Our Growing Family

Long time no post

2012-02-06T18:27:00.003-06:00

So Jill and I haven't posted a blog in a really long time. Life makes you busy and some things just slip through the cracks. We like it when other people post blogs so we can read/look up on what everyone else is doing, but don't want to take the time to do it ourselves.

Jill has been busy teaching 9th English at Hoover HS. She was a bouncer at the Sadie Hawkins dance last Friday, so be very jealous of that. It's indoor track season, so i'm crazy busy as well. We get to host meets now that the City of Birmingham built an amazing $48 million indoor track facility about 20 blocks from my office. I have taken full advantage and have hosted/am hosting 5 indoor track meets this year. We just got back from a big meet at Notre Dame this past weekend (where the Lady Blazers did awesome), so needless to say, i've been busy too.

Now what people really want to hear/read about...Knox and Lucas. Knox and Lucas are doing amazing. I know people write that everything is great, and the kids are awesome, but honestly, sometimes i think they're lying. Not here. Knox loves his school and has a little girlfriend named London. He is getting really good at counting to 15, naming all his letters, and colors. He doesn't forget a thing, ever. Jill drove past UAB Hospital where Lucas was born last week, and Knox said "Mommy, Knox, Dada get Cucas". Somehow he knew that's where we got "Cucas". Crazy. Knox is a great mimic. He mimics everything I do (not always good), and is really good at imitating songs and sounds. So maybe he'll make millions of dollars doing that for the rest of his life. Lucas is such a happy, fat little boy. He's 6 months old now, and smiles and laughs all the time. When he's not smiling or laughing, he's very content and chill. That happiest thing Jill and I can ask for at this point, is that they love each other, and boy do they. Knox loves tickling Lucas and playing around him, and nothing on Earth makes Lucas more happy or laugh harder than Knox. It's great.

Like I said, LIFE in general has kept us more busy that we could possbily imagine, but we are so happy, we wouldn't change anything. BUT, Jill is looking forward to a Spring Break in another month, and longer days. We'll both be ready for Summer. By that point Knox will be driving and Lucas his partner in crime. Can't wait.

I'm writing this from my work computer, so I don't really have any pictures on here, so i'm just posting a few of the things I have. Enjoy.

Life's Many Chapters

2011-11-15T12:30:00.001-06:00

Becoming parents was the start of by far the most exciting, amazing, fulfilling and challenging chapter of our lives...no doubt about that.

When Knox was first born, I think that chapter would have been titled "Holy Crap, What Happened to My Independence?" (Am I the only one that went through that? Man, it was hard. Awesome - supremely and utterly awesome - but hard.)

But as he got older (and easier!!), the title evolved into "This is So Easy Now - Let's Do It Again!"

Enter: baby #2, the chapter that was at first titled "How Little Sleep Can One Really Subsist On?" (Seriously, the answer to that is about 3 hours of uninterrupted sleep to keep you going but definitely not sane. And lots of coffee. Lots and lots and lots of coffee...and prayers.)

Just a little over 3 months later, and we have arrived at the chapter entitled "We Got This Two Kid Thing Down." Bahahahaha - I just made myself laugh out loud. That is just an outright lie. We have gotten used to having two sweet kiddos, but we by no means "have it down." We take it day-by-day, even hour-by-hour some days. Regardless, we wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

I mean, look at these little faces - life is pretty.darn.good. with these two munchkins.

(I'm pretty sure Lucas will kill me later in life for posting his "junk" all over the interwebs. Sorry, buddy! The picture is too cute not to share!)

Beauty.

Mmmm, I could eat him right up.

Funniest kid alive.

Chubba-Wubba with Aunt Jackie.

Shnookums. Love.

Cuddles with mom-mom before bed.

Even baby Lucas is rolling over now, playing with us, and is generally just such a joy to be around - he coos, smiles and belly-laughs, and it is the best thing EVER!

And now, we are about to begin an entirely new chapter. The one that I have spent the past three years preparing for in grad school. The one that will challenge us in new ways. But it is the one that we (I, in particular) am so excited about.

It is the one that has both mommy and daddy working full-time.

Yup, that's right. Mommy got a job! And not just any job. A teaching job at Hoover High School teaching 9th grade English/Language Arts.

Alleluia!!

It is truly a dream job. It is the high school where I did my student teaching. And it is the high school Knox and Lucas will attend one day. It is a great school academically and athletically. And I cannot wait to get started.

Did I mention that I start on December 1? Oh yes, I have a whopping 15 days to prepare for my very first day in my very own classroom. Gulp.

With that said, I have tons to do: lesson plans, final exams, oh and finding a day care for Lucas. Prayers for strength, endurance, patience, and a perfect day care situation for Lucas would be so very much appreciated.

I can't wait for this yet-to-be-named-chapter to begin.

Love them!

2011-10-27T11:58:00.000-05:00

They're bonding already, and I love it!

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Creepy

2011-10-23T19:53:00.001-05:00

Giving Kurt the ability to post on the blog from his new, fancy phone has been great, because I feel like it gets updated way more often now! Unfortunately, since we aren't at the house together at the moment, and I just hopped on the ole blog to update it myself, I see that he has already done it for me. Great minds think alike, I guess :)

At the same time as posting the pic of Knox and Lucas in their costumes together on the blog, he also sent it to some family members. Almost immediately after, I get an email from Uncle David with a comparison of Knox (aka Anakin Skywalker) and the "real" Anakin from the movies. Check it out:

Creepy close resemblance, huh???

Star wars halloween party

2011-10-23T18:54:00.001-05:00

Knox and Lucas attended a halloween party at the Elkins house. Of course they were star wars characters. Knox was Anakin Skywalker and Lucas was Yoda (the jedi master). They had fum but we enjoyed their costumes even more. Here they are with Nana. More to come as Knox has more halloween shin-digs to attend. May the Force be with you.

Molasses cookies

2011-10-22T17:38:00.001-05:00

Quality tile with Nana included making molasses cookies (which have no eggs, so they're Knox-safe). I caught this pic of knox helping Nana clean up.

Go Vols!

2011-10-15T15:58:00.001-05:00

Cheering hard today. Lord knows we need it!

Feeling better

2011-09-29T09:40:00.001-05:00

Ive gotten a fancy new phone and am testing out this blog app. Knox was sick throwing up all last night. After worrying, googling symptoms and taking care of a pathetically sick little boy, he is back to normal this morning and eating well.

Seriously, Time Flies!

2011-09-14T17:30:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure if it flies by faster when you're having fun, when you're sleep deprived, or maybe both! But the past 6 1/2 weeks have truly flashed before our eyes. All of a sudden, Lucas is just over 6 weeks old, and Knox is just days away from being a 2-year-old. How did that happen already?!

So, what have we been up to the past 6 weeks? If you've ever had a newborn, then you pretty much know: feed, change diapers, repeat every 2.5-3 hours around the clock. Not much sleep happens; but, we know it's worth it, and we know it's temporary. We WILL sleep again...one day...soon...right?? (If not, just don't tell us!)

I always remember Jordan telling us when Knox was born that we just needed to make it to the 6-week mark - things would get better. She was right back then, and she was right again this time. We're still not getting tons of sleep; but Lucas is smiling, cooing, and even giggling occasionally. And let me tell you, amidst tears in the middle of the night (my tears, not his), when I see that little smile, it is ALL worth it. See, look how cute!

In other big news, Knox started school (i.e. Mother's Day Out) last week - he calls it "cool." So cute. And he LOVES it. He found a little girlfriend (he tells me how "cute" she is all the time); and he's already learning a ton. We wanted him to go for two reasons: (1) He's at the age where he REALLY needed some peer interaction. He was craving it, and he seems to thrive on it. (2) I'm working part-time at UAB as a tutor and from my house doing private tutoring, so it frees me up a little to do just that. I do miss having my little guy at home some days, though. He is always cracking me up. I'll have to do an entirely separate post on all of the funny things he's doing these days. He's a constant source of entertainment in our house!

We got Knox a Star Wars backpack, and he is OBSESSED. Guess what he's dressing up as this year for Halloween? :)

The best thing for us lately is seeing how very much Knox loves Lucas. We had about a week and a half where it seemed like Knox was struggling with the addition of his brother - he woke up a few times in the middle of the night with nightmares, and he was acting out a bit more. But it was short-lived, and he really is obsessed with the "baby." It is awesome. I was telling my sister, Jennifer, about Knox's behavior problems, and she said the sweetest thing: "Doesn't he know that having a sibling is the best thing that has ever happened to him?" She's so right - he may not know it yet, but he will one day. One day soon, Knox and Lucas will be as close as Jennifer and me, or Jackie and me. I love my sisters.

Knox loves to help burp the baby and everyone else these days!

Getting ready to watch the Vols. Knox loves Smokey, or "Po-pey" as he says.

That is NOT a cigarette. It is the medicine dropper to give Lucas gripe water. Kurt made me clarify :)

Don't let me fool you - things aren't always peachy. (Don't you hate when you read blogs that make it seem like everything is so easy and wonderful?) I LOVE our life and where we are right now; but we most certainly have our bad days. Like yesterday. It just plain sucked. And my negative attitude affected everything. It's like a cancer. I kept trying to talk to God about it, but I could only say individual words to Him through tears while hooked up to that annoying pump - I just kept saying, "Abandoned. Exhausted. Alone." I guess those were the words the Enemy kept whispering to me. But GOD said, "My mercies are new every morning." And they are. I'm so thankful for that. Today was a new day. We still have some crappy days; but God's promises remain true. Today. Tomorrow. Forever.

Hanging out on the screened-in porch enjoying the cooler weather. Always carrying around his baseball bat.

One day Rosie will love Knox as much as he loves her!

I have lots more I'd love to blog about: my version of Lucas' birth story (didn't you love Kurt's post?? He's pretty awesome, that guy!); funny stuff Knox does; and other tidbits of our lives. Hopefully I'll make it a habit to find more time to blog in my spare time - maybe in the middle of the night with a crying, gassy baby! Those would be some comical posts ;)

Lucas David Thomas

2011-08-11T23:44:00.000-05:00

Lucas David Thomas arrived here on August 1, 2011 at 4:46pm. He weighed 7lb 15oz, and was 20.25in long. I won't go into any finer details about Jill's labor, but compared to when she had Knox, this one was fairly easy (don't hate on her, those of you ladies that had long labors). Jill and Lucas left the hospital very healthy. You'll see from the pictures that Lucas looks exactly like Knox did when he was born. I know, I know most new born babies look similar; red, swollen, wrinkly. But, they do look slightly different from each other (especially to happy parents). But Knox and Lucas looked EXACTLY alike when they were both born. Considering his mom and I think he's a pretty good looking kid, hopefully that bodes well for little Lucas.

It's been a week and a half since he was born, and Jill already says it's hard to believe life without him. It's true. We haven't slept much, and quickly remember all the tough times when Knox was first born. But it really is amazing how much you remember, and how quickly you fall back into the old routines of washing bottles, standing over the crib with one finger in a pacifier for 20min hoping he falls asleep, etc. It doesn't seem as hard as it did the first time, and you KNOW the rewards to look forward to (like their first smile, holding the bottle by themselves, eating solid foods, crawling, walking and in Knox's case, doing track block starts over and over and over and over again).

I'll answer the most basic questions people have for us. Knox has been an amazing big brother. He really loves his "be-be", and wants to drag his Elmo step stool everywhere to "help" change a diaper, watch you feed him. He is so gentle with Lucas, and always wants to look at him and wants to know if we are including him in things ("be-be?"). He has been slightly more needy, and thrown one or two little tantrums, but overall it could be worse. Plus we expect some behavior change from time to time. I really don't think he will ever take a back seat to anyone. Knox has too much personality. Rosie has done really well. I guess it's not such a major change when she's had almost 2 years of being the low man on the totem pole. And know she's one notch lower. She is curious about Lucas, but in a good way. With Knox she was in denial, and mostly just stayed away from him. Overall the Thomas household is doing great. We are just adjusting, but enjoying it. Here are some pics of Lucas, and the rest of us. Enjoy.

Let's Make This Fun, Shall We?

2011-07-22T09:14:00.001-05:00

Since I'll undoubtedly be waiting for some undisclosed amount of time for Lucas to arrive, I say we make a contest out of it!

If you want to participate, just comment on this post with what DATE you think he'll finally join our world! You can say today (since there are a lot of hours left in this day - and I may make you my new best friend for giving me some hope!!) or any other date hereafter.

I'll even give away* something to the winner - I just don't know what yet. Kisses from Knox? (He gives the BEST hugs and kisses!) Chocolate? Startbucks? I'll think of something...

Just a head's up: his "actual" due date is August 11th. But, keep in mind that I have already been 4cm dilated for at least a week. Seriously, the "could be any time" mantra I keep telling random strangers is getting olllllddddddd quick.

OK, start guessing!!! (I have a guess, too, but I can't decide if I should post it or not? What do you think?)

*I am editing this word because, in the middle of the night while racing to the potty for the 1,000 time because of the 16lb. baby resting on my bladder, I realized that "giveaway" is a noun, and I needed to use a verb here (to "give" something away). Yes, I just exposed my absolute nerdom to the world. I like grammar. Good thing since I have a Masters degree to teach it to high schoolers one day!

Full Term!

