Boxes

Our life has become about boxes. Boxes, boxes, everywhere you look, boxes. Or, as Everett sees it....his own personal jungle gym. We are so excited about our move and the changes that it brings. But I will be happy to be rid of all the boxes!

Free Entertainment

How do the Williamson "live it up" on a Saturday night? We go to Von Maur dept. store and listen to the piano lady. This truly is a favorite activity of Everett's. There have been multiple occasions where we have spent at least an hour there. Even better, last Saturday night she took our requests and played a variety of Christmas music. Everett is quite the spectacle. He dances and dances and has been known to draw a crowd. Sounds silly, but it really is fun. Several of the pianists even know Everett by name now! This same night we also went and got Ev's picture taken (or "made" as they say in the South) with Santa. He was so funny. He ran right up to Santa and said "hi!" He didn't cry when I put him on Santa's lap, but he gave his "stone face" and would not break a smile. The camera lady asked if I could get him to smile, but I answered with a honest "no." I really can't. I was just happy he didn't cry, but I should have known he wouldn't with his love for characters.

Thankful

Today, on Thanksgiving Day, I am very thankful for so many things. I am thankful for an amazing husband, a spunky and loving little boy, for my other little boy on the way, for Eric's new job and the changes that it brings, for good food, and for the love and salvation of Christ. The list really could go on and on for the Lord has blessed me and my family tremendously and we are grateful.
"Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above coming down from the Father of lights." James 1:17
Because of Eric moving this weekend, we decided to spend Thanksgiving here in Louisville. Everett started getting sick last night and was up all night coughing. Today he still was sick with a cough/cold. He still played hard, however barely ate anything all day! Eric and I however still enjoyed our dinner we put together. We spent all day eating, lounging, watching Everett play, and watching movies. It was so nice to just relax and stay home all day long. That rarely happens and the day felt so much longer. Tomorrow I plan on going shopping early and then meeting Eric and Everett for breakfast. We even might go see Santa later this weekend! Overall, another great Thanksgiving.....next year we'll have another little boy to chase around!

Headed to the Mountains

Well, the Williamsons are moving to the mountains! Eric has accepted a wonderful job in North Carolina working as a sales representative for Ridgecrest, a Lifeway conference center. We have prayed for this for many months, and for many months the Lord has worked out our faith and we have grown closer to Him through all of this. I won't say that over the past 5-6 months we haven't had our ups and downs, but truly God has used all of this and has worked in the wait. This job will allow me to stay at home more with our children and for that I feel so blessed! Even in the chaos and new stresses that this change brings, we welcome it all knowing what a huge answer to prayer this is. Our faith definitely does not stop here. We are a blessed family.
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

YAY!

Year and a Half Birthday

Yesterday Everett turned a year and a half! I can't believe how fast the time has gone by. Today Everett had his 18 month check-up. I am blessed to say that Everett met all of his developmental milestones and is right on track. Everett continues to add more and more words to his vocabulary, is growing in his social skills, is learning new gross and fine motor tasks such as scribbling and jumping, and overall continues to grow and flourish. He is 28.5 pounds and is in the 75th percentile for his weight and the 90th percentile for his height. I guess he could shop in the "big and tall" section! Working with special needs children I am so sensitive to knowing that each "little" milestone is actually a big deal. I never want to take them for granted and praise the Lord for each one. The past year and a half has been so full of blessings and I look forward to many more years to come. We love you silly boy!

Aunt Mary's Visit

Last weekend Everett's Aunt Mary came for a visit! We all had so much fun. We went shopping, watched movies, out to eat, and played at the park. Here are some pictures from Mary's visit.


Playing at the park....

Hiding from Aunt Mary.....

Meeting a new friend at Barnes and Noble story time. Once again he loves characters!

We had fun Aunt Mary. Can't wait for another visit!

First Birthday Party

Saturday Everett went to his first birthday party for his friend Jonah's first birthday! I guess you could call it a "block" party, as blocks were the theme. I forgot to take a picture of the cake, but Julie (Jonah's mommy) even made a cake that spelled out Jonah's name in blocks. Very creative and way beyond my baking capabilities. Upon entering the party Everett was a bit unsure, but he eventually did warm-up to the crowd and had a good time. The balloons were the highlight for him.

The birthday boy

Everett and I getting a quick snuggle in on the couch...he was ready for nap at this point.

