5.31.2012

Blackberry

James and I spent Memorial day in this slice of heaven on earth....
Blackberry Farm in Walland Tennessee
We did a lot of relaxing...took a farmstead tour to hear about how they run the farm aspect, hiked and walked around the beautiful property, played tennis, fly fished (James), enjoyed some spa time, and ATE and ATE. BF is known for its food and I know why. Everything is gourmet! Breakfast was every fresh fruit you could imagine, fresh pastries that changed daily, eggs every way you could imagine (my favorite was poached on top of a tomato with bacon vinaigrette). Lunch was at least three courses, starting with a soup or salad and then whatever innovative sandwich caught your fancy (my favorite was roasted chicken with egg and pickled radishes and herb aioli)...followed by dessert, an assortment of fresh baked cookies or a trifle of chocolate and fruit. Dinner was an event...five courses...and afforded us not only nutritional nourishment but entertainment and good conversation. So much for maintaining a good baby weight gain!! It was totally worth it! I didn't take many pictures as I just enjoyed....

The garden shed...maybe if we  James got serious about gardening we could have something this cute
One of the BF truffle dogs (breed Italian Lagotto Romagnolo) They are pretty amazing...trained to hunt ripe truffles from under different trees. I really thought I needed one until James reminded me we are having another child soon.


This pretty much sums it up...AHHHH

Happy Anniversary!

in front of the barn where we had dinner each evening...

Such a great getaway...thanks Jim and Shelia for keeping Lane boy! 






5.25.2012

Praying...

for these wonderful people that left yesterday for Meto, Kenya on a mission trip with Integrity Worldwide.

May God be Glorified and Miracles Abundant!!!

5.23.2012

Three Years

Happy Anniversary to my wonderful husband! 3 years: 1 chocolate dog, 1 baby boy, and another one the way...a FULL three years I would say!
I love looking through these pictures, such a great reminder of the love and commitment...


I am just as excited today as I was in this picture! 


Here we are this past weekend at the Russell beach trip (more pics and post to come)

I am very thankful James that God gave me you to walk through life with..
Thank you for taking me on amazing trips, fixing things that I break, making me laugh, having Daddy time so I can exercise, teaching me discipline in many things, walking in integrity, watering my plants, taking me on date lunches, giving me your honest opinion, taking up new hobbies with me, and loving me unconditionally! You are my favorite. 




5.17.2012

The Graduate

Congratulations to our big cousin Sam on graduating from Leika's kindergarten today!! We are so proud of you!

This was taken yesterday at their end of the year party at the Pearce's house. Jana did a great post here with pictures. It was sooo cute! Sam is so sweet to Lane, even shares his Spiderman ice cream!

Way to go Sam! We love you!

5.16.2012

Bible Study

I have been very blessed this year to be apart of a wonderful Bible Study led by Olivia Jones. She is a spiritual giant and has so much Godly wisdom. When I left Birmingham, one of the the things I knew I would miss the most was the Bible study led by my sweet friend, Kate, and the great group of girls that I fellowshipped with weekly. Well of course, God provided here as well. This past year we have studied everything from the Holy Spirit and Spiritual Warfare to how to be a Godly wife. One of the biggest things God has shown me is that I am called to submit to my husband as he is my spiritual covering. This means even when I think I know better for our family, be it in plans, finances, or parenting, I am to obey my husband and not manipulate (yes shocking, I said manipulate) to get what I think is best. I have heard this teaching many times, but not so much in black and white. If you are being obedient to your husband you are being obedient to GOD.
See Ephesians 5:22-24
22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.


Tough to do sometimes, huh?? (like when I think window treatments are a need and he thinks they are a want, haha!!) But I believe your marriage and family will be much more fruitful. I have already seen this first hand. 
Last night we had our Bible Study  end of the year party at Bradford's...
Ann, Bradford, Jana, an Tara

Olivia and me

delicious food, I love get togethers where everyone brings an app or dessert...I love to try others creations and get ideas

Amelia, Bradford, and Sarah

Bellyshots: 31 weeks and 15 weeks ( I made Kristen poke out more to see her bump!)

There are a few people I missed getting their picture, but I am thankful for each of you and our times together!







5.14.2012

15 months and Mother's Day

(This is very detailed for scrap booking purposes, so please feel free to just scroll and look at pictures!) Lane is 15 months old and such a HAM. He has figured out what makes us laugh and how to get a reaction and loves to "perform" to get a response. One such example is smelling feet. Don't ask me how this started, but he will smell his feet/your feet and then wrinkle his little nose up and make a "Phew-wee" sound.  He also has started shaking and bobbing his head while he walks around...cracks me up...which of course makes him do it more. 
He has four incisors on top and two on bottom (of course James and I check constantly, but he is just a late developer) He is becoming more and more verbal. It amazes me what words he will just randomly say, some of his newest are: sews (shoes), boo (boot), twe (tree) and da-e (daisy, our neighbors puppy) Does he say Momma? NO Does he know I want him to say it? YES He calls me "Da"...not to be confused with Dada (James) or Dog (Amos). I will pat my chest and say "Ma-Ma" and he will pat me right back and say "Da" and smirk and giggle. He thinks it is a game now, so I give it up! I guess it will come on his timing. 

