Carson's Piggy Bank

     This morning we were out of turkey for my lunch and I made the comment that I didn't have any money on me to buy lunch. Carson said: "that's okay dad, you can have money out of my piggy bank to buy your lunch." It doesn't matter that in order to do that I would have in all likelihood had to pay in pennies, dimes, and nickles. Which I'm sure would make the cashier so happy. What matters is he was willing to give me his money to me so I can eat, simply because he loves me and saw a need. He knows no other way. It is simple to him. It is loving to him.
Wouldn't it be great if we kept that child like thinking as adults? If we were able to give some of what we had, even if it was just a little, when we heard a plea and saw a need. Simply because we loved someone. And after all we are called to love everyone. How much of a difference could we make? How much simpler would things be?

"When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child."
1 Corinthians 13:11

      Carson's reasoning is so simple. I wish that sometimes my reasoning could be as simply as his was this morning. His reasoning came out of thoughtfulness and love. He knows that to be the way. There's no turkey, dad needs lunch, he can use my money to eat. Wow!! How I wish it was that simple. Sometimes it is and sometimes it isn't. But the mind of a child is a great thing. Carson knows love. He gets love. He loves. He is loved.

grace&peace
kevin

PS-I went to subway to get a turkey sandwich. I wonder how I paid for it :)

Sip-n-See

A couple of weeks ago my mom hosted a sip-n-see for Courtney. It's always great to get to see people from my home church and meet my mom's new friends. I love getting the chance to catch up with people I have known since I was in middle school (and it's fun to show off my cute baby girl!).

Mom made a board with baby pictures of me, Kevin, Carson and Courtney. She looks a lot like Carson, but I think she looks like me too.

Cute, girly cookies. My dad helped decorate them!

 Flowers made out of socks. Too cute!

Me and Courtney, she slept through most of the party.

 The hostess with the mostest!

 Everyone having a good time. Mama Stokes (in the purple) had a new grandson born the day after the party.

2 Months

Courtney turned 2 months old on Thursday! This month she started "talking" to us quite a bit. She is smiling more and more everyday. Morning time seems to be her happiest time. She also seems to be recognizing people. Kevin had been gone on a trip for several day and when he got home and started talking to her she got a huge smile on her face. She follows people/objects really well back and forth and across the room. She is not a big napper, she really only likes to nap during the day while she is being held (although as I type this she has been napping in her crib for 2 hrs!). The last week she has slept through the night a couple nights. It is great to get a good nights sleep again. Carson is still a great big brother. He LOVES to give Courtney kisses!! He loves to sit next to her and he really loves to talk to and sing to her. He pretty much wants to be around her unless she is crying or he is playing with LEGOS.
I feel like we are finally adjusting to having two kids. It was a little rough at first, but I have a feeling it is only going to get better!

Sitting at the table for the first time.

 2 months old!

 Cute smile

 The flash washed her out but you can see how blue her eyes are.

 Carson jumping of the dock at the Kay's house.

 Her first Hook 'em Horns.

 She really likes her bottle. Even when she's asleep she is protecting it!

 Silly face

We went to the Fort Worth Science Museum last week. Carson had a blast!

Courtney is 5 weeks old!

Five weeks have passed since we met our sweet baby girl. She has already changed SOOO much! She is smiling and cooing at us now. It makes all the diaper changes and late night feedings worth it when we see that sweet smile. She has outgrown most of her newborn clothes and fits in most of her 0-3 month clothes now. She is a really good sleeper and sleeps 4-5 hour stretches most nights (she even slept through the night once!). We can already tell she has a little bit of a temper. If you put her down and she doesn't like it she starts crying/screaming really loud. As soon as you pick her up she is fine. She is also tracking objects pretty well. She will watch you walk back and forth or move a toy back and forth. Overall she is a pretty content baby. She loves to cuddle and we don't mind holding her because we know this stage won't last forever!!

One month old! If you look close you can see her crazy hair.