All the kids at the party.

I just love those rosy red cheeks!

Not party-related, but I have to show you Everett's new favorite activity....looking through all his baby albums. He has actually sat and flipped through them for at least 45 minutes!

It's A......

BOY!!!!!

And he has a name.....Hampton Cole

We were so excited to find out today that God has blessed us with another boy. He is healthy, and apparently very active according to the ultrasound tech. He was doing somersaults and moving all around. I would have definitely been excited to have a girl, but I am beyond thrilled that Everett will have a little brother. I pray that they will be lifelong friends. I have a feeling though that I will have my hands full!

So Everett what do you think about having to share Mommy and Daddy!?!

Just kidding! Everett was just excited that "Happy Hampton Day" meant that he got to have chocolate gelato.

Still Here

We're still here. We've been so busy this past week. Yesterday Everett spent all day at his friend Silas' house as Eric was out of town and I had to work. Visit here to read about his adventures! Come back tomorrow to find out about Baby#2.

Target, Thai and Cupcakes

Yesterday was a nice Sunday. We have decided to keep Everett out of the church nursery until he is completely over his respiratory virus and until he is fully vaccinated (I have been watching too much news and 60-minutes I guess...but we decided it is best). So, while Eric was at church yesterday morning, Everett and I decided to go to the new Super Target in St.Matthews. It was great! While we were walking up to the entrance Everett started excitedly yelling "ball" at the big red Target balls. We had fun just strolling the aisles. Later on, while Everett was napping, Eric did some "mechanic work." Our car door handle had broken off and Eric had ordered the part and decided the best time to fix it was yesterday afternoon. I must say that I was very impressed and proud of him because he did a great job and it had involved completely taking apart and removing the car door. Yeah Eric! The rest of our afternoon was spent strolling around the neighborhood and playing. For dinner I decided to go Thai and made a chicken and pasta dish with a peanut sauce. It was really good! I had also baked Halloween cupcakes for dessert, which Everett thoroughly enjoyed as you can tell from the picture below.

Fall Fun And a Baby Giraffe

Yesterday we had a really fun day, so be prepared for a picture overload. We started off the day by taking advantage of the beautiful Fall weather with another photo shoot.... Everett loves to collect leaves.

Reaching for a leaf with "Dada"

This is a common facial expression we get from him when trying to take a picture...Or we get this.....it's like he knows we are trying to get a picture, so he instantly closes his eyes.

We then had lunch at Mimi's Cafe....our favorite. I had to show you a picture of the chicken pot pie I ordered....it's on their menu under the title "Comfort Classics" and it so yummy!

Eric got the slow-roasted turkey and dressing...also a "Comfort Classic." Everett ate off our plates and did so well! We ordered him a strawberry smoothie for dessert and he loved it (so did I).

Last year we went to the zoo's Halloween Party and had so much fun. So we decided to go again this year. Last year Ev was a dragon and this year he was a giraffe. Our original costume fell through. I ordered it online and it was too small. It was too late to order the next size up, so we went with this costume. It actually worked out even better since we were going to the zoo.

Everett's pumpkin that his Grammy ordered him from Pottery Barn Kids.

I love that it has his name monogrammed on it.

We attached it to his stroller so that he could collect his (or really our) loot. He spent most of the time in his stroller, but near the end we did get him out and let him go "wild"...which he did.

I was pleasantly surprised how he handled wearing his costume.

A baby giraffe meeting a mama giraffe. People passing by seemed to love this. I have to admit, it was a spectacle. So cute!

Everett also met an owl. He loves characters!

Such a cute baby giraffe.

On our way home. We had so fun!

A Different Kind of Hat

Baby Hair

Today marked another milestone for Everett....he got his first hair cut. We went to a place called Cookie Cutters, which is a hair salon only for kids. It was really cute, with fun chairs to sit in and kid movies to watch. I told the lady cutting Ev's hair that I just wanted him to have a trim. He handled the experience alright with only a few tears. However, when we got in the car I shed a few tears of my own. I was sad because his beautiful curls (which Eric assures me will return because he seems to have inherited his hair) were gone. Also, Everett just looked so much older. He doesn't look like a baby anymore and that just made me sad. I must admit though, now that the initial shock has died down, he does look really handsome. He thinks so too!