Self-Discipline

While looking at organization tips on the internet, I came across this wonderful, simple, practical, biblically-based article written by John MacArthur. I was so challenged by the simple reminders that I thought I would share it with you all!

Click here to read "Learning Self Discipline"

Jackson Update/Photo Shoot!

So here I was...really bummed out because our digital camera is still broken and I didn't think I could take any updated pictures of Jackson to post on the blog, when I remembered our trusty camera built into our iMac! I immediately opened the "Photo Booth" program and started a photo shoot!
As you can see, Jackson is quite photogenic!

Jackson is now 2 1/2 months....approaching three months very fast! He has started to teethe, so things have been challenging for all of us at times. But, on the other hand, he is the sweetest little boy. He loves to smile and talk to anyone who smiles and talks to him. I catch him looking lovingly at me all the time! He loves to stand up now (with assistance, of course) and he has started to show preferences to a lot more things. For example, he has a favorite toy now! Its a puppy head stuffed animal on a blanket. He smiles at it and he will put his arm around it and hug it all on his own! Its soooo adorable! I'm sure you all will enjoy the picture I took of that (even though its a bad quality cell phone pic)! Jackson also loves to listen to his daddy tell him stories and the other day, I read Jackson his first story book. He really enjoyed it! I love how his personality is showing through! I think I'm gonna like this kid! :)Oh, yeah, and the best news...Jackson has slept at least 8 1/2 hours the past two nights! YEA!

Ahhh...to be organized!

Oh, how I wish our office looked like this! Troy and I have been married for 2 1/2 years now and we have never been able to keep our office organized! We collect so much stuff when we are busy (which is all the time!). We are making it a goal to clean/organize the office once more on Saturday. This is the first time we are doing this since we recently moved. I'm looking at this as an opportunity for a fresh start. I hope to keep the office organized so it doesn't get to be an overwhelming amount of piles everywhere! So, with that, I'm going to ask my faithful blog-readers to join in our efforts to get organized. If you have any helpful hints on how to get organized or how to stay organized, please post them!

Diaper Poll Results

In the diaper poll I took within the last couple weeks, Huggies won by a slight lead over Pampers. Although, Troy and I discovered that we really, really like Pampers Baby Dry Diapers! These diapers have withstood Jackson's really watery BM (Dr said it was okay) several times, whereas the Huggies that we have leaked every time (even with "Leak Lock"), whether it was Jackson's overnight diaper (with just urine) or his poopy diapers. So, we found a winner! Yea!

DISCLAIMER: I'm sorry if this blog is too much information regarding the state of Jackson's BM, but, in diaper shopping, that is the ultimate test!

Florida - Day 4

On Monday morning, we headed to the airport. On the way there, we stopped at a Waffle House. This was my first time there and I ordered the hashbrowns "scattered," eggs, bacon, and waffles. The waffles were amazing!
All the seats were full on the plane, so we couldn't take the car seat in the planes on the flight back, but Jackson had no trouble getting comfortable! I'm sure he was glad to relax after all those busy days!
That was our trip to Florida! Hope you enjoyed it!

Florida - Day 3

After attending church at Cornerstone Bible Church in Miami, we all went to eat Cuban sandwiches at a new Cuban restaurant in Miami. Jackson was all smiles there...until he got tired! Then we went with David and Robyn to the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. It is basically the Hearst Castle of the East Coast. It was beautiful its built right on the water.







Like father....like son!
Jackson is soooo cute...he was cooing and smiling at the camera!
After Vizcaya, we headed to Key Biscayne to watch the sunset. The water was very shallow and warm! The sunset was also gorgeous! This was our last night in Florida.

Flordia Trip - Day 2

On Saturday, the second day we were in Florida, we went to the Everglades Alligator Farm. There we saw alligators (or course), snakes, huge rodents, and a Florida Cougar who had his eyes on an iguana.


Troy and I in front of "grow out" pens. This is where the alligators stay to grow until they are a good size. Alligators grow about a foot a year.


Jackson was very curious about this alligator. Troy was a brave man to hold this alligator...I never knew I had a fear of alligators until he said I should hold it. I couldn't do it! The thought made me sick to my stomach!

For those Princess Bride fans out there...R.O.U.S- Rodents of unusual size....they really do exist!!! This is the largest species of rodent in the world. Its is called a Capybara. They average about 100 lbs in weight and they look like huge hamsters!

Robyn got the opportunity (well, actually David volunteered her) to hold a Green Burmese Python. David also held a small snake!
After working up an appetite at the alligator farm, we all met at Cracker Barrel for Lunch. Yum!
After lunch, we headed towards the Keys!
We stopped just past Key Largo to step in the water. This beach was beautiful! Jackson even got to experience the water of the Gulf of Mexico!


After driving past Key Largo, we just kept going! It was so breathtaking to drive over the ocean at sunset.

We stopped in Marathon at a restaurant called The Island to get a Key Lime Pie. It was a good pie and good company, and a perfect temperature (in the 70's). Ironically, the Packers game was on in the bar and it was snowing there!

After eating the pie, we headed home. What a full day that was! Stay tuned...tomorrow will bring a review of days 3 & 4!