2011-07-21T12:56:00.000-05:00

I have officially reached the 37-week mark as of today which is (thankfully!) considered full term. With the news last week that I was already dilated to 4cm, none of us (Kurt, Dr. Hoover, me) thought we'd make it through the weekend much less this entire week. And after my appointment this morning, it appears Lucas is still holding strong in my belly. I have always thought that the longer a baby "bakes," the better - so I'm all about him staying in there as long as possible! Only God knows when he'll come...and as anxious as we are about when that time will actually be, we are certainly planning to cherish our last few hours/days/weeks as a small family of 3 (well, 4 including Ro-Ro)!

So, that was a pretty anti-climatic post, huh? I don't really have any news to share other than...I'M STILL PREGNANT :)

I'll leave you with two recent pictures, both taken on Kurt's birthday. We were able to celebrate with a quiet night out, just the two of us...and it was exactly what we needed. I love that man so much. He blesses me so very much, and I love celebrating his birthday every year!

"Cucus Sleep"

2011-07-20T07:00:00.003-05:00

That's how Knox will tell you where Lucas will be sleeping once he's finally here! We have a 3-bedroom house, so Kurt and I have a room, Knox has a room, and Lucas will be sharing with the guest room temporarily. Once Lucas starts sleeping through the night consistently, we'll move Knox into the room with Lucas in order to have a dedicated guest room once again.

However, since Lucas's room and the guest room are one (for now), I opted to go less "nursery" and more just simply decorated. I fell in love with this color called "Blue Nova" from Benjamin Moore, so I had my heart set on painting the room that color. I wanted everything else to be clean, crisp white (for the most part). I am NOT a decorator, but I do love me some HGTV! So, here's my attempt at decorating a room for both adults and a newborn:

Jordan so selflessly let us borrow a crib so we didn't have to go out and purchase one right now. It works PERFECTLY in the room, and we are SO thankful to the amazing Elkins family for always helping us out!!

And the crib bedding came from Pottery Barn Kids. Some of my unbelievably gracious, loving friends here in Birmingham threw me a little "baby sprinkle" and blessed us with a gift card to PBK so I could get the bedding. Love love love those sweet friends! (Sense a theme? I am one blessed girl!!!)

Jordan is also letting us borrow her glider. I seriously could sleep in that thing, it is SO comfortable!

For a bit of whimsy, Kurt's unbelievable talented mom (Knox's sweet nana) painted a few Cat in the Hat canvases to put above the changing table. This is BY FAR Knox's favorite part of the room!

Now all we need is that little bundle of joy to come out and use his newly decorated room! Can't wait to meet you, sweet baby Lucas!!!!!

"Selfish Blogger" and Knox Gets a Hose-Down!

2011-07-19T08:10:00.001-05:00

I've decided to dub myself a "selfish blogger" - i.e. I will wake up early every.single.morning to drink my coffee and catch up on all of my favorite blogs; but when it's time to update mine, I think of every excuse in the book to not do it. Why is that?! I really do think that it boils down to the fact that typing something semi-creative and entertaining is flat out daunting lately. Perhaps I've used all of my brain cells incubating this baby and trying to raise a wild little-man successfully? Yes, let's go with that excuse :)

Truth be told - LOTS has been happening around the Thomas household lately. We are obviously anxiously awaiting the arrival of sweet baby Lucas any day now; and in the mean time, we are cherishing every minute with Knox as an only child. He is very excited about "Cucus" (the "L" sound is evidently very hard for kiddos to say!!), but that might change once he's actually here - ha! We know how "easy" life is right now with Knox in a great routine, sleeping 12+ hours each night and 3 hours each day...but we are prepared for the first few tough weeks of having a newborn (are you really ever ready??).

So with all the waiting, we have successfully done the following: cleaned out all closets in the house, painted and decorated the nursery/guest room, cleaned out drawers, washed all new and old baby clothes, reorganized the playroom/office, sanitized all old baby stuff (infant car seat, bouncy seat, swing, etc.), moved around/reorganized furniture in master bedroom, cleaned the garage, and many many many more tasks that I'm sure Lucas will be very thankful for once he's here - right??? The astonishing thing is that we've gotten all of this done while both Kurt and I have been working (I got a part-time job as a tutor through the Athletic Department at UAB) and while he has been traveling (to Bloomington, Des Moines, and NYC most recently). Whew! Busy, busy!!

We have definitely had time for some fun, too, though. For instance, a few weeks ago, I met my friend, Ann Wade, and her fur-baby, Sadie, at the park so the doggies could get some exercise. It has been brutally hot here, so we let the dogs play in the hose. Turns out, Knox LOVED the hose! And, sweet AW (during her time off) busted out her camera to take some of my favorite pictures of Knox to date.

Love love love this sweet-natured, energetic little boy. He is going to be a GREAT big brother to Lucas, we have no doubt!

Tomorrow, I'll update with some pictures of Lucas's nursery; and Thursday, I'll update everyone with my 37-week appointment. Did I mention I was already 4cm dilated at my 36-week appointment?! This baby is a-comin' quick!!!!

HAPPY FRIDAY!

2011-05-27T09:42:00.000-05:00

This is Knox's new favorite "TV-watching-position:"

Isn't that little tooshy cute?!

Lots of life to update everyone on. Will do next week once Kurt is back in town. This was all I had time to do...Knox is already back in my lap ready for something to do! Happy Memorial Day weekend - prayers for everyone to have a fun, safe, blessed weekend!

The Blessing of Friends

2011-04-13T11:54:00.001-05:00

We have been blown away this week by the blessing of a particular friend! Our sweet, sweet friend Jordan has graciously taken on the role of Knox's "day care" for the week, and we could NOT be more thankful. After a rough three weeks at a local day care which resulted in an upper-respiratory flu for Knox, the outbreak of hand-foot-and-mouth disease, and a wicked stomach bug that knocked me out for days, Kurt and I couldn't stand the thought of sending him back there one more day. Don't get me wrong - the ladies taking care of Knox were wonderful, and the fact that they allowed us to enroll Knox for an emergency short-term stay was an answered prayer - BUT, there's something much more comforting about a dear friend keeping him at her clean, germ-free home. And let me tell you, Knox has been LOVING IT! When I would walk into the day care to pick him up each afternoon, he would see me and immediately bawl. When I go to Jordan's each afternoon, he almost doesn't care to see me. As much as that should hurt my feelings, it makes me feel SO much better knowing that he is obviously taken care of and clearly having a blast!

And the best part is, Jordan sends me pictures from her iPhone throughout the day letting me know what they've been doing - how awesome is she?! Here's a sneak peek:

This picture cracks me up! She's got all three kiddos packed into that car, and don't they look like they're loving it!!!

I just know these two must love hanging together - two sweet little boys!

As Eric said, these two are bound to be "partners in crime" one day. Jordan and I NEVER did anything bad when we were in high school ;)

How fun is Jordan taking the kids to the mall carousel?! Love it!!

All this fun has worn him out apparently!

And tomorrow, she has a fun day at the zoo planned for them. Can you imagine little Jordan with three wild kids at the zoo? Say extra prayers for her if you think of it :)

Being that Kurt and I don't have any family here in Birmingham, we often have to rely on friends for help...and Jordan and her sweet family are truly like family in that way - ALWAYS willing and offering help. SO thankful for Team Elkins!!!

Kurt's New Favorites

2011-04-04T12:16:00.000-05:00

As much as Kurt and I both LOVE to cook, it's amazing that I have yet to share any recipes with y'all on the blog yet! Just last week (which, mind you, was the end of the month so grocery funds were low), I scrounged around for some affordable yet healthy meals. One of my all-time favorite cooking blogs is Our Best Bites. Sarah and Kate are two wives and moms who know all about the stresses of balancing home management (yuck), part-time work, church/community involvement, and of course, all of the other crazy mom duties. Yet, they both LOVE to cook, and their recipes are always some of my favorite go-to's. Well, when you have a husband who loves to cook (and is much better at it than I am), it is always a challenge to find something that wows him. I did it last week, though, so I had to share!

First, I made some BAKED creamy chicken taquitos. I emphasize the word "baked" here because usually the best of taquitos are yummy-fried-goodness. I have to say - I did not miss the fried part one bit. And, I pretty much had all of the ingredients in my fridge already, so I scored major bonus points with the hubster for not spending a fortune at Publix (for the 20th time that month!). Here's the recipe with some of my own substitutions:

Baked Creamy Chicken Tacos

1/3 C (3 oz) cream cheese
1/4 C green salsa (Didn't have green salsa on hand so just used regular spicy salsa)
1T fresh lime juice
1/2 t cumin
1 t chili powder
1/2 t onion powder
1/4 t granulated garlic, or garlic powder
3 T chopped cilantro
2 T sliced green onions
2 C shredded cooked chicken (I used leftover meat from a rotisserie chicken I had purchased earlier in the week)
1 C grated pepperjack cheese (I used extra sharp cheddar since it was already in my fridge)

small corn tortillas (I used small soft taco flour tortillas since Knox is allergic to corn)
kosher salt
cooking spray (I used my olive oil mister - love that thing!)

Heat oven to 425. Line a baking sheet with foil and lightly coat with cooking spray.

Heat cream cheese in the microwave for about 20-30 seconds so it’s soft and easy to stir. Add salsa, lime juice, cumin, chili powder, onion powder and granulated garlic. Stir to combine and then add cilantro and green onions. Add chicken and cheese and combine well.

You can prepare up to this step ahead of time. Just keep the mixture in the fridge.

Work with a few tortillas at a time and heat in the microwave until they are soft enough to roll without cracking. It helps to place them between damp paper towels. Usually 20-30 seconds will do it. If you find yours are cracking when you roll them or are coming unrolled right away, just try heating them longer and try the paper towel thing.

Place 2-3 T of chicken mixture on the lower third of a tortilla, keeping it about 1/2 inch from the edges.

Then roll it up as tight as you can.

Place seam side down on the baking sheet. Lay all of the taquitos on the baking sheet and make sure they are not touching each other. Spray the tops lightly with cooking spray or an oil mister and sprinkle some kosher salt on top.

Place pan in oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until crisp and the ends start to get golden brown.

Seriously, so stinkin' good, and really not terribly unhealthy! They're really good dipped in guacamole, salsa, sour cream, OR...the dressing for this amazing salad I also made (again, from the awesome chicas at Our Best Bites):

Chipotle Chicken Taco Salad

SALAD:

4 c. chopped Romaine Lettuce
2 c. chopped grilled chicken (I actually skipped the chicken since I ran out from the taquitos)
1 c. cherry or grape tomatoes, washed
1/3 c. vertically-sliced red onions (I just used green onions since I had them)
1 avocado, cubed
1 15-oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 8 3/4 oz. can corn, rinsed and drained
DRESSING:
1/3 c. chopped fresh cilantro
2/3 c. light sour cream
1 1/2 + tsp. adobo sauce from canned chipotle chilies
1 tsp. chili powder
4 tsp. fresh lime juice
¼ tsp. salt

Make sure all salad ingredients that need to be washed or rinsed have been. They suggest just rinsing the beans and corn together; no reason not to! Heck, throw the tomatoes in while you’re at it if you want!

Combine lettuce, chicken, beans, corn, onion, and tomatoes in a large bowl and gently mix with your hands. Set aside.

Mix dressing ingredients. I say to start with 1 1/2 tsp. of adobo sauce and then go from there, probably 1/4-1/2 tsp. at a time. If you’re serving this for a crowd, it’s probably better to err on the side of not spicy enough rather than too spicy, but if you’re just making it for your family and you have taste buds of steel, have at it. You could even chop up one of the chilies and toss it in there if you’re feeling super-brave. Set dressing aside.

When you’re ready to serve, add avocado and dressing. Gently combine and serve.

We used the reserve dressing for our taquito dipping sauce. And it seriously was a little taste of heaven.

So yes - this recipe was fabulous that night, even better as left overs, and a winner with both Kurt AND Knox. Just had to share my little kitchen victory :)

What a difference a year makes?!

2011-03-31T07:12:00.000-05:00

Kurt did a great post for us last year during the week of our Spring Break. (You can read it here!)

Just like last year, we didn't do a whole lot on our Spring Break this year. But we had amazing weather, and it was the first time in two months that I got to spend one solid week with my little man. I cherished EVERY. SINGLE. SECOND.

The highlight of our break was yet again another picnic at the park with Rosie. We went to church, stopped by Jason's Deli, then headed up to our favorite spot to enjoy the sun and 80 degree temperatures. We had done the same thing last year, so look at how different Knox looked:

As compared to this year!!!

Knox's First Haircut

2011-03-29T08:07:00.000-05:00

I have been saying it since SEPTEMBER. "Knox must get a haircut soon. He has a mullet!" Seriously, we live in Alabama; the kid HATES shoes; and his hear was short in the front, long in the back. We did NOT need to perpetuate the redneck cycle any longer :) So, just last week during Spring Break, we took him to Sports Clips where we were sure all the TVs with basketball games on them would be enough to distract him from the shears near his head.

He actually did really well! The pictures show him cringing; but he never once cried, and he sat relatively still for the lady. It takes a special person to want to cut toddlers' hair! Here's the best picture I can find of the back of his head - notice, NO MORE MULLET!

Hi, Remember Me?

