Reflections of 2008...Twitter Style

1. Our year started with sick kids and ear infections.
2. I also had a sick husband with too many sinus infections.
3. Did I mention ear infections and sick kids? Many prayers for my babies and my husband
4. Jake turned three and moved to a big boy bed in February.
5. I turned 29 in March.
6. Anna Kate was born in April.
7. My granddad had surgery in May and is still cancer free.
8. Anna Kate was dedicated at church in May.
9. My mom was saved in May and baptized in November.
10. We started swimming and living in the pool in June.
11. Vacation at Jackson Lake with the Perdue Family.
12. Jake and Judd received tubes in August.
13. A quick visit to Georgia while Jim went to Mexico in September.
14. We had the joy of coming back to Georgia in October for the Georgia State Fair in Perry. All of the Perdue family met at the fair and enjoyed a fun filled day at the fair.
15. Judd is potty trained in November. Jim turns 31.
16. Judd turned two in December.

This has been a great year. Even with all of the ups and downs God has been so great and blessed us in so many ways. I look forward to 2009. I will be 30!!!!! Am I really going to be that young?

Christmas Weekend 2008

Friday
We got up and went to my Grandmother Etheredge's house to celebrate Christmas with my dad's family. We enjoyed seeing all of them. I don't get to see them very often so I enjoyed catching up and having a great time together.

Saturday Morning
This was Christmas at Papa and Mema's House. We spent the morning cooking and getting ready for lunch. Everyone arrived around lunch. Our crowd was a smaller this year since Georges, Leslie, Alex, Avery and Palmer couldn't come. They were taking care of there sweet little boy Palmer who was recovering from RSV. Once again we had way too much food. I do believe that I am leaving Georgia a little bigger than I came and with entirely to many gifts.

Sunday Morning
On Sunday, Jim was given the opportunity to preach at Cross Point Church in Perry, Georgia. It was a pleasure to go to church with my mom, Benny, G-daddy, Peggy, Tripp, Dan and Jessica.

As soon as the service was over we left to go to celebrate Christmas with the Perdue Family. It was so good to see all of Jim's family and all of the cousins. Boy, ten kids are a house full. It is music to everyone's ears. I must say that one of the highlights of my Christmas was seeing the Watkins Family.

The Watkins are a dear family that have been friends with Jim's parents for years upon years. Jim and I were given the opportunity to connect with them when we lived in North Carolina. I do miss you all. Thanks for making the trip and staying long enough to see us all.

Jake finally got one of the gifts that was list here. Nana and Big Buddy gave us a Wii Fit. Our trip home has been full of travel, seeing family and friends.

We close out 2008 in Georgia. This has been a blessed year!

Christmas Day 2008

We had a wonderful Christmas. We have been blessed with way more "gifts" than we deserve. This year we decided to stay in Tennessee until Christmas Day. We started our new tradition of getting a new pair of pajamas on Christmas Eve and waking up with them on Christmas morning.

Christmas morning Jake woke up at 7:05 and was ready to lay on the couch. Jim had to explain to him that it was Christmas morning. BUT he only had to say it once before he was ready to tear into his presents. We had to tell him to wait until we got Judd and Anna Kate out of the bed. At 7:25 the present opening commenced.

Jake was so happy to get a new bike and Judd loves his Shake N Go Racetrack. Anna Kate just loved opening the presents so that she could eat the paper.

Once all of the presents were open, we had a cupcake for breakfast to celebrate Jesus' Birthday. Jim and I then began taking down all of our Christmas decorations. I know that I sound like a scrooge, but I knew that we were leaving for a week. The last thing I wanted after returning home from a week in Georgia was to take down all of my Christmas decorations. After cleaning, packing and napping we finally left home at 4:45.

We arrived at my mom's at 1:00 in the morning. It was a LONG drive down. We were all tired. The kids did a great job, but we were tired and since we were traveling on Christmas day there wasn't very many places open to eat or get gas. When we arrived at Mema's we were tired and hungry, but so thankful to be in Georgia!

Is it really true...My baby boy turned two!

Two weeks ago, my sweet little Judd turned two. As I began typing this post I just smiled because being around Judd will bring a smile to anyone's face. It is hard to believe that two years have come and gone so quickly.

Here is a peek at my pregnancy journal written for Judd.

