a few changes with the appearance of the blog...although I have NO IDEA how to get rid of the white border around the picture and around the middle column of the blog...and I still don't know where my post title option went...can anyone help..please?!!

Bath time with what I like to call "preacher hair"...no offense Pa-pa :)

Baby curls...or rat-tail? :)

Daddy and Stella playing her "Picnic" game she got for Christmas.

This is how I found Sawyer after his nap yesterday. Stella said, "oh, he looks like Jesus!" (I think she was thinking of the "robe" that Jesus has draped across his shoulder in most of her books. Haah :)

This month we learned the sound of S, while talking about snow and Stella, of course. Here we are practicing her name. I'm so proud of her...not real sure why the picture is a little blurry, but I had to get her proud look...this was the first time she copied it all the way.

This time last year... well, almost. The picture I took on the day I had him was bare belly...I was certain you didn't want to see that...so this one will do. Our Sawyer is almost a year old, I can't believe it.

(my option to put a title for the post is missing...if you know where it went, let me know...anybody?)

I normally don't post "personal" thoughts or feelings...but today I had to share with all you other mom's...young and old...parenting is hard work! In the past few days we've encountered more "battle of the wills" more than ever, the "testing" stage, and a few "fits". I'm thankful that the good out weighs the bad, for sure. Things aren't always peachy, and I think it's good to admit. I'm thankful I had and still have a wonderful Mom who leads by example in more than one way (you can thank be later Mom :)

The word contentment has come up in conversation and in my reading lately. I have to say, it's something I'm working toward. I don't mind improving on things or changing things up a bit, but to be content is tough sometimes. In a book, that I probably should read again soon, says there are 5 secrets to contentment. Here they are:

1. Never allow yourself to complain about anything...not even the weather



2. Never picture yourself in any other circumstances or someplace else



3. Never compare your lot with another



4. Never allow yourself to wish this or that had been otherwise



5. Never dwell on tomorrow-remember that tomorrow is in God's hands, not ours
   

Paul instructs us to:

1. Choose to give our anxieties to God


2. Choose to pray specifically


3. Choose to be thankful


4. Choose to dwell in the positive

Whew...that's hard sometimes... a lot of the time.

Random post, I know. So glad God offers us second, third and fourth chances to grow and learn...new days so we can start fresh...I'm also thankful for a husband that comes home after work to save me, too, sometimes :)

Yep...I just posted a 10 month picture, and I blinked and he's already 11 months....well, he's actually been 11 months since December 29th....a little late, I know. Sawyer is taking 5-7 steps all on his own now, but prefers to crawl, just because he can get there a lot quicker. He loves to make a "woo" sound when he's asked what does a dog say. (He makes this sound when we ask him what any animal says) He likes to imitate sounds like a firetruck. Last week I caught him playing with Stella's skates, making a "mmm" sound like a car...such a boy :) We love him so much and can't wait to celebrate his big one year birthday really soon....well, Mommy can wait...just becuase that first birthday came too fast! Happy 11 months, sweet boy!