2011-03-27T16:15:00.007-05:00

Probably not. Considering it has been over 2 1/2 months since I last posted. We have been insanely busy around here, and unfortunately, me taking time to blog took a back seat to most everything else. Trust me - every single night I have wanted to sit down and catch up with everyone, but I couldn't quite get motivated. Instead, I would just read everyone else's blogs and cherish the few quiet moments I had learning about what is going on with everyone else!! However, Kurt has been BEGGING me to update this sucker, and there has been so much that has happened since the end of last semester; so without further ado, here are some quick highlights of what's been happening in the Thomas household since mid-December:

(1) We did the whole 4 Christmases thing this year (yea, it's almost April and I'm just now blogging about Christmas...don't judge) - we drove to Nashville to do Christmas with my mom first, then my dad; flew to Albuquerque and did actual Christmas Day with Kurt's mom; then came back to Nashville where we met up with Kurt's dad on his way back from Knoxville to New Mexico. It was SO great to see each one of our parents!

(2) I started my full-time student teaching internship in January. I am teaching at the Hoover High School Freshman Campus, and it is AMAZING. I absolutely love it. But, because of it being full-time, and it being unpaid, we had to find something affordable (read: as cheap as humanly possible) to do with Knox. Kurt's amazing mom offered for him to spend a month with her in Colorado, so I took him out there in January. Kurt and I thought we'd have all this time to do stuff together that we had been wanting to do (stupid things like seeing a movie), and we never once did. Instead, we just missed our little man SO much, and we were SO happy when he came home February 12th. Kurt's mom then stayed with us for another month until my Spring Break week. Knox is now attending KinderCare for 4 weeks until I am finished with student teaching. Of course, after only his first 3 days, he came down with a WICKED flu, so we haven't left the house since Wednesday. Poor little guy has been miserable with fevers as high as 104.7, congestion, cough, etc. We've not slept much lately ;)

(3) While Knox was spending his month in Colorado, he went from a super-duper fast crawling baby to a FULL-STEAM AHEAD RUNNING LITTLE BOY! Can you believe that I took him all the way out there, and not one week into it, he took his first steps?! I HATE that I missed that milestone! But, it has been so fun watching him walk/run around everywhere. He is so busy and adventurous. I absolutely love his little personality and spirit! And it has made playing with other kids that much more fun!! As soon as my internship is over, I can't wait to meet up with friends again for the kiddos to play (talking to you Miss Evelyn Elkins!!) :)

(4) Kurt's wonderful Nanni (Marion Ponder Thomas) went to be with the Lord in January. This was definitely not a "highlight" of the past few months; but it was a great weekend celebrating her life with all of Kurt's family, including his dad, Anita, and Clay who all flew in from New Mexico, and of course, Knox's Godfather, Uncle David who we don't get to see often enough. She was one loved woman who is missed every single day, and we are so thankful that she didn't have to suffer long. Selfishly, her death happened too fast (don't they all?), but she is now whole, healthy, and free in Heaven...and reunited with her husband. What an amazing image and beautiful hope?!

(5) Kurt's track season is in full swing as well. Indoor season always seems to fly by, and they have already started their outdoor season. His girls are doing great so far! And Knox has gotten to attend a few practices where he has perfected his block starts (he gets down, you say "on your mark, get set, go!", and he immediately stands up and claps instead of runs - hysterical!). (

6) And of course, we found out some of the most amazing news back in December. We're expecting another baby around August 11, 2011! This pregnancy has been SO different than Knox's, and because I was SO sick for SO long, I thought for sure I was having a Baby Girl. No joke - I had my nursery picked out and my top 3 baby girl names. I was SHOCKED when the ultrasound tech showed us a little youknowhat on the monitor - sure enough, another BOY! I am thrilled. I always knew I'd be a mom to boys!

I'm sure I'm forgetting much, much more; but I'll spare you my words and just show you some of my favorite pictures from the past few months (I have NOT been good about taking pictures lately either...there are far more on my cellphone!). And as soon as I get some ultrasound pictures scanned into my computer, I'll be sure to update with those as well.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-12-15T09:45:00.006-06:00

[Me = brain dead. No writing today. Last final last night, done for semester. THANK GOD. Enjoy some pics from the past month - I've been a terrible blogger. But Knox is too precious not to share.]

Monkey See, Monkey Do

2010-12-02T08:56:00.003-06:00

Kurt sent this picture last night while I was in the library writing a 25-page research paper. Think Knox has seen me reading and writing too much lately?

Sorry, little bud. I'm almost done with school, and we'll play all day long!

Did someone say "free?"

2010-11-30T09:28:00.003-06:00

THAT GUY will run for three things:

(1) Good food

(2) Good beer

(3) And free stuff!

So when I read about Shutterfly GIVING AWAY FREE CHRISTMAS GREETINGS? You better believe I told him about it right away.

The bonus is two-fold:

(1) I get to send out adorable greetings to friends and family we rarely get to see!

and

(2) I get MAJOR bonus points with the hubs for not spending lots of moolah!

Wife. Win.

SCORE.

Now, I have used Shutterfly for a lot of things over the years. They always have great customer service; their website is super easy to navigate; and their products are always of great quality.

The grandparents all received photobooks last year for Christmas...and guess what? For the rest of my life, I am obligated to get them one every single year. Seriously, it was the highlight of their lives...seriously.

(not a very) Happy Birthday!

2010-11-14T20:01:00.003-06:00

This year, I celebrated my 28th birthday very differently than I had planned. Let me explain...

Wednesday morning, we were out of Knox's usual breakfast items (bananas, waffles, yogurt, etc.). So, we (really I) decided to scramble up an egg and give that a try. I know that eggs are considered one of the higher risk foods as far as allergies are concerned, but since I used eggs in his birthday cake and other things, I assumed we were in the clear for that allergy.

BOY. WAS. I. WRONG.

He immediately had some redness in his little bottom lip and chin, but it didn't seem to be progressing. I laid him down for his morning nap at 10:00, and when I got him up at 12:00, he looked AWFUL. His entire face and body were covered in whelps, hives, rashes, and his left eye and right ear were completely swollen. The sweet little guy that he is didn't really seem to be bothered by all of this...that is until the doctor told me that I needed to give him the epi pen and take him to the ER right away. If any of you moms out there have ever had to use an epi pen on your baby, then you know how unbelievably difficult that was. I KNEW it was going to help him (even save his life), but I also knew that it was going to hurt him so bad. And his screams and tears definitely let me know.

Somehow, I made it to Children's Hospital. I'm not really sure how because I was sobbing uncontrollably and praying ceaselessly. Once we arrived, they took us back immediately - which told me that his situation was indeed very serious. My poor guy was stuck innumerable times with needles and IVs, and had countless nurses and doctors inspecting him all over. He was, needless to say, scared to death (I really wanted to curse right there...but I shall refrain), as were we. They finally seemed to get the swelling and rash under control, but because of the sheer amount of drugs they pumped into his little body, they required us to stay overnight at the hospital in the Special Care Unit.

Of course, by this point, my mom, my dad, and my sister (Jackie) had all arrived in Birmingham. Unfortunately, there wasn't much any of us could do because of their visitation policies, so I sent Kurt and my dad home to get some rest, while my mom and sister stayed up all night long with me in the waiting room. At midnight, my sister surprised me with my first birthday gift in hopes of cheering me up and lightening the mood.

Knox was able to get a few hours of sleep despite being hooked up to all sorts of IVs and monitors. I was thankful for that.

And the nurses and doctors were all so wonderful. They definitely made this frightening experience much more bearable.

We were finally discharged early in the afternoon on the day of my birthday. We all immediately came home and took naps. My dad and Jackie had to leave; but I convinced my mom to stay awhile. She and Kurt made me dinner that night, and we were all in bed before 9:00 pm. Sounds like one exciting birthday celebration, huh?? :) Oh and get this...just to top off the birthday week, I woke up at 1:30 am on Friday night/Saturday morning with a vicious stomach bug...I'm talkin' throwing up all night long. I spent all day Saturday asleep and all of today resting on the couch. Quite a happy birthday!

Thank God, our little boy is a-OK today. He had a day or two where he was a little out of it - not really hungry and very sleepy. But he seems to be doing MUCH better now. He finished another round of steroids, so hopefully they will work their magic, and we can get back to life without the fight of giving medicine each morning.

I'm feeling rather exhausted - emotionally and physically. I am anxious to meet with the allergist in December to get to the bottom of all of the food stuff. I don't want to live in fear of what I can and can't feed my kid. I used to think that kids with food allergies were just weak or weird...but man, was I wrong. I have no idea what has caused this; I have no idea if there is anything I could have done to prevent it; and I have no idea if there is a cure for any of it. But I will never again think of a kid or a family as having done something wrong to have developed a food allergy. I am actually ashamed to even admit that I had at one point thought that in the first place. All I know now is that I am boldly pleading with God to heal this for Knox. He works miracles. And I am absolutely choosing to believe that He can work a miracle in Knox's little body.

Family & Football

2010-10-27T10:06:00.006-05:00

Those of you that know me well know that there really aren't two things in this life that I love more. (Well, except some really good bread, cheese and wine...) And this past weekend was chock-full of family and football - and it was great! My family from Philadelphia rented an RV and drove the long 14 hours to Nashville so we could all go to the Titans vs. Eagles game on Sunday. it was an adventure for them: three kiddos under the age of 3 and four adults all packed in to one vehicle for 14 hours on the way down and 14 hours on the way back. DANG!!

My cousin, Jarrett's oldest son, Ethan (7) loves all things sports-related. Right now, he is playing in a football league back home. On Wednesday, he won "The Pancake Award" because he made the best tackle in practice - he smashed someone like a pancake, ha! So, he brought his award to Nashville so Aunt Mimi (my mom) could make him her famous pancakes.

That evening, we watched the Vols and the Phillies while noshing on pizza. Unfortunately, both of our teams lost...so we didn't document our sadness with pictures ;)

And at 7:00 am Saturday morning, we were all up and at 'em to head down to the stadium for some tailgating fun.

And then headed to the game.

Our seats were literally at the second to last row alllllllll the way up. I think I burned 1000 calories walking up to our seats, but it was worth it. Especially watching Knox's face during the game - he loved it!

I was torn the whole game about who to root for...I've been an Eagles fan my whole life, but being from Nashville, I am obviously a Titans fan, too. I truly didn't care who won - I would have been happy either way. The Titans eventually prevailed; but I think the Philly fam enjoyed themselves just the same.

All in all, it was an exhausting weekend, but we had SO much fun and can't wait to see them again!!!!

Knox's 1 Year Pics

2010-10-21T10:56:00.012-05:00

Disclaimer: This post is written by an incredibly biased, absolutely in-love-with-her-precious-family momma :)

What do you get when you have one stunningly beautiful baby boy and a great friend who is also a great photographer??

FABULOUS PHOTOS!!!!!!!!!

Neither Kurt nor I love being in pictures ourselves, but it is always so worth it to have these lifelong treasures in pictures. I don't know about Kurt, but I for one feel unbelievably blessed to have such an amazing family; and seeing these pictures just reminds me of GOD'S ABUNDANT, OVERWHELMING LOVE for us. I'm floored by it!

Of course, the pictures I love most are the ones of just Kurt and Knox - seeing my sweet boys together makes my heart melt.

Especially this one...

OH HOW I LOVE THEM.

Then there are the ones of just me with my sweet little boy - ain't nothin' sweeter than a momma and her tough guy!

But, of course, our favorite ones are of just sweet little Woog all by himself. (Not sure if I've ever mentioned this before, but the nickname that has seemed to stick for Knox is "Woog"...started as "Booger Wooger," got shortened to "Wooger," then stayed as just good ole "Woog.") And out of the 308 pictures on the CD, these are just a few of our favorites...be prepared - there are still lots :)

This is BY FAR my favorite:

...it captures his personality perfectly!

For daddy's desk at work:

Go Blazers!

Not sure why I love that one, but he looks so sweet and peaceful.

Then, of course, we have a few of all three of us:

AND ROSIE!!!

This is such a mischievious little face...

And I just love this look:

Now, no photoshoot would be complete without some hysterical outtakes...

I just don't even know....

CHEEKS!

we're falling...

"AHHH, I'M DONE!"

SPAZ HANDS

TONGUES

KNOX IS ONE!

2010-10-18T08:55:00.007-05:00

Well, he actually turned one almost two weeks ago...but this momma has been BUSY! Apologies for not properly updating the blog on time :)

I have to admit - I spent most of the day of his birthday rather sad. I simply CANNOT believe my baby is not quite a baby anymore. He is growing like a little weed and changing daily. He is no longer an infant. And even though it has been a year, I swear it felt like a day. Am I crazy? Perhaps. But, man. Soon enough, he'll be getting a driver's license, going off to college, getting married, and having kiddos of his own. NO! I just wish he would stay little forever.

OK, enough of my lamenting. Even though I was a tidge sad, I was mostly overjoyed at getting to celebrate this sweet little man. I love birthdays (except my own...), so getting to plan and celebrate my own son was something I could not wait to do! We had a small gathering of friends over for Knox's monkey themed party. I think he had a blast! And as some of our friends will attest, Knox on sugar is HY-STER-I-CAL! I think he enjoyed his cake, as you will soon see the evidence. On a side note, I have a huge new found respect for bakeries and cake decorators. Because of Knox's allergy, I couldn't just buy his cake from a bakery. I went to ole Google and searched for "easy monkey cakes". I found the EASIEST one and still found it difficult! Luckily, Knox isn't too judgemental so he loved it!

