Beach Trip!

Hey guys! We took so many pictures at the beach, even though we were only there for 2 full days, both of which included RAIN!!! We had a great time despite the weather and had such a good time catching up with our family. This is actually the hotel where I spent almost all of my summer vacations growing up...I was actually only a month younger than Anna Kate when I came for the first time!

Grandaddy & me at 3 months old


Grangranny & Anna Kate at 4 months


This was Daddy's favorite...the suit that Anna Kate's wearing was actually my first bathing suit!! :)


Here's a slideshow

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Dianna & Dustin's Wedding

This past weekend, my cousin Dianna got married, and we were thrilled to be there for it! We had a great time hanging out with family while we helped get everything set up and ready for the big event! The wedding was beautiful and we wish Dianna and Dustin all the happiness in the world as they start their life together!

Aunt Danielle and Anna Kate at the bridal luncheon


Aunt Dianna, Aunt Kyndra and Grangranny and some SWEET sweet tea


Grangranny, Anna Kate and Granna


all the girls at the luncheon!


Danielle and I matched, so we took a picture


All the girls before the wedding chowing down on some snack food


Lacy and I were scarfing down a little snack before the big moment


Time out to play with Anna Kate!


Lacy and me-it's hard to believe that just a year ago she was the bride!


Ben and me...boys love weddings...can't you tell by the look on his face ;)


Dianna and her daddy putting the penny in her shoe!


All the girls in the family


me, Dianna, and Danielle-we've had this picture taken at all of our weddings!

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Lots of time with Family & Friends

We had a really fun week last week complete with a day at the pool, a party (complete with Drew, Anna Kate's main squeeze), and a visit with the Greatgrandparents. Anna Kate also had her first trip to the mall! On Monday, we went over to our friend Sarah's pool which was SO fun...especially since Anna Kate and Drew who were supposed to be napping, basically laid in the floor and talked to each other! We had a party for our friend Michael who is actually starting med school today-Good Luck, Michael!! We got to see Drew for a bit...he was getting ready to go to bed, so we only had time for a quick photo op, then it was time to party! This week, we got to visit with Anna Kate's Greatgrandparents and see Aunt Sarah's video from Nationals...it was great! Anna Kate is rolling from her back to her belly really well, but she can't quite get back on her back yet. She went to sleep the other day on her belly (while I watched, of course) and freaked out when she woke up and couldn't roll over. She's also really starting to grasp and hold on to things really well, and just jabbering up a storm. I can't wait for her to start talking!

Drew and Anna Kate "napping" while the girls enjoyed some time in the sun!


Anna Kate's first trip to the mall


Anna Kate's developing quite a coy look


Casey, Drew, Anna Kate and Sarah at the party!


Drew and Anna Kate sittin on the sofa


All the girls hanging out while the boys watched "Man vs. Wild" a.k.a. the most disgusting and intriguing show on tv


taking a bottle from Greatgrandmother


You can barely tell in this picture, but Anna Kate is really starting to grasp for things...she LOVES that pink elephant on her play mat at my parent's house

Aunt Sarah did GREAT!

Aunt Sarah went to nationals for the first time and placed 5th (like in the WHOLE country)! She and family are back home now, and we can't wait to see all the video and photos from last week! We are so proud of you!



Also, our friend Dedra of Studio 193 MADE my day this morning, when she emailed me the finished photos from Anna Kate's newborn shoot (and my maternity shoot)! The ones of Anna Kate are just breath-taking, and I cannot believe how fast she is growing. Time is flying by...

Tyler and I in silhouette...very poignant considering we were only about a month away from meeting Anna Kate!


Whew! I look like I'd swallowed a watermelon. This shot was inspired by a prego shot of one of my heros-Audrey Hepburn.


Sleeping...love it!


again...sleeping...again...LOVE IT!


probably one of my all time favorite photographs-EVER!


Anna Kate and the afghan that Grandmama made


LOVE this one...big ole blue eyes


Tyler loved this one...I think she looks like she saying, "Hmmm...let me think about that..."


Should we contact the maker of the dresser to see if they're interested in doing an ad with this picture...who wouldn't buy it if they saw this picture?


Where it all started...


Thanks Bill and Dedra for capturing such gorgeous shots of our little one...

Good Luck Aunt Sarah

Aunt Sarah is at Notre Dame this week twirling at Nationals! We love you, and we'll be praying for you!!! You'll be GREAT!




Here's a video we took of Anna Kate yesterday-she is getting SO much more responsive, especially to her daddy...guess we've got a Daddy's girl on our hands! :)

Catch up!

We had a great week last week...I just didn't have a chance to post any pictures! We were blessed to be able to spend lots of time with friends last week. Tuesday, we went to spend the afternoon with Grandmama & Grandaddy. Then, Wednesday, we went to a super fun play date with some of our dear friends. Fran invited us all over and she and Sara made some yummy brunch food-Thanks girls! Can you believe that between Fran, Rhonda, Sara and me, there were 7 kids? Sarah and I only accounted for 2! Thursday we had newlyweds Morgan and Jamie over for dinner, and we had such a good time! Grandmama and Grandaddy watched Anna Kate while we went to dinner with Matt and Sarah Beth! Thanks, y'all! We had a great time...I came down with some sort of sinus crud on Friday night, though, and have been icky all weekend. It seems to be getting better today, thank goodness, and hopefully this week will be good! Here are some pictures!

Reading my Noah's Ark pop-up book from Grandmom with Daddy!


Hangin' out with Gigi! (and Bosley!)


Laughing at everyone in my bouncy seat!


an artsy photo that Aunt Sarah took...I thought it was cool!


sleeping with Aunt Sarah!


Sara and I with our girls!


Anna & Anna Kate-they'll be chattin' it up before we know it!


Fran and Jake playing with Anna Kate


My baby and me!


We met Daddy for lunch Friday, and it made Anna Kate's morning!

Anna Kate is 3 months old today!!

It is so hard for me to believe that 3 months ago on a Friday, I was at the hospital, and we were about to meet miss Anna Kate! The time has absolutely flown by, and as much as I loved her 3 months ago, that love has grown over these months and will continue to grow! She is such a precious gift, and I feel so incredible blessed to be a mother. I wasn't sure that I could or even wanted to handle it, but I am learning and growing right along with her, and I would not trade motherhood for a thing in this world! I am learning more and more about the Father's love for us through Jesus...As much as I love Anna Kate, I know that it is only a faint reflection of the love God has for us. I love Eph. 3:17-19 which says,

"And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."

My prayer for Anna Kate is that above everything, she will come to know Jesus, and in that, discover this amazing, redeeming love. I can only make it my aim to make sure that I am a vessel and an instrument of such love in her life-all for the glory of God!

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