Sigh...Long time I know!

WOW!!! What a month its been! I know, its been a while as my darling husband so nicely pointed out this afternoon. Its so funny too, because I was bragging about well I've been keeping up here! Yea...so some stuff came up! I'm sorry! I have to say that my surprise trip to Alabama was an absolute success! My grandmother was completely suprised to see not only myself but the boys as well and that make the 9 hour drive completely worth it!

Joey had a beautiful graduation, I'm so proud of him!!! He looked great too!

Let's see...hmmm...what else...oh yea! Nathan concured yet another project in the house! We used to have this horrible SALMON color in our bedroom that used to frighten both Nathan and I when we would wake up in the morning. However, its now these beautiful shades of Caramalized Onion & Rainforest! Wheee!! It matches the beautiful bedding set that was our christmas present from my mom.

Among Nathan's talents is his art of writing with paint brushes on mirrors and on one particular trip upstairs to check on him, I found this:

Now, why does it say congrats, you ask? Well.... Here's your most definitely unplanned and unexpected answer :

.... :) ...

Yes, you saw that right. We're now paitiently awaiting Sawyer baby #3! He or She will be making their arrival sometime around Feburary 20th 201o! Conveniently inbetween my very best friend Amy, who is ALSO due January 31st and a certain sister in law that I'm not quite sure I can share names yet who is due on Febuary 23rd 2010.

So...yea! Surprise!!!

Anyways, Patrick is now a walking fool. He's also starting to really communicate with everyone. Right now his favorite word is More!! LOL! Food, drinks, toys...whatever the object he always wants more of it.

Ethan is also doing well. His potty training is officially complete. We've made two successful 9 hour car rides and 2 4 hour car rides without ONE accident so he is POTTY TRAINED!!!WOOOO!!! LOL! He's a swimming fool and just adores being in the pool. With Leah, Allie, Daddy...it doesn't matter, as long as he's in a large body of water..he's a happy camper!


And this is the face you get when you tell him that its time to leave the awesome pool party that he's been looking forward to for so long because his brother is exausted...

Poor guy. Don't worry, he survived.

As for me, well, I feel good most of the time. I spent a wonderful weekend in Virginia over the Father's Day weekend with my dad. We celebrated Jimmy Lee's THIRD yes THIRD birthday that Saturday at the park and got to enjoy this GORGEOUS hair cut!

Patrick rocked the house by tourturing Uncle Shane with cupcake icing... and it was oh so worth the 85 bazillion wet wipes it took to clean them up!

Ethan really loved that he could play in the dirt by the creek. Mom caught this fabulous shot right before he wanted to join Uncle Shane in the creek.

I think my dad was quite pleased with all the love and attention he got that weekend too. He got a whole weekend with all of his boys. I think his faces speaks miles for him.

And of course...I have to leave you with this parting picture. Mom has recently become a charity case and has inherited this priceless number for the oodles of grandchildren. I think its a hit!

Okay. That's it for now! Please feel free to leave oodles of comments so that I can respond.I'll be back after this weekend with more pictures!

Feeling accomplished...

I think I've managed to surprise everyone, including myself by posting again within the week! I was able to steal a couple of pictures from Kelly this weekend during their visit and HAD to share them. Enjoy and feel free to leave some love in the comments section!

Are you there? Me too!! Finally!

I am here and I am so excited! Not because Patrick's hair actually fits into a ponytail holder, but because I get to show you my awesome new photo editing software!! It just so happens that I used this great picture of Patrick that I captured while we were camping!

I know I also owe everyone a serious update so I'm starting it here! After lots of time away, thanks to a trip to Charlotte, a Trojan virus, a camping trip, and a few other unexpected delays...I am back. On my Mother's day present none the less! Nathan did SO good this year and surprised me with a great new laptop for myself! Even though I've told you a million times, Thanks BABE!!! (PS please don't me upset about the pic...at least no one will know its him FOR SURE because its from behind! <3)>

After Charlotte, Nathan and I went camping at Kerr Lake with Kyle, Allison, Nick, Katie, Jill, Neil & Leah. We got a fabulous camp site and had the best time! It was WAY hot but I think for the first camping trip with the boys it went REALLY well. Ethan got to sleep in his Thomas blow up bed for the first time and LOVED it. Patrick even slept all night long each night that we were there! Something he STILL doesn't do at home in the comforts of a crib! LOL!

We got celebrate our 2nd wedding anniversary with everyone while we were there too. Thanks to K&S by the way for the champange and choclate! It was SO yummy!

Following camping I got hit with a Trojan virus that really just messed up everything on the old laptop. So surprise! Nate comes home with a laptop! YAHOO for me!

Some updates on the boys. Ethan I am SO PROUD AND HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE is COMPLETELY potty trained!!!!!

Hallelujah!!!

We stopped using pull-ups on the Sunday we returned from our camping trip and haven't looked back! Its been about 3 weeks now with NO accidents and we are just thrilled about it. He's now looking forward to hopefully starting preschool this fall and is in search of the perfect new lunchbox that he gets to take to school every morning!

As for Patrick, he's doing really well if you don't count the lack of sleeping through the night! LOL! We had his 1 year well baby check up this past Thursday. At 13 months old, he is 22 lbs. and 34" tall!! The doc was wonderful and said he is doing wonderfully! We are completely on table food and whole milk with him and he loves it! He's recently taken up the hobby of climbing. Doesn't matter what the object, he finds a way to climb. Some recent faves include our coffee table, end tables and OUT of his high chair!!