Knox's girlfriend, Evey, also came to celebrate. The party truly would not have been as great without her. She has the BEST personality, and I just love how much she loves Knox. She is one precious little girl!

So, he wasn't too sure about the cake at first. And I'm sure all the fuss we were making wasn't helping things either...

But, with Evey's help, Knox started to love it!!

LOOK AT THIS FACE! Too cute it hurts...

I'm saving these pictures for when these two get married one day...how cute will that be?!

This picture cracks me up, too - check out Knox's face. Yes, that is what sugar does to a one-year-old!

Such a little redneck with camo pants and no shirt on!

We had SO much fun celebrating Knox's birthday! We can't wait to do it every year!!!

Fall Saturdays

2010-09-24T12:00:00.001-05:00

Despite living in Alabama, we proudly don lots of orange in our house on Saturdays.

Evidence:

This is how Knox gives kisses - so sweet!

And Knox knows a new trick:

Knox's Favorite Things

2010-09-23T20:24:00.004-05:00

Besides his love for Rosie, there are only two other things in this world that Knox loves more than anything else:

(1) Elmo (or "mo-mo")

(2) and Cheerios (or "ooooooh's!)

He really tries to take them every where he goes!

slightly disgusted

2010-09-23T09:04:00.002-05:00

Just found out that powdered Similac has been recalled because there have been traces of beetles and their larvae found in it...I. AM. DISGUSTED.

For all you moms out there that use this stuff, go to these websites for more information:

Similac's website to enter the lot number of your canister

More information about the recall

Poor little guy!!!

I need help...

2010-09-20T09:24:00.004-05:00

No! Not that kind of help....although some may disagree ;)

I need help with two things:

(1) Does anyone have recommendations for wedding dress shopping in Atlanta? My friend here in Birmingham recently got engaged - yay!!! We spent all weekend with her mom shopping around here, but we struck out. Any suggestions are welcome for our upcoming trip!!

(2) Knox's first birthday is quickly approaching (yikes!!!!); and with our newfound knowledge regarding his peanut allergy, I've learned that I can't buy baked goods from stores. Any place that cooks with nuts is off limits for his diet - this now includes Chick-Fil-A since they fry everything in peanut oil. (Have I mentioned how much I HATE this allergy business?!) So, I'm looking for a really tasty, nut free, allergy friendly birthday cake recipe. Anyone have ideas??

On the same note as the birthday cake thing...I guess I really do have a third thing I need help with: I have become obsessed with reading about allergies, toddler diets, etc. It is NOT helping things. It just increases my fear of what could happen to Knox and causes me to be ultra-overprotective and a psychotic mother (see cartoon above). Please pray for us - that I will not live in fear, that we will be patient as we explore this new diet, and that we will boldly believe that God CAN heal this allergy later in his life.

And just to persuade you for prayers...look at this little face:

How could you not pray for him?! :)

Wordless Wednesday

2010-09-15T13:49:00.004-05:00

Wow

2010-09-07T10:57:00.003-05:00

This past weekend, Kurt and I finally got to have the wedding we always dreamed about. It was complete with an intimate ceremony, lots of yummy food, three wonderful cakes, and all of our closest friends and family members from literally all over the country. We have been so humbled by the outpouring of love, prayers and support we've received over the past few years; but this weekend, it was overwhelming. Truly, our cups overflow!!! I can't wait to share pictures of everything - our amazingly talented 15-year-old photographer (yes, you read that right, she's only 15!!), Elizabeth Ann, took some fabulous pictures. Here is a quick sneak peak:

But this blog post today is about something else. After the bliss of Sunday's wedding, we experienced fear like no other on Monday. After a completely unfortunate accident (and yes, it truly was an accident...absolutely no one is to blame!!!), we spent all day in the Emergency Room at Williamson Medical Center with Knox. He ingested the smallest amount of peanut butter, and his body had a severe allergic reaction to it. Within 30 minutes, his body was red, puffy, swollen and hot all over. The biggest fear was what we COULDN'T see on the inside of his body - was the same thing that was happening on the outside of his body going to affect his breathing and respiratory system? We are thankful for the Lord's favor that my sister (Dr. Jennifer Smith) was in town. She threw us in the car and immediately took us to the ER. Knox received attention right away, and they took great care of him. He threw up his first dose of benadryl all over me (truly awful); but the shots of benadryl and steroids seemed to do the magic trick. We prayed and prayed and prayed for healing, and God did not fail. We are THANKFUL. But, lesson learned: children under the age of 2 really should not have peanut butter! Take note, moms-to-be! I hope no one ever has to experience that fear because it pretty much sucked!!

Waiting for medicine to take affect:

On the way home:

We are finally back safely in Birmingham. Kurt starts practice today, and I go right back to classes. No "honeymoon" for us...yet. We hope to take one soon! I'll blog more this week with more pictures from our actual wedding day. Now the real question will be: which anniversary do we celebrate? March 25th when we got married at the court house? Or September 5th when we actually got to have a wedding? What do y'all think? I'm thinking BOTH... ;)

Summer's over...already??

2010-08-24T12:49:00.003-05:00

Where did the time go? It seems like only yesterday that Kurt and I were discussing all of the trips, home projects and down time we were sure to enjoy this summer. Now, all of a sudden, IT'S OVER. That's right - school is back in full swing; his athletes are all back and ready for another season; and our "down time" (which never really happened) is just a dream to look forward to again next summer.

So what have we been doing the past couple of weeks?

Well, not a whole lot!

Knox and I had the stomach flu - not cool. Here's dada feeding Knox since I was comatose on the couch for several days:

We've spent time playing with Rosie and crawling around at the park:

We got Knox an early birthday present!

{That's right - that is an R2D2 chair. I am married to a Star Wars nerd!}

And we are preparing for football season by watching as many preseason games that we can!

{Isn't it frightening how much these two look alike??}

Oh, and one other cool thing I got to do was be the featured blogger on my friend, Allison's awesome blog - check it out: Tuesday Shoesday at Allison's Randomness. I figured since I could find time to work on a post for her's, I might as well find some time to update our blog :)

Now, we're just preparing for a houseful of awesome guests this weekend and traveling to Nashville next week for OUR WEDDING DAY! 12 days....eeek!

Redneck Baby?

2010-07-28T19:30:00.001-05:00

Sleeveless shirt + JORTS = Redneck Baby???

Nope...just a proud member of the Thomas family!

Procrastinating

2010-07-24T10:33:00.003-05:00

I've been up since 6am on a Saturday trying to work on a final project for a class I'm taking this Summer. I'm bored and have no motivation. What to do? Oh, do a blog post!

I received this email today, and I loved it, so I thought I'd pass it along:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Overcoming Fear

I am Afraid, I hear myself say. And in the saying, I practice the presence of Fear rather than rest in the safety of God. Jesus says His Spirit within me is one of power, love, and a sound mind. But He whispers while Fear is loud.

Fear screams for me to run.
But God beckons me, Come.

Fear pushes me to produce protection.
But God whispers I have already overcome.

And so I stand on rock and watch as the sand sinks swiftly down.
To be love-led rather than fear-driven is to stand on the rock underneath.

http://www.incourage.me/emily.html

Overcoming Worry

I knew I needed to change, but didn't know where to begin. How, Lord?

Quietly, He gathered me in His arms and spoke.
Don't be afraid. I can free you from worry.
Just as I brought light out of darkness, I will bring order out of your chaos.

"Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light." Genesis 1:2, 3.

I have rescued you. Never mind the circumstances. You were always safe.

Faith was no longer a goal for me to reach. It became the bridge I must cross daily to see God's goodness and live worry-free.

That night, I stepped out of denial and surrendered myself. "I am the Lord's servant...may it be to me as you have said" (Luke 1:26-40).

This prayer has become my anecdote to worry. During the day or late at night, I say to my worries, Let it be, if that is what God allows for me.

http://www.incourage.me/bonniegray.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Maybe it's a female thing, but I know so many of us women who struggle with fear and worry. I know that my worrying nature can be crippling at times. I needed the reminder today that God has already overcome...what, then, should I worry over? (Perhaps I should be worrying about not finishing this project since I'm blogging instead?? )

:)

Moo Moo Mr. Cow-Cow

2010-07-14T13:08:00.005-05:00

We got the chance to head up to Knoxville this past weekend to visit Kurt's family and friends. Kurt spent most of his time recruiting at a local track meet; and Knox and I got to spend some much needed quality time with Uncle David (Knox's godfather) and Nanni (Knox's great-grandmother). Uncle David is in the animal pharmaceutical industry, and he has always loved cows. In fact, he rents several acres of a farm in Oak Ridge and owns 10 of his own cows. So, of course, Knox needed to meet them!!

Of course, he loved every second of it! The boy loves to be outside, and the "moo-ing" of the cows made him laugh hysterically!

We left Rosie at Mom-Mom's house for the weekend, so we drove back through Nashville on our way home to pick her up. After petting the cows, I felt like Knox needed a thorough deep clean. This kid is a monkey and absolutely LOVES bath time!

One day, he's going to hate me for posting pictures of his little wee-wee...and he'll hate me for calling it "little". Sorry buddy!!

Also, as most of you know, my brother-in-law, Kyle, was recently deployed. We are in the process of making him a care package which will include a picture of his nephew proudly wearing his "mini-marine" shirt!

And, finally, in other Knox-related news, he is officially 9-months as of the 5th of July; and I must say that this past month, he has grown up and changed the most dramatically of all the months of his life! He went very quickly from scooting, to army crawling, to crawling, to standing up, to cruising. Maybe I was misinformed, but I could have sworn each of those milestones happened in gradual phases? Not with this kid! As soon as he discovered his new found independence, he has not stopped moving! We are also in the process of learning to drink out of a sippy cup. For some reason, this transition has not been as easy...but he'll learn eventually.

He is always smiling! Knox now weighs 20lbs. 6 oz. (50th percentile); he is 27.5" long (25th-50th percentile); and his head is 18" (50th percentile). Even though he is almost perfectly average (albeit a little short and round...just like his momma), people still stop me all the time to tell me how huge he is for a 9 month old! Why it bothers me, I'll never be able to explain!

That's pretty much it for the Thomas house! Oh, we have FINALLY started to paint! My mom was tired of hearing me complain about how much I hate (and I mean hate with a fiery, burning passion) the green the previous owners painted the living room, dining room, hallway, AND master bedroom...so she went out and purchased 3 gallons of Benjamin Moore paint for us over the weekend! We have pretty much finished the study/Knox's play room - it's now Hawthorne Yellow (I fell in love with it in one of the latest Pottery Barn catalogs...very bright and cheery). And we're going with a color called Grege Avenue for the living/dining room (I'm hoping for a neutral gray/brown shade). I hope I like it because my sweet mom already spent a small fortune on it! Maybe, if I'm brave enough for the feedback, I'll post before and after pictures soon.

'Til next time!

Beach Baby

2010-07-08T07:44:00.005-05:00

We've had an exciting week here at the Thomas household! Last Thursday, we celebrated Kurt's 25th birthday (again...for the ?? year in a row) - we had some friends over for food and birthday cake, then went to the Birmingham Barons baseball game for Thirsty Thursday. I hope Kurt felt the love, because we certainly do love him! I told him on the morning of his birthday that I was so glad he was born - I think he laughed at me ;) But it's true! Life is just better with him.

We also got to celebrate Rosie's doggie friend Sadie's 4th birthday at the park!

Then, Friday morning, we drove to the beach with our friends Will and Erin to celebrate 4th of July AND Erin's 30th birthday! We had a great time! But...vacations with a baby aren't quite as relaxing as they used to be...no more sitting on the beach for hours at a time with a cold beverage in hand. It's OK, though - I'll trade that any day for this sweet face!

yes, that is knox pooping :)

It was a quick trip, but it was well worth it to spend time with great friends!

And finally, yesterday, we had Knox dedicated at church. It was an awesome service, and we feel so blessed to have an awesome church family that is dedicated to help raise Knox up to know and love the Lord. Praise God for that! I'll post pics as soon as I get some.

We are off to Knoxville this weekend so Kurt can do some recruiting and so we can visit his friends and family. On the road agan....

And just a little shout out to our sweet friends Kim and Patrick who introduced their sweet baby girl, Audrey Elizabeth, into the world on Tuesday, July 6th. She is beautiful and I can't wait to get my hands on her! Just another girlfriend for Knox ;)

Funny things

2010-06-23T12:38:00.002-05:00

I'm sure I'm the only person that thinks Knox is the funniest child on the planet. He is just always doing things that make me crack up! Jordan has always said the hardest part about disciplining Evey was that even though she may have been doing something wrong or bad, it was still just so stinkin' funny that it was hard NOT to laugh. I have a feeling I'm absolutely going to be in that same boat!

So, one of the funnier things Knox has been doing lately is shaking his head violently back and forth like he's saying "no". I could shake my head up and down saying "yes, yes, yes", and he would just go "no, no, no, no, no". It is so funny! I finally got a little clip of it on camera, so I just had to share!

By the way - two blogs in two days? Go me! (Oh, that's because I'm a master-procrastinator. I have a presentation tomorrow, a 10-page paper due on Friday, and a final on Saturday. Have I been working hard? Nope!) :)

I have the greatest friends ever!