"We found in April that we were expecting you. We went to see the Dr and he confirmed that you would be due in Dec. we are thinking approximately 21 or 23. Although we would love for you to come a little earlier in the month so that your birthday wouldn’t be so close to Christmas, but we will take whatever blessing God gives us."

"So May 12 your daddy and I went to see Dr. Cox for our first ultrasound. We were able to hear your heartbeat, which were 170. Since I found out I was pregnant with you I thought that you were a girl and I have always heard that high heartbeats could mean a girl. I guess we will wait and see what God has in store for us in December."

"We pray for you often. We pray that no matter your gender that you will be a healthy baby that loves the Lord will all your heart. I want you to know Him and love Him unashamedly with a passion that will never stop."

"Your daddy and I then mentioned to Regina that I think you are a girl and he thinks you are a boy. She then said oh I already know! Which could mean it was so obvious that you are a boy, but what is crazy is your daddy and I looked at the screen the whole time and didn’t see anything. How Fun! We got to see you kick mommy a lot. You are so much more active than your brother, which is really funny since I thought he was really active."

"This morning at breakfast he (Jake) started saying “Baby Judd” maybe he knows something we don’t."

"You entered the world 6 minutes after I started pushing at 4:42 p.m. It’s a boy! We just looked at you and smiled. Your daddy had been right the whole time."

I enjoyed that stroll down memory lane. Judd has been and continues to bring so much joy to our lives and our family. There is never a dull moment when he is around.

Here are a few of Judd's favorites things:
1. Mommy says "Judd you need to finish eating your lunch" and Judd says "only two bites"
2. Yay Facons (Falcons)
3. He LOVES to repeat everything Jake says or does. We call him Jake's Parrot.
4. Very Recently Judd has started telling us "Me preach Bible."
5. Pizza: The boy thinks pizza should be his only source of nutrition.


Here are a few pictures from his party:

Thanksgiving 2008

This year was some what difficult. Once, again we decided to stay in TN for Thanksgiving. Driving for 8 hours just to spend 2 1/2 days in Georgia didn't really to appeal to Jim and me.

We both woke up Thanksgiving morning homesick and wishing that we would have gone to see family and then the kiddos didn't have the best day. As lunch approached Jim and I looked at each other and just wished the day would hurry up and end. Yes, we were very thankful but we wanted to be in Georgia with family.

To sum up the rest of the day I will make a list:

1. No Judd don't touch me
2. Jake, No mine
3. Dry Ham
4. Runny Macaroni
5. I'm not hungry mommy.
6. I am thankful for Mommy, Jake, Daddy, Anna Kate, Judd, Bible and Jesus.
7. Mommy, watch Anna Kate smile at me.
8. Will you read to me?

8:30- Kiddos in bed and the day is done.

Before going to bed, Jim and I did thank the Lord for our family and His faithfulness. We also decided that we will be driving to Georgia next year. Once every three years isn't too bad.
One bright spot in our day was when we took the boys on the back of our property raked leaves and let them play. Here are a few things pictures to capture of Thanksgiving week. The first picture is our Thankful tree that we started a few weeks before Thanksgiving.

6th Anniversary

I know this post is almost a month late, but I have been trying to scan some pictures so that I could post them as you can tell I still haven't been able to get them to scan. Oh well. Here goes:

November 23, 2008 Jim and I celebrated our 6th anniversary. Where in the world has the time gone?

We have started a anniversary tradition. We go to a restaurant that we wouldn't typically choose any other time of the year. For example, we have gone to Emerils, Ruth Chris Steakhouse, and this year we decided to go the Texas de Brazil. It always helps when we have gift cards :-) We enjoyed our meal, but I don't think I want any type of steak for quite awhile.

While we were out we spent some time discussing our lives over the past 6 years. What an amazing journey it has been! Over the past six years, we've lived in 3 different states, had three beautiful children, served at four churches, and been through lots of ups and some downs along our journey together. God is and continues to bless us in amazing ways.

Jim, we have reached another year and we are experiencing such a busy and blessed season of our lives. Thanks for your love, encouragement and support. I look forward to the next 6, 16 and 60 years....