And finally, HE's WALKING!!! Its so scary but a happy time around here! I am so happy that he can walk now, but I'm just enjoying that its not an all out run yet!!

As for me, I'm doing okay. Enjoying my anniversary present from the darling hubby (2 months of unlimited tanning while he babysits) and getting better at my scrapping skills!! Which reminds me! If you haven't seen it yet, go check out my new blog! MadScrapper Designs Its all about digiscrapping and has the latest info and news from Misty O'Brien Designs on it as well!!

I think that is it for this round. I SWEAR it won't be that long again between posts. Its just been a few crazy weeks! LOL!

My heart is breaking...

Sometimes in this journey with God, I wonder how GOOD people get dealt a crappy hand. I know that God tests us in our journey on this earth. If it were easy, it wouldn't be worth it. I know that He makes us who we are with these trials that we face...but honestly, how many trials can one family handle? Nat has found out today that this pregnancy is not viable. She has an eptopic embryo and is now loosing her right tube.

Really? Let's review:

-2 years of trying to get PG only to succeed through IVF (their 2nd shot no less)

- Baby #1: Devin, sweet sweet Angel Devin, stillborn at 35 weeks 5 day.

-another YEAR of IVF and FET to reach a dream of FINALLY having a baby of their own to love and hold

-Baby #2: NOT VIABLE + Loosing a tube to an already infertile couple

WHERE IS THE FAIRNESS IN THIS??

Its hard to be positive when you CONSTANTLY are handed a pile of shit each and every time you're given a beakon of hope. None the less, I have to press on and trust that the Lord knows what he's doing. I DO believe that prayer WILL help you and I think the more people praying only helps that much more.

I'm so heartbroken right now and there is NOTHING that I can do but pray for her and Den.... I'm sorry if I've shared to much, I'm sorry if I've crossed the line, but every little bit helps.

Lord, help me to understand this test so that I know how to help her....

"For God has given us a spirit...."

Today is the day. MckMama's son Stellan will be having surgery in mere minutes. A heart ablasion on an almost 6 month old. Almost impossible tasks lay ahead of these doctors. I'm asking anyone that's ever read this blog to pray today. Pray that the doctors are wise and know just what to do. Pray for peace for MckMama & Prince Charming so that they may know God's presence now, when its needed most. Please pray that Stellan, STRONG LITTLE BOY STELLAN, will make it through today and the days ahead so that he can remain on this earth.

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7

A plunge for me; A project for Nathan

Are you ready for this??? I was loving the HORRIBLE wallpaper that used to be in my kitchen LOL!

Nathan doing what he does best

and the finished project!

Great job honey!!


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Well, apparently Nathan was not as tired as he believed to be! He decided that today after work would be a GREAT time to install our new microwave. Detachment, "re-shaping" of a cabinet or two, and one electrical outlet moved later, he's done it!! WOOHOO!! WTG Hubby! As I said to him tonight, I'm so glad he's a builder. I couldn't imagine actually having to pay someone what he does for fun LOL!!! We've also got a new stove, dishwasher (two-drawer! SO EXCITED), and refridgerator waiting in the garage for the next time he needs something to occupy his ever-busy hands.

As for me, I posted a few days ago about my first win in the digital scrapbooking world. I've decided to take the plunge and try my hand at a few more. Hopefully down the road, I'll be able to join some amazing Creative Teams (CT's) and possibly make some of my own kits to sell. If you would like to follow my journey there as well, check out the new blog! MadScrapper Designs is up and running!

And don't worry, I'll be back later this evening with an update in pictures!!

Whew! What a weekend!

Well, we're happy to finally announce that ALL the Sawyer brothers are now in North Carolina. Nathan flew up to Boston this past Wednesday and moved Kyle, Allison, Nick & Katie girl down to Wake Forest!!! Yay for the family being together! The reason I've disappeared for the last few days is just that. Friday night I spend with Kelly helping her out finalizing the plans for her siser's baby shower. Saturday was the shower, which was AWESOME, by the way. Then Saturday afternoon & ALL DAY SUNDAY we spent at Kyle's new house helping them get settled in. The house is gorgeous, and we got A LOT accomplished in such a short time. I'm sure we'll be back sporatically throughout the week as well to help them get things finished. This weekend we're having our first offical family get together for Easter Sunday. After church we're headed to one of our houses for potluck and fun times.

Welcome home guys! We're SOO glad to have you here!

As for the boys, they're doing great! Ethan ROCKED the potty training this weekend! He's now spent all DAY for the last 2 weeks in big boy undies with only 2 accidents!!! He even drove for 1.5 hours in the car Saturday with NO ACCIDENTS!!! lol! Patrick is a funny boy who is quickly learning to shake his tush to music and getting a little more daring in the walking department. No steps as of yet, but they're coming soon, I can feel it!

Me, well I am just tickled pink with myself right now. As I'm sure a lot of you know I've taken up digital scrapbooking. I've absolutely become obsessed with it! LOL! So last week I decided to get a wild hair up my tush and joined a scrap challange at Mistifaery Scrap Designs and I'm pleased to announce that I WON!!! I couldn't believe it! You can view the layout here along with all the other awesome layouts or just scroll down! LOL!

She did it!!!

OMG! She freaking did it!!!! Praise the Lord!!!

Relaxing Doesn't Make Babies

6-9 months and joyful sounds

Here are a few pics to re-cap 6-9 months with my birthday boy. And if you happen to have your speakers on you'll notice a few tunes that I've added. These songs are quite special to me, for undisclosed reasons, but non the less, they touch my heart. Enjoy...

3-6 months and growing