2010-06-22T10:12:00.004-05:00

So everyone knows that nothing about this past year has been "traditional" - we have kind of done everything backwards: had a baby before we were married; actually got married before we had a wedding; got engaged even after we were already married. What can I say, we just want to keep everyone guessing ;)

However, the fact that my sweet friends wanted to do something traditional for my nontraditional life meant so incredibly much to me.

In case I haven't mentioned it before, there was a time when I really, really struggled with constantly worrying about being judged for the things that have happened. BUT, I believe in a God that loves us and forgives us, and can REDEEM any thing and every thing. So, I've started to worry less about people's judgements which has freed me to live in Jesus' grace. {Can I get an AMEN???}

I say all of this because I have truly seen the love and grace of God through my friends who helped throw me a beautiful, wonderful wedding shower this past weekend! See TRADITIONAL! And I loved it!! Every thing, from the decorations to the cake to the food to the company, was just perfect and more than I could have ever asked for or dreamed of. Here are some pictures from the event:

The cake matched the shower invitations perfectly; and it tasted AH-MAZING!

Allison & Amy worked their booties off carrying all my gifts back and forth; and Allison tried to fix my hair :)

Yea, just a little excited about everything!

Knox was starved for attention - no one paid any attention to him the whole time. Yea right! As usual, he stole the show. He is precious, if I do say so myself.

This beautiful girl (Caitlin King Rossman - check out her blog by clicking on her name!) actually took time away from her husband (they have a long-distance marriage...how hard is that?!) to come attend and help host my shower. She is wonderful!!!

Some of the beautiful hostesses - Samantha, Jenn, Caitlin, Allison, Kim and Amy. We missed Jordan, Hillary and Anna Clare; but I am so thankful for ALL of them for throwing the shower!!

Samantha actually had the shower at her new home, which was perfect!

And of course, my family. We did not plan this patriotic theme; but it was appropriate since we were really missing my Navy Doctor sister, Jennifer!

So, again, to my wonderful friends for throwing the shower, to the guests who attended (both from Nashville and from out of town), to the guests who did not come but who still sent us gifts, we are simply BLOWN AWAY by your goodness and love for us. And we are so incredibly thankful!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Quick Catch Up

2010-05-12T07:06:00.018-05:00

Wow - it has been over a month and a half since I last updated the blog. And, man, has a lot happened since March 25th?! Here is a quick rundown of what we have been up to:

Papa and Anita came to visit! Papa built Knox an awesome bookshelf for his bedroom, and he fixed our dishwasher - PRAISE THE LORD! Knox loved Anita - I think he picked up on the "grandma vibe" instantly!
Nana and Ed came to visit the next week, and we had an awesome time! Handy Ed installed a garbage disposal for us (amazing how much we rely on that thing!) and fixed our chandelier, just to name a few of the many projects he completed while here. Nana and Knox bonded even more, and his affinity for her grew even more!
Knox and I have made a few quick trips up to Nashville for random things like working on wedding plans, visiting with Aunt Jennifer, and throwing Kim and Audrey a baby shower.
Kurt has been all over the place for track season - Tuscaloosa, Gainesville, Knoxville, Baton Rouge, and Oxford. Knox and I got to go to Knoxville, too!! Coach KT and his girls left early this morning for Orlando for their Outdoor Conference-USA meet. Good luck! Go Blazers!!
Kurt and I actually went out one night, hired a babysitter, and got to celebrate Jordan's birthday with other friends and couples! I know this may not seem like something blog-worthy, but let me tell you...IT IS! We haven't done anything since Knox was born, so it was such a blessing to us to spend time with other couples and have a fun night. Plus, we got to celebrate Jordan's sweet life, and for that, I am extremely grateful!
I FINALLY finished another semester of grad school last week, and I made two B's. Eh, not horrible; but for those of you who know me well know that I do NOT like to make B's. My 4.0 GPA is no more; but I still have a 3.46 which is somewhat respectable. And trust me when I tell you that I have been struggling for months with how to balance everything - how can I be a good mom and a good student at the same time? It's impossible.
My LIFE group (a small group at church) just wrapped up last week as well, and we finished the semester off with an awesome trip to Jordan's parent's lake house and an amazing, life-changing retreat. Seriously - LIFE CHANGING. 2 Corinthians 5:17 - "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has gone, the new has come!" Praise God that he can wipe away all my sins and love me, desire me, and pursue me!
And this morning, Knox and I are heading up to Nashville in order to fly out to Washington, D.C. for Aunt Jennifer's medical school graduation! Can you believe she is an official M.D? Dr. Smith! Crazy!! I am so incredibly proud of her.

Since I still have about 250 pictures to download from the past month, I will throw a quick few up here from our visits with grandparents, our travels, and of course, of Knox. I will update more when we return from our latest trip!!

Seriously, are those not the sweetest cheeks you have ever seen???

This kid bounces so hard in his little jump-a-roo thing that he actually falls asleep in it - it is absolutely the most hysterical thing I have ever witnessed!

NANA!! They are both quite happy right here :)

Getting some love from Papa - it is crazy how much they look alike!

Yes, we are rednecks who sit their naked baby in a red lawn chair on the front yard while we do yard work and take pictures. We live in Alabama, remember??

There is no one in the world that Knox loves more than his daddy. He lights up when Kurt walks in the room. It makes a momma happy.

Sweet friends celebrating Jordan's birthday! Love them!!

LIFE Retreat - an awakening of my soul.

This precious girl is Elizabeth Ann. Y'all, she is only 14 and she is one amazingly talented photographer; not to mention that she has such a heart for kids. Knox loves her!

Evey will be my daughter-in-law one day ;) I simply adore this child. Her energy is contagious!

That's a lot of kiddos!!!

Oh yea! I forgot to mention that Knox has moved on to solid foods. This kid is a chunk! There isn't a thing he doesn't like. Mmmm, carrots!

This was Knox's first time to go swimming, and he LOVED it! I've got to put this kid in swim lessons soon!

I know I'm biased, but I just think he is the most handsome little creature on earth. I'm so thankful he looks just like his handsome daddy!

Announcements!

2010-03-25T12:42:00.004-05:00

So, you’re probably wondering what in the world we could be announcing today, March 25th, 2010. No…we are NOT pregnant again. (Although, I wouldn’t mind having about one million versions of Knox, because he is THE greatest thing ever!) But we do have another little announcement for our dearest friends and family!

We have FINALLY set a wedding date! Kurt and I are going to renew our vows on Sunday, September 5th, 2010 in front of our friends and family!

Wait… “renew” vows, you ask?

Don’t you have to actually exchange vows before you can renew them?

Well, yes, you do! And in fact, exactly one year ago today, we did just that!

SURPRISE! We are already married!!!! And TODAY is our first anniversary!

Last year, we got married here:

with a sweet pastor, Rev. Ron Headley. It was the sweetest day of my life: just the two of us – no crowds, no cameras, no pressure – vowing to love each other and to spend the rest of our lives together. It was perfect! (There are many other funny stories from the days leading up to this, so if you’re interested, we will gladly share them!)

But, wait…didn’t Kurt propose in July in Colorado?

Well, yes, again, he did! He, being the all-of-a-sudden romantic, sentimental guy, wanted to “do things right”. And instead of missing out on all of the fun parts of a surprise engagement, planning a wedding, etc., he (and I, too) still wanted to experience all of those things.

We did, however, want to keep our “marriage” a secret so that we could still have a wedding day and proclaim to the world (or just our closest friends and family) our love for one another and our lifelong commitment to each other and our growing family without the day itself losing its luster or meaning. It was HARD, believe me. I wanted to shout it from the rooftops that I had a husband – and not just any husband, but a handsome, wonderful husband that loves and adores me, that supports me in every detail of my life, and that challenges me to grow, spiritually, emotionally, and physically, each and every day. But, it was kind of fun keeping this a secret for so long…it was like our own little secret that we got to enjoy and cherish together, with no one else. It was weird, too, because random people knew we were married but not some of our closest friends! Our sweet realtor, Sharon, was among the first to know; my advisors and professors at UAB knew; and our newest church and bible study friends knew. So it was about time to just make our secret known to everyone – we felt like we were living a double life! And it feels GREAT to finally declare it to everyone!

We are still ironing out the details of our actual wedding day, but we do know a few things: it will be in Nashville; it will be on Sunday, September 5th, 2010; it will be extremely casual and fun, a reflection of our personalities; and it will glorify God! We plan to do a quick renewal service, and then we will treat everyone to dinner and just hang out and relax!

So, yea, nothing about our relationship has been done in the “traditional” way or in the “correct order”, per say. BUT, that does not mean that we have been missing out on God’s blessings, because He has been BLESSING us…beyond measure! And we are now looking forward to sharing all of it with you!!

Now, off to celebrate our anniversary! Well, not really…I have class tonight and a 15 page paper due on Saturday. Romantic, right?

Happy Anniversary, Kurt! I love you more and more every day, and I am so thankful to share this life with you. You are the most wonderful, patient, loving father, and an even better husband...better than I could have ever dreamed up!

Rites of Spring

2010-03-24T21:25:00.007-05:00

SPRING BREAK 2010!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, Jill, Knox, Rosie and I got to spend our 2010 Spring Break doing what most kids were doing this week...cleaning the house, doing yard work, and getting caught up on life. Wait, that's probably not how we used to spend Spring Break. But, it's probably the best way we could have spent this week. We desperately needed some time to get our house in order before my father (Toliver Thomas, Toliver Knox's Papa) and his wife Anita visited this current week. We spent the week celebrating one of our favorite holidays, St. Patrick's Day, and chilling at the park one beautiful afternoon. All in all, it was exactly what we needed, and we loved every second of it and the time as a familia. Enjoy the pictures of Knox and Rosie and our crazy Spring Break. We aren't freshmen anymore, obviously.

Watch out for the power of the Shamrock!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Kiss Knox, he's Irish (Scotch-Irish from my side, and Irish from Jill's side). Slainte!

Check out my new duds.

"ever since i can remember, i've been poppin my collar"

WHAT'S UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Getting some work done at the office for the UAB Blazer Track team. Knox is calculating budgets.

Time to blow this joint, let's go dad.

AAAHHHHH, this is better. An amazing day at the park with Rosie.

This is the life.

I dig this place. Park, Mom, Dad, Rosie and sunshine. My kinda place.

We own this place.

Family picture.

March - Day Light Savings Time - YEAH!!

2010-03-14T22:49:00.007-05:00

Knox's daddy doesn't get to write this blog very often, so I really get stoked when I get the chance to post a blog and re-tell from my perspective. Here is the past few weeks: Da, Da, DAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm watching you fool!!

I got this stuff!

Everyone sleeps like this, right?

Naked in the mountains is how my family wanted it.

DON'T PUT MY SHIRT ON, DAD!

My best bud and the reason why we were in Knoxville married, Carrie Luck, then Carrie Luck Ezell (above). Congratulations Carrie and Jayson. I would not have missed it. Me and Don with Carrie.

Ezell with hair kinda creeped me out, but he's a hair dresser, so I don't question him.

Three great guys, and GO VOLS!!

Thomas family in the Smokey Mountains

Great Smokey Mountains in the background

Re-Lounging with daddy

Nekid be the best

I love my hat

Don't mess with me, I dig my hat

Me and my mom-mom and her cool hat. She looks cool. WORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'll eat when I want to. I'll eat anything. I'm Toliver Knox Thomas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Trying to grab the bottle by myself

GOT IT

We had a great lunch at Rojo with mom-mom, and I loved my Chipotle milk!

My View

2010-02-25T09:00:00.005-06:00

I generally spend the entire day Thursday preparing for my class on Thursday nights. So, as I currently sit at my desk typing a paper, here is my precious view...in my head, the commentary is going something like this:

Knox to Rosie: "I know you're back there, Rosie, so don't try any of that funny stuff."

Knox to blue elephant, very serious tone: "We need to talk about your performance. It has been slacking lately."

Again, Knox to blue elephant, this time more sternly: "I'm telling you mister, you better straighten up, or else..."

"...or I'm going to EAT YOU! Muahahahahaha (evil, going to take-over-the-world laugh)!"

In other news and events in the life of Knox Thomas...last weekend, Knox got to spend the entire day alone with Mom-Mom while I was in class and Kurt was traveling! I don't know who was more excited - Mom-Mom or Knox. I think they were both equally as pumped and equally as adoring of one another. Seriously, when Mom-Mom is around, neither Knox nor Rosie could give a squat about me. I guess this is just the beginning, huh?? Here are a few pictures from the weekend:

Mom-Mom bought Knox some new clothes since he is already growing out of so many of his. The kid is not quite even 5 months old yet, and he pretty much only wears 9 months clothes now - can we say "fatty"?? :)

This weekend, Knox and I are going to head up to Nashville to celebrate Pop-Pop's birthday (the age will remain unspoken)! Kurt is on a bus heading to Houston for the Conference USA Indoor Championships. (They got on the bus yesterday afternoon, and they are STILL driving.) Knox and I are definitely missing daddy already, but we are excited to hear how the Blazers do this weekend - GO BLAZERS!

We love you, daddy!

Knox's Favorite Things

2010-02-19T10:17:00.006-06:00

Here are a few of my favorite things:

Snuggling with Rosie on the couch under the best blanket on earth.