Judd Turns Two

It was a very eventful weekend around the Perdue house. We had a birthday party Friday night, Dan, Jessica and Rabun came up on Saturday and Judd turned two on Sunday. Judd's party went great on Friday night, we've had a blast with my brother, sister-in-law and niece and Sunday was another great day at Crosspointe.

Then, Sunday night, Judd came down with the vicious stomach virus. He got sick while we were at church (sorry Jody and Stacy), and then again in my office, again on the way home and a few times again at home.

I think he had a good birthday, but not a very good birthnight. Poor kid...who wants to be sick on their birthday!!!

Here he is with his hand over his face. Cute as he can be!

So much to update....

I have so much to update and so little time...

I need to tell you about my anniversary, Thanksgiving, Jim's Birthday, and Judd's birthday. How did I let everything get so far behind. Maybe I will be able to update this week.....or maybe not!

Blessed Day

In May, my mom was visiting us to for Mother's Day. To make a long story short she went to church Sunday, May 18, 2008, and woman unsure of her salvation to a sinner saved by grace and guaranteed a home in heaven with Jesus.

This day was an answer to many prayers for her. I am just so thankful that she said yes to the Lord and asked Jim and I to pray with her.

It has been 6 months since that day and she has been waiting to get baptized because she wanted Jim to be able to do the baptism. Plane flights were low enough and she was able to make a special trip up to baptized on Nov. 9.




It was so great to see my mom be baptized. I think the only thing more special will be seeing each of my precious babies become believers in Jesus and watching their Daddy baptize them.

So, let me ask you readers/lurkers? Have you ever accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Has there ever been a time that He changed you from the inside out? If you don't know Him, why not? Do you have religion or do you have a relationship?

My date was December 10, 2000.

What about you? Leave a comment. Tell me your about your salvation experience. If you have questions email me.

7 Random Things

I have been tagged by my friend Angie to come up with 7 random things about myself that you may not know. Here it goes....
1. I don't like to eat things that are on a wooden stick (i.e. a corn dog or a popsicle). I can't stand to feel the wood in my mouth or in my fingers.
2. I have naturally curly hair, however, it didn't start curling until I had my first child.
3. I don't like to be tickled. I think that it is a form of torture.
4. I am afraid of heights, but I went cliff jumping when I was in high school.
5. I don't say words that describe bodily functions.
6. I have always struggled with weight. I am 40 lbs lighter than I was in high school and college.
7. I don't like email forwards and I am not a big fan of tags, but I do participate because I am a good friend:-)
So here are the rules:
*Link your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
*Tell seven random facts about yourself on your blog
* Tag seven people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs
*Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog
Ok - tag, you're it:

I'm not tagging anyone--Ha!

edit*** I just read someone's Tag and I must say that I LOVE to get the MAIL. I love mail. It is great!
now I am going to Tag my hubby! He loves Tags!

Potty Training Update

It has been a week and a half and Judd is doing great. He has experienced a few more issues than Jake, but he is also three months younger than Jake was when I potty-trained him. Considering, he has had a stomach virus, a sinus and a ear infection during this time I think he is doing mmmaaarrvvveellllllous!!!

We did have a incident on Monday. He decided that my stairs would be a great place to leave me a present. Needless to say, that hasn't happened since. Mommy very quickly reminded him that we sit on the POTTY to do those sorts of things.....

It is hard to believe that my baby boy is out of diapers. Two down and one to go.....

Here is a picture my mom took of him while she was visiting us last week. He will probably die when he sees this picture as a teenager. BUT this mommy needs memories. They are growing way to fast. I just need to hold on and cherish every moment. Ok I must stop rambling before my eyes start leaking that liquid stuff.

Feather Head

I have so much to update, but I couldn't wait to post these pictures.

I bought this hat a couple of weeks ago and she wore it to church on Sunday. I think it is adorable!

Brothers

Guess Who?

Potty Training Judd

For several months now I have been debating when to start potty training Judd. He has sat on the potty and does well going tinkle and #2.(many of you know that I don't call it any of the normal names.) I just couldn't figure out when to make it official. When do we move ahead and never turn back....

Early this week, Judd brought me a diaper in the morning so that I could change his wet diaper. So I changed him and then he went to the other side of the room and filled it up. He then came back and wanted me to change him again. It was at that moment I knew it was time. My window of opportunity was open and I better not miss it.

