Lucy - 7 months

Lucy turned 7 months old last week. She weighed in at 16 lb. 10 oz. and was 26 inches long, that's 50% in weight and 75% in height...WOO HOO! Her hair is coming in thicker now, and I was able to stick a bow in it for the first time yesterday. Oh, the possibilities... Another milestone: her first shoe shopping adventure! It was so much fun trying shoes on her. Decisions, decisions. I could have bought every pair in the store, but I tried to be practical and choose the shoes that would go with the most outfits. We ended up with only two pair, but I suppose that's more than enough for someone who doesn't even know how to walk yet.

Something's Fishy...

Got pictures of my latest cake for ya'll to see. This one was for 9-year-old Spencer. He wanted a cake in the shape of a bass, and I think I delivered. I told the Tool Man that I actually had fun decorating this cake. (Yes, I admit cake decorating usually makes me crazy...icing is a finicky medium to work with.) I used fondant rather than buttercream to cover the fish, and I added all the detail with a paint brush. It was just like painting a picture. I think maybe I will start using fondant more often. It is a whole lot less messy, and it seems to be easier for me to work with. Think play-dough. Anyway, here are some of the pictures I took before delivery.

Happy Birthday, House!

February 15 marks the third anniversary of us moving into our new house. Isn't it funny that I still think of it as being new? Maybe that's because it's still not completely finished. I guess that's just one of the perks of being married to a carpenter ;) We had taco soup for dinner that first night, and although we had a new dining table, we only had lawn chairs sit in. Over the past three years, I've had a lot of fun decorating and such, but I don't know if I'll ever get it just right. I'm always seeing something that inspires me to change things up a bit. Oh well, I've got to have something to keep me busy. Ha Ha!

Like father, like son...I've always loved this picture of Ty and his daddy working our home.

Uncle Huey...the resident overseer, boss, big-whig, and all-around Mr. Know-it-all. He kept everybody in line for us during the project.

The Burn in Natchez, MS. This house was the inspiration for the exterior of our home. I still think this house is gorgeous. Just wish my lawn looked like that. If I only had a nickel for every grass seed that we've planted, only to have a flood come and wash them all down into the creek. Alas! I've got big plans for our yard when I hit the lottery!

The Greatest Is Love

Happy Valentine's day everyone! This morning during the children's sermon at church, Mrs. Pam asked the kids if they knew what Valentine's Day was about. Ty quickly answered it was about Jesus loving us. How true! "We love because He first loved us." I am so thankful that He loves me and that He has given me such special people to love.

On the Mississippi River, November 1999.

The week of our wedding, May 2001.

My two little Valentines

Splish Splash

Lucy really enjoys her bathtime these days. We usually bathe her in one of those baby tubs that she can lie down in, but she has started kicking and splashing so much we decided to let her try to sit up in the sink. She loved being able to get to the water faucet. It was fun to watch her trying to grab the running water, and she was determined she was going to get a drink. I loved the way Lucy stuck out her tongue to try to lap the water. Kind of reminded me of a snake. Even though she enjoyed her bath, I think I'll go back to the old baby tub for now. The sink bottom was just a little too slippery for her. It was difficult for me to bathe her while making sure she didn't tumble over into the water.

P.S. Welcome new follower! It makes me feel so good that ya'll enjoy reading about our happy little family :O)

A Tale of Two Turkeys

Our household is sick again. And there is no cure for it this time...Turkey Fever! Now that we have all the deer meat we could possibly eat in one year, the Tool Man is looking forward to the next hunting season. We've been watching turkey videos, practicing turkey calls, reading turkey magazines, playing with turkey hunter action figures, and making turkey purchases. Like this first-class, top-of-the-line, hi-tech, pop-up, ground blind. And of course we have to make sure that it works just right, so let's just practice "popping" it up right in the middle of the living room, why don't we? It's huge! Which just thrills the hunters in the family. Get a load of these two turkeys fooling around in their new playhouse. Hunting...from what I've seen, getting ready for the season accounts for at least 75% of the fun.