Future Farmer

Brody LOVES tractors & so we took him out to ride w/ his papa...yes they have been able to get some harvesting done. Please pray for more sunshine & dry weather - they have a lot of work to go!! Anyhow, Brody rode for 40 minutes & thought it was so cool! He talks about it all the time - "papa" - "tractor" - "corn" and on & on!! I think we may have a future farmer on our hands!

Good Bye Mr. Kincaid!

Tonight I received a phone call that Mr. Kincaid, a very close family friend who was like a grandpa to me & my siblings, passed away. He suffered from Alzeihmer's disease and has not been well for quite a while. It does not make the heartache any less, but I also know he was a Christian and is with our Lord and in a better place. He was a very giving person & touched many lives. The one thing I will never forget about him is his lifelong love for his wife Betty who passed away when I was in 1st grade...he would tell stories of her like he was with her the day before. She was the love of his life! It is a wonderful thing to witness - that everlasting love and committment that they made in front of God, and that he took with him until the day he died & was able to join her in heaven. I hope they are sitting, holding hands and enjoying a cup of decaf coffee & a piece of pie! We have many wonderful memories that will live in our hearts forever!

Macon County Fair

I hate to repeat what I last wrote, but I truly cant believe that so much time has passed since I last wrote. I do not know where all the time goes! My lists never get shorted & the days never slow down.

I have finally realized what people meant when they said "your priorities change" and you will "just let some things go" when advising me on how I will continue to get things done with Brody, work, time for Matt, to exercise, scrapbook, clean the house, yard work, etc... Well, they were right - my priorities have changed. I find that the housework is the 1st to go & it does not even bother me as much as it used to! We much prefer to just sit & read to him or play ball, go on walks - just soak up every little thing he does. Brody is so amazing & makes me smile from ear to ear!

This week was the Macon County Fair, which is just a block from our house - so we went 2 times and Brody LOVED it! He loved watching the horses, petting the animals at the petting zoo and watching the people. Yesterday we took him to the Cutest Baby Contest - he won last year, but unfortunately this year we did not take home a trophy...he's still the cutest baby to me!! Brody got to try his 1st corndog - did not like it - river fries - ok to him -funnel cake - ok and lemon shake up - LOVED IT! Grandpa & Grandma joined us yesterday at the fair too. As we left the fair to head home for naps, Matt said "the fair is always fun, but its so much more fun with him!" which just melted my heart, but so true...life is so much more fun when shared with Brody & Matt!

Life in the fast lane

Well I cannot believe it has been over a month since I last wrote! Life has been so busy around here, I am behind on many things! March came & went by so quickly - it is hard to believe spring is here & Easter is only a week away! In March Matt & I took a much needed vacation to Mexico with our close friends Eric & Kim Benting. We had a wonderfully relaxing time! I will post pictures as soon as I get my camera back...Matt has taken it over with all the campaigning he has been busy with. His brother, Adam Brown, is running for City Council & Matt has assigned himself "Campaign Chair". He has truly enjoyed the politics, strategizing, spending time with his brother & even the drama that has gone with the process. I think he has found a new hobby...politics. He has spent every minute he is not working - on the campaign trail - leaving Brody & I to keep things at the home front under control. The election is Tuesday - I hope Adam wins but more importantly I cant wait to spend some time with Matt! Brody however has loved having all of the campaign workers at our house every weekend. He entertains them & sobs when they all leave. He is quite the social butterfly! He is growing & changing everyday and continues to amaze us! In closing, for those of you that can - get out & vote on Tuesday - its a big election for Decatur & we need a good council to help our city move forward!

I am sitting here enjoying a nice quite time while Matt is out campaigning with Adam & Brody is napping. As I look back on February I am thankful for all the fun we have had however I cant believe the end of the month is here already! We celebrated my mom's birthday this month with dinner & presents. Brody enjoyed helping his grandma opening them and really like the ice cream we had! Matt & I attended a black-tie event, the annual Heart Gala, which was very nice. We really enjoyed getting all dressed up and having a date-night. On a more serious note, my mom has unfortunately had another scare of Atrial Fib & is looking for answers as to why this continues to happen. Matt's grandpa has given all of us a scare lately too. He had a minor heart attack and found out he needs valve replacement but has opted out of treating it for the time being. Although we have had some highs & lows this month I cant help but feel very blessed. A few weeks ago at church the sermon was about the "dark times" vs "the light"which is seems that is all people talk about and focus on...the economy, horrible weather, lots of flu/colds going around, etc...Pastor Rob went on to say that it is our job to start each day with a new attitude & gratitude for all the blessings in our lives. As the lent season approaches us I keep wondering what I want to give up this season...and I think instead of giving something up I am going to start a journal of thanks - to write in it daily so I start each day & end each day couting my blessings and focusing on "the light".