Smiling 

Courtney looks a little confused in this picture :)

Ready for the 4th of July

Carson's Birthday

We had Carson's 4th birthday party on Saturday. With some brainwashing from his dad he has decided that he loves Star Wars. So naturally he wanted a Star Wars birthday party. The last 2 birthday parties my brother made his cake, so in April Carson called Andy and asked him to make his birthday cake. Andy and Misty outdid themselves and made this AMAZING R2D2 cake.

I decided that Pintrest is definitely making birthday parties easier. I found 2 cute ideas that were pretty easy to make. The first was to make light sabers using foam pool noodles. Kevin worked on this project and they turned out super cute and the kids loved playing with them.

Kevin did a great job making these and picking out the favors with Carson.

Trying to keep the balloon from touching the ground. This might have worked a little better had it not been so windy :)

  The youngest Jedi, Oliver

 Carson and Kynlee ready to play!

 The kids attacking Kevin

The other project was to make a Death Star pinata. We did this by getting a soccer ball pinata and spray painting it silver. Of course the kids loved the pinata (I mean who doesn't like getting free candy!).

I guess that's what the Death Star looks like :)

Hitting the pinata

Getting all the candy!!

Carson had a blast celebrating with his friends and family. We are so blessed to be surrounded by so many people that love our sweet boy. Even though we are all wearing Star Wars clothes, I really like this family picture (notice the cute Star Wars skirt my mom made Courtney).

3 Weeks

I tried to do a 2 week post but Blogger made me mad and wouldn't let me post it! So Courtney is a little over 3 weeks old now and we are so in love with our sweet baby girl. She is a little more mellow than Carson was as a baby (meaning she doesn't scream all the time!). She cries here and there but for the most part she is pretty content to eat, sleep, pee/poop, and be awake a little bit. She is almost outgrown her newborn clothes which is pretty exciting because she has quite a few cute outfits that are 0-3 months that are starting to fit her. Last week at the doctor she weighed 8 lb 6 oz. Here are some pictures from the last 3 weeks.

Carson is going to be a great protector of his little sister.

We tried swaddling Courtney but she always managed to free her hands.

 

So sweet when she is sleeping!

Carson is the best big brother! He loves to give Courtney kisses and help in anyway he can.

Trying to get a good picture of me and my kids (it still feels weird to say I have "kids" instead of a "kid").

It's Almost Time!

It's hard to believe that we finally get to meet Courtney tomorrow! Parts of this pregnancy have flown by and parts have seemed to drag on forever. Carson seems pretty excited to meet his baby sister, but truthfully I don't think he really has a clue how his life is about to change. I don't know that Kevin and I really completely understand how our lives are about to change either. One thing we know for sure is that this baby girl is already loved so much. We have been getting messages from friends and family letting us know they are praying for us. So many of them are anxiously waiting to meet her too. God has blessed us with amazing friends and family that are ready to support us as we make the transition from one kid to two. We appreciate your continued prayers for a safe delievery for me and the baby tomorrow. Special thanks to Uncle Andy who took the day off tomorrow to play with Carson!
                                                                                 ~Kathy                                                             

The last picture of our family of 3.

39 1/2 weeks pregnant 

It finally hit me on the way home on Tuesday night that it was our last dinner as a family of three.  The next family meal we have together, we will have a baby girl with us.  I'm sure Courtney will have me wrapped around her finger from day one.  In fact I'm already starting to like the pink, especially in her room.  (Kennon-you may laugh here)  Carson said excitedly yesterday that "Courtney's almost here and I get to be a big brother."  He will figure out what that means soon enough and he will be a great big brother.  I have been pacing around the house and keeping myself busy for the last hour, even though I know I need to go to bed, because I am so excited and ready for Courtney to join us tomorrow.  We are so blessed by our family and friends and know that God has a great plan in store for us, for Courtney, and our life together as a family of four.
                                                                                     ~Kevin