Napping in the swing - and hunching over to put my face on my bear.

Unexpected snow...in Alabama! (Well, it was kind of expected...but mommy, being the jadded yankee she is, did not believe the weatherman!)

Looking in the mirror - there's an awfully cute baby that stares back at me.

Visits from Mom-Mom!

Being naked!!

Playing in my exersaucer and reading my book that Nana made me.

Playing with Evey...she is THE BEST!

And last but not least, my favorite thing is when my mom and dad wake me up in the morning. I'm a happy dude in the morning!

(This, too, is Kurt and my favorite thing right now. We will literally fight over who gets to go wake him up in the morning. He is just so happy and smiles SO big when he sees you. Nothin' better on this earth!! If you ever need a pick-me-up, come visit us and wake Knox up. It'll melt your heart! That's kinda corny, huh? But it's true!)

4 Month Update and Weekend Guests

2010-02-08T21:05:00.006-06:00

Just a quick update to tell you about our trip to the doctor this morning for Knox's four month check-up and more vaccinations. He is a growing boy, that's for sure! He now weighs 14 lbs 12 oz; he is 24 inches long; and his head circumference is 16 inches. He is in the 50th percentile in both weight and head size; but only in the 5th to 10th percentile in length. Poor guy won't get much help in height from either side of our families! Sorry Knox!! Dr. Gleason also said (and this was his exact quote - no exaggeration on a proud momma's part) that Knox is "super strong"! So all in all, he is pretty much perfect - we already knew that, though :)

We were also lucky enough to have some of our very, very best friends come visit us from both Nashville and Florida. Hillary and Wyatt drove up from Shell Pointe, FL, while Allison, Jenn, Kim and Samantha drove down from Nashville. The crazy part is that the majority of us either have kids or will have one soon. Are we really old enough for this??? Wild. So, here are a few pics of our attempt of getting all the kiddos to pose on the couch together...

On the couch is Jenn's daughter, Callie (9 months), Jordan's daughter, Evey (17 months), and Hillary's son, Wyatt, holding Knox.

Hillary's son, Wyatt, is going to be 6 in March!!! He is such a big kid that is so good with all of the babies.

And just a quick pic of Knox in the hat Nana's neighbor made for him - it's so incredibly soft! And Knox is pretty darn cute himself!!

4 Months!

2010-02-05T12:48:00.007-06:00

Knox arrived 4 months ago today! I know I keep saying this, but seriously, time is flying by incredibly fast. Even though so much has happened, so much has changed, I swear it was yesterday that he was born. But let me tell you - this kid is totally different from that first day. Still as sweet as ever, but just ever-changing.

Remember what he looked like on day one?

And then at one week?

Now look at him - he's a chunk!!!

Now, I realize if you don't have kids, you're going to think I'm a total nut-job for being as excited about this as I am...but last Saturday, Knox learned a new trick. I thought it was an accident at first; but he keeps doing it - over and over and over again. He is officially rolling over, and it is his new favorite mode of transportation. He will start on his back in the center of the room, then roll from his back to his belly to his back to his belly, over and over again, until he gets to where he wants to be. It is quite comical. I caught it on video last weekend (below); but over the course of the week, he has been perfecting his little game.

He also started playing in his little exersaucer thing - it's like a whole new world of toys! He LOVES it. In fact, he literally spent a full hour in it by himself earlier this morning. This is going to become my life-saver as school heats up!

It truly is incredible how much he has changed, and it kinda makes me sad to think about how quickly he is growing up. I mean, seriously! It's only been 4 months - I'm probably being slightly over-dramatic. But I wish I could just freeze time, or at least slow it down a little, just so I can cherish every single one of these little moments with him. Before I know it, he's going to be driving off with some girlfriend who I won't approve of...honestly, I need to chill ;)

Knox truly is a precious, sweet little guy. From what I can tell so far, he is going to be incredibly chill and flexible. He won't want to inconvenience anybody...kinda reminds me of my mom! And that will not be a bad thing at all! He really is just a perfect little blessing.

"Every good and perfect gift is from above." James 1:17

Heartbreaking

2010-01-29T12:37:00.003-06:00

I have a list of questions for God that I want to ask Him one day when I see Him. They range from the silly to the mundane to the serious. The newest addition to the list: why in the world does teething have to be so darn painful? Poor babies can't communicate their pain (except with crying and screaming), and it just seems like all that pain is unnecessary just for these little boogers to pop up in their mouth. I mean, look at this face:

And this one:

Is that not the saddest thing you have ever seen??? It seriously just breaks my heart. The worst thing is that there really isn't much I can do about it! Even picking him up, rocking him, singing to him, kissing him, or letting him gnaw on my fingers doesn't help. He just gets so upset and so inconsolable - it's just awful! The saddest part is that the pain literally scares him and wakes him up in the middle of the night - he goes from sleeping so soundly to screaming! It nearly gives me a heart attack. Poor little guy.

I finally got a smile, though, after literally singing and dancing in front of him for about 30 minutes. He gets a kick out of my ridiculous songs...if you could only hear them!

I love this kid. And I officially HATE teething!

We still love Rosie!

2010-01-27T15:49:00.005-06:00

Just feeling the need to give Rosie some love these days. She has been SO patient and SO good with Knox, and we haven't given her the recognition she deserves. For so long, she was our only child - she was given all the attention any doggie could ever need. Now, she sadly gets a little neglected. We are usually able to give her some undivided, quality time each evening, and she loves it! But it's not quite what she used to get. So, to try to make up for it, we've nominated Rosie to be the MVP of the new Bissell campaign (the vacuum cleaners). Look to the right of the blog; click on the link; and vote for Rosie! Or hit this button here:

EDIT: So, turns out that you can't start voting until 1/29/10. I'll remind you then :)

Here are some other beautiful pictures of our sweet girl whom we love so much!

Travelin' Fools

2010-01-25T13:33:00.008-06:00

Knox and I have been all over the southeast in the past week. First, we took a last minute trip down to Watercolor (near Seaside, FL) with Lindsay Swain and her two youngest kiddos - Savannah (3) and Brennyn (8 months). To say that our time there was good is just an understatement. Time with Lindsay is simply good for the soul. We talked about everything and nothing. I could literally post about six different blogs about all the things I learned from her in our 4 short days there. I love hearing her heart and about all the things God is teaching her. She walks so closely with the Lord and is so in tune with His voice, it is just awesome to see.

We spent most of the time in our jammies; we drank lots of coffee and some wine; we took lots of walks; and we got to sit on the beach a couple of days. Knox saw the ocean for the first time - although, he slept through it the first day :)

Savannah-Banana rode her bike 3 WHOLE MILES to Starbucks one day! She's a champ!!

This is beautiful baby Brennyn. She and Knox LOVED each other!

The babies sitting on the beach - this day was cold and rainy. Knox slept - didn't miss too much!

Such a ham! She really is a joyful little girl.

Sweet mommy and daughter time.

Yup - sleeping.

We also walked to Seaside a couple of days. Savannah is such a goof-ball!

We had an ice-cream eating dance party in the middle of Seaside. We caused quite a commotion. (Notice the chocolate ice cream smear on her forehead - it was there for several days. Love this girl - ain't afraid of getting dirty!)

Savannah is such a good big sister, too. She loved Knoxy (yes, just like Lucy giving him the same nickname!)

This is pretty much how we spent every morning - laying on the floor watching Strawberry Shortcake. I know all the words to the songs now, thankyouverymuch.

PRECIOUS!

I just love this picture. Good bonding by the sea.

Three of the beautiful Swain girls.

Thank you, Linds, for the invite! Can we go back now???

When we got back, our sweet friend, Teri, came to visit from Dallas. Unfortunately, the circumstances weren't very positive (she was in town for a funeral); but nevertheless, we very much enjoyed our short time with her. She FINALLY got to meet Knox, and Knox loved her! They're gonna be best buds now...as long as she doesn't try to tell him that the Cowboys are America's Team...that's just garbage ;)

Come visit again soon, Teri!! We love you!

After only being home for about 24 hours, Knox and I jumped back in the car and drove up to East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, TN for Kurt's track meet. We had missed daddy so much, we couldn't stand to be away from him any longer.

GO BLAZERS!

We were also able to visit with Kurt's Nanni while in East Tennessee. She had collapsed in her bathroom last week and suffered a concussion (they think - they're still trying to run some tests to figure out exactly what happened, but they did rule out a stroke. Prayers are appreciated!!) It was so wonderful to get to see her and spend some quality time with Kurt's family there. We just love them.

We don't have any other road trips planned yet; but I now know that Knox does excellent in the car, so that means we're up for it any time! Anyone else wanna go to the beach?? Let's go!

Enemy Country

2010-01-12T21:31:00.003-06:00

As you know, we live in Alabama. As you know, we are University of Tennessee graduates and die-hard Vols fans. And, as you know, Alabama won the national championship last week. I have yet to turn on the radio in my car or watch local news because it is literally ALL THEY TALK ABOUT.

As of this evening, our head coach (excuse me, EX-head coach), Lane Kiffin (who's son is also named Knox), decided to jump ship and take the USC job. Details here and here. Think Kurt is happy? I think not...

BUT...no matter what, we are still loyal to our team. And Knox - well, he is too. Go Vols!

Better late than never (I guess!)

2010-01-04T21:00:00.012-06:00

Inspired by The Elkins Family's most recent blog, I thought I would also post some pictures from our trip to Philadelphia for Christmas. After all, it was Knox's first Christmas and first plane ride - two rather big milestones in his sweet, short life! While I don't have pictures from the airport or the plane (really nothing special there...), I do have a ton of pictures from our trip and from the few weeks surrounding Christmas. So here goes nothin'!

Even though Knox won't really remember this Christmas or really understand what the heck was going on, he was still spoiled with lots and lots and lots of gifts! His sweet Nana and Ed sent him some pretty cool stuff from Colorado:

That is one of those awesome turtles that illuminates the stars and constellations on the ceiling for Knox to stare at. I think that is so cool!

And here is daddy helping Knox open a new book - I love that Nana was a teacher, too, so she understands my love of reading and desire that Knox has that same love!

Speaking of "a love of reading", Nana also got daddy and Knox a subscription to Sports Illustrated! I'm pretty sure he'll enjoy that more than any of the books I'd prefer he read. But hey! Reading is reading, right??

And this shirt just says it all...

"There's no place like Colorado...except Grandma's!" So true! Thanks Nana and Ed for all of the wonderful Christmas gifts!

After having our own mini-Christmas as a family in our first house (yes, LOTS to be thankful for in 2009!!!), we drove up to Nashville on the 23rd to have Christmas with my dad and his wife, Kristin. We had a great Christmas dinner, complete with GREAT wine. They also spoiled us and Knox absolutely rotten! Sadly, I didn't take a single darn picture from that night!!

On Christmas Eve, after a weather scare that threatened to strand us in Chicago for Christmas with a 12 week old baby (wouldn't that have been fun! Thank you, Uncle Buck, for getting us there!!), we finally made it to Philadelphia! My cousin, Jarrett's two kids (Ethan, 6 1/2, and Lucy, 4) both made Christmas morning SO. MUCH. FUN. There is nothing like seeing kids that age so utterly excited. It made us SO pumped for when Knox is that age one day! Here are the kiddos opening gifts at Mom-Mom and Pop-Pop's house (that's my Aunt Mel and Uncle Buck) - and yes, we had a white Christmas - love it!

Ethan and Lucy gave Knox a great little gift. They absolutely LOVED Knox...they called him "Knoxy" - hysterical!

And one of the more comical things that happened on Christmas morning...

"Poopy Reindeer Butt", as Ethan and Lucy called it. Yes, Knox had a minor blow-out. Sorry, mom-mom!! ;)

Knox was definitely not short on love or attention while we were there...

You think they're smitten??

Since Kurt had never gotten to experience Philadelphia with me and my family, we wanted to do it right. So what does that mean? E-A-G-L-E-S, EAGLES! We couldn't get tickets to the actual game (they played, and beat, the Broncos that weekend), but we were able to tailgate with Jarrett, his girlfriend, Patrice, and the wild fans!

And here are just a few additional pics of my sweet baby boy because, well, he's just that stinkin' cute!

Look at those CHEEKS!!!

And finally, one of my new all-time favorite pictures:

I hope they're best friends forever!

Good Sunday Morning!

2010-01-03T10:44:00.003-06:00

Daddy is teaching Knox how to cook scrambled eggs this morning...

What does garlic smell like??

And Rosie, basking in the only square inch of sunlight in the kitchen.

LOVING family life!! Happy Sunday :)

Shock and Awe

2009-12-19T18:46:00.004-06:00

The past two weeks have been pretty laid back as we get ready to travel to Philadelphia for Christmas, which we are so excited about! We did manage a quick trip up to Nashville to see Hillary and Wyatt while they were in town (loved seeing them!!). But other than that, we've been homebodies - not always a bad thing, but I sure do get stir crazy! The good thing is that we've been able to really work on our routine - eating every 3 to 4 hours, then play, then nap. Have I mentioned how much I LOVE the Babywise concept?! If you haven't heard about it and you plan to have kids in the future, talk to me about this...it is MAGNIFICENT. I will buy you the book. Seriously, I like it that much. It teaches your baby a predictable routine and promotes healthy sleep patterns...because, let's face it....Knox's first few weeks were NOT easy since his days and nights were confused. Life has been SO much better since we discovered Babywise. Anyways, enough of my infomercial ;)

Here are a few pics from the past two weeks...

