Weighing In

If you have been reading my blog for a while than you know that I set out to lose the last of my baby pounds ( you can read about it here ). Well, I can say after much HARD work, I have done that! Now I must say that 129 does not look the same as it use to, but I will take it all the same.
I accredit it all to my running group that I joined 10 weeks ago.I just can not say enough about the group and our coach. I think as adults it is easy to sink into a less than disciplined lifestyle. Sometimes you need someone to push you and expect more out of you than you do yourself. This coming Saturday I will be running in my first 10k... 10 weeks ago that seemed impossible. I am so glad that I took time to do something for myself, I didn't take the easy road... pills or surgery, I just laced up my shoes and drenched my shirt in sweat.
The group I joined you can read more about here. I highly recommend it.
Believe in yourself, believe you can reach a goal that seems impossible... you will be so glad you did!
Courtney

This Boy...

Is sometimes a cowboy...

Sometimes a loving brother...

Sometimes a yucky big brother...

A lover of candy...

Quite simply a lover of life...

... and oh how I love him!
Courtney

5 years ago

5 years ago last friday October 17th me and Brendan celebrated 5 years of fate. It was on that date that me and Brendan met and we celebrate it as our anniversary. Because it was a severely busy weekend we didn't get to mark the occasion by elaborate celebration... unless you consider splitting a burrito at Moe's elaborate! Sweet Brendan gave me a fancy espresso machine from Williams-Sonoma that I have been drooling over for a long time. I was so excited when I saw that big box with their famous pineapple wrapping paper... although afraid to ask how he paid for it =) So if your craving a latte, come on over!
Happy Anniversary to us, so blessed am I to be married to Brendan! He is such a great friend, provider, companion, and father. Love him so much!!!!!
Courtney

The Video

Collins' 1st year of life. (turn your volume on)
Enjoy!
Courtney

The Party

Just wanted to post some pics of Collins party. It was everything I imagined it to be and more, I was so happy that we were able to reach this huge milestone. A special thanks to everyone who came out and shared that special moment with us. Unfortunately, I didn't get many pics, I chose to "live in the moment" rather than "capture the moment".... So if you have any, send them my way.





Courtney

A year ago today...

We welcomed sweet Collins into the world!


There just aren't words to described how special he is to us. We are so grateful for the opportunity to parent him and so undeserving at the same time.
Thank you sweet Jesus for the Blessing of Collins!


Brendan and Courtney

A pumpkin mishap...

I have been planning a pumpkin patch party for my Love Nugget since before he was born. I was so excited about his due date because I knew every year we could celebrate with a "patch"... now I am sure he might halt this tradition as he ages, but for now...
SO I ordered 40 pumpkins for his party thinking it would really add to the authenticity of the party. Well through some miscommunication we ended up with 88!! Quickly, at the farm where where we purchased these, Brendan began giving me "the look" ... you know, the "where are we going to put all of these", look. OH this is wonderful, we will find a place, just what I always pictured... was my response!
So we loaded them up, and headed for home...

Collins loved them, but trying to find a place to put him while we unloaded quickly became a problem...

So I placed him in the box like any reasonable parent would...

That was until he was over the box experience...

Nope, Collins found another calling...

It was a little heavier than he anticipated!


I must say that I might be getting "slightly" carried away with his party. Honestly, you are not going to believe the extent we have gone to make this party special. Everybody keeps asking me, "If you do all this now, what is for years to come?"
I don't know. All I know, is we are going to celebrate this year, and what a gift it has been. I will worry about years to come... in years to come.
Courtney

Race for a Cure

If you follow me on Twitter than you are aware that we have been involved in a running group for the past while. Part of the goals set for this group is to run in the Komen race (5k) and the Vulcan race (10k). This was the 1st year I have been involved in Race for the Cure in any capacity. I cannot begin to tell you what kind of experience it was. It was so moving to see thousands of survivors fight back and to run along side 14,000 people all running for the same goal. It was not the best run I have ever had... I grossly underestimated the emotional toll that running that race would bring. However, when I would get tired I was so encouraged by those cheering for us standing on the sidelines! Those people, along with courage of the survivors, brought me across the finish line.


As I was running I thought about what a metaphor for life this was. How important it is to get off your tail and do something bigger than yourself and if you don't want to get involved... at least stand on the sideline and cheer on those who are doing something!
I started running to get back in shape and combat laziness, but somewhere in the middle of all this, I have gained amazing clarity. Sometimes in life, you lose vision, you start thinking this life is about YOU... It's not! Something about getting off my tail and running made me more focused and severely proud of those I know that are making a huge difference... like the Jonas Family who left everything behind to go to China and introduce others to Christ or the Drew Family who moved their family to plant a church in Fairhope. So many people who are running an amazing race, and I want them to know that I am standing on the sidelines cheering them on! I could go on cheering people on... like my "mama friends" that day in and day out just inspire me by their hardworking, Godly parenting! Who knows, maybe I'll starting doing that... highlighting and actively cheering on folks, because I know what a huge difference it makes getting across the finish line!
Courtney

Nothing says "Happy Halloween" quite like it...

I go to the mailbox yesterday and get a lovely card...

On the front, " Know what's great about a special family like yours?"
In the Inside I found this...

A coupon??? How nice, what's it for...

NuvaRing!!!!
From who.... My Mother... of course!
Wonder what she was implying? What ever happened to candy corn???
Me and Brendan got the biggest laugh, only MY MOTHER!
She honestly thought I'd be excited about a 15 dollar off coupon... umm... ya if it were to Publix or something, not NuvaRing!!
If you are in the market for birth control I'd be glad to send this your way ;)
Courtney

Why are we so happy?

What is this boy so happy about??

He is so excited because...

gDiapers have been "sold out" of the cloth inserts that they make specifically for the "little gpants", however they are restocked and we have some! I have been using birdseye cloth squares ( bought at cottonbabies.com ) which work great, but have been looking forward to trying these out. I couldn't believe how trim they were, so trim I thought they would surely leak. Nope, those suckers soak up pee like a sponge... and keep his bottom dry at the same time! This diapers are by far the trimmest on the market.

Just slip these in the g pants and you are good to go! Love um!!!!!

So while this little guy is busy playing, he is also busy saving the environment, and far from harmful chlorine... and that makes me happy!
Courtney

Fall is in the air

I am loving this weather! We tried to get as much out of this weekend as possible and was it busy! We did make it to Homestead Hollow and it was so much fun. I have been going to this event since I was a child, so it is really cool to see my kids enjoying it. Collins hung out in "BOB" and Jack ran around and shot his marshmallow gun he got there. We also had the opportunity to be apart of Callie's dedication. So proud of Jason and Melissa for taking that step. Nothing like giving a sweet baby back to Jesus!

Jack named his horse "Gun smoke"

Brendan had to lug this heavy log stacker around... he'll be glad he did come this winter when the logs are close to the door.

Check out her pretty dress!

Could she be any cuter?

Courtney