He is all Boy: He loves mud, rocks, animals (especially dogs and horses), "driving" any vehicle, running around the neighborhood (Mary and he do laps during the day and all of the older ladies come out to visit when they see them). He finally will sit still to watch a little TV (Mickey Mouse Clubhouse) in the morning when he wakes up at 6:00 am and I am trying to get a few more minutes of sleep. 

He loves books, his favorites: Whose Baby Am I? Goodnight Moon, The Storybook Bible, Animal and Insects

He loves wearing shoes (he gets that from his Daddy I guess because I didn't wear shoes until 5 and still don't prefer it) He brings you his tennis shoes when he is ready to go "Out!" He also knows his white shoes are for Sunday and kind of prances around when he puts them on. He understands sooo much, more than I give him credit for.  The other day he dropped his cup in the living room and I said, "Lane please go pick up your cup where you left it, and bring it to me so I can wash it off". He stopped what he was doing, went and found the cup and brought it to me. I didn't really think he would do it. Shows what he is capable of that I don't even realize. I think it is time for a little more instruction.

He LOVES playing with his cousins, and when Sam walks in he runs up to him, grabs his waist and hugs and hugs him. 

He is a pretty good eater. He still loves most carbs (biscuits!!), grapes, blueberries, oranges, and some vegetables. The way he gets most of his vegetables is by incorporating them in things like chicken pot pie, vegetable pasta, etc. He does like carrots, green beans, and squash. 

If you ask him to give you "noses" He rubs his nose against yours and squints his eyes tight. 
I just want to hit pause and enjoy this stage/time with him. I am sure you all know what I mean.

Here are a few pictures from Mother's Day before church...



our attempt at getting me with my two boys (30 weeks pregnant), but Lane still does not understand the baby in the belly concept...

I am so thankful for my wonderful mother and MIL. You are both such amazing moms and examples of Godly women. I appreciate all of the "mothering" so much more now that I am a mom. It is the best job in the world, and I am so thankful to experience it. 


5.08.2012

Beach days

This past week/weekend I headed to the Gulf with Lane (Thanks James and Pal for covering at work)....
We had a lot of fun eating, playing in the sand, and just getting some R&R.
Sunset Grille has a playground now so we will be regulars this summer, see Captain Lane


french fries and shrimp make this tiny tot happy

Lane loved playing with Mydot and Pop, here they are riding the green "alligator"

we went of several boat rides, it took Lane awhile to get used to the life preserver 

with Pie and Pal,  he made his first trip under the Pass into the Gulf


two peas in a pod

I love this one, looks like he is praising Jesus! He loved the wind!!

eating lemon at Tacky Jacks (thanks Grandmomma Shelia for the fishing shirt, it is quite a hit!)

he also spend a lot of time in the baby pool by the bayou, I think this well represents our stage of life right now
playing on the island (we love the hat Shannon!)

watching the boats just like daddy

water baby

We even had a date night to Fisherman's Corner, thanks to Pie and Pal for babysitting and to Aunt Ann for the recommendation, delicious!




5.07.2012

Showering Baby Rossell

A few weeks ago we celebrated the upcoming arrival of my friend Molly's baby. She is due 20 days before me, and I am soooo excited! Our children will either be BFFs or have an arranged marriage. 

Alpha Gams present--several that just have had babies-Blair and Adrienne, and several that are due in June and July-Lesli, Alyse, Molly, and me

Hostesses minus a few with Mols

everyone brought their favorite children's book to help start the Rossell family library

Lane gave Molly a monogrammed hospital gown because he his momma thinks everyone needs a personalized gown for delivery pictures

Molly (doesn't she look amazing!) with her sweet nieces, Molly and Cate 

Thanks Bess for sharing your pictures with me....
Can't wait to meet Baby Rossell and find out if you are a girl or a boy! 
I am guessing GIRL

I'll be back soon with beach pictures from this past weekend!



5.05.2012

Big Boy Haircut

It was time...or according to the husband it was time, for Lane to get a "real" haircut. I had trimmed it several times, but it was getting a little mulletesque....Thanks to Ivey for being up to the task!
before

Daddy the "head holder'
Since this was his first sucker, he was VERY cooperative

almost finished with lots of drool...

I forgot to take an "after" but in the next few posts you will be able to see the big boy haircut...it is very cute, though no more baby curls :(
I guess that I can deal with it since we will have another baby in the mix soon