He still enjoys his Bumbo, but he doesn't last real long in it. It seems like hard work!

He loves his bouncy seat (his Nana nicknamed it "The Vibration Station"). The toys sing to him and light up - it can keep him entertained forever!

We visited with Aunt Allison at her office one day while in Nashville. Isn't she pretty?!

Knox got to play with Callie, too. I'm pretty sure he thought it was pretty cool playing with someone other than his mom!

Gosh, Callie is SO stinkin' cute! She is quite the sassy-pants.

Knox has a tendency to spit up a lot, so he pretty much stays naked every day unless we go out. We call it "Naked Baby Syndrome" :)

I just love this kid. He is so sweet, it actually hurts.

Chillin' on his play mat. This is where he does all of his "baby yoga".

So, speaking of baby yoga...Knox has gotten pretty strong in the past few weeks. Our goal is to spend a minimum of 15 minutes each day doing tummy time, and it's definitely paying off. Check out how well he's holding his head up.

Good...

AMAZING!!!

And then this happened today. For my birthday back in November, my wonderful family (Kurt, mom, Jenn and Aunt Mel) gave me a "day-off" - a gift card to this beautiful Aveda salon for a haircut, pedicure, massage and facial. I broke it up into two days off; so this morning, I got a massage and facial. Ahhh, it was heaven! Well, when I got home, Kurt showed me this video:

Can you believe it?! He ALMOST rolled over all the way! I'm gone for TWO HOURS, and this is what happens?! I'm never leaving again!!!

Time Flies!

2009-12-05T10:04:00.008-06:00

Is it really possible that I have a son...who is already two months old?! It feels like just last month that I found out I was expecting; that it was just last week that we were counting down the weeks and days until "Burrito's" arrival; and that it was just yesterday when we welcomed his beautiful face into our world. And now, here I am, two months later, astounded at how much has changed - our whole world has been flipped upside down and turned inside out, and I never, ever want it to go back to the way it used to be. Having Knox in our lives is BY FAR the BEST thing to ever happen to us. To say that he brings unspeakable joy to our lives is just a flat out understatement. He has done so much for us already - he has taught us how to love each other despite little to no sleep and frayed nerves; he has brought meaning to an otherwise mundane life; and he has helped to heal relationships that were seemingly irreparable (we jokingly call Knox "our little redeemer"). PRAISE GOD from whom ALL blessings flow!

I'm not even quite sure where to start with pictures and updates since it has been SO long since my last post. So much has happened! We've had countless visitors; we've been to Nashville twice; we celebrated our first Thanksgiving as a family of four (yes, four - you cannot forget that Rosie is really our first child!); and we've hosted a rather large Christmas party for the UAB Track & Field team. I think the best thing to do is just throw up some pictures, provide you with some commentary, and let you enjoy them. I'll be better about updating the blog more regularly so that one post will not be as overwhelming!

Oh, and Knox had his two month check-up and shots/vaccinations yesterday morning. OH. MY. GOODNESS. I do not like shots! The sweet little old nurse held down his legs, while Kurt held Knox's hands, while I held the paci in his mouth - then BAM! She stuck him not once, not twice, but FIVE times in his two little thighs. It was the first time I had heard Knox scream out in pain - and it was the first time in my whole life that I have experienced pain like that, too. I don't think I even knew the depth of my love for him until yesterday when I had to witness that. His pain truly was my own pain. It broke my heart to pieces. Now I'm closer to understanding God's pain when He witnessed His Son's pain on the cross. It brought me to my knees just thinking about that sacrifice He made...all to bring ME (and you!) to Him. I'm speechless...but beyond grateful.

Knox did recover quickly from the shots - he was such a trooper! He was a little lethargic during the day yesterday; but other than that, he was totally fine. He's a tough guy! He now weighs 11 lbs, 13 oz and is 22 inches long. His chubby cheeks are the darn cutest thing I have ever seen. I love that he is finally turning into my little chunky monkey! Also, Dr. Gleason put him on his tummy to test his neck and back strength, and he said he was as strong as a 3 1/2 month old! We knew he was strong!!

So, without further ado, here is a photo recap with Knox telling you from his perspective what's been going on the past few weeks. Enjoy, and have a FABULOUS weekend!

I've started sitting in Bumbo! It's kinda hard to hold my head up sometimes, but I'm always up for a challenge.

I got to meet my great-grandmother for the very first time. I love Nanni!

How I love my naps? Check out my new buddy that I like to cuddle with.

I was the special guest at a party my Pop-Pop and his wife, Kristin, threw after Thanksgiving. I kinda slept through most of it, but I did have a lot of fun seeing everyone. Plus, look how much my mommy and daddy love me!

I ate my very first Turkey! Well not really, but I heard it was really good.

Every night, my daddy reads me two books after my bath and before I go to bed. It is my favorite time of the day because I get to spend it with my dad.

Ooooo, I LOVE my baths! And my ducky towel!

I started smiling, laughing, and cooing, too. I have conversations all day long, and my dad makes the funniest faces!

Here's the proof that I can hold the bottle up ALL BY MYSELF. I'm just that hungry all the time, so I get kinda pissy when they take the bottle out of my mouth. Instead, I just hold it myself.

Isn't Aunt Mandy Rue soooo pretty?! Her sweet sister, Casey, sent me that cool outfit!

I went to church for the first time. I LOVE the loud music that mommy and daddy praise Jesus with!

My godfather and great-Uncle David and I have gotten to see each other three times the past few weeks. I love getting to lay on his chest and take naps!

Rosie is still figuring me out, but we're going to be best friends in no time. She barks really loud, but it doesn't bother me. It makes me giggle when she licks my toes, though!

I wish Aunt Jenn and Uncle Kyle lived closer! I guess that just means mommy and I will have to take many trips to San Diego soon...bummer ;)

BOO! Mrs. Gatlin (Cynthie) gave me this scary outfit that I wore for Halloween!

I got to meet Uncle Pud, too! He sounds SO much like my daddy that I was often confused about who was talking. I loved listening to him talk - he is going to teach me how to be cool when I grow up.

Playing with Uncle Pud was so fun!

Go ahead and say it...I'm a ladies' man already! My dad has the coolest job EVER! Go Blazers!!

And I had a small professional photo shoot again. Sadie's (Rosie's friend from the dog park) mommy, Ann Wade, brought her camera over one day and captured some pics of me just chillin' with my Santa hat on. Merry Christmas!

With love,

Knox and my parents (K-to-the-T and Jill-asauras)

This Week in Pictures

2009-10-23T14:05:00.007-05:00

I've been MIA lately - I'm SO sorry! I know you have all been holding your breath waiting for me to update you on our crazy lives ;) Unfortunately, typing a meaningful blog post right now would require brain power that I most certainly do not have (Knox had an upset stomach last night, so we were up ALL NIGHT LONG). HOWEVER, the pictures we've taken over the past two weeks are way cuter than any words I can type; so I'll just let you enjoy our little blessing via photos instead! We've had lots and lots of wonderful visitors; we've cheered the Vols on to a victory; and we've even ventured out a few times to the pumpkin patch (which was closed when we got there) and to our Ballbuster softball game. We LOVE showing him off! Enjoy - more to come later, promise!

Quick picture

2009-10-15T11:06:00.002-05:00

Once we get on a regular sleeping pattern, I will get back to regularly posting blog updates...don't hold your breath for that ;)

In the mean time, our sweet photographer friend stopped by yesterday to meet Knox. He was so well-behaved until it was time to snap a few pics. Then he screamed and screamed and screamed. He was just a little hungry! But being the fabulous professional she is, she STILL managed to capture a beautiful shot of my beautiful guy. (You're not supposed to call boys beautiful, huh?? Oh well - he's beautiful to me!) Thanks, AW, for coming by and for letting us share this sweet picture. More updates and pictures soon...I promise!

Our Boy is here. AQUI!!!!!!

2009-10-05T21:46:00.005-05:00

He's Here. All the months, all the wondering, all the waiting and curiosity of what our son is going to look like, what he will do when he gets here, WHAT THE HECK WE WILL DO WHEN HE GETS HERE. Well, he's here, he's beautiful, healthy (so is mom) and he's a really well behaved boy.

It's true what our parents always said "you don't realize how much you can love someone until you have your own child". Well moms and dads everywhere, you are 1million percent correct. I'm not a blogger (daddy Kurt is writing this, not momma Jill who is presently nursing Knox), so i'll stop and let the world see the best boy God could have given anyone.

PS. Yes, we are officially calling him Knox, but Toliver Knox and Burrito will never be too far away.

Enjoy our awesome day and Knox.

Convicted

2009-09-24T09:29:00.003-05:00

Last night, I met up with Team Elkins to go to Wednesday night church. I didn't sleep at all on Tuesday night, so by yesterday afternoon, I was sluggish and didn't want to do anything but lay on the couch. But I was excited to see Jordan and Eric, and I knew that if I went, I would undoubtedly get something out of it. And I most certainly did.

After about 45 minutes of worship and praise (which my heart needed!), Pastor Chris started talking about Isaiah 40...particularly verses 27-31. Here's what they say:

Why do you say, O Jacob,
and complain, O Israel,
"My way is hidden from the Lord;
my cause is disregarded by my God?"

Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

Looking back on my past few posts on my blog and thinking about my conversations with people over the past few weeks, I have realized just how much I have complained - about not sleeping, about how swollen I am, about how fat I feel, about how miserably uncomfortable I've become. Complain, complain, complain...it's ALL I've done lately. But why? Why would I complain when God promises that if I HOPE in Him, He will renew my strength? He is the "everlasting God" - do you know what that means? That means He was here before me and He will be here long after I am gone and He has already walked this path before me. If I just put my hope in Him, I will not be weary or faint.

Church was packed - but that message was absolutely, undeniably, indisputably, unquestionably meant for me.

Today is a new day; I am putting my hope in the Lord. I will soar on wings like eagles!

Suggestions wanted!

2009-09-18T09:28:00.003-05:00

Is this rain driving any one else mad?? The worst part is that there is NO. END. IN. SIGHT. Ugh! I'm trying to be optimistic...the more rain we get, the prettier the Fall and changing leaves will be, right?? :)

So, as I get closer and closer to "D-Day" (delivery day - yikes!), my mind has been occupied with getting every little last detail prepared - everything from washing the baby clothes so Burrito won't leave the hospital nekkid, to getting the nursery ready, to buying extra sheets for the pack n' play, to packing up our bag for the hospital, etc. etc. etc. My to-do list actually intimidates me.

One of the things we've learned throughout our childbirth classes is that it's good to have some of the comforts of home at the hospital with you - like your own pillow, some photos of family members, etc. (I already have my picture of Rosie picked out!) They say that it helps you to be distracted from the pain you'll undoubtedly be in. One of my all-time favorite distractions is music - I'm working on a play list on my computer and iPod specifically for the hospital. I prefer music I know the words to so I can focus on that rather than other things; but I also want lots of chill music and worship/praise music.

So....send me your suggestions! Any artist or song you think would be appropriate? Send it my way! They say labor can last as long as 24-48 hours, so the more suggestions you have, the better!

Here's the beautiful pic of Rosie that will be accompanying me to the hospital. Staring at her sweet face will totally help, don't you think?!

Any day now...

2009-09-15T12:12:00.005-05:00

...I could be a real-live mother. Is that not the most frightening thing you have ever read in your life?! Today marks the beginning of my 37th week of pregnancy. And with this week comes many more lovely pregnancy side-effects and worries. I had my weekly checkup with Dr. Hoover yesterday, and the first thing she said was, "Oh, you've got the puffy face!" Well good to see you too! If I didn't like her so darn much, I would have been terribly offended. But, the fact of the matter is that "puffy face" can be a warning sign of pre-eclampsia. With my blood pressure slowly sneaking up on me, this is something we'll be keeping our eye on. But for now, there's no protein in my urine and my BP is still in a good range, so things are looking good. Oh and check this out! I'm already 1 cm dialted and 75% effaced...and, the craziest thing I've ever heard in my life was that she could actually feel the baby's head during my exam! If that doesn't scream, "I'm on my way, mom!", I don't know what does!!!

Unfortunately, as much as I'd love to get this whole labor and delivery thing over with, I could potentially stay 1cm dialated for another 4-5 weeks; or, I could go at any time. It's all in God's hands, so we're just going to sit back and wait on His perfect timing.

In other news, my sweet mom and sister (Jackie) came down this weekend to help get the house "baby ready". My mom steam cleaned ALL the carpets in the house, helped me organize the dining room and kitchen, worked with Kurt to put the crib together, and even bought us some new home decor. And Jackie, the talented little creative thing she is, helped me paint the stripes on the wall in the baby's nursery. We're getting closer and closer to having that room ready for Burrito's arrival!

I've been trying to document all of the hard work going on around the house, so enjoy the pictures!

Who is Jesus?

2009-09-11T17:23:00.002-05:00

This has absolutely nothing to do with our new house, the baby, our jobs, or anything else right now...but it has EVERYTHING to do with our lives, our salvation, and our eternity. I was so moved by it that I just couldn't not share it with you. Kurt's uncle, Uncle David, sent it our way yesterday, and I absolutely loved it.

