Just like Daddy!

Since we are all about Daddy these days....I thought this was a very fitting picture. Casey called me upstairs after Reed had a bath to show me the "towel around the waist".....and of course Reed loved it, he was soooo proud of himself! He seems to be becoming such a BIG daddy's boy these days. From the minute he sees him come home shouting his name with joy and running to the door to greet him, to telling him he loves him. Casey said one night last week as he was putting him to bed and told Reed he loved him, Reed responded with "I love you too Daddy!" (I'm sure Reed's actual version was: "luv lu too Daddy")....which of course brought my sweet and sensitive husband to tears he said. And I can't believe that in less than 2 weeks now my baby is going to be 2! On one level it has gone by so fast, but then on another I feel like he's always been with us and I barely remember life without him! He is such a sweet, sweet boy, and such a blessing in our lives!

Just a day in the life....

at the Willis household, that is.......

Morning, yes, we are still in our pjs......on a good day we're dressed by 9.....

EC finally relieved that brother has left her alone for a few moments.....he is constantly kissing, touching, just on her! Poor thing, I'm sure she is finally relieved when it's naptime and we either go for a run (while Casey is with her, as he is downstairs usually studying/planning; I don't leave her alone :)
or Reed gets room time and I shower or just try to do a few household things

Ahhh, around 1ish Reed takes his nap, and usually EC is still sleeping.....so alone time for me, to hopefully be productive and not procrastinate all the things I "should" be doing! Then around 2ish EC wakes up and we have some "girl time", just the two of us, and it's so sweet! Photo sessions occur often in this time too!

Then there is the late afternoon rush! Trying to get dinner, etc. As you can see I usually have a "friend" with me in the kitchen. At this moment he is happy on his "bycycle" as he calls it since he is eating a tortilla chip! Unless he is occupied he tends to have a hard time waiting for dinner to be ready!

And now there is more quiet/alone time for me here in the evening. Since Casey has gone back to the campus and all are in bed sound asleep by 8:00!

Happy Birthday to.....

Grandpa! We wanted you to know you we love you and wish you a very happy birthday! We hope you have a wonderful day, and look forward to seeing you soon!!

And Aunt Jess, too! We hope you have a wonderful day today! Yes, my sister was born on our dad's birthday, so every year we get to celebrate the two of them together! We love you guys!

Our new ride.....

Three weeks ago we sold our Honda CR-V.........and 1 week later we purchased....yes, a Honda Odessey minivan! I know, I can't believe I drive a minivan. Though as many other friends have said who have purchased them recently, it drives so nice, and it's so much easier to get the kids in and out of. I always felt I was "stepping up" into the CR-V. And Casey loves the extra leg room! That is mainly why we got it sooner than later, he said with the bulky carseats he felt cramed in the driver's seat.


Random cute picture of the week.....the boys were together one evening while I was at a friend's baby shower and had fun with the camera. This one is currently on our screensaver...he kinda looks pitful doesn't he. But yet so darn cute at the same time! I kinda thought it looked like a picture from some sort of advertisement asking for money...just look at those eyes!

P.S. Update on our moving.....in case any of you were wondering......

We have some potential buyers, finally! They drug their feet for quite some time, seem to be perfectionists and want everything just right! Including the price, which they tried low balling us with a lower offer after we clearly stated over a month ago what our bottom dollar was. But Casey felt if we met them in the middle hopefully they would still go through with it. And so they said yes....but don't get too excited, we are drawing up a contract this weekend with contingencies. Unfortunately they have to sell their house first! Oh yes, so doesn't really seem like much of an offer does it! They referenced earlier they may already know someone who wants it, so we're praying this is the case and they don't have to put it on the market. But they know their offer only stands if they sell theirs before we sell ours. I know it sounds way too confusing! But this is where the Lord has put is, and we're trusting He will work out all the kinks in His perfect timing! So hopefully I will soon post some more official news in the coming weeks.

'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus

'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,

And to take Him at His Word;

Just to rest upon His promise,

And to know, "Thus says the Lord!"



Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!

How I've proved Him o'er and o'er

Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!

O for grace to trust Him more!



How these words have been ringing in my ear the past couple days after singing them at the service for sweet little Joseph....the son of some dear friends who lost their 4-year-old son, Joseph, last Thursday after his 9 month battle with a cancerous brain tumor. Please continue to pray for this family, http://prayforjoseph.blogspot.com/

Even today as Casey and I were discussing and continuing to ask why God allows certain financial strains for one family and another loses a child.....all we know to go back to is our hope! The everlasting hope in our Lord and Savior, Jesus! He is who we trust in completely and rest in when all of life seems to be crashing around us. Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus!

3 Months Old!

Yes, I can't believe our sweet girl is 3 months old today! I know I've posted alot this week, I guess I'm making up for all the time we've been out of town the past couple of weeks. Some of the fun things we've seen with her lately are: she's so happy and smiley...love it! She loves to coo and talk to us, not a true laugh yet, but she does that high coo/squeal, whatever you want to call it. She has the biggest blue eyes, ohhh I love them! She is very tolerant of big brother kissing her and trying to smother her with his big hugs. She's just all around the sweetest baby, and rarely fusses unless she's tired or hungry (or needs a diaper change). Not sure how much exactly she weighs since her last doctor's appointment last month (I'm sure she's at least 10lbs. now) but she still fits in her 0-3 month clothes and wears a size 1 diaper....she seems tinier to me than Reed was at this age. I know he had moved up in sizes when he turned 3 months. I guess she's a dainty girl.....b/c sometimes she eats alot and other feedings she doesn't want much. Which is so funny to me b/c Reed was always and still is ready to eat! Speaking of eating, she still eats every 3-31/2 hours, and has just recently been sleeping 10-12 hour stretches at night, oh it's wonderful! I realized I have been waking her for her 10/11pm feeding for probably the last 2-3 weeks, so I thought I'd skip it a few nights ago to see what she'd do....well, she slept til 7am, yeah! And unlike her brother did at this age, our past few weeks of traveling she was absolutely fabulous....considering. I think she had her fill when we came home from the beach last Saturday and was totally spent after being in the car all day...as we stopped in Atlanta to buy our new minivan(which I'll have to post about that later). She was pretty hysterical by the time we got back to Blue Ridge....but can you blame her, we were in the car (obviously had a few stops and the car buying) from 10:30am til 9:30 pm.....so needless to say I think we all felt that way!

My best attempt at a video of Emery-Claire's "talking".....she didn't talk as much here as she can but thought I'd post it anyway.

Happy Birthday Gigi!!!

Well, I'm not very savy as to create some sort of creative collage, so I thought I'd just post a few pics of all the grandbabies to wish our Gigi a very Happy Birthday!!!! We are so thankful for you and all you do!!! We love you and hope you have a wonderful day!