Hello Fall!

My absolute favorite season of the year is Fall!!! Being raised in Florida, I never got to experience the changing of the seasons. Now being in Kentucky...I love it! I love the leaves changing into bright shades of orange and red. I love chili and cornbread. I love the cool breeze the comes at the beginning of the season. And I love my Pumpkin Yankee candles and Pumpkin Spice Starbucks lattes....the best! Here are two pics of Ev in his fall pjs and a picture of Ev wearing a sweater for the first time. More pics to come when we go to the pumpkin patch in a couple of weeks.

Everett's First Friend

Everett and I went to a baby shower last night and Everett made a friend, Silas. I thought this was the cutest picture of the two of them. Silas is about a month and a half younger than Everett and his mom and I were dying to get them together!

No Hands!

Eric and I LOVE our new purchase....the Baby Bjourn. Even better, Everett really seems to enjoy it. It's funny, as I walked through a bookstore the other day with it on, it reminded me of being pregant again! Here are a few pictures........

I Love You Stinky Face

One of my favorite things to buy Everett are books! Recently we bought Everett a very cute book called I Love You Stinky Face by Lisa McCourt. The book is about how a mama reassures her little boy that no matter what, she will love him unconditionally (i.e even if he was a "big, scary ape"). As I read my "stinky face" this book tonight, I was reminded of the Lord's abundant love for me. No matter how many times I sin against Him, He loves me as His child. How great is His mercy and grace!

Just for a Laugh

It's amazing what you'll do just to get a laugh. Here is a video of Eric and I trying to get a laugh out of Everett. We don't get a full laugh, but we do get a smile. Enjoy!

Chunky Monkey and the Nursery

Well the time had finally come. Everett last Sunday experienced his first time in our church nursery. Yes that's right. We kissed him goodbye and prayed as we walked away that he wouldn't be too high maintenance! Other than a brief paci crisis (the worker couldn't find it) he did fairly well. Fortunately our friends Nick and Jennifer (pictured below) were working that morning, so it made the separation a bit easier for me. Thanks you two! Yeah for another "big boy" step! Oh, and we went to the doctor today and Everett weighs almost 16 pounds and is in the 90th percentile. Hurray for chubby babies!

Smokey Mountain Getaway

Setting: Gatlinburg, TN.
Characters: Eric (Papa Bear); Michelle (Mama Bear); Everett (Baby Bear); Gail (Everett's Gigi and the wisest of all the bears!)
Plot: After one crazy summer, Eric and I thought we definitely needed a vacation! Fortunately, we were blessed to be able to spend a week in a beautiful cabin in the Smokey Mountains. We were also blessed to have Eric's mom, also known as Gigi, to accompany us on our adventure. We watched the Olympics on a big screen, played pool, ate barbeque, went on a bear hunt, walked around downtown Gatlinburg, and did plenty of relaxing! On Wednesday, Eric and I enjoyed a breakfast date followed by some great outlet shopping (thanks Gigi for the babysitting!). One of the highlights of our trip was seeing a Mama bear with her cubs (from the safety of our car) right outside our cabin. Such a fun vacation and I look forward to many more.

The cabin where we stayed

Everett looking thrilled about his Smokey Bear rattle.

Don't feed the bears!

A mama bear and her cubs outside our cabin!

Yeah for vacations!

So cute!

The fab four.

Everett and his Gigi

Bear!

Note the sign says Sleepys and Everett is yawning...perfect pose!