You may know Steve Harvey, the comedian, from such things like The Original Kings of Comedy and his WB sitcom, The Steve Harvey Show. But here is a side of the funny man that I have not known or seen before, but that I love. Here is how he would introduce Jesus Christ if he was ever graced with the opportunity to do so. Enjoy, and God Bless!

36 Weeks and An Update

2009-09-10T10:27:00.005-05:00

What a whirlwind the past week has been?! We got the keys to our new house on Thursday; we drove to Nashville on Friday for a UAB cross-country meet; we, with the help of 5 strong boys, packed up a moving truck full of stuff my mom is donating to our house on Saturday; we drove back to Birmingham to unload on Sunday; and here we are on Thursday, still in the process of packing up and cleaning out our apartment. And oh yea - did I mention that I am 36 weeks pregnant trying to do all of this stuff?! To say I'm slow is a drastic understatement. But I have been trying my best to help as much as possible rather than just directing Kurt around - it's just not in my DNA to sit back and watch. However, because of that, I have worn my own damn self out! I'm so exhausted and sore physically; but because of the soreness, my huge belly, my achy back, my overwhelming emotions, and the sheer amount of stuff on my mind, I am not sleeping at all. I have literally watched all of my FRIENDS Season 5 DVDs in the past 3 nights! Guess I'll move on to Season 6 tonight :)

On a positive note, my dad drove down on Tuesday to help paint the baby's nursery. My doctor did say that I could paint so long as I purchased the low VOC paint, opened all the windows, and wore a mask; but my dad said "absolutely not". So, down he drove, and up the paint went. We're not completely done, but it's so nice to have another thing almost checked off the ever-expanding to-do list.

Rosie and I observed and cheered him on from the floor :)

So what does it feel like to be 36 weeks pregnant? In one word - uncomfortable. I have to say that the majority of this pregnancy has been incredibly easy. All of the weird symptoms and pregnancy side effects for the most part had eluded me...until now. I think they all decided to wait and attack at the same time - I can no longer see my ankles they are so swollen; my fingers actually hurt from the swelling, as well; I have horrendous carpel tunnel syndrome in my right hand; the restless leg syndrome I've been experiencing keeps me up all night; the shooting pains in my legs and groin are enough to bring me to my knees; I have some fairly painful contractions for about two hours every afternoon - just long enough for me to think about start heading to the hospital; and best of all, I must use the bathroom at least 50 times a day. We're considering buying stock in Charmin!

Here's what the FitPregnancy email says about being 36 weeks pregnant (only 4 weeks to go!):

Your Growing Baby

With one month to go, your baby weighs about six pounds and is fattening. His full length from crown to feet is about 20 1/2 inches. Has your baby's movement slowed down? If so, you shouldn't worry. Five to ten percent of all mothers report that babies start to slow down as they grow larger and get more cramped for space. Still, you should be able to feel your baby move more than ten times a day. If you're concerned, try drinking a sweet beverage, such as orange juice, and then lying on your side for a while. Most babies will wake up and start to move. If you're still concerned, contact your healthcare provider.

Your Changing Body

As women in the grocery store have probably already told you, you look like you could go any minute. And they may be right—your due date just suggests a time when the baby's likely to be born. In reality, you could go into labor any time between now and six weeks from now! Your belly button is becoming flattened, and may even stick out like a wine cork. You may feel a lightening sensation on your ribs and organs as your baby descends into your pelvis. Breathing and eating will be easier, but you'll be running to the bathroom more often than ever, and the change in pressure may cause shooting pains in your groin or leg. If you're aching (and we don't see how you couldn't be), indulge in a pregnancy massage from a professional masseuse, or find a pool, and take a swim. At home, try sitting on an exercise ball to take pressure off of your back.

Whew! Sounds like a joy, huh?! The thing is, as much as this stretch of the pregnancy seems to suck, I still can't get over the fact that I'll be holding my sweet baby boy and meeting him face-to-face in just a matter of days or weeks. That knowledge alone is enough to stop me in my tracks, fall to my knees, and PRAISE GOD for his abundant blessings!

Because we've been so crazy-busy this week, I haven't taken a single picture of myself or the house or anything (except for the one above from my cell phone of my dad doing manual labor!!). So instead, I decided to post a few of the "out takes" from our photo shoot with Ann Wade last week. And yes, I have grown even more in one week - surprising, but true! Laugh, enjoy, and know that our family loves you all!

35 Weeks!

2009-09-01T14:02:00.005-05:00

Can you believe it? I sure can't! 35 weeks down...and only about 5 weeks to go! I'm going to need every single day of the next 5 weeks to get the house baby-ready...say prayers he doesn't come early, which is a rarity for first babies anyways. Although, at the same time, I'm SO ready to meet Toliver Knox. I'm so in love with him already, and I'm trying to prepare my heart for loving him even more once I finally get to see his sweet face. I've had constant reminders of his impending arrival - everything from my now weekly doctor's appointments (complete with the oh-so-lovely weigh ins) to the pretty painful contractions that occur every so often. I'm afraid to complain too much about these contractions because, well, let's be honest - these are nothing compared to what I'll be experiencing soon!

So here's what the emails say about being 35 weeks pregnant...drum roll please!

Your Growing Baby

At more than five pounds and between sixteen and twenty inches, your baby is becoming more ready for birth with every passing hour. He's the size of a small roasting chicken. His nervous system and immune system are still maturing, and he's adding the fat that he'll need to regulate his body temperature. But, everything else, from his toenails to the hair on his head, is fully formed. If he were born now, he'd have more than a ninety-nine percent chance of surviving.

Your Changing Body (it should say "growing body"!!)

Your size is probably making you really uncomfortable. (REALLY??) You're carrying so much extra weight and fluid that simple things can be tiring. If your job requires sitting all day, take frequent breaks to walk around and stretch your legs (if you have the privacy to lie down for a few minutes or do stretches on your hands and knees, even better). You'll see your care provider once every one or two weeks now. Don't forget to arrange care for any children or pets (poor Rosie's whole life is about to get flipped upside down!!) for the two to three days you'll be in the hospital. Ask a neighbor to collect your newspapers and mail. (We don't know our neighbors yet - yikes!)

So do you want to see what a 35-week pregnant chick looks like?! Well, this week, I'm not so ashamed to post some pictures (hence the reason why I haven't been posting too many weekly updates lately - pure embarrassment!) Yesterday, our friend and photographer took some maternity pictures for us - she is quite talented; actually, she's fantastic! You can check out her blog at http://www.awweddings.com/blog/ and we'll be on there, too - famous in B'ham!! :) Here are a few of my favorite photos from yesterday...enjoy, but don't make fun of my triple chins and my swollen feet, hands, and body!

Rite of Passage

2009-08-28T09:24:00.001-05:00

We're getting old. It's official. We are being forced into adulthood, kicking and screaming. Not only are our bodies telling us that - gray hair, wrinkles between my eyes, etc. - but now actual actions are making us seem old. For one, getting married and having a baby both seem like "adult" things to do. And now, as of yesterday at 3:00 pm...well, we're officially HOMEOWNERS! If that doesn't scream "adult", I don't know what does!

The house-hunting, the offering process, the contract process, all of it has proven to be a long, emotional process; but the fact that it has now come to a close, our names are on the dotted line, we are overjoyed! We can't wait to get in the house and make it ours - our first home. Wow - just saying those words ("our first home") carries such a huge weight, but in such a good way. Burrito will finally have a nursery - yay!

Here's a picture of our house - come visit any time! We LOVE visitors!!!

Thanks for sharing in our many joys this year - the house being one of many!
Love you all,
Jill

Crystal's Wedding & Brentwood Girls Baby Shower

2009-08-25T15:45:00.006-05:00

This past weekend, Kurt and I made a quick trip up to Nashville. Originally, my plan was to fly into town and drive back to Birmingham with a moving truck full of some of my mom's beautiful dining room furniture that she's donating to our new house. Long story short, our closing date was postponed (we thought the deal was going to fall through - be expecting a post later this week with more details and *hopefully* good news!). So rather than driving up by myself, Kurt graciously agreed to drive with me. This late in the pregnancy, we adopted a "better-to-be-safe-than-sorry" attitude just in case! How horrible if something happened while I was driving by myself?! Not cool to even think about. So, we got to spend some good quality time with Mimz, go to Crystal and Larry's beautiful wedding, and be the guest of honor at another fantastic baby shower. (Have I mentioned how amazingly blessed I am to have such beautiful and giving friends?!)

Here are a few photos from the weekend...enjoy!

I stole this one from Hillary cause it made me laugh - Kurt and me having fun at Crystal and Larry's reception.

With the beautiful bride, Crystal, and the gorgeous bridesmaid, Kim.

My wedding date. Hey hottie!! :)

Three of my very best friends in the world - Samantha, Hillary and Jenn - outside of the wedding reception at the War Memorial in downtown Nashville.

The amazing Hillary flew all the way into town from Florida for my baby shower she helped host!

BEWARE: *Plug* Homestyle Bakery bakes some ADORABLE and tasty cakes! Thanks Allison!!!

Opening the beautiful bib from Hosea. Thanks, Hosea!! (Sheesh, I look like a big blob!)

Allison and Mrs. Massengill holding her granddaughter, Callie - one of Burrito's future girlfriends.

The one and only beautiful, funny, and adorable Evelyn Grace Elkins. She's Burrito's future wife, my future daughter-in-law! (Don't you love my planning?!)

The hostess with the mostess, Mrs. Allison Meadows, cutting the yummy-in-my-tummy cake.

Laney! She is Samantha's niece. Absolutely precious! I loved that so many kiddos were there - took the spotlight off me...whew!

Lindsey, Hosea and MET - oops, I mean MEV (the new Mrs. Vitucci!). Love you girls - made my day that y'all were there!

Thank you to Amy, Allison, Anna Clare, Caitlin, Hillary, Jenn, Jordan, Kim and Samantha for hosting a beautiful and fun shower. I love you girls. Thank you for years of friendship and blessings. Looking forward to SO many more!!

Happy Birthday, Nana!

2009-08-10T10:36:00.003-05:00

We love you and pray for the happiest of all birthdays! See you again soon!!

All our love! Kurt, Jill, Rosie and Toliver Knox :)

Ya-Ya Baby Shower Weekend

2009-08-07T10:51:00.004-05:00

A couple weekends ago, my mom's best friends (the "Ya-Ya's") threw me a beautiful baby shower at Boxwood Bistro, a cute restaurant in the Factory at Franklin. These women, who are all like second moms to me, went above and beyond my wildest dreams for a baby shower - the decorations were adorable, the food (brunch - my favorite!!!) was incredible, and the gifts were extravagant. To say we got more than we needed is an understatement; but we are truly, truly grateful! Toliver Knox will be so excited!!

Here are a few pictures from the shower and from the weekend. It was unforgettable!

This is just an example of the precious decor of the shower - blue baby stuff everywhere!

By far the best part of the weekend was the people in attendance. BOTH of my sisters came into town...I was overjoyed, but my mom (Mimz) was ECSTATIC! Aunt Jackie and Aunt Jennifer - thank you for loving me so well!!

And 'Berta came! How I love her?! Nana, me and Mom-Mom - happy grandmas-to-be!

If you know me at all, you know how very much I adore my Aunt Mel. She truly is the most giving, selfless, loving, and understanding woman on the planet. For her to be there with us that weekend made it complete! I love her and her family (Uncle Buck, Jarrett, Ethan & Lucy) as if they were my own mom, dad, brother, niece, and nephew.

AND...as if having all of my own family in town wasn't enough - I was DOUBLY blessed to have all of Kurt's family there, too! This group of ladies are some of the most God-loving women I have ever met. I have MUCH to learn from them, and I am so excited to call them my own family soon, too! Nani is on the left - she is Kurt's grandma - truly a fantastic woman. Then Arminda - we share a birthday! Asheley is Kurt's cousin, Allen's wife - she's a trooper and has come to not one, but TWO of my baby showers now (Thanks Asheley!!) And Aunt Suzanne is on the right - she is a true example of strength and resilience.

But most of all, I owe all of my thanks to these beautiful women above. Mrs. Purcell, Mrs. Bartley, Mrs. Arevalos (Gail and Mrs. Portacci - who were unable to attend) - I thank you for not only throwing me a lovely baby shower (which I LOVED!); but I thank you for loving my mom so well. She would not be the woman of strength she is today without your love and support over the past few years. I am eternally grateful to you all for that!

A DIAPER CAKE! I love it!!

Showing 'Berta the diaper cake - complete with baby wash, lotion, and other fantastic goodies!

Austin was by far the star of the shower - Krista, Mrs. Arevalos's daughter, brought her son along...and gave me a TON of his hand-me-downs. I have seen pictures of Austin growing up the past few months, and I seriously hope Toliver Knox looks like him - he's the cutest kid I have ever, ever seen!!!

GO VOLS! (Somehow, I think this was more for Kurt than me or Burrito!)

Thanks, Mom-Mom, for my favorite outfit by far! "Future #1 Draft Pick" - heck yea! (Doesn't Knox Thomas just sound like the perfect pro athlete name??!)

A wrap-up to a perfect weekend - pizza, cupcakes, and wine (well, water for me) with my favorite ladies in the world!