Yesterday morning, I went to change Judd and realized I was out of diapers so instead of getting a new pack I decided that we would start training right then. We went immediately to the potty and we have never looked back.

Once again I am following the modified version of the 7 days and $75 method. The general idea is parents stay at home with the child for several days and allow the child to walk around the house naked all day long. The potty is put out so it is constantly available to the child. Parents regularly remind the child to use the potty when necessary. Rosemond argues that children won't tolerate urine and feces running down their legs, and will quickly learn to go to the potty to avoid accidents. The $75 is for carpet cleaning.

Judd's first trip to the potty he didn't go. I set the timer on the microwave for 20 minutes. When it beeped we ran to the bathroom. He sat and went just a little. Set the timer again...it went his pants....timer beeped. Set timer....HE WENT! He smiled so BIG! It was great..This went on for three hours. He would tinkle a little and then he would have an accident. So his reward is to flush the toliet and wash his hands. He was pumped!

I guess you are wondering if he went #2. Well here is that story: right after dinner we sat on the potty. I knew that he would have to go #2 because he ALWAYS does after he puts food in his mouth. so we tried. NO luck! So we sat and read books. Finally, I realized what we were missing.....rewards!!! Jake was allowed to blow out candles for going on the potty and I hadn't determined what Judd's reward would be before starting. I thought for a second and I knew my Judd would LOVE candy. He never gets candy so I knew this would be the greatest reward. I grabbed some SMARTIES. I sat on the stool in front of him and said, "Do you want some candy?" His face lit up and he said YES! I told him to push it out of his bottom and he could have some, low and be hold, he shot a rocket out of there, and looked at me and said "candy, candy." A few seconds later, I said "do you have anymore". He said "no", I said "do you want more candy?" another rocket :-) as you can see I figured out Judd's secret to success...smarties! When he was finished going #2 in the potty and he is off looking in the toilet to see what just happened. I did the potty dance and everybody joined us to see what Judd had accomplished.

I am not quite sure if I would declare this day a "success," but it was a great start!

10 Predictions

Top 10 Predictions

1. The Bible will still have all the answers.

2. Prayer will still work.

3. The Holy Spirit will still move.

4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.

5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.

6. There will still be singing of praise and worship to God.

7. God will still pour out blessings upon His poeple.

8. There will still be room at the cross.

9. Jesus will still love you.

10. Jesus will stil save the lost when they come to Him.

Isn’t it great to know the ONE who is really in control?

*I saw this on this blog and thought it very appropriate to share today.

Yes, I cling to my religion....

P is for Pumpkin

This week we have been learning the letter P. Monday we "p"ainted "p"umpkins that we made out of brown lunch bags. Jake and Judd loved making them. Today we glued "p"asta on a "p"ink P traced on to a "p"urple 'p"iece of "p"aper. Judd didn't enjoy glueing the pasta as much as he enjoyed eating it. While the pasta was drying we played with "p"laydooh making "P"'s and pumpkins with cookie cutters.



Judd is supposed to painting the stem green, but he thought it looked better on the pumpkin.

I must say Jake was very serious about his pumpkin. He did a great job following directions and he painted his pumpkin all by himself.



Oh the fun with the letter P. Maybe I should have saved the letter P for when we start Potty training Judd...



Did you enjoy the emphasis on the letter P?

My Crazy House

Here are a few pictures from the last couple of weeks of my crazy life:

Yes, that is a bounce in my house:-0


This is what mommy teaches the boys while they are eating their night time snack when daddy has to work late:-) Just so you know, I taught him to put the pretzels in his mouth, but he decided to make up his own way!

The Hearts of Man

As I read my Bible today, I was studying the persecution of the apostles right after the Day of Pentecost and I became so burdened for our country. I know many of you that read this blog have already decided who you will vote for, but I fear that if the wrong candidate is elected in 7 days we may very soon face this same persecution as Christians.

As I was reading, I saw that they were persecuted over and over again. Then I read “that they rejoiced that they were considered worthy to suffer shame for His name”, “that they kept right on preaching Jesus”, and “take note of their threats and grant Your bond servants may speak Your word with all confidence.”

There will come a time when we will suffer for His name, but I pray that just as in Acts if we preach Christ many will come to know Him through a real relationship. My God is a powerful God that can bring the dead to life and I know that He can change the hearts of man.

