talk to him when I'm missing my friends (who are just a call or tect away) I have learned to rely on my husband even more and to be confidant enough in myself to step out and build new friendships. I LOVE the wednesday night bible study Im attending and am so enjoying my small group. We are trying out sunday schools to find one to connect into (our church has three services in the morning so we are able to go to sunday school service and college all on sunday morning) and I am truly enjoying meeting new friends! This move has been a transition, but truly a good transition!

Pumpkin picking...

Our sweet nephew Addison came for the weekend and we took him and the girls to a pumokin patch! The last time we went to a pumkin patch Sofie was still in my belly, this year she was walking around like she owned the place crazy how things change in a year! It was a great day! We picked our pumpkin, petted some animals, took a hay ride and let Addison and Averi run wild in a kids corn maze!






then we headed home and got to spend a few minutes with our friends Shawn and Lindsay Vietz and her family (they were driving home from florida and were passing Murfreesboro) it was a great suprise! We ended our evening at Barfield Park, I was just introduced to this park and LOVE it!




After the girls headed to bed Addison and I carved th pumpkin while Kev wtahed the Auburn game (they won by the way!)... I didnt have any stencil thing so we free handed the pumpkin, it wasnt great looking but we had fun!



The next morning before church the kiddos were looking especially sweet so i snapped a few pics of them!

IKEA

two weekends ago I got to spend the weekend with two of my favorite people decorating our new house! i headed up to ohio where Lindsay lives and met up with her and Sarah. Sarah just moved into a new apartment so this was a great opportunity to decorate her place as well! We spent the weekend at IKEA, Hobby Lobby (they were having fifty percent off, they do it every month and it makes me so happy!), Target, a quick stop at Carters and Pier one! We ate, we laughed and man did we SHOP!!! I love these girls, oh and the dog is Lindsays boxer Jeter, her is my true best bud, im not usually a "big dog" person but Jeter, he has my heart!

times a changing...

Our goal since we found out I was pregnant with Averi has been for me to be able to be a stay at home mom. That goal has never come fully to fruition despite the great desire of my heart and Kevins heart. I have always watched a couple extra kids a few days a week and/ or worked as a CNA a few days a week/ month. There have been times I have worked ALOT and times I have worked very little just depending on what we needed financially.
When moving here we decided I would go back to babysitting in our home so I could stay at home with the girls as much as possible. I was blessed to find a family easily and began watching their two daughters three days a week, the money isn't great in childcare but atleast I get to stay home...
I was searching for another job as an aid with hopes to just find something one weekend a month, just for extra money and in order to keep my license. I was discussing this at church when a friend, well really an acquantance, we had only just met said she worked for Vanderbilt hospital in Human relations and would love to help me out. After much talk in person and in email she interviewed me for a position at Vanderbilts womens center. The postion was PRN so my hours wouldnt be gauranteed yet I would have to have childcare for my girls because Kev would be working, and stop watching the girls I currently sat for, which was ofcourse my safety net...
After the interview we got to number crunching, and thinking, and praying when we realized just to justify me working outside of the home and paying my sister in law (who has been gracious enough to offer to watch our daughters) I would need to work three days a week at Vanderbilts Womens Center. Not ideal. So we continued to talk, decided the money wouldnt be good enough at this particular position to stop watching the girls I sit for and I emailed my friend at Vanderbilt to let her know...
Her response was if I needed three days a week why not make them twelve hour days at the hospital, I would get benefits ( I carry insurance for the girls and I, but it is not very good, kev has a plan through work) the pay would more then justify paying my sister in law to watch the girls and I truly feel like I would enjoy it.
My friend told me what postions to apply for and put in a good word for me. I recieved a call from a lady in the NICU at vanderbilt. She told me she had heard of me through my friend and was very excited to meet with me... I was excited too! The interview went amazingly well, she hired me on the spot. I start October 18th for orientation...the hardest part was telling the mom I currently sit for I could no longer watch her babies, talk about feeling like a jerk. Luckily she was incredibly kind about the whole thing and already found someone new.
The hardest thing is feeling like I am letting go of my dream to stay home full time. I have wept and wept and wept with this overwhelming feeling that I am a bad mom by working three days a week, Kevin has prayed with me, offered to work two jobs again,which I DO NOT want him to do, he has supported and encouraged me through out this whole decision process, he is the sweetest kindess man you will ever meet. I know it is a sacrifice to stay home, it is a lot of work and a financial sacrifice... for me though it is an even bigger sacrifice to work outside the home. I hate being away from my babies, PRAISE THE LORD they will always be with family members we fully trust!
So the plan is for me to work night shift, meet kevin with the girls in the morning and sleep at my in laws while my sister watched them for a few hours. I would prefer day shift so as soon as that comes open they will move me to day shift. I feel so blessed to have gotten this job, financially it is a huge burden lifted and what a better place to be when you cant be with your own babies then helping others with their own sick babies? This job is a dream come true for me, God has truly blessed us.