My Baby Girl

Three...can it be that it has been three years since I was at the hospital almost every day  prior to  Dr. Logan deciding it was time to meet this precious angel?  Has it really been three years since our family of three became a family of four?  Has it really been THREE years??????  What a blessing she is to our family...
Here are a few pictures from her first couple of years...

Happy Birthday Little Brother

Tomorrow is my not so little anymore brother's 22nd birthday.  Wow.  Time has flown by.  This time twenty-two years ago both of my grandparents were up awaiting his arrival.  My world was about to change forever.  For less than two weeks shy of ten years, I had been my Momma's baby.  I remember so clearly going to school on February 23, 1990.  I was in Chris Sutley's fourth grade class at Zion Chapel Elementary School.  The same room that just happens to be Austin Kieff's kindergarten classroom.  It is kind of neat that we both started Zion Chapel in the same room.  I was so anxious about my little brother's arrival, but so excited to meet Ethan Boyd.  Yes, that was to be his name, Ethan Boyd Lambert.  Ethan from Paradise, a show we watched and Boyd after my mom's maiden name and my dad's best friend.  I remember sitting in class when someone came to the door and asked to see me.  It was Mrs. Shirley Goodson, the McGruff Lady to me at the time.  She told me my little brother had arrived.  I could not wait to meet him.  The school day could not go by fast enough.  For as anxious as I was about having a little brother...what if I dropped him, what if I broke him, what if a hundred and one other things...I was just as excited...a real LIVE baby doll. 

Well, in the 22 years that the world has been blessed to have my little brother he has been a myriad of things from aggravating to amazing.  Here are a few things about Mr. John Wayne Lambert (not Ethan Boyd...we were all shocked):

• You will not meet a more honest person
• You will not find a better friend
• You will never wonder whether or not you are liked or despised
• He is strong
• He is smarter than I had any hopes of being
• He is not as "laid back" as he seems
• He is loyal
• He possesses the ability to bring out the best in people...and sometimes the worst :)
• He is funny
• He is kind
• He is a hero
• He is a man of principal
• He is an amazing Uncle
• He is not and never was a real LIVE baby doll
• He is the best little brother I could have ever hoped for

Happy 22nd Birthday John Wayne!!  We love you!

Today

Today was Austin Kieff's sixth (well technically fifth as he missed last week) Upward game.  Oh how I do LOVE to watch him play sports...swim...run...laugh...okay I just love to watch him . (period).

It was an early morning in the office for me so that I could take a very much extended lunch break.  I dropped AKJ's T-ball registration form and $ off at the school before stopping by the house on my way to Troy. There is so much excitement in our house on "Game Day."  I hope it is always like this.

This post is mainly for me, and because I want to remember "today."  While watching AKJ play a rather aggressive game of basketball of which I was not at all too happy with at times, but think he was definitely "on" as far as his defensive game goes...I reached over and hugged Caroline tight and said, "I love you so much!"  My sweet baby girl said, "I love you Mommy...do it again!"  So, I did it again...and again...and again...and again for good measure.

Back to the office I went this afternoon and left my little ones with their Daddy.  Entertaining them will definitely not be a problem today as Cousin Jacob and Cousin Lily are at Grandmomma and Papa's house!! 

Here is something I read that I want to remember...you might enjoy it, too:

Choosing joy is acknowledging that while I don't understand what's going on, God does.

Choosing joy is remembering that while life seems to be spiraling out of control, it is never out of God's control.

Choosing joy is remaining mindful that while my circumstances may feel anything but ideal, God still has my good and His glory in mind.

prayer request

I   just found out that my Uncle Tate has cancer.  He and my Aunt have been through so much through the years.  Both have had battles with cancer.  My heart aches for them.  They do not have family close by.  Thankfully, they have a strong church family.  Please pray for healing, comfort and peace...that treatment will be successful...

thank you

I Don't Want to Raise a "Good" Child!

I really needed to read this.  Maybe some of you do, too!  I love my little ones beyond words.  Maybe this link will bless your heart as it has mine!

Trip to South Alabama

In October, we had the opportunity to visit the other southern side of our great state.  I had a work meetings and the family tagged along.  We left one Friday afternoon and drove to Point Clear.  I loved the drive down...it was a route...well most of it (i.e. the part that I didn't try to direct a shortcut that ended up adding 30 minutes to our trip) we took many of a time when I was a kid.  Driving through Fairhope was BEAUTIFUL.  I believe I could definitely spend more time in the area...

Our little weekend getaway was a wonderful time away for our family.  We were lucky enough to have Miss Sara Hilton drive over from Mobile to be our sitter on Friday and Saturday evenings while David and I attended work functions.  We stayed at The Grand which was amazing.  The food...wonderful...the service...impeccable...the list of things to do...too long for the time we had!

We enjoyed walking around the resort, fishing on the pier, free bike rentals, canon demonstration and the beautiful views.  We headed home Sunday through Mobile and enjoyed touring the Battleship. 

Here are few pictures from our stay...the Battleship pictures have not been downloaded...

View from our amazing room!

Not sure if this was the dolphin or another fish..., but we saw DOLPHINS!! 

Austin Kieff had a great time fishing

Our room is the second one to the right of the big tree!

Beautiful

Enjoying a ride

There were beautiful butterflies everywhere!

The Cannon

Austin Kieff riding the rental bike

Catching Up...

So, the infamous soon turned into a lot longer than I thought it would...if anyone is still out there checking in, thanks for caring about our little family and trying to stay in touch via our family website and/or this blog!  I will be blogging a few things from the list mentioned previously over the next few days and several things that have been added to it...like Thanksgiving, Austin Kieff's first school program, CHRISTmas, Nanny's visit and New Year's.  Hopefully, I will find the time to download all of the pictures that have been taken so that I can actually complete the list...

While you are waiting...here are few pics of the kiddos...what most of you really check in for, ha!

Looking tough in his rodeo jacket and cowboy hat

I just LOVE this little girl!

This is her "hmmm, let me think about it" face

We see this face when she isn't getting her way!

Riding a "rental" bike at the hotel and not too thrilled about the color!