Thankful...

We spent about 24 hours at the McCoy home before we left for the Barnett's home.

Here are some "glimpses" into our time with G&G McCoy!

We loved the fire...I loved reading by the fire. It was very relaxing!

Papa and Rody having a good time. I think they kinda have the same look on their faces here!

Rody practicing his kissing skills on Grandma!

I have so many pics like this...Rody looking at the camera and mom looking at him...

Some chill time with Daddy...he loved that bear that you see on the right...he would squeal and tackle it

Sweet moment

Rody is very thankful for great grandparents! (Sorry I cut off part of your head, dad)

Nothing like a golden football to play with

The weather was great!

More to come on our time in SC!

Unexpected kisses

Rody is learning how to give kisses. It is so precious...he did it for the first time last week when I got home from work. He grabbed my hair and layed a wet one on me...he doesn't quite understand the whole "keep your mouth closed thing" yet, but I'm not worried!

Anyways, he will give kisses when you ask, but I've had the joy of experiencing some "unexpected kisses" the last couple of days.

We were in church on Sunday and I was singing the praise and worship song. I was also holding Rody. I had my eyes shut and we were signing a popular praise and worship song about all the glory and honor belonging to God. As I was singing, my mouth got covered up in a wet kiss...I guess Rody felt led to lay one on his mommy as she praised the Lord...it was quite unexpected and so cute.

This morning I went in to feed Rody his early morning feeding before I left for work. I love these moments...we are the only ones up and he is really sleepy and just wants his mama. After I fed him, I stood up to burp him. We were in the darkness and calmness of his room and he got real close to me and came in for a kiss...It just melted my heart! To top that off, he then layed his head on my shoulder...melted my heart even more...

I started to think of spiritual implications of this. When have you (me) given God an "unexpected kiss"? I'm sure God expects us to worship Him and praise Him in church...that is not unexpected, but think about the joy He feels when His children unexpectedly express their love for Him? I can understand in some way the joy that God feels when His children express their love because of the joy I feel when Rody expresses his love for me.

Challenging you to give the Lord an "unexpected" gesture of your love today,

Katie

Mirror, mirror on the wall...

As you can see, we are much busier now!

The boy can wear a scarf!

And he can eat it too...

I think the pink/purplish color brings out his eyes...

Now, I needed to hurry and go before his daddy sees these girly pictures and won't let me post them :)

You never know...

...when you're going to have the opportunity to make a total fool of yourself. I had one of those today, and thankfully I didn't completely make a fool of myself- only a little bit.

So, we are driving on I-75 North back home from church...and we pass this huge RV/bus vehicle painted up with Dan Evans...Biggest Loser....and things like that. As we drive past it in the right lane, I look over and see that the person driving the bus is Dan's mom- Jackie...from the biggest loser.

Well, this revelation was just enough to send me into a fit and freak out like I had just seen the coolest person in the world... I start hitting Randy and saying "did you see her? Do you know who that is? That is Dan and his mom from the biggest loser!"

I'm telling Randy to slow down, pull over, all sorts of things- he thinks I have totally lost it...and the bus pulls in behind us. So, I turn around in the car and just start waving to Jackie...and she smiles and waves back..just enough to fuel my fire!

Sadly, they went out of veiw behind a transfer truck that was behind us. I kept my eye on them and saw that they got off on exit 20...and our exit is 25. I'm telling Randy to turn around on the interstate because I want to go meet them...

But, we don't have our camera...so I am so sad...and then start thinking what will I say? What will I do? Do I just go up to their bus and knock on the door? I can't even remember the mom's name...(I found out just a minute ago when I google it)...

We got home and I loooked up Dan Evans...and he is releasing a country music album and will be in Knoxville, TN tonight at Best Buy for a signing...so they were on their way to Knoxville...

I mean, I was just 1 exit away from making a total fool of myself! I started to roll down the window as we were passing them...to do God knows what...I mean, I was just a freak out emotional crazy person..over 2 people on the biggest loser.

Lord help us if I ever run into anyone REALLY famous like Jennifer Aniston or Oprah or something...

I just had to share...and here are some photos of them. Just think- they pulled over on exit 20 in Cleveland, TN to get gas or eat or something- just 5 miles from me!

HOW COOL!

And, if we would have had our camera and if Randy had enough gumption to make a u-turn on I-75...then this post would have been WAY more embarassing!

Dan
Jackie- the woman driving the bus!

The new album!

Diaper time!

Each night before bath time, we strip Rody down to his diaper and wrestle around a bit...he LOVES it! We pretend that we are going to get him and he will squeal and try to get away...and then look back to see if we're watching

He enjoys tackling this pillow

tonight he was crawling around the bed saying "da da"...over and over again...then after his bath when I (mama) was getting him dressed, daddy came in and Rody said "da da"...I cried...It was so sweet

Enjoying some puffs and a sippy cup

Loves playing with his truck!

**Another new post below!**

All I want for Christmas...

Is my two "top" front teeth...cause I already have my bottom two!

Again, I like to get underneath my toys these days...

see my toofies? That is what mama calls them...my toofies...

This is one of my mommy's favorite pics...

the snot **update**

Hey Y'all!
Okay. I stayed home on Wednesday to care for my boys...Rody went to the doctor in the morning and has an ear infection in his left ear. He is taking yummy antibiotics for it. Pretty sick- he woke up with dried green snot under his nose and on his face- nice...poor baby!

Randy is feeling a little better- just lots of rest and TLC needed.

Now I am not feeling so well--but I am at work nonetheless...can't wait for the weekend!