Sweet Baby Girl

Six months! How can this be?
my sweet baby girl is growing so fast and changing everyday. She has two teeth, says da da, rolls all over the house, loves laughing at her brothers. She loves smiling at everyone she sees. But don't try to take her from her Mama. She loves her mommy and her mommy loves that she loves me so much. If I am in the room no one can hold except for me. Secretly, I love being the only one she wants especially since I know one day very soon I will wake up and she will be

Lunch Time Prayer

This was Jake's prayer at lunch today:

Thank you Jesus for my family
Thank that my mommy and daddy spank when I disobey
Thank you that that don't spank me when I do obey
In Jesus Name,
Amen

Family, Fun, and the Fair

We arrived home Thursday night at 12:00 central time. It was a good drive home. We have found that driving while the kids sleep is the easiest way to travel.

We had a busy trip to Georgia. Friday night we celebrated my mom's 50th birthday. I planned a surprise party for her and we spent several hours hanging out with her friends and family. Her actual birthday is tomorrow, October 18.

On Saturday we met Jim's family at the Perry Fair. There were 19 of us herding around the fair grounds. It was so fun. For those of you that don't know me I LOVE THE FAIR!!! I didn't get to eat everything on my list, but I did get a Granny's Apple Dumpling. YUMMY to my TUMMY!

On Sunday, Jim started a revival at Heritage Baptist Church in Douglasville. The boys stayed with my mom Sunday and Monday. I went back to Warner Robins to go to Dr. Alex Bell. This is a totally different blog entry. I then brought them back to Atlanta for the rest of the week.

We stayed with Jim's parents and commuted to Douglasville every night. Sunday through Wednesday was very long and exhausting.

It is nice to be home. We enjoyed seeing family, but it is nice to be home. We can't wait to be at Crosspointe on Sunday.

Here are a few pictures from our week in Georgia.

Of course, Mema was on the phone....


Fun at the Fair
This is a picture of seven of the cousins.
Hot mama and Dan the Man....
The boys LOVED this slide. Judd would just cackle all the way down.

Rabun was very interested in the fair. I am sure that it bored her since she was there everyday:-)
Isn't she adorable?
This is the buddy system at work. Thank you girls for all of your help.

Tennis Ball

I just loved all of the comments concerning the tennis ball. However, it doesn't look like we have a real answer. I do believe a new tennis ball is optic yellow and I am starting agree that it may look green once it has been used for a while.

Just like Jim commented, the madness ensues... I wonder who will win the kiddos over to their side. I guess I need to start singing tennis balls are yellow to them every night.:-)

Once and For All

Jim and I have this on going debate in our house. We can't seem to agree on the color of a tennis ball.

Let me ask you: Is a tennis ball green or yellow?

Who's the Boss?

Jim and I are so proud of Judd. He is almost 22 months old and he is becoming a chatter box. He really didn't say much until after the tubes were inserted and healed. It is truly amazing how much he is saying. Jim said the other day "I think that Judd is learning new words every hour." In his newly found language skills, he has become somewhat expressive of his opinions, some people call it bossy. I would like to share a dialogue that I overheard between Jim and Judd.

Judd came running up to Jim. Judd is looking up at Jim with his arms stretched high.
"up" "up" "da da"
Jim picked him up. Usually we would have made him say please but it was early and we were still trying to wake up:-)
"out" "out" "out" as he was continuously pointing to go outside to see the cat
Jim's response in a kind, fun, yet firm voice: "Judd man you are not the boss. Daddy is the boss."
Judd replies "no me boss"

Don't you just love them!

5 month update

My baby girl is growing too fast. I cannot believe Anna Kate is already 5 months, almost six months, old. She is such a blessing to our family. She seems to be growing and doing everything so much faster than to boys. As of 5 months, she eats cereal, she rolls over both ways, holds a bottle on the occasion that I give her one, graciously gives smiles and kisses, she has starting rocking on her knees acting as if she wants to starting crawling, sleeps until 7 on occasion, and my least favorite, her first tooth broke through last weekend. Yes, teeth. I can't believe I only had five months of the beautiful toothless grin that melts my heart. As I type, she is very fussing because the second tooth is trying to break through. :-(





I am scared to blink because she will be walking, talking, and blowing out her first candle.