My sister, Wendy, came to visit in February and we had a great time. We hadn't seen each other in almost 5 years so we had fun catching up. We had this picture taken at Opryland Hotel where we walked and talked for quite some time, and of course had lunch together.

Okay, so it's been over a year since I've updated my blog. I have the day off so I thought I'd take a little time to do it now. We are all healthy and loving having family so close now.

When my parents paid us a surprise visit, along with Linda & Ron, we were able to take some family pictures. The following is, left to right: Steve holding James, Grandpa Kamps, Mike, Me holding Layla, Brad, Grandma Kamps & Erin. In front is Carrie & Dylan. Thanks to Linda for taking so many pictures. It's hard to get Dylan to hold still for 2 seconds and Layla wasn't feeling well.

We also got to take a couple of family photos:

Dylan, Carrie & Layla

Steve, James & Erin

We had a fun Christmas with Mike, Carrie, Dylan & Layla. Steve, Erin & James were in New Orleans with her family. We missed them but I know Erin's family was thrilled to have their first grandbaby there.

Layla's new dress, thanks to a new friend!

Uncle Mike floating wrapping tissue down to Layla

Brad & Carrie made a balance beam for Dylan and he loves using it.

Layla 1 year & James 8 months
Spending some cousin time together

This was taken at Faces Of Hope Trunk or Treat, at the city square, in Gallatin. They blocked off the street and Dylan thought it was lots of fun to walk around in the street without mama scooping him up. In fact if she got any closer to him than the bottom picture shows he would scream and run. The top picture was taken through 2 panes of glass at a corner store where I'm sure all the people loved having Dylan's face and finger prints on their store windows. The bottom picture shows Coach, from FOH, trying to dance with Dylan but Dylan kept turning away and doing his own thing. Yes, that's Carrie on the left, about to pop with Layla and she'd kill me if she knew I posted this picture. I cut her head off so I guess that shows who our main focus is now. Sorry Carrie. Dylan had a blast and especially loved "The Monster Mash" song. He kept taking his shoes off so Carrie was lucky to keep socks on him. I told her she needs to buy black socks because Dylan hates shoes to the point of complete meltdowns. We couldn't get his Spiderman costume on (he didn't like the feel of the fabric) so he just wore the Trunk or Treat t-shirt.

This is Dylan at a gym next to Faces Of Hope. The gym donates their facility once a month for the FOH families and Dylan loves it. He jumped into the pit of foam blocks and didn't want to come out. Leslie Face, founder of Faces of Hope, really does a great job at getting people to donate facilities for these kids.

My first attempt at crocheting in a long time. These are for Carrie's little Layla (due Dec. 15th). Carrie loved them and now she keeps buying me different colors of yarn so I can make more. It's fun but I'm really slow at it.

These fountains are in the center of a new shopping center in Hendersonville and the kids love it. Carrie tries to take Dylan there at least 3 times a week. He has so much fun and gives Carrie a little bit of a break, even though she has to be close by to try to explain to other little kids why he doesn't play with them. He'll be disappointed when summer is over.

Before I Was a Mom

Thank you Gail, for sending this to me!

Awesome Mom 

 

Before I was a Mom, 
I never tripped over toys 
or forgot words to a lullaby. 
I didn't worry whether or not 
my plants were poisonous. 
I never thought about immunizations.



Before I was a Mom, 
I had never been puked on. 
Pooped on. 
Chewed on. 
Peed on. 
I had complete control of my mind 
and my thoughts. 
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom, 
I never held down a screaming child 
so doctors could do tests. 
Or give shots. 
I never looked into teary eyes and cried. 
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin. 
I never sat up late hours at night 
watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom, 
I never held a sleeping baby just because 
I didn't want to put her down. 
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces 
when I couldn't stop the hurt. 
I never knew that something so small 
could affect my life so much. 
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom, 
I didn't know the feeling of 
having my heart outside my body.. 
I didn't know how special it could feel 
to feed a hungry baby.. 
I didn't know that bond 
between a mother and her child. 
I didn't know that something so small 
could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom, 
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night 
every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay. 
I had never known the warmth, 
the joy, 
the love, 
the heartache, 
the wonderment 
or the satisfaction of being a Mom. 
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, 
before I was a Mom ...

May you always be overwhelmed by the Grace of God rather than by the cares of life.