Regis & Kelly

Well, I am being real ambitious today...actually Brody went to bed early so I am able to get some things marked off my "to do list". Ok, so I know I am a little biased and probably a little out of control, but Regis & Kelly have a cutest baby contest every year & entered Brody in it tonight. We do not find out anything until March (the week of March 9 is when the online voting begins). I felt really confident after he won "Cutest Baby" at the Macon County Fair last summer, but then when he did not win the WAND contest I was a little discouraged. :( Anyhow, I decided to give it a shot -I mean what do I have to lose - I could actually get Matt to go to NY when I have tried a dozen times at least AND Brody could win $ for college. So, here is the photo I entered...VOTE FOR BRODY!!

Fun in the snow!

I took Brody out to play in the snow today. Unfortunately we do not have any snow boots or a snow suit for him - he out grew the ones that he had & I cant get myself to buy one since I am hoping winter is almost over. He loved running around on the sidewalk, but stood completely still when I walked him thru the snowcovered-grassy area. He just was not sure what to think! Overall, it made for great scrapbooking pictures (Aunt Joyce & Mr. J - doesnt he look cute in the hat & gloves?!). I told his daddy that Brody told me he wanted his daddy to buy him a sled...maybe for Valentine's Day?

Brody's 1st Birthday Party

Sunday we celebrated Brody's 1st birthday with family & friends. His actual b.day was Jan 5 but I was not organized & did not get around to planning something til after his b.day. Anyhow, it was so much fun & I am so thankful that we have so many close friends & family that were there to share this special time with us. He got so many wonderful gifts! Among the traditional 1 year old gifts he got some trucks & "boy" toys BUT he also got a vaccum & a kitchen set! I dont think his daddy knew what to think with these gifts, but I am going to raise him so he does not know the difference between "his" or "her" work! He loves the swifer so I already think cleaning the floors is going to be on his chore list! It is so hard to believe he is 1! He is learning & changing every day, discovering new things, observing & processing...its truly amazing. His vocabulary just keeps developing too! Soon he will be putting words together! He is definately my son! :) His favorite activities these days are to play in toilet water, try to eat Maggie's dog food & empty any drawer or cabinet he has access to. Needless to say it keeps us busy! I am off tomorrow & hope to take Brody out in the snow to play! Thank God for Wednesdays! I cant wait to see what he thinks!

TGIF!

Thank God its Friday!!! It has been a long 2 weeks. Last week, Brody was sick with the stomach flu. This was discovered on Monday after he had to go to the hospital for an echocardiogram. {He has a heart murmur & has had one since birth, so Dr. Arzon just wanted to take a better look at it to make sure it was nothing to worry about. We had our f/u apt already and everything is ok but needs to watched. He has a small hole in his atria septum-the wall b/n the 2 atria. Dr. said most of the time as babies grow this will close on its own. We have to go to a Pediatric Cardiologist to have him follow the case. A little scary but I feel comforted with Dr. Arzon & her nature to be very very thorough.} It was a long test & my patience were thin - I dropped Brody off at the sitters house & within the hour she called b/c he had thrown up everywhere. THAT was the start of a long 2 weeks. Brody was down almost all week & as soon as he started to feel better I started feeling bad.





Last Saturday we had dinner plans with our friends Andrew, Amanda, Jay & Elizabeth and all our babies. We had not gotten together since Andrew & Amanda's little guy, Drake was born & now he is 6 mo old!! It was past due! Well, I made the night - a night to remember - because I threw up at the dinner table! NICE! Classy too -because I had not yet mentioned that we went to Jay & Elizabeth's house b/c they had won a Gourmet dinner for 6 at a March of Dimes auction...I dont think the cheifs took this as a compliment! UGH!





So, this week Matt was sick & I was down - but now its Friday!!! Brody has spent lots of time with G'ma Carol & Papa Steve this week as they have been a god-send! I also have to thank God for our sitter Carrie! She has been wonderful & even made Matt & I dinner the other night! We are so lucky to have her and Brody squeals in delight when she comes to pick him him, immediately saying "bye bye".





I have to admit that He brightens our days even when we are under the weather! I swear he said "Papa" last night -adding it to his other words "mama", "dada", "ball", "do" - for dog, "dat", "NO NO NO" (love this one!) "HI" and "bye bye". He was on TV this past week - WAND, The picture of the week contest. Unfortunately he did not win - but to me he will always be #1. The picture I entered was taken last summer at a field of sunflowers near our house. My mom & her friend Diane helped me take them. Enjoy!

Inspiration to start my own family blog

I have been thinking of creating a family blog for sometime now & never made the time to check into it. Unfortunately I have been home sick all week with the stomach flu? female probs? not sure really!? SO, I decided to get one set up. I have several friends with blogs/web pages and really enjoy catching up with what their families are up to on a regular basis. A friend of mine, from my good ole SIUE days, has one and although we have not talked much in the past 10+ years (omg its been that long!) I feel it has help us get reconnected this past year. Unfortunately she had a tradegy hit her family and although she & I do not talk often she is in my thoughts & prayers daily. Her blog has helped me & many others feel connected to her during such a terrible time. I feel like I can reach out to her without overwhelming her, check in to know she is ok & made it through another day/week and just let her know I am here...so, Betsy - if you read this thank you for the motivation - you have been an inspiration to me! I hope you all enjoy this as much as I am going to!