Oh, and I've gotten some good advice on the biting issue. But, thankfully, it did not happen yesterday.

snot, more snot, biting, and cuddling

Yes, you heard right. Both the Randolph Raymond's are sick in our household. Rody has got the congestion and is not feeling good. And Randy is totally achy, sinusey(is that a word)...you know what I mean.

I'm taking a sick day tomorrow to care for both of my boys. Rody is going to the doctor at 9am...we think he may have an ear infection and Randy goes to the doctor at 2:30 pm...

Pray for me...and for them...

Mommy to the rescue!

Oh, yeah, and Rody has decided to start biting me as I feed him. Um, OUCH! Not pleasant and I am not sure what to do. I am so paranoid about that, that I am hesitant when he latches on. I very loudly said "don't bite mommy...NO" today and he just kinda stuck out his lower lip--then I feel bad because he already doesn't feel well. Any suggestions would great!

I like the leaves

We like the fall colors...so we took a drive this Sunday afternoon to look at the trees.

Rody seemed to think they tasted good

He is saying "please don't leaf me here, I'm cold!"
I love to get under a big Maple tree like this, look up, and wonder...so pretty, so simple, so creative!

I love trees...scientifically, they take away bad CO2 and produce good O2! They start from a small seed and become these large, beautiful, living organisms! (yes, trees ARE living...)

Just so cool how you and I started as a tiny seed...or cell...and how from that one cell, it reproduces and produces more cells and more cells and then you have a little baby like Rody...I saw Rody's heart beat at 6 weeks gestation....6 weeks! That is before many people even know they are pregnant. And it was beautiful...and I saw the potential and sanctity of that little heart beat- similar to how you can see a small seed and realize what it will become once you place it in the right soil.

Life, all life, is beautiful, fragile, sacred.

And I was reminded of this when I stepped underneath this magnificant maple tree in our front yard. God is cool like that

When there is standing...

there is falling....lots of falling! And as much as we try to keep it from happening, we can't stop every fall!

Rody is finding a new way to play with an old toy...

And apparently his socks are tasty!

Trying the one handed thing...which, again, causes more falling!

Our sweet boy is into everything! Good thing we don't live in a big place....talk about nightmare!

He loves to give high fives now and finds it really amusing when he tries to feed us his toast...he thinks its really funny!

tagged again...

Veryll tagged me, so here it goes!

Ten Years Ago I:
1. was 19!
2. working out and training for the hammer throw and dicsus throw at UGA
3. very involved in FCA and AIA minstries
4. not dating anyone!
5. sleeping as much as I wanted

Five Things on My To Do List Today
1. Make and print off quiz I am giving on Monday
2. pump...again
3. do my P90X workout
4. love on my husband and Rody
5. fold and put away laundry...and get my clothes ready for consignment

Five Snacks I Enjoy:
1. anything with peanutbutter
2. hot chocolate with marshmallows
3. variety of nuts
4. fruit- all varieties
5. chips or popcorn

Five Things I Would Do If I Were a Millionaire:
1. tithe
2. pay off all my debt
3. invest and put away money for the future
4. buy and payoff a house and funishings, buying things I would never buy myself
5. give money away to people who really needed it

Five Places I Have Lived
1. Greenbay, Wisconsin
2. Alameta, California
3. North East, Pennsylvania
4. Lawrenceville, Ga
5. Athens, Ga
6. Cleveland, TN

Five Jobs I Have Had
1. summer lifeguard for a neighborhood pool
2. sonic car hop (for AIA project)
3. babysitter
4. teacher

Ok, I tag: Melissa, Kristy, and Missy!

Hope

Waking up this morning, it is easy to feel some disappointment, some dispair, even some hopelessness. But, the sweet gentle comforter, through my tears this morning, has whispered to me hope. There is always hope. And it may not be the hope that some are speaking of this morning, but to my mind comes this song:

"My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest fame, but only lean on Jesus name. On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand."

Psalm 42:5 "Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him, my Savior and my God"

1 Peter 3:15 "But set apart Christ as Lord in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you"


This, my dear friends, is hope and change you can believe in...and it will never disappoint...

Go ahead...

Make my day!

Talk about day...Rody went to the voting station twice today (I know, we are participating in our own kind of voting fraud). He went this morning with daddy and this afternoon with mommy!

My Publisher

If you haven't checked out My Publisher...go to mypublisher.com and load the software.
You can make really cool photobooks that resemble coffee table books...great gifts for family memebers, etc. They are having a 50% off sale through tomorrow...so, hurry!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!

This is what you call a pooped pumpkin!

Randy and his parents took Rody out on Friday while I was at work in this outfit...supposedly he got so much attention in the grocery store...Randy said a girl came up to him and said "Oh, what a cute baby! does your baby have a mama?" How dare her...

This is our sweet neighbor Jerry

cutie pie!

Grandma Kia was here earlier in the week to help out...Rody liked her pumpkins on her shirt!

A very serious, tired pumpkin

I tried to dress up as a farmer with my pumpkin that I just picked...Randy was his usual Michael Myers...I tell you, people get freaked out by this costume...we went to the dowtown Block party and he had several people scream and several people ask to take a picture with him...

Randy's parents were hilarious! Debbie went as...well, we don't really know...but it was funny. Ray went as a hillbilly...he even got a few whistles!

scary

Rody couldn't quite figure it out

Usually Randy and I have a pumpkin carving contest, but this year I was never in the mood to carve a pumpkin...I'll blame it on my post pregnancy hormones! Anyways, Randy did a great job carving BOTH and we'll just say he won this year!

The Barnett's!

Our sweet pumkin doodle!

If you look closely, you can see his bottom right tooth popping through!