Pray for Mark

Jared's dad had to see the doctor in OKC today. He has been diagnosed with stage 3 Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma. They have decided to go to MD Anderson next week for a second opinion. I don't want to give any more details and chance being wrong. Pray for complete healing, peace, strength for the family, and wisdom for the doctors.

Cousin Laine

Crystal had her baby yesterday so Laine spent the night with us last night and is spending the day with Balen and I today. She was so excited she got to paint a pumpkin!

Killer Boots Man!

I dressed him up in his grandpa jeans and his boots that are 3 sizes too big just to be silly. This picture was too funny not to put on here. As you can see, we are getting a little hefty in the jowl area. Is there such thing as a triple chin?? He also likes to sport the homeless man hair style!

Here is Pearl Dog. She is checking out Balen's pants hiked up to his neck.

Okay, I think I am done making fun of my child now! It is all done in love! :)

Helloooo Ladies!

Quite the little ladies man! Balen is going to have to borrow some of cousin Talon's "pimp juice." Don't judge me, judge my brother!! :) One time Justin told Talon the cologne was pimp juice. He didn't forget and told his mom he had on pimp juice. Those kids are hilarious!!

The Great Outdoors

Balen LOVES going outside! We spend a lot of time sitting on the back steps so he can get in some good staring time! He is growing and changing so much.

It's Over!

Fair time has come and gone. I got my share for the next year. Balen and I worked everyday but Friday in the fair booth helping my mom. He would just lay in his stroller and watch or sleep. Such a good boy! We took him out once into the crowd. It really creeped me out! It is amazing what kind of creatures crawl out of the woodwork for the Kay County Fair! Here he is in his cute little overalls making some funny faces!

Zzzzzz...Zzzzzzz...

Balen slept through the night last night!!! Almost 7 hours! Then, he woke up at 5:00 to eat and went back to sleep until 8:00. I hope it continues!

And then there's mommy..

Dad can't get all the credit! I have to show you how much I look like Mom too.

Baby Balen

Baby Annie

So who wins?! Mom, or Dad?? Guess we will have to settle for a tie!

Like Father Like Son

As soon as Terrie saw this new picture of Balen she remembered one of Jared with the same little expression. She brought it over today and it happened to be when he was also 6 weeks old!

Balen 6 weeks

Jared 6 weeks

My baby is 6 weeks old!

I absolutely love being your Mommy.

You couldn't be any more perfect for us.

We love you so much Balen James.

Carney Man

Let the countdown begin!! I am the biggest Kay County Free Fair nerd ever. I love it. I love the sounds, the atmosphere, the people, the food, EVERYTHING. Jared said he overheard people at work saying they don't go and he thought, "Annie would die if she missed a night." Since I was little, my parents have always worked most nights at the church booth so I rarely missed a night over the years. When I think of special times growing up, the fair tops my list along with deer season at Harvey's with my family. One of my very favorite things about the fair is that my Dad would always take me on the Ferris Wheel. It was our little date. We never missed a year until just these past few. We have definitely got to get back on track this year. It was always so special. I went up yesterday to help my mom unload some boxes in the church booth and the carnies are arriving! Everybody get yer' boots out and shined up. IT'S FAIR TIME!

I Love Pictures!

More pictures! This blog has been so much fun. It is an easy way for me to organize my favorite little memories and easily access them whenever I want. We had a good labor day weekend. We accomplished some things around the house, got to watch some good football, and went shopping for little Balen. Jared and I are not usually a lot of fun to shop with. We can go all over malls and stores and come home without buying a single thing. This trip was different. It is so much more fun to find cute clothes for our little baby doll. Every day is like playing dress up. I always used to say my kid is just wearing WalMart clothes. Well, that didn't last long!

Balen LOVES his bath tub. Thanks Lindsay!!

Mommy's little Moo Cow

Watchin' football with Dad

Worn out. I just want to kiss that face all the time!

Littlest Cowboy

THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH BRAINWASHING YOUR CHILD!

OOOOOOOOOO

SSSSSSSSSSSS

UUUUUUUUUU

COWBOYS!!!!!!!

Ode to sleep.

Sleep is a naturally recurring state of relatively suspended sensory and motor activity in animals, characterized by total or partial unconsciousness and the nearly complete inactivity of voluntary muscles. It is distinguished from quiet wakefulness by a decreased ability to react to stimuli, and it is more easily reversible than hibernation or coma. It is observed in all mammals, including humans, all birds, and manyreptiles, amphibians, and fish. In humans, other mammals, and a substantial majority of other animals that have been studied (such as some species of fish, birds, ants, and fruit flies), regular sleep is essential for survival.

I would like for you all to get out your highlighters and highlight that last phrase! Since a small child I have always been an avid supporter of sleep. I think I get the sleep gene from my father, definitely not my mother! My precious baby is pretty good at it but when he lets me down it's really hard on an anemic sleeper like me! Sleep doesn't get enough credit in this world. It's such a beautiful thing! :) Support sleep and naps, especially for new parents! The nap I just woke up from was WONDERFUL!!! Okay, I'm a dork. I'm done now.

Beef. It's what's for dinner.

Look how big I am! I eat really big, I cry big, I poop REALLY big, and I even love big! Right now I am sitting in my swing watching Everybody Loves Raymond like a big boy. (My mom is playing on the computer not taking care of me!) This is a picture of me hanging out in the really big recliner, waiting on Daddy to get home. I am all dressed up, even have my first shoes on, because tonight we are going to the Rusty Barrel to eat steaks for G's (Grandpa Mark) birthday dinner. Mommy is pretty proud of me looking all spiffy and doesn't think the picture does me justice. Let's go eat. Pass the BEEF.

Memories

We got to take GiGi down memory lane. She brought over some of Jared's baby outfits that she had saved. Here is little Balen wearing the outfit Daddy wore home from the hospital 28 years ago! We almost waited too late. Balen is a little bigger than Dad was.

Preach it Sista!

Not sure who all is needing this but here it is! :)

We all struggle with people, issues, fears, sickness, emotions, etc. God has been speaking to me the past few days about how lazy we are as christians. We accept life "as it comes" WAY too much. We think, "well thats just the way it's gonna be." NO. We have got to stop believing the lies and accepting the pain and stand up and boldly claim what is already ours. That is victory. Victory over sickness, finances, jobs, emotions, relationships, and problems. These battles have been won and we can't even see it. We are so blinded and deceived. The enemy can't destroy us but his number one job is to distract us. This is what he does best. These distractions are what pull us away from Him and then we end up destroying ourselves.

Stand up. Learn what is rightfully yours as a child of the King. Once you know the Truth, use it. Boldly proclaim it until you begin to believe it. Stop living in bondage and step into a life of peace that surpasses all understanding. Let God give you a hug today and take time to rest there in his gentle arms.